Clint Dempsey

[dww]

Yes, fair enough, but it's frustrating when our I would think lesser rivals are signing players with better renown than us. I.e. Newcastle the last few seasons signing players who played CL/Europa league football - Tiote, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye etc. Then Dempsey is not going to improve, doesn't have proper European pedigree (barring the Fulham season) for probably a greater fee than a lot of those other signings.

If you look at the pedigree of signings even Swansea (Jonathan de Guzman was playing CL last season, Michu made some Spain squads and Pablo Hernandez who is playing for a CL team and capped by Spain is probably going to join) has made I think we're underestimating the potential pull we could have. I'm not saying we should be looking at the players I've mentioned, but if those clubs can attract players of that calibre, then I don't think it's completely unreasonable to be unsatisfied with Dempsey.

But as you and probably everyone else will say if he's the man Rodgers wants and he's bought to fit the system then we can't complain if he does a job. Regardless I don't fancy seeing Dempsey in our shirt.

You have to look at why they got those players though. Ben Arfa went to Newcastle as a crock, with an attitude problem and has since mostly been injured and is so again for the start of this season. Santon has gone there and been in and out of the team and been cruelly exposed on a number of occasions. Why does being beaten in a couple of European games last season count as a plus for De Guzman but Dempsey's run in Europe not count? I think a lot of this is just a sort of aesthetic judgement based on wanting some sort of 'fantasy' signings (which is fair enough - football is after all a sort of entertainment) rather than what is necessarily best for the team.

It's not like Dempsey is our only target either. Clearly we are trying for other targets - such as Sahin and Tello.

[DannyMan2006]

You have to look at why they got those players though. Ben Arfa went to Newcastle as a crock, with an attitude problem and has since mostly been injured and is so again for the start of this season. Santon has gone there and been in and out of the team and been cruelly exposed on a number of occasions. Why does being beaten in a couple of European games last season count as a plus for De Guzman but Dempsey's run in Europe not count? I think a lot of this is just a sort of aesthetic judgement based on wanting some sort of 'fantasy' signings (which is fair enough - football is after all a sort of entertainment) rather than what is necessarily best for the team.

It's not like Dempsey is our only target either. Clearly we are trying for other targets - such as Sahin and Tello.

Speaking of big games. Am I wrong in thinking it was Dempsey who chipped the Juventus keeper with a late, late goal to take Fulham through to the final of the Europa Cup? The man steps up.

EDIT: Think I was right

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZR48Cnn9FU"]Clint Dempsey wonder goal Vs. Juventus - YouTube[/ame]

[Pablo]

I agree with you in principle Danny, I'd like to think I'm one of the few on here that doesn't have this mindless obsession with youth which seems to have spread throughout football fans these last few years. However when I bring up his age, I was more indicating that I don't think he's the quality of a Liverpool player and I don't think he has the means to improve to become the quality of one. Given the perception of a "Liverpool player" comes is definitely now up for debate when you consider some of the under par players that have been playing in our team these last few seasons.

I think he is improving all the time though, I think he's only now reaching his peak (he started the game a little late). As Danny points he also thrives on the pressure. I think there's a touch of snobbery in certain people's opinion of him (not necessarily you Zapater). He got 17 Premier League goals last season. If he even reaches double figures for us I'd say he'll be a great signing.

[Paddy]

An upgrade on Dirk Kuyt. I will be happy if he signs.

[RedReet]

I agree LFC can attract better players than what people thought. But Dempsey is a much better player than given credit for.

And people need to forget about his age. He may be 29, but he was a late starter in his pro career, and as such will come good later than most and will also sustain his peak at a later age than most.

I think everyone one of us has said our team requires goals. Well his statistics match up with the very best for a player who is not a striker. In fact, they compare very favourably with our very own Steven Gerrard. Every now & again like Stevie, he's played further forward, but until last season he was mainly playing much further back in midfield.

In 87 games for the USA he has 27 goals and in 184 games for Fulham he has 50 goals. Prior to Fulham, at New England he scored 25 goals in 71 games. So 1 goal every 3-4 games across his whole career. If when he left LFC he has matched those stats, then I think people would be pretty pleased.

I know there seems to be a massive requirement these days to only sign young players with huge potential, but I think just as important are the signing of players who already arrive with something to bring to the table.

Clint Dempsey will come to our club and he will score goals. And he will settle down straight away. He is a very strong minded individual and he is a very fit athlete who looks after himself. He is a nice guy and can look after himself on the pitch. I don't know of many players who play with more determination than Cint.

Some players arrive at a big club and they are scared of the pressure. Dempsey thrives on it. He has a big club mentality. He isn't and never will be a star player for a big club, but he's more than capable of playing a good supporting role - in the first team, not on the bench.

I’ve read this time and time again.

Was Dempsey in some sort of preservation unit before he started playing football and therefore won’t age like the rest of us? Will he not slow a bit, his reaction lessen in his 30’s? If I started playing football professionally now, does that mean I’ll hit my prime mid 40’s?

It stands to reason that Dempsey might be a bit fresher than other players his age who have been playing and training hard since their teens, but there is no guarantee he will and we are still not signing some 24 year old as some would have you believe.

Sorry to have to quote you, but this has been annoying me for a while.

[Gibbo]

Happy with Dempsey.

Good option from the bench.

[little dave hedgehog]

he's not really a speed demon anyways. i'm not too bothered honestly, i think he can play his game for several more years. i think a 3 year deal is about right.

[loki]

Personally I would be more excited about his signing then those of Sahin or Tello. Tello is way to erratic and Sahin by what I have seen just lays of the ball 90% of the time. Dempsey drives at the defense and creates something all the time and that is exactly what we need. He will have much more space to do so with us then he had at Fulham so I think his upside could be tremendous.

[Zapater]

You have to look at why they got those players though. Ben Arfa went to Newcastle as a crock, with an attitude problem and has since mostly been injured and is so again for the start of this season. Santon has gone there and been in and out of the team and been cruelly exposed on a number of occasions. Why does being beaten in a couple of European games last season count as a plus for De Guzman but Dempsey's run in Europe not count? I think a lot of this is just a sort of aesthetic judgement based on wanting some sort of 'fantasy' signings (which is fair enough - football is after all a sort of entertainment) rather than what is necessarily best for the team.

It's not like Dempsey is our only target either. Clearly we are trying for other targets - such as Sahin and Tello.

Because there is a difference between lets say Villarreal and Fulham. Finishing 4th in La Liga qualifying for CL and Fulham scraping through with 7th place finishes/fair play awards. Villarreal expanding their squad to play in 3 competitions signing highly sought players like Zapata etc and paid close to 10m for de Guzman. The fact it went pair shaped last season (they've had a few good runs and results in the last 7 or so years) shouldn't effect the difference in the player. Lyon and Inter are big clubs, Fulham isn't, simple as that. Dempsey because of that hasn't had regular continental football, not his fault, just the way it is. In de Guzman's teens/late 20s he has already accumulated a similar amount if not more experience at that level than Dempsey, that is why I 'don't count it'.

Regardless, it's a bit of a pointless debate considering despite the logical explanation, I just can't be satisfied with seeing us sign Dempsey, whereas obviously you can. End of, really.

I know he's not our only target, hence I have no issues with the other transfers under Rodgers, but this one just leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth. Same reason why last season I defended the Henderson signing, but crucified the Downing's.

[Gibbo]

I don't know of I'm more excited about him than Sahin.

He's not in the same league as Sahin quality wise but is a decent player non-the-less.

[DannyMan2006]

I’ve read this time and time again.

Was Dempsey in some sort of preservation unit before he started playing football and therefore won’t age like the rest of us? Will he not slow a bit, his reaction lessen in his 30’s? If I started playing football professionally now, does that mean I’ll hit my prime mid 40’s?

It stands to reason that Dempsey might be a bit fresher than other players his age who have been playing and training hard since their teens, but there is no guarantee he will and we are still not signing some 24 year old as some would have you believe.

Sorry to have to quote you, but this has been annoying me for a while.

You read it time and again as there is substance to it. There hasn't been an incredible toll on the body which comes from playing professional football much earlier in life. It means he'll be less injury prone and more likely to be able to play in high numbers of games.

Basically, physically he'll not be as weak. But of course, mentally, he'll just be the same as anybody.

[Nicey]

20 million ? try 14 FOR ****S SAKE !!!!!

[RedReet]

You read it time and again as there is substance to it. There hasn't been an incredible toll on the body which comes from playing professional football much earlier in life. It means he'll be less injury prone and more likely to be able to play in high numbers of games.

Basically, physically he'll not be as weak. But of course, mentally, he'll just be the same as anybody.

Their might be some substance to it, but it’s certainly not worth the credence some people award it IMO. Conversely it could be argued that he has the body of a 30 year old, but only the experience of a 24 year old. What was he doing before professional football anyway? Most footballers look after their body’s better than most of the rest of us, so maybe he might have been better off with the extra fitness and the better nutrition.

Some footballers suffer the effect of playing too much football at a young age, there are plenty of examples, but not everyone. There is no guarantee that Dempsey will be any better off for it, so is of no great benefit IMO.

[DannyMan2006]

It's proven time & again that those that start later, peak later. Now the obvious reason is that they gain experience later, as you say.

The fact they physically last longer, means there is credence to what is said.

However, I think it could also be argued that had they started their career earlier, they could have hit far greater heights. At least, the potential would have been there for them to have done so.

[RedReet]

It's proven time & again that those that start later, peak later. Now the obvious reason is that they gain experience later, as you say.

The fact they physically last longer, means there is credence to what is said.

However, I think it could also be argued that had they started their career earlier, they could have hit far greater heights. At least, the potential would have been there for them to have done so.

I don't disagree with what you are saying, but now I'm trying to think of examples of players who starting playing late to compare with. All I can think of is Ian Wright and Nunez.

I can think of plenty of examples of young players who faded (Owen, Folwer etc) and others that didn't (Giggs, Speed etc.) but not many in Dempsey's situation.