Sir Landon Of Donovan

[Rook]

I'm not sure his teammates trust him yet. They play the ball opposite of him a majority of the time. Today I saw a few times where Donovan was looking for the ball in the corner from Neville and didn't get a ball. Instead Neville volleyed ball after ball into the box with no one around.

As soon as Donovan went out it seemed the ball went to the right side a lot more. It could be just a coincidence or it could be just one of those types of matches.

I just think the players aren't used to setting up the attack from the right side of the pitch. For the past few years our attack started on the left with Arteta, Lescott, Pinnear, Baines etc while our lone "creative" player on the right side has been Osman.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I think it's more down to showing for the ball to be honest, Donovan always runs towards the play, looking to get in behind, like a striker/wing forward. Pienaar sees alot of the ball because he comes short and looks for the ball into feet.

It probably just shows the differences between the players in terms of style of play. Pienaar is a midfield playmaker whereas Donovan is more of a forward. He does need to vary his play a bit though, because when Neville hasn't got an option he'll happily chip the ball forward and it doesn't help our style of play.

I think he's capable of it though, I saw that against Arsenal, which was a good all round performance.

 

[dabes2]

I think it's more down to showing for the ball to be honest, Donovan always runs towards the play, looking to get in behind, like a striker/wing forward. Pienaar sees alot of the ball because he comes short and looks for the ball into feet.

It probably just shows the differences between the players in terms of style of play. Pienaar is a midfield playmaker whereas Donovan is more of a forward. He does need to vary his play a bit though, because when Neville hasn't got an option he'll happily chip the ball forward and it doesn't help our style of play.

I think he's capable of it though, I saw that against Arsenal, which was a good all round performance.

I think this is a fair assessment. But I actually think the Arsenal success may have been more down to what Arsenal gave you than Donovan's play. I think Phil Neville is a bad fullback pairing for Donovan. Donovan would do much better with a fullback that relishes the opportunity to get down the wing and show a little flair.

Donovan is not a typical wide midfielder. He's played every attacking position on the field. He's recently been playing left mid for the USA but he's played centrally in the midfield and also quite a bit as support striker (which is where Bayern were trying to use him and where he played for Galaxy until this year). But I like Donovan as a wide midfielder, he's just not the traditional crossing winger.

Last night he didn't get nearly enough touches, but for the first time at Everton he showed his ability to make darting horizontal runs to get into position where he can score. Also could have had a tap-in on the play where Saha went down in the box on the break-away. Looked like Donovan was riding a bicycle on that run.

Would love to see a match with Piennar slid inside with Fellaini and Arteta out on the right and Donovan wide left. I think Baines and Donovan would have a field day.

 

[Welton Toffee]

BBC Sport - Football - Forward Landon Donovan feels at home at Everton

 

[Rugby Toffee]

I hope Davey is working to get Donovan and Neville communicating. It looked from where I sat (on the sofa) neither knew what the other one was going to do or where each other was.

But hopefully that will come in time.

 

[RNG]

It's great to see Landon start scoring. As US fans have been saying, and as Tim Howard is saying, this is really only the tip of the iceberg for LD. He can do much more.

The good news is that he has started cutting into the middle, as he did to score. That is a key first step.

The next two things that could make a difference: 1/if teammates play quick balls into space he will be able to use his speed to run onto them, which will create many more opportunities and 2/as folks have been saying, if he could get quick touches from a fast overlapping fullback on the wing (a Coleman or even a Baines), he will really light things up.

As we've said before, Donovan is all about combination play, working with teammates. That's why it's so great that he is feeling like he is "part of the family."

 

[stinger]

I don't think Donovan and Neville will make a good combination offensively ever. Donovan IMO doesn't really need a overlapping Baines-like fullback, he needs more of good passer and full back who can play more narrow, somebody like Vedran Corluka who connects so well with Aaron Lennon this season.
Basically we have only one defender who could play this way - it's John Heitinga. He also has some strengths (passing, size wise is a CB) and weaknesses (lacks pace) as Corluka and I could see them making a good combination.

 

[BlueMedley]

I have a feeling he and Arteta will get along nicely.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Arteta will improve everyone around him, as he did last season when he was moved into a central role. He gives players around him confidence because he's so confident on the ball and his composure rubs off on others.

One thing Mikel can do is switch the play quickly and has much more vision than Fellaini and Osman who are more short, neat and tidy passers. I'm sure he'll get the ball to Donovan far quicker, which will give him more of a chance of facing the play from deeper positions.

That and obviously he'll cut out alot of aimless hoofs because of his willingness to take possession. It'll take a bit of time, considering he's just returning, but Mikel is what he is, and he'll do it.

 

[best little spaniard]

Pair him with Coleman, see what happens.

He got me a shedload of fantasy points though. Thank you Landon.

 

[Arteta's Girl]

I'd like to see him swap with Pienaar/Billy (when he plays there) even just for a little while during games.

When Pienaar and Billy or Osman are playing wide they will often swap over and play on the opposite side for a while during the game, I've noticed we haven't done this with Donovan in the team, at least I can't remember it...Feel like him and Baines could combine well.

 

[stinger]

I completely disagree, I think he is our only wide player who will do better staying on the side of his stronger foot. So he's being used properly by Moyes, we just don't have a tools (Arteta with his ability to play a through ball) to use him to his best now.

 

[Arteta's Girl]

I completely disagree, I think he is our only wide player who will do better staying on the side of his stronger foot. So he's being used properly by Moyes, we just don't have a tools (Arteta with his ability to play a through ball) to use him to his best now.

You never know unless you try it...even if it's just a few minutes just to try it out.

Think he plays on the Left for the USMNT, as well so it;s not alien to him..

 

[dabes2]

I completely disagree, I think he is our only wide player who will do better staying on the side of his stronger foot. So he's being used properly by Moyes, we just don't have a tools (Arteta with his ability to play a through ball) to use him to his best now.

Given that he's on short-term loan and Arteta is coming back soon, I guess I'll change my point-of-view and agree that it's best to leave Donovan at right mid where the need is most obvious and its less disruptive to the rest of the players.

But Donovan won the MLS MVP playing left mid and tore it up in the confederations cup playing left mid. When the USA plays England in the World Cup, he will likely be playing left mid. He scored yesterday with his "weaker" left and nearly got a second also on his left. When USA or Galaxy team him up with an overlapping fullback Donovan will often draw two defenders and slip balls down the line into gaping open spaces. Whether he could pull that off in the Premier League I don't know but I would be curious to see.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Donovan is a good fit for us. I think it's all up to Moyes in the summer. He loves Merseyside and gets along grand with all the lads. I think now if he keeps gaining momentum and becomes a crowd favourite he will wear our shirt again next year. He learned his lession holding out for Bayern Munich and not being playing regular. The passion of the fans has taken him aback at Goodison more so than he has been used to at the Galaxy. I'm sure the paycheck is better here and a best mate in Howard has made the transition perfect for him.