Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
Landon Donovan
Just back from the MLS final. (It pissed down with rain, which I know is not a big deal in Liverpool, but it is in LA.) It wasn't much of a game, but Landon scored the only goal. He scored with the type of movement and finish we have not seen at Everton for a while. I still think that he can do a job for us, and I hope the next time I see him scoring he will be wearing a blue shirt.
Gerry Morrison, Posted 21/11/2011 at 06:46:28
Comments
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2 Posted 21/11/2011 at 08:14:21
3 Posted 21/11/2011 at 08:17:38
4 Posted 21/11/2011 at 08:27:10
Although saying that, I would have any new player in a heartbeat right now!
5 Posted 21/11/2011 at 08:29:26
6 Posted 21/11/2011 at 08:46:49
With the start we've had were not going to be challenging for Europe and were usually abysmal in the cups, so whats the point?
He's only blocking a chance for any one of Gueye, Vellios, Forshaw or Coleman.
If he's permanent I'd be happy because he's a good player with pace and the intelligence to use it, otherwise we may as well spend a half a season developing a player to play for the future.
7 Posted 21/11/2011 at 09:48:31
Be happy to see him come as ultimately the more better players here, for however long, the better. Would be happier though to see Barkley, Gueye or Vellios really flourish with a run in the team.
Don't think we can afford to spend the £6m minimum on a 29 year old for permanent move.
8 Posted 21/11/2011 at 10:34:25
9 Posted 21/11/2011 at 11:04:41
10 Posted 21/11/2011 at 12:04:22
We've dallied so much over Landon that he's now knocking on 30 (in March).
With the financial situation we are in, it would be foolish to spend big money on older players. You have to cut your cloth accordingly, and we need to be buying players who either retain, or increase, their value over the term of their contract.
11 Posted 21/11/2011 at 12:10:28
Plus, if he plays regularly, he's only going to get better.
12 Posted 21/11/2011 at 12:11:02
13 Posted 21/11/2011 at 12:28:40
If he helps the team, why not? But who will he replace? I can't see him taking over from Coleman, unless Moyes moves him back to right back but his defending isn't there yet.
Let's not forget, Moyes played Anichebe in front of Donovan on a few occasions...
14 Posted 21/11/2011 at 12:40:19
15 Posted 21/11/2011 at 12:38:49
"With the financial situation we are in, it would be foolish to spend big money on older players."
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I believe he would potentially cost less than £4m as he is going into the final two years of his deal.
And like many others commenting, I'd snap him up on a 3½-year deal. Yes the £4m would go, but we know what he can do for us (not so much a punt like Bily), and that he can ft in immediately. We have youth in the squad, so don't see his acquisition as making us an old squad overall.
The positives easily outweigh the negatives for me. I'd sell Bily to finance it. And God, I hope we have the Arteta money for a fit striker.
16 Posted 21/11/2011 at 12:45:03
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Explanation......
The word is that once you're into the final two years, you can buy out the contract in the US. So it has been reported.
17 Posted 21/11/2011 at 12:48:34
To be fair Dick, I saw Beckham do a press conference and all he did was praise Landon.
I think we do need him. I think the thinking of Stephen and Sam is fair enough, but we are by no means guaranteed we are going to stay up, we need as many quality players as possible.
Maybe could sell Billy and buy him instead? I would have thought they would be both be similar values, given Donovan's age. Even though Billy didnt do that great for us, I can see a lot of clubs in Russia paying a lot of money for him.
18 Posted 21/11/2011 at 13:31:26
So Roberto, I don't think you are understanding my point - Everton simply cannot afford to lose £4 million on a player. Any player, no matter how good they are, or how good a deal it is.
It's all very well the posters on here saying we should buy this player, that player, take a risk, etc, but ultimately, thats fantasy football. We have financial restraints and we have to work within them.
I stand by my original post - we can't be losing money on transfer fee's, we need players to hold their value or increase. Buying "older" players and losing money on them is a short term view and fix.
19 Posted 21/11/2011 at 13:46:11
Roberto, as much as I like landon, and agree that £4 million would be a good deal, you're not going to see any of that money back. He'd play out his 3 years, and at 33 would move on for no value.
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Yes, I know. that is why I wrote: Yes the £4m would go.
And also I finished my post writing that the positives outweigh the negatives. Nothing you wrote adds anything to my calculations.
20 Posted 21/11/2011 at 14:27:43
21 Posted 21/11/2011 at 14:52:44
The thing is, Moyes has us fans watching so much shite, when we see someone like Felli do a drag-back, he becomes a god! Like Manny doing a few tricks, he is all of a sudden some sort of god! Like Donovan he is a bit quick so he has to be good... right! Like Barkley plays a 40-yard pass, he is the next Hoddle!!
We have to watch 6 defenders week-in, week-out, god forbid if we started playing like Spurs 'cause our fans would fucking shit themselves.
22 Posted 21/11/2011 at 15:02:51
It's fantasy football...
The reality is that we haven't signed Landon, and probably won't, as we probably can't afford to. Reality.
23 Posted 21/11/2011 at 15:35:58
24 Posted 21/11/2011 at 15:10:35
I don't think a permanent deal is (or ever was) likely. A loan deal might happen because, well, we're not going to get anyone else in January are we? If it helps keep McFadden confined to the bench for a few more months then I guess that's a bonus as well.
However, I can't help but feel that any return for Donovan may end up a disappointing anti-climax for those who too readily bestowed hero status on him. A bit like the second coming of Manuel Fernandes, where the silky, skilful playmaker from his first loan spell was seemingly replaced by a fucking stoned Snoop Dogg for six months.
25 Posted 21/11/2011 at 15:54:32
Both instances make me throw up a little in my mouth when I think of them......
26 Posted 21/11/2011 at 15:58:30
And to Tony, Anichebe was actually good for us then. I remember one game against Birmingham specifically, when he played right wing, Ridgewell couldnt handle him. Yes, he's been crap this season.
27 Posted 21/11/2011 at 16:06:35
However; he is like the UB40 song, with regards to decent performances. I am a 1 in 10 (I wish, more like 1 in 80)
28 Posted 21/11/2011 at 16:09:55
Or do we never sign a player that has missed a sitter in his life (ie, everyone)?
29 Posted 21/11/2011 at 16:16:42
I am not trying to diss him at all, it will be better having an intelligent player with some speed in the team.
The worry is that we had other creative players in the side when he was here last and many may think he will somehow change this turgid team into winners just because he can run a little bit, I predict that he won't. I hope to God that I am proven wrong.
30 Posted 21/11/2011 at 16:16:59
31 Posted 21/11/2011 at 16:19:34
On a side note to younger players getting a chance, Bily basically wants out yet he got 5 minutes against Wolves in a game he isn't cut out for, while Gueye with upper body strength and pace, sat on the bench.
32 Posted 21/11/2011 at 16:20:40
? We got a tantalising glimpse of what he is capable of during his last loan spell;
? He has continued to perform for the biggest club in the US ? including his winner as recently as this weekend;
? He has stated previously that he would love to come back to Everton, a club which he holds dear.
The latter point is absolute gold as far as Evertonians are concerned. I mean, a quality player that actually wants to come to us!
If we sign him and it all ends in tears, then so be it. Let's get him here first though eh?
33 Posted 21/11/2011 at 16:23:46
I think he's been pretty first class whenever I've seen him and clearly offers somethings we are very short on, pace and flair.
Donovan would also offer those things but would rather a permanent addition than stop gap.
34 Posted 21/11/2011 at 16:40:02
Too bad because, even though Moyes had him basically on the right flank, you can deploy Landon anywhere above the back 4 and he'll have a positive influence. Oh well.
35 Posted 21/11/2011 at 17:19:08
36 Posted 21/11/2011 at 18:19:45
37 Posted 21/11/2011 at 18:35:51
After all, by EPL-wage standards, Landon's pretty cheap to get. Mostly, though, in today's game how often is it a player openly declares himself for a team, the manager openly declares he'd love to have him and absolutely nothing happens?
All academic anyway. He won't be back and money's the reason.
38 Posted 21/11/2011 at 19:56:47
39 Posted 21/11/2011 at 22:34:00
40 Posted 21/11/2011 at 22:50:57
Oh how how I long to see some nice movement and a quality finish at Goodison.
41 Posted 22/11/2011 at 01:34:34
42 Posted 22/11/2011 at 01:37:44
Landon is not a particular tall player so age should not be a problem, the taller bigger players slow down more evidently with age. He could be a Zola for us.
43 Posted 22/11/2011 at 02:45:48
44 Posted 22/11/2011 at 13:39:42
45 Posted 22/11/2011 at 14:45:55
Fuck Donovan; yes, he is a decent player but what's the point in getting another stop-gap? How's that going to improve the team long term?!
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Easy mate. What is long-term? There's no such thing in football. Most players would not stay beyond four years if they were good enough.
We've got plenty of young players, a bit of variety does no harm. We're hardly in aposition to be immensely choosy, either.
Donovan would also bring some experience. He's been captain of not just his Club (franchise, yuk!), but also of the national team. He has skill, he has pace, he wants to play for Everton, he's already played for us and fitted right in, so doesn't need bedding in time; he'd definitely improve the team; but hey, he's getting on so we wouln't have him for 7-8 years of him or get a big pay back when he leaves.
Oh, God. Terrible! Forget all the positives, we won't make money off him. We've got Anichebe anyway.
Bloody Hell, Jeremy, get back into bed, and then out on the right side. None of us control purse strings. What's that got to do with the right to air opnions?
46 Posted 22/11/2011 at 16:05:11
I can't see him leaving LA permanently at this stage of his career, so a loan deal will probably be the best we get. Seamus has been a hit and miss this season so maybe an alternative to rotate him with will be a good thing.
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Frankly, it's now or never for him. Inside talk (ok, the Big Wheel, Sean Weelock) had it that he wanted to come here at the start of last season. And he stated this season that he would leave Galaxy, "but only for Everton".
47 Posted 22/11/2011 at 16:12:51
48 Posted 23/11/2011 at 01:08:26
49 Posted 23/11/2011 at 20:31:09
To my mind what Donovan brought to the side was pace, intelligence and solved the right hand side, which has been a problem since Trevor Steven left. Even now I think Coleman is a wing back or an attacking full back-a wide mid/winger he ain?t, he just doesn?t have the skill, trickery or intelligence to buy himself half a yard, and to my mind we still need a winger/wide man to give us some attacking options and to chip in with 10 goals a season.
Donovan fits the bill perfectly.
50 Posted 24/11/2011 at 10:40:36
Yongsters vs Donovan argument is a valid one, but David Moyes has had the chance to play Gueye and Barkley since August and chose NOT to. Why is that? Cause they are poor or out of form? Or they are not deemed good enough by Moyes.
I would say to those defending Moyes and his "fantastic" youth policy, look at our team now, and notice that Moyes want Donovan back instead of giving our youngsters a chance. Wow, I must say I am hardly impressed by what Moyes has done this season regarding blooding youngsters into the team.
Seems like he has given up on that blooding youth through first team thing. Now let's hear it from the Moyes apologists. I can't wait.
51 Posted 24/11/2011 at 11:15:07
He's so repugnant I wouldn't watch Everton for any time he poisoned the pitch with the blue shirt on.
Rather have Gerrard playing!
52 Posted 24/11/2011 at 11:21:48
I think we need to think short term being in our league position, as we might not have a long term future in the Prem.
53 Posted 24/11/2011 at 11:28:30
Admittedly he is past his best for PL football, so a move wouldn't want him to come, but poison the pitch?
54 Posted 24/11/2011 at 11:45:50
We still need a striker though, no goals and you can't win a game.
55 Posted 24/11/2011 at 11:52:30
Donovan would be a good signing though. I would play him up front or just off.
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1 Posted 21/11/2011 at 07:30:18