According to Soccer by Ives the short term loan deal for Donovan has been completed. It’s expected that he’ll be there for 2-3 months and the loan will start in January.
It’ll be interesting to see how the deal plays out for the American international and how much time he’ll be able to get on the pitch, and what sort of impact he’ll have.
Now that the deal’s been confirmed, the speculation is over. So what do you think? Smart move, dumb move, or will it not really have any impact?
Everton finalizes loan deal for Donovan [Soccer by Ives]
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Is it a loan-to-buy or a straight-up loan? I’d rather a loan-to-buy at this point; he needs to get out of MLS. Four years of Donovan in the Premiership before 2014 (when he’ll be 31, with not much wear on him from playing most of that time in MLS) is going to make the next World Cup a better place.
I still tend to think he has a really hard time cracking the Everton starting lineup if everyone’s healthy; I’d love to be proven wrong, but last year Bayern – with an insanely friendly Jurgen Klinnsman managing him – barely found time to get him on the field. This should finally end the discussion on Donovan, though: we should know if he’s actually good or just MLS good when this is all said and done.
Incidentally, why does Everton keep going for these attacking-midfielders-that-aren’t-quite-strikers? They’ve got a bunch of them on their squad already (Pienaar, Cahill, that new Russian guy, Fellaini…); is the goal to have four people playing behind a nonexistant striker?
It reminds me a bit too much of the Bayern move, they had 4-5 players in his same role that he just wasn’t going to get around. He’s got a better chance at Everton to break through though.
Hopefully this is a loan to buy because it is truly put up or shut up time, though I don’t think it is because I’d be willing to bet that MLS’s asking price is going to be pretty high for him and I’m not sure Everton could afford the tag, though if he plays well enough they’d obviously find a way.
@MH; I was thinking the same thing. With strikers like Saha, Yakubu, Jô and Vaughan (I know he’s injured), you’d think Everton would be going for defensive-midfielders and center-backs. Yes, Seamus Coleman had an excellent match against Spurs as a right-back, but his debut at center-back in the Europa League against FC Porto ended five-nil to the Portuguese.
So, no, I think the loan-deal was foolish for the Toffees, but probably good for Landycakes, if he can get time–of which there is no guarantee.
One thing I’ve not heard discussed too much is the fact that Tim Howard is at Everton. Wasn’t the knock against Donovan at Leverkusen that he got homesick and ran back to California? Obviously, he handled Bayern Munich better, being 6 or 7 years older. Does having a friend in Howard help Donovan settle and integrate better?
I think so. He’s also got about 5-6 other guys from the NT over there with him too, where I’m guessing (and not bothering to research it) there wasn’t really anyone in Germany. I think being able to talk to Deuce, Tim, and even Jozy about any sort of transition into England will make things smoother.
Cherundolo was at Hannover, but that’s about it.
Good move for Everton, if Landon can get used to the tackles. His speed is world class and is something Everton lacks. Landon is good with both feet from 20 yards. He splits the center halfs all the time. He’s a great one touch passer. Everton is already a threat in the air with Cahill and Fellaini…and Saha is too injury prone to do the kind of things Landon can do.
I see Everton virtually every weekend and it wouldn’t surprise me if they use Landon’s pace to break down defenses, and put him up front where he won’t get as many touches nor as many brute tackles compared to a midfield role or at the top of the diamond.
Landon’s pace is absolutely world class and unlike Michael Owen he’s managed to avoid troublesome groin and hamstring injuries that plague sprinters. If used properly, Landon could be a star in the EPL….put him in situations where he’s likely to get injured and there could be controversy on both sides of the Atlantic.
Frankly I think it’s a brilliant move by Moyes, Landon’s got the class and the pace, and Landon is undervalued. I can see Fellaini holding up the ball and playing a deep target role to supply Landon. Landon brings things to the table that only a very healthy Saha has, and which as a team Everton generally lack: pace, vision, poaching & passing.
My only reservations about Landon are :
1. His toughness and ability to take EPL hits.
2. For Landon to succeed like at the Galaxy or USMNT, the manager almost has to build the team to Landon’s strengths, not the other way around. It will never happen, so it will be interesting to see how they plug him in to their system.