Comments on: Is Landon Donovan Any Good?

By: KJ

KJ — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 12:15:12 +0000

Donovan was an embarrassment. Does he have skills? Of course he does, but when the crap hit the fan, and his country’s pride was on the line on the world’s biggest stage, this so called star of American soccer just flopped. He is so soft. We all need to face the facts and admit that the American national team needs a complete overhaul if we want to avoid the same result in South Africa in 2010.

By: littleguy

littleguy — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 07:05:29 +0000

Landon is a good player, certainly one of the very best that has ever played in the MLS and one our better players on the USMNT. However, he will never be the complete player and superstar (to me anyway) unless he makes it somewhere in the one of the following leagues: EPL, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga (he’s already dropped out of there) or the Dutch league. I suggest he go get a gig with a lesser EPL or Division 1 (Coca Cola?) team to get a real shot at playing in European conditions. Otherwise…he’ll just be the best player in the MLS.

By: Anthony Gutierrez

Anthony Gutierrez — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 01:56:45 +0000

Landon has incredible vision and superb skill. I think he has the potential to become everybit as good as an average European soccer star (Like Michael Owen or Freddy Ljundberg, if he played in Europe), but I think he is already smarter than most players in the mid-upper 20’s, even with his lack of European experience.

One thing that makes Landon an atypical American player is that instead of deperately looking to pass the ball when pressured, he holds it and defenders can’t seem to take it away from him (like Reyna).

I think that he suffers from two team related problems:

Can’t really count on there being an American pool of talented forwards so that he can concentrate on the attacking midfield spot.

Can count on Reyna to be the holding midfielder so he can’t find his right spot in the midfield.

If Landon had the European experience, he might become one of the best in the game, but he won’t get that experience because even if he went to Europe he would be unhappy. Even if it costs him as a player (and costs us as fans)he is hella happy in Califonia.

I respect him most for having the wisdom at such a young age to take responsibility for his own life by choosing to take care of himself first.

By: John

John — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:20:00 +0000

I wonder if some fans watched the same game that I did v. Italy. LD was all over the damn pitch! In the first 20 minutes, when the US had Italy rocked back on their heels, LD was the main reason. He came out and went right after them. He just abused several Italian defenders. Fast-forward to the 91st minute… who was still racing all over the pitch? LD. That kid left it all on the field. If everyone on the team would put that much effort into the Ghana game, the US would probably win big.

By: ETucker

ETucker — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:16:29 +0000

Even if JOB is fit, he has gone several years without playing matches consistently.

I would be worried about him being match fit and making quick decisions against a very fast Ghana side.

I think we should naturalize a few Argentines and Brazilians, like the Mexicans did (and several other countries for that matter)

By: Jono

Jono — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 23:16:44 +0000

Landon Donovan is one of the best players on the US team, but many people expect to much out of him.

The last world cup he was looked at as a talented kid who would made chances.

Now, it seems everyone expects him to lead the US to victory alone. That’s a lot of pressure.

I think he did a great job against Italy.

By: Cajun Nick

Cajun Nick — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 21:44:05 +0000

Joe,

It’s true that the collective World Cup experience of the group isn’t much to write home about.

However, let’s not forget that Ghana, with regards to World Cup experience, has even less than we do.

They do have world-class players, like Essien and Appiah; but, with the hopes of Africa riding on their shoulders this year, I wonder if that’s not going to shake them up a little.

Plus, my line-up really reflects a presumed fitness for JOB; and I’m not sure if he can go the full 90. If he can’t, then Arena needs to put Reyna in the line-up, but make definite plans to sub in JOB at half, or the 60-minute mark.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 21:37:57 +0000

Completely agree Nick. But that’s a young, inexperienced 11….

By: Cajun Nick

Cajun Nick — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:21:55 +0000

EJ and JOB = YES!

Here’s my starting XI:

————Keller————
Dolo–Conrad–Gooch–Bocanegra
–Dempsey–JOB–LD–Convey–
——–EJ——————
————-McBride———

There’s no Reyna, for two reasons:
1)if JOB is fit, then he’s fresher than Reyna, and we’ll need some fresh legs in midfield for Ghana; and
2) he’s carrying a yellow.

I know that some would say, “Who cares how many yellows he has; if we don’t progress, then no one plays in the next round.”

True. But, if JOB is fit, then I think that he give us a better chance of progressing.

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:13:12 +0000

I didn’t see much positive in his Italy performance – everyone else seems to disagree. What I saw was a failure to jump start an attack or to create options for tired teammates.

But Donovan is a rare player. He’s clearly got the smarts and skills to compensate for the gradual loss of speed that will come with age. I’m in the camp of fans that wishes he would take his assets and and put them to the best possible use – in Europe. He needs to face higher quality defenses and more competition within his team in order to realize his potential.