Yeah, Goodison is in a pretty crappy area but he can just live in Alderley Edge with the rest of the NW players, it's like Newport Beach around there, dontcha know? (minus the beach ) I jokes. FAO of those who don't know, Alderley Edge is the setting of a reality show in the UK based on the Laguna Beach/The Hills/The City MTV type shows It's nice in the summer though We have just had our coldest winter in like 50 years as well! Didn't come at the best time, did he!?
I'd rather he be immersed in a more positive soccer culture. I don't see that in Hull. I also don't see how his playing time for Hull does anything but damage him. If he plays well for us in South Africa it will be in spite of his time at Hull, not because of it.
Agreed. Perma smile from ear to ear when he lashed that ball in. Soccer is such a game of foreplay, but when this stuff happens, it's orgasmic.
Congratulations to Everton and Arteta on their crushing of Hull, that was some domination there. As for our guy Donovan, could this loan spell have been any more of a fairy tale? It's like the script was written beforehand and well-acted throughout. That was the easiest 20 minutes that Donovan has played for awhile. All alone on the right while everyone scraps on the left, and just wait for his chances, and take them. Great passes for the assist and almost-assist, and that goal was SATISFYING as he was in perfect position, not that we would doubt it. With the quick passing and good ball control, he fits Everton to a "T".
As the ball came across for his goal, you could almost see Donovan's head ticking over, going "I WILL NOT EFFIN MISS THIS ONE"
My wife, who is not a big footie fan btw, was watching with me today and said pretty much the same thing... She like Donny, too. I don't mind though. She never tries to talk me out of watching a match!
Arteta looked to be struggling for about the first 10 minutes or so and I thought uh-oh. Then he got past that and just took over the game. It looks like he is well on his way back! Lovely player.
Did you mean "except for with the national team?" If so, I disagree. I thought some of his truly world class performances (see run during the confed cup) have come while he's playing left mid. He's always going to be one of our best, if not our best player, but he's at his best when playing in this kind of role and given a little room to operate.
And that moment right there i think is why so many Americans wanted him to go. I bet the entire stadium was thinking the same thing. The measure of a fighter isn't just can he deliver a shot. But can he pick himself up after he's taken one. He had a rough week and got knocked down a bit. He picked himself up off the mat with that class strike and the assist. I don't know if that moment is as magnified where it to have happened in an regular season MLS game. Americans already know he can rise to the occasion. But this is a new setting, new things to prove, with new pressures and new tests. It's good to see him, if only for one game, show is worth and to show the Everton fans, "One miss won't break me."
[ame="http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll268/usry723/?action=view¤t=Landon.flv"]Landon.flv video by usry723 - Photobucket[/ame]
Excellent stuff USRY, thanks and repped. Also, just a note. That Yak miss wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected it to be after seeing it. He was in a lot of traffic. Regardless, excellent ball by Donovan, pinpoint stuff. Funny seeing Jack pick him up like he was sweeping up his bride or something.
One thing I loved today, LD must have been buzzing to get on. He ran onto the pitch before Anichebe was even off, I didn't even think that was allowed, made me laugh though. Showed he was kicking his heels waiting to get on, he couldn't even wait for lazy Anichebe to walk off the pitch