Landon Donovan: What's Next?

Arteta plays as a deep lying playmaker. I don't forsee Landon playing that role for LA Galaxy, nevermind Everton.

 

thats because you dont have those good old fashioned usa blinders on.

 

Didn't realize Arteta was a deep lying mid, I thought he played more advanced. I don't see Donovan playing the Pirlo role, either, my bad.

 

I don't either, lol.

 

Yea, he couldn't play the deep lying mid role that Arteta plays but he is capable of playing an AM role if asked.

 

So who's asking?

 

Donovan would be a perfect deep-lying playmaker. Hard-working, great passing, great vision, good speed to go with all that.

 

You really think that? No.

He makes things happen by using his speed and penetrating and making intelligent runs...that is not what a guy like Arteta does to create plays.

 

Donovan still doesn't like holding the ball for more than a few touches unless he has a lot of available real estate in front of him.

And that is contrary to the requirements for a withdrawn forward/attacking midfielder.

Let's face it - Moyes knows how to use him best.

Other coaches - Bob and Bruce - used him where they needed him the most, regardless of the optimum utilization of his abilities.

 

Bob pretty much uses him the same as Moyes.

 

yep, exactly. the only reason he looks better and more effective on Everton is because of the better quality around him.

 

No, he does not.

When Moyes criticized the US for not delivering the ball to Dempsey and Donovan in spots where they'd be their most effective, he made his point known.

 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_6250917,00.html

I don't know enough about Everton, but does Dan Gosling moving have any impact on a Donovan deal? It doesn't make $$$ for Everton in terms of a transfer fee, but does it create need/opportunity to sign Donovan?

 

Is this the link of Moyes criticism?
http://www.neurosoftware.ro/finance/tag/jerry-moyes/

 

not really. donovan was already ahead of gosling in the pecking order last season.

 

We cant play donovan and dempsey the way moyes does. Our midfield isnt good enough. We'd either have to play a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3

hmm what about a 4-5-1

Like this

------------Altidore-------------
--Donovan---Bradley---Dempsey-
---------Jones---Torres---------
-Bornstein-Gonzalez-Onyewu-Lichaj-
-------------Guzan---------------

Then no davies, no holden, no clark

 

At the point that Altidore is a big enough stud to handle being alone up top and still be an effective hold-up man AND a scoring threat, then at that point I say "why not."

(Or any other forward in our pool, for that matter.)

 

Swap Torres and Bradley. Bradley is a "cannon" like player. He'll sit back and play D then BOOM. He's so effective on his runs and is usually pretty sneaky about them. Plus he's way more physical than Torres which is needed for a deep mid. Torres in the middle, slightly behind Donovan and Dempsey's line, allows some sort of control. He doesn't attack the goal like Donovan or Dempsey allowing them to crash without teammate interference. Just my perception.

Also, Dempsey at that point in his career may be best off the bench for Altidore in this particular formation. Holden may be at that RM spot.

 

How can you possibly omit Howard for Guzan? And I would put Dempsey behind Altidore and Holden at RM and Bradely for Torres

 

Yours sounds good as well. That is what is good about 2014, our team actually has options to who can play where and we wont miss a beat. Now that I think about it just taking out torres for dempsey and putting holden in dempsey's spot in my line-up seems pretty solid.

I omitted Howard because he may not be around for 2014. He is considering retirement and who knows Guzan may become better than Howard in the years to come. Aston Villa is a better team and consistently plays in the europa league and could get into the Champions league. Freidel probably only has one more year in him. Guzan will take the helm soon and we will see how good he really is

 

That sounds like a lot of assumptions built on each other there. Howard is the goalie in 2014 until we have some real reason to think he won't be.

 

Just cos they finished above Everton for the first time in how long? Years!

Respectfully disagree.

 

Whoever signs Gosling will have to compensate Everton. A tribunal will set the amount.

I think.

Here's a guy I remember that happening to. I think the rules are the same.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bellion

So Gosling leaving should help Everton afford Landon, if they decide to go in that direction.

 

There are rumblings that Mexico's Pablo Barrera is going for 3M pounds to West Ham.

That should give you an idea on Landon Donovan's market value. He's not much better than Barrera, and 5 years older.

If MLS is asking for $10M - $12M, I don't think he's going anywhere.