Clint-Dempsey-001U.S. prospects for South Africa next summer have suffered a critical blow.  Clint Dempsey limped off with a knee injury for Fulham.  It’s expected to be a PCL tear.  Reconstructive surgery would knock him out for eight months to a year, causing him to miss the 2010 World Cup.

Tim Howard is the best U.S. player.  Dempsey, along with Donovan, may be the least replaceable.  He’s the most dynamic American attacker.  He was one of the top players in the Premier League for Fulham this year, before the injury.  His loss coupled with Charlie Davies’ makes the U.S. far less versatile going forward.

Bradley replaced an injured Dempsey with Stuart Holden in October.  That may be his first option again.  The trouble is that Holden has no club right now.  He rejected an offer from the Dynamo and left MLS.  He’s a free agent.  He was born in Scotland and is a UK citizen, so he does not need a work permit.  He was on trial with English club Burnley, but has followed manager Owen Coyle to Bolton.  Earning a contract and pushing his way into a starting XI in a few months may be too daunting.  If he is in form, Holden is an energetic natural wide player, but more pedestrian and predictable.

Another option could be shifting Donovan to Dempsey’s right side and starting Damarcus Beasley on the left.  Beasley was dropped unceremoniously from the team last summer, but has been looking frisky for Rangers lately.  Beasley has experience and was among the better U.S. players in 2002 and 2006.  He’s only 27.  He’s accomplished at club level.  Having said that, he was also so pitiful in his last run in the U.S. team he was subbed off at halftime never to return.

Back in Black…and Red: Someone must have told Ronaldinho (or his marketing team) there was a major tournament this summer.  The enigmatic Brazilian scored a hat-trick in AC Milan’s 4-0 win against Siena, and has six goals in three starts since the new year.  He’s only 29.  He still has ability.  It’s conditioning that’s the issue.  (We saw this last summer in the U.S. when Milan forced him to play the full 90 minutes to get in shape.)  Ronaldinho needs to temper his appetites and to show up for training.  If he dedicates himself, he should earn a recall for Brazil.  Dinho would give them some needed bite in attack.  He also could make 25-1 Milan a serious factor in the Champions League.

Walking Alone: Missing Torres and Gerrard, Liverpool blew a 1-0 lead away at Stoke in the 90th minute, dropping another two points.  Rafa Benitez tried to scrape a result with a weakened squad.  He held purported saviors Alberto Aquilani and Maxi Rodriguez out until the last 10 minutes.  It was a mistake.  Liverpool are out of the Champions League and the FA Cup.  They have won just five of their past 13 in the Premier League.  Pressure would be mounting on Benitez, if the club could afford to fire him.

Despite their crapitude, however, the Reds are not out of it.  The other clubs fighting for the vital fourth place stink.  Liverpool could move within a point by beating Bill Simmons’ Tottenham Hotspur in a fourth-place six-pointer at Anfield on Wednesday.  Given their recent form, though, there’s no reason to expect it.

Donovan Update: Landon Donovan started his second match for Everton against Manchester City.  He played with spirit and was taken off to applause in the 90th minute.  He was “impressive” to the English media.  It apparently does not take much.  Donovan may consider staying at Everton if given the chance.

His second match was a step backward.  Donovan did not support the ball.  His movement was poor.  He played either too far forward or too far wide.  This complicated efforts to get him the ball, halted Everton’s play and placed him in a disadvantageous position when he received the ball.  Picture a basketball player who hangs around the three-point line and doesn’t move.

His strength is his technique, but he played hesitantly.  He muffed an easy scoring chance.  Frustrated, he then launched a ridiculous attempt from 30 yards away that was deflected.  His passing was fine, when he played within himself as he did against Arsenal.  When taking on defenders, his flicks and tricks were easily thwarted.

Donovan did make an effort to defend, effectively pressing City’s back-line when they played square balls to each other.  But, his effort often resulted in overcommitment and subsequent scrambling.

Everton played well in their 2-0 win, but thanks to excellent performances from Pienaar and Fellaini.  Donovan was irrelevant.

Gap Opening: Leo Messi scored two goals as Barcelona bounced back from their cup defeat with a 4-0 win over Sevilla.  This opened up a five-point lead on Real Madrid, who lost 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao.  Madrid had chances but were shut down by the man in black, “Gorka Iraizoz,” who was a manimal minding the net.

Goal of the Weekend: Karagounis (Panathinaikos) vs. Panthrakikos