I first saw this as rumor last night and totally dismissed it. Still having trouble believing it. ... edit ... Best part about this is gonna be watching the Eurosnobs squeal in pain.
Clint Dempsey has been my favorite player in the world ever since he was with the Revs. I've always rooted for the Revs and whatever team Clint played for. To I'm absolutely gutted with this news is a huge understatement, not only will Clint be playing in Sounder green, but he will joining Rev legend Shalrie Joseph. This is a major coup for the Sounders and MLS but I just don't understand why Clint would make this move less than a year before the World Cup. /rant
Might be time for me to head over to the YA forum for the first time in years to watch the ledge jumpers.
His brother said he was not coming back to MLS. Now, would someone as close to him as his brother be misinformed? Maybe Clint figured he wouldn't be getting much playing time this upcoming season and he's taking Klinnsman's advice about players needing to be on the field and playing? Who knows? But I'm with the camp that it is indeed weird timing, not that I'd love to see Dempsey back in the US and with MLS, but something just seems odd about this.
Too late. All but stains on the sidewalk. (I'm fine though.... don't mind me... just a flesh wound....)
Would you rather him be playing in MLS or not playing in the EPL (assuming he isn't in Spurs' plans)? And don't say "I'd rather him play for another team in Europe" because that makes the assumption that there is another team that can offer Spurs their valuation of him and offer Clint the personal terms he wants, which there is no guarantee of right now.
Wouldn't Dempsey have to go through the allocation order? Who is at the top of the list right now? I imagine they would extract quite a ransom to allow the Sounders to get Dempsey.
Honestly, I doubt it. While they may hate that their rival is getting a player of Dempsey's caliber, I would bet the house that this has been worked out way up the ladder. This would be a big deal for MLS as a whole and the FOs will all get in line if they are told to do so. It don't think it is a coincidence that the owners met on Wednesday, Shalrie suddenly gets takes a pay-cut and loses his DP tag (something that might not have been in the rules), and Dempsey rumors start flying Thursday night. The owners most likely knew about this on Wednesday and have come to an understanding that no one is to mess this up.
The league gets mocked mercilessly when past their prime players are signed. So when the league does good and brings in a top notch player not over the hill like Dempsey (an American star, no less) what are the reactions from many? Indignation that he would come over. Isn't this what people want MLS to do? Sign world class players? Have American star players ply their trade here? Much like Donovan, Dempsey has had enough success in the sport that he isn't obligated to prove anything else in his career. Maybe he wants to be ripe for WC 2014, instead of entering June off a grueling 50 game schedule for a European club. As a US fan, it makes no difference to me if he's in MLS or not, because, barring any injuries, Dempsey's game isn't going to change for the national team regardless of where he plays. It's not like he's going to regress into Graham Zusi overnight. FYI, Japan placed 9th in the 2010 World Cup with 19 of their roster playing in J-League. If this is true, of course. We still don't have all the evidence to what is going on.
what is funny is Ives spent 10 minutes on his podcast blasting the idea as ridiculous ... tried to put a slightly barbed "hope you are enjoying your crow" post on the dempsey article on his blog and the big whinny bitch took it down .... but if i was wrong as much and had as many editorial oversights as Ives and his blog, i'd be a sensitive to people pointing out my constant shortcomings and incompetence too.
If this happens then the Sounders better use this as their article title and picture to mess with everyone. Also, NBC has an article up saying they have independent confirmation that Dempsey is signing for Seattle
Every time I see obnoxious hyperbole like this on twitter or here, I like Dempsey's move even more /I just wish my own MLS team wasn't dirt poor.