Sir Landon Of Donovan

[best little spaniard]

Some of the replies in here are wonderful.


*Bows to American contingent.

 

[SinoToffee]

I would like him to stay, but don't think that it is likely to happen. He criticized Beckham for extending his loan spell last season, so he won't extend his this season. Also I don't think Everton would want to pay as much as LA Galaxy would want for him.

, No, no, no ... that's exactly incorrect on 2 counts. 1) Beckham was criticized for insufficient team commitment and leadership when with LA, e.g., not appearing at the stadium when injured, minimal effort to lead/set example for younger players, etc. on both sides of the Atlantic. However, some media sources reported the criticism wrong 2) Everton would pay LA nothing. All MLS player contracts are signed with the league, not individual teams. Whether Everton can allocate the funds to buy out Donovan's MLS contract is a different topic.

 

[SinoToffee]

He has said he wants to play against the best, you wont find that in the MLS.

Donovan may not find his Manhattan Beach, CA house in the UK, but increased global endorsements and a Premiership contract sure could buy a nice beach front home in a warmer European country.

 

[Catamount]

If Landon Donovan moved to Everton on a perm deal, then Everton would definitely have quite a following in the US that rivals teams like Man U, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. I definitely think they could make their money back, especially if Donovan is a hit.

If LD goes back to LA, will there be any new Galaxy fans from Europe? Maybe, but probably not. Perhaps US Soccer would be better served if American fans take a cue from the devoted Everton faithful and support their local team. Just a thought.

As a long time youth coach and part time journalist, I have really enjoyed watching Everton play. I think Moyes does an amazing job considering the financial constraints he's under. I like the ethos of the club.

However, competing to win the the Premiership on a consistent basis starts with money. There are perhaps six teams with the money, but only four or five with the value and marketing pull to have a realistic shot. That makes it a six team league.

It is interesting to watch the media. Except in Liverpool all the headlines essentially said, "Chelsea loses." If one of the six suffers their second or third loss, "There is a danger that the Championship is lost."

This.

In order for american soccer to get better, its best players need to be in Europe. that doesn't mean there's no place for MLS, but if your not playing in Europe i don't want you in my National Team's starting 11.

Hopefully, he'll be back in the summer.

I always find this argument to be a bit puzzling. American soccer got better because the best American players stayed home. LD didn't learn to play good soccer by playing in Europe. Dempsey and McBride played college and MLS first. American players succeed in Europe by first succeeding in the US.

My guess is Donovan feels awful about it.

Physical play is great. Playing to injure - not Donovan's style, I'm sure.

There is a very interesting picture of LD and Cole just before LD makes contact. LD's body position and balance are absolutely clinical. Cole looks like a schoolboy backing into a challenge. Both players know (or should know) that the result of that play was entirely due to technique.

Yes, but you must also look at the quality at which those players are playing.

Dempsey is really the only standout going back to the beginning of the season. Landon is, as much as I hate to say it, as johnny-come-lately as any of the American players this year. I'm not saying he's not playing well, because that's blatantly obvious, but who else is playing well?

Michael Bradley was struggling for playing time at 'gladbach. Cherundolo has been injured oft for Hannover. Davies and Onyewu have been hurt. Adu spent months riding the bench at a mediocre Belenenses whilst Eddie Johnson sat the curb as well. The only one getting a fair amount of playing time has been Bocanegra. Altidore finally found a scoring touch, but will that last? I guess we'll wait and see, but I hope for the team's sake things start to come together a bit better. The match against the orange coming up next month is going to speak volumes.

THIS.

The exception would be the American players that have European passports. Clubs can develop them properly because they don't stand to lose them.

Track any US player you like over the past 20 years that also played in Europe without a Euro passport, and you will see the same pattern. First they succeed in the US before moving to Europe near the prime of their career. Ironically, college experience seems to correlate highly to success in Europe (something LD didn't have).

I, for one, am not an Everton supporter, though I do admire the club for their ability to consistently compete and remain fiscally responsible in a league that badly needs a salary cap. A player from our high school program plays for the Galaxy, and I have retired from sports journalism to pursue my doctorate.

I am a Galaxy supporter. I am watching to see how our skipper and best player is doing in his preseason preparations for the Galaxy season. His stay at Bayern did a good job of preparing him last season. He was very sharp. I think his stay at Everton may make him even sharper.

The mechanisms are already in place for a sale at predetermined price that will compensate the Galaxy and MLS for the loss of LD. If Everton can pay the price, LD will be theirs probably to start the next EPL season. The Galaxy will benefit though I will be very unhappy because it will probably hurt the Galaxy run for the MLS Cup.

Talk of lucrative in endorsements in Europe may underestimate the reach and power of AEG. The Galaxy may be a small club, but AEG is a giant in the entertainment world, and they are quite capable of holding their own on the business front as Grumpy and 19 Entertainment found out.

LD has said that the decision is not in his hands. Perhaps how LD feels about staying is not nearly as important as how much Everton is willing to pay. I think Moyes words are a indication that he knows what the price is and that a loan extension is not part of the deal.

 

[Only-Blue-toffees]

I do think we'll try and get him in the summer, he's perfect for us, moyes knows it and the fans do too, he will be wasted talent if he stays in the MLS, he's done his job there and i think its a perfect time to move in his career.

I'm sure moyes will find the 9mil to get him, thats £9m not $9m usd. Lets hope the price tag doesn't sky rocket after the world cup. I also think Landon is really enjoying is time here as much as the fans and players are. Go get him Moyesy

 

[padefc]

imo its down to lando himself we all know deep down that players have all the power now days and if they want to move nothing and noone will stop them we above all should realise this!!!

if and is a big if he decides he wants to stay am sure moyse will secure him either in the summer or after the w/c on loan until summer id be cofident of getting the funds in place as hed probably be our major signing

 

[COYB]

let's just hope he's not one of those
'gis a fat wedge each week + ill play for yer'
i.e 'Joelean Lescott' ''Rooney' id give it a %30 from
what ive seen/heard he likes it here? the only problem
is the money, wouldnt it not rise during his time here?
hope we do get him midfield of , arteta,pienaar,fellaini,donovan,cahill
wouldnt mind that atall

 

[BlueMedley]

Dempsey is really the only standout going back to the beginning of the season. Landon is, as much as I hate to say it, as johnny-come-lately as any of the American players this year. I'm not saying he's not playing well, because that's blatantly obvious, but who else is playing well?

Michael Bradley was struggling for playing time at 'gladbach. Cherundolo has been injured oft for Hannover. Davies and Onyewu have been hurt. Adu spent months riding the bench at a mediocre Belenenses whilst Eddie Johnson sat the curb as well. The only one getting a fair amount of playing time has been Bocanegra. Altidore finally found a scoring touch, but will that last? I guess we'll wait and see, but I hope for the team's sake things start to come together a bit better. The match against the orange coming up next month is going to speak volumes.

Listen, you got me on our national team. I only really care about Everton. I do support the mls by following the Fire and going to games when i can. I think MLS is essential to the American game. It can be successful and produce great football. but just as essential, is our national team to be playing at the highest level. It will only make the game more appreciated at home, thus helping the MLS.

And dont count out the experience an american can get from playing abroad, even if for awhile. Like I said early, I think Freddy Adu would do well to Return to the MLS, with the experience he had.He could have a successful career and he's still young enough to try Europe again.

 

[little curly alan ball]

lcab do you know where the problem, if there is one, lies?

No , mate . Just heard it's unlikely , right now . Contract is a contract , is a contract .
As has been said ,post W/C , may be different .

 

[Grogtank]

Perhaps US Soccer would be better served if American fans take a cue from the devoted Everton faithful and support their local team. Just a thought.

Many of us don't have a local team to support. The closest team to me is a 10 hour round trip. Large landmass sprinkled with too few teams. In 150 years or so with steady growth I'm sure we can get there.

Sin City FC!

 

[Catamount]

Many of us don't have a local team to support. The closest team to me is a 10 hour round trip. Large landmass sprinkled with too few teams. In 150 years or so with steady growth I'm sure we can get there.

Sin City FC!

Hmm. Closer than Everton. Point taken, however.

 

[Catamount]

I do think we'll try and get him in the summer, he's perfect for us, moyes knows it and the fans do too, he will be wasted talent if he stays in the MLS, he's done his job there and i think its a perfect time to move in his career.

I'm sure moyes will find the 9mil to get him, thats £9m not $9m usd. Lets hope the price tag doesn't sky rocket after the world cup. I also think Landon is really enjoying is time here as much as the fans and players are. Go get him Moyesy

Certainly wouldn't be a wasted to this Galaxy fan. However, with the realities of the slightly increased salary cap, the G's could probably make a significant upgrade at 3 or 4 positions, so it probably works either way. LD is class, and he has earned the position he's in.

 

[Catamount]

I Disagree with this. Landon wanted to go to Europe to get ready for the World Cup and to get bought. I would be shocked if Sir Landon wasn't bought after the World Cup. If Sir Landon is back on loan next year, I would consider that a complete failure.

I haven't read anything credible about him wanting to be bought prior to the WC, but you may have better sources than mine. The reality is that to prepare for the WC it is a lot easier to walk to the next field at Victoria Street to join up with your mates. If he goes to Everton, I'm pretty certain it will be after the WC. LD didn't put the price in the contract if he didn't want to field offers. MLS most likely set the price.

 

[Catamount]

imo its down to lando himself we all know deep down that players have all the power now days and if they want to move nothing and noone will stop them we above all should realise this!!!

if and is a big if he decides he wants to stay am sure moyse will secure him either in the summer or after the w/c on loan until summer id be cofident of getting the funds in place as hed probably be our major signing

You may be underestimating the power of AEG and MLS in this case. LD signed that four year deal knowing this exact scenario could happen. Grumpy went to Italy and then tried to get out of his prior agreement with the Galaxy. LD did not criticise him for this, but he did say when he went to Bayern, "I won't pull a Beckham."

He has always been a stand up guy with his words. I believe he negotiated the best purchase option he could in a situation where MLS had him locked up for two more years. I feel certain the price is fixed and a sale won't happen until after the WC. Of course AEG are money grubbers and they probably do have a price. I expect it is too steep for an immediate deal.

 

[Aztattooedfootballfan]

No permanent deal could be done. He is the face of the MLS and LA Galaxy. I do see him returning next january in a similar deal. That should be good

There is a lot of talented players in the league and as a Sounders supporter, Landon isn't the face for us. :blink:

Maybe to the casual supporter, he might be though.

That said, his being able to succeed overseas definitely helps out the league.