Transfer Day: It’s All Over Until January!!
Lookin’ Good, Deuce!
Well, it’s done.
After much drama, intrigue, and last minute dealing Clinton Drew Dempsey is now a player at Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. We may never know exactly what went on at Craven Cottage after Dempsey let Fulham know that he wanted out, but it doesn’t really matter. Dempsey is now- at least by my reckoning- the first American field player to suit up for one of the three big (sorry, Fulham) London clubs. Somebody might even have suggested that Dempsey-to-Spurs might be a mutually beneficial arrangement, but I’m not going to point any fingers. And speaking of Spurs…
What are we to make of the arrival of French international goalkeeper Hugo Loris at White Heart Lane? Is he the new first team keeper ahead of Brad Friedel? Will he have to compete for the top spot with the grand old American? Given the way that Friedel has played over the last two seasons it’s hard to believe that he’ll simply be pushed aside by the club- even if it is for a current international.
In a move that has left me scratching my oversized noggin, USMNT captain (read that again) Carlos Bocanegra has accepted a year-long from Rangers (good) to Racing Santander of Spain’s Segunda Division…what?! I know it’s a move up, but a move from a club that was relegated from La Liga last season and is now- granted, after only two matches- last in the second tier?! I know the money is probably good, but I almost think a move to MLS would have been better.
Bocanegra’s move is all the more hard to fathom as a player who is no longer a viable national team player- Oguchi Onyewu- has somehow managed a move to a club, Malaga, that is not only in La Liga, but may also contend for a Europa League spot. What, exactly, did he do in 18 matches at Sporting that warranted this move? For that matter, how has a player who has only played 24 league matches since the fall of 2009(!) manage this move? Gooch must have the greatest manager in the history of the world.
Keep an eye out for young (19) American U23 goalkeeper Cody Cropper. Today the Atlanta-born player was transferred from Ipswich Town F.C. to Premier League side Southampton F.C.. It is likely that he’ll join either the reserve squad or the club’s U21 squad. Either way, he appears to be yet another in the long line of American goalkeepers poised to make his mark on the game outside the U.S..
Finally, former Ross County forward Sean Higgins was released by SPL side St. Johnstone F.C. and has signed with SFL side Falkirk F.C.. His move from the SPL to the SFL virtually ensures that Higgins will not have to live in fear of being punched out by County manager Derek Adams- again.
