While we freeze
Volzy’s interviewed in the Guardian.
He clears up the whole Hoff thing:
And you’re a fan of the Hoff…
Well, as soon as I stepped foot on this island as a German I was labelled as a Hoff-worshipper, so I thought I would take it to ridiculous levels and really take the piss. I’m not a fan of the man, but of how an often ridiculous figure can create such hype. Unfortunately a lot of people didn’t get it and took me seriously and now I have this [wearily] never-ending story. It worked out a lot better in my head than it did in real life.
Brilliant. He’s a class lad, Volzy, and another that I wish we saw more of in the first team. Looking back on the season, our best run came with Volz and Brown up the middle, it was a lively pairing that did a bit of everything.
Meanwhile Clint Dempsey and Carlos Bocanegra are preparing for their US v Ecuador game. Boca’s really turned into a good player this season; some harsher judges mention the fact that he played through the Christmas stretch where our Goals Allowed started to get out of hand, but generally speaking I think he’s done pretty well. I like him and Christanval together and think that in time they could make for a good, if slightly short (see how Spurs used Mido to beat us) defensive partnership.
Dempsey we’ve discussed. Coleman’s just giving him tasters at the moment. I tried to go back on Youtube last night to look back on some of Deuce’s goals compilations, but Dad’s internet connection groaned under the load so that’ll have to wait. It does, however, strike me that we’re in danger of his not being ready becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. At some point you just have to throw him out there and see what happens.
(Dempsey in training this week, (c) US soccer website)
If you do this you have to be prepared for him not contributing at first, but as I’ve said before, Routledge took a few games to get into the rhythm of things and Dempsey may need the same. This team really lacks a bit of unpredictability and Dempsey’s surely our best chance of making something out of the ordinary happen (especially if Claus is forever banished). He has looked a bit tentative so far, but we signed him because he has this unusual ability: the man’s a walking box of tricks with an eye for goal and if that does translate to the English game he’ll be a big success. I really hope we see him play before the season’s out.
Right, not much today, we’re off to Bath (the place).
You`re right, WMC, Volzy is a good `un - reminiscent of how English players used to be before they became teenage millionaires. Apart from his wholehearted displays on the field, you never hear anything bad about him off it. No fights outside nightclubs or `incidents` involving broken jaws.
And so we return yet again to Dempsey. I can quite understand a player from another country needing a little time to acclimatise to his new surroundings. That apart, Dempsey is an international and by all accounts lack of self-confidence in any area is not one of his problems. Ir`s not as if the present midfield line-up is exactly setting the world alight, is it? My fear is that he is not good enough. But the likeliest explanation is that Coleman has gone into ultra-defensive mode and can`t face playing a talented but `risky` player. Look what`s happened to Routledge and Jensen. Do you think Volz now comes into that category?!
Wing Half
23 Mar 07 at 4:18 pm
we can only imagine why Volz isn’t even in the squad. Seems daft to me, versatility’s a bonus you’d think. I can’t see that Dempsey’s not good enough - he was supposedly very well scouted and has a number of international caps to his credit. I worry, like you, that it’s going to be the old flair player problem that’s dogged English football for a long time. Perhaps he should’ve tried Spain first? Maybe we’ll see more of him down the line.
weltmeisterclaude
23 Mar 07 at 6:54 pm
Hey guys- Dempsey is good enough. He will need time to adjust to the English game, but I have watched his entire career here in the USA and I follow the EPL closely. He is good enough. I think Coleman is just, understandably, not taking any risks right now. He says often that he has not watched MLS games in the USA, so he has probably not seen much of Dempsey outside of training. Once Dempsey gets a full preseason he will get a shot.
Same thing happened with Bobby Convey at Reading- he came in January two seasons ago, couldn’t even make the bench. The next season he was always in the first 11 as Reading soared to promotion. He’s been injured this year or you would know who he is. Excellent left winger from the USA.
Fougs
27 Mar 07 at 8:27 pm