About Dempsey

[Cornnolio]

Worst player on the field including both teams. He was better at falling over and pretending to be fouled than playing.

you are delusional

[YankatOxford]

Clint Dempsey hit the bar yesterday from fully thirty yards with his left foot- second time this season actually. If that's 'not having a left foot'... we'll I guess I'm fine with that. People who thought he was the worst player on the field during the recent WCQ, US-Mexico, delusional is the concise adjective to describe them. Possessing extremely poor judgement would be a gentler way to put it.

[kokoplus10]

On Dempsey's Ra-boner:

Speaking as a defender, when an attacking player shows skill on the ball I am more likely to give him space later on. Some players tend to demonstrate their on the ball skills early in the game to get inside a defender's head. As the match wears on they are less likely to use "useless" moves and opt for the higher percentage play while still enjoying the benefits of the added space the defender is giving them based on their overall skill.

[kokoplus10]

On the various uses of Dempsey:

I like the way Bob deploys the team now allowing Beasley and Dempsey to pinch in from the wings and overlap in the midfield. It adds a bit of unpredictability in the attack. As of right now the team is essentially:

---------Ching
----Beas-Lando-Deuce
----Bradley-Kljestan
Pearce-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
--------Howard

However, I would like to see Dempsey paired in the midfield with Bradley at some point. Something like:

------Altidore-Adu
Beas-Bradley-Deuce-Lando
Pearce-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
--------Howard

The question of course is "are you making the team that much better?" By taking Donovan out of the center of the field I don't know that you are. You certainly are exploiting speed on both wings and opening space in the center of the pitch for the CM's to operate, but you're also leaving yourself more vulnerable on the counter. You've also completely indoctrinated Altidore and Adu into the fold, both of whom are still growing as players.

[braun]

On the various uses of Dempsey:

I like the way Bob deploys the team now allowing Beasley and Dempsey to pinch in from the wings and overlap in the midfield. It adds a bit of unpredictability in the attack. As of right now the team is essentially:

---------Ching
----Beas-Lando-Deuce
----Bradley-Kljestan
Pearce-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
--------Howard

However, I would like to see Dempsey paired in the midfield with Bradley at some point. Something like:

------Altidore-Adu
Beas-Bradley-Deuce-Lando
Pearce-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
--------Howard

The question of course is "are you making the team that much better?" By taking Donovan out of the center of the field I don't know that you are. You certainly are exploiting speed on both wings and opening space in the center of the pitch for the CM's to operate, but you're also leaving yourself more vulnerable on the counter. You've also completely indoctrinated Altidore and Adu into the fold, both of whom are still growing as players.

There will be times as with the Arena regime that you switch to a 4-3-3 maybe at the half?
Then it becomes:

Dempsey-Altidore-Donovan
Beasley-Bradley-Kljestan or Adu
Spector-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
Howard

Think Confederations Cup, game 1. Game 2 would be a slightly different story.

[kokoplus10]

There will be times as with the Arena regime that you switch to a 4-3-3 maybe at the half?
Then it becomes:

Dempsey-Altidore-Donovan
Beasley-Bradley-Kljestan or Adu
Spector-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
Howard

Think Confederations Cup, game 1. Game 2 would be a slightly different story.

Or:

----Adu-Altidore-Deuce
----Beas-Bradley-Lando
Pearce-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
--------Howard

But I don't think we'll ever see a natural 4-3-3 in the Bob Bradley era.

[Bruce S]

Or:

----Adu-Altidore-Deuce
----Beas-Bradley-Lando
Pearce-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
--------Howard

But I don't think we'll ever see a natural 4-3-3 in the Bob Bradley era.

why would we ever see a 4-3-3? That is a very unusual formation for the men's game. Usually you ned a minimum of 4, maybe 5 in the midfield to compete. We can just about hold our own in the mid with 4 midfielders.

[kokoplus10]

why would we ever see a 4-3-3? That is a very unusual formation for the men's game. Usually you ned a minimum of 4, maybe 5 in the midfield to compete. We can just about hold our own in the mid with 4 midfielders.

I was addressing braun's suggestion of a 4-3-3 and making a tweak to his lineup. You should address your question to him.

I do not advocate a 4-3-3.

[SamsArmySam]

On Dempsey's Ra-boner:

Speaking as a defender, when an attacking player shows skill on the ball I am more likely to give him space later on. Some players tend to demonstrate their on the ball skills early in the game to get inside a defender's head. As the match wears on they are less likely to use "useless" moves and opt for the higher percentage play while still enjoying the benefits of the added space the defender is giving them based on their overall skill.
Excellent point. There's always a psychological mini-game between attacker and defender, and moves shift the dynamics.

[Spry]

On Dempsey's Ra-boner:

Speaking as a defender, when an attacking player shows skill on the ball I am more likely to give him space later on. Some players tend to demonstrate their on the ball skills early in the game to get inside a defender's head. As the match wears on they are less likely to use "useless" moves and opt for the higher percentage play while still enjoying the benefits of the added space the defender is giving them based on their overall skill.

Personally I always played that type of player a little harder. Just to make sure that show boating won't be confused for effective.

[Spry]

However, I would like to see Dempsey paired in the midfield with Bradley at some point. Something like:

------Altidore-Adu
Beas-Bradley-Deuce-Lando
Pearce-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
--------Howard


This is exactly it save Pearce on the left for better options not immediately evident.

We desperately need speed on the outside. Donovan and Beasley are the answer. The midfeild will open up and it'll be the Dempsey/Adu show with guest stars Altidore, Bradley, Beasley, and Donovan.

Adu is never going to turn himself in as an outside midfeilder. He thinks he's #10 but actually he's a #7 who's sole purpose in life is to make life miserable running at defenders and holding up the ball. Jozy and Freddy were meant for each other as were Bradley and Deuce. Beasley and Donovan are equally complimentary if we allow both to switch back and forth through the match.

Digo muy peligroso!

[kokoplus10]

Personally I always played that type of player a little harder. Just to make sure that show boating won't be confused for effective.

I don't think that there's any confusion between the players on the pitch about the effectiveness of show boating. Show boating does not improve the play on the pitch or add to the scoreline.

The only thing "effective" about it is that it has the ability to infuriate some defenders who might then "play that type of player a little harder" and draw a bad foul or get sucked too far into the body and are then beaten on the play.

It's a mind game.