I don't know anything other than he got a lot of money from Seattle on a longer deal. Is it possible he and AVB had a conversation about him moving on? Sure. But that could have just as much to do with not being able to offload other players (adebayor, Defoe, Parker) as it does how he felt about CD. There is a lot more dead wood on that roster than he. He was a productive player last year WHEN HEALTHY, and got the majority of minutes when he was healthy. With the removal of boy wonder, he was going to be needed to stick in it the net this year. I have no doubts he'd have played a lot of minutes. There aren't a lot of proven EPL goalscorers on that team now. If I had to guess, Dempsey knows they just got set back to the Juande Ramos era with Bale leaving, and won't see the UCL anytime soon. He knows he's not going to get another big pay day after this one, so he took it and ran. He probably thought about his kids, and his marketability too. He took some lemons and made lemonade.
They still need a better midfield. A strong attack with a weak midfield is like a catoblepas, an animal with a head that can do a lot of damage, but a body too weak to even lift it.
It was probably a combination of factors. The Spurs situation. Playing time. Money. Less travel for USMNT.
Doesn't have to be one or the other, could be all of those things. With Bale gone I think Spurs are reinforcing. They will miss him as a game winner, but with the money they could be more balanced and perhaps more effective overall. I think it's a pretty good deal for all parties. Dempsey gets to be a lock starter and star in a big soccer town, Spurs get their money back and wages off the books.
I don't disagree with any of that. It works out well for everyone but bungadiri who wont get to moderate this frikas much longer.
The less travel for the NT is an argument put out there by people who only want to look at one side of this. Yes, no more trans atlantic flights for qualifiers, although with the WC next year it appears we'll be playing more friendlies in Europe. Bosnia in two weeks, two Euro friendlies in Nov. So suddenly he still does have those long flights. But, something ignored is the travel within MLS which doesn't compare to travel within the EPL, unless looking at a few Europa games. Even then, travel to eastern Europe or Russia from London is a little over three hours, less time than a number of MLS cities from Sea. Going to NY, NE, Tor, Montreal, Philly, etc, represent 5-6 hour flights. Add the shit turf in Sea and a few other MLS cities and the less wear and tear argument(not you, seen it around these forums though) doesn't hold much weight. This was a move about money and comfort, especially if what Carlisle wrote is true about Hou being Clint's first choice. Nothing at all to do with quality of play or level of competition.
That was why I used the word possible. I also didn't say the homesickness was limited exclusively to her. I think you overrate the value of a cosmopolitan city to a tejas country boy who likes bass fishing and chilling on the homestead. A great many people would call being forced to live in a cosmopolitan city a cursed existence, only tolerable until they made enouh money to live where there heart is and I can guarantee you that Clint Dempsey's heart was never in England, only his paycheck was.
---------ej---martins---- neagle----clint----rosales ----------alonso---------- that is a pretty damn good front 6.
What part of a combination of factors do you not understand? It is just not one thing. Multiple things adding up together. I just gave an opinion on what could be those multiple factors. He made his decision on what he thought was best for him. YA needs to deal with it and stop acting like a parent living through their child.
I think it is an okay move for Dempsey. Like LD10, he needs to be in dominate form and where else can he do that other than the MLS. But he was a good player in Europe unlike LD10, so it doesn't make me worried but I just wanted to see him do more. Maybe a step down like Everton or even going to Italy and playing for a top 5 team there. I just expect more. But oh well, it was a solid move for him and Seattle is a team that fits.
I realize it is pathetic that I am hugely disappointed by this move, but $30-35mm over 4 years guaranteed is good business. I guess, Deuce scores again.
The end of an era. Quite crazy to me. My obsession and passion for following our yanks abroad began because of Dempsey and McBride.
Probably not, and Spurs revamp might prove effective. But Dempsey's impact on the field last year - from key goals scored to opening space for Bale - was greater than many gave him credit for. Perhaps the revamp will take Spurs up the win or two they need to make CL, but someone is going to have to play out their backsides if Bale goes - or even if he stays, cause last season could have been his once-a-career. It will be fun to watch. One of the things that I think Demps could lose by going to Sounders is the impact of the "stealth work" he does. AM's and SS and 9.5's tend to get judged by passing and scoring, which makes sense, but there is also good hard work done by smart forward players who pull defender back post, make clever crossing runs to off-foot defenders, knows when to delay and leave space etc. Are there players at Seattle intelligent/gifted enough to benefit from Clint's play, which is more clever than some give credit for.
I was saddened to learn of Clint's departure. However, I understand it. This came down to money and quality of life for himself and his family. Can't blame him. But as a selfish fan, I would have liked to see him play a couple more years in the Premiership. Best of luck, Deuce.
Why are people "sad" to hear about Clint Dempsey's departure? If anything it means you might more easily be able to see him play now that he's not thousands of miles away play in towns most of us have never been to.
I don't think Dempsey influenced the space that Bale got that much. Dempsey helped but He didn't occupy many defenders or his passing didn't spread the defense, which was part of the problem. Bale's emergence last season had more to do with the increased touches he had from the prior season, a free role across the top, no Modric or VDV, and imbalance. A lot of those cracking goals from outside of the box were scored by the likes of VDV in previous seasons. He used to open up space because he would swap playing deep and playing higher up the pitch and it would pull that defenders or that midfielder shielding the back line, he saw a lot more time on the ball. Bale could have had a monster season in 2011-12 if he got as many touches and freedom to move around like he did in 12/13. With VDV though he demanded the ball and Modric carried the ball from deep, both cut down his touches significantly. Also, Adebayor was an actual footballer back then. The type of player Soldado is Bale wouldn't have as good of a season in 2013/14 but the team would be better for it. That's if he stays, which I'm 50/50 on right now based on AVB's comments.
I think you misunderestimate the aid Clint gave to Bale's marauding, but we will never know. Bale's free role across the top evolved over the season. I would argue in part because Clint knows how to open space for that kind of player. vdV, schooled as a more traditional Ajax/Dutch SS naturally takes that space at the top of the key (to mix my sports metaphors) and hangs there. Clint is more likely to hang on the outside corners of the 18, then cross near post or sneak far post, working off runs rather than moving to them. Anyway, different strokes for different Stokes... I mean. AVB will have a chance to field "his" team, Spurs fans will get a chance to watch an "expensive" team and we'll all see how it plays out. Clint will be in a position where he truly will be expected to impose himself on the game. That remains to be seen. I don't think he is that kind of player week-in, week-out. I thank he's a better "#2" playing a smidge under the radar, but we shall see.