ya ever see those movies where two owners claim the ownership of a dog and they both stand in the room and call it to see who dog goes to ? That's our Landon right now. Loyal to his original owner who raised him, fed him and groomed him into the beast he is now, but deep down, he really wants to just run to his newer, more fun and loving owner.
We can teach this old dog new tricks and he wants to learn. Donovan knows he's wasted in the MLS. Once he set foot on the turf at the Old Lady, he was smitten..in fact , the moment e walked into Finch Farm and met Fizzer, Cahill and the back room staff, he was smitten !! Then once the fans met him... well the rest was history !!
From a business perspective, Donovan moving on makes perfect sense, from both sides. We get him and it raises our marketing profile along with our footballing prowess - States side . You have to remember, LA Galaxy aren't just some suburban soccer Sunday kick about team supported by over excited soccer moms in Ford Explorers. They are one the biggest names in sports in the USA and Landon's name and visage promotes that globally. But what happens when the poster boy starts looking starry eyed to far flung shores ? Do they push the panic button and throw money at him or do they discard him and put him up for sale ? To release Landon now would help Galaxy two fold, it would put their name in the spotlight globally.. Firstly, one of THEM is coming here and not vica versa and secondly, it would show the watching world that they aren't just an easy pay day for 'superstars' on their last legs ( Beckham, Keane..) To be taken seriously as a footballing enterprise, letting Donovan go would be the ideal spring board for them. Move away from over exposed Spice Boys and get back to basics of grass roots soccer players who could one day be the new breed of Landon Donovans, Dempseys, Howards.... Some times you have to rip off the band aide to let the wound breath and heal properly .
