Sir Landon Of Donovan
- Thread starter ford_uk
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Hayee
Player Valuation: £40m
fantastic news
TheDevils2001
Player Valuation: £15m
Great news!
Not as though I wanted a strike to go on, it's never good for any business when a strike happen, but players should have more freedom in the MLS.
Until they get a basic right, they should go into strike for as long as it is needed, and hopfully Donovan would be back playing for us during this period!
I don't know that's tricky. The league is still in it's infancy. Striking for an extended period could just fold the league and set US soccer back again.
Donovan had a lot of good things to say about Everton in his Galaxy media tour. The audio is at the official Galaxy blog if any want to hear some of it.
The LA Galaxy: Landon Donovan Press Tour - Part 1
Arteta's Girl
Player Valuation: £950k
He 'gets it', that is for sure.
The MLS, who owns his contract under current rules, did pursue selling his contract before. Bayern Munich had their opportunity at him for 10 million USD, which is why that number is still thrown around like its a fact on the current asking price. They might've bit on that, but Klinnsmann was already on the way out, and Hoeness cited youths coming through academy that were cheaper. After the Confeds Cup, during the 2009 Summer Transfer window, Livorno was pursuing buying him and Charlie Davies both, and Club America was as well.
The fact is, the MLS season timeframe doesn't matter anymore. Winter transfers are few, summer transfers are when the big movement takes place. They'd sell him if the price is right, no worries.
S
SoCalMike
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Yes, Klinnsmann's relationship with Donovan went back to the days when Klinnsmann was living on the beach in Newport and an executive with the Galaxy. He was the driving force getting Donovan to go, although other club executives, players and fans with Bayern Munich were skeptical. That is part of the reason why Donovan didn't do as well there as he did with Everton, he knew that many with the club really wanted no part of him being there, that it was Klinnsmann that basically calling that shot and with him already with one foot out the door when Landon came, it just wasn't a positive environment for him to thrive in (although I believe he had like 5 goals there, including a hat trick in a friendly).
Got to hand it to Klinnsmann though in spotting Landon's talent and insisting that he could succeed in Germany. He had it right, although things didn't work out in a top league until Landon finally went to the RIGHT club in the RIGHT league, a club that actually embraced him coming. Landon's skills are better suited to the skill level of the Premiere league versus the more plodding, rougher bundesliga.
I remember Galaxy boosters used to say that Landon would do well either in England or Spain, that the quickness and skill there would suit him better than in Germany. I guess we all saw that they were right.
By the way, don't know if it's been written here yet but Landon is going to Washington DC this weekend in order to directly participate in the negotiations between the players and the league. This is why it is more difficult for him to leave the MLS than say another lesser known player. Landon is the face of the MLS and U.S. soccer in many ways, I'm sure he bears a responsibility on his shoulders for helping the league survive, as much as he'd probably like to continue playing in the superior Premiere League.
But the signs I've heard aren't positive about an MLS deal, so there is a distinct possibility that Landon can go back to his Everton kit sooner rather than later. I guess we'll be finding out as soon as Sunday...
BlueMedley
Player Valuation: £500k
I never liked Donovan before this. I questioned his ability and his commitment to prove himself. I was afraid his loan would make Everton a fad club in the States and I would get lumped in with the rest of the Lando-philes. But I take it back, Donovan is quality and I'll gladly have him back.
On an aside, I really hope this MLS thing gets worked out. It would really take the sport back a few years, right at a time when its gaining interest too. Say what you want about the quality or how its run, its necessary for the sport in the US. Plus, i support the Fire and I would hate to see that club come to an end. Or any club, except the Revs.....or Liverpool.
On an aside, I really hope this MLS thing gets worked out. It would really take the sport back a few years, right at a time when its gaining interest too. Say what you want about the quality or how its run, its necessary for the sport in the US. Plus, i support the Fire and I would hate to see that club come to an end. Or any club, except the Revs.....or Liverpool.
westcoast ape
Player Valuation: £100k
Cut out your great little summation of the German situation. I hate it when people say LD "failed" at Bayern Munich. I would say his agent failed, because that was never going to be a successful situation regardless of how he performed.
But to your point about him going to the labor negotiations. I was, to some extent, surprised that MLS wasn't more interested in extending his loan to Everton to keep him out of the labor talks. None of the other MLS players are gaining any traction with the public, and really it seems that more fans favor the owners in this conflict. But Landon really is an American star, he is fairly well spoken, and I think he can bring a slight bit more leverage to the table. I mean, a lot of people will be pissed if LD is stuck on strike in the months leading up to the WC. Most of the other important US players are in Europe, but if LD isn't playing because MLS isn't playing, that will raise awareness of the issue.
BiggyRat
Player Valuation: £35m
How many new players have we had where the old "He's just adjusting to the pace of the Premier League" excuse is rolled out? Admittedly, they generally get there, I'm thinking of Felli at the moment, but this adaption to the Premier League by Donovan was what really impressed me. He looked settled from the get go!
jhf14
Player Valuation: £950k
it would be a shame if the MLS held back a man of his desires and in his career... Moyes needs to get his [Poor language removed] together and sign the lad up...
S
SoCalMike
Guest
I think with Becks already looking to stretch out his Milan loan until the WC buildup, Galaxy management was worried that if they also were without Landon then it would be hard to sell tickets to the games. As it was, they were going to be without Becks until after the WC, they couldn't afford losing both of their best players. I think that is why Bruce Arena was pretty adamant that Landon would be rejoining the Galaxy. Perhaps, if Landon hadn't just resigned his new contract with the team about a month before his Everton loan, maybe if he was mid-contract, then they would have been more lenient. But with Becks gone and a brand-new contract signed I believe that is why they wanted him back so badly.
As for the labor negotiations I think it's apparent that Landon is the most influential player in the league. Exactly as you've stated westcoast ape, I think the owners wanted to appeal directly to him and use his leverage with the other players.
Here is a great article from yesterday (March 17th) explaining the whole situation:
CARSON, Calif. -- Los Angeles Galaxy captain Landon Donovan returned to the team Wednesday after a 10-week loan to English Premier League club Everton. Donovan had unsuccessfully pushed to have his loan extended before returning although his stay stateside could be short-lived if Major League Soccer and the players' association are unable to settle on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Donovan will fly to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to participate in negotiations between MLS and the MLS Players Union. If a new CBA cannot be agreed to by Monday the union is prepared to strike four days before the MLS season is scheduled to kick off in Seattle on March 25 with a game between the Sounders and the expansion Philadelphia Union.
"There are realities to the business that we're in and unfortunately for too long the business has been one-sided," Donovan said. "We need basic rights if we're going to continue playing. We want rights that are afforded to other players in other countries around the world that we don't have here."
The labor contract in MLS expired in January but was extended twice as negotiations for a new deal continued. Last week, however, players voted to strike if a deal cannot be made before the season opener. The players are hoping for free agency, more guaranteed contracts and a larger percentage of MLS revenues. While the league, which owns all player contracts, seems willing to budge on some demands, they are steadfast in their refusal of free agency.
Tim Leiweke, chief executive of AEG, which owns the Galaxy, said this week he feels talk of a player strike is disrespectful to the league and AEG, which has spent about $300 million on soccer and at one point owned six of the 10 teams to keep the league alive.
"I don't even know how to react when I hear the players now saying that we have treated them poorly and they're going to strike," he told the Los Angeles Times. "The fact is, the Galaxy isn't going to make money this year. There are only a couple of [MLS] teams that will make money this year."
Donovan said he didn't have a problem with Leiweke but admitted his situation with the Galaxy is different than what other players around the league are experiencing. "Not all the teams treat their players the same way," he said. "We need to ensure that players are treated the right way around the league if we're going to play.
Donovan admitted he agreed with many of Leiweke's statements.
"Tim more than anybody has put his neck on the line for this league and for players in our league but what was not accurate was all the talk of how much money is affecting this," Donovan said. "I think we've made it clear from the beginning that we're not into the idea of bankrupting the league and asking for tons of monetary increases. We just want basic rights other players around the world get."
The problem with a growing league like MLS going on strike, however, is the potential it may never recover from such a setback and simply fold if a company like AEG believes it isn't worth the trouble. AEG has insisted strike or not, that it is still committed to soccer in the U.S.
"I'm a big sports fan and I followed other sports leagues through strikes, lockouts and other work stoppages. It's hard to know how the fans will react," Donovan said. "We take that into consideration. Nobody wants to go on strike if it can be avoided but there are certain conditions we have to have and can't accept any longer because it's just not fair. We are very unified in the way we think."
If the Galaxy is able to play this season, it seems it will do so without star midfielder David Beckham, who tore his Achilles tendon last week during a game for AC Milan, and is expected to miss at least six months.
"For our team it's devastating but that's not the important part," Donovan said. "I think we all feel bad for David. We all know what he put in to give himself a chance of playing in the World Cup. He sacrificed more than anyone in the world to have a chance at playing in the World Cup. When you do that and something like this happens, it's awful. As much as we know it's going to hurt our team, it's still fresh in our minds and we feel bad for David."
While Donovan said he doesn't want to see the players strike and will try to be "unemotional" and "rational" during negotiations, he said there was a chance he would go back to play at Everton if a strike did arise.
"There's nothing concrete set up," he said. "I know we've all been very clear about the possibility that I could go back if something happens. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Everyone on this side of the pond is hopeful that we can still get a deal done."
Donovan enjoyed his time in Everton so much he was hoping to stay beyond his return date and smiled when asked about the possibility of returning to the club in the future.
"If I ever went back to England I would only want to play for Everton," he said.
"It was bittersweet to leave, but the reality is the agreement all along was for me to be there until March 15 and I'm a big part of the [Galaxy] and I understand that and I enjoy being a part of this team and I wouldn't have made the commitment I did to this team if I didn't want to be here. Obviously you get caught up in what's going on and it was fun and exciting to be a part of what I was just a part of. You can't mirror that in anyway. You can't duplicate that, but the reality is I'm very excited to be home. If fate comes around again and I'm meant to go back then I'll go back."
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