PBP: Howard, Donovan: Everton @ Arsenal, 1/9/2010[R]

That's what I was thinking. Even as an optimist, 7s and 8s just seem to be overstating his impact on the match. When he got the ball, yes, he did well, but he was't getting the ball as much as some others.

Perhaps this is just a shock moment for everyone in England who, up to this point, refused to believe how good Donovan (as well as other Americans) really is. If you expect him to put on the same miserable performance he made as a young inexperienced player in the Champions League, then of course you're going to think he really lit it up yesterday.

I remember thinking when Cahill turned the corner on Gallas that Donovan should have no problem in this league. He has twice the speed and is deceptively strong on the ball. I recall the breakaway against the Poland team where at midfield a defender literally tried to throw him off the ball and Donovan kept his balance and ball.

His many cutbacks in this game I thought were motivated by lack of blue shirts in the box and maybe a decision to hold up a bit more rather than attack. I think that served Everton very well as they couldnt hold possession when it counted in the last 15minutes.

Ahh, geez, and very early in my tenure too. Totally forgot about that. I knew something felt off -- that changes everything!

All right, the historical record must be corrected:


1. Jan '10: Donovan debuts for Everton | 803 posts

2. Aug '07: Adu debuts for Benfica | 662

3. April '05: Beasley with PSV in Champions League semifinal | 576

4. April '05: Beasley with PSV in Champions League quarterfinal | 538

5. Feb '05: Donovan with Leverkusen vs. Stuggart | 534

6. Feb '07: McBride, Dempsey, Bocanegra, Onyewu in Fulham vs. Newcastle | 466

7. Feb '04: Mathis and Cherundolo in Hannover vs. Hertha | 442

8. March '08: Friedel, McBride, Dempsey, Bocanegra, Keller, Eddie Johnson feature as Fulham meets Blackburn | 421

9. Aug '08: Gooch helps shut out Liverpool in Champions League | 403

10. May '08: Fulham beats Portsmouth on final day to avoid relegation | 391

Could someone please adjust these figures for inflation? I'm assuming there are more posters now than in 2007, so the Adu thread for his Benfica debut might be over a thousand posts in today's market.

Here's the aforementioned backheel gameday thread, dunno if anyone already covered it as I'm still back on apge 60something

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466286&highlight=backheel

(only 289 posts...)

Did Donovan make a positive contribution? Yes. Everyone should be satisfied with that. This was an auspicious start and I think we'll see him play a more decisive role in future appearances.

I saw this too, Saha had maybe 4-5 opportunities in breaking situations and decided to pass the other side or take on 3 players lol

Roll on next weekend against Man City. Finally seem to have things coming together again.

Arteta, Jagielka and Anichebe all doing bits of training aswell. Lets hope we have a good seocnd half of the season.

And a lot of other Premiership teams if Everton doesn't have quite enough piggy bank to keep him.

It's actually the same 15 or so guys.

How rare not to see a post here from Mr. SFS. I hope he is well this weekend. Perhaps his internet was down? I will look forward to his analysis of Donovan's debut.

In other worlds: has anyone remarked on Landon's post-match interview in which he mentioned having to concentrate without stop in the Prem, whereas in MLS he could take occasional mental vacations? I couldn't find the interview again, but I'm close enough. That might explain some (some) of his not always tracking back or making the flying run. In any case, he will correct that!

I pondered that myself: How would the numbers stack up in relative terms, given growth in BigSoccer's overall membership?

But I think we can discount that, because when it comes down to it, the raw numbers are still the best measurement. If Game X has 500 posts, it's because 500 human beings were interested enough in soccer to have become BigSoccer users and then post in that thread. If Game Y has 200 posts, it indicates there was less of this "absolute interest."

And now we have officially descended into the deepest valleys of geekdom.

lol, pretty funny reading that. Only 289 posts but has to be a record breaker for the number of times "backheel" was used in one thread.

Sounds like Bradley had 2 backheels in their winter tune-up match today.
Maybe their should be a sticky thread like the goals thread - 2010 Yanks Abroad Awesome Backheel List!

Saw that too! Hopefully he didn't mean that he takes a bunch of plays off and doesn't care in certain situations in the MLS. I'd like to think he was speaking more from a team concentration perspective i.e. if the team doesn't sense danger in the right spots a team like Arsenal can punish you.

Lando's interview following game. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/e/everton/8450314.stm

Sure, but he has been rightfully criticized for chicken-little plays. Sometimes you take a shot or two to test the goal keeper or play for the rebound etc.

Sometimes it is his job to be reckless occasionally.

But his hold up play was really missed when he was subbed out.

This whole world class business seems to be what everyone is talking about as if any of us should really care.

I am stoked he is playing in the EPL. Period.

He put a freaken fantabulous goal on Brazil that any player alive would kill for. That was no fluke.

I agree with what you've said here except what's bolded. Donovan has always played the percentages, since his early days as a pro. If anything, he's been a little too unselfish.

agree with kokoplus, but sooner rather than later he should try some runs at the defender. i'm thinking next week at home.

he is all about combination play. He does not go 1-1 very much, ever.

Totally agree on Fellaini but as a Gunner fan have to say things would have been different for him with Song there. Anyway, I like to pay more attention to the Sky ratings than the fan ratings for that reason. I think Donovan was a 7 given how most debuts go in the Prem.

It's heated.

Yes and no.

Early in his career, Landon seemed to constantly look for the cheeky one touch play out of the midfield and as the entry pass into the box. Due mostly because his teammates were not thinking as advanced as he was, too many times he needlessly gave up possession.

It is that part of his game that he has really improved on. So, while he definitely has been too unselfish in the attacking third, I would disagree that he always played the percentages.