Clint Dempsey is undeappreciated
Question: how many players do we expect to have registered six league goals before 2008 is over?
My guess: no Fulham player will have achieved this.
Which doesn’t prove anything, of course. But…
Clint Dempsey scored six goals before 2007 was over, then moved back into midfield. I don’t think people appreciate this contribution, leaning on the old “old of position midfielder” crutch. I felt that Clint played well as a forward, isolated, handed jack all to work with. As one half of a strike partnership which feeds on balls on the deck I think he could thrive this season. But nobody agrees, it seems.
The only way you could be disappointed with Clint’s performance as a forward is if you expected him to be exactly like McBride. And even then, he filled the role pretty well. I think he’s had his best games for us as a forward (that Spurs game especially comes to mind), but I suspect he might be best in the central midfield. He’s good (but not great) at everything, and this gives him the opportunity to do all of that. Clint’s biggest shortcoming (IMO) was his passing, but he seems to have figured that out now.
We’ve not yet seen the AJ/Zamora pairing yet, I think it’ll be fruitful. Both to have 6 goals by Jan’09 is my prediction…
I think you’re right that he did an oustanding job upfront considering what he had to work with. I think the difficult question though is where would he play best. I’d say he could be very useful in central midfield but if he plays there he’ll almost certainly be alonside Danny Murphy and I’m not sure that’s any better than the Bullard/Murphy combination. I’m hoping Zamora and AJ can form an effective partnership up front. Dempsey would be a option for me but the fact that Roy tried Seol there firsts seems to indicate he’s not so keen.
Dempsey would be most effective played behind two strikers, but Fulham cannot and probably should not play such a formation/system.
His lack of serious bite and no left foot limits him in central midfield, although his passing his under-rated. Out on the wing he tends to foul too often defending. He has a decent but not phenomenal work rate.
As a leading the line striker he works hard, but lacks pace to stretch the backline, does not possess a strong outside the 18 strike, and does not win as many headers as a classic center forward. He is at his best crashing the box sniffing in support for leftovers from point blank range as a poacher. He is also effective on set pieces, dribbles well, and possesses some guile.
His best performances in the second half of the season came when he played left midfield, and was given freedom to cut inside while Simon Davies hugged the touchline on the opposite side and Jimmy Bullard went forward.
I think that he would appear as a better player in any team that exudes quality and confidence. I believe that whilst this is true of most players it is particularly appropriate to Clint.
How much is Dempsey making? Im sure he’s not the highest earner but must be mid range? Any idea?
Today pretty much seals it, eh? Dempsey definitely looks to be Fulham’s best attacking player, at least in the eyes of this New England Revolution fan.
He is not a central midfielder. Just from watching some Confederation Cup highlights, he looked lost and made some shockingly horrible decisions as to which direction to take his dribble. He has good ball handling skills and likes to massage the ball. His dribble is like a choreographed Spice Girl routine and that is best suited for the flanks and in one on one situations. Central mid is a bit too chaotic and unpredictable for his game.