Liverpool Transfers: Why Clint Dempsey Would Be a Perfect Fit at Liverpool
By
(Featured Columnist) on April 23, 2012
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Clint Dempsey is one of the hottest names likely to be in play during the summer's transfer market. Liverpool were an early convert to the U.S. international's quality, having tracked him since 2010.
The club's lack of Champions League football will be a major hurdle if they decide to wade into the transfer wars over Dempsey. But he would undoubtedly succeed at Anfield.
Liverpool Are Desperately in Need of Goal Scorers
Only two teams in the Premier League (Manchester United and Manchester City) have allowed fewer goals this season than Liverpool. Defending is not the problem for Kenny Dalglish.
Liverpool's issue this season is their absolutely impotent attack. They've managed just 40 goals in 35 league games. Their high scorer (Luis Suarez) has just eight goals in domestic competition. Dempsey has scored twice that many.
Clint Dempsey is a scorer. The sleepy-eyed American is danger incarnate when the ball is in the final third. He can attack crosses, he can beat a man on the dribble and he can occasionally come up with the spectacular.
And He Can Pass Too
Dempsey is not the most assist-minded player in the Premier League. But his six assists would tie him with Charlie Adam for most at Liverpool.
Clint Dempsey highlights from 2011-12
In a club where the next biggest assist man has just half that number, Dempsey's ability to play a final ball would bring another facet to a desperately dull attack.
He can thread a ball for the likes of Suarez, hit the high cross for Andy Carroll or combine in the possession passing game that the best Liverpool teams are known for.
Quality Versatility
Dempsey can play any midfield position as well as anywhere across the forward line. That makes him even more valuable than his statistics would indicate.
It means if Gerrard is injured, he can fill the free role in the center of the park. It means he can step in to partner either Suarez or Carroll up front. He can also drop in on either wing.
Of the six players who played the most games at midfield and forward this season for Liverpool (Carroll, Suarez, Adam, Dirk Kuyt, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing), Dempsey would be an upgrade over all of them save perhaps an in-form Suarez.
Dempsey is a Fighter
Liverpool supporters love a warrior. The Kop embraces players who give absolutely everything for the cause. The kind of player who refuses to back down to anyone. Toughness with a mean streak if you like. Dempsey is just that type of player.
For toughness, Dempsey played two matches with a broken jaw during his first season in Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution in 2004. For the mean streak, he was twice suspended for violent conduct during his time in MLS and was once suspended by the Revolution for a fistfight during practice.
Dempsey's brilliant goal against Juventus
After moving to England, Dempsey showed no signs of shying away from the type of physical confrontations that abound in the Premier League.
He went unpunished in 2007 for an elbow that broke John Terry's cheekbone during an aerial dual. Earlier this season, he knocked Manchester United's Phil Jones out of a game in much the same way.
Not to say that Liverpool fans embrace the baser side of the game, but how long would they applaud a player who took the field with a broken jaw?
It's Good for the Marketing People Also
Liverpool have their American owners. Those owners would love to have the best American player in the world pulling on their club's jersey.
The marketing folks would go crazy with the tie-ins available between the Fenway Sports Group and the U.S. national team's best player.
With the U.S. beginning World Cup qualifying this summer, all football-friendly American eyes will be on Dempsey. Liverpool's ownership group will know that those eyes can be converted to Liverpool in the fall if Dempsey is a Red early in the summer.
But Will It Happen?
Will Clint Dempsey end up at Liverpool? The short answer is probably not. Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly interested and they'll have Champions League football and a legitimate shot at the EPL title to offer.
Even if Dempsey is willing to join a side outside the Champions League slots, Tottenham would prove a much more attractive landing place than Anfield at the moment.
But if it were to happen, Dempsey would prove the answer to the Kop's shouted prayers. And his signing would go a long way toward restoring Liverpool to something like the status that EPL watchers are accustomed to the Reds deserving.
No comments:
Post a Comment