Dempsey joins

[DJS]

Granted Dempsey has played wide in the past, but has played a lot more centrally over the last couple of years when we have seen his best football.

I don't really see him as a like for like replacement for Bale or Lennon as he will be wasted out there in the same way that VDV, Modric or Kranjcar were wasted there when played in that position.

Going by your logic, that means Dembele is actually backup for our strikers if they are injured. You are not acknowledging that we should actually have prepared the squad to have the strength in depth to handle injuries across the entire team instead of the team being overloaded in certain positions.

Nope, Dembele is a midfielder, bought in as a replacement for Modric.

 

[Reshep]

Nope, Dembele is a midfielder, bought in as a replacement for Modric.

Exactly and Dempsey is a midfielder bought in for VDV, not to cover the wings where we do lack strength in depth.

My point is that while Dempsey is a good player, he would not have been my priority if I had been manager as we already have cover in his position. More pressing concerns would have been cover for the wings and a more defensively minded ball playing midfielder than Dembele. I feel that would fit better with the system that AVB is employing.

 

[DJS]

Exactly and Dempsey is a midfielder bought in for VDV, not to cover the wings where we do lack strength in depth.

My point is that while Dempsey is a good player, he would not have been my priority if I had been manager as we already have cover in his position. More pressing concerns would have been cover for the wings and a more defensively minded ball playing midfielder than Dembele. I feel that would fit better with the system that AVB is employing.

They were trying for Moutinho though and reports today inform us it was very close.

Shame Levy does like to leave everything to the last minute, but if that had come off we'd have all been a lot happier.

And we haven't seen Dempsey out wide for us yet so we should wait until this happens before judging whether he is a good option there or not.

 

[Reshep]

They were trying for Moutinho though and reports today inform us it was very close.

Shame Levy does like to leave everything to the last minute, but if that had come off we'd have all been a lot happier.

And we haven't seen Dempsey out wide for us yet so we should wait until this happens before judging whether he is a good option there or not.

Agree on both points.

Shame we did not get Moutinho because I think that could have made a real difference to our chances this season. Without him I am just concerned that we don't have that "glue" in the team. Also tactically he would know more about what AVB would be wanting from him as he has worked with him before and this may have had an affect on the overall mentality of the squad.

I will give Dempsey a chance, hopefully we wont need him to fill in on the wings (if Bale and Lennon stay fit) I just don't want him to be put out wide because he can play there in the same way that VDV was because he became rather ineffective when playing wide.

I guess time will tell, lets hope for the best.

 

[king26]

can play c/f has done for fulham

 

[Mikegold]

Agree on both points.

Shame we did not get Moutinho because I think that could have made a real difference to our chances this season. Without him I am just concerned that we don't have that "glue" in the team. Also tactically he would know more about what AVB would be wanting from him as he has worked with him before and this may have had an affect on the overall mentality of the squad.

I will give Dempsey a chance, hopefully we wont need him to fill in on the wings (if Bale and Lennon stay fit) I just don't want him to be put out wide because he can play there in the same way that VDV was because he became rather ineffective when playing wide.

I guess time will tell, lets hope for the best.

I don't think it's about putting him out of position because in this new formation, its meant to be wide forwards, not wingers, and therefore Dempsey offers a lot of goal threat from the side (Especially considering how he could get on the end of Bales crosses...) As someone else said, I'll wait to see him play there but I can definitely see him being a lot more effective than VDV would be wide right...

 

[Spurger King]

Is there any chance he can play directly behind Adebayor in a 4-2-3-1 formation, or do people think he'd be best on the right? What about the possibilty of inverted wingers, with Dempsey on the left and Bale on the right?

 

[Syn_13]

Is there any chance he can play directly behind Adebayor in a 4-2-3-1 formation, or do people think he'd be best on the right? What about the possibilty of inverted wingers, with Dempsey on the left and Bale on the right?

He's played many forward positions before - attacking mid, lone striker and as a left sided forward. I don't know how effective he is on the right though but I'm sure he's got good enough technique for it. As for Bale, I've always felt that he's best when on the left hand side because his main attribute for me is bombing down the wings with power and pace.

I'd be more tempted to use Dempsey on the right side of attack with Bale on the left, but they can switch things up to play around with opposing full backs like Lennon and Bale do but hopefully with a more goalscroring threat. Lennon for me is a more classic wide midfielder in a 4-4-2 system than an attacking wing forward in 4-3-3.

 

[panoma]

He also have other skills! Sandro need some competition for best musician so good cover in that area to!

 

[pagevee]

When playing for the US national team he swaps from left to right with Donavan throughout the match. He can play left, right, behind, and forward. He gets results, he is usually let down by the technique of other US players. Great buy and great cover for 6 million pounds. Will probably be starting before the end of the season over lennon.

 

[stemark44]

I love Clint Dempsey just not sure if the rest of you lot should be permitted to.

You all hate strikers and I don't mean the ones that put the ball into the net!

 

[Kendall]

I'm sure Clint will be elated with your post when he logs on to SC.

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

Where did he mainly play for Fulham last year? Will he be considered as a CF and rotated with Ade or on the right wing as some have mentioned on SC over the last few days?

 

[StockSpur]

When playing for the US national team he swaps from left to right with Donavan throughout the match. He can play left, right, behind, and forward. He gets results, he is usually let down by the technique of other US players. Great buy and great cover for 6 million pounds. Will probably be starting before the end of the season over lennon.

correction, by the end of september.

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

USA USA

 

[onthetwo]

USA USA

on behalf of the majority of most people on here i think youre going to have to change your sig - its making me sad just looking at it. How did he do in the derby (dont answer if he scored!)

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

on behalf of the majority of most people on here i think youre going to have to change your sig - its making me sad just looking at it. How did he do in the derby (dont answer if he scored!)

Starting to get me going as well so had to change it

He didn't play at the weekend, not on the bench either and they lost 2-0.

 

[Chezaspur]

If AVB wants to continue the 4-2-3-1 formation with wingers then Dempsey should play in the hole behind Ade. If it's going to change to 4-3-3 then Bale Ade Dempsey up front

 

[stemark44]

I couldn't care less if Clint ever knows.....................so long as you lot do.

 

[StockSpur]

http://www.eplindex.com/16925/clint-dempsey-statistically-compared-top-strikers-wide-forwards.html

interesting comparison of dempsey to the top 3 strikers in the pl last season.

then read further down...