Dempsey to Fulham, What does this mean for USMNT? [R]

[dustcowpoke]

Clint Dempsey has agreed to join Fulham in a £1.5 million deal, but the United States and New England Revolution attacking midfield player will not be eligible to play for the West London club until the transfer window opens and until he receives a work permit.

Dempsey, 23, is unlikely to make his Premiership debut until the match away to West Ham United on January 13. “We expect him to make a big impact,” Coleman said. “He is strong, has good pace and a good touch. He has all the tools in his locker to be a good player in the Premier League.”

Coleman also hinted — as revealed in The Times three weeks ago — that he was close to signing Vincenzo Montella, the former Italy forward, from AS Roma. “I can’t comment because he is a Roma player but he is someone we like,” he said.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=10324481#post10324481

I would have liked for him to go to another club, because Fulham always scare me toward the end of the season because they are alway so close to the drop zone. However, playing against some of the best teams in the world will most certainly help his game.

I imagine McBride and Bocanegra will be able to help him adjust.

Do you think Fulham is a good club for Dempsey? Do you think this is good news for the USMNT?

[sidefootsitter]

Nothing much in the short run ... may have found a solid right wing or an inside right midfielder for the future however.

[england66]

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=10324481#post10324481

I would have liked for him to go to another club, because Fulham always scare me toward the end of the season because they are alway so close to the drop zone. However, playing against some of the best teams in the world will most certainly help his game.

I imagine McBride and Bocanegra will be able to help him adjust.

Do you think Fulham is a good club for Dempsey? Do you think this is good news for the USMNT?


good news for Clint, I just hope his work permit goes through. Not sure its great news for MLS and their "contracts" dept as it appears there is no LEGITIMATE interest in EJ (875k per year) but definate interest in Dempsey (at what ? 50k per year ?)....finally Clint gets to take care of his folks for the countless, selfless hours they spent hauling him from deep east Texas to Dallas and back as a kid so he could play with and against the best young players in the state. I believe and pray that he stays healthy and does well in the EPL....

[Delta Blues]

good news for Clint, I just hope his work permit goes through. Not sure its great news for MLS and their "contracts" dept as it appears there is no LEGITIMATE interest in EJ (875k per year) but definate interest in Dempsey (at what ? 50k per year ?)....finally Clint gets to take care of his folks for the countless, selfless hours they spent hauling him from deep east Texas to Dallas and back as a kid so he could play with and against the best young players in the state. I believe and pray that he stays healthy and does well in the EPL....

IAWTP

[lurking]

Do you think Fulham is a good club for Dempsey? Do you think this is good news for the USMNT?

Well, there are roughly three groups of reactions on this.

In the first camp, are people who believe in euro magic and pixie dust, who expect just by being signed in europe, dempsey gains vast new power.

Then there are those who feel that a superior level of play, more competitve jockeying for playing, and a more intense environment will sharpen Dempseys ability, and he will be a better player for it, which will only help the national team.

Then their are people like me that see the positives in the second group are equalled or even outweighed by the negative impact it has on his availability, health status (due to more games), potential for burying him on a team leaving him with less competitive playing experience, the adjustment of their game to a european style that may not quite match their teamatesm and the general distortion that tends to favor the european player, which is not nescessarily the best player. All of which adds up to mean that people like me to yawn when a player goes to Europe.

Maybe im overly cynical though.

[dredgfan]

IAWTP

que?

[lurking]

good news for Clint, I just hope his work permit goes through. Not sure its great news for MLS and their "contracts" dept as it appears there is no LEGITIMATE interest in EJ (875k per year) but definate interest in Dempsey (at what ? 50k per year ?)....

The business side of MLS is a bit short on good "soccer guys". Not to slam them over that per se, I just think they dont really understand the relative value of many of their players.

[ugaaccountant]

The business side of MLS is a bit short on good "soccer guys". Not to slam them over that per se, I just think they dont really understand the relative value of many of their players.

When Dempsey signed he was a U-20 player and received a decent entry wage per MLS standards. When Johnson resigned he was a freaking star on the USMNT scoring left and right. Both contracts were well valued at the time from a business persons expected value point of view. What's your opinion here from the soccer guys side? Do you see a way to make guys like Clint, Brian and Carlos choose MLS over Fulham?

[Tonerl]

Well, there are roughly three groups of reactions on this.

In the first camp, are people who believe in euro magic and pixie dust, who expect just by being signed in europe, dempsey gains vast new power.

Then there are those who feel that a superior level of play, more competitve jockeying for playing, and a more intense environment will sharpen Dempseys ability, and he will be a better player for it, which will only help the national team.

Then their are people like me that see the positives in the second group are equalled or even outweighed by the negative impact it has on his availability, health status (due to more games), potential for burying him on a team leaving him with less competitive playing experience, the adjustment of their game to a european style that may not quite match their teamatesm and the general distortion that tends to favor the european player, which is not nescessarily the best player. All of which adds up to mean that people like me to yawn when a player goes to Europe.

Maybe im overly cynical though.

He won't get buried at Fulham. They've done quite well considering all their midfield injuries, but they are desperate for midfielders (hell, Volz and Bocanegra have been spending time in the midfield). He will have a place in their rotation right away, if not their starting 11.

And yes, you are overly cynical. You are looking at a worst-case scenario and applying it to all US internationals who go to play abroad. Clearly, this is not the scenario likely to occur in this instance (Clint and Fulham taken together). The middle group (as is often the case) seem to be the most rational.

Teamatesm?

que?

Me, too.

Edit: I Googled it. It apparently means "I agree with this post."

[lurking]

When Dempsey signed he was a U-20 player and received a decent entry wage per MLS standards. When Johnson resigned he was a freaking star on the USMNT scoring left and right. Both contracts were well valued at the time from a business persons expected value point of view. What's your opinion here from the soccer guys side? Do you see a way to make guys like Clint, Brian and Carlos choose MLS over Fulham?

The EJ contract was a freak out based on some good national team games and a decent MLS season. Seriously, EJ may have been playing well, but he hadnt been such a dominant MLS player as to be worth the money they paid him. And there was a history of maturity issues. I dont know for certain, but I bet if you asked most MLS coaches who MLS should be trying to lock up, most would have said Dempsey. If another team is determined to overpay for EJ, let them overpay.

[lurking]

He won't get buried at Fulham. They've done quite well considering all their midfield injuries, but they are desperate for midfielders (hell, Volz and Bocanegra have been spending time in the midfield). He will have a place in their rotation right away, if not their starting 11.

And yes, you are overly cynical. You are looking at a worst-case scenario and applying it to all US internationals who go to play abroad. Clearly, this is not the scenario likely to occur in this instance (Clint and Fulham taken together). The middle group (as is often the case) seem to be the most rational.

Teamatesm?"

*Shrug*, at this point I no longer dont honestly care what people think of my views on playing in Europe. All Id hope is that they at least entertain the thought that maybe going to Europe doesnt seem to work out the way they want it too.

[Speed_Racer]

Do you think Fulham is a good club for Dempsey? Do you think this is good news for the USMNT?

Fulham could use a guy like Clint.

[england66]

The EJ contract was a freak out based on some good national team games and a decent MLS season. Seriously, EJ may have been playing well, but he hadnt been such a dominant MLS player as to be worth the money they paid him. And there was a history of maturity issues. I dont know for certain, but I bet if you asked most MLS coaches who MLS should be trying to lock up, most would have said Dempsey. If another team is determined to overpay for EJ, let them overpay.


The problem with EJ's contract is that it is totally out of whack with the contracts of just about every other player, most more productive, at KC....not just slightly out of whack but TOTALLY out of whack.....now I'm not familiar with what the others are making but would hazard a guess that none of them (not even one) are anywhere close to 875k per year GUARANTEED....this sort of crap, (apparently based on a run of games scoring against nobodies while playing for the USA and his agent selling MLS on the idea that the euros were lining up to pay a big transfer fee....which didn't and IMO won't happen) helped lead to the downfall of the NASL.....I know, FOR A FACT that it led to the folding of the Dallas Tornado.....

[lurking]

Do you think Fulham is a good club for Dempsey?

I didnt answer this question. I think Fulham is a pretty decent situation Dempsey, certainly financially. I dont expect it to make much difference either way for the national team.

[lurking]

The problem with EJ's contract is that it is totally out of whack with the contracts of just about every other player, most more productive, at KC....not just slightly out of whack but TOTALLY out of whack.....now I'm not familiar with what the others are making but would hazard a guess that none of them (not even one) are anywhere close to 875k per year GUARANTEED....this sort of crap, (apparently based on a run of games scoring against nobodies while playing for the USA and his agent selling MLS on the idea that the euros were lining up to pay a big transfer fee....which didn't and IMO won't happen) helped lead to the downfall of the NASL.....I know, FOR A FACT that it led to the folding of the Dallas Tornado.....

Well, good news is that I think every MLS big wig is going to be looking at EJs salary for the next few years and becoming violently ill.

[sidefootsitter]

Well, good news is that I think every MLS big wig is going to be looking at EJs salary for the next few years and becoming violently ill. I believe that the 2007 season is his last guaranteed year. The 2008 is an MLS option. (at $875K).

[lurking]

I believe that the 2007 season is his last guaranteed year. The 2008 is an MLS option. (at $875K).

Doh! Thought it was longer. The memory of it will be enough then. ;p

[Tonerl]

*Shrug*, at this point I no longer dont honestly care what people think of my views on playing in Europe. All Id hope is that they at least entertain the thought that maybe going to Europe doesnt seem to work out the way they want it too.

I don't disagree that its possible that this doesn't work out for Clint and/or the Nats. It may be the perfect situation, though. We don't really know until we try.

[Fulham South]

As for what this will do for the USMNT in the future, we shall see.

For Dempsey (as as a Fulham fan), I am more than thrilled to have Clint playing for the cottagers. I've been a fan of Dempsey for a while and I think he has the mentality needed for both the Premiership in general and Fulham in particular. He'll be able to get plenty of playing time at Right Mid (we have a right back - Volz - starting there now) and could be able to develop even more at a position that we are not exactly deep at. Fulham - which floats between a 4-3-3 and a 4-5-1 most of the time - although will play a 4-4-2 as well, can definately use someone as flexible in his positioning as Clint.

[dark knight]

This thread is not about EJ or rehashing England's thoughts on MLS's decision to give him a big contract - let's please leave that for another thread.