Re: Landon scores!!!! Seeing as how this game is tape-delayed on Setanta, the O.P. (or a mod) might want to change the thread title to something less revealing -- Perhaps -- Donovan vs. Sunderland (R). Just a thought.... But great to see Donovan doing well over there.
Re: Landon scores!!!! I second the change in title. As happy as I am about this, this kind of spoiled the surprise for me - I was going to watch the TIVO'd game later.
Re: Landon Donovan - Everton vs. Portsmouth [R] Sorry guys, I tried to change the tile, but can't figure out how. Let me know. I thought it was only a live feed today, didn't know it was being cast again later on TV. My bad
Been chasing them around all match, bad day for feeds. I think there's one or two left but rarely last. Only a handful of minutes left in the match at this point and ***spoilers*** LD has just been subbed out.
Video of the goal: http://10shirt.worldsoccerreader.com/2010/01/video-landon-donovans-first-epl-goal/
A bit reminiscent of the chance he had against Germany in 2002 where Kahn saved the shot. This time Landon gave the keeper no chance.
Thanks for that - those were the first highlights where I saw Donovan's run with Saha on the break later in the second half - that was kind of thrilling. He's brought some of his game-changing pace over there, that's for sure, but I can see why Saha didn't get the ball over to him. Nice saving tackle by the defender. I liked his touch past the keeper on the shot that was saved off the line, very deft. And of course the goal was a big winner all around. Really nice, and an example of the long ball paying off for Everton. I don't know how people can say he was shooting far post and it deflected near - that was a near post shot all the way, and neither the defender nor the goalkeeper changed the shot in any material way that I could see.
There definitely was a deflection--which sent Craig Gordon the wrong way initially so he didnt have time to recover. So Landon gets a bit of luck on his goal, but it doesnt change the fact that he had a very good game and is adding alot to the Everton team.
Maybe a very small one, or to quote EvertonChris from another thread "his left-footed shot skimmed off the studs of Nyron Nosworthy and under the body of the diving Gordon."
I actually expected Landon to struggle a bit in this match. I expected Sunderland's physical defense to give him problems. But in this match Sunderland's defense was abysmal. I am happy for Landon that he is doing well in the EPL, but I am also deeply concerned about it as a Galaxy fan.
I wonder if Landon isn't secretly hoping for this to occur so that he has an excuse to stay until the end of the EPL season. [Offtopic] Imagine what a lockout would do to the World Cup players that are in MLS, and to our bid for the World Cup to be on US soil.[/Offtopic]
Nothing to worry about for galaxy fans. If Landon goes, with the new contract he signed we have all the leverage in terms of transfer fee. He is probably worth more to us then what anybody would be willing to pay for him.