After reading this article, one can either say that LD is Mr. Clutch.... ... or that he gets the MLS way of doing things and allows him to be a slack until playoff time.... ...which makes sense in years when he wants to save his best performances for USMNT matches (Open Cup matches), but it's something that LD can't get away with in Europe, where every match counts. It's too bad, because LD could keep Sampson employed for another year.
Or they could decide to find a coach who will get him to play "entertaining" soccer during the year or bench his butt if he's not bringing it. I seem to recall Yallop benching him a little in 2003 - and it did wonders. [though I'm still of the opinion that all players bring it more during the playoffs than regular season, and that he is Mr. Playoffs ] [and the Europe thing...the rosters are bigger, and a lot of players don't play every single game...whether they're "bringing it" or not. They get to rest every now and then. And of course, the regular season games are more important because there are no playoffs.]
Great points. Seems you aren't the only one who thinks this way: http://www.goal.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=98153&progr=0
I'm quite sure that there are a lot of people who feel Landon isn't doing "enough". What allows them to decide what another person should be capable of? What is a realistic expectation? This year alone, Donovan has earned a Gold Cup trophy and first place in qualifying for World Cup while leading the national team in both goals and assists. An Open Cup trophy, while leading his team in both goals and assists. That's more than he had in his years with San Jose, BTW. Donovan led the entire league in game-winning goals, which supposedly are the stat of a "clutch" player. Now he has led the team in the defeat of the squad that had the one trophy he didn't help earn this year - the Supporter's Shield. Donovan helped SJ look utterly ordinary in both games, while scoring two goals and getting one assist. Yet we still get articles like this . . . all based on vague notions of how much "more" he could do. Nothing concrete.
Maybe this is random, but IMO people need to get off Landon's case and just let him live. He's doing his job and I don't think people have the right to continually criticize him, especially these new playoff criticisms. I don't see what else they want the guy to do.
I'll go one better. I'll be wearing this in Glasgow next week, but hopefully Landon wont be there, hopefully he'll be in Dallas preparing to lift the Cup
Strange, I always thought Claudio Reyna wore number 10 for the US National Team. Has my Reyna #10 jersey gone obsolete?
Whenever Reyna doesn't play (injured, in Europe) Landon wears #10. But whenver Reyna is on the pitch Donovan is relegated to the #21.
#10, #21, who the hell cares, Landon rules, he's got us to Frisco with his goals, and I cant thank him enough for that.
I just gotta say that Donovan looked awesome tonight. I was watching the Barcelona Champions league match from last Wednesday earlier today, and when I watched LD tonight he was the only player on the pitch that looked like he could have been on that Barca team. I'm not saying he's Ronaldihno, but the way he sees the field and moves the ball around coupled by his touch is just on a level beyond any other player on his team. I really think that a lot of the reason that he "disapears" is that he is trying to play possesion soccer the way Barca do, instead of the US style of kick-and-run. He's not a guy who's going to take the ball and dribble through a bunch of guys. He's looking for the give-and-go, and he just doesn't have enough guys to play it with. So he makes quick passes and never gets the return. Tonight I saw him settle a 50 yard pass with a guy right on him and leave a perfect ball at the top of the penalty box. Whoever was running onto it (Ned?) just completely muffed it. I really hope that after WC '06 he can get picked up by a team in Europe that fits his style of play better. I'm all for him doing what makes him happy, and I don't think anyone has the right to dog him for deciding to come back to MLS, but damn if it wouldn't be cool to see him play with some better quality teamates on a regular basis.
OK... How about the Galaxy pick up some players that play a more possesion style and will work better with him?
My daughter just told me that I spelled "possession" wrong. I know everyone on BS was offended by this, and I sincerely apologize. Please feel free to neg rep me