If any man deserves a day off, it’s Clint Dempsey. He’s getting one – which may be deserved but also might be a bit disappointing.
It would be fitting if the best season yet for any American player abroad got a proper sending off.
The U.S. international will not be in Martin Jol’s lineup for tomorrow’s Survival Sunday English Premier League final. Fulham travels across town to meet Tottenham, but Dempsey has a bit of a groin strain and will sit out the match.
He may even be inbound to the States; players begin gathering Sunday in Florida for Jurgen Klinsmann’s national team camp ahead of three high-profile friendlies and the nation’s first two World Cup qualifiers.
So Dempsey’s sensational season has come to a close, apparently, but what a campaign it was. The Texan hit for 23 goals across all competitions and 17 in league play. His now has 50 Premier League goals, far and away the best for any American.
Dempsey’s fourth place finish in voting for Football Writers Association Player of the Year was the cherry on the sundae, of course.
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- schmutzdeck - May 12, 2012 at 11:48 AM
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Not good for the US or Dempsey’s transfer hopes.
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- drmonkeyarmy - May 12, 2012 at 12:11 PM
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A minor, week long injury is bad news for his transfer hopes? Really?
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- schmutzdeck - May 12, 2012 at 5:45 PM
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What makes you think a groin strain is minor? Hopefully, it is but usually these things tend to linger.
And the fact that he is now in the shop window means discretion dictates he minimize his involvement with the USMNT until he gets a better handle on this injury.
It also reminds everyone of Demspey’s biggest downside, that he is 29 not 23 or so.
So yeah, overall it would have been better if he had not come up hurt right now.
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- drmonkeyarmy - May 12, 2012 at 10:21 PM
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I say it is minor because it is being reported as minor and that he is not expected to miss any time with the national team. Whether 19 or 29, players come with with little niggles. Nature of the game. Nothing in his history suggests that he is injury prone. To me it is unlikely that a late season minor injury would scare teams off a potential transfer.
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- schmutzdeck - May 13, 2012 at 2:04 AM
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I don’t know what you have been reading but nothing I’ve read says, minor or week long. From what I’ve seen these injuries take some time to heal and if you come back too soon, they tend to just keep recurring.
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- george3246 - May 12, 2012 at 3:35 PM
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Really, Schmutz?
Fulham allowing its #1 player to rest whatever ails him for its last game shows the team’s ultimate respect for him. Dempsey is among the league leaders in total minutes and has given his all for the team on the pitch.
You can bet your bottom $ that Clint will be highly sought by the Premiership’s top teams. Or by other top teams in Europe because he has become the real deal.
Congrats to Clint for his record breaking performance this year. Here’s hoping that his, Landon Donovan’s and Tim Howard’s outstanding play in EPL carries over into the US team’s route to next World Cup.
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- schmutzdeck - May 12, 2012 at 5:52 PM
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Allowing him to rest? More like protecting their investment.
You think Clint would sit if he could play without risking further injury?
Having him go down in the last game would be a great way to depress the sale price. Fulham is a business not a fan club.
