http://espn.go.com/magazine/index.html I think the "cover" changes daily, but this one of Landon is sweet.
Man I love Twellman and Ruiz is one hell of a player, but they are totally different animals than Donovan. All three are tremendous talents, but Donovan is never gonna score goals at the same rate those two do because his role is different. Those guys are pure poachers - hell, Ruiz had one assist all season. Donovan is more of a point guy in the attack. He'll get his share of goals but his role is more about springing teamates and getting the ball spread to set up crosses into the middle. He is very fast, has great vision and is a very adept one time passer - especially in moving the ball from the center of the pitch out to the flanks. I love the thought of Twellman running up top for the USMNT. He and Donovan would IMO compliment each other well. Twellman Donovan Beasley O'Brien Martino Buddle Bocanegra Howard Etc., etc., etc. We have some real nice talent to work with going forward.
> Donovan is more of a point guy in the attack. > He'll get his share of goals but his role is more > about springing teamates and getting the ball > spread to set up crosses into the middle. This is what Quake fans would like to see him do, but it isn't really working out. When he plays in the midfield, he just disappears. When he plays forward, he is most exciting when he gets free on a breakaway. This year Donovan had 3 assists. I wouldn't even rate him the best of the Quakes, let alone the whole of MLS.
I've seen a few games where the Quakes use him in midfield and they don't use him like I'd expect. He needs to be tucked in right behind the strikers and or play as the second striker tucked in behind Graziani. He is at his most dangerous IMO when he can get the ball near midfield and run towards the opposing defense. And he's good at this hub role because he is an outstanding one touch passer to the wings, especially when his back is to goal. In San Jose's game against Columbus (at SJ) where he was playing up front I counted no fewer than 7 outstanding passes he made that led to scoring chances in the first half of play. There is no denying this guy has a lot of talent.
Good call. Based solely on the pics, the only city that would recruit an expansion team would be SanFran.
I don't mind to see Donovan not scoring as he much as he did a year ago...may be it is a strategy for staying with MLS instead going to Europe...may be that is the way Earthquakes needs him: to be a playmaker instead of scorer. We are lucky that a special talent like Donovan wants to stay in US to play, wantst to be part of the building process of US soccer. He is young, he has many years to come. He is a road model of may young men/women, that is good enough for us.