Sir Landon Of Donovan

[EFC NY]

Actually, as an American who came up through the AYSO system (it originated in my home region, South Torrance California, and spread nationwide to become the largest youth soccer league stateside) let me tell you, that is absolutely wrong. Landon did NOT have his best game, to be sure, but that 'poor touch' is not correct, that is exactly as we are taught to first touch in AYSO - with a little flair on it to be sure. It was a controlled touch and a perfectly placed pass.

Watch it again, he ABSOLUTELY meant to touch it as he did, it was a perfect touch! The pass was set out on a silver platter for Gibson, who to his credit killed it and got a bit of luck as it deflected in. This wasn't Landon's best game since he's been at Goodison, but for sure, that touch that led to his assist was controlled and perfectly executed.

The poor touch was the first one. The announcers clearly described it as a "poor FIRST touch". His second touch was the one you cite, which was a good one to Gibson. But had he been under pressure, such that he wouldn't have had time for the second touch, he would have totally blown the chance.

 

[pfim]

I guess the first one was a poor touch, a bit harsh I think though.

Even if he had made a good first touch, I think the play was still to pass it back to Gibson, who had a better angle.

 

[Pblueman]

No have to agree with Mike here. his first touch was not a poor one he recieved the ball with spin on it and did well to control it, you could see him check if the shot was on as it came to him, knew he couldnt and laid off a lovely ball to gibson.

 

[dabes2]

The "we'll never know how good Donovan could have been" assessment is fair.

USA fans who have watched him score great goals against teams like Brazil and Mexico are going to believe that he could have made it to the very top of the club pyramid had he stayed in Europe. But you can't conclude that he would have done so just because he scores in world cups and has 20 good games for Everton. Many players with this resume have failed. Others with less make it. You just can't know.

But even with the club path he's chosen, I'm fairly confident LD could have made an impact for the England national team. Not arguing he would have bumped Rooney/Lampard/Gerrard to the bench. But I would say Capello would need his head examined to select Shaun Wright Phillips over Donovan (even though I remember folks here saying they would rather have Wright Phillips before Donovan's last loan).

 

[ilikecheese]

Seen it 10 times...he meant to trap the ball...not have the ball bounce above his head. Still, like I said, he could have panicked, but did not. Cooly laid it off for Gibson.

 

[Dushku]

[video=youtube;ftY2p0L8F-Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftY2p0L8F-Q[/video]

This is my plan of action at next Monday's 'meet and greet' with Landon Donovan !! It's the only way he'll stay, with a little 'persuasion' !!

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

where is the meet and greet ?

 

[BigDunc'sFod]

At the end of the day, Landon's footballing brain gets him out of bad plays and into good set-ups frequently. That is, even when he mis-controls a ball he has enough about him to not be punished for it.

Whilst not as big a success as his first time here, he's definitely been a big factor in our recent resurgence. Too bad he will cost money, I'd have him here long term for sure.

 

[SoCalMike]

Seen it 10 times...he meant to trap the ball...not have the ball bounce above his head. Still, like I said, he could have panicked, but did not. Cooly laid it off for Gibson.

I watched it a couple more times, it is hard to tell. He has good field vision, I think he realized the defender was playing off of him and let it bounce up to buy himself another split second. Perhaps he thought he'd have a chance to flick it up and shoot it on the fly, rethought it as it was in the air and left it off for Gibson.

Would be a great question to ask him if anyone is going to the autograph session...

 

[ilikecheese]

At the end of the day, Landon's footballing brain gets him out of bad plays and into good set-ups frequently. That is, even when he mis-controls a ball he has enough about him to not be punished for it.

Whilst not as big a success as his first time here, he's definitely been a big factor in our recent resurgence. Too bad he will cost money, I'd have him here long term for sure.

Disagree. He's had much more responsibility this time...has taken it on quite well.

 

[ilikecheese]

I watched it a couple more times, it is hard to tell. He has good field vision, I think he realized the defender was playing off of him and let it bounce up to buy himself another split second. Perhaps he thought he'd have a chance to flick it up and shoot it on the fly, rethought it as it was in the air and left it off for Gibson.

Would be a great question to ask him if anyone is going to the autograph session...

OK...so maybe "poor" first touch was a bit harsh. How about slight mis-controlled first touch?

 

[EFC NY]

Shifting gears a little, now that the window has closed, it is too late for us to get him on a transfer, or can we still buy him from MLS because he is still serving out his loan?

 

[ilikecheese]

I think we can only extend the loan...

 

[Hellerad]

Irrelevant argument. It was a first touch off of a deflection, not a cross. And even if it was purely unintentional, the ball also set up nicely for a volley. Credit him for keeping a cool head and having the vision to lay it off instead of blasting a volley through three defenders, with his weak(er) foot, at an angle the keeper had covered.

I'll try to find a video of Landy taking the volley on a similar set up in MLS a few years ago.

We should be talking about Drenthe's run and vision anyway. At least equally noteworthy.

 

[Hellerad]

Well, not exactly a similar set up, but pretty nonetheless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnuPei0xyNs