Hey All, Was looking at a post from today and most of the fans over on Fulham's msg board are calling for Sanchez to put Clint in the starting 11...hopefully it'll happen. He was def. among Fulham's best after he came on. Here's the link: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/Messageboard.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=13275
Freaking amazing! I hope he gets the call. He certainly deserves a look after shaking things up in the Arsenal fixture. Should have done better on that header though.
Damn, that header was a killer. Would have changed the whole complexion of the game. He played well, he deserves to start the next game.
It's amazing how many Fulham fans want him as a striker or withdrawn forward. He's played those positions in MLS, but he's much more effective on the right of midfield. Starting him as a forward when you've got McBride, Montella, and company doesn't make sense.
I was watching him and maybe they dont think he has the speed or acceleration to be an effective winger in the EPL.
Montella is heading back to Italy in a month and McBride has been dead since February... I think Dempsey looked good on Sunday as a striker...
I actually disagree entirely...I think Clint is most effective as a withdrawn forward. When he plays right, central, and left he is always involved and making things happen. When he is just pushed out to one side he makes poor runs, doesnt come looking for the ball, and puts himself on an island. On top of that McB and Montella are not scoring and have not been for a while...
Not sure whether I like him as a fwrd at this point...but yeah I agree throwing him to the side at right gets him less into the picture. I wish his speed and foot work was like how it used to be. But I cannot lie, he looked much much better against Arsenal, so what the heck....Start him fwrd and see what happens. BTW for those of you who already forgot Deuce's great foot skills, go to ussoccer.com and search for the game vs Norway and watch it. Some great tricks back then...
He played right behind the forwards against Arsenal and was free to roam. I think that's his best position, but the jury is still out on whether he is an EPL-level starter at that position. Here's hoping he is.
He will be facing Maschereno most likely if he starts in that slot and/or a very good Liverpool back line. However, I do think his foot speed could pose them some problems.
IMO, the best he ever played was when Nicol played a 3-1-3-1-2, with Clint as the pivot. Shalrie was behind him, and Cancela in front. Clint was dominant.
I don't agree. Live and on the replay I thought the ball was just an inch too high for him. The way he bent at the waist gave me the impression he was stretching the make the contact he did. Heading the ball 10 feet over looks to me like he just couldn't reach it. That said, I sure agree with everyone and feel he should make the starting 11. What does Fulham have to lose, anyway. They've got to score goals.
I can almost assure you that Mascherano will not play... he may face Momo Sissoko tho... with Xabi ALonso
To me, it seems that when Dempsey comes on you can expect improved attack but also a weakened defense. I believe that is why Coleman and now Sanchez haven't given him more time. Fulham has enough troubles keeping balls out of their net.
Wow. Scrolling through that thread, I don't think there was a single poster that left Dempsey out of their starting lineup.
IMHO... Against Liverpool, at home, who may be depleted... you have to come out playing for the win because of Fulham's situation... you just HAVE to. I think Deuce's finishing ability as a midfielder is something that makes him special... his finishing, dribbling and bravado. I have him take Jensen's spot from last game... go with something like: McBride - Montella Dempsey Davies Radzinski Diop Quedrue - Bocanegra - Christanval - Rosenior Niemi Obviously, Brown will probably be starting... but if you're looking to put your best 11 out there, with the idea of playing for a win in mind... there it is. Now, if you DO get a lead... I think, at some point, you pull out Montella for Michael Brown... leave Macca up top to get battered and try to win balls back... after that... You make a decision if McBride is not worn down too much and if he can stay in the game... if he can, you pull Dempsey, if he can't... you pull Macca and put in HH. If you pull Dempsey, I say throw Smertin out in midfield ...if you're playing to hold that lead, you get as dirty and scummy as you can... play that totally ugly soccer like Fulham was earlier in the season and just try to muck your way through it by fouling as much as humanly possible anytime that Liverpool gets possession. If Fulham is playing from behind... I think having Jensen on the bench is a necessity to bring out for Diop... problem is, I don't know how 'all-out' you can go if you're behind since you want to keep that goal differential tight and Liverpool has the potential to light up Fulham... tough decision. My bench would be: Brown, Smertin, HH, Knight(or Volz), Jensen No goalie... make a gamble... yes, Niemi has been injury prone... but this gives you the most options with which to
I think Dempsey is more effective at playing the "holding forward" role than HH, who did absolutely nothing against Arsenal.
Who challenged the ball into the box that led to Lehmann's mistake and Brown's goal? Had McBride been the one doing that, this board would have an explosion of high praise for his courage and battling spirit!
You know, there once was a Yank whose Euro career was ruined by Liverpool. Now, let's hope there's one whose career can be made by it.
actually, i've been surprised how slow he looks out there sometimes. I have to admit i didn't see much of the mls clint but he it's a funny look to him out there - he can off balance guys and get his opening to blow past, but then they close the gap after about 4 steps and he's not that much better off. Having said that, Fulham have got to have the slowest team speed in the epl surely. That's why i can't understand why a lot of the ffc fans here just want him to get inthe early cross - to whom?? i thought it was mixed out there against arsenal. two big errors, the sitting header and also missed an easy 1-2 combo that would've put on of their guys through - instead he dwelled on the ball for a few step overs. on the plus he showed that he's got talent and a decent (not great) first touch. i think as a coach you think that you could mold that. ...maybe he needs a loan spell in the cola?