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Martin Jol has been forced to sell Clint Dempsey, and he’s none too happy about how things have gone down.
Martin Jol added a new chapter to the Clint Dempsey saga this morning, and it’s probably the penultimate one. He also tore into Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool for effectively brainwashing his star midfielder into wanting to leave, then not actually making an offer. Here is what the BBC has given us from Martin Jol himself:
“Clint was not involved over the last four weeks so he is not going to be in the squad [against Norwich]. He is not committed to the club. He wants to leave. I would like to keep him, but I think it’s impossible. It’s a sad and an almost embarrassing situation.”
Then, he took it to Liverpool and their handling of the situation:
“That was very disappointing. There was never an offer. Clint himself told everyone he was going to Liverpool before he came back so we really thought there was quite a firm interest in him. Even Brendan [Rodgers] told everyone he was interested in Clint Dempsey, but our people never had an offer on the table, so it’s almost embarrassing. If you have shown interest in a player, especially in England, you have to follow it up with an offer. They didn’t.”
Finally, he reassured Fulham fans it’s not completely over at this point, there’s still business to be done:
“I can assure you that our chairman is strong enough. At first we didn’t want to get rid of him, later on we had to change our position. But our view is that we won’t let Clint Dempsey go on the cheap, that’s for sure.”
Many have pointed out to me on Twitter, and I tend to agree, that Fulham still hold the cards in these negotiations. What is Clint going to do if no one ponies up what Fulham want for him? Sit out the whole first half? I guess stranger things have happened, but that’d be up there.
However, I can assure you that Jol and Rogers won’t be doing business much in the future after this blows over. In fact, from the sound of things, it seems like Fulham may even have a case against Liverpool for unsettling Clint. Don’t be shocked to see something in that department in the future.
UPDATE (12:00 PM EST): ESPN are reporting on Twitter that Clint Dempsey is refusing to play for Fulham…ever again. In addition, Sky is reporting Fulham have fined Dempsey for refusing to play in this particular match. We’ll continue to monitor the situation.
UPDATE (12:55 PM EST): Now, according to the Liverpool Echo, LFC have no more interest in signing Clint Dempsey. If he refuses to play, where will he go? According to Jol’s quotes he said Clint himself has said he was going to Liverpool. Not anymore, if this proves to be true. This is turning into a mess.
When did Rogers say he was interested in buying Dempsey?
it seems like Fulham may even have a case against Liverpool for unsettling Clint- give over!!!
Rodgers comments were to the press and in response to a question to which he replied-
‘Ian Ayre, our managing director, has spoken with the club to see what the position is. That is where we’re at.
“He’s a very talented player but we don’t like to talk about other clubs’ players’.
So if Dempsey wanted to go, it has nothing to do with Liverpool ‘tapping him up’ which you seem to suggest!!!
Just because nothing was said in public doesnt mean things weren’t said in negotiations/private. Nobody knows except the people involved what happened there. I’m simply inferring things from the quotes of our manager
I think Jol is losing the plot. Liverpool enquired, Fulham put to big a price tag. Thats where things are at. He sounds ver childish.
So Liverpool fans explain the fact that Dempsey was welcomed as a new signing on your official website. Tapped up well and truly. You are just another mid table club now like ourselves but clearly delusional.
It wasn’t on the official LFC website. Just an idea, but check facts before making grandiose statements. This means that you won’t look a little foolish when someon points out your error.
Jol and Fulham shouldn’t blame Liverpool for what the newspapers say. That’s what you get from a small club and small time manager I guess. Dempsey is and always was just an average player so get over it.
Come on this is business. Who is unsettling the player? Anyone can express the interest in another team’s player and i don’t see any issue there. If the player has expressed interested to transfer but the team wants more that what he is worth, whose fault is that? Don’t blame the potential buyer if the seller becomes greedy.
Whatever. At least at Fulham we dont physically threaten the safety of the players family should the player want to leave the club. Life goes on. Same cant be said for some of those magnificant Liverpool fans (being ironic) who didn’t like the idea of Gerard joining Chelsea a few years ago It got rather nasty apparently!! Oh to be worshipped ‘theres only one Steve G’ lol.
Once again, you have made yourself look silly. By putting “being ironic” in parentheses, you are either implying that the people reading your comment (most likely your fellow Fulham fans) are too stupid to realise you are attempting irony, or that you, yourself, are not sufficiently confident in your use of irony to allow it to be written without your parenthesised caveat.
Liverpool didn’t do anything Jol doesn’t do, so think about that Jol next time you’ve trying to buy a player from a smaller club and stop being such a clueless hypocrite.
“If you have shown interest in a player, especially in England, you have to follow it up with an offer. They didn’t.” Why “especially in England? is it because you manage there maybe? you arrogant tool, you’ve the embarrassment.
A wordsmith who’s a Liverpool fan now theres a conundrum. Just to clear things up ‘Dempsey’s arrival’ was announced on the FG owners official website. Correct if i’m wrong here but do they now fully own and control your iconic club? Get back to your dictionary!
Ok people let’s chill out, let’s leave the attacking elsewhere please. Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool, also owns a majority stake in NESN, who reported the signing of Dempsey erroneously. Therefore they do have the right and the responsibility to decide content for the TV station and obviously their website as well.
It is interesting how the moderators on this website allow a personal attack on someone, but have moderated my reasoned and polite response. Shame on you. Narrow minded fools, scared of open debate. PS. Well said Kyle, my response was a rather more long winded but no more complete version of your answer. As for 1879fulham, I am going to get my dad to get your dad. Isn’t this the correct response to your childish taunts?
Truly an embarrassing situation – FSG / LFC who cares – its a non debate
The fact is the owners of LFC erroneously reported the signing Clint, he tells everyone he is off, no deal is done, and a great player is left in limbo as a result.
A crappy situation for Fulham but I’ve no idea why LFC supporters have suddenly got an axe to grind on this – surely they should be laughing as by unsettling one of our key players it possibly makes us less likely to take 4 points off you again this
Which ever way you argue it – this sort of attitude reinforces the opinion amoungst your average supporter that unfortunately LFC = bad karma these days
What happened to that once noble club from my childhood..?