It was but twelve short months ago that we wondered just how the transfer saga between Clint Dempsey and former club Fulham would play out. Dempsey, unquestionably in the prime of his career following a prolific goal-scoring campaign with Fulham, had spoken very openly about his desire to play at a club that could offer European football, and accordingly the writing on the wall suggested that Dempsey's days at Craven Cottage were indeed numbered.
There were significant rumors of Liverpool being a very likely destination for Dempsey, but as the dust settled last August, the confirmation came that Dempsey would be making the move across London to White Hart Lane. Yes, it looked to be the kind of move that would be quite befitting of Dempsey, but as we know, fortunes and situations in this game can change drastically in the span of a year. Maybe few things are so representative of this phenomenon as Dempsey being put up for sale by Tottenham this week. The familiar wave of speculation about Dempsey's next stop has returned.
Unfairly enough, there are those detractors who have been rather critical of Dempsey's time with Tottenham while, in the same breath, even going so far as to brand his tenure as a failure. To hurl such criticism so freely is nothing short of myopic and sensationalistic.
Let us not forget that Dempsey did have to fight his way through some injuries in the first half of last season, which ultimately meant that his performances at that stage may not have been as outstanding as what we had grown accustomed to at Fulham. Resultantly, he was left to fight his way back to fitness and further contend with the realities of Tottenham's rather bloated myriad of attacking options upon his return to health. He would again miss time in March with a calf injury, but on either side of this particular injury, he was at least getting back into the side and scoring some pivotal goals in both the Premier League and the Europa League.
While his goal tally of twelve in all competitions was not as gaudy was what we have seen from Dempsey in recent times, it was still a solid return from a term that was rather stop-start in nature for him. Bear in mind as well that Dempsey's role at Tottenham has been far different that the one he filled at Fulham. With Fulham Dempsey was almost without rival in being a main fulcrum of their attack; with Tottenham he has been almost complimentary in nature while playing alongside the likes of the ever-important and perpetually scoring Gareth Bale. Onlookers should understand that such facts will certainly alter one's statistical output.
Now that Tottenham are looking to jettison Dempsey so hastily, one has to wonder if Liverpool will end up being his future home, just as they could have been this time last year. With Luis Suarez looking to be on his way out of Anfield, Brendan Rodgers would be wise to bring in another verified scoring threat in time for the start of the Premier League season next month. Even if Suarez were to somehow stay, Dempsey would be much needed during Suarez's ongoing suspension from the end of last season. Either way, initial appearances would lead one to think that Dempsey would be far more instrumental for Liverpool than for Tottenham at this juncture.
Independent of exactly where Dempsey lands, there is the distinct possibility that Andre Villas-Boas may regret letting Dempsey go at some stage in this upcoming season. After all, it will be a long season for Tottenham thanks to their involvement in the Europa League, and as games pile up, so to do injuries and the need to rotate a squad effectively. Having a player of Dempsey's craft is quite the luxury in such a scenario, but instead, he is on his way to being unceremoniously dismissed.
If Jürgen Klinsmann and American fans alike have concerns about Clint Dempsey's next move and what it could mean for the national team, it is likely that there is little need to have such worries. After all, an in-form and regularly-featuring Clint Dempsey can only reap dividends for the United States next summer in Brazil. Dempsey's latest move may end up being that proverbial blessing in disguise for many and a curse for Tottenham.
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