111012_dempseyclint_isi_bpi_soutvtotthots.fkuh Ben Queenborough/isiphotos.com
Americans Abroad

Clint Dempsey is Fitting in Just Fine at Tottenham

Some vocal naysayers are coming down quite hard on Dempsey, claiming that he is not a central component of Spurs' attack. Our feeling about that? Chill out people, and get some perspective.
BY John Godfrey Posted
November 11, 2012
3:17 AM
Perhaps you've seen some of the tweets: "Dempsey isn't fitting in at Tottenham." "He looks lost out there." "He's going to wind up on the bench soon."

To them I say this: Bull roar.

While it's true that Dempsey is not the focal point of the Spurs attack like he was last season at Fulham, he is still a vital piece in the puzzle. And his extraordinary versatility—his ability to play wide, to play up top, or to tuck in behind the striker—will ensure that he sees tons of time and score plenty of goals this season.

And if Dempsey doesn't seem as fluid as he did at times during last season's 23-goal campaign, it's worth remembering that Tottenham has a new coach in Andres Villas-Boas, a coach who is still trying to marry his tactical philosophies with the players available to him.

Amid these uncertainties, this much is true: Villas-Boas is a Dempsey believer. Earlier this week he told reporters, "Clint has had an amazing run of games," and strongly suggested that Dempsey would be in the lineup in Sunday's crucial match against Manchester City (8:30 a.m., Fox Soccer). And sure enough, the 29-year-old American is in the starting XI, playing alongside Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and Emmanuel Adebayor. (Jermain Defoe is in the 18 but on the bench.)

Brad Friedel is also in the XI, making this match must-watch material for U.S. supporters. Enjoy.

Post a comment