“Gee, maybe somebody should contest LD when he has the ball in a position to cross”
Good players know how to take advantage of defenders. I don’t remember the exact sequences before Donovan’s two crosses but it is possible he either made made space for himself to get the crosses in or reacted quicker than the defender to the situation.
Give the defenders some credit. Donovan has done this to better players before.
I agree with this, BUT that selfishness is the heart of his scoring ability. You accept if you have the guy in the right role. (And I’ve always felt that second forward is the right role for Dempsey.)
There is no question that Donovan does more. It is interesting to watch him on the wing in the EPL. He causes a huge problem – give him space and he will pick you apart with crosses. Try and keep tight and you risk him getting in behind you. If it wasn’t for Saha, he’d have at least two or three more assists so far this loan.
Yeah that was an annoying accusation on Landon’s whipped-in pass – particularly by Wynalda, who would know better if he were from a more savvy generation of American strikers. It’s almost as amazing it didn’t carom in off a defender as that it didn’t find some dempsey’s foot.
Donovan is light years ahead of most of the regular Everton players, who are not really good enough to keep pace with him and his quick thinking. In some of the matches I have seen Donovan several times has passed off to a teammate and sprinted off towards goal or down the sidelines for what has potential to be classic give-and-go and the guy he passes to ignores Donovan for the return pass and either back-passes or taps the ball in the opposite direction. There was the one play late in the game last night with Everton already up 2-0 where Donovan fired the ball into the box just left of the goal. The announcer called it a shot but I think it was a pass, something that Dempsey would have reached and tapped in for a goal.
My point is Donovan is looking great with a team of average players and I think he would look even better if he had better support. I don’t understand why a top tier ream is not banging on his door. Does anyone know, if he would get an offer from another European team before January 31, would he be able to take it although he is on loan with Everton until the end of February? I am not saying Donovan is at the level of great attacking passers who also can also score like Xavi or Mesut Ozil, but he is that type of player and I think good enough to be starting for a Champions League team. I wish he would do it. He is getting all sorts of good press now and England and now is the time to do, as Klinsmann calls it, leave his comfort zone.
I always thought that Landon does a better job at making the players around him better…with Dempsey, especially when he’s playing for the Nats, he seems to have a bit more selfishness about him.
LD and CD are different players. Not a worthwhile comparison.
Gee, maybe somebody should contest LD when he has the ball in a position to cross. I know, I know, it’s the old “terrible defense” cliche but man, what terrible defense.
Dempsey is 2nd in the premier league in goals from Midfield and has scored 15 goals in all comps. While I think it is pointless to compare the two head to head (as they operate as fundementally different players who provide their teams with different services), to diss Dempsey as you just did is simply ignorant.
I think it is safe to end the ridiculous debate over who is the better player. I can’t think of one area Dempsey is better other than falling to the ground.
I’m amazed that Donovan lofting two random balls into the box is being considered “great.”
What’s great is that his teammates were able to make two incredible perfect-pace pinpoint headers on them.
“Gee, maybe somebody should contest LD when he has the ball in a position to cross”
Good players know how to take advantage of defenders. I don’t remember the exact sequences before Donovan’s two crosses but it is possible he either made made space for himself to get the crosses in or reacted quicker than the defender to the situation.
Give the defenders some credit. Donovan has done this to better players before.
I agree with this, BUT that selfishness is the heart of his scoring ability. You accept if you have the guy in the right role. (And I’ve always felt that second forward is the right role for Dempsey.)
There is no question that Donovan does more. It is interesting to watch him on the wing in the EPL. He causes a huge problem – give him space and he will pick you apart with crosses. Try and keep tight and you risk him getting in behind you. If it wasn’t for Saha, he’d have at least two or three more assists so far this loan.
Yeah that was an annoying accusation on Landon’s whipped-in pass – particularly by Wynalda, who would know better if he were from a more savvy generation of American strikers. It’s almost as amazing it didn’t carom in off a defender as that it didn’t find some dempsey’s foot.
Just want to note, the image I had to type into the box to complete the above post was “fart8x”. No joke.
Donovan is light years ahead of most of the regular Everton players, who are not really good enough to keep pace with him and his quick thinking. In some of the matches I have seen Donovan several times has passed off to a teammate and sprinted off towards goal or down the sidelines for what has potential to be classic give-and-go and the guy he passes to ignores Donovan for the return pass and either back-passes or taps the ball in the opposite direction. There was the one play late in the game last night with Everton already up 2-0 where Donovan fired the ball into the box just left of the goal. The announcer called it a shot but I think it was a pass, something that Dempsey would have reached and tapped in for a goal.
My point is Donovan is looking great with a team of average players and I think he would look even better if he had better support. I don’t understand why a top tier ream is not banging on his door. Does anyone know, if he would get an offer from another European team before January 31, would he be able to take it although he is on loan with Everton until the end of February? I am not saying Donovan is at the level of great attacking passers who also can also score like Xavi or Mesut Ozil, but he is that type of player and I think good enough to be starting for a Champions League team. I wish he would do it. He is getting all sorts of good press now and England and now is the time to do, as Klinsmann calls it, leave his comfort zone.
I always thought that Landon does a better job at making the players around him better…with Dempsey, especially when he’s playing for the Nats, he seems to have a bit more selfishness about him.
I am happy for both of their respective success!
😀
+1
What am I doing wrong, I never seem to be able to view the fox soccer channel highlights. It just doesn’t work.
LD and CD are different players. Not a worthwhile comparison.
Gee, maybe somebody should contest LD when he has the ball in a position to cross. I know, I know, it’s the old “terrible defense” cliche but man, what terrible defense.
Wish this game was shown on national tv like the ars v manu game. Would give more exposure since the MOM was an American.
The announcer sucks. Not Ricardo Ortiz level but pretty bad.
I like Landon because he stayed home where we can watch him, but to rip on a guy who succeeds like Dempsey has on a terrible team is just dumb.
Dempsey is 2nd in the premier league in goals from Midfield and has scored 15 goals in all comps. While I think it is pointless to compare the two head to head (as they operate as fundementally different players who provide their teams with different services), to diss Dempsey as you just did is simply ignorant.
I like five head, best there is…
I think it is safe to end the ridiculous debate over who is the better player. I can’t think of one area Dempsey is better other than falling to the ground.
So big that some may even call it a “Five head.”
Damn thats a HUGE forehead.
The league suits him pretty well. Lots of running back and forth, opportunities to counter and run with the ball, exploit mistakes with sharp passes.
Maybe Friedel was right. Landon should have been shredding up the Premier League all these years.
Donovan gets to wear #9?! class.
2 great crosses from Lando – love it!