Sir Landon Of Donovan

[MLS is not quite EPL]

No disrespect to the MLS but it has the same standard as the Championship. Landon will improve in the premiership and it will benefit the US National team.

I'd love for him to stay on- he looks like one of the family already. For all of you that still purr over Fernandes this guy has acheived more already than that guy did in his two stints.

That's fair, and I think most of the reasonable yanks here would agree. We don't have any disillusions about what MLS is, at least not most of us.

That's entirely reasonable. There's a big difference between The Championship and a "fourth or fifth division" league. That's the point. Just trying to limit the hyperbole a bit.

Doesn't this naturally make MLS less than Championship standard? Maybe I just rate The Championship too high. I see performances in this years FA cup and can't see any MLS side doing the same. Look at Leeds a League One side knocking out ManU. How about Reading knocking out the Red [Poor language removed]?

In 2008 the Charleston Battery defeated 2 MLS teams (Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas) en route to the Open Cup Finals. In 2007 the Sounders defeated 2 MLS teams (Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids) en route to the Semis, losing to FC Dallas in OT. USL-2 Harrisburg City Islanders beat DC United in 2007 in the 3rd round. USL-2 Richmond Kickers defeated the LA Galaxy in the 3rd round.

So to answer your question, it happens in any intra-league competition.

But while a loan extension is not possible, I can almost guarantee you that if Everton were to buy him outright....he would welcome the chance to play with Everton on a permanent basis and he would most definitely leave LA and MLS. I am 99.9% sure of that.

this.

We can always go and join the Galaxy message board.

boo hiss!

Can't get on board with a lot of the anti-MLS sentiment here. I understand that leagues like the EPL are superior, but that doesn't mean I can't/don't enjoy watching the homeside stuff. MLS can be just as enjoyable if you have a team you can relate to & support.

I'll miss & then hate LD when he leaves Everton as well (being a Sounders guy I am not at all a fan of the Galaxy), but I am now an Everton fan and will continue to watch & support this team.

 

[westcoast ape]

thebes has not said anything worthwhile on this thread. HIs commentary about Altidore was pointless. After all, it was fairly big news in the US when he was sold to Valencia for $10M, and almost certainly more prominent than LD's loan to Everton. The difference is that, first, Altidore didn't play, and then he got loaned to Xerez, where he didn't play, and then was loaned to Hull, where he had an assist (exciting!) and then didn't play, and then recently scored again (exciting once more!).

Everton has placed Donovan in a starting role in crucial games against stellar opponents. So, yes, we follow him. That doesn't mean AT ALL that REAL fans of the American game aren't interested in other US players at other teams.

That said - I was excited to see Donovan at Everton because he can play multiple roles, so he can fill in for your frequently injured players. Always liked Cahill and Arteta and, of course, Howard, so I've followed Everton for the last few years. I also enjoy Arsenal, Fulhamerica, and even Reading when they had Hahneman and Convey.

Convey, by the way: a successful player on a championship team that, I think, broke records for that league - but a terrible player in MLS. I'm not totally convinced that MLS is the exact quality of the Championship, because I think each MLS roster has 5-6 quality players followed by 10-12 basically interchangeable parts. But, he is an example of a player who was successful in the Championship, questionable in the Premier League, and is now terrible at San Jose.

 

[dabes2]

I was hoping a local Everton fan would suggest to thebes that he would be better off supporting Liverpool. I guess we Americans have pretty much chased any locals out of the Donovan thread.

It's pretty simple for me. MLS isn't perfect, but I like and support MLS because it's what we've got. Don't buy a ticket or watch on tv, then don't complain that the team can't afford better players.

I support the Chicago Fire and have had season tickets for 7 years. I don't pretend I'm watching the Premier League, but I do enjoy watching live games. It's also exciting to see a club grow up from it's infancy.

Here's an article written by an English guy who moved to Chicago and is now the president of the Fire's fan supporters group.

From Goldstone97 to CF97: A Journey To Section 8 | Pitch Invasion

 

[thebes20]

Geees, I get back on here and I am being racked over the coals for the comment that I made.

First, I do not get the Foxsports channel, so the amount of MLS games I could see are diminished. Second, I work two jobs, so that cuts into the time. Third, there is no MLS team in Florida. I did follow and attend the Fusion games before that team went belly up. I attended almost every home game that I could, with my son. Son still owns a Fusion shirt with most all of the players names on it. Fourth, although I am going to get slammed for this, my son who got a scholarship to college to play does not really follow the MLS. He and his friends tune into the games that have x teammates playing. They tend to follow the PL and others. It is unfortunate, but true, in that a lot of soccer fans want to have a stake in a game, to care about who wins or loses, and frankly if the quality of the teams is what was displayed in the MLS final, then the fan base is going to suffer in states without a team. I thus far has not found a team in the MLS that I care about.

I hope the MLS is successful. But, I have a question. Why do you think that a hotbed of soccer, like south Florida had a team fail? I think that it was a good idea, but the hispanic fan base in Florida (that they hoped to tap into), did not attend in numbers. Why? the product was not that great. And the hispanic fans tend to support their home teams. If the Fusion were around today, I would be watching and supporting.

 

[TX Bill]

I tend to agree with you Thebes20. The quality of MLS has come on by leaps in bounds in just it's short period of existence. I can remember those old games where the San Jose Clash would be taking on the Kansas City Wiz and man, it was tough to watch. Sure, having a team in my hometown has certainly helped my interest but I do think the quality has improved.

So I guess it leaves one to wonder if an MLS team would make it again in the Florida market.

Oh, and I still have an old Miami Fusion home shirt as well. I loved the look.

 

[thebes20]

So I guess it leaves one to wonder if an MLS team would make it again in the Florida market.


The answer to this is that it is iffy. It would take a team that had a lot of really good hispanic players. A team that advertised themselves well and hit tapped into that community, if it went to south eastern Florida. The Fusion tried, but failed. Personally, I would put the team in Tampa. Not so Hispanic and a huge soccer base.

American football, basketball, baseball and soccer are the games here. Youth soccer probably has overtaken them all in terms of sheer numbers.

Although, we still have the Panthers, a thriving professional hockey team, so go figure....Florida is a wierd sports place.

 

[Maverick]

The Fusion didn't work in South Florida because the fans blow (also, who the hell wants to see Carlos Valderrama). They don't support a good baseball team in the Marlins, you can always gets tickets to see the Heat, the Panthers have no fans and while the Dolphins have a good fanbase, it's only when they are good. Hell the Miami Hurricanes have trouble getting fans too.

South Florida has too many New Yorkers down there that just don't give a damn about anything but their New York teams.

 

[thebes20]

The Fusion didn't work in South Florida because the fans blow (also, who the hell wants to see Carlos Valderrama). They don't support a good baseball team in the Marlins, you can always gets tickets to see the Heat, the Panthers have no fans and while the Dolphins have a good fanbase, it's only when they are good. Hell the Miami Hurricanes have trouble getting fans too.

South Florida has too many New Yorkers down there that just don't give a damn about anything but their New York teams.

Totally true statement. South Florida is a strange place, A lot of New Yorkers.New Jersey people, so the home football games are often out yelled by the away team. BUt, hey the Dolphins, they are my team!

Still, I think that you put a soccer team into Tampa and it might work. Maybe Orlando, but not South Florida. Too many Hispanics that are homers.

 

[jdeezy]

I hope the MLS is successful. But, I have a question. Why do you think that a hotbed of soccer, like south Florida had a team fail? I think that it was a good idea, but the hispanic fan base in Florida (that they hoped to tap into), did not attend in numbers. Why? the product was not that great. And the hispanic fans tend to support their home teams. If the Fusion were around today, I would be watching and supporting.

Unfair question/statement, IMO. I live in South Florida & the reality is that it's one of the most difficult areas in America to create a successful long term fanbase. That's because nobody here is actually FROM here, almost everybody's a transplant. Also, there are plenty of other "things" to do, the location was poor, league was still in early stages, etc. The list goes on.

Example: after several years here a friend & I (both of us from NY...Bronx to be exact die hard Yankee/Knick fans) finally decided to buck up & get "half" season ticket plans for the Miami Heat. Mostly b/c of Shaq's arrival plus we were sick of not having a local team so what the hell? We lucked out happened to be the year they won it all, great times (has anybody ever SEEN the Miami Heat Dancers?? OMGb)) had a blast best $600 I've ever ponied up! But fast forward 1/2 year later when the team was struggling & arena was empty again! To compare, growing up in NY I remember more New Jersey Net games....b/c I could never GET Knick tickets. And even as I got older, they were easily one of the worst teams in the league for about a decade before they finally experienced a non-sellout. The Miami Heat only needed a bad couple weeks for all the fans to disappear! Sorry but if Shaquille O'Neal, D Wade, & a gorgeous arena surrounded by ocean, hot women, & 70 degrees/perfect breeze (in January) can't hold the people's attention then probably unfair to dump same on MLS.

At the same time, to be fair, I think there does exist a disconnect among some of the country's most devoted soccer fans. Some of it is cultural, but some of it probably can be blamed on MLS itself. The good news is it appears the league is learning how to create a positive experience/environment on the fly. What happened in Seattle last year was pretty special, hopefully this year w/ Philly the trend will continue.

But we digress....here's to a firm draw in Portugal

 

[mabindurham]

The Hispanic population is S. Fla is largely Cuban by far. They don't care a bit for futbol.

 

[thebes20]

The Hispanic population is S. Fla is largely Cuban by far. They don't care a bit for futbol.

This is wrong. Miami is Cuban and the rest of south Florida is not Cuban. I live here, in Boca, and the Cuban base is only in Miami. The rest of South Florida is New York, New jersey, Brazilian, and the rest of the hispanics. Name them all and they are here.

The Cubans are not soccer followers, but I discount them always.

 

[Maverick]

This is wrong. Miami is Cuban and the rest of south Florida is not Cuban. I live here, in Boca, and the Cuban base is only in Miami. The rest of South Florida is New York, New jersey, Brazilian, and the rest of the hispanics. Name them all and they are here.

The Cubans are not soccer followers, but I discount them always.

heh, Boca

go (Spanish River) Sharks!

 

[pfim]

I hope the MLS is successful. But, I have a question. Why do you think that a hotbed of soccer, like south Florida had a team fail? I think that it was a good idea, but the hispanic fan base in Florida (that they hoped to tap into), did not attend in numbers. Why? the product was not that great. And the hispanic fans tend to support their home teams. If the Fusion were around today, I would be watching and supporting.

Baseball and american football don't do all that well in Florida either.

 

[Aztattooedfootballfan]

It's good and bad...good that he's demanding more quality out of the league but bad in that the quality will never get there without supporters backing the clubs/league. You can't have it both ways...

I decided to support the Union last year because I respect what the supporters and club have done before they've even kicked a ball in competition, it had nothing to do with the quality of the league.

that was the same with me and the Sounders. My Uncle and Aunt lived in Tacoma my whole life. I was a Detroit Express fan back then but I kept an eye on the Sounders.

As they were getting closer to entering the MLS, I read up on how Drew Carey had taken some management ideas from Barcelona and wanted to implement it in Seattle. I liked how the fans would be given a chance to vote on things.

I also like the European like atmosphere they even had in smaller amounts when they were playing in the USL.

I knew it was the MLS squad for me.

I know what I am watching is not pretty in each match due to the lack of quality in some players but that doesn't deter me from helping to improve the support side of the overall MLS picture.

 

[spikeman]

that was the same with me and the Sounders. My Uncle and Aunt lived in Tacoma my whole life. I was a Detroit Express fan back then but I kept an eye on the Sounders.

As they were getting closer to entering the MLS, I read up on how Drew Carey had taken some management ideas from Barcelona and wanted to implement it in Seattle. I liked how the fans would be given a chance to vote on things.

I also like the European like atmosphere they even had in smaller amounts when they were playing in the USL.

I knew it was the MLS squad for me.

I know what I am watching is not pretty in each match due to the lack of quality in some players but that doesn't deter me from helping to improve the support side of the overall MLS picture.

I went to the US Open Cup final last fall. Nothing compares to sitting right behind La Barra Brava(in the US that is). They stand and sing the ENTIRE match. Great atmosphere in DC.