“Dempsey’s work rate is second to none. In my opinion, Landon Donovan took the easy route to stay in the States. Clint came over to become one of the best.” Those were the words of fellow American, Brad Friedel, after Clint Dempsey struck an 85th minute winner for Fulham against Liverpool on Monday night. The Texan, in netting his 37th league goal for the club, fired Fulham away from the relegation zone and into the sort of mid-table obscurity that most had predicted would be the west London club’s home.
But it wasn’t just Dempsey who impressed on Monday night. His Belgian partner in crime, Moussa Dembélé also revelled in the space between Liverpool’s defence and midfield – that which Lucas Leiva usually inhabits – and it is no surprise that the two are becoming ever more integral to any idea of success that the Cottagers may have.
Dempsey began his professional career with the New England Revolution in 2004, having been one of the top picks in that year’s MLS draft. He immediately repaid their faith in him, making 24 appearances in his debut season and contributing seven goals, on his way to being named Rookie of the Year and helping the Revolution to the Eastern Conference final. Things stepped up a level for both Dempsey and the club in 2005, the attacking midfielder netting ten goals as the club reached the MLS Cup Final, though they would eventually lose that game to the LA Galaxy.
Nevertheless, Dempsey had made his mark and, despite an injury hit 2006 season, made his move to Fulham in January 2007. The Cottagers paid £2M for his services, and although he took a while to settle in, he has since progressed with each and every year and carved out a reputation for himself as one of the US’ best exports. Perhaps the height of his time with Fulham came in the 2009-10 run to the Europa League final, and in particular his outstanding winning goal in the last 16 tie against Juventus.
Dembélé’s career has taken in a few more stops, and perhaps been less showered in accolade, though he and his AZ team mates came within one match of lifting the Eredivisie title in 2007. By that time the Belgian was on his third club, having begun with Germinal Beerschot where he made his debut aged just 16. He spent only two years with the Antwerp-based side before moving to the Netherlands, initially with Willem II. A single season in Tilburg, which ended in a narrow escape from relegation despite Dembélé’s nine goals, earned him a move to AZ and a club perhaps more befitting of his talents.
Four years and more than 100 league appearances later, it was time once more for Dembélé to move on and, though he was heavily linked with a transfer to Birmingham, he instead chose to join Fulham under Mark Hughes. He made a blistering start to his career at Craven Cottage, bagging two assists in his first league start, and impressed throughout the season, though perhaps lacked the number of goals people had expected of him.
This season, however, Fulham have struggled. With another change of manager, Martin Jol brought with him another change in style and it seems the side have struggled to adapt; before Monday they had won only twice in 13 league matches. Against Liverpool, however, as in the draw against Arsenal the previous weekend, Fulham set up slightly differently. Without Damien Duff they abandoned their normal 4-4-1-1, pushing Dempsey and Duff’s replacement, Bryan Ruíz, further forward into a 4-2-3-1 shape.
The extra numbers in attack have seemingly helped as Fulham took four points from two games in which they were expected to get nothing, and it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if it is something with which Jol persists, even when Duff returns to the side. With the solid base of Dickson Etuhu and Danny Murphy behind them and the willing work of Bobby Zamora in front, Dempsey and Dembélé had the freedom to move around, pulling defenders out of position and creating space. Ruíz was perhaps not as effective in the trio, though the £10M signing from Twente is still settling in and may yet find his feet.
If Fulham do continue with their more adventurous shape, then it isn’t much of a stretch to imagine that they can return to the sort of position they held under Roy Hodgson and challenge the likes of Stoke, Aston Villa and Everton in the top half of the table. There are few defences who would welcome the thought of facing Dempsey and Dembélé when given such freedom, and if the latter can begin to add goals to his repertoire - he has only six in 42 games for Fulham – then they will become an even more fearsome sight.
This, of course, presumes that Fulham can hold onto both players. Almost since his arrival at Craven Cottage, Dempsey has been linked with moves elsewhere, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Sevilla all having been credited with interest in recent years. Dembélé, meanwhile, has too attracted attention from the higher echelons of the game, and may see Fulham as simply another stepping stone on his rise up the ladder.
It’s a fact of life for clubs of Fulham’s size that their best talents, both on and off the pitch, will often be tempted away, but if they can hold onto their two talismans for at least a little while longer, there could yet be a few more great nights to light up the Cottage.
Photo courtesy of moodinator
As well as writing regularly for The Football Project, Simon is editor of world football blog Lovely Left Foot.
