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Sir Landon Of Donovan

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The Galaxy had their butts handed to them tonight by the Puerto Rico Islanders.

Let me repeat that.

The Puerto Rico Islanders.

Not a typo. 4-1. USSF division 2 team.

In their defense, Galaxy didn't have their best defender, nor their goalkeeper, and so their defense was porous. But their midfield was awful as well: the right was non-existent, and so the PRI defense basically sat on Landon on the left all night long.

Example: Landon had a brilliant run about 20 minutes in where he threaded between three defenders and into the box, stepping neatly over their outstretched legs, and gifted the ball to Gorden, only to have the big man from 1 yard out manage to knee it directly into the goalkeeper and out.

Embarrassing for the best MLS squad.

Plus - Landon had to play the full 90 minutes - so he will probably be in the All-Star game for a total of 15 minutes. Pity. I wanted to see what he could do against the Man U B squad. Much more interesting than this travesty.

The reason I'm posting all of this here on the board is because although I do believe Landon loves playing at home, these moments must cause him to think "Seriously? I could be playing in the EPL/Everton right now and Don Garber wants me to lose to the Puerto Rico fricking Islanders?!?!?!"

Had to vent.
 
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ChicagoToffee said:
As many have said...."watch this space". Could see Moyes using any Pienaar money (if there is any to be had) to trot it right over to MLS and demand Donovan. Then again....
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I'd swap Pienaar for Donovan in a heartbeat. Stevie's a good player, but Donovan's pace set Goodison alight. Ideally you'd want both, but any love I had for Pienaar has pretty much gone since he's been angling for a move.
 
Kay20 said:
The Galaxy had their butts handed to them tonight by the Puerto Rico Islanders.

Let me repeat that.

The Puerto Rico Islanders.

Not a typo. 4-1. USSF division 2 team.

In their defense, Galaxy didn't have their best defender, nor their goalkeeper, and so their defense was porous. But their midfield was awful as well: the right was non-existent, and so the PRI defense basically sat on Landon on the left all night long.

Example: Landon had a brilliant run about 20 minutes in where he threaded between three defenders and into the box, stepping neatly over their outstretched legs, and gifted the ball to Gorden, only to have the big man from 1 yard out manage to knee it directly into the goalkeeper and out.

Embarrassing for the best MLS squad.

Plus - Landon had to play the full 90 minutes - so he will probably be in the All-Star game for a total of 15 minutes. Pity. I wanted to see what he could do against the Man U B squad. Much more interesting than this travesty.

The reason I'm posting all of this here on the board is because although I do believe Landon loves playing at home, these moments must cause him to think "Seriously? I could be playing in the EPL/Everton right now and Don Garber wants me to lose to the Puerto Rico fricking Islanders?!?!?!"

Had to vent.
Click to expand...


The last paragraph is the rub. How many times is Donovan going to see this happen and wonder, with his years left, why not the EPL? Seriously, he is so above the MLS talent, that it has to make him think. The US loves the guy and going overseas does nothing to bring that love down, no we all think that that is where he should be. It is a no brainer. Given that he is a character guy and one who makes decisions based on his heart, not his pocket, then, Everton. With this last WC, LD has broken through in the US sports world, and is almost better known then a lot of basketball and football stars now. Money is no longer an issue. He can play where he wants.
 
I think it's safe to say the earliest we are likely to see Landon back here is January.I just can't see Moyes paying anywhere near what La Galaxy/Mls would want for anything permanent.
 

I watched part of the LA match and was shocked at the result.

Seriously, that was like Everton losing the Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup several years back. Yeah, it was that bad.

He played ok tonight (at the MLS All Star game) but you can tell the guy needs a bit of a rest. He's been everywhere in the last six months. How Arena gets him that rest is anyone's guess.
 
And it begins... Landon is starting to speak up - most likely to protect his interests. I was wondering when Landon would get annoyed at the Garber "Donovan is not for sale" show:

Well, before the All-Star game, and following the All-Star game, Landon hung a "for sale" sign around his neck if you read between the lines... (gee, I was on a team that BEAT Man U's A-squad):

Asked point blank by ESPN before the game whether he was staying or going, the response:
"For now, staying. But there is a little over a month to see what happens. We'll consider anything serious and take it day by day." I don't have the words exact, but that was basically it. Read into the "for now" and the clear reference to the August 30th deadline for EPL.

Plus, there's this below - directly contradicting Garber's "we have had no offers" statement to SI.com today. Garber is treading that fine line: no offers may be accurate, but that doesn't mean no interest. Although, really random reference to Italy's league. Don't see him going there.

Donovan says evaluating transfer options

Reuters, Thursday July 29 2010
By Simon Evans
HOUSTON, July 29 (Reuters) - United States forward Landon Donovan is considering possible moves to Europe away from his Major League Soccer club the Los Angeles Galaxy.
"We have had transfer interest and we will have some time to think about it and see where it goes," Donovan told Reuters after featuring for the MLS All Stars against Manchester United on Wednesday. "There is interest from a number of teams."
Donovan, who spent three months on loan with English Premier League club Everton last season, indicated there had been interest from Italian Serie A clubs, while Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini also said last week that an approach for Donovan was "possible".
Donovan, who scored three goals for the U.S. in the World Cup finals, however signed a new contract with the Galaxy last December that runs until 2013 and as the most recognisable face of the sport in the U.S., the American league are keen to keep hold of him.
"Landon is an incredibly important part of the American soccer movement and to have him lead MLS after performing on the world stage, is extremely valuable," league commissioner Don Garber told Reuters on Tuesday.
"I am pleased that he renegotiated his deal for several more years and I hope that he will stay here for the rest of his career ...(but) it's not my decision, it's Landon's decision and LA Galaxy's decision."
Donovan said he would be in the U.S. team who face Brazil in a friendly on Aug. 10 in New York.
 
TX Bill said:
He played ok tonight (at the MLS All Star game) but you can tell the guy needs a bit of a rest. He's been everywhere in the last six months. How Arena gets him that rest is anyone's guess.
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Everywhere is right TX Bill, and it's not looking to get any better:
8/1 Chicago Fire match
8/4 Rematch vs Puerto Rico Islanders - not likely to sit since the Galaxy I'm sure want redemption
8/7 Friendly vs Real Madrid - gotta trot the boy out for this, but I hope Arena doesn't play him the entire time
8/10 USMNT Friendly vs Brazil - he's playing. Period. Which he validated in the Reuters article.
8/14 NY Red Bulls vs. Galaxy - Henry/Angel(/Marquez?) vs. Donovan/Buddle. He's playing.

Hope his legs don't fall off.
 

bluebloodinmyveins said:
We cant afford whatever they are asking for. So it wont be us hes coming to.
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Maybe...maybe not.

Everton seemed pretty skint in 2008 before 15 million popped up for Fellaini.

If he moves, can't see him going anywhere else. He's not going to Serie A (see prior spells in foreign language countries - Germany) or to another Premier League side. He knows he'll be an integral player at Everton rather than a squad player at Shitteh. The other club that might make a play that hasn't been discussed really is Fulham - good history with American players, think Donovan would like playing with Dempsey, Hughes will have transfer cash available and Donovan would probably step into the CM role rather than the RM role he'd hold at Everton.

Still want to be as optimistic as possible about this...love that the tone seems to be changing on the US/MLS side.
 

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