Landon Donovan is coming off an outstanding match in Everton's 1-1 draw vs. Aston Villa last week, and he will look to post an even better performance against struggling Blackburn today.
Donovan will look to jump-start an offense that has has its share of struggles, but an offense that could have a field day against struggling Rovers.
In Mexico, Jose Torres and Pachuca look to continue their hot sreaks against a dangerous Cruz Azul side, while Pumas and Monterrey collide in another quality scrimmage.
If you will be watching today's action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today's TV Schedule is after the jump):
TODAY'S SOCCER ON TV
7:45 a.m. - ESPN2/ESPN3.com - Norwich City vs. Chelsea
9:30 a.m. - ESPN3.com - Schalke vs. VfB Stuttgart
10 a.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Everton vs. Blackburn
10 a.m. - Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv - Fulham vs. Newcastle
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Queens Park Rangers vs. Wigan Athletic
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Stoke City vs. West Brom
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Sunderland vs. Swansea City
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Wolverhampton vs. Aston Villa
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Coventry City vs. Middlesbrough
12 p.m. - Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv - Roma vs. Cesena
12 p.m. - GOLTV - Racing Santander vs. Getafe
12 p.m. - ESPN3.com - Espanyol vs. Granada
12:30 p.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Bolton vs. Liverpool
1:55 p.m. - ESPN3.com - Corinthians vs. Mirassol
2 p.m. - GOLTV - Real Sociedad vs. Atletico Madrid
2:45 p.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Atalanta vs. Juventus
4 p.m. - ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes - Real Betis vs. Sevilla
6 p.m. - Azteca America/ESPN Deportes - Cruz Azul vs. Pachuca
6 p.m. - Galavision – Queretaro vs. Atlas
6 p.m. - Telefutura – Monterrey vs. Pumas UNAM
8 p.m. - Telemundo - Chivas de Guadalajara vs. Tijuana
8 p.m. - Telefutura – Santos Laguna vs. Jaguares
8 p.m. - CONCACAF.com stream - Haiti vs. Costa Rica (Women's Olympic qualifying)
9 p.m. - Galavision/ESPN3.com - USA vs. Venezuela
10:30 p.m. - CONCACAF.com stream - Canada vs. Cuba (Women's Olympic qualifying)
this is tough because i just want Demps to be happy and keep doing his thing, regardless of wealth or renown. i think most people who indulge this debate likely feel the same. personally, i’d love to see demps in the CL, but i’m weary it could result in lost minutes, or a change in form, if the situation isn’t right. do any teams in the CL have the need for him, considering his age and Fulham’s asking price?
ad hominem is attacking a person’s argument by attacking the person themselves. trying to color them in a different light to invalidate their opinion. Joe said Tom had a distorted view of something he cares for, and Tom reacted by saying Joe has never had a girlfriend. haha, these two have allowed their heads to cool and the situation is now proverbial water under the bridge, as it should be. in fact, for all i know, they may have become best of friends!!
On the Dempsey “stay or go” debate…
I used to be of the contigent who said “stay at Fulham, you’re comfortable, successful, great league/playing atmosphere.”
However, I have recently changed my mind. Here’s why:
He’s having a career season, and he’s needs to cash in. Get a higher salary, with a team in the Champions League.
Fulham’s awesome. I love that I’ve been watching Americans at Craven Cottage for the past 8 or 10 years straight. BUT, it’s become to familiar aplace for Deuce, where he may become complacent.
At Fulham, you know what you’re gonna get- a finish between 7th and 12th place. Deuce needs to take that chance, especially being 28 (29?) years old.
I just don’t see him accomplishing anything more with the team than they did in the Europa League final a couple of years ago, or personally with what he is doing this season.
I hope he moves this off-season.
Thoughts?
I won’t pay for FS+ until it’s in HD, I saw the game on some German channel
Donovan has just taken a different career path. He’s become the face of MLS and helped grow the league. Both are great players, and good at different things
I don’t think that was his 14th league goal, maybe his 9th
ll I know is they are both the best playes on their respected EPL teams
Looks like Robbie Keane did good!
Landon is doing OK. I’m surprised he’s playing so many minutes. He hasn’t been attacking goal for a long spell, not just here at Everton. He’s in a bit of a Torres funk.
ad hominem attack=any time my point of view is criticized?
Deuce gets his hat trick anyway in the 89th.
Nice shot of LeToux and Ream sitting next to each other at the Bolton game, who’ve just gone up 2-0 on Liverpool!
i don’t understand why dempsey having a good game prompts folks to put down Donovan. Just like last year, anytime chicharito scored, you’d see posts that Altidore sucks. but, in fact, chicha or deuce having a good name has NOTHING to do with the ability of donovan or jozy.
disagree… when the argument is made that donovan is better, it is unfair to dempsey when he has tested himself. donovan is good, but never really got that credibility and dosent posses that spark that dempsey has.
No question about it. Certainly for a field player. You could argue Timmy’s year where he was keeper of the year in the Prem w the Manx was better. Can’t even see many comparables. JOB’s 2002 great year w Ajax coupled w his great World Cup? DMB’s Champion’s League run season? Wynalda won a Bundesliga New Comer of the year. MB’s monster season in the Eridivsie? McBride never scored more than 12 in all competitions but he did so much for that team as a hold up player. Maybe he was more valuable than Deuce in that sense? For sheer production in a top league, it’s going to be tough to argue with.
Did anyone loosed their coverage of the Fulham game right when Dempsey got his hat trick? FS+ went into commercial. Was that deliberate? If so that is CRAP!
Te breakaway finish at the end was very nice. Headed the ball down and never really broke stride….
Attacker distracted Howard with a arm up in his face, Howard has to punch through that and not look for a call.
Id Deuce took penalties like Ronaldo he’d have a 5 bagger today.
Kid is just an expression. Doesn’t matter how old he is. Form is form and is always affected by injuries and inactivity.
Dempsey and Donovan are two different players with two different career paths.
You do a disservice to both by trying to put one down to raise the other up.
The fact remains that they are the US’ two most indispensible players and the USMNT will go as far as the two of them take it.
You obviously don’t count the World Cup as a high level of football.
The Everton match was on FSC so that was the one Most people were watching, hence all the LD comments.
Clint and his match ball
https://twitter.com/#/sarahbrookes1/status/160767739202519040/photo/1
I’m an avid Dempsey fan and watch Fulham every week – except for these 2 months when LD is playing for everton. LD has the savvy & finesse to make a difference at everton. But alas, not today – he was good, but looked tired. I wish I would have seen Dempsey & the fulham turnaround.
No ad hominem meant (now that I’ve looked it up) – just taking a piss. We are both calling it like we see it. Neither view is distorted, just a different pov.
correction: Donovan had as many
Vic, thats the point.. Dempsey had as many, if not more chances to go to europe… now look at the both of them.. you can clearly see who took control over their career as a high level footballer.
Chelsea just isn’t the right club for him to get back on his feet. They don’t run and gun, it’s more based on physical superiority, stifling attacks, and marching toward goal.
Torres is great in space, but hasn’t seen any for a long time.
dempsey with a hat trick !
No worries – back and forth is all in good fun!
Hat trick Dempseyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. 15th goal of the season
Clint is the man. Period.
On track for one of if not THE best season ever for any Yank Abroad, right?
I’m pretty sure Fellani’s arm created the lone Everton goal. Nevertheless, Donovan is doing just fine.
Not to take anything away from Dempsey, he’s been amazing, however, he has had five years to inegrate into the EPL. You can’t expect the same results from a player that’s been in the league for a few weeks. Dempsey didn’t put up these type of numbers his first year with Fulham. Look at Shevchenko, he lead Serie A in scoring but was a total flop when he game to England.
Additionally, Donovan was on a station most people can watch. Let’s not forget, LD created Everton’s lone goal today with a good chip. And he created Everton’s lone goal last week. He’s doing just fine there.
Dempsey is playing well as a garbage man around the net, scoring timely goals. They’re both rocking.
Deuce dropped a tres!
We get to watch Dempsey in the EPL all year long (year after year) … we only get to enjoy Donovan for 2 months, and there’s no guarantee it’ll ever happen again.
So pumped about both of them though!
Dempsey. Wow. Making us all proud to be American.
Tip of the hat to Jol for taking Dempsey out so he could get another standing o.
Dempsey hat trick. Great day for Deuce.
Dempsey far superior to donovan. amazing player.
I don’t think anyone would argue with you about that. But since Donovan will only be with Everton for a few weeks, there is great interest in how he does.
make that 5 😉
There was the away loss to Blackburn in between.
I come on here expecting a bunch of posts about Dempsey, and the vast majority are about Donovan. Dempsey is the best U.S. player right now!
He’s on my fantasy team!!!!
Is that two hat-tricks in a row? He had one in the FA cup recently, right? Either way, Dempsey is on fire.
HAT TRICK FOR THE DEUCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hattrick Dempsey!
Make it three.
Holy! Found the hat trick. Amazing match for Deuce.