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Dempsey out for first leg of Fulham’s UEFA Europa League qualifier

Dempsey (Getty Images)

Clint Dempsey will be getting somewhat of a breather this summer after all.

Fulham begins its UEFA Europa League campaign Thursday, but Dempsey will not be included in the squad for the club's first-round qualifier first leg with Faroe Islands club NSI Runavik (2:30 p.m.), according to multiple reports out of England.

Mexican international Carlos Salcido left back has also been left out of the squad for the Cottagers. Both players are just coming off the CONCACAF Gold Cup, so their exclusions are not a total surprise. Salcido picked up a heel injury in the semifinal against Honduras and played through it only to be subbed off early in the final. Dempsey played every minute of the six U.S. matches in the tournament and led the Americans with three goals.

What do you think of this development? Happy to see Dempsey get some time off? Are you reading more into this and thinking there are transfer implications? Do you see Fulham having a problem progressing?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Would I be going out on too much of a limb thinking maybe Fulham just want to give a US and Mexican player some time to blow off a little more steam after a hotly fought Gold Cup Final? Dempsey had quite a moment there towards the end of the match with the Mexican keeper, perhaps he could use a little time to clear his head.

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  2. The Faroe Islands has a league? Really? Wouldn’t that require like 400 or more players? Is it mandatory that everyone on the island participate in the league?

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  3. Fun to watch Fulham stream. It’s being shown from endline which Fulham is attacking. Different perspective than we normally get – nice to change things up.

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  4. Dempsey was excluded from the 25 man Europa League roster. If I am understanding this correctly he will not be eligible to play in the Europa League until the group stages. I believe the initial 25 man roster is not only for the first round but all the qualifying rounds leading up to the group stage.

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  5. Many people don’t know this because of their facial hair but three of the Faroe Islander players are actually women.

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  6. Exactly. Moreso reason 1, but the transfer window’s still open and he’s been building value the past 2/3 seasons.

    Either way, My BOY Dempsey needs a good break and will be fired up and ready to go!!

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  7. to some extent yes, but dempseys never had a year like he just did, and I’d like to think that Martin Jol is very much aware of what Dempsey brings to the table. In Hughes and Hodgson Dempsey had a defense first minded coach that both played very english style soccer. I expect with Jol, to have a much more fluid style utilizing people like Dembele, Dempsey and a couple others throughout the attacking positions.

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  8. Of course, the first two EL opponents are weak teams. They can play the reserve team and win, and Clint needs 3 weeks off.

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  9. I don’t think Dempsey was left off the roster for any but the two following reasons:
    1) He’s tired, and Fulham don’t need him to beat the champions of the Faroe Islands.
    2) If I’m not mistaken, playing in Europa League would cup tie him, preventing him from going to another Europa League club. That would significantly reduce his transfer value.

    Now, I don’t think Jol is LOOKING to transfer Deuce, but he (and Clint) will entertain credible money offers.

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  10. New coach, yes?

    Unfortunately CD’s history is that new coach’s take some time to see his value. I think he was left off to give him a rest. And you never know how he fits into the new coach’s plans, so transfer always possible.

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  11. hes not going anywhere until next year when Fulham is out of European play. Hel take a couple of weeks off and meet back up with them mind july I’d say.

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  12. I do not think there’s anything more to read into this; Dempsey needs a couple of weeks off after a long season.

    COYW

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