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Sir Landon Of Donovan

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Mates, this was a tough game to crack, Liverpool clogged it once Everton were down. Difference for me is Liverpool were pumped and Everton were not as pumped to play. Too many Everton players not doing their part and I will include Landon here for various reasons, even though he did not have a terrible game, but it was not great either.

Before I start ranting on my first post here I must say Kuyt is a beast.

Anyway, Landon Donovan needs to do more and I will specify the areas where he has been weak so far for Everton.

1) He has been pulling away from challenges. In other words, in a few 50/50 he seems to be pulling back as if he is afraid to get hurt. I am sure that in the back of his mind the World Cup is coming up and he is a light player who could easily get hurt. The Prem is full of meat heads like Kuyt who can slam into bodies and not feel much and Landon is not going to put himself into situations where he will need to physically challenge much.

2) Landon is not making runs with the ball enough. He is getting passes but he is looking for one touch passes to other players far too much for my liking. He is not turning with the ball and making runs and Everton BADLY need him to do just that. I became increasingly frustrated watching him constantly back pass or simply pass off the second he would get the ball. No I am not ignoring the 2 or 3 runs he had towards the goal, one of which he burned a Liverpool defender and put a cross in dangerous territory where Liverpool had to scramble to defend. Unfortunately Everton need him to do that at least 5-10 times a game and he is not doing that. 3 attacking runs with the ball is not enough and we American fans know he is more than capable of having a better game. (To be fair he is STILL getting used to playing in the Prem, with Everton, and the atmosphere) <which is why he is not playing badly, just not great.

3) I am not convinced that right wing is his best position. Sure he can put in a cross, he can at times burn a defender, but he is not getting the ball enough. I think he could play withdrawn forward better but if right wing is where Everton need him then there we go.

I am not a Landon Donovan fanboy with blinders on. He is not doing enough to warrant a buy for Everton... yet. He has done just enough in each game, but just enough is not enough, he needs to play great. I hate to watch him play so simple with so many one touches and not making the runs. He needs to STOP THE ONE TOUCH PASSES and turn with the ball and freaking take it to the goal. I am starving to watch Landon do something more and we all KNOW he can do better over here across the pond. Landon, again, it is not enough to play the quick pass... do more.


Overall though, Everton played badly today, not just Landon (who really didn't play BAD, again, just not great). Liverpool outmatched Everton physically. It was the worst game I've seen Mofro (Fellaini) play where he looked a bit confused. Actually Everton looked at a loss as to how to crack Liverpool who were constantly beating everyone to the ball. Sometimes the ball bounces the other teams way and it seemed to happen that Liverpool benefited from better bounces. Everton as a team did not create enough chances where as Liverpool, even down a man, were constantly a threat. It looked like Liverpool, man for man, were bigger and faster today.


I really was on the edge of my seat today watching the match, great fun, until reality started to sink in that Everton were not going to get the business done. If anyone got the worst of the physical hits it was Pienaar today. He was constantly hacked down and roughed up for a pint sized player. If you were to watch how well he controls the ball and makes his runs it makes Landon look ineffective for sure. So Landon, learn from this, make your runs and stop being a sideline player. 3 runs at goal are not going to win you fans, a contract, much less wins. It is easy for an armchair observer to criticize but it can be constructive if it stick in your head and makes you improve.
 
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Felix said:
Mates, this was a tough game to crack, Liverpool clogged it once Everton were down. Difference for me is Liverpool were pumped and Everton were not as pumped to play. Too many Everton players not doing their part and I will include Landon here for various reasons, even though he did not have a terrible game, but it was not great either.

Before I start ranting on my first post here I must say Kuyt is a beast.

Anyway, Landon Donovan needs to do more and I will specify the areas where he has been weak so far for Everton.

1) He has been pulling away from challenges. In other words, in a few 50/50 he seems to be pulling back as if he is afraid to get hurt. I am sure that in the back of his mind the World Cup is coming up and he is a light player who could easily get hurt. The Prem is full of meat heads like Kuyt who can slam into bodies and not feel much and Landon is not going to put himself into situations where he will need to physically challenge much.

2) Landon is not making runs with the ball enough. He is getting passes but he is looking for one touch passes to other players far too much for my liking. He is not turning with the ball and making runs and Everton BADLY need him to do just that. I became increasingly frustrated watching him constantly back pass or simply pass off the second he would get the ball. No I am not ignoring the 2 or 3 runs he had towards the goal, one of which he burned a Liverpool defender and put a cross in dangerous territory where Liverpool had to scramble to defend. Unfortunately Everton need him to do that at least 5-10 times a game and he is not doing that. 3 attacking runs with the ball is not enough and we American fans know he is more than capable of having a better game. (To be fair he is STILL getting used to playing in the Prem, with Everton, and the atmosphere) <which is why he is not playing badly, just not great.

3) I am not convinced that right wing is his best position. Sure he can put in a cross, he can at times burn a defender, but he is not getting the ball enough. I think he could play withdrawn forward better but if right wing is where Everton need him then there we go.

I am not a Landon Donovan fanboy with blinders on. He is not doing enough to warrant a buy for Everton... yet. He has done just enough in each game, but just enough is not enough, he needs to play great. I hate to watch him play so simple with so many one touches and not making the runs. He needs to STOP THE ONE TOUCH PASSES and turn with the ball and freaking take it to the goal. I am starving to watch Landon do something more and we all KNOW he can do better over here across the pond. Landon, again, it is not enough to play the quick pass... do more.


Overall though, Everton played badly today, not just Landon (who really didn't play BAD, again, just not great). Liverpool outmatched Everton physically. It was the worst game I've seen Mofro (Fellaini) play where he looked a bit confused. Actually Everton looked at a loss as to how to crack Liverpool who were constantly beating everyone to the ball. Sometimes the ball bounces the other teams way and it seemed to happen that Liverpool benefited from better bounces. Everton as a team did not create enough chances where as Liverpool, even down a man, were constantly a threat. It looked like Liverpool, man for man, were bigger and faster today.


I really was on the edge of my seat today watching the match, great fun, until reality started to sink in that Everton were not going to get the business done. If anyone got the worst of the physical hits it was Pienaar today. He was constantly hacked down and roughed up for a pint sized player. If you were to watch how well he controls the ball and makes his runs it makes Landon look ineffective for sure. So Landon, learn from this, make your runs and stop being a sideline player. 3 runs at goal are not going to win you fans, a contract, much less wins. It is easy for an armchair observer to criticize but it can be constructive if it stick in your head and makes you improve.
Click to expand...

Good post....welcome.

1). I don't think he's pulling out of tackles, but he's not being physical either. This takes time to a) get used to it b). to do it right. Pienaar wasn't the type of player to get in the middle of everything either until his 2nd year at Everton. Concequencely players who did get in the middle of everything when they 1st came to everton ended up getting repeatedly injured (Cahill) or tackled rashly and got the hell carded out of them (Fellani and Cahill). Donovan and Billy too are hopefully learning and will get used to it.

He also has Neville behind him who he's not linking up too well with. I'd personally think Neville is going forward way too much and taking space away from Donovan. If we want an offensive minded RB in there then it should be Coleman. Also keep in mind Neville is kind of playing out of position as well. He's a better DM in my opinion and hasn't play RB in a while.

2. Landon makes runs but he cuts inside which is for now what he's used to doing. He doesn't feel comfortable putting in crosses from the right corner because he's not very good at it and probably hasn't practiced it in years before he came here.

3. RW isn't Landon's best postion but right now its where we need him. Landon is better centrally and could probably do better in Osman's position but then who's going to play RW? Also Arteta is back and Donovan isn't worthy enough to take a central place from him and push Arteta out wide.
 

Aye I agree, only been watching Everton consistently since Donovan's arrival, although, I did watch a few when Joe Max Moore played as well way back when. I am far from an expert about the game or Everton but simple observations are all I can offer.

Shame Jozy Altidore was not picked up by Everton. He is having a monster game in the for 20 minutes for Hull against Man City. Has dawn 2 fouls for yellows and a goal and seems like he is finally coming into his own. Of course, he's been with Hull from the start of the season. Donovan bagged his first in far less time and will eventually show his worth in gold eventually. I have no doubt Donovan is going to wake up and start attacking in waves soon enough.
 
My main criticism with Donovan so far is his play in our defensive third. Every game he's either hit week headers barely out of the box up the middle of the pitch or / and tried to dribble around players when he should just be knocking it up the sideline.

It has resulted in a number of chances for the other team and at least one goal against us.


But overall I've been very impressed at how he's moved into the team and immediately fit in.


As for the Sounders: They've sold over 31,000 season tickets. There are still a few available and they are capping the number at 32,000. The capacity of the stadium for their games is right now set at 36,000.

MLS is not quite EPL: You should come join the group of us Evertonians that watch games in Seattle at the George and Dragon in Fremont. Take a look at the schedule of when they're showing games here: Matches on the Telly | George & Dragon Pub | Seattle's British Pub in Fremont

I'm not sure if anyone can make it to the mid week game against Chelsea but we'll be there on the 20th for the Manchester United game.

Here's the Seattle's EvertonUSA page: Everton USA - Seattle which we manage to update occasionally.
 

Huey said:
My main criticism with Donovan so far is his play in our defensive third. Every game he's either hit week headers barely out of the box up the middle of the pitch or / and tried to dribble around players when he should just be knocking it up the sideline.

It has resulted in a number of chances for the other team and at least one goal against us.
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What goal was that then?
 
He was excellent in the 1st half I thought and created one of our only chances in the 2nd. One of our better players in my opinion which makes him sadly about a 5-6.
 
Garbaggio said:
What goal was that then?
Click to expand...

He might be thinking of his first match with us against Arsenal where he hurried to head the ball out of danger only to have it fall back to Arsenal where Denilson eventually got the deflected goal.

A bit harsh if you ask me as you don't bring the ball down in your own box and try to dribble out of danger, especially against Arsenal.
 

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