Yeah I agree with that, he does need to do a lot more on a more consistent basis but his last 3/4 games he's looked like a new player. I'm hoping that he's finding his feet now and getting into the "Spurs rhythm" with the best still to come. When we first signed him I thought he was more than a decent replacement for Rafa, unfortunately, with the past 4 games aside he's been utter **** but I just think he's FINALLY turning a corner and becoming the player that was arguably the best or at least one of the best CAM/ LAM in the league last year. I never rated Pav in all honesty, he great technique when striking the ball but bar that was useless; no first touch, no skill, not enough work rate etc. Lets hope Clint can find that Fulham form of last season! We could really do with it.
I think that Dempsey's slowly getting there. He's had a poor start after a long, drawn out transfer saga and no pre-season, but he's clearly got the will to make it. He's been showing flashes of what he can do and he had a few nifty flicks and tricks in amongst the graft and goal contributions last night, which suggests his confidence is building. I thought that his overall performance was hurt by Naughton's unwillingness to show for it down the left, unfortunately. Not blaming the youngster though, as he looks totally lost at left-back. Rose is doing so well at Sunderland, too. Typical.
I loved Pav, scored some great goals for us and he was just magical. Just a bit of a cult hero for me I guess! I reckon Dempsey is still improving for us but I'm starting to think that he'll get there for us, he said himself in the press that he was starting to really 'get' his role at the club now and I think thats now showing in his peformances. He's still far from perfect or at the level he was at at Fulham but he's showing encouraging signs IMO. Credit to him he's never stopped grafting and I think he knows that he still needs to improve. Naughton is so clearly a right back, he looks dodgy down the left though. I'd want to see Verts at LB in the Prem.
The problem Dempsey faced was that he was coming in as a replacement for Van Der Vaart. Dempsey isn't even half as good as Rafa yet was/is under pressure to perform like him which will never happen.
Dempsey scored lots of goals for Fulham but from a different position I guess, but the comparisons between the two were always inevitable. VdV was a class apart when he was here and watching him was an absolute pleasure but he is the archetypal luxery player IMO, he could go missing and did pick up injuries. For me Dempsey could well match him in the goalscoring stakes if he picks up his game but VdV is undoubtedly the better player.
Yeah so true, I don't think any of us expected Clint to replace Rafa in terms of quality but we did (or I did anyway) expect him to cover the goals aspect of what Rafa left behind, he won us so many matches and although Clint all ready has two winners to his name (Utd & Soton), he should have a lot more for a player of his calibre and position.
I do too SOS. - and I hope the improvement continues. It just concerns me that we've had a fair few games now and he's well below par. - we're clutching at straws to say anything half positive, if we're honest.
Completely different types of players as well. not only that, But Rafa is world class, Dempsey isn't. on the subject of goals, Rafa scored some beauties and you always felt you could rely on him to pull something out of the bag, whether goal or an assist. So many of Dempsey's goals were scrappy tap in's from 6 yards where he's slid across the ground, bundling the ball into goal. - Don't get me wrong, there was certainly some good strikes/finishes amongst that lot too. - But despite the goals he scored and even if he was on top form with us right now, I still wouldn't have that trust in him to help us when we need it most, like I had with Rafa. I sound so harsh, but there's something I just can't quite put my finger on. My gut feeling is telling me that he just won't suit us, despite the fact he's a good player. I really hope I'm wrong.
Newbie here. I'm not impressed with Dempsey at all. I couldn't work out what position he was playing last night, he likes to lose the ball and his passing was poor. His assist was good but he didn't score - the ball hit the cross bar and was bouncing back onto the pitch away from goal - but the ball fortunately bounced back off the goalkeeper. I think he was bought primarily as a squad player and back-up, and was most likely a "panic" buy because Spurs were selling VDV. As for playing the "Spurs way" - I cannot fathom what that is. Are Swansea playing the "Spurs way? Is this simply fluid passing and attacking play which does not necessarily translate into wins? If Spurs are playing badly, but yet winning, that's all that matters. Very very few teams (Barcelona) play a "pretty" game and win them. Let's just concentrate on winning games the ugly way - which Man Utd were the master of some years back - before we start thinking about playing the "Spurs way". I for one believe Spurs are heading in the right direction this season, but I know there will be many hiccups on the journey - after so many years of falsehoods, you kind of get prepared for it.
Hi Barney, welcome aboard! Agree with your entire first paragraph. As for the "spurs way" comments, I think it's hard to explain. You're right about getting results, it's something we've always struggled to grind out in the past and perhaps we've now turned our attention to doing just that, whilst we work on "the spurs way" in the background. But for me, I just want to see that special something from each player, regardless of what position they play in. Things like a poor first touch, being dispossessed too easily, giving the ball away cheaply etc, I find incredibly annoying as I feel that its unacceptable from a professional footballer. That's what I'm noticing more with Dempsey over anyone else at the moment, which is why it seems like I'm on his back. - I'm sure there's other culprits too, but they must be doing something else right, otherwise I'd be on their case too!
"The Spurs Way" involves playing well but contriving to **** it up somehow. Last season 'Arry perfected "the Spurs way" and that's probably why he was sacked
If he's mentioned "Jimmy, Jimmy Neighbour, Jimmy Neighbour on the wi-ing...." then he's likely a Spurs fan from my era! Which was just before of course "Peter, Peter Taylor, Peter Taylor on the wi-ing" (do you see what we did there).
The Spurs Way seems to be akin to the role of the Hare in the Tortoise & The Hare. We regularly come flying out of the blocks, and finish with our arses to the wall, hanging on for dear life!..
The Spurs way..........if the opposition score 3 we score 4 playing like we know our players can.Good football and not kicking the ball in the stands every few minutes. The Arsenal way......0-0 from the kickoff and keep it that way hoping to score at the other end while kicking the opposition into the stands every few minutes. I wonder what became of Arsenal's head chopper,Peter Storey? Is he to be found in the local High Street kicking anyone that walks by him? By the way,where did Dempsey receive his black eye?
I may have been the biggest critic, or one of them, at least, of getting Dempsey. He really, really, was never going to be VDV. He doesn't have the gifts. But in the last week and half he's gone from the odd man out of the Spurs team to the leader (albeit only in a Europa League game.) My impression is that he's worked very hard to learn to do what Spurs want him to do, which is to provide the right pass to open up the defense. He had a nice understanding with Adebayor. I'm appreciating he's also the opposite of a luxury player, and is the sort of hard worker who may help the dressing room. You can feel he really wants to win, too, and knows this is his best shot. So, despite the slipups, if he keeps up the level of play he's had in the last week and a half, he will have changed my opinion of him. The Spurs' way? To me it's style over results. Though I think we had enough style the last few years. If we have to get by with only results this year, I could live with it. Though I still think we're a fun team to watch, when reasonably fit (though not in the Europa). Not as fun as last year, but that was a high standard. Trying to defend a lead certainly has me on the edge of my seat.
