Donovan's Talent --- Re-evaluated???

[ghazi]

I am not peeing on Lannycakes at all. And i am not interested in discussing the merits of his move back to MLS. I just want to know what y'alls opinion of LD is now as opposed to a couple years ago based on his performances since the World Cup.

Arguably, his two most important games since then were the Champs League start v Liverpool and the recent Azteca game v Mexico.. . . both games left much to be desired. .. .at the same time you can argue reasons why that was.

Was it just a bad month for LD, or do you think he's not the player we thought he would be at this point? How much room for improvement is there?

I am not slammin the kid. I just wanna get your opinions because I dont watch him as much as you other dudes do.

PEACE

[GoDC]

I can only say that if our leading scorer for the past two years is not a better player than he was 3 years ago we might as well forfeit the rest of the games in the Hex.

[kjksccr]

I think he still has a lot of untapped potential. Technically he is great but he has to be stronger and more physical. Make the opposing players think about him coming when they are in possession. If he is to be a world class offensive mid then you must compare him to guys like Ballack, Lampard, Gerrard, Nedved, Deco, Viera, et. al. The dilemma for the U.S. is that we really can't afford a totally offensive midfielder and LD is not really strong enough to play as a pure striker. If you went back and watched a bunch of San Jose games, you would see the coaches moving him back and forth between offensive midfield/withdrawn fwd/fwd. He is young and his best years are ahead of him. Most players really peak from about 26-32 somewhere.

[DutchFootballRulez]

He's still a withdrawn forward. Who is very good when he's direct, running at players. His simple game works well when very close to the box. He's not really a No.10.

[Theo]

Arguably, his two most important games since then were the Champs League start v Liverpool and the recent Azteca game v Mexico.. . . both games left much to be desired. .. .at the same time you can argue reasons why that was.



he didn't play too well in the Olympic qualifying match against Mexico, right?

[CyphaPSU]

At this point, it's all in his head and heart. He has been gifted with a lot of athletic talent for this game, he's fast, has a nice touch on the ball, can make great passes. All he needs is real confidence and vision when he is out on the pitch--specifically in high-level matches with pressure. It's one thing to do it in MLS, a completely different thing to do it in a big-time WCQ match. He needs the confidence in his abilities and vision to think a play or two ahead so that he knows what he wants to do with the ball even before he gets it. If those things improve, then he will continue to improve.

[dcc134]

At this point, it's all in his head and heart. He has been gifted with a lot of athletic talent for this game, he's fast, has a nice touch on the ball, can make great passes. All he needs is real confidence and vision when he is out on the pitch--specifically in high-level matches with pressure. It's one thing to do it in MLS, a completely different thing to do it in a big-time WCQ match. He needs the confidence in his abilities and vision to think a play or two ahead so that he knows what he wants to do with the ball even before he gets it. If those things improve, then he will continue to improve.


This is right one the money. It is also the main reason I felt his quick move back to MLS will turn out to be to the detriment of the National team over the long run.

Certainly a happy relaxed LD plays far better than a distracted LD and over the short term we are likely to see some good performances from him.

But learning to overcome adversity would have dramtically increased his mental strength, which is the part of his game which really nees improvement.

[Dfuntime]

You know what? He just ain't that good!!

[sidefootsitter]

I think he regressed in his technical skills overall since the last WC. In some things he had gotten marginally better but ... he shies away from contact, his first touch isn't what it's used to be, his dribbling skills went awry and he's become a bit too enamored with safe passes. All of the above are correctable but require proper coaching and motivation and I am not sure if he is going to receve them in MLS.

[The Potter]

He is still your most talented player, he just will never be one of the world's best.

[Eliezar]

I'll take the Klinnsman line and say that Donovan does not have the mental strength to succeed on the world level. Don't argue with me, argue with Klinnsman.

[dcc134]

He is still your most talented player, he just will never be one of the world's best.


This statement is becoming less and less true every day.

DMB is at least as productive at the National team level, and is competing against some of the best on a weekly basis and is not only producing, but also improving.

Everytime Johnson plays his natural talent keeps pouring out. He's at least as far along as LD was at 21, if not further.

Demspey is a more effective 2 way player.

As long as LD keeps believing he's already made it, then the sooner he is no longer considered our most talented player.

[The Potter]

This statement is becoming less and less true every day.

DMB is at least as productive at the National team level, and is competing against some of the best on a weekly basis and is not only producing, but also improving.

Everytime Johnson plays his natural talent keeps pouring out. He's at least as far along as LD was at 21, if not further.

Demspey is a more effective 2 way player.

As long as LD keeps believing he's already made it, then the sooner he is no longer considered our most talented player.


DMB is alright but he's more Rhomedal than Robben as for the other two I will reserve my judgment.

[Scottt1115]

He is still your most talented player,

Adu?














Attempting the quickest hijack of a thread ever.....one word!!

[flanoverseas]

Jaques Brel, an amazing Belgian singer/songwriter would have this to say about Landon, I think.

"Le talent ça n'existe pas. Le talent c'est avoir l'envie de faire quelque chose."


Talent doesn't exist. Talent is having the desire to achieve something.

[The Potter]

Jaques Brel, an amazing French singer/songwriter would have this to say about Landon, I think.

"Le talent ça n'existe pas. Le talent c'est avoir l'envie de faire quelque chose."


Talent doesn't exist. Talent is having the desire to achieve something.


I remember being absoloutly slated on these boards for having the gaul to compare Dyer's talent to Donovan's do you lot reckon your perhaps given up on this player to easily.

[Parmigiano]

The dilemma for the U.S. is that we really can't afford a totally offensive midfielder and LD is not really strong enough to play as a pure striker.

I sort of agree with this, as long as we are talking the USA versus the best teams in the world, and not the Guatemalas of the world.

In other words, he ain't a good enough at Amid -- and, more importantly, tough enough -- to play in the middle of the park with just one Dmid supporting him. I think this is where his limits were somewhat exposed in Leverkusen's system.

And as a forward -- against, against top-flight teams -- he is not strong enough or skilled enough or a good enough scorer, IMO.

So where do you put the guy? Well, the USA needs him no matter what, at THIS POINT in time. So it doesn't really matter.

But after 2006, I think -- hope -- LD will be facing some tough competition.

Jaques Brel, an amazing French singer/songwriter would have this to say about Landon, I think.

"Le talent ça n'existe pas. Le talent c'est avoir l'envie de faire quelque chose."


Talent doesn't exist. Talent is having the desire to achieve something.

Nice quote, but Brel was Belgian, not French (though in France, I guess they don't point that out too much, eh?)

[mdfc]

I think expectations changes how everyone views a player. You know how in this country, when the mainstream media lets its guard down and actually promotes soccer, they try to find one "face-man" to promote.

Before WC02, it was Mathis. Has his career been a disappointment in the last 2-3 years, or was he really just unable to live up the expectations as the poster-boy of soccer in the US?

The machine spit out Mathis, and inserted LD. Has he regressed, or have our expectations risen quicker than his development? I'm sure he is a better player than he was in '02, and he will be a better player in 06 & 10 than he is now.

In WC02, the fact that DMB & LD played well was such a bonus. Now, they generally have to play well for us to win. Our results depend on them, as our best players.

There are many fans of the next generation, like Dempsey, on this board, and rightfully so. But it will be interesting to see how they are viewed when their contributions go from being "appreciated" to "necessary."

[flanoverseas]

Nice quote, but Brel was Belgian, not French (though in France, I guess they don't point that out too much, eh?)I knew that, he's probably one of my favorite all time people...corrected it in my orignial post and hit control z to fix something, etc...

Actually, most French people do point it out. I am an English teacher and tell my students to listen to music to practice and say that Brel was my best French teacher ever. This is always followed with, "But he was Belgian..."

[zcgf02]

Let me first say that I will root against Donovan as long as he's wearing the Galaxy uniform (unless he's playing Chivas).

That said, I can't believe the number of people turning on Donovan in span of a week.

Yes, he punked out in the first half of the Mexico game. But I thought the poor first half (actually it was a poor 15 minutes) was a team effort. Moreover, Donovan re-asserted himself in the second half and helped set up our goal (the first in Azteca in 20 years).

So Donovan plays poorly against Mexico, then comes back to play in the US. And all of the sudden his skills are suspect?

I think Donovan is a great talent. He has pace, can dribble, will play defense, has great field vision, can pass well, and can shoot. He might be our most complete player.

He's not good enough to put the US team on his shoulders and carry it to a victory every time. But what player is? Maybe if we had Zidane... Maybe...

Donovan doesn't need to play abroad. If he wants to try it again, then I think that's great. But for now, I'm going to enjoying rooting against him and the Galaxy during the season.