Position paper: Landon Donovan
February 8 - 2007
From the beginning, I thought it best to “short” the stock of Landon Donovan. When he was “the best player in the world” at the U-17 World Cup, I thought to myself, “Yeah, and he’s also a grown man. When everyone else’s pubes fill out, he’ll be just another player.” Even after Donovan’s surprise contribution to the successes of 2002 , I remained unimpressed - a couple of poached goals and a lucky deflection does not a legend make. I was also willing to predict the egg he laid in Germany. Since, I’ve been more than happy to kick Donovan while he’s down.
But on the strength of last night’s goal against Mexico, I’m rethinking my position on Landycakes.
The goal that changed it for me, and a quick analysis:
- Every Mexican on Earth spent their morning complaining about how the referee obstructed play. This ignores the fact that the mystery Mexican defender tried to pass the ball through the referee’s tibia. Stop whining, and pass the Tapatio.
- Donovan picks up an excellent pass from Clark ,and Johnson correctly spins out wide to offer an option. Donovan, showing great awareness, recognizes the remaining Mexican defenders are flat and pushes the ball in behind them.
- Off to the races. Donovan shows remarkable turn of foot, leaving the Mexican defenders 5 yards behind him in the span of only 15 yards.
- Donovan starts looking back over his shoulder at the defenders. When I saw this live I almost kicked over my television; I thought he was looking for someone else to give the ball too. After watching the replay, though, I realized he’s actually putting an elaborate fake on goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez. It pushes Sanchez to his left, and gives space for Donovan to go by him with ease. Brilliant.
- Oswaldo Sanchez tries to spear Eddie Johnson after the goal. Dirty, Sanchez, dirty.
And now for my change in attitude: I contend Landon Donovan has been oversold as an “impact player” by Nike, MLS, and the US Soccer Federation. Their motives for doing so were purely selfish. They needed a star player for endorsements, identity, and branding; Donovan was the closest thing they could find. They attached labels to him, thrust him into the spotlight, and artificially inflated expectations.
Clearly, the reality has not lived up to the fantasy. Donovan is not, and will not be, the engine of the US team. He often lacks vision, does not strike the ball particularly well, and has little (if any) physical presence. His mental toughness is that of a Japanese school girl. The pace and direction of a game will never be dictated by him, a la Claudio Reyna.
And you know what? That’s ok. Because for all he isn’t, he can be an extremely dangerous player. He needs to drift on the periphery of the game, finding space to use his considerable pace. His 10-15 minute disappearing acts, while maddening if we are to consider him the savior of American soccer, are excusable if we call him what he is: a bit-player prone to ineffectual stretches book-ended by moments of brilliance. And kind of a pussy.
In that light, Landycakes is far more tolerable. Sure, his obsession with comfort might rankle, but who am I to tell a dynamically talented, chronically undependable member of the US National Team what to do? It’s not like he’s the next savior of American soccer or anything.
Finally, I can let go of some of my anger, and shift it to a more worthy receptacle. Say…Chris Albright.
Fair analysis, and frankly, how did we not see it earlier. The question then, who takes over as the next Claudio?? Do we have someone, if so I haven’t seen it.
As for Albright, I couldn’t agree more. Why is this guy still on this team? Honestly, he’s a terrible defender and nothing more than average (if that) going forward. Is it the hair - if so, I’m going to sport a pink mohawk and challenge for the right back spot for the Galaxy….
Comment by LG — February 8, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
Kind of a pussy?
Comment by slhvmwa — February 8, 2007 @ 10:31 pm
Donovan will always be a useless puss bag in my book.
Does any other National Team put up with 150 pound, disappearing, douche bags whose club teams don’t make the play-offs in a twelve team league?
I will always and forever let my smashed 2006 World Cup dreams lie wholey in Donovans fairy shoes…for god’s sake his actress wife weighs more than him.
Comment by Carlos — February 8, 2007 @ 11:37 pm
I agree, Donovon is a leathal scorer, but he’s not a playmaker. I think he’s going to have a great year in MLS once Beckham gets here. But that begs the question, who’s the engine?
Dempsey? Mapp?
It’s not Mastroeni.
Comment by PBR — February 9, 2007 @ 12:33 am
Give eddie a crack at play-maker….at least he can put his foot on it and pass a proper ball….and someone, please set up and coach this dismally organized group of marginally talented chronic under achievers…and the work rate is second class.
Comment by grandeagle — February 9, 2007 @ 9:59 am
fair enough.
can i make j-bornstein the next big thing? he could be, to use his words, “a roberto carlos type player”
Comment by macarthur31 — February 9, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Well put.
As far as our RB options go, how about Michael Parkhurst? He’s probably the most skilled defender in the MLS, but I fear his size will prevent him from supplanting any of our guys in the middle. It would be interesting to see if he could make the transition…it couldn’t be any worse than our other non-Cherundolo options!
Comment by Nordy — February 9, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
Here’s the thing: Landon Donovan is just a role player. He may be at the better end of that “role”, but he’s just not the guy you want to turn to for heroics. We just don’t have anyone of that caliber YET.
Chris Albright is miserable, but I don’t know who else we put back there.
R.I.P. Claudio…
Comment by Dave — February 9, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
I just hope Donovan never wears the captain’s armband again. I forgot to look during the game — who was captain on Wednesday?
Comment by RobinFiveWords — February 9, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Pablo was captain, but sounds like mostly because it was a hometown game for him.
I suspect that Jimmy Conrad will usually be the captain going forward.
Comment by Adam — February 9, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Dempsey is the man - he has Zidane-type abilities in terms of being an attacking MF with enough pace and on-bal skills to tak eon defenses, enough craftiness to maestro from the midfield, and can finish enough with both head and foot so as to be the ENTIRE engine of this team. Claudio was and forever will be serviceable, but his overcatiousness and lack of attacking instinct in the midfield cost the US the Italy match and Arena’s long-lived love affair with him is what cost them significant progress on the Int’l scene. He is, in a word, obsolete for where the US should now reside int he int’l arena.
Comment by efellyemmus — February 9, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
While I agree that Landon is generally crap, a role-player and unworthy of being a focal point of the attack, I’m tired of people (not particularly here) slobbering back on Reyna’s tip.
The reality of the situation is that he wasn’t anywhere near as effective the past couple years as he was in his prime (when he wasn’t nursing his monthly injury). Although, skill-wise, he still may have been the one US player most respected by opponents, his past-due date was long ago and the debacle in Deutschland merely highlighted his inability to lift/inspire/rescue a squad whose deficiencies were exposed.
I’m glad to see him go, as the US needed to move from its Claudio-dependency three years ago. The talent pool may be shallow, but clinging to a horse that needs to be shot isn’t progress.
Comment by Scott — February 9, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
And, I’m sorry for the double, but Dempsey and Zidane don’t even belong in the same sentance. Clint doesn’t possess the same skills to make the ball his complete and utter bitch, nor is he a ‘maestro’. Nor, will he ever develop into such a player.
Not to say he couldn’t grow to become one of the US’s biggest threats, but any mention of Zidane is laughable at best.
Comment by Scott — February 9, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
on donovan, i think he’s better off being a “super sub” (and i use super loosely); the kind of player you bring on after the 60th minute hoping that his pace can open up the game. i remember before the world cup landon referred to himself as a javier saviola-type player…landon wishes he had even a third of el conejo’s talent.
Comment by Frank — February 9, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Garth,
I would love to hear your supreme wit discuss the player that I hope never represents our country in any way, shape, or form. He reminds me of Elverson Brown back in the day. Eddie Johnson.
Comment by ian and nate and carlie — February 9, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
What?
That’s not how you spell my name!
And I would prefer an explanation of the Goose.
It keeps me up at night. Not only his wearing a National Team shirt but his insistence to rock the eighties hair for over a decade. It still hurts.
Comment by Carly — February 10, 2007 @ 2:27 am
Favorite Landon memory:
Went to a KC Wiz game, and sat next to a guy who screamed at Landon to “GO BACK TO YOUR PRETTY PALACE, LANDON!!!” He yelled this about 89 times over the course of the game, whenever Lando touched the ball. His voice was pretty much shot by the end.
He did score two goals in that game, though. (Landon, not the fan)
Comment by Greg — February 10, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Using Zidane in the same sentence with Dempsey is the exact reason why the country now hates landon donovan. Too high of expectations and yes…Dempsey is good, but coming off the bench for Fulham doesn’t even allow him to carry Zidane’s jock.
Agree with poster who uses idea of Donovan as a sub, although I disagree with the “super” part. He would undoubtedly just be a fast sub in the Prem., with a ton of pace that might be able to create running against tired defenders.
Donovan has done everything (through his “comfort” speeches and disappearing acts on the field) short of actually saying, “Don’t rely on me…I’m not that good”. I think Bradley/whoever the coach is in a few years should take this advice and use him in a limited role, and absolutely not as the focal point of attack. Who should be the focal point is a whole different debate…
Comment by Tom — February 10, 2007 @ 8:14 pm