The Soccer Thread

[USSoccer]

The Cosmos are trying to make a big deal about their return tomorrow, but Deuce holding a scarf before Seattle's game is a big "F YO COUCH" move. MLS flexes nuts on pretenders to the throne.

 

Yeah, SSFC just dumped their collective balls in the Cosmos' mouths. $8m per year? [expletive]. That's a net $22m gain over what was left on his deal with Tottenham.

[manbearcub]

I love it, SSFC flopped their huge dick out in front of every league in europe.

 

 

Not buying the whole "he will become a worse player by not (occasionally) playing in a top league".

[USSoccer]

Bet he does a January loan for the WC.

 

This is the first game changer deal since Beckham. Obviously Seattle is one of three teams capable of it, but with NYCFC coming in and the league expanding to 24 teams, this is just the beginning. Our cute little league isn't going to be cute and little much longer.

 

A January loan would be about the best case scenario. Make sure he's playing at the highest level right until the WC, after that it's almost best that he's playing in MLS. By the next cycle he won't be the star attraction(if he's even on the roster), so while he's not decrepit he can help to raise the caliber of MLS.

 

Yeah, maybe he gets a loan to a UCL side in the end or something.

[USSoccer]

I love it, SSFC flopped their huge dick out in front of every league in europe.

 

 

Not buying the whole "he will become a worse player by not (occasionally) playing in a top league".

 

I don't know about worse, but the low end of MLS teams are pretty poor compared to the relegation fodder in the EPL. I think Clint is Clint wherever, but it certainly won't be the same consistent level of opposition. I dunno. It certainly is a giant step forward for MLS and it's future.

[shnsajax]

Agreed w US. My issue is that he was the American setting the precedent for other Americans in Europe. No one else had the success he had or played for a level of caliber team that could contend with anyone in Europe on any given night. Not ready for this to come to an end as it could have easily happened after the WC.

 

He could start for probably 17 teams in the EPL today, and as hard as he worked to get to Tottenham I am just surprised to see this happen now.

[wolf stansson]

He was the torch bearer. He was our spirit animal. He represented everything we love about American soccer. He beat the odds, he over achieved and he took everything he got because nothing was given to him.

 

I feel strange that he's not going to be out there in England this winter, scoring goals with a scowl on his face. I would have said US's joke about Real was more likely than MLS if you would have asked me a week ago. That's how crazy this is.

 

All of that said, I have a hard time being disappointed. He's getting twice the money. He's breaking completely new ground in a league I love for the team that's shown us it's vast future potential. It was out of his hands. AVB didn't rate him, Tottenham would have been happy to keep him if the money wasn't there, but it was there and they got every dollar they spent on him back. Hard to hold that against them considering he is 30. He's always been undervalued for myriad reasons but not anymore. Now he's the highest paid player in league history. He will be expected to dominate and win trophies. Short of champions league interest, stepping back down a level in the EPL would be an easier route than coming to Seattle as the biggest buy in MLS history. When he left he made 80 grand a year. He's back and making 8 million. He's still breaking new ground for the US player, he's just not doing it in Europe and to that I say [expletive] Europe. Mike Bradley and Jozy Altidore can carry the torch. Clint got an offer he didn't seek out but it was one he couldn't refuse. He's on the best team, in the best city, with his best friend EJ and like he always has in the past, he'll deliver because he knows the pressure is on.

 

It's a shock. It's really driven me nuts not having anyone I know care like I do because they don't get why I was freaking out. If he was from any country other than America wed be hailing Seattle for the sheer balls to do what no one has done, buy a world class player in his prime. Because he's American we resent his failure to live up to our ambition for him. Not me. I'm happy for him. He's getting paid like any other star athlete in this country. If Spurs didn't value him to his standards and his other options weren't to his liking then there's no shame in playing where people will value him more than any other player. Seattle will embrace him more than they would Ronaldo or Messi or Beckham for the same reasons we looked to him as our first real hope on the world stage of the club game. He's a [expletive] legend and now he'll finally be treated like one.

[Guest]

What the [expletive]. Guess if any team can really fund Clint its Seattle. Wish he waited one more year. He was the American to really get things going for us in Europe.

 

Assuming Tottenham sell Bale I really don't understand this. Now they need 3-4 more moves to challenge for a CL spot.

 

Even if they didn't sell Dempsey, they still would have had to make 3-4 moves to challenge for a UCL spot. They signed Paulinho from Corinthians and they signed Roberto Soldado (25, 27, 30 goals last 3 year) from Valencia. I'd still like to see them get another striker and if they sell Bale, they have no excuse not to since they'll have plenty of money.

 

I only hope that if they sell Bale, they do it quickly (and it seems like it will happen soon) so they have time to spend the money now.

[USSoccer]

He was the torch bearer. He was our spirit animal. He represented everything we love about American soccer. He beat the odds, he over achieved and he took everything he got because nothing was given to him.

 

I feel strange that he's not going to be out there in England this winter, scoring goals with a scowl on his face. I would have said US's joke about Real was more likely than MLS if you would have asked me a week ago. That's how crazy this is.

 

All of that said, I have a hard time being disappointed. He's getting twice the money. He's breaking completely new ground in a league I love for the team that's shown us it's vast future potential. It was out of his hands. AVB didn't rate him, Tottenham would have been happy to keep him if the money wasn't there, but it was there and they got every dollar they spent on him back. Hard to hold that against them considering he is 30. He's always been undervalued for myriad reasons but not anymore. Now he's the highest paid player in league history. He will be expected to dominate and win trophies. Short of champions league interest, stepping back down a level in the EPL would be an easier route than coming to Seattle as the biggest buy in MLS history. When he left he made 80 grand a year. He's back and making 8 million. He's still breaking new ground for the US player, he's just not doing it in Europe and to that I say [expletive] Europe. Mike Bradley and Jozy Altidore can carry the torch. Clint got an offer he didn't seek out but it was one he couldn't refuse. He's on the best team, in the best city, with his best friend EJ and like he always has in the past, he'll deliver because he knows the pressure is on.

 

It's a shock. It's really driven me nuts not having anyone I know care like I do because they don't get why I was freaking out. If he was from any country other than America wed be hailing Seattle for the sheer balls to do what no one has done, buy a world class player in his prime. Because he's American we resent his failure to live up to our ambition for him. Not me. I'm happy for him. He's getting paid like any other star athlete in this country. If Spurs didn't value him to his standards and his other options weren't to his liking then there's no shame in playing where people will value him more than any other player. Seattle will embrace him more than they would Ronaldo or Messi or Beckham for the same reasons we looked to him as our first real hope on the world stage of the club game. He's a [expletive] legend and now he'll finally be treated like one.

 

Well put. This probably sums up my emotions on this perfectly.

[wvcbxl]

What the [expletive]. Guess if any team can really fund Clint its Seattle. Wish he waited one more year. He was the American to really get things going for us in Europe.

 

Assuming Tottenham sell Bale I really don't understand this. Now they need 3-4 more moves to challenge for a CL spot.

 

Even if they didn't sell Dempsey, they still would have had to make 3-4 moves to challenge for a UCL spot. They signed Paulinho from Corinthians and they signed Roberto Soldado (25, 27, 30 goals last 3 year) from Valencia. I'd still like to see them get another striker ....

 

They also signed Nacer Chadli from Twente.

[TruffleShuffle]

[wolf stansson]

Official Yank Abroad, Aron Johansson, 1g, 1a for AZ today.

 

Grant Wahl confirming that Deuce will be highest paid player in league history.

 

5 hours and 15 min until he is unveiled here: http://events.soundersfc.com/2013/live/08-03-prematch/index.html

[wolf stansson]

Clint's intro was NUTS. That was like Neymar at Barca, Ronaldo at Madrid. He looked blown away. Fuckin Seattle, man. Awesome. It was also cool on FSC watching Wynalda talk about what it means to see an American get that money in America.

[shnsajax]

Very happy for that city as they deserve this. Still torn on the move. Looking forward to my move to the Pacific Northwest in a couple of years.

 

There are going to be a lot of Dempsey and Macklemore promos in the very near future.

[USSoccer]

Clint's intro was NUTS. That was like Neymar at Barca, Ronaldo at Madrid. He looked blown away. [expletive] Seattle, man. Awesome. It was also cool on FSC watching Wynalda talk about what it means to see an American get that money in America.

 

That was a pretty cool intro. That's how you do it.

 

On a related note, it's interesting and a little concerning to read about EJ, his friend, griping now about being underpaid.

 

Also on a related note, I really want to hear JK's opinion, or hear more about how this move went down.

[Guest]

The Shin Guardian had a couple of pretty interesting reads on the Dempsey move.

 

http://theshinguardian.com/2013/08/03/clint-dempsey-keyser-soze-is-in-the-building/

 

2. What’s more important, being “fresh” or being “sharp”?

 

Or perhaps the better question is, “how sharp can you be if you’re 31 and exhausted?” Reasonable people can debate which league is “the best”, but it is clear that the EPL has built its global brand on being the most physically explosive and demanding league in the world. So it begs the question, had Dempsey stayed in the EPL, what kind of shape would his body have been in come June 2014? There is a big difference between being 27 and being 31.

 

For those US fans who wring their hands at the notion that Clint will somehow lose his edge upon rejoining the MLS, what exactly do you think happens to Clint’s “edge” when he spends a month in pre-Cup camp training with his US teammates, hardly any of whom play in the EPL? “Oh no, Matt Besler is defending me in a scrimmage, now I can’t remember how a Cruyff turn works!” Or is it more, “Oh Kyle Beckerman, beating you on the dribble is sooo easy, now my muscle-memory will think this is how easy it is every time!” The whole thing is just nonsense. It’s one thing if you have never faced top class defenders day in and day out. That’s why young players should go to Europe. But Clint has, for seven years. He’s not going to forget just because he spends a couple months going against Jamison Olave. Oh wait, Jamison Olave actually isn’t that bad.

 

Winters off do a 30+ year old body good. Fresh equals sharp. Sharp equals goals.

 

http://theshinguardian.com/2013/08/03/clint-dempseys-to-the-sounders-narrative/

 

The real tale probably won’t ever be known, but it likely goes a little something like this:

 

» US player fights from a tough upbringing to make it one of the top-50 footballers in one of the top, if not the top, soccer leagues in the world.

» Player fights for playing time each season and proves himself to new coaches and last year to a new team.

» Told yet again–for the sixth consecutive time–that his services are surplus to requirements. The player finally says, “[expletive] it, I’m the star. I’m not getting a Champion’s League shot, except as a squad guy at a discount. I don’t need to prove anything else.”

Why go down or somewhat laterally (Sunderland, Everton) for less money? To prove what? To test playing time?

» MLS wiggles a massive paycheck, four-year security, and a chance to settle his family down, back in the States. And validate him–more than Europe could or would at this point–that he’s the star.

[USSoccer]

 

http://theshinguardian.com/2013/08/03/clint-dempseys-to-the-sounders-narrative/

 

The real tale probably won’t ever be known, but it likely goes a little something like this:

 

» US player fights from a tough upbringing to make it one of the top-50 footballers in one of the top, if not the top, soccer leagues in the world.

» Player fights for playing time each season and proves himself to new coaches and last year to a new team.

» Told yet again–for the sixth consecutive time–that his services are surplus to requirements. The player finally says, “[expletive] it, I’m the star. I’m not getting a Champion’s League shot, except as a squad guy at a discount. I don’t need to prove anything else.”

Why go down or somewhat laterally (Sunderland, Everton) for less money? To prove what? To test playing time?

» MLS wiggles a massive paycheck, four-year security, and a chance to settle his family down, back in the States. And validate him–more than Europe could or would at this point–that he’s the star.

 

I'd venture a guess that this is pretty close to accurate.

[wolf stansson]

Yo guys, I'm a mess over here. I bought a ticket to a game and a Dempsey jersey. I'm such a mark. Joe Roth, take my money. It's yours.

 

I DON'T EVEN WEAR JERSEYS OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE.

 

 

anyway, Terrence Boyd to Watford looks likely.

[wolf stansson]

On a related note, it's interesting and a little concerning to read about EJ, his friend, griping now about being underpaid.

Grown ass politicking.

 

@oba_martins: My boy @eddie_johnson7 deserves a new contract ASAP. Somebody needs to make that happen. #SoundersFc

For an underachieving team in a playoff chase they shouldn't have to be sweating, they're feeling themselves.

 

You ain't Galacticos, boys. The Sounders have been ruthless when this happened in the past: Montero, Teifert, Ljungberg, Nkufo, and that Uruguayan who's name I forgot. Hanauer's got the most impressive DP kill sheet going. EJ is using his relationship with Deuce as leverage and that's risky.

[wolf stansson]

http://www.noshortcorners.com/2013/08/goodie-time.html

Let's discuss a couple of guys, neither of whom appear set to move at the moment.

 

I've learned that Everton tried to approach Roma to talk about dealing Michael Bradley and were quickly told to hit the bricks.

 

I know many out there worry that the bald eagle will be squeezed out in a crowded midfield, but I'm told the new coach loves him and plans to use him often. Apparently, Rudi Garcia feels that none of the other guys in the stable cover enough ground - which, as we all know, is one category where few can match Bradley.

The report of Watford interest in Terrence Boyd is true. He also has eyes trained by some EPL clubs, some of whom have made introductory calls to Rapid Vienna - but nothing serious is going on with any of them at this time.

 

Boyd also remains on Lazio's browsing list for the possible event that Libor Kozák is sold during this window. Strangely enough, the Czech forward has been getting calls from Sunderland of all places.

 

The reality is, anyone who wants either of these guys is going to need to cough up top dollar for them. Both clubs consider their US international to be crucial to the season's goals (in Boyd's case, literally).

[wolf stansson]

Grant Wahl with how the move happened: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130805/clint-dempsey-seattle-sounders-mls/

 

WTF tidbits include Toronto as one of his preferred destinations, that he has one January loan guaranteed and that Omar Gonzalez has re-upped with LA.

[Pushfrog98]

Dempsey probably left Tottenham because he didn't want to play under Lasso. He could have waited!

[wolf stansson]

This presser is by far the most I've ever heard Clint speak.

[Tracer Bullet]

I might buy a Dempsey jersey. Someone quickly explain the rules of soccer to me.

[jersey cubs fan]

I might buy a Dempsey jersey. Someone quickly explain the rules of soccer to me.

 

first rule of soccer club is... it's a kit, and futbol. That's all I got.

[wolf stansson]

I might buy a Dempsey jersey. Someone quickly explain the rules of soccer to me.

The big guy in the back wearing the different-colored jersey can use his hands, everyone else cannot. Fouls work like fouls in basketball re: contact. Offsides is when an attacking player is closer to goal than any defending players other than the goalie when his teammate passes him the ball.

 

Now on to more important stuff. What is the buzz like in Seattle? Enough to penetrate the non-soccer fan public?