From thread 'has the real Deuce finally arrived' - back in January... http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...e-finally-arrived/page2?p=4138527#post4138527 and my opinion has not changed
Dempsey is a good player....he may well be unsuited to us but he has made some telling contributions....his goals v man utd may still prove vital come may 19th. I know hes had some poor games but hes been injured a few times, and his season has been very stop start. I think that some of the criticism has been harsh to be honest
Dempsey is a good player (for someone else) He may well be unsuited to us (no may well be about it, he IS unsuited to us!) He has made some telling contributions (but nowhere near enough, not by a long chalk, not even to justify his what now seems to be exorbitant fee) His goals v man utd may still prove vital come may 19th (and the sheer number of misses will prove even more vital come May 19th) He's had some poor games (no, he's had a LOT of poor games) He's been injured a few times (because he's not suited to the speed at which Spurs play, so when he tries to bust a gut to keep up, he literally busts it!) His season has been very stop-start (it would have been better if it had been stop-stop and NO start) Some of the criticism has been harsh (only some, note to self... put more effort in)
I don't think that we have had value for money (£6m?) from Dempsey so far and don't see him featuring long enough to drastically change that situation. Always dangerous to purchase on the back of a players best ever season, but his 8 goals from 33 appearances is a return to type. And a couple of goals against United don't change the facts that he has seriously under delivered. In his first few appearances he enthusiastically chased and harried, but now even that is not evident. We have commented many times on his International commitments and I really think that this has had an impact on his ability to influence in his performances on return. There must be a physical payback for clocking up that ludicrous number of air miles - and we are reaping the rewards...... I could mention 'contracts v national pride' but that is a whole other discussion. And being the one to come out with public comments highlighting club concerns and worry at this stage of the season is hardly likely to endear him to fans or colleagues. Not saying that there is no stress around, but to go public is not helpful at any time - and to come from a player who is under-performing and generally lopes around looking vaguely interested just compounds the matter. He will undoubtedly get game time in the run-in - just praying that he proves me wrong in that time..........
agreed Relayer. Unfortunately, he doesn't posses enough quality to carry us during this tough spell. He doesn't fit, which has been mentioned by many of us. We are better of playing a youngster like Ceballos who will be hungry for the chance and has the attributes to fit our style. He might take a game or two to adapt, or may end up not working as it's too late in the day and too much pressure, who knows. - But I think someone like him is worth taking the "risk" on, over Dempsey who's had a season to prove himself and done bugger all.
Yes, when we signed him I remember commenting that he always seemed to give 110% and never gave up. I thought that we could do with some of that sort of attitude in the side. Now even that seems to have gone from his game, there isn't't much left!..
Fair point re: Ceballos, mate I suppose we just need to balance that against a) whether Dempseys additional experience would outweigh his current lack of influence on the pitch and b) whether to unceremonially drop him will impact on a possible financial return at the end of the season. I am also concerned that Dempsey - unlike our other current and previous US citizens, Keller and Friedel, is not the sharpest tool in the box......
There was always going to be little resale value in him at his age anyway I'd say, and as for his experience...what experience?, scrapping around with Fulham!. He's hardly a veteran of European football, Finals or anything else really, just PL experience. Myself, I just can't see that as a reason to sway being picked when off form.
Demspey will have value in a cash + player deal, unlike Jenas. Let's just hope Villa fans don't read this thread...
Forget any of the financial aspects such as what we paid, resale value etc etc... Let's just look at him as a player and break it down into positives and negatives Positives: works hard and keeps chasing (haven't seen too much of that recently) rocks up with a few goals out of nothing. negatives: poor first touch most of the time lack of pace to suit our system cuts in and stops our wide game, closing off space lacks technical ability for our style of football lacks agility doesn't think quickly enough gets dispossessed far too often lacks intelligence and creativity what else can go in each section? I'm really stuck for positives. As I've said before, this isn't due to Dempsey being a bad player, but he's not connected with "the Tottenham way" or AVB's chosen tactics.
Against who?, his International experience is battling with nations that will never see WC later stages, couple of brief Confed Cup results maybe, but again, just what does that bring? If a player is off form, 'experience' should tell him to stay on the bench out the way!
I seem to recall a goal against England--(edit) though I get your joke now, NSS, a minute or so late...funny, actually. He's also scored against Ghana in a world cup, Brazil in a confed cup and Italy in a friendly. In general he's been a better player internationally than in the PL, except for last year. But it's a similar story: when he's the main threat, or one of the two main threats (as on trhe US team and with Fulham), he has the hustle and determination to bang a decent number in. On a team like Spurs he doesn't have the talent to justify more playing time.
rwaeb - I'd actually forgot it was his shot Green fumbled! Its just my light hearted look at 'experience', it doesn't avert a bad performance, if a senior player is off form, I don't always think experience is the best reason to give the player the nod over another, and as is sort of being suggested here, is it enough?
Notso - I raised the question rather than support the principal of picking 'experience over form' - and personally, Dempsey would be one of the last of our players who I would currently give the benefit of the doubt to......
I know, I was supporting your support! On Demps, he's clearly not next season material, let alone this! so let the players play who will be involved, seems odd when Sig or Holtby has to sit out for him, I'd rather watch a bad performance from them, at least their still learning.
you know we'll still have him next season. As well as 2 or 3others who we feel need to move on. past experience has taught me that getting rid of "deadwood" is one hell of a challenge for Tottenham Hotspur. Gotta be ruthless this summer and support AVB, what ever it takes. A change of approach and a shake up is needed IMO.
I don't think that it'll be at all difficult to move on Dempsey in the summer, assuming that's the plan. He's a very high profile player in the US, so his commercial worth adds a lot to his value. He might even fancy a return to the MLS.
