Quotes regarding Donovan as Forward

[dcole]

We all have our own opinion on whether Donovan should play up top or as a midfielder. To me, it depends on EJ's form. Here, however, is what Arena and Donovan have had to say on the topic:

January 2001:

Arena- "I think [forward is] his best position and the one he will play for us.”

Donovan- "I feel more comfortable at forward. It’s the position I want to play and the one where I think I can help the most."

July 2002:

Donovan- “If I had my absolute choice, it probably would be up front or underneath a target forward, but I am happy to be anywhere.”

December 2005:

Donovan- "I think we know Brian's going to be playing up front. If Eddie can get back and be [at the level] where he was, I can play in the midfield. They do all the battling, all the running and I just find them and feed them and that's nice. On the national team it's just more fun to play behind those two. With those two ahead of me, it's a lot of fun to play in the midfield with Bease. I think that would help us a lot. Otherwise, I have to go upfront and battle with the big boys."

February 2006:

Donovan- “It’s a lot harder to play up top at this level. It’s more physical, not that I don’t fancy my chances. It’s a different game. I feel a lot more comfortable playing behind two good front-runners. I think it helps me.”

Arena- "[Donovan will] be playing both in the midfield and up top. Both spots."

Arena- "If I know that I have Claudio Reyna, John O'Brien, and Pablo Mastroeni all healthy, I would say that we feel pretty comfortable about some of the choices we have in the center of midfield. However, there is a possibility that they may all be injured. And without those three, we're a little thin. That's why Donovan is playing a lot there, just in case we have any shortcomings in that position.”

[sidefootsitter]

Since Arena made LanDo his pet project, he'll play regardless of the system used.

[Hed7181]

but those quotes do point out that Donovan is a forward first and a AM second. The reason he has been playing AM is because Reyna / JOB have been unavailable.

I think that is very telling and answers our questions, for the most part. Donovan is a forward, and will play as a forward, unless he is needed in the middle to cover for an injured player, bottom line.

[sidefootsitter]

Donovan was awful at forward vs. Mexico at Columbus.

[Hed7181]

Donovan was awful at forward vs. Mexico at Columbus.

That was one game. Donovan was pretty good at forward during WC02.

[nobody]

Since Arena made LanDo his pet project, he'll play regardless of the system used.


He'll play regardless of the system used because he's one of our very best players. Whoever would coach the US would have Donovan on the field pretty much as much as possible.

[Maximum Optimal]

From those quotes, it appears that LD changed his tune a bit between 2002 and 2005 and that EJ's emergence had something to do with this. EJ's form will determine where Donovan plays. If EJ is playing well Donovan will be in midfield probably with Beasley, Reyna and Mastroeni. If EJ is still in a funk Donovan will play forward. In that scenario the fourth mid will be either Convey or Dempsey, unless JOB makes a lot of progress. In short, Donovan's role will depend upon the form/health of EJ relative to Convey/Dempsey/JOB. From Donovan's recent quotes it would appear that he is hoping EJ will be in good enough form to allow him to play midfield.

[sidefootsitter]

That was one game. Donovan was pretty good at forward during WC02. So was Tony Sanneh. Next question.

PS. Donovan sucked vs. England too.

He'll play regardless of the system used because he's one of our very best players. Whoever would coach the US would have Donovan on the field pretty much as much as possible. Is he a better midfield playmaker than Clint Dempsey? What were their comparative stats for 2,006 in the same games?

Is he a better support striker than Josh Wolff, Kenny Cooper or Chris Rolfe?

How many touches does he have on the ball? How many forward passes does he complete? How many goal scoring situations does he create for his teammates? How many shots on goal does he take?

How does he fare against quality competition?

[peledre]

If EJ is playing well Donovan will be in midfield probably with Beasley, Reyna and Mastroeni. If EJ is still in a funk Donovan will play forward. In that scenario the fourth mid will be either Convey or Dempsey, unless JOB makes a lot of progress. In short, Donovan's role will depend upon the form/health of EJ relative to Convey/Dempsey/JOB. From Donovan's recent quotes it would appear that he is hoping EJ will be in good enough form to allow him to play midfield.
EJ needs to massively improve his off the ball offensive positioning and running at the national team level. I don't know why but for some reason ever since he's been injured he's been making his runs to the touchline and corners of the field rather than diagonal runs down the middle in his national team appearances. He has not been getting the ball in dangerous positions and has been playing with his back to goal way too much. A player as fast and athletic as he is shouldn't be doing that.

[firstshirt]

but those quotes do point out that Donovan is a forward first and a AM second. The reason he has been playing AM is because Reyna / JOB have been unavailable.

I think that is very telling and answers our questions, for the most part. Donovan is a forward, and will play as a forward, unless he is needed in the middle to cover for an injured player, bottom line.
i take see it another way,,,,its a time line of maturity for Landon and a finding out phase for Bruce,,,,,at First landon likes to be up top,,,then slowly realizes at the international level he is better suited play behind the forwards where he has more freedom to be creative.

2001- 18ish? "I feel more comfortable at forward. It’s the position I want to play and the one where I think I can help the most."

2006 - 23 ish? "“It’s a lot harder to play up top at this level. It’s more physical, not that I don’t fancy my chances. It’s a different game. I feel a lot more comfortable playing behind two good front-runners. I think it helps me.”
5 years and many caps later he realizes he is an international Midfielder

[eric515]

Is he a better midfield playmaker than Clint Dempsey? What were their comparative stats for 2,006 in the same games?

Is he a better support striker than Josh Wolff, Kenny Cooper or Chris Rolfe?

How many touches does he have on the ball? How many forward passes does he complete? How many goal scoring situations does he create for his teammates? How many shots on goal does he take?

How does he fare against quality competition?

You're asking these questions as if you know the answers. Why don't you fill us in? :rolleyes:

[Mr Martin]

Donovan was awful at forward vs. Mexico at Columbus.

People can honestly debate the issue of Donovan at forward or attacking mid, but the above quote really isn't very helpful. One game or even a couple of games means almost nothing. For example:

* McBride was close to horrible in 2004 for several early qualifiers (Grenada) and the Poland friendly; fans were writing his Nat team obituary -- so how does he look now?

* Reyna stunk in WC98 against Germany, but look how he played against Mexico and Germany in WC02. He also looked weak in last year's Mexico match, but if he is fit in June, we'll (almost) all be glad he's on the pitch against Italy and the Czechs.

* Donovan has also had some fairly lame matches at attacking mid over the last two years, but he'll still play there plenty of times.


Arena's quotes from February of 2006 carry the most weight as far as I can tell. It seems pretty clear what is going on.

Arena- "[Donovan will] be playing both in the midfield and up top. Both spots."

It's hard to argue with this. If Johnson is still struggling with his form and his combinations with McBride and the midfielders, then who else is worth STARTING in a WC game at forward other than Donovan? The other forwards are at best SUBS at the WC level. If Reyna, Mastro, and O'Brien are all fit and in form in June, which one do you sit so that a possibly out-of-form Johnson can start at striker?

Arena's quotes are quite clear that he understands the situation with Donovan and knows how he best helps the squad, relative to the form and health of the other key players.

[tab5g]

How does he fare against quality competition?

I don't know how you judge quality competition, but here is a brief rundown of what Donovan did at WC2002:

2 goals scored.

created one own goal.

one goal disallowed after a crafty (yet deemed illegal) play.



he sucks, get him off the field. there are five clearly better options for the attacking midfield and forward roles on the USMNT.

[Hed7181]

I don't know how you judge quality competition, but here is a brief rundown of what Donovan did at WC2002:

2 goals scored.

created one own goal.

one goal disallowed after a crafty (yet deemed illegal) play.



he sucks, get him off the field. there are five clearly better options for the attacking midfield and forward roles on the USMNT.

I'm pretty sure you're joking. At least I hope you are, but I think your joking rings true for some around here.

I think if some guys on BS had their way, the USMNT would be full of very young, internationally unproven but solid potential stars, or those that at least start every game for a top team in Europe and score every week (none).

Seriously, who would you replace Donovan with? Give us some deeper analysis than opinions if you're going to make these statements.

[sidefootsitter]

I don't know how you judge quality competition, but here is a brief rundown of what Donovan did at WC2002 ... Why don't you bring back Tony Sanneh then? He did splendidly in 2,002.

People can honestly debate the issue of Donovan at forward or attacking mid, but the above quote really isn't very helpful. One game or even a couple of games means almost nothing... Donovan doesn't play in a top league like McBride or Reyna. For him, a "one-off" event is an important indicator. And, since they were several of these type events, one could establish a certain pattern.

And, btw, I am not saying the guy is always awful or that he is guaranteed to be awful but that he is not guaranteed to be good.

You're asking these questions as if you know the answers. Why don't you fill us in? I posted the touch-by-touch summary of Donovan's activities after several games. Other did similar work from other games.

I also posted his totals - without going through every touch - after the Columbus game.

PS. If you scan "major" grade giving sites/publications like Soccernet, SoccerAmerica, SoccerTimes, Sam's Army, etc., you'd see that Dempsey grades out ahead of Donovan in every game. (and they actually played together in every game - opened with Norway and Japan, both missed Guatemala, both played against Poland, both missed Germany ... Donovan went 90 vs. Jamaica, Dempsey went about 40 min)

[MyHouse!]

My biggest concern with Donovan at forward is that he tends to drift out of the game. When he's in behind the forwards, he's far more active, both on and off the ball.

[superdave]

So was Tony Sanneh. Next question.
Yes.

How full of hate must one be to compare the career tracks of Sanneh 2002-2006 and Donovan 2002-2006?

[Jagermeister]

SFS.

Even the biggest LD bashers know he belongs on the field for our Nats because he quite simply is one of our best players. They argue and disagree on just how good he is, or isn't overall, but they all pretty much see that he is certainly one of our best 11.

I'm not even sure why you post so adamantly and consistently on these US boards in general?

Can it bring you such interest and joy to be so hyper-critical, dismissive, hypocritical (incredible hypocrite when it comes to Euros versus Yanks, simply stupendous in your shortsightedness and scope in this regard) and negative all of the time? Frightening thought if you can't percieve that you are, or even more frightening if you actually think you are being even handed.

Tall about a lack of perspective.

We all have our shortcomings but to live in a permanent Dark Ages is quite a dreary prospect to say the least.

[tab5g]

Why don't you bring back Tony Sanneh then? He did splendidly in 2,002.


i don't have the power to bring back Tony Sanneh, but if I did, I'd use it for more important things than right backs playing at or even above their peak in major footballing competitions.

you asked a simple question of what Donovan has done against quality competition. i was trying to provide a simple answer, one you clearly already "know" but don't recognize.

I like Tony Sanneh, but there is no reason for you to drag his name into these discussions.

and if you're going to bring in a 10 years+ older player who doesn't belong in this conversation about Donovan in 2006, please at least have the decency to use a player who played similar positions, someone like Stewart.

if you want to talk about guys more in Donovan's age range and specific to the 2006WC (and the roster that Arena would take there), and put forth supporting ideas as to why you would rather have Wolff, Dempsey and Mapp all on the field before you'd let LD step on it for the USMNT, that's fine -- but not many folks are going to agree with you.

[bright]

With Landon in the midfield behind two strikers, he can play in the hole as a third forward. But he also tracks back a lot to help on defense. That is a pretty good deal to get out of one player.

- Paul