• Participation within this 'World Football' is only available to members who have had 5+ posts approved elsewhere.

Sir Landon Of Donovan

Status
Not open for further replies.
ToxtethBlue said:
He needs to come to the ball more, when Neville is bringing the ball forward Donovan has a tendency to make a darting run in behind like a striker. This is great at times, but he's got to vary his play a bit more as a wide player. Sometimes you've got to come short and make yourself available, especially at home where teams sit back and cut off space.

He'll probably get far more joy away from home or in games against sides who attack us. He's got it in him though, I think it's just a case of adapting. It'd be interesting to see him on the left at times.
Click to expand...

As soon as we notice Birmingham is playing counter attack football, I would have move Donovan behind or along side Saha and switch to a 4-4-2 formation.

He could at least run into there defence and cause problem, today Birmingham played a tight game, if we had two fast player on the right, it could have been different.
 

TheDevils2001 said:
As soon as we notice Birmingham is playing counter attack football, I would have move Donovan behind or along side Saha and switch to a 4-4-2 formation.

He could at least run into there defence and cause problem, today Birmingham played a tight game, if we had two fast player on the right, it could have been different.
Click to expand...

This may happen as soon as mid week.
 
Donovan has disappeared in games in the past, but I think that this was more a question of not being in synch with his teammates.

As he gets more comfortable, he will most likely be more attacking--pushing towards the center from the wing.

Also, as others have noted, he does quite well when he has a defender who is making overlapping runs down the flank (like a Coleman) to work with--expect a fast series of one-touch passes.

Something to look forward to, after today!
 
ToxtethBlue said:
He needs to come to the ball more, when Neville is bringing the ball forward Donovan has a tendency to make a darting run in behind like a striker. This is great at times, but he's got to vary his play a bit more as a wide player. Sometimes you've got to come short and make yourself available, especially at home where teams sit back and cut off space.

He'll probably get far more joy away from home or in games against sides who attack us. He's got it in him though, I think it's just a case of adapting. It'd be interesting to see him on the left at times.
Click to expand...

I agree that the runs Donovan makes play a part in receiving/not receiving passes from Neville. Maybe he was reluctant to come short at times as it kills the space Neville had in front of him. Neville motioned a couple of times for Donovan to make a run towards the touchline where he did pass him the ball. Donovan receiving the ball facing the touchline isn't his strength, but you do have to give different looks for the defender to think about to keep them from geting too comfortable. Or, make the run earlier and harder so receiving the ball facing in. I only watched on TV so didn't see what those who were at the match did. Just from what I could see.

I suspect some of this is still Donovan finding his place with the squad and getting more confident. It looked like with Birmingham he was playing a very simple game to avoid turning the ball over on the sideline.
 

ChrisSSBB said:
I agree that the runs Donovan makes play a part in receiving/not receiving passes from Neville. Maybe he was reluctant to come short at times as it kills the space Neville had in front of him. Neville motioned a couple of times for Donovan to make a run towards the touchline where he did pass him the ball. Donovan receiving the ball facing the touchline isn't his strength, but you do have to give different looks for the defender to think about to keep them from geting too comfortable. Or, make the run earlier and harder so receiving the ball facing in. I only watched on TV so didn't see what those who were at the match did. Just from what I could see.

I suspect some of this is still Donovan finding his place with the squad and getting more confident. It looked like with Birmingham he was playing a very simple game to avoid turning the ball over on the sideline.
Click to expand...

I could see what he was trying to do but Neville really isn't a good enough right back to exploit that space Donovan was creating. He's a decent crosser but he lacks the pace to get into good positions where he can use his crossing. Because of this alot of them where from deep and there easy to deal with.

I thought Donovan played the role perfectly against Arsenal. He was varying his game, looking to run in behind aswell as coming from deep. He just needs to get back to that really, vary his game a little bit.

With Arteta coming back hopefully Donovan will have someone in the side who can get the ball to him earlier so he can face the play, like he did against Traore at Arsenal. And I think Donovan will give Arteta an outlet over the top, something he's rarely had. It'll be interesting to see, and I agree, alot of it is down to him being a new player.
 
ToxtethBlue said:
With Arteta coming back hopefully Donovan will have someone in the side who can get the ball to him earlier so he can face the play, like he did against Traore at Arsenal. And I think Donovan will give Arteta an outlet over the top, something he's rarely had. It'll be interesting to see, and I agree, alot of it is down to him being a new player.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Donovan likes passes into space so he can receive them on the run. And this isn't just passes in behind the d. He also likes to run onto passes in front of his marker. Neville seems determined to play every ball into Landon's feet and is frustrated if Donovan isn't available for the early simple pass. I also think Neville is just starting to apreciate that Donovan's runs that drag defenders away give Neville the opportunity to be more aggressive himself. Saw him taking advantage of that a bit vs. Birmingham. Hopefully familiarity will improve things with Neville.

I think Arteta will be all over this with Donovan.
 
set my DVR to tape the replay of today's match on Setanta so I can get to see that goal of his.(y)
 
From bookface...

Fantastic night and a great result for us! It was nice to play a mid-week game after a disappointing result on Saturday against Birmingham. It was really nice to get my first goal...great header by Cahill and a great run by Saha to take the defender away. Not too much time to enjoy it with Wigan coming up on Saturday. Thanks, as always, for all the love and we'll see you guys Saturday
 

I'm still a bit miffed that we don't find him out on the wing a bit more but that's ok. It took about 15 minutes before we got him involved. Before that, it was all left sided play.

Another good performance and was unlucky not to get two.
 
He didn't get involved alot in open play, there's still no link up between him and Neville. A combination of Neville's willingness to chip the ball over Donovan's head and the American's lack of showing for the ball.

But a nice goal and he deserved a second for that nice bit of play towards the end. He's definitely got goals in him and you need that when you play with one upfront, hopefully he can get a few more.

I actually expect him to get involved alot more away from home. More counter attacking and more space to exploit.
 
Well I will hold my hands up here, I didn't expect a great deal from this guy when he came in on loan.

But he has slotted in fine, and looks like he has been at the club for years, he has a great work ethic, he's obviously very fit, and is a really intelligent footballer, he reads the game well, always offers himself for the pass, moves into space well and can drag opposition players out of position...

I'm really really impressed by him, and if he's an indication of the USA national team, then I think England have a very tough opening game of the World Cup to look forward too.

USA...USA!!
 

Status
Not open for further replies.

Welcome

Join Grand Old Team to get involved in the Everton discussion. Signing up is quick, easy, and completely free.

Register

Shop

Back
Top