Clint Dempsey

[danperkins]

I'm at work, so can't really do this reply any justice, nor research the stats - but anyhoo, fair post Dan - I have to take your word on the stats, but it would be interested to see it broken down into playing time etc.

I think looking at goalscoring stats for any member of our team last season is going to show a glitch, but from 14 to 4 is not the greatest. However, I still think Kuyt could have offered us something this season. If he left for football reasons, fair play to him - if we decided to cash in on one million pounds, more fool us.

I still think Dempsey has peaked and we'll be throwing six million away. Just in my opinion of course, and if he joins, I can't say I like him, but will support him and hope to be proven wrong.

Dempsey Started:

2011-2012: 46 games started & 0 from bench/ 6 assists
2010-2011: 39 games started & 2 from bench/ 4 assists

Kuyt Started:

2011-2012: 25 games started & 19 from bench/1 assist
2010-2011: 38 games started & 2 from bench/ 7 assists

Immediately clear that both players don't really get injured, which is a bonus as we have several players that are crocked for the most part of every season. Each to their own opinion but from what i can see the majority of people have said that Kuyt had lost his legs and was right time to sell him, i tend to agree.

Dempsey IMO will never be a consistent 20 goal a season man, but IMO he'll get into double figures no problem & has alot to offer apart from goals. And as for throwing 6 million million away which is your opinion and you're perfectly entitled to say, IMO that money will be be made up commercially in the states, that is if we signed him and he failed to deliver of course.

IMO, i just don't see Dempsey as the type of guy that is a failure, been very impressed with him for few seasons now at club and international, his general play i mean not so much his goal scoring. I rarely see any CB getting the better of him throughout the 90 mins, guy seems a constant threat & is a physical match for anyone in the league. Never see him with the head down or moping around, i like that he's a fiery character and he gets stuck in & he's technically quite good aswell.

Definitely not a WOW! signing, but can't see many of them happening at LFC to be honest.

[RedReet]

These days not a chance matt, Dempsey is far superior in every aspect.

Personally if we signed him for a decent fee, nothing silly!! I'll be happy and consider it a very good addition to the squad & a smart commercial move.

In his best days you thought he was ****, so that aint saying much.

[danperkins]

In his best days you thought he was ****, so that aint saying much.

Ah Red what a surprise.

EDIT:And no i didn't, technically horrible but amazing worker and great attitude. Had some **** games and had some amazing ones.Was the right time to sell, great servant though and nice bloke.

[Fosterbloke]

I still think Dempsey has peaked and we'll be throwing six million away. Just in my opinion of course, and if he joins, I can't say I like him, but will support him and hope to be proven wrong.

An off peak Dempsey would still offer more than some of our players. A 10 goal a season player is not too shabby to be honest.

[Angryred]

& a match winner to boot too!...the ratios of goals to wins is quite high too for him...would be pleased if we got him.

[RedReet]

Ah Red what a surprise.

And no i didn't, technically horrible but amazing worker and great attitude. Had some **** games and had some amazing ones, time was right to sell.

I don't disagree with that, but when comparing the two you'd think you were comparing someone like Thierry Henry with Andrea Silenzi.

[danperkins]

I don't disagree with that, but when comparing the two you'd think you were comparing someone like Thierry Henry with Andrea Silenzi.

good oul Silenzi!

Nah not at all mate, just saying that IMO as it stands now Demspey is a much better player than Kuyt. Wasn't always like that but i think he would offers us so much more in terms of production & general play.

[BrooklynRed]

At the risk of being mocked again, I'd be happy to have Dempsey in the team for sure. I am a fan of Kuyt, but he is incredibly frustrating in possession and has the touch of a donkey, gives the ball way too much, etc. Like I said, we could use goals and he has a record of scoring them, so hopefully he can carry that form to us for a few years.

FYI- the Fenway match is already sold out, the Spurs match in Baltimore has a few seats left (it's in a huge stadium), but I am not sure anyone is rushing to get Dempsey here for the USA Tour. It would be great to get him in training ASAP if we are buying, but I don't think his arrival will have an impact on attendance on the USA/ Canada matches.

[Angryred]

Silenzi...didnt wreck his knee on his debut for Villa or summit...

[Lee]

Silenzi...didnt wreck his knee on his debut for Villa or summit...

Luc Nillis wasn't it?

[danperkins]

At the risk of being mocked again, I'd be happy to have Dempsey in the team for sure. I am a fan of Kuyt, but he is incredibly frustrating in possession and has the touch of a donkey, gives the ball way too much, etc. Like I said, we could use goals and he has a record of scoring them, so hopefully he can carry that form to us for a few years.

FYI- the Fenway match is already sold out, the Spurs match in Baltimore has a few seats left (it's in a huge stadium), but I am not sure anyone is rushing to get Dempsey here for the USA Tour. It would be great to get him in training ASAP if we are buying, but I don't think his arrival will have an impact on attendance on the USA/ Canada matches.

Just out of curiosity how popular is Clint Dempsey in the states? I know Landon Donovon is very popular, obviously asking as he could be a great asset commercially in the US?

[danperkins]

Luc Nillis wasn't it?

Silenzi was with Forest.... not for very long

[Angryred]

Luc Nillis wasn't it?

Yeah, it was!

[RedReet]

good oul Silenzi!

Nah not at all mate, just saying that IMO as it stands now Demspey is a much better player than Kuyt. Wasn't always like that but i think he would offers us so much more in terms of production & general play.

Well I had to add something to the debate, and I wasn’t gonna get involved in the hypothetical merits next season of Dempsey compared to Kuyt. Dempsey would have to prove he can transfer his Fulham form onto the bigger stage and we’ll have to see how Kuyt fares if utilized properly in Turkey. Right now we are comparing what Dempsey did playing with less pressure at Fulham to what Kuyt offered when played in a deeper midfield role which has never really suited him during a start-stop campaign.

[Muddled]

Dempsey Started:

2011-2012: 46 games started & 0 from bench/ 6 assists
2010-2011: 39 games started & 2 from bench/ 4 assists

Kuyt Started:

2011-2012: 25 games started & 19 from bench/1 assist
2010-2011: 38 games started & 2 from bench/ 7 assists

Thanks for posting these, Dan.

Would it be fair to assume that Kuyt has out-scored Dempsey in every season *apart* from 2011/12? I know there will seasons when we have played more games than Fulham, but Kuyt has consistently hit double figures during his time with us and think it's a little unfair to highlight his last season.

I understand it's to highlight a point that his legs have gone, but we're concentrating on one disappointing season, in a season when the whole team floundered infront of goal. Obviously it's hard to draw direct comparisons because of the slight age difference, but they must have roughly joined English football at the same time? I reckon their stats overall will be similar, with Dempsey maybe having a better goals-to-minutes ratio because of his purple patch last season.

Immediately clear that both players don't really get injured, which is a bonus as we have several players that are crocked for the most part of every season. Each to their own opinion but from what i can see the majority of people have said that Kuyt had lost his legs and was right time to sell him, i tend to agree.

Fair comment. I think I will have lost my rag on more than one occasion last season with Kuyt and I understand him wanting to leave if he wants to guarantee first team football (looking at the stats you posted above, he was clearly in and out the team, which in itself, is hard to gain any momentum infront of goal, but I digress), so I'm not too fussed with his sale. And to clarify that point, my opinion is based on Kuyt and Dempsey seperately, not the latter replacing the former (if it happens).

Dempsey IMO will never be a consistent 20 goal a season man, but IMO he'll get into double figures no problem & has alot to offer apart from goals. And as for throwing 6 million million away which is your opinion and you're perfectly entitled to say, IMO that money will be be made up commercially in the states, that is if we signed him and he failed to deliver of course.

Am I right in thinking Dempsey has only achieved double figures this season and maybe last? And as for the commercial revenue, I couldn't even begin to argue against that - so I take your point.

If it's a £6m transfer fee and he earns £2.6m each year of a three year contract, that's £13.8m (rough figures granted), a shirt costs £40 for easy maths, that means he needs to sell 345,000 shirts across the USA - certianly feasible.

Maybe I was wrong with my £6m thrown away comment.

IMO, i just don't see Dempsey as the type of guy that is a failure, been very impressed with him for few seasons now at club and international, his general play i mean not so much his goal scoring. I rarely see any CB getting the better of him throughout the 90 mins, guy seems a constant threat & is a physical match for anyone in the league. Never see him with the head down or moping around, i like that he's a fiery character and he gets stuck in & he's technically quite good aswell.

Definitely not a WOW! signing, but can't see many of them happening at LFC to be honest.

Again, fair comments Dan. I dislike his character, but then I have an irrational hatred of opposition who have caused us a mischief and can hold a grudge.

I think we're balancing the books and are asking to achieve a lot with not a lot of investment, therefore I think we need to spend wisely - spending £6m on Dempsey is a tad risky in my eyes. Obviously, if he sustains and replicates his form of the last couple of seasons, it will pay off.

If the transfer goes through, I hope you're right and I am wrong.