re: Landon Donovan sets MLS record of 136 goals (2 goals and assist)

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he has made a career out of it.

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Making a career out of something =/= best American


Ask any MLS GM or coach, and I'm sure they'd rather Donovan take set pieces than Brad Davis.

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But I'm not there yet, because as stupid as I thought the decision was, I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt that it wasn't done for purely personal reasons.

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Jurgen's past is certainly not helping his case.

I just fail to see how a move with this much backlash could ever pay off. I will honestly believe it is the wrong move even if Wondo (who I like) poaches a couple hat tricks, Davis scores four with his left foot on free kicks, and Julian Green impresses the entire world. I just see no way to not include a potentially top two player in the 23.

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Hate all you want, he has made a career out of it.

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It would be great if we could just sub him in for free kicks. I'm not sure he's going to offer enough against athletic/world class defenders to even be on the pitch.

If we're down a goal in extra time and win a ball leading to a counter, I'd sure as hell rather see Donovan running at the defense to play in a through ball than anyone we have in that final 23.

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And he's nowhere near as good as Eddie Lewis ever was at serving the ball in, and we still haven't seen a better free kick taker than Jeff Agoos.

I'd argue that if Sacha Kljestan had stayed in MLS and been a team's primary set piece taker for 8+ years, we'd be calling him that.

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Can't say on Agoos as I don't really remember him, but I would put Davis ahead of Eddie Lewis or Donovan on set pieces. Every time Davis is over the ball you feel like something special could happen. Brad Davis is the ultimate specialist.

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but I would put Davis ahead of Eddie Lewis or Donovan on set pieces. Every time Davis is over the ball you feel like something special could happen. Brad Davis is the ultimate specialist.

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Am I taking crazy pills????

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Davis is probaby literally half as fast as Ronaldo, too

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I don't think anyone thinks Davis is going to start. Davis' role is likely as a 80th minute sub looking for one chance at a set piece.

The players that will be doing the heavy lifting with Ronaldo will be either FabJo or Chandler with Zusi and Bedoya ahead of them. Outside backs with moderate to low speed didn't make the cut.

Assuming that Chandler and Johnson are our outside backs, the midfield will have a ton of responsibility defensively. Unless Klinnsmann can keep Chandler from bombing forward (when he couldn't even get him to accept wcq callups) We're looking at a massive defensive liability. Especially if it's Jermaine's tactical responsibility to shield the back 4 and he abandons it like we all know he'll want to. That'll put a one goal game out of reach in a hurry. I'd cast my lots with a Donovan led counter over a Davis set piece any day.

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Unless Klinnsmann can keep Chandler from bombing forward (when he couldn't even get him to accept wcq callups)

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Awesome.