Let me help you out: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08032010/58/la-liga-ribery-unsure-real-move.html You need to read between the lines, friend.
Sportscribe, for what its worth I agree with you and I am one of the biggest Donovan supporters out there, the guy is an excellent player but I really think he'd sit on the bench at Chelsea, and do not think he fits well with what they are trying to accomplish there. Frankly, I'm not even sure he is an upgrade to J. Cole, and that is no insult as when he is in form I think Joe is a world beater. I think we're really just looking for confirmation that he is "world class" like we want him to be, but people need to understand that just because you don't play for a top (rich) club, does not mean you can't be world class, there shouldn't be a need to be justify what type of player he is, because he has done that himself over a CAREER, not just this loan spell. Also, I think this rumor is still fabricated as I haven't seen quotes from either side about it. Thanks for your input on the Chelsea system.
Actually he and Bilyaletdinov switched sides and he started on the left for them for one match, not to mention them switching for a half hour or so every match they've started together (though that seems to happen less with Pienarr who I assume isn't comfortable with it). Nor I guess should we discuss Landon's stated preference for the left side since that is all still just wing midfield crap. Does the calendar year not include last MLS season? There are many people who have watched a fair portion of Donovan's career who have asserted his best position is actually withdrawn forward. If someone is going to refuse to understand the "dynamics of football and stop being [a] jingoistic idiot" then they deserve to be called out for having no clue what they are talking about.
Dama, I think with Galaxy that Donovan's best position is as a withdrawn forward because he is given time on the ball to turn and face and run at defenders. I don't feel like he would get as much time in the EPL in that position as they close down faster on attackers. I think he has played in the correct position at both clubs thus far, the systems and speed of play just suit each one.
It is so obvious that Lando and Jozy need to join Demps at Fulham. I don't understand the problem. Get on it!
I am all about the Landon Donovan discussion right now, because I too am thrilled with how this loan has played out, and it has been fun watching Everton play the past 10 weeks. However..... can we take a moment and discuss Jozy's situation real quick? Not to bring everyone down from our high, but that kid has got to get out of Hull. Whatta horrible side. eriously. a middle of the pack MLS team would have beaten them yesterday. Is Jozy really getting the experience he needs? Brown won't start him even though he had a decent showng vs the Dutch, and when he plays, the midfield cant get him the ball. he has no one to pass to up front once he holds it up well. I am worried for the guy, and the Nats need him at his best this World Cup. Can anyone make me feel more upbeat about this? I just hope landon gave him some words of encouragement yesterday after he finished raping his team
Well I hate to start things with a fellow Arkansan, but this thread is entitled Donovan, & Howard, JOZY, since it is a gameday thread and Jozy played too, so I think i'll keep my jozy comments right where they are. but I like your enthusiasm for BigSoccer moderator try-outs...
I think Hull has helped him a lot in his development. His progress over last year has progressed greatly. That being said, I'm not sure Hull can do anything else for him because yes, they are dreadful. I think in order to take another step he needs to go elsewhere to a better situation. I only hope he finds it.
Actually, gameday threads are for match-specific discussion. They're not intended for discussion of Jozy's loan situation more generally. We try to avoid these digressions and leave them for the main threads. But it's not a huge deal here. I could even move your post over if you wanted.
In dirty south's defense, the game played between these two sides spoke volumes about how (let's just say for arguments sake) equally talented players can benefit from being on an organized talented and well-coached side and be hurt by sides that are not. This match spoke volumes about how good a situation Donovan is in (and how he needs to stay) and how poor a situation Altidore is in (and must leave). I know this is very obvious stuff I'm throwing out there but it bears repeating.
I'm not sure it's all that bad for Jozy right now. He's learning to do the absolute most he can with every touch he gets, and that's a valuable lesson for a young player. We saw him look good against the Dutch given mediocre service all match. I think he's improved leaps and bounds this year.
That's what you get playing in the biggest league in the world. It's not MLS where everyone kisses his ass, where he's never gonna get benched and never gonna get criticized. his miss meant Everton ended up out of UEFA spot and got leap frogged in the table by Fulham. The miss matters. So i think it's perfectly valid to criticize any player who has a bad game. I doesn't mean the player is satan. But to me nobody is above criticism. I mean Liverpool where shite against Wigan and you should hear the shit i've heard from their fans about how crappy Steven Gerrard and Torres played. Hell if you've been on the Everton boards Neville is the captain and he get's criticized all the time and tons of people say he should sit so they can play his younger back up. Criticism comes with the territory. In big time soccer players are only as good as their last performance and it's doubly so when you're a player that hasn't proven his worth to that team over several seasons. And people should think long and hard about him going to chelsea should that rumor come to fruition cause the pressure is even more, the magnifying glass is bigger, and the margin for error less. London press will magnify any short of excellence. My feeling is people need to get past this nobody should criticize Landon. I get that some think it's overboard but that's english football. It's all overboard. We better get used to criticism.