Sir Landon Of Donovan

Arteta's Girl · February 19, 2010

Grant Wahl article on the situation - NO BUY OUT in his contract... (n)

Catamount · February 19, 2010

Arteta's Girl said:
Grant Wahl article on the situation - NO BUY OUT in his contract...

Link

Wahl doesn't write unless he's certain about his sources. This is probably the most reliable statement that can be found on the subject. Great find.

kenada_blue · February 20, 2010

Gives our team a massive boost.

Would love him to sign on a permo.

kenada_blue · February 20, 2010

Moyes reconfirming donovan isn't staying longer than his loan even though donovan wants to, it says over on skysports news.

thebes20 · February 20, 2010

I think that LD will have to go, I hope not, BUT the BIG if, is if the MLS players/managers do not agree to the terms, and right now it is looking iffy. It is looking bad for the MLS. The deadline is thisThursday and if they do not have an agreement by then, the money and all, is off the table, then LD would most likely stay.
Who knows at this point, but as Thursday approaches, then .................The MLS players have a good gripe and they seem to be intrenched in their thoughts. 4 days will tell.
Whether LD stays or goes is really in the hands of the MLS and what is not said is that there is trouble on the horizon in a players walk out. If there is no agreement by Thursday, then LD stay regardless of money.
You are all talking about how you might not be able to afford him, BUT follow the MLS news. It may be something totally different that causes him to stay. I posted a link earlier about this problem, and few posted about it.
Here it is.
http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2010/02/mls-labor-talks-stall-as-work-stoppage-looms.html

StDomingosGringo · February 20, 2010

kenada_blue said:
Moyes reconfirming donovan isn't staying longer than his loan even though donovan wants to, it says over on skysports news.

He'll be back. He loves us, we love him.

TX Bill · February 20, 2010

He was very good again today.

Dutch Toffee · February 20, 2010

Would love to see him stay permanently. It looks like he has been an Everton players for years. He fits right in with our system, our policy and our team ethic. I know it's highly unlikely that he'll stay beyond his current loan, but hope we'll be able to sign him on a permanent deal in the summer.

Andriy.EFC · February 20, 2010

Noooooo he's leaving

Catamount · February 21, 2010

TX Bill said:
He was very good again today.

The labor talks are the key at this point. I still expect something to get done. However, there are only a few owners in the MLS that are making money. All have other interests that are much bigger than soccer.

Kraft and Anschutz are the principal owners/investors in the league. They could walk away from MLS and they would hardly notice it on their balance sheets. The reality is that the players are negotiating with a league that is solvent only because they have kept costs down.

If the players are willing to strike, then they must be willing to have no league to play in afterward. For many owners and investors it would simply be one headache out of the way. AEG may make as much money on Victoria Street by renting it out for concerts, X-Games and high school sports as they do for soccer games.

I expect that another league would emerge, perhaps the revitalization of the NASL, but I also think the players are playing chicken with a truck that just might be willing to divert to a completely different road.

What does all of this mean for Everton? You may have a chance to keep LD if he doesn't have a league to return to.

tsubaki · February 21, 2010

Catamount said:
I expect that another league would emerge, perhaps the revitalization of the NASL, but I also think the players are playing chicken with a truck that just might be willing to divert to a completely different road.

Having seen what conditions (in terms of contracts, registrations etc) the players operate under - which are between ten and forty years behind the times in Europe - I can well see both why the players should strike, and why owners dont really give a [Poor language removed] either way.

Also there is a lot hidden between the lines in that Wahl piece that would tend to suggest that he isnt as sold on us as we are on him, which is a shame, but I suppose L4 and its attendant insanities is a massive culture shock to someone from LA.

Catamount · February 21, 2010

tsubaki said:
Having seen what conditions (in terms of contracts, registrations etc) the players operate under - which are between ten and forty years behind the times in Europe - I can well see both why the players should strike, and why owners dont really give a [Poor language removed] either way.

Also there is a lot hidden between the lines in that Wahl piece that would tend to suggest that he isnt as sold on us as we are on him, which is a shame, but I suppose L4 and its attendant insanities is a massive culture shock to someone from LA.

It hasn't been mentioned often here, but LD is used to playing for a team with a realistic shot at winning a championship. His comment after the tie game against Arsenal reflects this. "The guys in the locker room are upset. So that's good."

His frustration with Grumpy was all about winning, that Grumpy had priorities that are higher than winning championships. Last year as captain he held Grumpy to his expectation. He has the same expectation at Everton. I don't think it is any accident that the Toffees are beating the top teams in the EPL. I have wondered all along if he feels like Everton is a club that can win and expects to win the EPL. If he plays here, he will expect to win. That's the way he's always been.

ToxtethBlue · February 21, 2010

I've listened to quite a few of his interviews during his spell here and they are all very positive, he loves it here. He likes the club, the fans and he always talks about how the teams suits his style of play. The tempo we play at, the similarities between him and our current midfielders (small, intelligent, hardworking players) and the workrate of the club as a whole.

I think given a chance he'd love to stay here, I think he's sees this as a match made in heaven. But he also comes across as a loyal guy, he doesn't want to let MLS and the Galaxy fans down, he doesn't want to 'do a Beckham' so to speak.

So it'll be interesting really, I'd love to see him stay here for a longer period (this season) because he gives us something we don't have and that's pace. Whether he's the long term answer I'm not sure, I'd still like to see more of him.

spikeman · February 21, 2010

ToxtethBlue said:
I think given a chance he'd love to stay here, I think he's sees this as a match made in heaven. But he also comes across as a loyal guy, he doesn't want to let MLS and the Galaxy fans down, he doesn't want to 'do a Beckham' so to speak.

I don't think he needs to worry about letting them down. I'm sure about 80% of LA fans want him to stay and be successful here.

ape man · February 21, 2010

I don't know all the facts but why anyone would leave Everton for the MLS is beyond me. I've watched the league from its inception and I'm not nearly as impressed as alot of people in this thread.