Donovan[r]

[appoo]

Someone had to start this thread so I thought I'd get a jumpt on it.

First, I've NEVER seen a performance out of an American Central Attacking Midfielder like this one before. You would probably have to go back to a young Tab Ramos.

2nd, what do we do with him? I'm for playing him infront of Reyna and O'Brien, flanked by Convey and Beasley, playind behind McHead and Wolff.

[Ombak]

Someone had to start this thread so I thought I'd get a jumpt on it.

First, I've NEVER seen a performance out of an American Central Attacking Midfielder like this one before. You would probably have to go back to a young Tab Ramos.

2nd, what do we do with him? I'm for playing him infront of Reyna and O'Brien, flanked by Convey and Beasley, playind behind McHead and Wolff.

I say Convey stays at left-back, Donovan and Beasley play a-mid, with Reyna and O'Brien as d-mids if Bruce continues to use a 4-4-2. Mathis and Wolff up front. Any two of Pope, Boca, Gibbs and Mastro in defense, and whoever works out at right-back, Hejduk, Albright, whatever works best.

[FootyMundo]

The guy was just used so well tonight. He is such a great one touch passer and when he can get the ball at the midfield and run at people it is just hell on the defense. There is very little to find in his performance tonight that is bad. Very little. He simply needs to be tucked in behind the strikers.

Further, if DaMarcus is going to play go fetch like he did tonight his place in this team will be secure until he decides to quit playing. Just an overall very good effort tonight. I don't care who the competition was out there for Mexico, that was a very good team effort.

[appoo]

I say Convey stays at left-back, Donovan and Beasley play a-mid, with Reyna and O'Brien as d-mids if Bruce continues to use a 4-4-2. Mathis and Wolff up front. Any two of Pope, Boca, Gibbs and Mastro in defense, and whoever works out at right-back, Hejduk, Albright, whatever works best.
this works also....but my god. How much easier is this game when you have a player like Donovan in the middle? I just hope he does this again againt Hondo. And I REALLY hope that San Jose moves him there

[galperin]

Man, if only he had burried that screamer from 25! He played very, very well. Inspired soccer, w/o doubt.

[Northcal19]

He was good. If San Jose drops him in behind Ching and Derosario we here in Colorado could be in trouble.

[Peretz48]

There are times like several moments tonight when you have to say, "How ******* good can this guy be?" But then he frustrates everyone by not finishing or at other times, playing indifferently. I hope he finally decides to return to Europe. In that environment he'll have to stay motivated; otherwise he'll be a pine brother. I never thought he was a true forward, and I have to credit Arena for devising a scheme that placed him exactly where he could be most effective. But Donovan's tactical challenge is understanding that not every opposing team's defensive scheme will allow him to rove and freelance as he did tonight. So at times he will have to be more of a true forward, and I hope his maturation as a player will give him the flexibility to do this. Now, if he can only finish more consistently!!!

[superdave]

On the postmatch thread, I commented that LD's workrate, speed, and intensity made him an excellent ballwinner. Many of our dangerous attacks came because his defensive work either stole the ball or caused a bad Mexie pass. I was reminded of that brief period when Leeds was running a 4-5-1 with Alan Smith as an attacking mid. Anyway, with LD and Beasley up front like that, any team we play is gonna have to put alot of effort just into getting the ball upfield, so it'll be hard for the US to get caught out.

Oh yeah...Landon played a lil' offense tonight too. ;)

Man, if only he had burried that screamer from 25! He played very, very well. Inspired soccer, w/o doubt.
I know what you mean, but it would have been better if he had scored on the easier shot that he put right at the keeper.

[Pabmeister]

First, I've NEVER seen a performance out of an American Central Attacking Midfielder like this one before. You would probably have to go back to a young Tab Ramos.

That was the first thing I told my dad tonight.

[Ringo]

this works also....but my god. How much easier is this game when you have a player like Donovan in the middle? I just hope he does this again againt Hondo. And I REALLY hope that San Jose moves him there

Well, with the way Ronnie Ekelund's been playing lately it could certainly give the Quakes a much-needed boost.

[purojogo]

LD was the star of match no doubt...HE never gave up, even on the final FK, which ironically was in the end taken by Convey, but you could see how much he wanted to redeem himself.......

[onefineesq]

i've always thought that LD should be in the midfield, but watched as BS posters pooh poohed that idea over and over again. what say they now?! he makes our team so much better from the midfield because he is NOT a Michael Owen who just goes full bore at goal constantly. He has other facets to his game that make him a perfect player to run at people from the midfield and his passing is wonderful. Finally, i hope that is settled. Of course, it won't be .......... but a brotha can always dream! oh by the way, old TT didn't disappoint today either, huh?

[azul]

If Bruce takes anything away from this match it should be that Donovan should be playing in midfield. He was brilliant. I only hope that his coach at San Jose does not figure this out in time for the DC United game this weekend. As one person mentioned earlier, seeing him play midfield behind DeRosario and Ching would be beautiful.

For the record, Frankie played some inspired soccer this evening. When he plays for the USMNT the guy positively bleeds red, white and blue.

[Tejas]

Interesting that FSW had a news item right after the US-Mexico game about Roberto Baggio's final international match with Italy today. As has been stated more and more, the place where LD fits best on the field is pretty much identical to where Baggio played for Italy. I'll grant the fact that LD is an above average forward, but his optimum place, based on his overall skillset, is and always has been as A-Mid behind two strikers. Now he may have not liked the idea of not playing as a forward in the past, and may have even demanded that he play as a forward with San Jose, but really it was/is just a matter of time before even he recognizes the obvious, and the same goes for Bruce Arena. I hope we officially crossed that line with Bruce tonight.

Okay, so I am patting myself on the back here a bit as Onefineesq did in his post above, and maybe I needed it after my foot-in-mouth Hedjuk bashing pre-game post, but seriously, it has really been pretty clear from the time Donovan put on the jersey for us. His touch, passing, vision, runs and speed on a dime make him most deadly in the spot he played tonight, and while I can't necessarily say that he is the same skill caliber as Baggio was, I can say that his effect on the US team can be as important as Baggio's was for Italy, and consequently we need to build our attack around him in that same spot.

[Deuteriumoxide]

Great game from Landon. I think the odd man out in all of this could be bobby convey.

You have to think that if Mastroeni keeps playing like he has been (Club and Country) he will get time in the central defence. If everyone is healthy who is going to be the odd man out? Pope? Surely not he's our best. Bocanegra? I really doubt it. If Mastro and pope play in the center, Bocanegra will play out left...

If Donovan is holding down the A-mid where does bobby go?

Maybe to the wings... but Beasley isn't so good on the right. Is Convey?

[m vann]

I'm so pissed that I had to work on some dumbass group project for my finals!!!!! I apparently missed a great game by the US and Donovan. I just hope the replay on FSW doesn't hype me up for nothing!!!! Like most I also feel that LD's better suited behind the frontline. LD's skills are so much more utilized facing the goal instead of playing with his back towards the goal. He seems to play extremely well when he's relied upon to be the #10. His runs are more smarter, passes are crisper, and he creates his own shot opportunties. US and San Jose will benefit if he moves into the middle.

[Pabmeister]

The #10...

That's one thing that I noticed. He wore that number when we played Denmark in January & then switched to the #21 against Holland & Haiti..

Whats up with that?

[ayers]

The #10...

That's one thing that I noticed. He wore that number when we played Denmark in January & then switched to the #21 against Holland & Haiti..

Whats up with that?

Reyna has first pick for #10 when he's on the team.

[Pabmeister]

Reyna has first pick for #10 when he's on the team.

Ahhhhhh okay, thanks!

[StillKickin]

I feel extremely blessed to have witnessed in person Landon's performance. It was breathtaking and brilliant. It took him about 20 minutes to get going (I even yelled at him to "get in the game"....so you can thank me! :) ) But then he absolutely controlled everything. Mexico had no answer for him.

His touch on the ball is sublime. It just really stands out, especially live and in person, that no matter how the ball comes at him, horrible bounce, hard, awkward, he just handles it with ease, all the while looking around figuring out what to do with it. I see similar balls bouncing off players, ricocheting off their shinguards, etc. Not so with Landon. Then when he makes the pass, the receiver doesn't have to work very hard to receive the ball; he can handle it with ease because it's placed so perfectly and with the right pace.

We were in the perfect position for his shot that hit the crossbar, about 3 yards behind him and in perfect line of the ball. It curved so sweet, beat the keeper. We just knew it was going in. Beautiful shot.

I too hope Bruce leaves him there and lets him run the offense from that position. No more being an out-and-out forward. Hope the Quakes do that too.