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Monday Kickoff: Dempsey delays decision, Balotelli warned and more

Clint Dempsey 9 (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Clint Dempsey is in no rush to make a decision over his future.

Fresh off a two-goal performance that raised his season total to 21 goals, Dempsey told reporters he will wait until the summer to decide on whether to accept a new deal from Fulham or not. Dempsey has one year left on his current contract, but he is attracting interest from bigger clubs with his goal-scoring ways.

The U.S. national team star has made no secret in the past of his desire to play for a team that participates in the Champions League, but he has also been openly fond of his time with the Cottagers.

Here are more stories to help get your Monday going:

MANCINI SAYS BALOTELLI'S FUTURE IN JEOPARDY

If you are to believe Manchester City head coach Roberto Mancini, then Mario Balotelli may have played his last game for the club. Following City's 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday in which Balotelli was sent off late, Mancini told reporters that Balotelli will not play in any of the remaining six games this season and that the troubled striker is a risky player that continues to lose his quality. Balotelli's performance versus Arsenal was full of reckless challenges, including a studs-up, first-half tackle on Alex Song that did not warrant any punishment from the match official.

AMERICA TOPS CHIVAS IN MEXICAN SUPERCLASICO

Chivas de Guadalajara's chances of making the Mexican playoffs took a big hit on Sunday, as Club America defeated them in the Superclasico played in Guadalajara on Sunday. After 86 scoreless minutes, Paul Aguilar netted the winner when he controlled a pass and fired a shot from the right side of the penalty area that tucked inside the far post (and he followed it up with one of the weirdest dance celebrations you'll see.). The win now puts America on the brink of advancing to the playoffs.

BULGARIA NATIONAL TEAM DOCTOR BELIEVES CHERNOBYL GAVE PETROV ILLNESS

Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has been diagnosed with acute leukemia, and his national team doctor believes the illness is a result of the disaster in Chernobyl. According to Bulgarian national team doctor Mihail Iliev, Petrov was affected by the toxins that came from the exploding Ukranian energy plant in 1986 when the Aston Villa captain was six-years-old. There is no history of this illness in Petrov's family.

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Hoping Dempsey stays at Fulham or moves to greener pastures? If you were a coach, would you take a chance on Balotelli? Ready to start practicing Aguilar's dance move?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. the only way to know if he can cut it at a champions league team is if he moves to one. no use living with regret and deuce has made it clear he wants to try his trade at the highest level possible

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  2. You could argue that Clint’s “relatively weak supporting cast” know who the MAN is which means the offense around getting the ball to Clint in good spots.

    Should Clint move, there is no guarantee this will happen at his new club. Forget about talent levels and all that, moving to a new club is a risk at his age.

    If he moves I hope it is to a club that has a clear role for him, like Everton had for Landon, and is willing to be patient, though given the money he will likely ccmmand, there will not be a lot of patience. Nor should there be since Donovan was productive very quickly.

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  3. You missed how Arsenal George’s opinions and predictions of the future are apparently “facts” and “the truth”, but you attacked the other guy who wasn’t a total idiot Eurosnob?

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  4. Dempsey is more than good enough to be signed by a club that is better than Fulham, I think that is pretty clear to even casual observers.

    Arsenal themselves were not in the top 4 the entire season and still aren’t guaranteed of a Champion’s League spot, so people in glass houses…

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  5. They need more better players to challenge for a CL spot. Dembele and Ruiz are two; the rest are over-acheivers but they need more and the only way they will get more is to get a bigger stadium to finance the the acquisitions.

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  6. Uhhh I don’t see what the stadium has to do with that either but Fulham are expanding their stadium. Construction will probably begin this summer

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  7. They’re increasing the capacity at Craven Cottage this offseason by 5,000. She they’ll hold about 30,000 per game when all is said and done.

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  8. Exactly as Nate Dollars said. This is for Premier League goals only, Clint rarely take penalties for Fulham and he has no penalty goals in the league this season. I subtracted the penalty goals for other players

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  9. Yes, that bigger stadium will really bring in the wins and points needed to challenge the top clubs. All kidding aside, I believe I see your point, but you have an odd way of saying it…

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  10. Maybe everyone should wait with their opinion until he actually does move to a Champions League club, and then we’ll see if he proves himself. Seems pretty logical…

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  11. And even if it were my opinion I was concerned with, at least I admit it’s an opinion which is a lot less pompous than asserting them as facts, facts, facts.

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  12. The opinion isn’t different to MINE, pd, it’s different to Clint’s opinion of himself. That’s the point. He proves HIS haters wrong.

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  13. Dempsey is an ambitious guy, unlike someone on the US team who prefers playing for the home team, so he will move on to a bigger club. If he wasn’t he would already have signed the extension.

    So Fulham would be wise to sell Dempsey at his peak, and use that money to buy Joe Corona.

    Fulham are not going to ever challenge for the Champions League until they get a bigger stadium.

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  14. On a national team note, I wonder if this is Clint at the beginning stages of a great two or three year run? Or is it the tail end of a great run?

    I’m hoping it’s just the start and he peaks during the 2014 World Cup. It certainly will help us along in qualifying.

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  15. not in league games, at least. not sure about the various cups, but the totals above are just referring to league goals.

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  16. Also, Clint Dempsey has made a career proving anyone who ever doubted him wrong (every coach who ever benched him), every hater like yourself suggesting he isn’t good enough. At the end of the day, it will be YOU who will be proven wrong.

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  17. Even though youve already posted this exact same comment, word for word, in an earlier thread and presumably are desperate for someone to reply, I suppose I’ll rebuttle:

    Sometimes a great player isn’t bought by “big clubs” because they haven’t been bought. No other reason. Do you think EVERY great player ONLY plays on “big clubs”? That’s what you’re suggesting (the proof is in the facts, remember?): if they’re not playing for a big club they never will, they’re not good enough, blah blah blah. Ludicrous!

    Sometimes great players play for smaller clubs and haven’t been plundered by bigger clubs for a billion different reasons. Here a couple: they haven’t reached their peak yet, and therefore aren’t making enough noise or impact…yet. They’re tied into an expensive contract and until a club with enough cash, desparate enough to pony up the dough actually does, they will stay at “small club”. The player doesn’t want to leave yet (playing time versus prestige).

    My point is, your condescending tone about facts and players not being good enough is based in nothing but YOUR speculation and interpretation of events.

    For what’s its worth: I think Dempsey WILL move soon and I will be sad as Fulham fan, and excited as a Nats fan. I will be worried though, because if he sits on the bench a lot, he’s done that too often in his career already.

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  18. Don’t understand your point. Do you have board member contacts at many Champions League clubs? Or do you feel his achievements (scoring more goals than most forwards and all mids at champions league clubs) this year don’t warrant a look by Champion’s League clubs?

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  19. “It’s not like he’s going to be lining up for Bayern across from Messi and Barecelona in the final. He’ll be at Schalke playing Zenit St. Petersburg in a group stage game…big effin deal.”

    It depends on the competitor I guess. I think that some folks would make it thier life’s work just to make the day roster for any CL squad than be mid table. Certainly easier on the body.

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  20. Accuse me of hatting all you want, but the proof is in the facts. Clint hasn’t been signed by a “Big Club” and he won’t be signed by one before his career ends, which is unfortunate.

    So all you guys and gals saying he should be playing in the Champions League and for a “Top 4” side, will be proven wrong when that doesn’t happen.

    I love Clint, and like you all, I’ve been following him since his Revolution days and his blossoming at Fulham, beginning with events like that regulation preventing goal, but the truth is in the facts.

    Could, would, and should unfortunately don’t mean anything. Hopefully he gets a nice big contract extension from Fulham and plays in the EPL as a starter until he’s in his 30’s (about 33 or so) and then comes back to MLS as a Designated Player. He’s done America proud on the world stage and I hope he maximizes his earnings potential, which is commendable in my book.

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  21. Here’s the answer

    Goals without penalties

    van Persie: 25
    Rooney: 17
    Dempsey: 15
    Aguero: 14
    Ba: 14
    Dzeko: 13
    Adebayor/Holt: 11

    without penalties Dempsey is the 3rd top scorer in the league

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  22. Dempsey should definitely move to a bigger club. I am assuming that he will get a significant bump in salary. At 29, he will not have many(any) more chances to move up to a more marque club. Of course, it is risky, Torres made what was almost a lateral move and has failed to regain the form that made him a goal machine at Liverpool. But, even for that Torres still figures in things at Chelsea. I think Dempsey has the grit and skill to find an important role no matter which club he eventually settles in.

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  23. Im with most fans that wish Fulham could be a perennial champions/europa league club built around demps, but realistically he has got to cash in this summer!

    Fulham is certainly looking better these days but moving past the 8-12 table range is something that is not likely. I don’t see Clint fitting in at Chelsea, Spurs, or the Manchesters.

    If Newcastle finds a way in he could do well there, and Arsenal might be a good spot too. Other than that Juventus, Dortmont, Schalke would all be great spots.

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  24. I just looked it up the other day, that year they actually qualified through the league by finishing 7th.
    I was surprised too.

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  25. He already made it to the Europa League Final with Fulham (albeit they were in the tournament because of the Fair Play slot).

    Yes, it is worth risking it. The Champions League is prestigious. It’s the NCAA Tourney vs. the NIT. Plus, most importantly for Clint and his family, he’ll probably earn more at one of those clubs.

    Fulham are a nice, solid team right now, but they aren’t going to be a perennial top team unless someone with a lot more money buys them. Wait a few years, and with roster moves and retirement, I bet they’ll be in the relegation battle again. It’s a cycle.

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  26. I wonder if you take away penalty kick goals, where would Dempsey be ranked. Usually top scorers get to take penalty kicks. Dempsey doesn’t, I think he only has one penalty kick goal this season.

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  27. He got subbed off at halftime of his game against Fulham. I didn’t see him pick up a knock, could just be based on his performance.

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  28. I think he can make the grade at most clubs, his play will only be elevated w/ better service around him.

    However, say he does go to a decent Champions League team. Is it worth moving and risking things for a few games, if that, on a Champions League level? Especially if they don’t get out of the group stage, he’s just playing teams that are equivalent to an Everton or Newcastle.

    It’s not like he’s going to be lining up for Bayern across from Messi and Barecelona in the final. He’ll be at Schalke playing Zenit St. Petersburg in a group stage game…big effin deal.

    Fulham are on the up and if the current players buy in they’re easily a Europa League team (if not better) in a year or two and can challenge for domestic cups. Think about the talent on that team: Dembele, Ruiz, Dempsey, Duff, Riise, Diara, Schwarzer, have all been at or scouted by bigger clubs. Throw in the youngsters Jol has recruited and we may be looking at a perennial top 6 finisher.

    They have the market, the funding, the support, the charm to make it to the big time and Clint can be the centerpiece that gets them there.

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  29. Clint has said quite clearly in the past that his dream is to play Champions League. And with an absolute breakthrough season at the ripe age of 29, scoring goals like crazy and catching the attention of the world, it appears destiny is calling and going to give him the chance. If he would now turn down offers from a Champions League-bound team to sign an extension with a Martin Jol-coached Fulham, he would, in my opinion, be making the biggest mistake of his life. If there is no interest from a CL team in England, then he should be open for offers from top teams in Germany or elsewhere on the Continent. I would love to see him at Schalke, which is gradually turning into a powerhouse of a team. And after seeing what Michael Bradley is doing at Chievo, it is possible that a top (CL) Italian team might be interested in the USA’s best player. Dempsey says he wants to wait until summer to make a decision and this could mean that he wants to wait and see which teams end up as CL teams before signing.

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  30. Why do you think that Dempsey cannot make the grade in the Champions league club? Despite his relatively weak supporting cast, Dempsey is in the top 5 in scoring in the EPL this season (only behind strikers, such as Van Persie, Rooney, Aguero and Demba Ba) and is the top scorer among EPL midfielders.

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  31. Actually there are several German teams where I think Demosey would be right at home, especially Shalke who are on tract for a top 3 finish; additionally I think he’d be a great addition to Juventus. I do not see Jim fitting in at Arsenal or Chelsea, but Tottenham might be a great match for him. Question is would any of those clubs want him?

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  32. Clearly he’s an awesome player, but the point is that his behavior has seriously affected the team and has helped derail their title run. If he gets his act together, he can certainly be a world class player every game. I do find it funny that Mancini is saying this again about another player not playing for the team again. Tevez is laughing his head off…

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  33. I don’t know, personally if I were him, I would want to see if I could compete at the highest level, especially since he’s 29, and if it doesn’t work out, at least I tried…

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  34. Balotelli in yesterday’s game acted like an idiot but, as of now he is the only City striker on form and he is their only striker who bothers to track back. Yes Balotelli has his problems but his goal scoring record is pretty impressive for a player of his age(he is younger than Sturride and Chicharito). If City get rid of him I am sure Milan, Napoli and maybe even his old team Inter would love to scoop him up.

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  35. I agree. I think Dempsey should stay put.

    Btw, does anyone know why Whitbread is not being dressed again? Is he injured?

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  36. Dempsey has been in great form this season but I think he would be better served staying at Fulham. I can’t really see him making the grade for any Champions league club unless he moves to a top club in countries like Holland or Portugal.

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