Fulham v Sunderland

I'm all for that. Hangeland glancing in a header from a corner and Riise with a trademark cracker off a free kick. That would be very enjoyable to watch.

 

Against my better judgement, I am flying back for this match even though I need to be in New Orleans the following evening. I sincerely believe this will be Clint Dempsey's last home match for Fulham. He is all about self improvement and I suspect he feels he has outgrown what he can accomplish here without testing himself in the Champions League. Unless he tries, he will never know, and we all know what a trier our Clint is.

I never considered myself a Clint Dempsey supporter though I have had the privilege to have been at many seminal events in his career. These included the friendly against Fulham in Columbus when he featured for MLS All stars, and if memory serves, scored two goals. I was also in Nuremburg with Uncle Sam's Army supporting McBride and Bocanegra when he ghosted in at the opposite end against Ghana in the 49th minute. A flight delay conspired to cause me watching the Juventus goal from an airport lounge in Frankfurt, and of course, there were the equalizers against our SW6 rivals, including this past Boxing Day when the wife and I were in the Shed end. There was the heartbreak of Cech's save on Valentine's night last year and Easter Monday on my last visit, after his last equalizer. The ball was rolling softly towards the left channel near the touch line in the 94th minute as he arched in from the right to collect it in hope to spring one last attack. So, when the final whistle sounded I saw him stop but not at once, looking disbelievingly over his right shoulder back towards the referee with a face as if to say "is that all there is?" His disappointment was as visible as it was palpable.

Throughout he has acquitted himself with the quiet decency of a classic hero and I expect nothing less in the manner of his leaving. I felt compelled to return for the Birmingham City match four years ago this month to pay my respect in person to Brian McBride. When I booked my journey after the draw at Derby, it might well have been our last home match in the league. To thank Clinton Dempsey in person for what he has given our club seems for a man in my position, the very least I can do.

I will be he the Jolly Gardener's before the match, in the right side by the corner as you enter, wearing glasses like Geoffrey Howe's, drinking a pint and reading the Private Eye.

 

I think you got it half right Joe. Dembele should stay and further solidify his game before taking the big transfer...but he should stay where he is. Moving into Clint's spot would only bring his value down. He's not a natural goal scorer, but he's hell on the ball and ever improving as a passer and defender.

 

See your point Matt, but do you think if given the chance at that spot he could become a double digit goal scorer? Someone w/that much ability on the ball should be able to add some goals to his arsenal (oops, bad word choice :shock: ).

Have a great time sfm and hope the lads put on a good show.

 

Thanks as always for the write-up Joe.

Enjoy the match sfm and please do pass along our thanks to Clint and all the lads when that final whistle goes.

It's hard to believe that this could be his Cottage swan song. He is the last of the Americans that brought me to Fulham in the first place, so there's definitely extra sentiment in this one. As sfm said, if he does indeed leave, he will do so as he does everything else: with class.

 

Wonderful writing as usual sfm. You've nearly got me in tears with your words on Clint and the thought of his last match at the cottage. Our whole family will be watching this one on Sunday vs Sunderland. My hope is that it ends up being just another Fulham game where they fight hard, play some good football, and bring in three points - nothing more than that. Please stay Clint, Wenger is a whiner AND COYW!

 

great write ups and posts above. agree with the notion that Dempsey's last match for the Whites at CC is Sunday.

COYW

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012 ... sunderland

Fulham v Sunderland
Fulham v Sunderland (1400 BST)

For Fulham to beat Liverpool at Anfield in midweek was a fantastic result for them and, although their manager Martin Jol might miss this game with a chest infection, they will want to sign off at home for the season with a win.

The wins have dried up for Sunderland in the last few weeks, but they are still ultra-competitive and they will have a big say in the outcome of the title race when they play Manchester United at the Stadium of Light on the final day of the season.

Sunderland's form was always going to taper off after their great run when Martin O'Neill took charge in December. I think he will still be pleased with how well he got them playing for a while.

Prediction: 2-1

 

We're got quite a match here! Where is everyone!?

COYW!

 

The chatroom got a little more action when a few of us realized the match was going on :doh: I hadn't had coffee yet (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). What a free kick by Clint :bow-yellow: and goal from Moose. Great save by Mark to secure the 3 points :banana-guitar: . Curious about how Demps was acting towards the home crowd after the game.

 

Glad we won and glad Clint got his 50th at the Cottage. Two in a row, let's finish the season with a WINNING STREAK! COYW!

 

That free kick was special - Der Kommissar should take note. Great win for Fulham and (possible sending off) for CD and MD. How Fulhamish that they'd both find the net today.... Diarra was immense - really showed his class and his signing is a massive coup given the potential turnover this summer. COYW!!! Knock off Spurs at WHL and I don't even remember being knocked out of the Europa by a crappy draw against some obscure club :twisted: ...

Fulham's match should be televised given the CL implications and Fox's commitment to televise 9 live matches next weekend. 9 live matches, seriously?

 

Happy for the win. A very fun match to watch. All of Fulham's players put in an excellent shift, but my MOM probably goes to the big Aussie or Diarra. I see no reason for Clint or Moussa to leave. Fulham has a very nice team and is playing some very entertaining soccer under Jol. If everyone stays they would be among those favored for European competition qualification next season. No one good enough to temp Demps will bid high enough and Moussa is not being held back by playing at Fulham so he really should stay.

 

I watch some of our attacks and I really do think we can pull a Newcastle next year if everybody stays and we sign a couple of players. There are times where we look unstoppable, even against the best teams. I doubt we start off as badly next season as we did this season. Our best players should realize how close we are and look at past examples, looking at you Saha, and see how badly their big moves turned out.

 

Haven't seen anything online about post match behavior by Deuce. Anybody got the scoop?

 

He was quietly subdued, but I sense that is his typical manner. I saw him before the match walking into Craven Cottage with his daughter hoisted on his left arm. He was signing autographs perhaps 10 feet away from me and seemed firendly enough but focused. After the match he walked with his daughter holding his right hand and his little son on the left. Mostly, he looked down and ocassionally acknowleded the supporters "He score with his left.." song especially as he passed the green pole in the Hammy end with a outstretched thumb. This continued around the Riverside and the home supporters in the east end of Putney. He usually walked behind Murphy and near Briggsy, Hangeland and Schwarzer but was one of the last, if not the final player to exit the pitch and enter the tunnel.

 

Damn. Time to find a replacement. We might also need to find a replacement for Murphy too considering what his wife wrote on Twitter yesterday.