Sir Landon Of Donovan

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Becks and Donovan weren't getting along and was in the last year of his contract that summer. Plus the Galaxy were a mess, needed rebuilding and defenders. This year it's different. Donovan is in his prime and is no longer considered soft, lazy and spoiled which turned off alot of US footie fans because he was a stereotype of what most Americans think of football and football players in general.

I wasn't a Donovan fan until I saw him start dedicating himself which happened about a month or two into the Galaxy's 1st season with Beckham.

Plus he didn't exactly "fail" at Bayern. He lit up the friendlies during the winter break in Germany. I also watched a few league matches when he played. I saw him play LW, LCM, RW, striker and inexplicably center forward usually coming in as a sub. It was impossible to make an impact in 3 months there (Contrast that to Moyes handiling: RW, starting right away and with teammates who want him to succeed). Plus Bayern was team drama (Chelsea to the 10th power) and the players didn't want him there. Still he looked decent and I saw him get absolutely robbed by the keeper in a few matches, he should have had at least 2-3 goals. After he came back to the states that year I wrote that Bayern is going to regret not getting him.
 
Just read what he said on the OS nothing but praise for the manager and the club in his press conference. Bit diffirent than riera and the dark side.

Sign him please.
 
SoCalMike said:
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.
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The Beckham factor is what has me worried about what will happen this summer. I'm afraid with Becks out perhaps for the season or maybe late September at the earliest, the Galaxy will be very reluctant to sell Donovan during the summer transfer window. I thought there was a big chance he would join Everton permanently then, but now my hopes are dwindling.

But it's very clear that Landon wants to be in Blue.
 
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NelsForBlues said:
The Beckham factor is what has me worried about what will happen this summer. I'm afraid with Becks out perhaps for the season or maybe late September at the earliest, the Galaxy will be very reluctant to sell Donovan during the summer transfer window. I thought there was a big chance he would join Everton permanently then, but now my hopes are dwindling.

But it's very clear that Landon wants to be in Blue.
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Yeah, the article quoted Landon as smiling happily as soon as he was asked about his Everton time, and he spoke glowingly about his time with the club (while saying little at about the Galaxy other than being happy to be back).

I agree that Landon probably wants badly to return to Everton, but I think he probably feels some responsibility to the other MLS players that he can stand up for, those that make less than $30k and can barely afford to live properly for that. He is the face of the league (outside of Becks) and the one player that can step up to the owners and demand a better pay-scale for the lesser paid, average MLS player.

So really, his coming back to L.A. is not entirely because he wants to return, he's got the added burden placed on him to act as a representative of the players demanding higher wages that only he and perhaps only several other MLS stars can demand of the owners. I think that he senses that he needs to do this not for himself, but for the rest of the league.

So being player representative along with the fact that he signed his new contract only a few months ago, just before the Everton transfer, I think that is why he's been hesitant to push harder for a return/stay to Everton. NelsForBlues is right though, Becks being injured now makes it even more important for the Galaxy to retain at least one of their stars, I haven't even seen if David has plans to return this season at all to the MLS as he was supposed to right after the WC.

So, probably the best bet for Landon returning soon to Everton would be if the MLS negotiations broke down, the players voted to strike and then LD would be free to return. If an agreement is reached, for the reasons listed here, it would be hard to imagine the Galaxy allowing a LD return until after the MLS season at the earliest - which if the Galaxy make it back to the MLS Cup (as expected) then it would go all the way until the last week of November.

I think that whatever happens, either the players strike and Landon is free to return to Everton immediately, or the season plays out and Galaxy retain him through the entirety of the MLS season and then there is a mid-season transfer at the end of the year like there was this year, either way though Landon will be in a better position to demand staying at that time. He won't have the responsibility to the MLS players to stand up for them, and he will not be asking for a transfer after newly signing a contract as he would have this year if he had insisted on staying with Everton. Next year I think there is a real likelihood of a permanent Landon transfer, or at least one in which he arrives and part way into the season and stays until the end of Everton's schedule - much like Becks has done in Milan. It will be more favorable conditions to make it happen next year, more so than right now.
 
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Here is another excellent article regarding Landon and his status from Sky Sports:

Donovan Opens Everton Door
MLS striker could see USA star return to Goodison Park
Last updated: 19th March 2010

Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan admits a player strike in the MLS could lead to a resumption of his loan deal at Everton.

The USA international recently spent 10 weeks on loan with the Toffees and established himself as a popular figure during his time at Goodison Park.

Everton failed to secure an extension for the attacker and Donovan has returned to the States for pre-season training with the Galaxy.

However, the MLS Players Union are currently in dispute with the league regarding their contracts and are ready to go in strike if an agreement is not reached by 25th March.

And Donovan has confirmed that, if a satisfactory deal is not agreed, he could be returning to the Premier League for the season's run-in.

"There's nothing concrete, but all sides have been very clear about the possibility I could go back to Everton if there is a strike," said Donovan.

"Nobody wants to go on strike if it can be avoided, but if it happens then I can return to the Premier League.

"We've made it clear from the start that we're not trying to bankrupt the league and ask for tons of monetary increases.

"But we need basic rights if we're going to continue playing. We want rights afforded other players in other countries that we don't have. We're very unified on the way we think."

Toffees boss David Moyes would welcome Donovan back with open arms and the Scot admits a deal could yet be struck.

"There is a sort of acceptance where, if this happens, he would consider coming back over," he said.

"Landon seemed to think LA Galaxy wouldn't be against it if that is the case and we would be all for it so we'll wait and see.

"There might be something somewhere down the line."
 
I would guess that Donovan's recent statement, would put to bed any thoughts that he might return to the EPL and play for the highest bidder. It is what most posters on here from the states already knew about him even before he made this statement.

Landon Donovan: In England, I Would Only Want To Play For Everton - Goal.com

I think that his days playing for the MLS numbered, maybe sooner than later given recent developments in players union vs the owners. The owners recently stated that they are going to do something VERY aggressive and unconventional if the players union does not fall into line. What that exactly is remains to be seen. Maybe it is a toothless threat, or maybe something well thought out that has been in the works for a while.
 
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I do rate Donovan, he's not too bad a player, and it's a shame he has to go back home than stay a bit longer,

but, could this be the longest thread in Grand Old Team history. :unsure:


I'm half thinking this could go on for all eternity.
 
And why is that?

US players have been slowly creeping into the EPL and other foreign leagues, for years, but now, at a faster pace.

The goalies found success, long ago, but the field players less. These players may have been followed by a few hearty souls, BUT none ever had the impact on the US fan base, then when Donovan signed for a short stint with Everton. EPL or other signings of USA players were never followed by the major sports networks, except for a quick statement, until Donovan. He had a lot on his shoulders. The biggest burden was his overseas failures.

He is the best field player that the US has ever produced, but yet a player that never made it abroad, let alone the EPL. He is our best, but one that was deemed, a failure, called "Landycakes". Yet, to the most Americans we could see him making it, if he were only given an opportunity. But then Eurosnobs always said that our players sucked. If he could not make it, maybe they were right.

The fact that his saga at Everton played out beyond what we wished for him, that it was a match from the beginning, and then ending with the home game with Hull....Well, it was a soccer soap opera. "USA"..."Sign him up", heard around the stadium? Everton's fans captured the hearts of American soccer fans. Fans that are not likely to leave Everton whether LD is stateside or at Goodison. I am one, of many.

The aftermath:

The fact that the MLS players union might strike, and what that does to the US soccer program, or in lesser measures how that affects Donovan's return to Everton. The Becks injury and how that impacts the Galaxy, and the MLS, and just Becks himself, who is loved, or, respected in the states. The fact that LD wants to go back to Everton, (says he will never play any where in the EPL but Everton), but feels that he needs to stand up for the MLS players union. The MLS owners, who are now saying that they are going to use VERY aggresive measures to pull the players in line... Well....it is a never ending soccer soap. That is why this thread is so long.

I have not been an Everton fan for long, but has there been in your recent memory, anything like the way that saga has played out, within a couple of weeks? Not to mention the WC, with England facing off against the USA and Donovan in a few months? The beat goes on...........................and so does this thread...............
 
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MLS, players reportedly near labor deal

NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer and its players are close to agreeing to a five-year contract that would avoid a strike scheduled for next week, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The deal was likely to be announced Saturday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not been made.

The MLS Players Union had said it would strike if an agreement wasn't reached before the league opener on March 25.

Negotiators began intensive talks Thursday in Washington, D.C.

-- Associated Press

:mellow: So much for a Donovan return, I guess.
 
toffeejerseygrl99 said:
MLS, players reportedly near labor deal:mellow: So much for a Donovan return, I guess.
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The players and league had been negotiating for weeks. As soon as Landon gets involved, they find a solution...

Unfortunately though, an agreement would put off his return until probably after the MLS season is over, probably late November in the case of a Galaxy return to the MLS cup title game. At THAT time though, he will have more leverage to ask for an Everton permanent transfer, he won't be necessary to negotiate on behalf of the players, and he won't be coming on the heels of having negotiated a brand-new contract, as he did this year.
 
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