Reconsidering Landon Donovan's tactical role Sunday vs. RSL
by Steve Davis on Nov 8, 2011 4:08 PM EST
Email
PrintIn yesterday’s SI.com piece and in this blog, I talked about how Landon Donovan was a little quiet (by his standards) in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake. Well, I wasn’t exactly wrong … but I wasn’t exactly correct, either.
I went back and watched the game again for my weekly MLSSoccer.com contribution, where I break down a specific game tactically or eat my way around an MLS tactical trend. We call it Talking Tactics. Clever, eh?
Anyway, I may need to tap the brakes on that hasty pronouncement of Donovan reduced by injury to Donovan-Lite. I’m still not certain the U.S. international isn’t still bothered by his recent injury; he still doesn’t appear 100 percent Landon to me.
On the other hand, as I watched Sunday’s contest I decided that he was restrained by design, that perhaps Bruce Arena adjudged a more conservative deployment for Donovan the best way to manage a tricky night against Real Salt Lake’s high quality midfield.
The truth could even be somewhere in between. Perhaps Donovan isn’t 100 percent healthy. And perhaps that was part of Arena’s calculation as he distributed individual orders for the day, order that asked Donovan to be cautious and patient with his movements forward.
Either way, here’s the tactics piece on how Donovan’s role worked to perfection Sunday.
2 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Gary Smith...
Steve,
Nice analysis on Donovan here and in the MLSsoccer.com piece. We can always count on you being thorough.
I’m curious if you have any thoughts on the dismissal of Gary Smith. As a Rapids fan, I am disappointed with the decision. Smith got the Pids playing well and made them relevant — and he was fired. Clavijo had the Pids playing uninspiring soccer and they stunk — and he was fired. What gives? Anyway, I’d love to hear some thoughts from you — an outsider with more perspective.
Thanks.
In all honesty
… I don’t have any particular insight on this one. And since it’s such an odd situation, I don’t want to speculate just now. As it really doesn’t make much sense to me at the moment, whatever I said about it would probably be wrong. I’ll be in L.A. next week, and so will a boat load of other MLS types. Hopefully I can develop a better picture of the situation then. Personally, for the record, I always enjoyed working with Gary Smith, who was helpful, available and insightful.
