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

Fellaini tracked back and forward. LD was unlucky in two areas, the lob that narrowly missed and there was another time he had the ball in the area and the ref didn't play the ********ing advantage. His corner kicks are good he puts them in dangerous areas for a number of people to attack. Other than that he was quiet, but still early doors, only his second game isn't it. I'm not nitpicking at your boy, I'm just stating my opinion as an Everton fan. I've been happy with him on the whole, but I already knew he was a good player anyway.

I think Tony hit the nail on the on the head with this one. While Donovan has certainly gave a boost to Everton, they have been working towards this form for a few weeks before his arrival.

Entirely fair assessment Tony, don't mind us, we're sometimes touchy about "our boy".

So, s'all good for everyone!

It was a fun match to watch. I used to like City during their underdog days. That seems to have passed this year.

I saw Everton play Sunderland on boxing day and they looked very good then and were unlucky not to get a win. Fellaini was MOTM that day and Pienaar was also very good - one of the most underrated players in the league IMO.

Everton have been working toward this form for weeks?

In the last 8 games they've been
2-5-1 WdWdDdDL. That's not exactly tearing up the pea patch.

OK, I want Everton to do well as much as anyone, but they're not looking to bust into the Champions League just yet.

donovan managed to keep bellamy's side quiet during the game. having seen bellamy torch many an epl side, that's huge!

ld tracked back and won the ball more than bily did, and in spite of bily having the ball on his side more, it was donovan's winning of a knock down from fro ahead of de jong that led to the pienaar pass that led to the second goal.

donovan's corners consistently put the ball on fro's or cahill's head, altho mancity's zone marking might have made that a little easier to do.

so, a solid 7.

pretty good for not having played since mls cup. and it's only his second match!!

there's no way that he was going to be much better than that, and there was a great likelihood that he was not going to start off that well.

i'm satisfied. and hoping for even more improvement.

The results don't always tell the story, much like Man Utd v Burnley today, 3-0 scoreline, but Man Utd were struggggling. You have to watch the games to understand it. A lot of the games when we've drawn we'd just struggled to convert our chances even though we'd played the better football and had luck go against us. It's been like that since the Merseyside Derby really. We lost 2-0 that day but didn't deserve to at all.

Well, having watched their last couple, and their game against Spurs, they have looked pretty good. They completely dominated the midfield against an in-form Man City team, were the better team against Arsenal at Emirates, and scrapped to a tie against a strong Spurs team. If their defense had been healthier, they could certainly be making a push for CL. I would rate them close to Spurs in terms of overall quality, and they generally don't give up points to lesser teams like Spurs do.

Think he'll get another game? I would be flabbergasted if Moyes didn't start the exact same team for the next match. They destroyed City. We can guess all we like for exactly what combination of reasons caused Everton to whip the city boys all over the field, but no matter the reason most good manager's don't ******** with a good thing.

The Flemish Fro is The Truth.

I think from the insights we have been given from long time, non-US, Everton fans you are right. That said, I am so much happier to hear people being cautiously optimistic rather than obnoxiously proud.

I always thought that guy was way overrated.

He will undoubtedly appear next week, and in all likelihood start.

Will be a tough game, Birmingham are on a crazy run of form, and had a rest this week with a called off game. It's cup though, so anything can happen.

Right, that was my guess... that 10 Million pounds might be getting near the level.

Fair assessment. He was solid but not spectacular. I think the announcers were overstating how well he played but I think that was based on how long it takes many players to adapt to the league and that he already seems pretty settled. He has a good football brain and it shows. I also think he is really, really enjoying himself (winning does that) and it will be interesting to see how this develops. There is no place like Goodison in the States.

And the difference between his last loan and this one: he misses that shot for BM and his season is over. Clearly he is untalented and cant take the pressure, he misses it for Everton and drum keeps beating.

This situation just seems so much better than the stupidity of the media attention surrounding some of the so-called big teams.

That and the fact that I think fully half those in Europe have expected him to be a flop because he "flopped" twice in Germany. For those who have actually followed his situation, it's always been a little more complicated than that, as was pointed out directly above me. "Not good enough for the Bayern Reserves..." Utter trash.

This is a different club though, with different management, and different fans. What a difference the right club makes. He'll get his chances here, and I think this will work out very well for everyone.

To add to that Bayern were struggling, NO Bundesliga Championship for Bayern = Unsuccesful season. To add even more pressure to that LD was basically Klinnsman's only reinforcement that transfer window.

I just wish American posters understood that the quote above wasn't even aimed at Landon Donovan. It was aimed at Klinnsman just trying to trash him. Bayern gave Klinnsman hell when he was national team coach and treated him like crap until he got Germany past Argentina. Then Bayern started treating Klinnsman well and gave him a job (but they still hated him, I swear) and as soon as it started turning south they went right after him again.

I remember that blow out loss to Barcelona in the CL when Bayern were missing like 6 starters. Klinnsman said he was disappointed in their performance, but that its hard when you are missing...(he rattled off name after name). Then Beckenbauer came out with "FC Bayern are better than this, it doesn't matter how many players they are missing" and...what's left other than to say Klinnsman didn't even have an eye for talent. Who wanted to bring in players not good enough for the reserve team.

That was a really fun game to watch and Everton look very dangerous in the attack. I love the effort and the pressure on the ball. The style of play seems perfect for Donovan, and also it's almost stunning how encouraging the fans, the manager, and really all observers have been about his start. I'm used to his every error being picked apart as major sins. I know it really helps to win, everyone is in love.

Moyes taking Landon off on his home debut at minute 90, just so he can get an ovation - it's just so feel good it's like a movie. What is going to be said if he actually plays a blinder game like we know he can, or if he scores a goal?? Arteta's Girl, thanks for the description of Everton - that kind of team spirit and fan support is perfect for Donovan and I have no doubt he will thrive there, whether it is for his loan period or longer. Well done, LD, and well done, Everton.

Well I was pretty impressed that before the game the announcers were talking about how well Man City's attack had been working through Bellamy in previous weeks. Not only did Bellamy have no joy against Donovan but at the start of the 2nd half Bellamy shifted to the other side of the field.

LD did the work, was part of a dominant midfield and will take another 2 or 3 games to really gel with his teammates and get used to the unrelenting pace of play (pace he's cool with, pace without letup...rare experience). And he's not playing his best position. He's always been a player who is better operating in his comfort zone...every decent game means his next game is likely to be better. Good stuff, very promising.

But I'll leave Moyes with the last words;

"He deserved the ovation in the last minute [when he was substituted]," said Moyes. "You can see why he's considered arguably America's best player."

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=726550&sec=england&root=england&cc=5901

Does anyone have highlights from the Game??

About whether Everton has improved because of Donovan's arrival, or if it is just coincidence - I have a feeling from some Moyes quote that his arrival has pushed the atmosphere on the practice field. He can play so many positions, everyone needs to be sharp when there's a new potential starter around, because they don't want to lose their place. It just perks them up and keeps them sharp.

I'd like to see him move into Cahill's off-striker position at some point, just to see what he can do there. Cahill is more tenacious and physical than Donovan, but Donovan has better pace and seems to have a better touch, at least right now. I'm judging Cahill from 2 games, and Donovan from 200+, so it's not really fair - just demonstrating my ability to make stuff up with the best of you.

I know that. Everybody who followed the situation knows that. But not everybody followed the situation. And a lot of what Europe as a whole (understandably, since they've seen little of him) has taken are those cute little sound bites and a lot of semi-blind assumption.