Player Focus: Clint Dempsey - A One Man Team?

As football becomes more of a squad game with every passing season, it seems as if the idea of a “talisman” is lessening by the year. With rest and rotation key to ensuring optimum fitness, and  with the vast majority of the bigger clubs hosting bloated squads packed with several top-class alternatives, there’s less of an overall reliance on individuals to make that telling difference than ever before.

Certainly, in the upper echelons of Europe’s top leagues, that is the case. Looking further down the top divisions, though, and, scratching under the surface, there are still prime examples to be found. With budgets stretched and the ability to attract big names a rarity, many bottom half clubs’ fortunes can still hinge on the performance of a key individual. Analysing this season’s Premier League so far, the displays of Clint Dempsey for Fulham suggests he is worthy of that illustrious tag.

After a terrible start to the season, with just a single win in their first 9 games under new boss Martin Jol, the Cottagers sit in 14th position. On one hand, that’s just 7 points above the relegation zone but on the other - such is the close-fought nature of the Premier League - it’s only 6 points behind Sunderland in 8th.

Fulham Comparison

With 10 goals and 4 assists in his 23 starts, Dempsey’s contribution has been particularly significant. He has played a part, therefore, in 14 of his side’s 29 goals, which equates to 48%.

Looking at his WhoScored stats, it’s easy to see why he’s such a key individual. Dempsey has averaged 4 shots per game, more than Fulham’s main two forwards Bobby Zamora (2.1) and Andrew Johnson (1.8) combined. From a total of 96 shots, his 10 goals means the US international has scored with every 9.6 efforts but considering he has mainly played in midfield, his goal threat is even more impressive. With Zamora now having left for QPR and Johnson out injured, a role up front of late further highlights his adaptability.

In terms of creativity, Dempsey is fourth best for key passes for Fulham. He averages 1.4 per game, half of Danny Murphy’s 2.7 but has still managed to provide 4 assists, the same number as Murphy. Only Zamora, with 5, managed more over the first six months of the season for Jol’s side.

Dempsey’s stats have also improved from last season, highlighting how he is flourishing more under Jol than he did with Mark Hughes as manager. In 2010/11, he managed 3.5 shots and 1 key pass per game, returning 12 goals and 3 assists, playing a part in 15 goals; he is just 1 off that tally already, with 15 games of the season to go. It’s not as if he has seen much more of the ball this time round; Dempsey makes 33.5 passes per game this season, compared to 30.8 in 2010/11, a minimal increase. 

More than ever, Dempsey’s output has been essential; Brede Hangeland was second top scorer last term, with 6 goals, but the centre-half has failed to hit the net once so far. Damien Duff was another key performer under Hughes, with 4 goals and 4 assists, but has returned just 1 assist this season. Dempsey’s overall WhoScored rating has subsequently jumped from 6.85 last year to 7.06, making him the top-rated Fulham outfield player so far this term.

Premier League Comparison

The seventh-top scorer in the league with 10 goals, what’s impressive is that four of the top six have the luxury of spot-kicks to help boost their tally. Dempsey, on the other hand, is behind Danny Murphy in the pecking order for Fulham, with Zamora also previously ahead of the American. In terms of goal attempts, only three players – Robin Van Persie, Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney (all with 4.5) – have managed more shots per game than the Fulham man. The fact that the trio all play for clubs who see far more possession than the Cottagers’ average of 49.7% per game makes Dempsey’s average all the more commendable.

His 4 assists, while not outstanding by any means, is the same number as the likes of fellow -midfielders Luka Modric, Aaron Ramsey and Yaya Toure. That’s in spite of the fact that Dempsey makes just 33.6 passes per game, compared to Modric (68.9), Ramsey (64.1) and Toure (77.6). Dempsey has far less time on the ball, but his ability to get forward and threaten from closer to goal is the main difference here.  Looking at the quartet’s key passes, this means Toure has an assist with every 7 key passes, Dempsey has an assist with every 8.3 key passes, Ramsey with every 11.8 and Modric with every 13.

Overall, then, Dempsey’s output stands up well when compared to players in teams that are outperforming Fulham by some distance. Already, those 4 assists are more than he has managed in any season in the Premier League and he needs just 3 more goals this term to also achieve another personal best.

A further breakdown of his recent performances indicate how pivotal he is in picking up the points for Fulham; Dempsey isn’t just one of those players who contributes when the game is already done and dusted.

Since the start of December, he has made the difference in five key matches. A late goal against Liverpool earned his side a 1-0 win. A goal and assist in a 2-0 win over Bolton helped ensure victory. Dempsey followed that with the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea, a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Newcastle and, finally, a goal in the midweek 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Over the past two months alone, then, Dempsey has helped bring 11 points Fulham’s way; such lines can be the difference between the comfort of mid-table and a drop down into the Championship. A one-man team? Quite possibly. A talisman? Without a doubt.