Landon back to Everton? Yes, it's confirmed.

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by jond, Nov 4, 2011.

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  1. SamsArmySam

    SamsArmySam Member+

    Apr 13, 2001
    Minneapolis, MN
    This may jog the memory...

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090817
     
  2. Berks

    Berks Member+

    Dec 22, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    9 hours each way = 18 hours. Little longer from US to Italy. And now he'll be sick on the way home.
     
  3. Gamecock14

    Gamecock14 Member+

    May 27, 2010
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
  4. Berks

    Berks Member+

    Dec 22, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/bl...landon-donovan-second-loan-everton-five-aside

    Stats for Landon's Evertonian spell.

    It's an absolute pleasure to watch him growing even at age 29. Becoming more and more a playmaker. The US needs it. Interesting that he's growing more and more into a #10. Needs to continue to be in the US midfield, not upfront as a result.
     
  5. Jazzy Altidore

    Jazzy Altidore BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Sep 2, 2009
    San Francisco
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    it's why he'll have a place on the US team for the next TWO world cup cycles. Yes, you heard it here first. Landon in Russia!
     
  6. Nutmeg

    Nutmeg Member+

    Aug 24, 1999
    Normally I like stats, but in this case they don't begin to do justice to what Donovan brought to Everton. Watching Everton before his arrival was depressing. He helped transform the team. He was a spark they needed, and in many ways I thought this stint was more impressive than the last.
     
  7. Lloyd Heilbrunn

    Lloyd Heilbrunn Member+

    Feb 11, 2002
    Jupiter, Fl.
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And if he had played today vs that Blackpool left side, he might have doubled his stats....;)
     
  8. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Echoing the last few posts...for the 2nd straight time, Landon has raised his game and been one of the very best players in the Prem, capable of helping (almost) any team win games. It's pretty amazing.

    There was a Neil Simon play a long time ago about a couple that got together one weekend a year for an affair. That's like Landon and Everton.
     
  9. PJohnson

    PJohnson Member+

    DC United
    Dec 16, 2004
    South Dakota
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You are thinking of the 1975 comedy play by Bernard Slade called "Same time next year". But it's a great analogy!
     
  10. DMTerp02

    DMTerp02 Member+

    Jun 2, 2007
    Annapolis, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Did he get a lap or something after the Blackpool game? I know he didn't play but I assume he was there?
     
  11. ChrisSSBB

    ChrisSSBB Member+

    Jun 22, 2005
    DE
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  12. Berks

    Berks Member+

    Dec 22, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes, he was there - check his twitter and you'll see him getting hugged by Heitinga on the pitch.

    He got a standing ovation from sold out Goodison.
     
  13. Vindo310

    Vindo310 Member+

    Mar 19, 2009
    South Bay LA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is bull. I never got the logic here. So Donovan can start and do very well against Man U, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Man City and ruin Ashley Cole twice but he can't play for those teams against easier opponents? Bull.

    Landon could start at Man U. Go watch some of the vision he has displayed on this loan. Not many in the EPL have his vision.

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rfThWljsYY"]LD Assist - YouTube[/ame]

    Landon is much better than Aaron Lennon so he definitely starts at Tottenham. Same thing with Theo Walcott at Arsenal.
     
  14. Jabez Ramone

    Jabez Ramone Member

    Dec 16, 2009
    Southern California
    Donovan to Walcott is a better comparison than Donovan to Lennon, though Landon is not as fast as either of those players.

    Lennon is used to run at defenders on the flanks and create space in the defense. He's not used to attack or create chances the way that Walcott is expected to do. Lennon would never be played at forward, a position both Walcott and Donovan play from time to time.

    The two Spurs players that Donovan would really be competing with are Gareth Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart. He would not start ahead of either of those guys, but could be used as a first of the bench sub.
     
  15. Grumpy in LA

    Grumpy in LA Bringing It Since 1807™

    Sep 10, 2007
    Chicago
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think it's a difference between could and would. I'm pretty confident that Donovan could be a useful starter for any team in the Prem (maybe not quite as good as some guys he'd replace, maybe a bit better than others), but I'm doubt that in the real world he would get to start.

    The better the team, the tougher the competition. At most of the top teams, he wouldn't be clearly better than the people he'd be competing with, so a manager wouldn't be inclined to upset the applecart by starting a new guy. That's particularly the case at City, Man U, and Tottenham. Given the substandard performances by Arsenal and Chelsea lately, there's a chance that any plausibly capable new acquisition might get on the field to shake things up. But then again, I don't really understand what Villas-Boas is trying to do at Chelsea other than alienate the players and the fans, so who knows.
     
  16. Berks

    Berks Member+

    Dec 22, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We'd been having this same discussion at Grand Old Team. The consensus over there (just as another reference) was that he'd start at anyone not named: Man U, Man City and Spurs. Spurs for the reasons mentioned above. Man City/Man U since they have a bench loaded with talent. However, folks did say that he'd see ample time at Man U off the bench since Fergie tends to like to mix things up.

    Arsenal and Chelsea did see a little bit more debate, though in both occassions Landon won out. The rationale was that he is a more proven entity than Walcott, and his smarts would get him in the Chelsea side over their aging and not creative wingers.

    However, Wenger tends to not play anyone who is a) young and b) French, so who knows?

    Everyone else seemed like he'd start, and on some sides he'd walk in - like Newcastle, where they have no wingers to speak of. Same goes for Liverpool - Kuyt stinks.
     
  17. soccerusa517

    soccerusa517 Member+

    Jun 23, 2009
    Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And he gets what he deserves for that.
     
  18. Friedel'sAccent

    Friedel'sAccent Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Providence, RI
    Club:
    Reading FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    League championships, Cups, and managerial awards?
     
  19. soccerusa517

    soccerusa517 Member+

    Jun 23, 2009
    Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No trophies. And just full of excuses.
     
  20. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    Landon would be a good fit for Arsenal, IMO. After losing Nasri and Fabregas, and replacing both with just Arteta, they could use another guy to provide the magical pass and create the plays for the forwards.

    Just like Cesc usually remained in the center while Samir opened to the right, Mikel could remain central while Landon does the rightward run.
     
  21. Friedel'sAccent

    Friedel'sAccent Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Providence, RI
    Club:
    Reading FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Fairly certain Wenger's record speaks for itself, and it's probably best for this thread that we not start a "So-and-so is a bad manager because they hypothetically wouldn't start a player I like" digression.
     
  22. soccerusa517

    soccerusa517 Member+

    Jun 23, 2009
    Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not at all degrading Wenger to lift Donovan. Just saying he would be fired at any other club in the world. It will get worse when RVP leaves this summer. They don't replace Nasri or Fabregas and they rely on an over-hyped young English midfielder, who is injured again. Arsenal could use some players in the 26-32 age range instead of being a youth squad.

    That'll be my last comment on that.
     
  23. Vindo310

    Vindo310 Member+

    Mar 19, 2009
    South Bay LA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Oh, in the real world those teams don't even think about him because he is American. I get it. But if we are talking ability I think he is better than a lot of the starters on the top teams in the PL.

    Donovan actually outran Lennon at a few points and caused him to turn over the ball the other week. It was nice to watch.
     
  24. jond

    jond Member+

    Sep 28, 2010
    Club:
    Levski Sofia
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If LD chose a different career path, or wasn't hog tied by Garber and went full time to the EPL years ago, I'd wager he'd be a key component at a top 5-7 club right now.

    But, we'll likely never know. Do hope he goes back to Everton or another EPL club full time next winter though, and it sounds like he wants to.
     
  25. diablodelsol

    diablodelsol Member+

    Jan 10, 2001
    New Jersey
    I don't want to sidetrack this, but at what point did Garber hog tie Donovan? MLS/Garber valued Donovan, correctly I might add, as a player that would be a key component at a top 5-7 club. Those players are valuable. It wasn't anyone on this side of the pond that got Donovan's value as a soccer player wrong.
     

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