Sir Landon Of Donovan

[Christiffa25]

I'm pinning my hopes on EFC next season. I think we could be really strong. As long as we secure our current loan signings and that includes Landon.

Let him go back to LA, play in the CCL and in the summer let's get him on a perm deal.

Contract getting shorter, price lower... It's makes sense.
Sign him up on a 3 year deal with first option to LA to get him back at the end. These Americans love the return of a hero. They would make a fortune!

 

[Neiler]

Ha ha Ireland would and have smash those team tbf maybe not Mexico but we would fancy it big time that said we are pretty rubbish. The qualifying for major tournaments is a bit of a sham to be honest, would be inteesting to see how the states would get on in the European qualifying.

 

[The Equaliser]

No offense, but those countries have nothing like the climate in Honduras and Costa Rica. It's not about traveling well and playing well on the road, it's about the:

1) *hit pitches (that are sometimes made even worse to help the home team)
2) HORRIBLE refs from the CONCACAF region
3) getting showered with *hit while on the pitch
4) facilities that are below par (though Costa Rica has a beautiful new stadium)
5) extremely hostile crowd
6) governments/nations that do anything possible to help the home country - including: scheduling the game during the worst part of the day (Mexico scheduling the game when there is the most chance of horrible air conditions), hotel guests making life in the hotel miserable (fire alarms, noise in the street at 3am...), media getting in your face during horrible times the entire visit, the list is endless.

And Azteca? Good luck with that. The US is 0-24-1. MLS finally won some frigging games in Mexico this year, and that was in the face of some referree decisions that screamed "I'm reffing for my life!"

I have nothing against those countries, but World Cup Qualifying brings a whole new level of hate and crazy out. Don't believe me? Watch the behind the scenes videos of the US playing in those countries during qualifiers. It's eye opening.

Example: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090817

Take your point but it sounds similar to many away trips in 'Europe' tbf. I use the word 'Europe' loosely as many of these newer nations in European qualifying are actually in Asia. The atmosphere and conditions in some of these places is extremely hostile and intimidating to put it mildly. E.g. in Macedonia several of our players were subjected to laser beam attacks during the game. The pitches and conditions can be similar to those in Central America. In some cases it's just a matter of playing the match and getting out of there in one piece as quickly as possible. And also this is the same whether it's World Cup or Euro Champs qualifying; it makes no difference.

 

[ilikecheese]

I agree that some of the Eastern European nations present similar conditions to Central America. However, USA in Azteca is a different animal. I don't think anything else compares tbh. Maybe Argentina/Brazil?

Not quite the same though as they've both been huge on the World stage. We are the rich neighbor to the north that has everything on Mexico...except for football. That is their one thing they've always been able to grab onto for national pride. Lately, their dominance over us has dwindled. That has created a powder keg whenver we go to Azteca...and it gets worse with every year as the USMNT becomes more of a threat.

 

[EFC NY]

This Ireland/USA conversation is silly. Right now, USA is basically a lock to qualify for any WC. Ireland is 50/50 more or less. If you put Ireland in CONCACAF, and USA in UEFA, than Ireland becomes a lock, and the USA becomes 50/50. End of story.

Yes, road matches in CONCACAF are a pain in the ass, but do you really think guys like Richard Dunne give a **** about a bumpy pitch or some screaming Central Americans.

 

[RFUS]

Take your point but it sounds similar to many away trips in 'Europe' tbf. I use the word 'Europe' loosely as many of these newer nations in European qualifying are actually in Asia. The atmosphere and conditions in some of these places is extremely hostile and intimidating to put it mildly. E.g. in Macedonia several of our players were subjected to laser beam attacks during the game. The pitches and conditions can be similar to those in Central America. In some cases it's just a matter of playing the match and getting out of there in one piece as quickly as possible. And also this is the same whether it's World Cup or Euro Champs qualifying; it makes no difference.

Not nearly as epic as it sounds.

 

[NelsForBlues]

I seriously think the best chance to get him is this winter. He will only have one year left on his contract and he should come pretty cheap.... he could hold out and come to Everton Free in 2013 Winter....

Exactly. And that's what I meant when I said earlier that he's laying the ground work now. It's for a future transfer.

 

[dabes2]

This Ireland/USA conversation is silly. Right now, USA is basically a lock to qualify for any WC. Ireland is 50/50 more or less. If you put Ireland in CONCACAF, and USA in UEFA, than Ireland becomes a lock, and the USA becomes 50/50. End of story.

Yes, road matches in CONCACAF are a pain in the ass, but do you really think guys like Richard Dunne give a **** about a bumpy pitch or some screaming Central Americans.

Totally agree, but.........that says more about the qualifying system than anything else. It's harder to mess up being in the top 3 in a 6 team group when you are one of the top 2 teams. I think qualifying from Africa is harder than Europe because the group format means you have to be first. That doesn't make African teams better than European. One slip up and you can be toast.

The whole way we got onto this conversation was to argue that Landon's goal stats playing in concacaf aren't really as padded as people think given that it's a weak confederation. The USA plays the final 10 qualifying games against concacaf's best because they merge them into one group. And a six team group of Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, USA, Panama, Guatemala/Trinidad/Canada is IMO a tougher group to collect goal stats in than a Euro qualifying group.

 

[EFC NY]

Totally agree, but.........that says more about the qualifying system than anything else. It's harder to mess up being in the top 3 in a 6 team group when you are one of the top 2 teams. I think qualifying from Africa is harder than Europe because the group format means you have to be first. That doesn't make African teams better than European. One slip up and you can be toast.

The whole way we got onto this conversation was to argue that Landon's goal stats playing in concacaf aren't really as padded as people think given that it's a weak confederation. The USA plays the final 10 qualifying games against concacaf's best because they merge them into one group. And a six team group of Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, USA, Panama, Guatemala/Trinidad/Canada is IMO a tougher group to collect goal stats in than a Euro qualifying group.

I disagree. Remember, Landon doesn't play against the USA. So his final group opponents are: Mexico, Costa Rica, Hondoras, 2 of the Panama/Guatemala/Trinidad po po platter. Other than Mexico, that is a lot of mediocre to poor ****. A Europe final WC qualifying group is surely going to provide stiffer competition than that. Using Ireland as a USA equivalent side, they will be playing one heavyweight that is better than Mexico, and at least one (maybe more) peer team that is maybe on Mexico's level and certainly much better than that other **** (like a Denmark, for instance). And the remainder of the group will be, on average, better than the po po platter of banana republics CONCACAF has.

If FIFA wanted to set up qualifying to maximize the quality of the 32 teams that make it, they might very well come out with a WC final where every team is from Europe or SA. USA, Mexico, Japan, Nigeria, et at could clearly be knocked out in qualifying by Ireland, Sweden, Poland, et al.

 

[Kay20]

I disagree. Remember, Landon doesn't play against the USA. So his final group opponents are: Mexico, Costa Rica, Hondoras, 2 of the Panama/Guatemala/Trinidad po po platter. Other than Mexico, that is a lot of mediocre to poor ****. A Europe final WC qualifying group is surely going to provide stiffer competition than that. Using Ireland as a USA equivalent side, they will be playing one heavyweight that is better than Mexico, and at least one (maybe more) peer team that is maybe on Mexico's level and certainly much better than that other **** (like a Denmark, for instance). And the remainder of the group will be, on average, better than the po po platter of banana republics CONCACAF has.

If FIFA wanted to set up qualifying to maximize the quality of the 32 teams that make it, they might very well come out with a WC final where every team is from Europe or SA. USA, Mexico, Japan, Nigeria, et at could clearly be knocked out in qualifying by Ireland, Sweden, Poland, et al.

Sorry, don't agree. Again, Mexico nor the US beats those teams 8-0. There is no "crushing" of anyone.

I'm not getting into this anymore, but you are vastly underrating the other factors surrounding qualifying. It's not about laser attacks - it's about having D batteries and bags of pee thrown at your head while you're trying to take a corner kick, and a ref that will give you 0 calls for two hours and is looking for any excuse to give your team a red card.

I don't care if you're Argentina, England, Ireland or the US. Those factors make qualifying difficult for ANYONE.

I am not saying we would qualify out of Europe, or that qualifying in CONCACAF is harder than Europe. Ireland, like the US, should qualify for the World Cup out of this region.

But you calling those teams the "po po platter of banana republics" is flat ignorant of how qualifying works here and the improvement some of the countries in CONCACAF have seen in the last 5 years.

P.S. And your every team from Europe/SA is flat false nowadays. Forget the US as we are having issues, but Mexico and Japan would imo kick out some of the teams in Europe. In particular Japan.

 

[Kay20]

Take your point but it sounds similar to many away trips in 'Europe' tbf. I use the word 'Europe' loosely as many of these newer nations in European qualifying are actually in Asia. The atmosphere and conditions in some of these places is extremely hostile and intimidating to put it mildly. E.g. in Macedonia several of our players were subjected to laser beam attacks during the game. The pitches and conditions can be similar to those in Central America. In some cases it's just a matter of playing the match and getting out of there in one piece as quickly as possible. And also this is the same whether it's World Cup or Euro Champs qualifying; it makes no difference.

Hear ya - I've seen matches in Turkey where it can be an absolute hellhole. To each his own. I think due to stress WCQ anywhere is hard. It's not an easy qualification process for anyone.

 

[Kay20]

Exactly. And that's what I meant when I said earlier that he's laying the ground work now. It's for a future transfer.

Agree as well. To me the question is summer or winter. But first and foremost, he'll be 30, so he MUST keep up his form to have a prayer.

 

[EFC NY]

Sorry, don't agree. Again, Mexico nor the US beats those teams 8-0. There is no "crushing" of anyone.

I'm not getting into this anymore, but you are vastly underrating the other factors surrounding qualifying. It's not about laser attacks - it's about having D batteries and bags of pee thrown at your head while you're trying to take a corner kick, and a ref that will give you 0 calls for two hours and is looking for any excuse to give your team a red card.

I don't care if you're Argentina, England, Ireland or the US. Those factors make qualifying difficult for ANYONE.

I am not saying we would qualify out of Europe, or that qualifying in CONCACAF is harder than Europe. Ireland, like the US, should qualify for the World Cup out of this region.

But you calling those teams the "po po platter of banana republics" is flat ignorant of how qualifying works here and the improvement some of the countries in CONCACAF have seen in the last 5 years.

How am I ignorant of how qualifying works by calling them the po po platter of banana republics? Politically incorrect? Yes. But the phrase is meant to convey the thought that they are inconsequential fodder that generally has no chance of finishing above the US or Mexico in the group, and their presence, in part, makes the CONCACAF final WC qualifying group less difficult than nearly every UEFA WC Qualifying final group, which was the point I was responding to. I don't care how many batteries are thrown at them. Last I checked it hasn't stopped the USA or Mexico from qualifying in many many years. Conversely, the USA and Mexico could be treated like the Queen of England at Buckingham Palace when they go on the road in Europe and they would both struggle to qualify, because last I checked, a lot of comparable sides in Europe are left on the outside looking in.

 

[Kay20]

How am I ignorant of how qualifying works by calling them the po po platter of banana republics? Politically incorrect? Yes. But the phrase is meant to convey the thought that they are inconsequential fodder that generally has no chance of finishing above the US or Mexico in the group, and their presence, in part, makes the CONCACAF final WC qualifying group less difficult than nearly every UEFA WC Qualifying final group, which was the point I was responding to. I don't care how many batteries are thrown at them. Last I checked it hasn't stopped the USA or Mexico from qualifying in many many years. Conversely, the USA and Mexico could be treated like the Queen of England at Buckingham Palace when they go on the road in Europe and they would both struggle to qualify, because last I checked, a lot of comparable sides in Europe are left on the outside looking in.

Your point I'm disagreeing with (and that TX Bill was trying to point out) is that they are "inconsquential fodder." They are not that. The point I was responding to earlier is the fact that people think qualifying through our region is "easy" and our stats are "inflated."

I never said anything about Europe being the same as CONCACAF - there are other folks that said that. I also have recognized multiple times now that qualifying out of Europe is harder, if the US had that qualification process we might not make it. It's one reason I don't want the team to join CONMEBOL - I like qualifying for the World Cup.

That does not mean qualifying through CONCACAF is easy or that Ireland would beat Guatemala 8-0.

I will repeat: qualifying out of this region is no cakewalk due to a variety of reasons. That is my point. Has zero to do with Europe. People in other regions tend to underestimate the difficulty of qualifying through CONCACAF, and they typically have not seen the improvements that teams like Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador and Jamaica have undergone.

CONCACAF's smaller teams (i.e. Antigua & Barbuda, Cuba) are very much minnows. But the middle tier of teams I just mentioned above have seen major improvements in the last 5 years. Add environment to that, makes those games tough. Add major parking the bus and ref situations to that, and teams that aren't used to breaking down the bunker, struggle.

Yes, the US, Mexico and Ireland should qualify. But it's not like we can send the C team to each game.

 

[The Equaliser]

Not nearly as epic as it sounds.

It's highly dangerous and it's cheating