The Standard have run with "Tottenham forward set to leave as Spurs agree fee" for the Dempsey story. Subtle. Real subtle.
More importantly, it leads to a great betting opportunity - in which minute of our friendly with Monaco do ITV's boneheaded commentators stop with the Bale speculation and start commentating on the match? My money's on the 23rd minute...
It's the whole stupid "franchising" thing we have here in the US. I find it ridiculous that an American Football team can change from one city to another, across several states and have the same name and colours, all because the team is a franchise. What about the poor fans? It's all about bloody money and rights over here. That's why he's signed to the league, not a club. Totally different mindset to sport in the US.
Gotta say I'm surprised Dempsey is going back to the MLS now. He's still got another 2 possibly 3 years of top flight football in him I feel. Surely there must have been some interest over here for him? It was only the season before last he was the highest scoring attacking midfielder in the league. If the reported £6m figure for him is correct, that's shirt buttons for most Prem clubs, he'd walk into most teams.
He probably feels he's got a chance of raising the status of the game over there, if anyone can, it's him. Thanks Clint
Would anyone else like to see us sign Tom Ince? He turned down Cardiff, doubt he'd turn down us. Would be great backup / competition for Lennon and Chadli.
Ince scored one and made one today. It'll be interesting to see where he ends up and I fully expect him to move before the end of the window.
IF we sell Bale then yeah I'd definitely take him. Otherwise I'd be happy with Bale, Chadli, Lennon and Townsend. I reckon Ince would want guaranteed first team football though, doubt we could offer that.
OP updated for Dempsey - cheers Clint for a decent season but I never really thought you were suited to the pacey style we like to employ. Good luck in the US
On Bale - Marca (the font of all things truthful) are claiming Real are happy to pay £100m for Bale. But they want to do it in £20m instalments over 5 years. Levy will hopefully tell them to go do one. We need the money upfront if we're to lose our best asset - if Real can't pony up the dough then they should maybe sort their own house out first.
You've seen none of those games, as he scored and had an assist against PSV and was the best player on the pitch in April. He also scored against Vitesse, though they lost 3-2, and also scored against Feyenoord where he and Fischer ripped them a new one, in the end 3-0. Eriksen had a good season and was more consistent than in the two seasons before. Ajax even almost beat Dortmund in the group stage in the away game, Ajax should've won that game with 0-1 or even 0-2, Eriksen was a bit unfortunate in his actions that night but he still played like a world class player. And the defending might be dodgy in the Eredivisie but for the ****'s sake stop comparing it to the Bundesliga. You're making a fool out of yourself. Oh, and SoS knows what he's talking about.
His wages and signing on fee will be massive, deters most clubs which are short on money to sign him. And the market for attacking midfielders is flooded as well.