few things:
@ZeroHero65. 1st, congrats on the timbers getting Caleb Porter. Fantastic coach, and you can already see the direction he's taking you.
2nd, It is my understanding, and the understanding of many others, that Dempsey did not enter the allocation order due to the contract and the Transfer fee involved. It was more of a club going and getting a player, rather than a USMNT player coming back to MLS.
It is also VERY, VERY possible we gave Portland something for the top spot in allocation that hasn't been announced yet (some talk between sounders fans was Zakuani + 1st Round Draft Pick).
It is also possible that Portland felt it was too much money and simply passed on Dempsey...this obviously being the least likely.
That said, it is very confusing to follow and the league NEEDS better transparency on subjects like this. Earlier this year "Retention Funds" showed up and Sporting KC gave Graham Zusi a fat raise (and sounders gave Hurtado a raise too). If I were you....I'd be more interested in wondering how we opened a DP slot up at all....I'd never heard that was even possible...It was my understanding that if you are a DP, you're a DP until your sold or your contract is up.
Dempsey's first home match in Rave Green will be against the Timbers infront of 60k+....so that'll be fun.
@Hawkspur
Thanks. I try and pay pretty close attention to US players and their clubs, and how they fit into their clubs. I was furious when he left Fulham for Spurs....but I understood, he wanted to chase that Champions League glory....
Dempsey is a fantastic player and plays better when "He's the guy".....Think Montero...without the South American antics and radical inconsistency. He can be gritty, classy, sneaky, hard-nosed and wondrous in a span of 20 minutes.
@Seatown81
Every time a club goes out and gets a big name player their is a club that tries to one up them. LA went and got Beckham, and some teams picked up guys here and there...then Henry, Keane and Cahill arrived (and boy are they good). Sounders meanwhile tried to "be smart" with their money bringing in lesser known players who could get the job done.
Ljungberg - Sounders started their DP's off with a big splash. Made a lot of noise with this signing, and forced people to pay attention. He was instrumental in the first year here but tapered off in 2010, when it was becoming evident that Montero was the face of the franchise not Ljungberg.
Montero - Our rising star we had to hold onto for as long as possible. Given the money of a DP to keep him here until he felt he was ready for Europe...which is where he is now...
N'kufo - Half a season and then done.
Fernandez - A few seasons, but ultimately over-paid his worth (I would kill to have him back on our team at a lesser contract).
Christian Tiffert - A great player, who was unserimoniously let go in favor of the potential of Oba Martins. Tiffert was good at what he did....but he often clashed on the pitch with Rosales.
Mauro Rosales - The Captain. He showed up and sparked our team to the next level. 65 games and he aren't the same when he's not on the pitch. The only player that means more to the team than him is Ozzie Alonso.
Sharlie Joseph - an ageing MLS veteran who was known as the best CDM in MLS before Alonso showed up. He reduced his contract in order to make room for his former teammate.
Obafemi Martins - Its early yet for him. 8 Games into his sounders career he has already lived up to the expectation with 4 goals and an assist. he's brought a new energy, and a new style to the team.
Besides Ljungberg we haven't had a player with the hype that Dempsey has....not on the American Soccer fan level. Soccer fans in the US knew of Ljungberg cause he played for Arsenal...he played with Henry and the Invincible's....Non of the other players even come close to being a house hold name. Not like Dempsey.
This is a huge signing for Seattle, and for MLS.