View Full Version : Donovan needs to leave.
Delta Blues
25 Aug 2002, 01:55 PM
I know this has been visited before, but he needs to go. Watching him play for the 'Quakes is like watching half a player compared to his national team efforts. He plays lazy, uninspired ball a lot in MLS. You can tell he's so far ahead of most of the competition he just coasts. I'm sure he's happy and comfortable, but he needs to be challenged and MLS is not doing it for him IMO.
Now, it's obviously his choice and I say this assuming Landon really wants to develop into the best player possible. Maybe he doesn't, and if so I guess he should just stay in MLS.
dark knight
25 Aug 2002, 02:04 PM
Totally disagree. If he plays lazy and uninspired because he believes the quality of competition isn't good, what kind of competitor is he? He's never toyed with defenses in any game I've seen - why isn't he scoring at will?
falcon6
25 Aug 2002, 02:06 PM
Originally posted by Delta Blues
I know this has been visited before, but he needs to go. Watching him play for the 'Quakes is like watching half a player compared to his national team efforts. He plays lazy, uninspired ball a lot in MLS. You can tell he's so far ahead of most of the competition he just coasts. I'm sure he's happy and comfortable, but he needs to be challenged and MLS is not doing it for him IMO.
Now, it's obviously his choice and I say this assuming Landon really wants to develop into the best player possible. Maybe he doesn't, and if so I guess he should just stay in MLS.
Maybe the competition in the MLS isn't as bad as you think.
Knave
25 Aug 2002, 02:31 PM
Right. Milton Reyes couldn't keep up with him when DC played San Jose. Landon just coasted to score - how many goals was it?
Zero - because Reyes and the rest of the DC United defense shut him down.
Falcon6's final thought is correct - if you leave out the maybe.
dj43
25 Aug 2002, 02:37 PM
As an Earthquakes season ticket holder for the past 2 years, I don't agree that he is not working, or that he is just playing with the defense.
When he first came to the Earthquakes he got schooled the first 7 times he touched the ball. As the season progressed, you could see him progress with each game. By the end of the season he was a MUCH better ball player than when he arrived.
This year there has not been as much of a pattern to follow with his time away from the Earthquakes with the MNT. But as has been mentioned above, the quality of the MLS, though not EPL level, is much better than most will admit or recognize. A case in point would be the Dallas game this past week. LD had to work much harder than he might have in the past because Dallas has gotten much better, especially on defense.
In summary Delta, I think you are allowing yourself to get caught up in criticizing US soccer because it is popular in some circles to do so. My observation is that, while he isn't learning as much from the MLS game this year as last, he isn't finding it a walk in the park either...
appoo
25 Aug 2002, 03:44 PM
by the way, the entire Earthquake team looked lackadasical and heavy-legged (if you are or were a former athelete you know what that feels like), it probably had something to do with the fact that they clinched a playoff berth on wednesday and they were playing in altitude saturday.
SgtSchultz
25 Aug 2002, 04:02 PM
What is somewhat disturbing about Landon is his inability to finish. During the United and Burn games, he had an opportunity to score. Yet, his shots were stopped by the goalkeepers. I know the goalkeepers made great stops, but still it seems Landon is not putting enough mustard on the ball. Will going over to Europe improve his finishing? I really don't know.
As for defenses in MLS, I wholeheartedly agree that MLS does not get the recognition for having some pretty good defenses.
flanoverseas
25 Aug 2002, 04:04 PM
He'll be a different player when the money's on the line (playoffs)
DAKCrew
25 Aug 2002, 04:27 PM
Originally posted by Delta Blues
I know this has been visited before, but he needs to go. Watching him play for the 'Quakes is like watching half a player compared to his national team efforts. He plays lazy, uninspired ball a lot in MLS. You can tell he's so far ahead of most of the competition he just coasts. I'm sure he's happy and comfortable, but he needs to be challenged and MLS is not doing it for him IMO.
Now, it's obviously his choice and I say this assuming Landon really wants to develop into the best player possible. Maybe he doesn't, and if so I guess he should just stay in MLS.
I would somewhat agree with this. I think that Donovan needs better(meaning world class) coaching to improve his game.
Tejas
25 Aug 2002, 05:10 PM
Donovan needs one more season in MLS after this season, then he can go overseas.
I don't know why I think this, but you can be sure that I am right.
The Wanderer
25 Aug 2002, 05:30 PM
Originally posted by DAKCrew
I would somewhat agree with this. I think that Donovan needs better(meaning world class) coaching to improve his game.
I think he needs more competition from other players to push him to a higher level. Have an off game over there and you're subbed and spend some time on the bench thinking about it.
BenReilly
25 Aug 2002, 05:53 PM
Originally posted by Delta Blues
I know this has been visited before, but he needs to go. Watching him play for the 'Quakes is like watching half a player compared to his national team efforts. He plays lazy, uninspired ball a lot in MLS. .
You can't expect someone to play with the intensity of the World Cup every week. His stats are actually demonstrably worse with the Nats. You can interpret that however you like.
I still keep wondering that if our best players played in Europe, we might make the second round of the World Cup some day. Who knows, maybe we'll do even better.
BenReilly
25 Aug 2002, 05:56 PM
Originally posted by The Wanderer
I think he needs more competition from other players to push him to a higher level. Have an off game over there and you're subbed and spend some time on the bench thinking about it.
And become a timid player, fearful of taking risks.
deejay
25 Aug 2002, 08:33 PM
IMO Donovan is a big game player. Put him in the finals or a WC game and he plays better.
DAKCrew
25 Aug 2002, 08:37 PM
Originally posted by BenReilly
And become a timid player, fearful of taking risks.
a professional athlete shoud needs to be but in their place when they play poor and if they become fearful of taking risks they need to go home and cry to their mommy. These are professionals and get paid the big bucks to play worls class footy.
lasoccervegas2002
25 Aug 2002, 08:38 PM
player his caliber needs to be in the premiere league or bundesliga environment.
GloryUSA
25 Aug 2002, 08:56 PM
I saw the Quakes-Rapids game and I agree that Landon did look a little bit lazy. Will playing overseas help him develop? Maybe, maybe not. Remember, we are still talking about a 20 year old here. Landon is far from reaching his peak as a player. He still has plenty of time to prove himself overseas if he wants to. It wouldn't bother me at all if he played two or three more seasons in MLS. Playing in MLS any longer than that would hinder his development IMO. Since he is still 20 years old, his first priority should be whether he is happy were he is.
Landon, stay for two or three years, then kick some ass overseas.
appoo
25 Aug 2002, 09:34 PM
Originally posted by DAKCrew
a professional athlete shoud needs to be but in their place when they play poor and if they become fearful of taking risks they need to go home and cry to their mommy. These are professionals and get paid the big bucks to play worls class footy.
Have you ever played sports? A coach should show some faith in a player. And you don't do that by benching him. There isn't room for fear in the sports world. And getting benched for making a bad play will definatly lead to that. You end up with a player who is only a shadow of his former self. If he consistently makes those same mistakes, then you can consider a benching
Delta Blues
25 Aug 2002, 10:32 PM
I should have used disinterested, or distracted instead of lazy. My point is that he needs a bigger challenge day in and day out. I agree that he'll turn it on for the playoffs, but for his international success to grow he needs stiffer competition.
For whoever thought I was slagging MLS you're wrong. I'm just stating that for players of Landon's, Mathis' and Beasley's pedigree they need something more to seriously challenge them.
BenReilly
25 Aug 2002, 11:03 PM
Originally posted by DAKCrew
a professional athlete shoud needs to be but in their place when they play poor and if they become fearful of taking risks they need to go home and cry to their mommy. These are professionals and get paid the big bucks to play worls class footy.
My point is that you don't get a better player (or employee) by creating extreme job insecurity. Of course, the other extreme can produce bad results as well, but benching a player for one or two bad games is just plain idiotic.