Landon & Timmy - Everton/Man Citeh 1/16/10 [R]

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad Gameday' started by Toolhead, Jan 12, 2010.

  1. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree with most of the latter comments.

    Solid but not spectacular. Had some giveaways, particularly some one touch stuff where he didn't appear on the same page as everyone else. And in the second half I think he was tired a bit, and didn't come forward enough.

    Had some nice interplay early, and had a nice scoring chance but he couldn't decide to shoot or pass. Would have had another opportunity if the ref hadn't given a FK instead of playing advantage as LD was walking in on goal from the right side.

    Everton's CM was absolutely brilliant, and Billy had some nice moments as well. With Osman and a healthy Arteta Moyes has some interesting options at his disposal.

    Everton are probably too far gone to make a run at 4th, but I'd expect a run at 7th and the last Europa Spot (assuming qualified clubs win the FA and League Cups).
     
  2. Heist

    Heist Member+

    Jun 15, 2001
    Virginia
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I doubt $10 mil would be anywhere near enough. 10 Million pounds might be close to enough for MLS.
     
  3. monop_poly

    monop_poly Member

    May 17, 2002
    Chicago
    What a great exhibition of high pressure with a low-lying central mid that cleaned up everything. Everton's defensive four had very little to do. And Fellaini ... has anyone ever played 93 minutes and been perfectly positioned the entire time?

    Somewhere Robinho is sucking his thumb ...
     
  4. Craig P

    Craig P BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 26, 1999
    Eastern MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It was Leighton Baines on the corners previously, and the idea that Donovan might supplant him was roundly poo-poohed in discussions before the move.
     
  5. arsynic

    arsynic Red Card

    Jan 2, 2007
    Santa Barbara
    there's a predetermined buy-out provision in his contract. we don't know how high it is.
     
  6. SAMBA

    SAMBA Member

    Sep 3, 2004
    New Jersey
    ;
    :cool:...thank you!
     
  7. Arteta's Girl

    Arteta's Girl Member

    Sep 29, 2008
    Liverpool, UK
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Haha, well Arteta is my #1 but who knows...:p

    I had a pretty good feeling about the match, mainly because of the performance we had last week and the confidence we gained from it. Then I saw the teamsheet, and was even more confident! Moved Pienaar centrally (where he plays for South Africa) and gave Donovan a start, Distin was back too which was a big plus.

    I thought we started pretty slow and City started to play through us and get a few chances. Then LD came up with the ball and did that little, sweet chip over Given - I think he was unsure whether to cross or shoot and ended up chipping near goal hoping someone could knock it in - was close though. From then we stepped up and created some good chances, dominating the midfield, before Pienaar produced a bit of magic for his 3rd league game running! We got a cheap penalty then, was needless from Richards and a cool penalty from Saha.

    Second half, I was worried we wouldn't carry on our performance as has been the case with us over the years, but as with the Arsenal game last week, I need not have worried. We carried on running and creating and but for Given and the crossbar it could have been much worse for City. Timmy literally made 2 saves I think, but you got to be there to save them!



    Now on LD, I have to say the overall view from us Everton fans is very positive. In the game, on the way from the stadium, the messageboards - all I heard was praise for the guy. The main thing our fans expect is to work hard, (we got beat 2 nil by Liverpool this year, but the team got a standing ovation off the crowd for their hard work) and LD certainly does that. He made some small errors but he is still new to the league and learning about it every day, and his negatives were so far outweighed by the positives and this will only improve with time.

    I get the impression he sort of feels like he has a point to prove and is intent on doing that. His passing was good, his crosses were ok, his corners were excellent (with the likes of Fellaini and Cahill, with good delivery like LD's they can be lethal), I thought he looked to get involved quite a lot too. What impresses me a lot is he is a very clever, intelligent player with good movement (he was always available for the pass) and has an awareness of who is around him, like stepping over the ball letting the pass through to Saha etc. Oh and he adds some much needed pace, incase you never saw we don't have any of our regular starters with exceptional pace.

    The one thing I would like to see him do is really take on his man in a 1 v 1. I know he can do it and hopefully with some 'easier games' coming up, he can expose the full backs and maybe grab himself some more assists and a goal or 2.

    Gotta say, the fans here seem to love him already, I know he has made a massive impression on me already and judging by the fans reaction when he got taken off ( Think this was a plan by Moyes to show LD what the fans think of him already, and give his confidence a boost - he didn't need to bring him off that late!) and the USA chants.

    I'll just leave you with some comments from some Everton forums about LD

    - Hope he stays with us.

    - its early days but he looks like he could be a big success in the prem

    - Really impressed with him.
    Absolutely blinding pace.
    Let's see how good he can become with some more match practise.
    Fantastic acquisition. Well done Davey...yet again.

    - Even if he only stays with us for the loan spell he could prove to be one of Moyes' most astute signings. I'd love us to get him permanently though.

    - It's great to have another outlet, more specifically a bit of pace on the wings, best highlighted by the time he gave Garrido a 10 yard start and still got the ball.
    But it would be harsh to say that's it. The lad can play. He doesn't half come onto the ball well.
    At this moment in time, I'd love for us to be able to keep him.

    I'd post some more but this post is already huge and you get the idea...

    Can't wait until next week :D
     
    3 people repped this.
  8. sffp1

    sffp1 Member

    Jul 4, 2009
    Virginia
    Club:
    Zenit St Petersburg
    Ok - That's an assessment I can agree with.
     
  9. Arteta's Girl

    Arteta's Girl Member

    Sep 29, 2008
    Liverpool, UK
    Club:
    Everton FC
    I forgot to say, one thing we pride ourselves on at Everton is we have a real team and our team spirit is considered second to none. We have a great work ethic and passion and commitment to win for the team, teammates and the fans. It is a real collective thing, no individuals, and they accept anyone in as long as they have the same desire to be part of that team.

    Landon is very much part of that the team already.
     
  10. arkjayback

    arkjayback Member

    Mar 29, 2008
    Le Mars, IA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Everton is a team that looks to compete in a minimum of 3 competitions a year, and possibly 4. You need depth for that as well as injuries. Even if Donovan is behind Arteta, I could see him becoming first choice at LM and allowing Pienaar to play inside more often.

    I'm not sure why the myth has developed that when Arteta is healthy that all of a sudden Donovan won't play anymore.
     
  11. arkjayback

    arkjayback Member

    Mar 29, 2008
    Le Mars, IA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That team on the field today was pretty damn exciting to watch.
     
  12. BS49

    BS49 Member+

    Jan 25, 2008
    Drinking a beer
    Club:
    CF Atlas Guadalajara
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    The thing is that for being the best field player the US has ever produced it is not unfair to expect more from Donovan than just fitting in. And fans here should not feel offended when there is a difference of opinion. I think he will do better in the upcoming games, maybe even score.
     
  13. Arteta's Girl

    Arteta's Girl Member

    Sep 29, 2008
    Liverpool, UK
    Club:
    Everton FC

    Correct.

    There is rumours around the city that Pienaar may be leaving in the Summer as he only has 1 year left on his deal and wants Champions League football, I still remain hopeful he will stay though.

    I got to say, I don't even know what our best midfield will be with them all fit...I guess thats a good thing...:confused:
     
  14. BS49

    BS49 Member+

    Jan 25, 2008
    Drinking a beer
    Club:
    CF Atlas Guadalajara
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    Arshavin, Guille Franco, and Diamanti come to mind fast but even the CONCACAF ones like Cristian Benitez and Hugo Rodallega have played well right from the start.
     
  15. Marko72

    Marko72 Member+

    Aug 30, 2005
    New York
    I personally think he needs another 2 or 3 weeks to get back to his optimum level of match fitness/sharpness, plus to develop some on-field rapport with Neville, Fellaini, Pienaar, Cahill, Saha, etc. Like you said, that's only just beginning.

    I have a much warmer feeling about Landon playing with this side than I ever had about his time at any point with Bayern (let alone Leverkusen!). I've been watching this guy since he was 20 years old and came as a loanee from Leverkusen to my home MLS outfit and broke through to the US national team the same year, from Stateside and while I was overseas in Europe.

    This is the first time he's been abroad that I've really felt that he's found himself a home. City's a team that can afford him, but that feels like a poor fit. I think you guys have the right club for him. I'd really love to see this loan turn into a 2-3 year stint. It really seems like this is the right team with the right fans and the right manager, and he's the right player to fit in. Everton aren't the richest, but they have the all the quality needed to win a European spot, they have a very astute manager who knows how to make the most of that budget, and Donovan's got a buddy on the team with Timmy Howard, something he never had in Germany.

    I've been waiting for this a long time. I hope it works out well for all. Today wasn't Donovan's best individual attacking performance, and yet it was a really good day for Everton, wasn't it? I'm sure he can feel it.

    Landon, get your match fitness back and develop some rapport with those guys, and then by all means, get your agent on the phone!
     
  16. zapem_10

    zapem_10 Member

    Nov 25, 2009
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He definitely should look better as he gets a feel for his teammates. He could have probably kicked the ball anywhere and Fellaini would have been there. The home atmosphere for Everton was great and it was nice to see Landon get some applause when he went off.

    I wonder if Beckham texted him after he game "see why I keep going back to AC Milan?"
     
  17. Tony Dellbird

    Tony Dellbird English and Proud

    Mar 26, 2004
    Jolly Ol' England
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Donovan was okay today. Did enough, had a few rusty touches, like when he ran the ball out of play, but he put himself about, and thanks to the rest of the midfield shining, his performance didn't look that bad.

    Fellaini once again was massive, literraly and that carousel he did was worthy of strictly come dancing, pure tekkers! Ha
     
  18. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    After about the first 15 minutes, the ass-beating that Everton's midfield put down on Man City's was about as thorough as you'll ever see except when one team has like 5 times the resources of the other.

    OK, Man City has much more than 5 times the resources of Everton, but you get my point. It looked like teams separated by 2 or 3 levels, like a Big Four team against a team fighting to avoid relegation. Just a total mismatch in the middle of the park.

    And man, Robinho sucked one of the greatest sucks that has ever been sucked on a Prem field. IMO, Mancini had no choice but to get him the hell off the field...he was more likely to get booked/ejected for dissent than he was to do anything positive.

    As for Landon, I thought he was the worst of the Everton mids...and I'd still rate him a 7 or 7.5. His corners were very good.
     
  19. ChrisSSBB

    ChrisSSBB Member+

    Jun 22, 2005
    DE
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The myth developed when you wrote it, I guess. No one said he wouldn't play anymore. Will his minutes be impacted with players like Arteta returning? Sure. He probably won't start as much.
     
  20. Tony Dellbird

    Tony Dellbird English and Proud

    Mar 26, 2004
    Jolly Ol' England
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    I wouldn't say that. He has been guilty of taking it too early though and snatching at it e.g. rebound from Fellaini's header.

    Also not directed at you but Donovan's chance where he chipped Given, if that wasn't a shot then I'm Polish. It was a tough chance and I think he knew full well what he was doing and was ********ing unlucky. That goes in that is probably the best goal we've scored all season, with Pienaar's FK a close second.
     
    1 person likes this.
  21. Tony Dellbird

    Tony Dellbird English and Proud

    Mar 26, 2004
    Jolly Ol' England
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Don't be foolish enough to think this is LD's doing. He was the worst of the 4 midfielders out there. It's not his play that's changed the team, but I'd agree his arrival may have caused an up turn, because every player has started coming to the party.
     
  22. arsynic

    arsynic Red Card

    Jan 2, 2007
    Santa Barbara
    maybe on offense, but defensively he tracked back like no other attacking player on the field in the second half (i missed the first half). He didn't get many balls played to him in favorable positions on offense and lost the ball a few times when he did n't need to but his late CKs to Falini were outstanding.
     
  23. beamish

    beamish Member+

    Jul 6, 2009
    Well, how, if not through his play? (Not a rhetorical question.)

    Everton is playing lot better since his arrival, right?
     
  24. Arteta's Girl

    Arteta's Girl Member

    Sep 29, 2008
    Liverpool, UK
    Club:
    Everton FC
    We had already been playing reasonably well for the previous 6 weeks or so before he arrived, just not having the luck and confidence to finish chances. A new signing does seem to boost team morale though, so his arrival seems to have come at the perfect time.
     

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