Sir Landon Of Donovan

[Rook]

American here, not that familar with the team yet. Though I'm really excited the game Sat is on ESPN, I'll be up early to catch it.

Anyway, here's my question. I was under the impression that LD would be getting playing time right now cause you guys have some guys out of action right now. So I guess my question is, A) True? And if so, B) Would LD be a regular starter once you guys get back to full strength? Because to me, I'm inclined to think Landon would prefer being a regular starter for LA over a spot starter for Everton. Otherwise, I'm pro-leaving MLS. Just curious...

This is Everton your talking about, full strength means we only have 2-3 catastrophic injuries to our best players.

That being said, though RW isn't in my opinion his best position (I'd rather see him Center left), for years even at full strength we've sorely lacked any attacking presence on the right side. He would start at RW if we were full strength.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

What does 'centre left' mean, As a left sided central midfielder or somewhere else?

He looks like he's suited to the flanks to me.

 

[Robert Jarvis]

New position for him will be Silly Mid Off!!

 

[Garbaggio]

Unfortunate bit of news on Donovan. Another "soccer" writer in the U.S. recently claimed that there isn't a "buy-out" clause in his new LA contract according to his sources. Now, this writer has been wrong on multiple occasions in the past and has a good deal less credibility than the reporter who originally broke the news on the clause. If the former is correct I'd say the chance of Donovan being sold to Everton, given all factors involved, just diminished by a large margin.

 

[pfim]

Unfortunate bit of news on Donovan. Another "soccer" writer in the U.S. recently claimed that there isn't a "buy-out" clause in his new LA contract according to his sources. Now, this writer has been wrong on multiple occasions in the past and has a good deal less credibility than the reporter who originally broke the news on the clause. If the former is correct I'd say the chance of Donovan being sold to Everton, given all factors involved, just diminished by a large margin.

Who claimed this?

 

[Rook]

What does 'centre left' mean, As a left sided central midfielder or somewhere else?

He looks like he's suited to the flanks to me.

Yes center left is left sided CM just easier to type center left. He does work better in that position and that is the position he most often plays for the USMNT now. His pace is suited for the flanks but he's much more deadly on the counterattack in the center of the pitch. However if he stays I guess that will be Arteta's position if Fellani doesn't get tapped up this summer.

He is pretty versatile though. On the Galaxy he played mostly striker or just behind the striker. For the US he played Lt. CM, LW, striker and Cahill's position behind the striker. At Bayern Klinsmann platooned him at no less than 184 postions and he got a couple games at RW there.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Yes center left is left sided CM just easier to type center left. He does work better in that position and that is the position he most often plays for the USMNT now. His pace is suited for the flanks but he's much more deadly on the counterattack in the center of the pitch. However if he stays I guess that will be Arteta's position if Fellani doesn't get tapped up this summer.

He is pretty versatile though. On the Galaxy he played mostly striker or just behind the striker. For the US he played Lt. CM, LW, striker and Cahill's position behind the striker. At Bayern Klinsmann platooned him at no less than 184 postions and he got a couple games at RW there.

I don't know, didn't you say he can struggle when he hasn't got space to work with or areas to attack? I certainly noticed that against Birmingham and City at times.

I'm not sure how he'd cope playing in that position for us, in England. He doesn't look like someone who could revel in positions like Arteta and Pienaar do, where vision and quick feet are required in tight situations. That's not to say he's not a good 'footballer', just different in terms of style.

He looks clever, quick and intelligent, someone who exploits space in behind and finds pockets of space where he can run into. I think wide right or left would be best for him in Premier League.

 

[Catamount]

I don't know, didn't you say he can struggle when he hasn't got space to work with or areas to attack? I certainly noticed that against Birmingham and City at times.

I'm not sure how he'd cope playing in that position for us, in England. He doesn't look like someone who could revel in positions like Arteta and Pienaar do, where vision and quick feet are required in tight situations. That's not to say he's not a good 'footballer', just different in terms of style.

He looks clever, quick and intelligent, someone who exploits space in behind and finds pockets of space where he can run into. I think wide right or left would be best for him in Premier League.

That depends upon what the formation and tactic are. The more counter-attacking the style the more effective he is centrally. The higher up the team plays the more effective he is wide or at striker.

It would be interesting to see him at striker for Everton. He would be a direct counter attacking threat immediately on balls from out the the back, because he takes those long passes very well. He makes very good runs off the ball and to the near post in the attacking third. He reads the spaces made by others very well. He can drop into midfield and make devastating runs from deep positions. He's not a traditional player at any position as far as I can tell. He's a unique kind of player that brings something different in different spots.

I think Moyes has him where he needs him most, not necessarily where LD can express himself the most. That is the big difference between LD with the Galaxy and US Nats. Those teams are organized around him, but at Everton he is used where he is needed. This is a good thing for him to experience.

Defensively I think he offers greater help as a wide player. He does well defensively in the middle, but better wide.

 

[Rook]

I don't know, didn't you say he can struggle when he hasn't got space to work with or areas to attack? I certainly noticed that against Birmingham and City at times.

I'm not sure how he'd cope playing in that position for us, in England. He doesn't look like someone who could revel in positions like Arteta and Pienaar do, where vision and quick feet are required in tight situations. That's not to say he's not a good 'footballer', just different in terms of style.

He looks clever, quick and intelligent, someone who exploits space in behind and finds pockets of space where he can run into. I think wide right or left would be best for him in Premier League.

I was going to mention that he excels in the center when he has a speedy striker to work with to give him space but yes you can close him down if you have slow as dirt strikers. Donovan looks average when the USMNT had Altidore and Conner/Casey/Ching up front (3 of the slowest strikers you'll ever see; think Heskey at 55 years of age and I'm not being sarcastic they are that slow). The defenders just ignore the 2nd striker and go after Donovan. However Vaughn has tons of pace, Saha is no slouch and can find space when needed too.

What also makes Donovan somewhat better in the center of the pitch is that his passing. His final ball when delivered on the ground is often amazing. Unfortunately while his corners, free kicks are excellent, his crossing is average at best as you have probably seen. That is the one problem you have to live with when he plays on the wing. Though it is something you can improve on with practice.

 

[Garbaggio]

Who claimed this?

Soccer By Ives: Your January Questions Answered (Part 2)

 

[Dominghosa]

In regards to Soccer By Ives:

Ives actually has a HUGE following and don't remember numerous times when he was flat-out wrong in his reporting. He's probably in the top 3 in writing about soccer/football in the States if not the premier writer at the moment.
People voted his blog No. 1 on the US soccer Web site and he people also voted him the top soccer/football writer on soccerlens . com
Just my two cents ...

 

[best little spaniard]

USA! USA!


There's my contribution

 

[Catamount]

In regards to Soccer By Ives:

Ives actually has a HUGE following and don't remember numerous times when he was flat-out wrong in his reporting. He's probably in the top 3 in writing about soccer/football in the States if not the premier writer at the moment.
People voted his blog No. 1 on the US soccer Web site and he people also voted him the top soccer/football writer on soccerlens . com
Just my two cents ...

<two cents>
I generally consider Ives to be reliable, right up there with Andrea Canales, Steve (not Richard) Goff and a few others.
</two cents>

 

[ijjysmith]

<two cents>
I generally consider Ives to be reliable, right up there with Andrea Canales, Richard Goff and a few others.
</two cents>

Goff?

 

[Klink]

Donovan's ideal position

As you can probably guess since this is my first post that I am a yank who found this forum once the Donovan transfer was official. I am the typical American fan who does not really have an EPL team and just roots for whatever team has USMNT players. However, with following the forum and watching the recent Everton games, I have grown quite a fondness for Everton as they are an actual club who go about competing the right way, rather than through buying the latest star and just adding on to club debt.

As far as Donovan's position goes here is where he has played and what his strength's are at them:

Right wing- Out on the wing Donovan is able to get into the game more and use his vision and pace to start a counter attack and break out. He also has the fitness to cover the entire pitch and he does a good job of tracking back. On the right side he also is more inclined to cross the ball but that is one of the weaker aspects of his game. He is much better with a through pass. (Evidence: youtube charlie davies goal against mexico)

Withdrawn Striker- In this position Donovan, is able to use his pace to attack and run at the defense and play off of a holding striker up top. Donovan is not going to make a fancy move to get by a defender, but he will combine for a give and go or he will just push the ball past the defense and run past them.

Left Wing- This is the position Donovan plays for the USMNT and I think is his best position. On the left he is able to get involved into the play more and he is able to attack the defense by cutting into the center of the field on his dominant foot. This gives him more room to work with and more of a chance to see the field. If he is on the left and he had a left back who was capable of overlapping on the outside (which unfortunately the US does not have) then that opens up more options for the attack. I would think that a Donovan/Baines pairing would be a good fit. I am really starting to dislike Neville as his and Donovan's style seem to clash so much.

The question is whether Moyes would start Donovan on the left and have Arteta on the right and leave Peanut in the middle with MoFro. Or would Moyes at 70 minutes take off Saha for Arteta and push Cahill up top with Donovan as a withdrawn striker. When Donovan is at full fitness it seems a waste to use him for only 70 when he can go 120.

Sorry about the long post.