Dempsey doesn't shine against Portsmouth

[MJ-inBRITAIN]

I see the new board has left a clean white sheet here so I'll put something in to start us up.

Caught most of the game against Portsmouth. Dempsey looked like he didn't want to play. It was honestly embarrassing - on one break he started at the half way line and got passed by 3 surging fulham players (2 of whom were actually defending) and he was still trotting when they needed someone to layoff to on the left. The layoff came, he was 15 yards away couldn't reach it and the break started the opposite way.

Unbelievable.

If he's on my team on just want him out from then on. He's definitely lost any chance of starting. You can't spend the entire game strolling up and down only 30 yards of pitch at a canter.

[whipsmart13]

That might explain why you guys are looking at RW Seol from Reading. However, Seol seems to be a very similiar player to Dempsey....great in flashes, lazy in others.

[joamiq]

Hey, I'm not a Fulham fan but I'm curious about Dempsey's place. What does their winger/attacking mid depth chart look like now, in your estimation?

[AreYouNuts]

The game did have a water break 20 minutes in because of the heat. The game was played at an incredibly slow place. A lot of guys were dogging it.

I thought he looked fine for most of the first half.

[MJ-inBRITAIN]

The game did have a water break 20 minutes in because of the heat. The game was played at an incredibly slow place. A lot of guys were dogging it.

I thought he looked fine for most of the first half.

really? hmm... you'd think if anyone was going to cope with the heat it'd be the guy that a year ago was playing in the US summer. Or even a month ago!

hope he picks it up then.

[auf Amerika]

Actually Dempsey look good. He was one of the most dangerous guys on the pitch. Fulham fans at the FFC messageboard seem to be impressed with Dempsey so far.

In Hong Kong he played the LM position in a 4-4-2.

[MJ-inBRITAIN]

Actually Dempsey look good. He was one of the most dangerous guys on the pitch. Fulham fans at the FFC messageboard seem to be impressed with Dempsey so far.

In Hong Kong he played the LM position in a 4-4-2.

yeah I know I read it. Maybe becuase he was out of position - but I thought he was lazy in HK. Whenever I saw him play last year it just seemed like he never got into his top gear - maybe he doesn't have one, don't know.

[tomwilhelm]

Dempsey is slow, but he's not lazy.

[Carrot]

I saw Dempsey in person at the QPR-Fulham friendly while on vacation in London (not a good show from Fulham in general BTW). He looked dangerous at times when he had some 1v1 opportunities and/or on some breaks. He still doesn't seem to know what to do with himself when facing any kind of organized defense, be that deciding to make a run (or not), or when he has the ball at his feet. I think a full year of Premiership football will do him TONS of good, if if if he can play well enough to stay in the first team. Fulham's got tons of decent midfielders, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

[OKTerrific]

Dempsey is slow, but he's not lazy.

Slow? Are you kidding me?

ihs_f0QIRNI

[LA Lee]

Dempsey's not slow, in terms of straight ahead speed, but he does seem to generally lack quickness or change of pace, which was noticeable a couple of times in today's Arsenal game. From watching him play in MLS and on the US national team, he has a smooth, gliding style of play, which can be deceptive and effective when going forward running with or without the ball, but in tight spaces, he sometimes lacks that extra step, or quick decision making ability, to get out of trouble. Having said that, he can be a very dangerous opportunistic player, who can play nice one-two combinations, and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Based on today's game, I think he should start the next one.

[Beazley17]

Dempsey's not slow, in terms of straight ahead speed, but he does seem to generally lack quickness or change of pace, which was noticeable a couple of times in today's Arsenal game. From watching him play in MLS and on the US national team, he has a smooth, gliding style of play, which can be deceptive and effective when going forward running with or without the ball, but in tight spaces, he sometimes lacks that extra step, or quick decision making ability, to get out of trouble. Having said that, he can be a very dangerous opportunistic player, who can play nice one-two combinations, and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Based on today's game, I think he should start the next one.


Same, he had a really nice combination with Mcbride that almost led to a goal but shanked just wide.