Re: long-distance shooting I think he has a good shot, but his thing is more running at the defense and slotting it.And he has a very very good header.
I hate Clint Dempsey. No, it's true. He plays like a bastard. But he's just the type of bastard that I'd want on the field for our national team. A f-ing competitor.
He may still end up our number one striker. Over on the youth board, England66 recently was talking about great strikers emerging last in a developing soccer culture. Dempsey's got the right skill set and that something extra (attitude, intangibles, will to win, killer instinct, cold blood on the finish, whatever you want to call it). Of course, just because the great ones display these traits doesn't mean by displaying them Clint will become one of the great ones. But I do expect his coaches to keep deciding that they want him closer to the goal than he'll be at D Mid.
I like the way Americano e Orgulho put it. I hate Dempsey when he plays against my team, but I would like to see him get a shot with the national team. Perhaps next year.
That's the only good thing about the Fusion's demise. With no home team, I don't have to hate anybody who plays in MLS.
The next Nats coach after Bruce might have a different philosophy for the central midfield. He may want to pair 2 2-way midfielders, and have them sorta take turns getting forward, and be unpredictable. Bruce likes to divide the primary attacking and defending responsibilities, at least in the days before the box midfield. A pair of Clint-types might be the future for the US.
Revs fans...it seems to me that Clint's tackling has improved. He had a couple of tight, but successful tackles. Once, he was on the far sideline, and tried to get past 2 with the dribble. He was unsuccessful, and a United player (Namoff?) started the other way. Dempsey jumped in, tackled it away, and relaunched his run. That was a good tackle, because it's the type of play where a ref is looking to give a yellow; when you tackle a player immediately after he tackled the ball from you, it looks retaliatory. The other was in the box, when he very nicely stopped an attack. Another thing is that Dempsey drew a buttload of fouls tonight, including the 2nd yellow on Dema. Impressive, impressive player.
I see him as a two way mid -- not a speciality mid but an all around performer -- a Steven Gerrard, a Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Wesley Sneijder, etc. He's got all the technical skills toughness and soccer brain to play in central midfield and combined with a real holding/ defensive midfielder who gives him the freedom to go forward he could really be scary making runs from deep. I also agree with comparing his game to the Germans he's very efficent
Bump. Anyone know where he's gonna play for the Revs this year, AM or DM? I think his NT prospects would be better at the latter, since he'd probably face weaker competition for a roster spot.
Some new ideas for marketing the newest wunderkind... Clint is HOT! Touch it! Clint FEVER! We Love Our Clint! There's no such thing as Clint! Don't Rub Our Clint The Wrong Way!
As with a new Pope, so must a new Clint be be chosen to succeed the old one. All of us have witnessed the joining together of the two Clints' service to the national team, linked, like an unbroken chain, by 63 minutes on the field together in the Honduras friendly. It is time, now, for the changing of the Clints. Let us pray that the Lord continues to smile upon our Clints, and gives them a result in every match that counts. Amen.
bump! There's no question now he's going to Germany. The question is, will he start, will he be the first non-defender sub every match, or will he be a situational sub? Also, notice his career arc...he started hot, had a great 1 1/2 seasons, then faded somewhat, got his batteries recharged, and is looking great. I hope that Gaven gets recharged and emerges as a force for the Nats for the next cycle.
I think that there are lots of questions concerning who is going to Germany and yesterdays match doesn't change that. I don't think anyone other than Landon and Brian McBride are locked in. Yesterday Clint didn't successfully penetrate the Polish defense at all. He was in the right place at the right time and I will give him credit for heads-up play, but as a midfielder he was pretty sucessfully bottled up all night. That said, the rest of our midfield didn't shine much either and as of right now (US camp matches and this one) no one really has a lock on anything. james
Hey, your wet blanket is leaving a water stain on my screen. (Not that I disagree with your conclusion all that much but come on, this is a thread to get excited about a player starting to really reach his potential. Allow us a little glow after a win in Europe, will you?)