I believe Frei will stay, while Bidley makes a good point regarding smalling I don't believe it would be in Frei's interest to move on at 18. In addition to this, should Dempsey leave (which I sadly believe he will) then next season will be Frei's opportunity to step up and consequently put himself in the shop window for future seasons. I'm quite excited at the prospect of Frei and Kacaniklic on the wings for a few seasons to come yet, particularly with Dempsey and Davies likely to be moving on and Duff (despite some fine recent displays) probably being phased out or sold over the next few seasons. Regarding Dempsey, I have my ideas of who would come in for him, personally thinking that Arsenal and if they reach the CL Newcastle would be the sides he's most suited to and who need a player like him. However speculating the club he goes to somewhat misses the point. On a personal level I'm in agreement with every other Fulham fan in wanting him to stay. Yet consider the context, he's 29 so only got 3 years or so left at the top, he's got one year left on his contract, frequently expresses desire to play in the CL, all the big teams allegedly want him and he's been a tremendous servant to the club, so as long as he doesn't do something stupid like writing a newspaper column about how much Fulham held his career back, he will always receive a terrific reception when he comes back here and leaves on good terms. As much as I want him to stay personally, seeing his interview with Murphy the other night when Murphy said how he'd never trained with anyone like dempsey has just reaffirmed how much dempsey deserves a chance at CL football. The only reason I can think of him to stay at fulham is if he's the sort of person who likes being in his comfort zone and want to be the big fish in a small pond so to speak. However, I don't think he's like that and if turns down the chance to move on this summer, he may retire in his mid 30s just thinking what might have been. As for dembele, I think should Modric leave Spurs then dembele would be the ideal replacement and I imagine Sir Alex may have pinpointed him as a solution to Man Utd's central midfield issues. Dembele's wonderfully improved work rate this season will have increased Sir Alex's admiration for him I'm sure and so we'll do well to keep him. However I don't know why, but I just have a gut feeling he'll stay for another season. I very much hope he does, not just for his performance sake but also but in the hope of commanding a higher fee next summer.
Yep - http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/March/FreiDealConfirmed.aspx He wouldn't be the first player to sign a new contract with a club and leave a few months later, but I think he's in the right place with the right manager to progress over the next few years. If Dempsey does go, Frei could potentially have 2-3 years of regular Premier League football with Fulham under his belt by the age of 21. If he becomes the player we all think he will, then it's inevitable that he'll move on eventually but until that happens I'll enjoy seeing him terrorise opposition defences in a Fulham shirt. As for Dempsey, agree with much of what RobespierreFFC says, except about him only having 3 years or so left at the top. I can see him being one of those players who goes on well into his 30s. He looks after himself and a lot of what he does on the pitch is to do with his ability to time his runs and find space. In that sense he can be compared to players like Scholes and Sheringham who've gone on and on. He'll have to adapt as he gets older (don't we all!) but if he stays free from injury and is well managed he could have a good 6/7 years left in him.
True, Fulhamish, players do move soon after signing new contracts. The point is if he's got several years to run, we can't be forced to sell him and will only do so on our terms. Like you, I can see us getting several good years for Fulham out of Frei before he eventually moves on.
Agreed on Demps, he's given us plenty of good times, and deserves a shot at the big time. Lets just hope he doesn't leave for Liverpool and get played out of position or go to Spurs and rot on their bench/reserves.
The only club in England I can see him going to is Arsenal, can't see Utd. or City coming in for him. Would he start with Chelsea or Spurs? Newcastle may be able to offer Champions League football next year but I can't see them getting it the following season. I think Arsenal or abroad is his best option..... or stay here of course.
Apologies, didn't see Fulhamish's post ^ I hope that FFC if we do sell Dempsey are wise enough to not sell him to a PL team, especially a rival such as Newcastle or Liverpool, teams we could realistically challenge next season for a top 6 spot. Maybe we should give the teams in the middle east and Anzhi a ring?
Dempsey has probably four or five good years left in those legs. American kids don't play as much football when they're young as their English or German counterparts. Footballers in the states compete for time on the same field (pitch) space used by baseball and tackleball players; so while he's 29, he's probably got the mileage on those legs that a 26 year old European footballer has. Notice how long McBride and Bocanegra have been at it.
Word from Steve Rowley (Arsenal chief scout) is that Arsenal would negotiate for Dempsey at the 10 million quid mark. I have heard like C58 that a bid has been lodged, for Dempsey by Arsenal. We've apparently told Arsenal to wait till season's end.
Initially I thought Arsenal would be an awful place for him to go because he wouldn't suit the system - however I'm slowly changing my mind on this. I think he would do a lot of good for Arsenal off the pitch, as well as on it. A lot of Arsenal's younger players come from smaller footballing countries where they become hero's. Clint has the experience of dealing with that and the expectations that come with it. He is also a great example to them of the benefit of hard work on the training pitch- he's improved immensely and will continue to do so, regardless of where he is. To be honest I hope he goes, as a Fulham fan I want him in the team, but he's earnt his chance and it doesn't look likely we can keep up with him just yet. However we should have a buy back clause put into his contract- he could still do a job in 3/4 years.
Yeah the more I think about it, the more I think Arsenal would be the best fit for him in the prem. He's much better than gervinho on the left while they could rotate Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott on the right plus I think Wenger would admire his versatility and exceptional fitness as cover Van Persie should he get injured or worse for Arsenal leave.
A consideration is his commercial value to clubs with American owners (you know who they are). Clint is high profile over there and within the USA 'soccer' team. The only saving grace is that his price would go up in the event of an auction. At the end of the day though Clint will make the decision and it won't be about money for him. He is a man of the highest integrity and deserves all the respect he gets -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiHzEBCyAvk
it does look like that, dempsey will go, tbh i thought he would go last season and there was interest in him, i think him and dembele blame will both go, shame really, but i am sure it wont be the end of the world, you cant blame them if a champs league team comes in for them, its there job at the end of the day
If Deuce wants to go to a CL team (as reported) then I would have to wish him good luck, though I think it's at least 50% that he will stay - I hope he stays. In UK I think he would suit Manchester Utd or Newcastle best. I think he's too old @ 29/30 for Arsenal's or Spurs' transfer policy - no resale value. Chelsea??? outside possibility. I live in Northumberland and some ITKs claim that newcastle have prepared a bid. Otherwise it's a european club, with all the upheaval and settling in implied therein. Also possible, I suppose. Dembele, is I think a more likely target for Arsenal - their style of player - but would also suit other serious CL contenders.
Arsenal signed Arteta who is 29, the same as Dempsey, and Spuds have signed both Ryan Nelsen and Louis Saha recently, both of whom are in their 30's! If there's a player in the PL that can score goals on a regular basis, it won't matter to many clubs how he is.
Scott Parker as well, I think Park Chu Young is in his late twenties too - come to think about it Andre Santos and Per Mertesacker weren't young either.
