Dempsey to the Sounders and what it means to the player, the league and US Soccer

Photo credit: Men's Health

 

Few American soccer fans believed the rumors when it was said that Clint Dempsey would be coming back to MLS with the Seattle Sounders. Even fewer believed the headlines when the story was broken that this was indeed true. Maybe "believed" wasn't the right word. Maybe it was a collective "really?" and it can be taken both positively and negatively.

To start, yes, it's true that the former New England Revolution player has secured a $9 million transfer from Tottenham to the Seattle Sounders effective immediately. He will be presented to the press in the next couple of days. But what are the implications?

For Dempsey it became clear this past off-season that his playing time with Spurs would be more difficult given the probable sale of Gareth Bale and the financial muscle the team would acquire to shop for players similar to Dempsey. A $9 million transfer to another European club would be difficult to see given his age (30). His dream of a club big enough to play in the Champions League fronting that much cash is also, frankly, not likely.

For Major League Soccer, adding Dempsey is its biggest move since signing Beckham in 2007. Why? Dempsey is an American hero. He has scored clutch goals again and again for the national team, including the game-tying tally versus England in South Africa 2010. Without that goal, the US would have been unlikely to go on to the elimination round.

The MLS that Dempsey left seven years ago was a fledgling league still looking for a voice, stability and passion. And while teams like DC United and the LA Galaxy had broken ground in American sports culture, much still lacked to make the league truly relevant. MLS would need Beckham, Altidore, and Seattle to change course. And change it did.

Clint Dempsey saw the necessary changes in the league when he played in a World Cup Qualifier versus Panama in the Emerald City. He saw the passion of Sounders fans and a city in love with its team and the sport. He also spoke with Eddie Johnson, a player whose career was resurrected by the club, and that, perhaps, sealed it for Dempsey.

For US Soccer and its fans this transfer may not be ideal. For one, Klinsmann isn't enamored with the idea of his team captain and MVP to leave the world's best league and return to America. For the fans it seems like a step back for a player that brought American soccer to incredible heights during his one season with Tottenham Hotspur. He punished Manchester United and scored and saved his team several times. Might his form diminish playing in the United States? Will he be as strong a player versus demanding competition in a World Cup? Tough questions with interesting answers and not all of us like the outcomes.

In the end it was a personal decision. He would bring his family back to the US. He would get an even bigger paycheck and become the top player in the league. He would make history by breaking records with his transfer. And he would, perhaps, finally win a tournament. Because that, ultimately, is what Dempsey desires and deserves the most.

Flashback performance: USA 4 - Germany 3

Photo credit: Getty Images

Today, as US Soccer turned 100 years old, we watched in awe and joy just how far the program has come in the last two decades and how good the men's team can be. The USA dominated FIFA #2 ranked Germany in a 4-3 match that could and should have been a 4-1 rout. It was a performance the likes we haven't seen since that magical game versus Spain in the Confederations Cup 2009.

It was a flashback today for the offense. Jozy and Dempsey. A goal for the often-criticized, unjustly categorized as lazy, Jozy Altidore. Altidore had never scored in the run of play for Klinsmann until today. For Dempsey, it was another landmark statement. The Tottenham Hotspur ace will not stop scoring--and looking good doing it--for team or country. Hopefully we will see Deuce suit up in the Champions League before his career starts to fade. For Jozy, there are suitors for his services from Germany to Italy.

The defense today was no flashback. Bob Bradley's defensive brain has long been gone in favor of better flank play and a higher line. The lack of experienced centerbacks like Bocanegra and Onyewu have also hurt the defense. Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler and even Geoff Cameron are still a long way from being in the same position as the Onyewu-Boca tandem.

It was curious to see Geoff Cameron in the sidelines but this gave a chance to Evans, who did not disappoint. Beasley seems to own the left back option and Fabian Johnson provided good movement and passing as a winger. The middle of the pitch was well patrolled by Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones. The two clicked today in their box-to-box plays and covered for each other well. When these two perform, the team is more secure and has more options.

The right side had great speed with Graham Zusi and this provided for Altidore's goal at the start of the match. This was the type of service required by him that had always been provided by Landon Donovan. Yes, today USA won without him and it's clear that they can do so from now on. There are options for right midfielder with Zusi, Johnson and Gomez. They may not be Donovan but the chemistry is there. Whether the Gold Cup enables Landon to return to the full national team remains to be seen.

What else did we like from today? Fast scoring, quality scoring. Altidore's volleys and Dempsey's long and mid distance shots are highlight-worthy strikes and shows us the growth of US Soccer. It wasn't a cheap goal, a penalty, an own goal. It was great plays, good positioning and the ability to own the field. A flashback, so to speak, to days when the USA could do no wrong and the world took us seriously in soccer.

Player ratings:

Howard............6

Evans...............6

Gonzalez..........5.5

Besler..............5

Beasley............6.5

Zusi.................6.5

Jones...............7

Bradley............6.5

F. Johnson............6

Dempsey.........8.5

Altidore...........8

Subs:  E. Johnson (6.5), Davis (5.5), Castillo (5), Boyd (4)

Catching up to Mexico: Bradley to Roma

Photo credit: AS Roma

For most American soccer fans the news is already out there: Michael Bradley will be joining the legendary Italian club AS Roma. With this momentous news is a new beginning for US Soccer and what it means to be an American player in the world stage. It also means that the US is catching up to Mexico in sealing blockbuster moves in Europe.

A couple of years ago, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez completed a move to world superpower Manchester United and a gulf began to open between Americans and Mexicans in world soccer. True, the developmental teams have been sensational for Mexico: U17 and U20 world titles and a chance at gold at this summer's Olympics. The US, however, failed to progress to either one of the latter two events. Still, some of the older stars, and in some cases younger, have begun to make splashes in the European market: Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Dempsey (Fulham), Edu (Rangers), Danny Williams and Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim).

Of the above, the more impressive ones are Edu and Altidore. And yes, Rangers is now a thing of the past so Maurice, Bedoya and Bocanegra will need new homes soon. Altidore, however, made a dream move to Holland to play for a former champion with a storied developmental structure. For Clint Dempsey, his 17 league goals and 23 in all competitions, compounded with an end to his contract next year, means another blockbuster move might be on tap for US Soccer. The leading candidate at the moment is Liverpool.

But back to Bradley. Michael, the son of former US coach Bob Bradley, has had a steady rise through the world of soccer. From a modest start as a 16-year old at the New York/New Jersey Metrostars to a record-setting stay at Heerenveen of the Dutch Eridivisie (17 goals in one season) to Bundesliga outfit Borussia Moenchengladbach, and finally to Chievo Verona of the Serie A. Once in Italy, his work ethic and on-field value sky rocketed and he attracted the attention of major Italian clubs, including AS Roma.

The fact that Michael Bradley is only 24 further elucidates the significance of his transfer to the Eternal City.  This is, to date, the biggest move by any US player since Onyewu's ill-fated time at AC Milan. And by "biggest" we mean in significance and not in price. Altidore will take the price tag with his $10 million transfer to Villarreal. This is Roma, three-time champions of the Serie A, a frequent Champions League team and the home of players like Francesco Totti, Gabriel Heinze, and Daniele De Rossi.

So yes, in a way, the US is catching up to Mexico in its proliferation of well-respected talent. Where Dempsey ends up next will only further enhance this statement. After this, players like Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams, Terrence Boyd and other, younger stars may get to shine abroad. And with that the gulf in talent between Mexico and the United States will begin to close again.

Meant to be: Japan wins Women's World Cup

Photo credit: Getty Images

Meant to be. Not meant to be. Those were the shades of fate today at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Heartbreak. Emotion. Redemption. Japan walked out as world champions for the first time, and deservedly so.

Not meant to be for the US soccer team. The chances came and went throughout the first half. What could have been a score of 2-0 ended up tied scoreless. Alex Morgan's goal midway through the second half was almost enough. But not today.

Not meant to be for the defense today. Alex Krieger and Buehler didn't compact themselves enough and their casual clearance of an impressive Japanese attack was what gave way to the tying tally.

Not meant to be for Abby Wambach. She tried and pushed and got the go-ahead goal in the second period of extra time. Header. Perfect. But not enough. Japan tied the score with 4 minutes to go thanks to a misplaced bounce off our star goalscorer. 2-2. Penalties.

Not meant to be for Hope Solo either. Our superb goalkeeper wasn't tested enough by Japan for most of the game. This would have an impact as the game wore on. A slight injury in the overtime occurred right before Japan's tying goal. Her usual resolve was tested in the penalties and today she let one slip past her that could have made things interesting. She's only 29. Expect her at the Olympics and at Canada 2015.

Meant to be for Japan. Yes, today you could sense it. They were the lovable underdogs with a special cause. It was hard to imagine how the world wouldn't be cheering for the "blue samurais" today. Their country has seen such pain and agony this year. And they dedicated their fighting spirit, their resolve, their goals, and their title to the nation they love. And we applaud them for it.

Congratulations, Japan. Today the world cheered with you. It was simply meant to be.