Dempsey: Fulham vs. Hamburg 4/29 Europa League Semifinal 2nd Leg [R]

If the Zanimal can't make the pitch, Clint will go 90+

 

That's right. I haven't seen any word yet on whether he's a go or not.

 

My hunch is Zanimal is fit, Hodgs is just pulling a german leg.

 

I also think we'll see Zamora tonight.

 

This came up in a google search:

http://news.myjoyonline.com/sports/201004/45450.asp

So I guess Paintsil is eligible to play today.

 

I would say he is 60/40 to start given the injuries. Regardless, I think a Brace is possible, although improbable. He did beat Juve coming off the bench, no?

 

He will start... he was their best player in this past week's league game...Hodgson won't screw with that... Dare I bump up my BRACE statement to HATRICK for Dempsey...making him the undisputed god of Fulham for all time??? Better not since he has never scored one for Fulham...But mark my words a BRACE is happening!!!!

 

Thank you for getting this right. That Liverpool game gets blown out of proportion on these boards, probably due to Dempsey's goal and how it was called the 60 million pound goal by the press. It wasn't the last game of the season, relegation wasn't on the line and Liverpool were fielding a very weakened team (made something like 9 changes due to CL final with AC Milan later that week). On the other hand, the next year Fulham was relegated down 2-0 in the second half at Man City and they came back to win 3-2 to keep hopes alive. Won a must win game at Craven Cottage the next week against Birmingham and then again the week after away at Portsmouth. All three of those games were much more meaningful than the Liverpool game because relegation was on the line in all three.

 

Gosh I wish I went with my gut and put 100 bucks on fulham staying up that season...

 

How much would that have fetched?

 

A goal gets called a "60 million pound goal" and we're blowing it out proportion?

As I recall, if Fulham failed to get the result, the next match was do or die for them. As it was, Dempsey's goal ensured that they stayed up (achieved la salvezza, as Rossi would say). So yes, it was significant.

 

Right On - Fulham only earned 4 points in their last 5 games in the 06/07 season. To minimize the importance of those 3 points and that goal is silly.

 

Dempsey starts on the bench, as per UEFA.com

Schwarzer, Konchesky, Pantsil, Hangeland, Gera, Murphy, Duff, Hughes, Etuhu, Zamora, Davies.

Bench: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Riise, Dempsey, Smalling, Greening, Dikigacoi

 

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.....

 

lol crap you got me.... I don't remember but it was a whole helluva lot more than 50 to 1 i'm pretty sure

 

Thought I'd bump this up for those who didn't see it. Even if you think you can't get any more excited for this game than you already are, watch this video.

Any word on Zamorra's availability?

 

There's my answer. Great news.

 

One, I am not saying that the goal wasn't important or trying to minimize their importance, but my comment was in relation to the "most important game Fulham has played comment" When the Liverpool game was played it wasn't a do-or-die game for Fulham. Its easy to say looking back that the Liverpool game was a big game because it ultimately kept them up, but like you said they only collected 4 out of their last 15 points that season - a win in any of those other four games would have kept them up as well. They finished 16th that season with Wigan and Sheffield finishing a point back in 17th. The only point I am trying to make is that on the day the game was played the Liverpool game was not as important as any of the final three games the following season when they had to win to stay up.

 

And for Hamburg it’s: Rost, Mathijsen, Aogo, Ze Roberto, Petric, Tesche, Jarolin, J. Boateng, Demel, Pitroipa, Van Nistelrooy.

Bench: Hesl, Rozehnal, Guerrero, Berg, Arslan, Rincon, Schulz

 

Can't say I'm surprised as they have had recent success in Europe with that midfield (and Clint might still not be at 100%), but I am a little disappointed. Clint, when healthy, is a significantly better player than Davies.

 

Wouldn't be shocked to see Dempsey come on for Zamora early if his problem reoccurs or to see Davies drop back to RB again with Dempsey coming on, if Fulham give up an early goal.

It can't be better than Juve at the Cottage, so I'm staying home for this one.

 

dang that would have been sweet!

 

I'm surprised. I thought for sure Hodgson was trying to get Clint matchfit for this game by playing him over the weekend.