You could be right, I didn't see the replay. At full speed, it looked like he got a good mitt on Zenden's shot at pretty much full extension (serious athleticism), but the 2nd was a point-blank reaction where Jones hit the exact spot he wanted to but Timmy stonewalled him (excellent read, as the best reflexes in the world are needed, but not enough on their own to stop that effort).
With Arteta out, Fellaini's been the best player on this team, and I'd put him in the top handful of DMs in England, maybe in Europe. He's lately done nothing but impress the hell out of me.
Our boys are 1 & 2 in the ratings according to the fans. Top Rated Players Player Rating Club Landon Donovan 8.6 Everton Tim Howard 8.0 Everton Leighton Baines 8.0 Everton Tim Cahill 7.3 Everton Marouane Fellaini 7.0 Everton
I disagree about Landon's goal. He went far post with it. Landon used a chest-trap as a fake (he acts like he's squaring up to go right and he takes the ball left into space), he uses his speed to get separation, he anticipates the keeper's movement to the near post, and he fires it far post...the defender recovered as much as he could and got a foot in front of the strike and deflected it back to the keeper's right. It was a nice move and probably a goal either way. If he would have scored that ball low to the far post, it would have been a glorious goal at that speed. Either way, it was class stuff from Landon.
I'm drawing a blank. Is this Donovan's first real European goal? If so I'll crack a beer in celebration. It's been long overdue!
That's great, but I think both Cahill and Fellaini should've been rated higher. I'd have rated Donovan 3rd behind the two of them today. (And then of course Timmy who came up big twice in the closing minutes, after about 80 minutes of nothing needed.) Baines had yet another good match. I'd rate both Landon and Howard good 7-7.5s.
Made hard work of it second half when we should have been out of sight! Heitinga man of the match for me.
Both were excellent saves, but (at least in my humble opinion) the first was the type of save that I used to make in a season and then remember for years. Howard makes those types of saves many times though! The guy is really good. Its easier to take a high ball off of a head than it is to take a volley off of a cross...its just so tough to track the ball from side to side, from up to down, and then have it slammed with precision from a low place into a spot that's difficult to get to. You have to have quick twitch response like a cat. Howard has that, and he's smart too.
There was a notable dropoff in energy between halves. Everton didnt show Sunderland much respect by coming out and playing without urgency, and Sunderland didnt prove to Everton that they deserved it by capitalizing. Granted, Everton does have Howard and Howard came through big on two late stops.
I'm looking forward to watching this on Setanta and hearing what the fans at the game thought. Seems like no one outside of Goodison was able to see much of it.
Highlighted how poor Sunderland are at the moment, we didn't play anywhere near the way we did against Arsenal and City. Credit to Howard for keeping his concentration and pulling off the two big saves because for much of the much he was a spectator. Anyway, three points is three points. Here's to antoher three at Wigan on Saturday to take us into the hard run of games in Feb.
Sorry, have to disagree, the halftime replays were very clear, shot initially was going for the far post and the the ball deflected off the bottom of the defender's cleats and was redirected toward the near post. Know why I'm sure aside from the video evidence? Because the far post is where you are supposed to shoot that ball with the keeper sliding over.
http://www.noshortcorners.com/2010/01/donovan-opens-toffees-prem-accounts.html First look at the goal. I can't believe the British announcers said LD's goal was "gift-wrapped" ... it took a good deal of skill in my eyes.
These claims from announcers about how Landon's goal was "easy as you'd like" or a "gimme" are completely erroneous. When I first heard those descriptions I believed it to be a putback of a rebound or a cross off a volley or even half volley that was just slotted home. Instead I see a play where he makes a good run across his teammate, chests the ball down on the move, makes sure it doesn't get too far away or too close to him, and then volleys it underneath the keeper in rhythm from about 12-14 yards. There were a lot of elements to that goal and there was no misdirection from the deflection even necessary. It was better than at least half the goals I see in the EPL. Don't be so daft, wankers.
Well, I continuously read how Donovan can't play in the "big pond" and how he lacks swagger, and he's too small and Lannycakes can't handle the rough stuff, etc, etc, etc. and how he wants to be a big fish in a small pond, yadda, yadda, yadda. and how he can't handle the pressure, ............................ Well, I don't buy any of it. He can absolutely play in the EPL. The end
He came right in and made a difference on his loan. That doesnt always happen...even with great players. Sometimes players just cant find a way to fit right off the bat. This isnt the case with Landon. He played decent at Beyern as well, but there were other variables in play as to why he wasnt brought on full time. He may not have unseated Luca Toni or Ribery, but really...did anyone expect that to happen?
Perhaps the announcer that said "as easy as you'd like" meant that Landon made it look easy? I don't know. The buildup was great, and Landon was more or less clear of the defense when he put it away. But that was because he read the buildup and made a great run to be in that position. It was good control off his chest, and a solid finish with his "off foot". Solid goal, nothing to sneeze at, it wasn't world class either. But yeah, anyone who had any doubts about his ability to play top flight football has three games in a row to look at and realize that he most certainly can.