Landycakes Has Arrived: Will He Cut It?
By: Rob | January 6th, 2010[Video found on - if you want a translation click their blog here]
I must admit, that I don’t really follow the MLS. Not being American, I don’t really have any kind of vested interest in it. I learned a bit more about the league through the offside, and the whole Beckham going over there thing. But as D-Beck heads to Milan to try and ensure a place at the 2010 World Cup, his Galaxy teammate arrives in the Premier League, with an entirely different set of objectives.
Landon Donovan has his reputation on the line. So is he going to be a success?
His record in the MLS is exemplery and he will be lining up against England at the opening of the World Cup, so from that point of view, it’ll give us a chance to get to know him (and him us).
He’s tried to play in Europe (in Germany to be exact) and it wasn’t a success. But he seems a talented kind of guy, and its a good buy for Everton, in the sense that they need a striker.
But as you can probably tell, i’m a bit in the dark about him. So I ask my American friends – will he make it in the Prem?
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Category: Everton
Comments
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Probably not. He won’t deal with the physicality of the prem. Who knows, he might shine in a league where players actually know what they’re doing.
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If Dempsey can make it in the Premier League, so can Donovan. I find Everton an odd choice though, since it already has players similar in stature and style (Cahill, Pinnear).
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I think Ben hit it on the head. I think Donovan can make it in a top league, but he needs to be in an attacking midfielder/support striker role, but I’m not sure how he can fulfill that role with Everton.
But he’ll certainly be motivated; as you said, his reputation as anything more than a “good player…for an American” is on the line, and I think he’d really like to move to Europe on a permanent basis, but knows he needs to prove he can hack it before any European club can match MLS’s overinflated valuation of him.
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Geoff: MLS is probably one of the more physically tough leagues to play in. Most of the players are great athletes, they just lack in the tactical and technical sense. He’ll be fine in that regard.
Donovan is at his best when he has room in front of him to run, so if he plays up top and gets some decent service, he’ll be fine.
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He had a good Confederations Cup, which showed he could finish against the likes of Spain. Soooo… whatever that’s worth.
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Check that — against Brasil.
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Dempsey is much more complete player than Donovan–he is stronger, can win the ball, is less likely to become invisible. I am skeptical teams are going to let Donovan run right down the middle of the pitch with the ball in the Premiership. I actually think he’d be more likely to be successful as a second striker than in any kind of midfield role.
I also don’t see Donovan as being anything at all like Cahill as a player. How many goals has Donovan ever scored with his head in a crowded penalty area?
Where Donovan excels is playing on the break. How many chances he’ll get to show that at Everton to me is very uncertain. I hope he does well but color me skeptical.
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I’m going with not so much. Probably better than with Bayern, but not enough to land him in the Prem full time. While I confess to not watching much MLS, it seems to be as physical as any league out there, so he should fit in there. I just think his skill set probably won’t stand out enough for a European side to pony up the kind of money the MLS will want for him.
If he does make it, I agree with Thad that he will need to move up from the midfield to more of a support striker role. He’s just not going to get the runs in against Premiership teams that he does in the MLS. He’s not going to dominate in the box and create goals up close and he is somewhat of a defensive liability. Not to mention the whole taking stretches of the match off thing.
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He’ll become a star in the Prem. Dempsey is a solid player, but not in Donovan’s class. I think Donovan was scared by his first stint in Germany, which was the wrong fit entirely. He was too young and got homesick. This experience made him very shy about committing to Europe, but Everton is the right situation. He’ll prove indispensible to the Blues and they will buy him at the end of his loan.
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I don’t think that Donovan will be successful playing in the premier league. He was a great player in the MLS, no one can deny that.. and he is a huge part of the US men’s national team. But, I don’t think that he will be the huge boost that Everton needs. He is a player who needs to be in the midfield and create chances, but Everton are playing him in a forward’s role and I just don’t think that he has the strength and creativity to beat players one on one. He also will not be used to the physicality of the premier league. I think if he can make it through the first few games with Everton, he’ll be good to go. But I don’t think this move will “make” his career. At least not with Everton it won’t. Their playing style just isn’t suited for him. But as an american, I do wish him the best of luck and I hope I’m wrong
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