The start of something beautiful.
Clint Dempsey came up big for Fulham once again. He saved them from relegation two seasons ago with a goal against Liverpool and yesterday he scored the goal that led to a 5-4 aggregate victory over Juventus in Europa League Round of Sixteen. Manager Roy Hodgson declared it had to be one of the biggests nights in the history of the club as the club advanced further in European competition than it ever has.
Coming off of an injury Dempsey appeared as a substitute in the 71st minute and claimed the glory with an audacious chip from the top of the penalty box to the far left post. Perfect weight, perfect placement, perfect goal. [Video after the jump.] Dempsey said it was just a chance he had to take. “Nine out of 10 times, a shot like that would not have made it,” Dempsey said. “But sometimes, you have to go for it.”
And went for it he did. As he has his entire career after starting off in very humble beginnings in Nagodoches, Texas through his arrival in London. Since his transfer to the London side in January 2007 from the New England Revolution, Dempsey has shown himself to be an excellent player and certainly one of America’s best field players ever. But where does he rank?
He is certainly in the top five field players with Landon Donovan, his former Fulham teammate Brian McBride, and Claudio Reyna. The fifth player is unclear at this point but it could the former all-time USMNT goal scorer Eric Wynalda, or the Ginger Defender Alexi Lalas or maybe it’s somebody else, but it doesn’t really matter because I only think McBride, Donovan and maybe Reyna have a chance of topping Dempsey.
Dempsey has shown in his four seasons in England a steady high-level of play becoming a regular goal scorer and regular starter for his club. The knock some may have against Dempsey is that he has not performed as well on the international stage. Although, his 17 goals in 59 caps, 3 goals at the Confederations Cup last year, and his performance as the only player who really seemed to put in a real effort during the 2006 World Cup would suggest otherwise.
Dempsey and Donovan also have a few more years in their respective careers to further establish themselves at club and country level. Unless, Donovan can secure a transfer to a top European league soon and continue the form he showed at Everton, Dempsey will top the American field players list for a while.
[Photo: Daylife]
[TJ]Defoe out “a few weeks” with a torn hammy. Enter: that long streak of piss Peter Crouch. Exit: goals.[/TJ]
TFA: Good article. I would agree with you on Donovan, Dempsey, Reyna, and McBride being the four best. What’s interesting is that they are all so different. In the end, I think it comes down to Donovan, Dempsey, and Reyna (despite my avatar and serious man crush on McBride).
My own take is that Donovan is the most naturally talented of the three with the greatest physical tools. Reyna could actually control a game’s tempo (something the US desperately needs now). Dempsey has monster balls. What other US player would try that shot? None. On the big stage, he doesn’t disappear.
As for #5, I think it actually could be Harkes, O’Brien, or Ramos. If O’Brien hadn’t been made of glass, he would have been special. Same with Ramos.
Finally, I end with a question for our resident Englishmen — who do you fear more on June 12 — Deuce or Donovan? That might tell us more than anything else.
Alexi Lalas wants to know where Alexi Lalas is on that list. He’s on of the greats. Just ask him.
I mentioned the Ginger defender.
Top ten:
1. Lando
2. Mcbride
3. Fridel
4. Howard/Dempsey
5. Howard/Dempsey
6. E. Stewart
7. C. Jones
8. Wynalda
9. Keller (really think Howard and Fridel are just better)
10. Tony Sanneh (yeah, do you remember how solid he was during the world cup run in Korea.)
The huevos to attempt a shot like that . . .
my JV coach from high school had played against Tab Ramos when he was in high school – Tab absolutely destroyed the competition. HE could have been in the Top 3 of American players easily if he had stayed healthy.
@Oyeoro – I was just watching highlights of the US’s run in that tournament yesterday and remembering how great Sanneh was. I loved that team.
Not trying to hate on the Deuce goal, was spectacular, but I’m calling it a Ronaldinho vs. England goal…. at no point after receiving the ball does he look up at goal… methinks that was a ball into the mixer the whole time.
Worked out fantastically though!