The media, headlines .. and assumptions, Bidley. To be absolutely clear, here is the definitive quote from Jol (yesterday) - "I never said he's gone on strike," Jol said. "I was probably a bit naive, asking 'Clint, do you want to start?'. All he said was 'you know what I want' … After that it was very difficult to communicate."
One thing I hear, when Jol talkes about (or defends) Dempsey, is an openness for Clint to return to the team. Jol seems to be going out of his way, publically at least, to bridge the gap between himself, the team and Dempsey. You're not hearing anything like Manchini's statement against Teves last year - "he'll never play for me again..." So I hope there's a chance for reconciliation in the matter since Dempsey does not seem to be going anywhere and I seriously doubt at this point that Brenden Rogers would pay 10 dollars for Clint Dempsey, let alone 10 million pounds. Unfortunately for Dempsey, he's not in a position to hold a press conference and tell his side of the story and, thus, he continues to look like a cross between a spoiled brat and a prima-donna.
Rumours are getting stronger about a move to Sunderland for Dempsey. From Champions league ambitons to Wearside - what a waste. I suppose the situation at Fulham has gone too far. I did hope that somehow we could amicably resolve this issue but it would appear not. Early signs are that we could be in for a remarkable season and after all he has done for Fulham he's not going to be a part of it. Perhaps I'm a tad early but it looks like he will be remembered for the good times but had a very sad ending.
Aye, share those thoughts F COYW. Doubt if this farce of a transfer is over however - with J Cole going to West Ham, L'pool may well re-surface.
I should feel sorry for the guy, considering what he has done for this club, but quite frankly it's hilarious. Refuses to play for the club to engineer a move to a CL team. Ends up at Sunderland. I'm surprised QPR haven't put in a bid to be honest.
While I'm sure Sunderland aren't what he originally had in mind, it is - in size of club and potential, if not in current status - a step up. They are bigger than us, and are the kind of club who ought to be competing with the likes of Everton, Spurs, Newcastle etc in the first rung down from the Champions League regulars. They ought to be there, and with signings like Adam Johnson, Steven Fletcher and (if he goes) Clint, they could be serious challengers for Europe. If they sign Clint and we also sell DemPele, I think they'll finish above us. Whatever happens, good luck to Clint and let's remember the good times. We'll always have Juventus.
I do, Bidley, and I think the stats back me up. Double figures for goals in each of the last two seasons, despite playing only two-thirds and one-half of games respectively and in a struggling team. I also saw some stats showing that his conversion rate for clear-cut chances is up there with the best in the division (Dempsey was another player who featured highly on that list). I think Sunderland - like us - are a team who will make more chances for him than Wolves or Burnley did, so I expect to see him score a lot of goals. That said, the price Wolves were asking made him an unrealistical target for us, but I would still have loved him to come here. He'll have the kind of season for Sunderland that Darren Bent did when he first went there. Wait and see.
I can't say I share your enthusiasm, 22 goals in 61 games isn't fantastic, and he only scored 10 last season. So that's £1.25m p/goal!
Dempsey apart, how many of our players have got 10 goals in a season recently? And he was playing for a very poor Wolves team. But I agree, he's overpriced.
There's something about the Dempsey to Sunderland story that doesn't add up to me. At best it's a sideways move, albeit to a club with a bigger ground and higher attendances with arguably the potential to compete slightly higher up the table. A quote from Alan Hanson last season sticks in my mind - that Dempsey's 'better than mid-table', but that's exactly what Sunderland are. They may finish above us, but if they do it won't be by more than a few points. I don't doubt that Sunderland's interest is genuine, but I suspect that Fulham and Dempsey/Dempsey's agent are using it to force the hand of other clubs.
Clint Dempsey sits at his breakfast table, staring into the steam rising from his coffee cup. His wife is cleaning up and getting the kids ready for school. Sunderland? Really? he thinks. Jeez, if I'd only known it would turn out like this. The Liverpool deal is dead and unless Arsenal or Tottenham come through with an 11th-hour offer, I’ve got only two choices left. First, he imagines himself pulling into the parking lot again at Fulham’s training ground in his slate-grey SUV smelling of leather and success. He sees himself hesitating. On-lookers are everywhere. He takes a deep breath. He can’t wait forever. He swallows hard and opens the door before walking toward the clubhouse under the burning gaze of silent by-standers. From his peripheral vision, he can see people whispering. Dempsey, back in the present, takes a gulp from his coffee, which sticks about half way down his throat. Then he pictures himself, sitting across the table from his wife, explaining to her tear-streaked face why the family has to move to Sunderland. “It’s a better deal than I can get down here. The figure isn’t high, but it’s more than any American’s ever gotten. It’s a big team and I hear Sunderland is a great town.” She nods and smiles, but can’t say a word. He sees something in her eyes he’s never seen before: disappointment. He knows that she knows – the move to Sunderland is just to save face.
You've just sent me to Wikipedia, Bidley. Bobby's premier league seasonal tallies for us were 2, 8, 5 and 5. If you include all goals (which we didn't for Fletcher), only one season is markedly better (4, 19, 7 and 7, although admittedly the last one ended prematurely when he was sold at the end of January). For AJ it's 7, 0 (only played 8 games), 3 and 3. Again, in all competitions that translates as 10, 3, 3, 11. I'd say Fletcher compares favourably with both of them in terms of goals. And (says it again) he did it all playing for a very poor Wolves team, and not always being first choice to start. Not that any of this makes any difference: 'which of these three strikers who don't play for us is better?' Let's hope Petric outscores the lot of them.
I feel that we can do much better than Fletcher,to me this seems a backward step. We are a premiership club and should be thinking and buying accordingly.
Great post DR! I was waiting for the "Sunderland is a ****hole" punchline though. I know you don't do smilies, Captain, but my use of one was quite pertinent; it was pointing to the fact that my post had more than a touch of humour! P.S. Fletcher did score 10 goals in all comps last season
Dempsey should take a leaf out of Tevez's book (I know how strange that sounds) Tevez refused to play for City, was fined, pinned his hopes on a dream move to AC Milan/PSG, when that went down the pan he came back into the City team, got his head down and is now probably playing the best football of his career.
