Clint Dempsey

[Mostar]

he's 29, but i think he's only played as many competitive matches as gerrard had when he was about 24. the wear and tear in the american leagues is not that big a deal. he may have several years left in the tank.

They said the same thing about Downing and we are so ****ed that it is not even funny.

Personally he is too risky and too old for the new beginning.

There are tons of young players out there that we can get that have more potential and talent for the similar price tag.

[danperkins]

IMO £8 million is a bit much but i'd still take him for that.

[little dave hedgehog]

They said the same thing about Downing and we are so ****ed that it is not even funny.

Personally he is too risky and too old for the new beginning.

There are tons of young players out there that we can get that have more potential and talent for the similar price tag.

might have more of a point if the major worry about downing were his age and not his level.

[Phoenix07]

They said the same thing about Downing and we are so ****ed that it is not even funny.

Personally he is too risky and too old for the new beginning.

There are tons of young players out there that we can get that have more potential and talent for the similar price tag.

Like Junior Hoillett. I agree though that we should be looking at bringing in younger talent, who will then have a good number of years to settle into the system and philosophy of the club. I can't see the Americans going crazy just because we bought an American player. Very different compared to the Asian and Chinese markets. If they're desperate and Rodgers sanctions it, then it has to be less than the £8m being banded around.

[washDCRed]

I'd be genuinely interested to see whether our US members think they will and also if the Fulham Dempsey shirt is popular over there currently.

It's fairly popular as far as football shirts go - which unfortunately, isn't saying all that much.

I think it would certainly mean more exposure for the club here in the US. Would that translate to shirt sales? It couldn’t hurt.

ESPN and Fox would promote the hell out of the matches and I’m sure he would be the star of Warrior TV commercial within a month.

The main reason Americans have heard of Fulham is because “that’s the team Clint Dempsey plays for” – that and maybe the Michael Jackson statue. Just like the only reason most have heard of Everton was because “that’s the team Landon Donavan played for”.

So I think it will mean more people paying attention, but I wouldn’t expect hundreds of Americans descending on Anfield in their “Deuce” jerseys.

For the record, I would love it if we signed him. He has a certain way about him that makes you glad he’s on your side, whether it be a football match or a bar fight. I think our fans will warm to him quickly.

[Mostar]

Like Junior Hoillett. I agree though that we should be looking at bringing in younger talent, who will then have a good number of years to settle into the system and philosophy of the club. I can't see the Americans going crazy just because we bought an American player. Very different compared to the Asian and Chinese markets. If they're desperate and Rodgers sanctions it, then it has to be less than the £8m being banded around.

My concerns are that if it backfires and he doesn't come close to the level of play he enjoyed at Fulham what do we do with him?

Give his age we'll have tough time getting rid of him and it is not like we don't have bunch of deadwood that are draining our wage bill that we cannot offload.

Personally if FSG is encouraging Rodgers to sign him for marketing purposes that is absolutely wrong as no player should ever play for L4 unless he deserves to wear the red shirt.

No one.

[badpiggy]

How would this help our finances?

Exposure for the club, percentage of shirt sales...

[Red_Polo]

I'd be genuinely interested to see whether our US members think they will and also if the Fulham Dempsey shirt is popular over there currently.

I don't know how much this potential to sell shirts could/should be a factor. However, I don't think we can judge much by how many Fulham sold. They don't have the same appeal as us, nor the same exposure/merchandise availability.

At £5m I'm chuffed with Dempsey. At closer to 10 I'm not sure.

[Vermilion]

If it's about Shirt sales and exposure in the usa, would'nt BR say that instead of an ageing player with no sell on..

he wants the young American

Young American, young American, he wants the young American

All right he wants the young American.

There must be one surely ?

[Jack D Rips]

Exposure for the club, percentage of shirt sales...

As far as Im aware we only get an income from shirt sales through our own retail outlets. We have already had our money from Warrior.

[peekay]

It's fairly popular as far as football shirts go - which unfortunately, isn't saying all that much.

I think it would certainly mean more exposure for the club here in the US. Would that translate to shirt sales? It couldn’t hurt.

ESPN and Fox would promote the hell out of the matches and I’m sure he would be the star of Warrior TV commercial within a month.

The main reason Americans have heard of Fulham is because “that’s the team Clint Dempsey plays for” – that and maybe the Michael Jackson statue. Just like the only reason most have heard of Everton was because “that’s the team Landon Donavan played for”.

So I think it will mean more people paying attention, but I wouldn’t expect hundreds of Americans descending on Anfield in their “Deuce” jerseys.

For the record, I would love it if we signed him. He has a certain way about him that makes you glad he’s on your side, whether it be a football match or a bar fight. I think our fans will warm to him quickly.

Agree with most of that. I don't think signing Dempsey will result in our coffers overflowing from the money from shirts sold in the US.

"ESPN and Fox would promote the hell out of the matches and I’m sure he would be the star of Warrior TV commercial within a month."

Yup this is a given.

We will get increased exposure in the US which I am sure FSG will exploit to get better commercial deals.

If Dempsey scores a goal, we will be one of the main items on ESPN Sportscenter. We will definitely have increased visibility in the sports media over here.

[Cormack74]

It's fairly popular as far as football shirts go - which unfortunately, isn't saying all that much.

I think it would certainly mean more exposure for the club here in the US. Would that translate to shirt sales? It couldn’t hurt.

ESPN and Fox would promote the hell out of the matches and I’m sure he would be the star of Warrior TV commercial within a month.

The main reason Americans have heard of Fulham is because “that’s the team Clint Dempsey plays for” – that and maybe the Michael Jackson statue. Just like the only reason most have heard of Everton was because “that’s the team Landon Donavan played for”.

So I think it will mean more people paying attention, but I wouldn’t expect hundreds of Americans descending on Anfield in their “Deuce” jerseys.

For the record, I would love it if we signed him. He has a certain way about him that makes you glad he’s on your side, whether it be a football match or a bar fight. I think our fans will warm to him quickly.

[yamiedo]

I'm not overly concerned between 5m and 8m. I'm only concerned that we get it done quickly. Decent squad addition, brings goals and experience and 29? In this day and age there's another 4 good years in the guy, 2m a season? We waste that on youth players who never make the first team. I think if the deal is done NOW and it's marketed well for the US tour it will balance out financially to a no risk transfer.

Also he didn't become pro till 21 I think so thats bound to add a few more years on to his career no?

[badpiggy]

As far as Im aware we only get an income from shirt sales through our own retail outlets. We have already had our money from Warrior.

Oh.

[BrooklynRed]

America is full of fat people. None will buy a skin tight Fulham Kappa jersey. *ha*

Going by the streets of NYC, Barcelona are leading the way in kit sales... I see their shirts everywhere, followed by Arsenal, United, Madrid, Bayern. I see more club kits than national team kits, but we're an international city, unlike many others.

That said, LFC commercially in NYC has been poor; I remember walking into the Adidas store in Manhattan on kit release day year after year and they had nothing. A week later? Nothing. Not sure where you would go to buy a Warrior kit... I ordered mine from the club.

To be fair, I myself watched Fulham matches to watch Dempsey. He is not a big name over here; I honestly think he would play well in BR system and grab goals. He's a decent player and fights to win. Play him in the hole or in a front 3 with Suarez and I think he would shine.