I'd really have the think about this move.... For me, this is driven more by marketing and brand, rather than football. FSG said they would only buy young players will resell value, so why are they in for a 29 year old? Does Rodgers actually want Dempsey? I'd have to question that....
He's a relatively cheap, experienced attacking player who maybe has another 3 good years in him. He could easily fit into a front 3 anywhere along the line. Not only that but he will sell a lot of shirts and boost our brand in the States. I can only see this as a positive move, aside from Gerrard and Lucas I feel like we don't have any experience in our midfield, if one of those 2 is injured we're left with a lot of youngsters who maybe aren't quite ready to take the game by the scruff of the neck just yet (Shelvey, Spearing, Henderson...). I rate our youngsters, but we can't completely rely on them just yet.
I think we could do with an experience player or 2 in attack. Dempsey has a good touch and could fit in well and add some much needed goal. I can imagine Dempsey fitting in well, though maybe not getting the 23 goals of last season. If it was really an issue with Rogers I am sure he would put his foot down. It already looks like he has convince the owners that he doesnt need a DoF, so he cant be a soft touch. Rogers has a vision which the owners admire greatly. I think they will respect his player selection well enough. Maybe the owners did recommend him. But if Rogers did want Dempsey I think they would accept it.
He did deflect the DoF. Only to be given a Transfer/Target Panel. In other words, he is only part of the process, and not in charge of it. I mentioned somewhere else, Dempsey, decent Player that he is, dos not fit Rodgers' usual profile of Player.
No they haven't. They've said if a player fits, they'll bring him in. Ideally they'd like that player to be young and resaleable, but that can't always happen. Downing, for instance, was bought not for his resale value, but because they thought he could offer the most down the left hand side, given the options.
At other clubs maybe he felt like he was buying young on limited funds so as to produce a talented squad in 3-4 years time. At Liverpool he doesn't have that problem, we already have a talented squad (despite what the media would have you believe) and we have enough money to be comfortable in the transfer market. He can afford to buy one or two more experienced players who can fit right into the starting lineup and make an immediate impact. Isn't that what people have complained about with past transfers?
Name me another experienced attacking central midfielder except Gerrard. EDIT: Even if Gerrard doesn't get injured, I have doubts that he is fit enough to play 90 minutes every match with the same intensity. We need a number of players for every position.
I highly doubt Aquilani will be with us come September. And in all honesty I forgot about Cole, I don't think he can cut it with us and I see Dempsey as a much better option. Same applies for Downing, although I'd say he deserves maybe one more season to prove his worth. EDIT: Sorry about the edit again. But also can you really imagine Cole or Downing grabbing the match by the scruff of the neck like Gerrard? I can imagine Dempsey being a much more effective deputy. (Although I imagine he may play further up, but if something is to happen to Gerrard he can easily cover).
urghh, why did u have to bring Cole up, I forgot he was still clinging on to us, wish he would leave! His 90£k a week is like a ball and chain and he's so slow now it's unreal
its a very good question posed by noble. i guess the thing would be if dempsey is looking for medals or a big last contract.... i don't see him getting many big offers so he might jump at this anyway... . is that the right tpye of guy we want. if he wants medals and thinks he'll play then i guess he'll sign up but i suppose he'd want to know as guys said aquilani and cole need to shift.
That should not come into it! The only questions that need asking are: 1) Does he play a position that is an area of need? 2) Is he good enough? 3) Does he fit the style of play? 4) Can we afford him? In that order
You make it sound like it was done behind his back. It wasn't. He explicitly said in his first presser that he rejected the idea of working under the one DoF, and that transfers would be worked on by various people. He knew about it, and accepted it when signing the contract.
More money, better chance at winning something, playing with better players. At 29 he may never get the chance to move to a big club again. Would be a no brainer for me.
I don't wish to sound rude but I think your romanticising football a little too much. The guy is a good player who can slot into the squad (especially now since Maxi and Kuyt have left). He's nothing special, but if he can promote Liverpool to a country as big as the USA then that's a hell of a bonus and he'll almost definitely end up paying his own transfer fee through income generated. It's win/win, we get a good player, boosted revenue and a new fanbase to tap into. I think some of you guys think that it's dishonest to buy a player partly for commercial aspects, but at the end of the day football is a business and the increased revenue from support in the States can only be a good thing for the future. However I'm inclined to agree with Redbrynner from another thread who claimed the circus around the transfer was to drum up interest from American fans while we're over there for the tour. I personally don't think we'll sign him, but I could see the logic behind it if we did.
I'm not saying it is dishonest, I am saying we should buy a player based on ability and ability alone. If we get the commercial benefit from that signing then that is a very welcomed bonus. I team is only as good as its weakest link Edit: And I am not saying that Dempsey wouldn't improve us either
Agree with this. I honestly do think he would be an improvement to our squad but if he costs anything more than 5-6mil then I'd prefer for us to sign someone else
