FA Cup Appetizer

Landon vs Clint. Not that I care to compare the two, but there is an entertainment factor to it.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/24/donovan-vs-dempsey-more-people-identify-ld

 

within the link is a link to an audiocast interview with Brian McBride. He chooses Dempsey. Not as a better player, but as the guy he is picking first for his team.

 

Nice article on the offal about Dempsey and this match
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/January/SomethingSpecial.aspx
Something Special
Thursday 26th January 2012

On-form Clint Dempsey views the FA Cup as a realistic chance to win some silverware with Fulham ahead of Friday night’s trip to Goodison Park in the Fourth Round.

The Texan star, who netted a hat-trick in the Third Round against Charlton, admits that his knowledge of England’s most prestigious cup tournament was limited before he joined Fulham five years ago this month, but says he has grown to appreciate its significance.

“To be honest with you I didn’t [follow the FA Cup when I was younger] because I didn’t have a lot of channels growing up to watch football over in Europe,” he details.

“It wasn’t until I got a little bit older that we started to get channels like Fox Soccer Channel and stuff like that which showed all the Premier League games, so that’s what we watched, Premier League games, and also on ESPN we got to see the Champions League.

“But since I’ve been over here, you get to watch it on TV, you see the goals and you see that it’s a chance to win something special. In your career you want to win things and hopefully, maybe one day I can, maybe the FA Cup.”

As well as being one of six eye-catching all-Premier League ties in this round of the Cup, Everton v Fulham also has an intriguing sub-plot – one that is likely to make it the most watched Fourth Round match in Dempsey’s home land.

For the clash is likely to see the USA’s three biggest star exports on the pitch at the same time: Dempsey for the Whites, and Tim Howard and Landon Donovan for the Toffees.


With Clint’s recent phenomenal goal scoring exploits already attracting a great deal of attention Stateside, the American audience for this game could reach new heights.

“The more we have players coming over to Europe and playing in these types of competitions, the more coverage it gets back in the States so that’s only going to help,” agrees Dempsey. “More Americans are starting to watch this league, there are more games available to the American public and I’ve been doing well since coming here. Hopefully that will continue for years to come.”

“When I was doing well before, a lot of it wasn’t really being talked about. Now it is and it feels good to be recognised for doing a good job.”

The 28-year-old also says that he is enjoying his football more than ever, his recent achievements clearly boosting his confidence sky high.

“I always try to better myself,” he says. “Every year I try to put myself in better positions and try to get the ball on target, and when you do that you always have a chance of scoring.

“If you look at when I first came over here I gradually got better and better. I improved in that aspect, to score goals, but I think also my all-round play has got better.

“I’m starting to feel comfortable in being able to express myself how I want to.”




Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsA ... z1kZVyuOkw