With Clint Dempsey the lone American left in Fulham's 2008-09 squad, why has the club's leading scorer from last season ended up on the bench?
By Graig Carbino
ALBANY, NY (Sept 29, 2008) USSoccerPlayers – What happened to Fulhamerica? Last year, message boards filled to the brim on weekend mornings for any game involving the adopted team from west London. Kasey Keller was starting in goal, Carlos Bocanegra was in the mix defensively, and Brian McBride, Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson were battling for places amongst the offense. My how times have changed.
Keller elected to return from Europe after more than a decade to play for his hometown Seattle Sounders. He will sit out this season in anticipation of the new franchises first game in 2009. Bocanegra was allowed to leave in the off-season and signed for Rennes in France. He was seeing very few minutes towards the end of last season with Fulham and decided to leave in search of more playing opportunities.
Brian McBride, who had been Fulham’s captain for the previous two seasons, also decided to return home to play for his local club. McBride signed for the Chicago Fire and it would appear that his European adventure has concluded. McBride’s departure left only Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson to represent the US on Fulham’s roster this season.
Johnson was shipped off on a season-long loan to Cardiff in Augus, leaving Dempsey as the lone American player still on the active Fulham roster. From five to one in a matter of months. Dempsey hasn’t exactly been racking up the minutes either, having been an unused substitute in most of the team’s league games. He has even come out in recent weeks hinting that he may want a move away from the club in January in the search for more game time.
I suppose that player turnover is really the nature of the game these days, but it just seems strange how quick the US exodus has taken place at Fulham. Could it be backlash from the clubs near-relegation last season? I would think and hope not, but I guess you never know.
Dempsey seemed to have established himself at the club last season and his six goals actually led the team. Four months later, and his absence from the starting lineup doesn’t seem to have anything to do with his performances. American backlash? Probably not, but I would have to think that number of Fulham jerseys being sported by American fans has gone down from last season.
Americans Abroad Report Card
English Premier League: Tim Howard started in goal for Everton as they hosted neighbors Liverpool in the famed Merseyside Derby. Fernando Torres scored twice in three minutes for the Liverpool win. Everton midfielder Tim Cahill was shown a straight red card in the 80th minute, effectively ending any chances of an Everton comeback.
Aston Villa came from behind to beat visiting Sunderland 2-1 on Saturday. Brad Friedel started in goal for Villa while understudy Brad Guzan watched from the bench. Djibril Cisse scored the opening goal of the game 10 minutes in before an 18th minute strike from Ashley Young leveled the game at 1-all. John Carew’s goal in the 33rd minute sealed all three points for Villa.
West Ham beat Fulham 2-1 behind goals from Carlton Cole and Matthew Etherington. Clint Dempsey once again had to settle for a place on the bench. Jonathan Spector is out injured for West Ham.
The Championship: Marcus Hahnemann started in goal for Reading in their 4-0 romp over Swansea. Bobby Convey did not make the game day roster. Two goals from Kevin Doyle and one from both Noel and Stephen Hunt saw off the visitors. Watford lost 2-1 at Sheffield United. Jay Demerit picked up a hamstring injury in Watford’s midweek Carling Cup game and was not available for the Hornets on Saturday.
Cardiff City lost 2-1 at home to Birmingham. James McFadden and Owusu-Abeyie Quincy scored for the visitors. Eddie Johnson was a 76th minute substitute for Cardiff but could not provide a late equalizer. Frank Simek continues his recovery from injury, missing Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 over Charlton at The Valley.
Germany: Neven Subotic again went the distance in defense for Borussia Dortmund in their 3-nil win over Stuttgart. Tamas Hajnal, Felipe Santana, and Alexander Frei scored for the hosts. Borussia Monchengladbach lost 1-0 to Hamburg. Mladen Petric scored for Hamburg. Michael Bradley was an unused substitute for ‘Gladbach.
Steve Cherundolo returned to the Hannover 96 starting lineup in their surprise 1-0 win over Bayern Munich. Szabolcs Huszti scored the games lone goal. Sal Zizzo was not in uniform for Hannover. Bryan Arguez was not involved for Hertha Berlin in their 1-0 loss to Energie Cottbus.
Heath Pearce came on for the final eight minutes in Hansa Rostock’s 3-0 win over FC Saint Pauli on Friday. Regis Dorn opened the scoring for Rostock in the 30th minute before a late Djordjije Cetkovic double sealed the win for the home team. David Yelldell started in goal for TuS Koblenz in their 1-0 loss to VfL Osnabruck. Matt Taylor was an unused substitute.
Gregg Berhalter started and player 90 minutes for 1860 Munich in their 1-1 draw with FC Ingolstadt on Sunday. Daniel Bierofka scored for 1860 while Andreas Neuendorf scored for Ingolstadt. Grover Gibson did not dress in Ahlen’s 3-1 win over SV Wehen.
Scotland: Rangers beat Hibernian 3-0 on Sunday at Easter Road. Kenny Miller scored twice for Rangers who remain unbeaten through seven Scottish Premier League matches. Neither DaMarcus Beasley nor Maurice Edu dressed for Rangers.
France: Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes for Rennes in their 1-0 over Nice. Jimmy Briand scored for Rennes to lock up all three points. The win sends Rennes into 10th place in the Ligue 1 standings. Andrew Jacobson was not involved in Lorient’s 1-1 draw with Sochaux.
Freddy Adu made a late cameo for Monaco in their 2-0 home loss to Lille. Yohan Cabaye and Ludovic Obraniak scored for the visitors. Adu came on for Alejandro Alonso in the 79th minute. The loss drops Monaco to 13th place in the standings.
Spain: Villareal beat Sporting Gijon 1-0 on the strength of American-born Giuseppe Rossi’s 65th minute goal. Jozy Altidore was not in uniform for Villareal who sit atop La Liga after five matches, even on points with Valencia.
Graig Carbino covers American Abroad and writes a weekly column for USSoccerPlayers. Contact him at graiger11@yahoo.com
