Well, I wasn't necessarily disagreeing with that. I was just pointing out that what Bradley did (grab the ball out of the net and run back to the center circle) is standard procedure, and not worth any mention. I'm sure Donovan (or anyone) would have done the same thing, especially after a penalty. Anyway, unlike some leagues, the Bundesliga looks set for a fantastic finish at the top.
Yes, because we've seen what they're capable of before. Well....everyone except Mark Van Bommel, we all know he's been a piece of shit the whole season. And Lell (but he's not considered starting 11 anyways)
No, no, i'm convinced he never stepped on the field. Does Bmunch have a second ameriki named donovan?
That's because some people around here think that LanDo walks on water. When he doesn't, it messes with their world-view. So, they turn on him and eat their young, so to say. Personally, I'm ready for Landon to go back to MLS so we don't have to talk about him on the YA boards anymore.
Whatever He did get in and fought for the ball. He just can't please people with unrealistic expectations. I laugh at your idea of getting behind the defense, he was not playing forward today and it wasn't his job.
Seriously, Bmunch was a mess, but it was a mess that when he came on was showing signs of life. This was an opportunity. That was an intensely disappointing effort, regardless of who he is. What is the point of the speedy late sub against a tiring side if he's not going to use that speed to put people under pressure. He had 10 minutes. He should have been blasting folks off their feet, at the very least spreading what was already a ragged line with his speed. He didn't need to get the ball, but he sure as hell didn't need to hold that stupid mid-range position he was drifting to, again and again. He was the seven footer who insists on shooting threes. Fine, but what's the point? When he came on, the game was crying for someone with his skill set, from the Bmunch perspective. Ribbery was ripping folks apart with his runs, he owned the left flank, was getting to the line and cutting back. He needed a foil. That what the joker in the 1bund is supposed to do. This game was open enough that LD could have seized any role he wanted, and he chose safety, trying not to make a mistake, which meant not doing anything well either. It was a very poor effort. the bad pass wasn't simply a bad pass, it was a refusal to challenge bremen, a line clearly on the edge. And that was about as much of an impact as he had on this game. Any 2bunder could have done as well in his situation. Can he be blamed for the result? Of course not. Who cares? That's not the point. Would a goal have gotten him a contract, doubtful, very doubtful. This loan was ending on schedule before this match began, almost certainly. and okay, Podolski was worse (open net, perfect ball, and he produced that?) but, again, so what? What this means is that Bmunch clears house in the summer. Actually, I like that part of this, a full blown crisis at Bmunch makes me smile, and this is one.
Is it just me, or do you guys think Landon would look incredibly fast if he played against the aging defenses of the top teams of Serie A right now? Not saying that's where he should go, but just a suggestion.
I believe it was a journalist who covered the Green Bay Packers for years, Cliff Christl, who routinely dismissed fans attempts to divine from external gestures/behavior [celebrating, refusing to celebrate, laughing on the bench when your team is behind] insights into the character of athletes. With all due respect i find it silly to try to conclude that Donovan celebrating after a preseason goal versus Michael Bradley's refusal to do so in a league game that Bradley gets it and donovan does not- that bradley has drive and desire and Donovan is wanting. I think its speculative at best. Donovan is a professional athlete competing at a level few of us could even imagine and is in top shape and battling against the best of the best. How could we possibly have any idea what sort of desire he has? I walk around my firm looking annoyed and angry ala George Costanza so that people will think im busy and not give me extra work- and it works- people think im busy and a hard worker because of it....the truth is, im on big soccer all day. Some people look at a guy whose skill level is such that he makes things look effortless and start to conclude that he is lazy and contrast that with someone who runs around the field with reckless abandon and laud his work effort despite much to show for it. I do it to my teenage son who is so calm on the ball and so slow in the way he plays and yet i yearned for him to run around like Gerard. The truth is, he plays the game stylistically more like Zidane...* *speaking metaphorically and not in terms of skill level of course.
Then what is the job of the guy with speed who comes on as a late game sub? Bremen was tired, and ready to be had. You're thinking they needed a bit of midfield stability? So, standing on the side, Klinsi says, well, let's get out there and try to spread the ball around? There were 10 minutes left. LD's role was to get a goal, or cause enough panic in the defense that someone else would grab one. On the other side, I might simply have vastly over-estimated his speed.
It seems like a mid-table team in any one of the other bg 4 leagues would be a much better fit for Donovan.
He was playing RM and basically every ball was played early to Ribery on the left side. He made a few runs at the line and was ignored every single time (some rightfully so as he was covered), and twice he had posession on the right, passed it center once and just behind once, and both times he took off on a sprint and wasn't fed the pass. I mean, there's only so much you can do on the wing in 10 minutes. Now, it doesn't matter, because he hasn't scored or done enough (in limited time, but...) to be signed for the rest of the year given his price. Sucks, but thus is life on a huge team like Bayern, even though he's shown he belongs out there. We should hope he's shown enough (I think he has) for other opportunities this summer. He's wasting away in MLS.
right, and they were lagging. Position is pointless at that time, in this point of the season. That would have been a massive goal for bmunch. It was one of what will be several save the season times. but in that situation, esp given the flow of this game, the position he went in at meant nothing. added: esp as he bremen had been playing a man down for more than an hour. There was space to take, from the right, from the center, by whoever decided to take it.
unrealistic expectation or not....There is just no way any European team is payin more than 5 mill for the guy... and for a similar price tag, it is quite likely the Galaxy hold on to him instead.... As much as it may pain some to admit it: this would be 0 for 3 in LD's European club travails....
these are comments made in the aggregate since he has been on loan. He has not frankly not "distinguished" himeself .... and that is what it will take for LD to go to the next level. He is good no doubt about it .... but perhaps he simply he does not have what it takes to be great and go to the next level.
Klinsman brought him over for a trial ... bottom line - Klinsman could be gone and so will likely LD ... in this particular environment and with what he has shown while on loan - this is not likely going to work out for him .... frankly LD has never shown the ability to put the knife in an opposing team with the lone exception of Mexico. That is a fact.
You come to my son's games? Did you read my post or were you so quick to make a knee jerk remark that you misread and assumed i was talking about Donovan?
no I think the point here is in order to obtain a contract with BM he has to distinguish himself .... he has to impose his will on the game and take over. He has to have a little more of the reckless abandon that Ribery (and baby Bradley) has on occasion. LD has tons of speed and excellent technical skills ... that simply requires him to take more risks with the few minutes he is on the field ..... this is not rec play where he will cry if they don't pass him the ball .... Ribery gets the ball because you know more times than not he will make something happen .... LD is average on this squad ... and that is not what BM will sign. Perhaps he comes back to LA or perhaps some other team will pick him up. Those are the cold hard facts.
Am I the only one who recognized that style of play? Sound like the way the USMNT plays to me.... Certainly, you can't unlearn that behavior in a short loan spell.
Zidane would have bathed in the blood of his first born to grab a late goal. But, yeah, the arm pumping never means anything. Did Shearer ever celebrate a goal? Kind of tough to say that was because he didn't care. and edit to add, yeah, i did read, and knew it was about your son, but thought it was a pretty funny line. I am not suggesting this course of action for your son.
And only in a couple of those Mexican games. He has been invisible in most others, like the last one.