Landon Donovan USA Captain without Reyna

[appoo]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=312800&cc=5901

Notes: With Claudio Reyna sidelined by a quadriceps injury, Donovan was the U.S. captain. ... Cobi Jones entered in the 88th minute for his 164th international appearance and tied Earnie Stewart's record of 29 World Cup qualifiers for the United States.
a remarkable achievement for the young midfielder, considering both Brian McBride and Eddie Pope started for USA tonight. Congratulations Landon on taking the next step in your young USA career.

[Ringo]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=312800&cc=5901

a remarkable achievement for the young midfielder, considering both Brian McBride and Eddie Pope started for USA tonight. Congratulations Landon on taking the next step in your young USA career.


from ap:

“The second-highest honor is playing for your country, and the highest honor is wearing the armband for your country,” Donovan said. “It shows that the players have confidence in me, and that feels good.”

[scaryice]

He should be the captain, he's our best player. Hopefully he's up to the role. Plus he'll be around through 2010 at least.

[Treetaliano]

He should be the captain, he's our best player. Hopefully he's up to the role. Plus he'll be around through 2010 at least.
has nothing to do with it.

best player does not equal captain. never has. never will.

[flanoverseas]

"I like you Clarence. Always have. Always will."

[ttrevett]

Love the true romance quote, but what the h does it have to do with this thread?

[freisland]

Well, he finishes like Reyna, may as well be captain like him. (rimshot!) Thankyouverymuch...

The thing I like about LD as captain is more what it says to him - something like "you aren't the future any more, you are the vet - this is your team, take it."

I'm still looking for that guy who grabs the midfield like Reyna can. Mathis, sadly, seems to get further from doing that with each passing game. LD moves that direction in baby Jesus steps, but still goes walking in the Egyptian desert a bit too often for my taste. Bease has stepped up his role as well over the past two years. But I'm still looking for LD to really run the show in midfield on both sides of the field - which doesn't really have to do with being captain, but more with taking charge of the team play.

[lmorin]

Well, he finishes like Reyna, may as well be captain like him. (rimshot!) Thankyouverymuch...

The thing I like about LD as captain is more what it says to him - something like "you aren't the future any more, you are the vet - this is your team, take it."

I'm still looking for that guy who grabs the midfield like Reyna can. Mathis, sadly, seems to get further from doing that with each passing game. LD moves that direction in baby Jesus steps, but still goes walking in the Egyptian desert a bit too often for my taste. Bease has stepped up his role as well over the past two years. But I'm still looking for LD to really run the show in midfield on both sides of the field - which doesn't really have to do with being captain, but more with taking charge of the team play.
How about this scenario: US defeats Panama and is in. That relieves all pressure, so BA starts Gaven in Mathis' spot with LD roaming around him. Gaven has the necessary work rate, plays in a style that well fits with both LD and DMB and, he is the only guy on team who has no hesitation to take 2-3 defenders on with a slow dribble attack. LD and Gaven will feed off each other. A perfect match.

[nobody]

Landon is still young and tends to defer to older players rather than making his mark. We see it all the time with Reyna and we saw it last night with Mathis. Once Mathis went out, Donovan became a much more active player.

With Donovan instead of Reyna running things, we become a very different team. Donovan's USA is a more attacking team, takes more chances, and holds less possesion. Against CONCACAF teams, where I think we are now enough above most teams in attacking talent, a run and gun approach should prove more effective. I'll take our chances outscoring anyone in CONCACAF in a wide open game, even Mexico although there's plenty to argue against it.

With Reyna having his way, we're more controlled and possesion oriented. We create less chances, but give away less. Against CONCACAF teams, we seem to underachieve, score fewer goals, and eek out draws and wins against lesser teams.

However, it is still a question whether we want to get into a wide open attacking game against tougher opposition. Against El Sal, for example, I'll take our chances in an open game and favor Donovan, Beasley, Wolff, etc... to outscore a team whose best attacker is Cerritos. Against, let's say a team like France with Henry, Trezegut, Wltord, etc... I'm not so sure the approach shouldn't be a bit more cautious.

[alliu23]

I think they are both great captains and Reyna is one of the best quality players we have. I felt LD did a good job of keeping the game under control, and himself also. Did you ever notice whether he's captain or not, he is always the first one talking to the ref after a card is handed out, or a serious foul commited, and he even controlled his temper tonight. He is a remarkable player, at one point in the game he was all the way back playing next to the central defenders, he can get it done anywhere on the field.

[chad]

Landon is still young and tends to defer to older players rather than making his mark. We see it all the time with Reyna and we saw it last night with Mathis. Once Mathis went out, Donovan became a much more active player.

With Donovan instead of Reyna running things, we become a very different team. Donovan's USA is a more attacking team, takes more chances, and holds less possesion.

I agree completely with this analysis. When Mathis came out, and DMB and LD were running the show, we changed styles.

One fair question, it seems, is whether the difference is in how he is asked to play when Reyna or Mathis is also in the midfield.

But to stay precisely on topic. Congrats to Donovan for being captain last night. He clearly values playing for the US, and I for one appreciate his attitude.

[lplaksina]

He'll make a good captain. Good on ya Donovan !

[_Wheels_]

Was this the first time he was captain for the national team? I seem to remember him getting it at least once before when Reyna (or whoever was captain at the time) was subbed off.

[Kilmer17]

Lost in all of this is the fact that we just won another huge match without Claudio Reyna on the field.

Coincidence?

[bshredder]

Lost in all of this is the fact that we just won another huge match without Claudio Reyna on the field.

Coincidence?

No.. ES sucks and no player should really be judged on the result of this game. We would have won with or without any single player.

[StillKickin]

No.. ES sucks and no player should really be judged on the result of this game. We would have won with or without any single player.
Just like in Panama and Jamaica, huh?

[bshredder]

Just like in Panama and Jamaica, huh?

Panama and Jamaica have far better teams than ES.

[Kilmer17]

Panama and Jamaica have far better teams than ES.


Then how did ES beat Panama?

[Brushes Sand]

Then how did ES beat Panama?


With sheer luck completely against the run of play.

-bs

[Brushes Sand]

But I'm still looking for LD to really run the show in midfield on both sides of the field - which doesn't really have to do with being captain, but more with taking charge of the team play.


You've seen it...

US 1
Tri 0
Dallas.

All Landon, All the Time.

-bs