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Good news on Donovan, Dempsey
By Martin Rogers
January 23, 2010
CARSON, Calif. — The storm clouds gathered over the United States national team in Southern California this week, with uncharacteristically torrential rain, lightning and even a tornado warning causing head coach Bob Bradley to tinker with training plans.
Despite the murk and gloom, nothing could cause Bradley’s mood to dim – not with the positive news filtering over from Europe about his two most influential players.
The Team USA boss spent a nervous 48 hours at the start of the week waiting to receive updates on the health of forward Clint Dempsey, who damaged knee ligaments while playing for Fulham last weekend.
With the positive diagnosis that Dempsey won’t need surgery and should be back before the end of the English Premier League season, Bradley could breathe somewhat easier as he invited Yahoo! Sports to his office at the Home Depot Center.
Suddenly, from a situation only slightly less gloomy than the elements outside, much optimism now surrounds both Dempsey and Landon Donovan, the other offensively gifted member of the U.S. squad who is seen as critical to the Americans’ World Cup hopes.
Both players have added consistency to their game over the past year, enhancing their reputations in the process. Yet Bradley credits much of the progress to their increased maturity – a factor that will be crucial in South Africa this summer.
“Clint has really grown at Fulham,” Bradley said. “He has established himself as an important player for us, one who can play in midfield, can play up front, somebody who can help get goals. He has earned the respect of the players and the coaches in England.
“For me, the important thing with Clint is how he has developed as a player. Initially in MLS, his starting point was his ability to do something on his own. He has that little special way to create a chance and make an opening.
“As he has continued to grow as a player, he has come to understand how to fit things in with others on the field, how to play with the rest of the team and be in tune tactically with the rest of the players. The good news is that he has been able to improve in those ways and still keep some of the things that keep him a little bit special.”
Aggressive runs are one of Dempsey’s most valuable attributes, something which adds options, flexibility and unpredictability to the U.S. lineup. His performances at the 2009 Confederations Cup offered proof of his rising stature and comfort level on the international stage.
“He is someone who is really capable of making a difference for us,” Bradley said. “If you take a look at his play, what stands out is not just the goals he scored but the different ways in which he gets them. That is a credit to the attacking qualities he has.”
While Donovan has not sustained any recent injuries, there were significant doubts hanging over him when he left the Los Angeles Galaxy for a loan stint with Everton at the start of the year.
A missed penalty in the Galaxy’s MLS Cup final shootout defeat to Real Salt Lake fueled the critics’ ongoing claim that Donovan lacks mental strength when it really counts. However, in his first games in the EPL, Donovan has been outstanding with Everton, first helping the Toffees secure a mightily impressive draw at current league leader Arsenal before following up with more strong play in a victory over big-spending Manchester City.
With the 2006 World Cup and his disappointing efforts there remaining the lowest point of his career, Donovan could hardly have chosen a better time to make a mark in a tough European league.
“Landon has shown in the last year a great level of maturity and confidence and motivation to continue to move himself along,” Bradley said. “He has talked about how he sees things differently, how he has changed.
“I think, most importantly, when you hear him talk like that it is easy to see that he feels good on the inside about the way he has played, some of the challenges he has faced and the way he has improved – ‘grown’ is maybe the better word.”
Bradley says he believes that the additional pressure of playing in the rugged EPL will only serve to add extra edge to Donovan’s game. Furthermore, with the United States and England squaring off in Rustenburg on June 12, there will be increased interest in the American every time he suits up for Everton.
“This is not only good for him but it works really well for us leading up to the World Cup,” Bradley added. “He is such an influential player for us, and for him to be in this kind of situation at Everton, playing in England, is key.
“It will help him specifically regarding the World Cup. Any time you go into games where a lot is expected, where everybody has got to do their part … there is the accountability side of things over there where people are looking closely at everything you do.
“When you play well, when you work hard, when the team plays well, you get credit. But if it goes the other way, then people will notice that too and I think that is important for him.”
Bradley has a solid and balanced squad of players to call upon, and Team USA has shown its toughness and resiliency over the past year. The World Cup is a special tournament, however, and requires special talents. Donovan and Dempsey offer Bradley his best options for creativity.
With Donovan continuing to blossom in England and Dempsey receiving better news than expected about his knee injury, Bradley’s potential storm clouds are starting to clear.
Group C watch
England – Newspaper reports claim boss Fabio Capello may walk away from the job after the World Cup.
Algeria – Coach Rabah Saadane rejected suggestions that his side’s 0-0 African Cup of Nations draw with host Angola was “arranged” so that both teams could reach the quarterfinals.
Slovenia – Striker Zlatan Ljubijankic promised to control his temper after being sent off last week while playing for Belgian club Gent.
Smiles
U.S. midfielder Ricardo Clark finally completed a move from MLS to a European club, signing with German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
Tears
Ghana star Michael Essien returned to Chelsea and is likely to miss at least a month of action after suffering knee-ligament damage in training at the African Cup of Nations.
World Cup numerology
141 – The number of goals scored at the 1994 World Cup at an average of 2.7 per game, the most free-scoring of any of the past six tournaments.
The walking wounded (Gooch, Charlie and Deuce)
Oguchi Onyewu – Gooch is making solid progress as he rehabs from a busted patella. AC Milan’s medical staff expects him back in training within six weeks. Likelihood of World Cup selection: 80 percent.
Charlie Davies – The 23-year-old visited the U.S. squad at its training camp in Los Angeles last week and is now walking unassisted. There’s still a long way to go before he can seriously think of playing soccer, however. Likelihood of World Cup selection: 5 percent.
Clint Dempsey – Deuce should be back in action for Fulham before the end of the season after it was found that his ligament injury does not require surgery. Likelihood of World Cup selection: 90 percent.
Put it on your calendar
Feb. 24 – The United States will take on El Salvador in a friendly at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.
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Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 2 Leeds United
ESPN
January 23, 2010
Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford was the FA Cup hero again when he slotted home a last-gasp penalty at White Hart Lane to earn a fourth-round replay against Tottenham.
Grayson toasts Beckford
Casper Ankergren will also take the plaudits after saving Jermain Defoe's first-half penalty but it was Beckford who twice equalised to add to his strike in the previous round when he netted the winner against Manchester United.
Peter Crouch grabbed the opener but Beckford replied after the break, then the Leeds striker won and scored his stoppage-time spot-kick after Roman Pavlyuchenko looked to have earned Spurs a win at White Hart Lane.
Getting back to the top of League One may be the priority for Simon Grayson's men with Norwich overtaking them earlier in the day but the cup is providing a wonderful distraction and they will be encouraged by another battling performance and their goalkeeper being in top form.
The first half was simply a case of whether Spurs could find a way past Ankergren, a week after Hull's Boaz Myhill single-handedly denied them victory with a goalkeeper masterclass.
Ankergren's performance came against a strong Spurs line-up with only Vedran Corluka rested and youngster Danny Rose given a chance to impress against his former club in his first start for his new club.
Rose's selection can be interpreted as a blow for David Bentley. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp hinted at the midfielder lacking effort in training on the eve of the match, he was not included in the matchday squad and did not watch from the bench like injured team-mates Aaron Lennon and Tom Huddlestone.
They watched Spurs apply heavy pressure in the opening stages and it needed Ankergren to be at his best.
The Danish stopper was first required to tip over the crossbar from Defoe when the England striker latched on to Michael Dawson's clearance and took the ball around Leigh Bromby with his head.
Then Niko Kranjcar was denied when Ankergren parried his long-range drive - but there was more to come from the Leeds number one after Rose was fouled by Michael Doyle in the penalty area, a clumsy challenge from the defender.
Defoe took the spot-kick and Ankergren leapt to his left to make a one-handed save.
Ankergren also stopped a free-kick from Gareth Bale, and even when he fumbled a Kranjcar set-piece, Patrick Kisnorbo scrambled it clear with a brave block.
Spurs felt they should have had a second penalty when Defoe raced through and Jason Crowe brought him down, with Alan Wiley deciding the defender played the ball.
With Ankergren to thank for keeping the scores level - and Wiley's decision - Leeds then threatened to open the scoring at the other end. Robert Snodgrass made a yard of room on the edge of the area and his curling effort stretched Heurelho Gomes.
Beckford had an even better chance on the half-hour mark, using his body to turn Dawson but flashing his left-footed finish wide of the target.
Three minutes later he got one on target, after Snodgrass looped a ball over for him, with Gomes required to block his powerful volley.
Crouch made Leeds pay for their wastefulness when he struck three minutes before the break. The move started when Bale beat Jonathan Howson on the left and pulled the ball back for Kranjcar.
Inevitably, after his stunning first half, Ankergren saved but the ball fell for Crouch to tap in.
Jermaine Jenas presented a glorious opportunity to Leeds in the first minute of the second half with a sloppy backpass but Beckford's touch was too heavy when he tried to take the ball around Gomes.
But the 26-year-old made no mistake with his next chance. Bromby flicked on Snodgrass' corner and Jenas should have cleared, allowing Beckford to prod over the line.
It was his 21st of the season and another reason why Premier League clubs have been looking to sign him next season when his contract at Elland Road runs out.
It added to the cracking cup-tie atmosphere - and chances kept being created. Sebastien Bassong headed straight at Ankergren, then Snodgrass went wide at the other end.
Redknapp's response was to take off Crouch and Kranjcar for Robbie Keane and Pavlyuchenko, with the Russian scoring with his first chance.
Wilson Palacios shifted the ball inside, Pavlyuchenko dummied and Defoe sent the ball through for him to slot past Ankergren.
But there was a final twist, with Dawson fouling Beckford in the penalty area with stoppage-time running out and the Leeds player smashed home the penalty.
Grayson toasts Beckford
Leeds manager Simon Grayson has challenged Jermaine Beckford to use the rest of the season to earn the biggest move from Elland Road possible after putting himself in the limelight again with more FA Cup heroics.
He said he would only be willing to cash in on Beckford if the club received a big bid: "It would have to be a lot of money because we have turned down decent money already for him,'' he said. "Jermaine wants to stay and finish the job off.
"If someone comes in with ridiculous money - and I'm talking a lot more than £2 million - then we'd look at it again. But I've got no intention of selling him in the window because it's too late to get a replacement and he's too valuable to lose.
"I have said all along I would rather Jermaine leave on a free and I wish him well because hopefully in that meantime he's got us promoted. Jermaine can only win because if he scores 15 to 20 goals until the end of the season he will be linked with bigger clubs than he's being linked with now.''
"There's still an opportunity he might stay beyond the summer,'' added the Leeds boss. "There have been a lot of twists and turns already. He put a request in after the Manchester United game and has come off the list now. He can leave in the summer if that's his choice.''
The other hero for Leeds was goalkeeper Casper Ankergren, who saved Jermain Defoe's penalty in the first half. The Dane played down the plaudits, saying: "I don't think too much, I just try to guess. You have to guess, you have to be lucky. You have to do the right thing, look at him, and I was lucky and I saved the penalty.''
Alan Wiley's decision to award Leeds a penalty appeared to be debatable, although Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said: "It could have been a penalty. It was a tight one. I wouldn't argue with the referee. He's made an honest decision. Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don't. Michael took a chance and tried to win the ball. He did get a foot on the ball.''
Pavlyuchenko, who wanted to leave Spurs, seized his rare chance when he came off the bench to score. Redknapp added: "Pav is here, he's part of the squad and if he plays like he did when he came on every week he will be in the team every week. There's nothing in the offing.''
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