I think Richardson played more at left back in recent years. It may be that Jol is seeing him as a more reliable, experienced back up for Riise. If that's the case, and if as many are saying Briggs just isn't up to scratch, it wouldn't be a bad signing. Bandit's right though, we need something more than that to replace Dembele unless one of the youngsters is about to astonish us with how they step up. Can't see that happening overnight, myself. Is it too much to hope that Moussa will turn Spurs down? Probably.
I'm afraid your research far outstrips my knowledge of these players, so I can't comment. I'm sure Jol had a plan B in mind in the event of Dembele's departure. I just hope it's a good one.
SBM, are you a Fulham scout in disguise? Top marks on the research, I think Jol will go abroad for a couple of replacements. Still sad, but not surprised, about Dembele. I thought he was going to be the next legendary captain at CC.
Richardson...I would say the majority of SAFC fans would like him to stay with (maybe 60/40...I'm with the 40) I'm not his biggest fan but to be fair he is very versatile. L/B-C/M-L/W and a role just behind the striker. For me, his best position would be the number 10 role (is that Dempsey)? Has an eye for a goal but imho. goes missing in that position as with C/M and L/W. At left back gets caught out of position and I have never seen a player miss place so many balls for a simple 9/10 yard pass. As I said, versatile and at £2m cheap enough and after 5 years with us may just be ready for a change of scenery and a fresh challenge. Maybe at 27 his best years are upon him..
I'll give him a fair chance if he comes, but always struck me as a 'baby bentley' character, not one that we need in the dressing room.
Cheers Moorsley, sounds like a handy player to have in the squad, and you guys seem to think more of him than I thought you would!
I think that used to be the case, Silkship, but now he claims to be a changed man: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sp..._Richardson_tells_how_faith_changed_his_life/
No way back for Dempsey at Fulham says goal.com ! http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/08/30/3340410/- Like it or lump it, I suspect we all reckon he'll end up at L'pool. What really irritates me (apart from the tapping and so on) is that they are looking for £5m+ for Adams (Stoke are the latest sniffing around) and £3/4m for Spearing (Bolton probably), yet they are baulking at £7/8m for Dempsey. Forget ages, forget length of contract, just think quality. Uuugh !! The Club really should not allow themselves to be bullied.
I know what you mean, Cottager, but we can't forget ages and length of contract: that's part of what determines a player's value. Would Dempsey be without value in the summer? Of course not, but that's what we'd get. If Jol doesn't think Clint can be brought back into the fold, we should do what it takes to move him on this week. He'll be worth even less in January when everybody knows it's our last chance to sell. Part of me is still hoping that if he's still here when the music stops, him and Jol will find a way of bringing him back into the side. Another part of me says just bite the bullet, do the deal and move on to avoid potential disruption to the squad.
Wrote on this before a while back- Dempsey opens up the US market further for Liverpool- something they are already working on. Neither Adam or Spearing add any real commercial value to a club, through shirt sales alone Dempsey would probably cover his wages. As a player, £7-8m is about right, as a commodity he is closer to £10-12m.
Spearing has gone to Bolton on loan. There has been the persistent rumour that L'pool wanted to sell fringe players to raise the cash for Dempsey, so don't know if this has a bearing.
And now Carroll on a year loan to West Ham. Again don't know if this has any bearing on Demsey's situation. There is a high probability that Carroll will play on Saturday - should make for interesting headines.
After tonight's poor display against Hearts, L'pool are on the prowl. In his post match interview Rogers said, "We need other players to come in and help the group. I hope over the next 24 hours that can happen" Rumours however are that his prioity is Sturridge not Dempsey.
Captain is right (again). Let him go wherever, but in the unlikely event Clint stays, then in a month he'll be scoring goals for us. I have commented previously about the seedier side of the game, with agents (e.g. Kia Joorabchian), tapping up by clubs etc. All quite pathetic and indicative of the money being too powerful. As for Liverpool, a club which used to have my greatest respect over many many years, the last few seasons have been a disappointment. No so much the drop-off in performance, but the acting with some apparent entitlement to recover former years of glory - no plan, just a long series of short-term fixes. What they do is their problem, but it does affect us, e.g. Dempsey (tapping-up, if true), Sir Roy (why did they take him if they did not understand what they were getting?). Anyhow - C O Y W
To be fair, the Liverpool owners who brought Roy in didn't then hang around for long themselves. It's always difficult for a manager when you weren't the choice of the owners. Almost inevitably a new owner wants to bring in their own man. Al Fayed did much the same with Micky Adams, who I always felt was harshly treated after what he achieved on a shoestring.
Blimey this a bolt out of the blue, if true - we have accepted £7m from Villa for Dempsey http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2196222/Fulham-accept-7m-Aston-Villa-bid-Clint-Dempsey.html It confirms though that the Club have decided he should move on.
I see a few websites are reporting we have accepted a bid of £7mil from Villa. At the end of last season I was desperate to keep Dempsey. But after the way he has conducted himself over the summer I hope he goes now. The sad thing is we are in a poor position with regards to commanding a decent fee, a player with a year on his contract who has openly said he wants to leave and is refusing to play. He has been great for the club, I just feel it’s sad he didn’t conduct himself in the same was as Dembele the last few months. If he had I think he would then move on with everyone’s best wishes but if he goes today it’s going to leave a sour aftertaste which is sad. ***EDIT*** Sorry C58 you beat me too it!
