Dave’s Football Blog

We’ve got to get Clint Dempsey the hell out of Fulham.

Soccer By Ives noted today that Dempsey is the last American soccer player left at Craven Cottage. Brian McBride and Kasey Keller returned to the rest home for star players that is MLS, Carlos Bocanegra was released and signed with French club Rennes, and Eddie Johnson was just sent on a season-long loan to Cardiff City, who would probably rather have Kenny Cooper right about now.

That leaves Deuce as the last American standing at Fulham, and he’s stuck there with a manager that clearly doesn’t think too highly of him. As soon as that stodgy old fart Roy Hodgson showed up at Craven Cottage, he seemed to have it in for Dempsey, who just happened to be Fulham’s leading scorer at the time. Now Deuce has scored a grand total of two goals in 2008 — both against Barbados, a national team that would struggle against Ebbsfleet United — and the lack of playing time under Hodgson has clearly hurt his form in international play. He looked ineffective in the WCQ against Guatemala and was pulled from the game after a hour or so.

It makes you wonder why Dempsey signed a new deal with Fulham back in May. Fulham sure doesn’t seem all that committed to him — especially now that Hodgson has all but killed the “Fulhamerica” concept. If I were Deuce, I’d rather be hanging out with Freddy Adu in Monaco right about now. Can we make that happen? The transfer window isn’t closed yet. Hell, even moving to Hull City might be better for his career at this stage. Anything to get him away from Hodgson. He’s not going to advance if he sticks around Craven Cottage for too much longer.