Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] I really hope Clint was misquoted and actually said "I have shown I can play at this level," not "I have showed I can play at this level."
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] Actually, Dempsey, while right-footed, has a very decent left foot. If you watch him regularly you will see him use the inside and outside of both feet on a routine basis. It's has always (at least since his MLS days) been a significant part of his unpredictability both shooting and passing. Should this be a big surprise in a Premiership-level player? No. But I would argue that the choice he made was a choice and that it surprised both Cech and the defender who were expecting the turn and left footed volley.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] If Dempsey has turned and shot with his left, and Cech had saved, BigSoccer morons would be on here saying that Dempsey didn't have the skill or ingenuity to flick the ball into the net with the outside of his boot. You guys are delusional.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] It thought one of the more impressive displays by Deuce v chelsea involved his left foot (which someone else mentioned in another thread,). A few minutes before his second goal, he was able to get past the very quick Cole to the end line, then cut back and make a very nice cross, with accuracy and velocity, with his left foot.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] Dempsey kept it simple (as he should have) and got the desired result - a goal.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] This is moronic. Did you even see the shot Dempsey put on goal with his left against Tottenham? He has a left and can use it when called for, which it certainly wasn't in that situation. I can't believe people really want to quibble about how he put in two goals against one of the best teams in the world. Show me a player in the world who would gripe about having scored those goals against Chelsea.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] In addition to the goals [the second of which, to me, was as well placed a header as I've seen] I was really excited to see how Clint fared over the course of 90s minutes playing against one of the best/fastest left backs around. He played good solid positional defense and didnt dive in against cole. He seemed to work well with Pantsil on that side. He also seemed to get over some early possession jitters. He had a few early "shaky" passes that were too players not in great positions to receive them. Mikel and Cole always seemed right on top of the Fulham midfielders and without Bullard running all over the place providing outlets, there weren't always great places to pass the ball. However, Clint seemed to be able to maintain his composure and find smart, intelligent passes under a good deal of pressure.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] I think it has more to do with the fact that some of us see those goals as being great goals visually, from a technical side - simple... and some posters here are simply taking offence to this because we share a different opinion, therefore - the quibbling. Not taking anything away from Dempsey, but any player in a top professional league should be have been able to put those two goals away. Dempsey should not gripe but b happy, he did what was expected of him vs Chelsea and should long remember this day.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] Moving along... Dempsey's predicted goal total for this year: I say 12 (8 more in the remaining 19 games). Yeah, high for a RM, but he seems to really be hitting his stride. Any other predictions?
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] The first goal was typical Dempsey, right place, right time. It didn't look amazing but was actually a clever little touch. The second goal was incredible as he was off balance and headed the ball to the only spot it could have gone. Fantastic. Lost in all of this was that Dempsey had a very nice defnesive performance with some key break ups and steals. He also resisted the temptation to boot the ball up the field when the situation called for the pace to slow down. Probably one of the best games I've ever seen the guy play. Nice one Duece!
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] I saw it differently. A left footed shot would have been slower. Perhaps Cech would have been able to smother the shot then. And speaking of Stevie G., he got arrested this morning.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] LOL. The ESPN site changed their article title based on the comment I left there. It now says "I have shown" instead of "I have showed."
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] So are you saying those goals were sitters? I'm sorry, but you don't understand the "technique" of heading the ball if you think Dempsey's second goal was in any way, shape, or form "simple" Leaning back on an outswinging corner without any momentum and placing the ball perfectly over the keeper is very difficult, for any player. You see many headers far more simple missed in every game. You see very few headed goals as difficult. I'm sorry, but I'm getting a little tired of you just saying "ohh, it's just my opinion, there's no need to argue about it" type garbage. Your opinion flies in the face of the game's commentary, the post-match press, and reality. That's not a simple goal, (and you were wrong about 90% of the BS you were spouting before the LD thing ended up being nearly identical to what Goff was reporting).
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] You're making a normative statement based on how you perceive the world to be, you want it to be one way, but it's the other (to quote Marlo). The fact is players like Carlton Cole contrive to miss chances like that all the time. You might wish the ball to go in, or expect it, but really only about 1/10 shots do and the chance Clint had isn't one of the easy ones. It was a very good finish that all strikers would be proud of, it wasn't a Golazo but it was a top finish. It's a good example of the type of class that Dempsey has that translates to a higher level, the type of class that some of his teammates show once or twice a season (Bobby Z I'm lookin at you) that Clint shows just about every game. If that ball hits the ground Cech is all over it unless he has a moment of cowardice.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] Is Duece sucking his thumb in that celebration, or is it a "hood" thang?
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] It's presumably a baby bottle reference. His wife has a baby on the way.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] I don't think the folks here who are saying it was a simple thing to score those goals have ever stepped on a pitch. It isn't a simple thing. On the first one, with his back to the goal, it takes loads of creativity and confidence to shoot that ball instead of laying it back. If he fails there, he's a goat. There are three Chelsea players spread across the line, one of whom is arguably the best keeper in the world. On the tape, you can see Dempsey spot the gap and flick it through. On the second, he shows the heart of a lion - it takes guts to stick your head in there, gents - combined with great technique. I think the second is luckier than than the first, by the way. On a header like that, you can do everything right and still see your shot carom the wrong way off your head. The context of a Chelsea game in front of 30k fans adds another layer of complexity still. They aren't the most amazing goals I have seen. But there isn't anything "simple" about them.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] I interpreted it that he was opening a bottle of beer on his boot and then drinking it in celebration.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] He was sucking his thumb in reference to his baby. His wife is pregnant.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] What? In the middle of a London derby like that one? That's embarressing. No foriegners in English football.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] I know his wife is pregnant. Watch the whole celebration again and try to explain what he's doing with his foot and why he extends his pinky as one does when they're mimicking drinking a bottle of beer. IMHO, he's cracking open a bottle on his boot and then chugging it down.
Re: Clint Dempsey: I have showed I can play at this level [Chelsea R] That will be fine with me, then all the talent in the EPL would be able to play in leagues with a bit more tactical sophistication while Northen Irish coaches with Spanish names can coach the Brits on how to play longball into a withdrawn forward.