Could someone please adjust these figures for inflation? I'm assuming there are more posters now than in 2007, so the Adu thread for his Benfica debut might be over a thousand posts in today's market.
Here's the aforementioned backheel gameday thread, dunno if anyone already covered it as I'm still back on apge 60something https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466286&highlight=backheel (only 289 posts...)
Did Donovan make a positive contribution? Yes. Everyone should be satisfied with that. This was an auspicious start and I think we'll see him play a more decisive role in future appearances.
I saw this too, Saha had maybe 4-5 opportunities in breaking situations and decided to pass the other side or take on 3 players lol
Roll on next weekend against Man City. Finally seem to have things coming together again. Arteta, Jagielka and Anichebe all doing bits of training aswell. Lets hope we have a good seocnd half of the season.
He played smart and showed his maturity. There were a number of times he could have taken guys 1 v 1, or simply dumped a cross into the box with no one home, but in many cases he elected to keep the ball until the odds were better in those situations. He constantly talks about "playing the percentages". He doesn't take very many shots from bad angles and oftentimes opts to pass the ball off to someone in a better position than he is to make a play. It's called playing smart and is something that only comes with age. The guy can play at this level. Is he world class? I don't think so. But he can be a very VERY good player for Everton.
How rare not to see a post here from Mr. SFS. I hope he is well this weekend. Perhaps his internet was down? I will look forward to his analysis of Donovan's debut. In other worlds: has anyone remarked on Landon's post-match interview in which he mentioned having to concentrate without stop in the Prem, whereas in MLS he could take occasional mental vacations? I couldn't find the interview again, but I'm close enough. That might explain some (some) of his not always tracking back or making the flying run. In any case, he will correct that!
I pondered that myself: How would the numbers stack up in relative terms, given growth in BigSoccer's overall membership? But I think we can discount that, because when it comes down to it, the raw numbers are still the best measurement. If Game X has 500 posts, it's because 500 human beings were interested enough in soccer to have become BigSoccer users and then post in that thread. If Game Y has 200 posts, it indicates there was less of this "absolute interest." And now we have officially descended into the deepest valleys of geekdom.
lol, pretty funny reading that. Only 289 posts but has to be a record breaker for the number of times "backheel" was used in one thread. Sounds like Bradley had 2 backheels in their winter tune-up match today. Maybe their should be a sticky thread like the goals thread - 2010 Yanks Abroad Awesome Backheel List!
Saw that too! Hopefully he didn't mean that he takes a bunch of plays off and doesn't care in certain situations in the MLS. I'd like to think he was speaking more from a team concentration perspective i.e. if the team doesn't sense danger in the right spots a team like Arsenal can punish you.
Lando's interview following game. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/e/everton/8450314.stm
Sure, but he has been rightfully criticized for chicken-little plays. Sometimes you take a shot or two to test the goal keeper or play for the rebound etc. Sometimes it is his job to be reckless occasionally. But his hold up play was really missed when he was subbed out. This whole world class business seems to be what everyone is talking about as if any of us should really care. I am stoked he is playing in the EPL. Period. He put a freaken fantabulous goal on Brazil that any player alive would kill for. That was no fluke.
I agree with what you've said here except what's bolded. Donovan has always played the percentages, since his early days as a pro. If anything, he's been a little too unselfish.
agree with kokoplus, but sooner rather than later he should try some runs at the defender. i'm thinking next week at home.
Totally agree on Fellaini but as a Gunner fan have to say things would have been different for him with Song there. Anyway, I like to pay more attention to the Sky ratings than the fan ratings for that reason. I think Donovan was a 7 given how most debuts go in the Prem.
Yes and no. Early in his career, Landon seemed to constantly look for the cheeky one touch play out of the midfield and as the entry pass into the box. Due mostly because his teammates were not thinking as advanced as he was, too many times he needlessly gave up possession. It is that part of his game that he has really improved on. So, while he definitely has been too unselfish in the attacking third, I would disagree that he always played the percentages.
thank you i seen another video in youtube with way better quality and longer highlights of donovan but cant find it no more but thanks anyways
Good debut from Donovan. To me Saha was the reason they tied as opposed to winning. Watching the highlights there were at least 3 plays where he held on to the ball instead of playing the easy ball to a teammate. Most egariously the play in the 2nd half where Cahill played a ball to Saha who then held on to the ball and completely ignored Cahill running through unmarked. If he plays it through it's almost assuredly a goal.
Seriously. I'd like to buy a video of the Everton-Arsenal match, but I can't figure out how. How the hell do you do it! It's so easy to buy pre-aired Champion's League matches, but the EPL makes it REALLY hard.