Sir Landon Of Donovan

[njligernj]

You say the Gold Cup like its something to be proud of. Honduras are ranked below Wales, Cape Verde Islands and on a par with Scotland. But if he wanted to come for free, I wouldnt have a problem, just think that maybe a touch of realism is needed.

... true ... but at least he absolutely bossed them all over the shop. He's been top notch in MLS too. Anyone who has actually watched him in the last few months would know he's arguably playing some of the best football of his career right now.

I know it's "just Gold Cup" and "just MLS" but did that matter when he came here before? He was "just MLS" before and he did very well for us. If you think he did well in his first stint he is just as good now as he was then.

Free in Jan window? RM would be a fool to not explore him as an option. We're not getting a better player than him for free (well we hopefully did in Deulofeu ... but you know).

 

[SerenityNigh]

I do tend to agree with that. I think he made a massive mistake when he signed his last contract. After his early stint in Europe and before his spell with us, get the impression he was happy in USA and didn't really think of the power he handed over to MLS was he to change his mind and fancy new surroundings. The Everton loan made him change his mind IMO but MLS were never gonna make it realistic to leave.

Just my opinion really

There's a history of US players doing the "patriotic" and "right" thing by supporting and growing the MLS. Lalas may not have been a world beater, but he still had game left to play in Serie A when he returned Stateside. Donovan gives off a similar feeling; he certainly has the credibility and I expect he feels a responsibility to the Stateside game the same way Lalas did. Klinsmann has been pushing USMNT players out the door, however, "encouraging" them to play at the highest level achievable if they want a chance on the WC squad.

 

[blue61]

Out of curiosity, will there be a formal ceremony or commemorative cup commissioned when this thread is finally laid to rest?

I'd like to pay my respects & have a memento of the occasion...

I think something like this would be appropriate

 

[Hellerad]

or:

 

[Ruairi77]

He just doesn't strike me as having the drive to fulfill the potential he had.... He's not a poor player by any stretch of the imagination but he should have done a lot more in his career if he's as good as he or others think he is. Who knows what he could have achieved with a bit of ambition.

Do you think Le Tissier should have done alot more with his career? Just because a player doesn't take the biggest pay day or jump at the chance of a big club, doesn't make him any less a player. There are a few ways to show ambition. In hindsight, considering his form, Donovan's sabbatical from the game could be seen as an ambitious move to get the best out of whats left of his career.

 

[formerly manx toffee]

Do you think Le Tissier should have done alot more with his career? Just because a player doesn't take the biggest pay day or jump at the chance of a big club, doesn't make him any less a player. There are a few ways to show ambition. In hindsight, considering his form, Donovan's sabbatical from the game could be seen as an ambitious move to get the best out of whats left of his career.

Yep..

 

[Ruairi77]

Yep..

I always liked and respected the way he stuck with Southampton. An absolute hero there I'd imagine

 

[Kurt.]

Do you think Le Tissier should have done alot more with his career? Just because a player doesn't take the biggest pay day or jump at the chance of a big club, doesn't make him any less a player. There are a few ways to show ambition. In hindsight, considering his form, Donovan's sabbatical from the game could be seen as an ambitious move to get the best out of whats left of his career.

I do Think Le Tiss should have done more yes..... the point you are missing is he played at the top level in one of the best leagues in the world against some of the best players for his whole career... but yes he could have moved club. Donovan has lasted as long as he has as he has been playing, and please forgive me for saying this, in a lesser league against lesser opponents.... he hasn't tested himself consistently against the best. Who's to say he comes here, plays 1 season and the opposition suss hm out.... it may work the other way and he dominates them over a couple of seasons... we will never know as he has never had the bottle to do it.

 

[formerly manx toffee]

I always liked and respected the way he stuck with Southampton. An absolute hero there I'd imagine

I'm sure he is and if he'd played for us he would be here. As a neutral I think he wasted his talented and was not ambitious.

 

[Ruairi77]

I do Think Le Tiss should have done more yes..... the point you are missing is he played at the top level in one of the best leagues in the world against some of the best players for his whole career... but yes he could have moved club. Donovan has lasted as long as he has as he has been playing, and please forgive me for saying this, in a lesser league against lesser opponents.... he hasn't tested himself consistently against the best. Who's to say he comes here, plays 1 season and the opposition suss hm out.... it may work the other way and he dominates them over a couple of seasons... we will never know as he has never had the bottle to do it.

I do Think Le Tiss should have done more yes..... the point you are missing is he played at the top level in one of the best leagues in the world against some of the best players for his whole career... but yes he could have moved club. Donovan has lasted as long as he has as he has been playing, and please forgive me for saying this, in a lesser league against lesser opponents.... he hasn't tested himself consistently against the best. Who's to say he comes here, plays 1 season and the opposition suss hm out.... it may work the other way and he dominates them over a couple of seasons... we will never know as he has never had the bottle to do it.

I take your point and as a recent migrant to the US I'm not a huge MLS fan yet but there is a spark to Landon Donovan, the same spark there was to Cahill in my opinion. It would be a shame if we never see him in the royal blue again.

 

[BiggyRat]

I'm liking the Viking boat. In the Mersey or off Santa Monica pier?

 

[timmy17]

nothing against him and hes a decent footballer, either lad must be extremely wealthy or has zero ambition

he could have played the last 5 years in the prem , instead he chooses major league soccer
smh

 

[chriswho]

nothing against him and hes a decent footballer, either lad must be extremely wealthy or has zero ambition

he could have played the last 5 years in the prem , instead he chooses major league soccer
smh

Just not true.
It is coming up on 4years when he started his first stint with us. Before that loan spell, most thought he was not up to European standards due to his 2 failed stints in Germany. Before he came for loan #1, he signed a 4year contract extension with LA. At that time, LA had Beckham and Donovan and the MLS had high hopes of increasing their visibility in a World Cup year.

After he signs that contract, he is allowed to go on loan to keep up fitness before the cup. He has an excellent loan spell and World Cup. LA and the MLS were publically adamant on not letting him go anywhere and he was under a newly signed contract.

After the second loan spell was the only spot that it seemed it may be possible to sign him. Remember though, MLS contracts are with the league, not the team. If Everton wanted to buy, it was from the league, not LA. The league is intent on raising the values of heir players, so there was no way that everton was not going to get him cheap. In fact, if you remember, man city was publcally showing interest at the time too. It was rumored that unlike everton, man city was willing to pay the MLS's price, but Donovan was only interested in Everton. With value set from the mls (who did not want to sell the top American star playing with their top contending team with their top celebrity player but had not gotten a title) and the price validated by mancity, when everton were unwilling or able to meet that price, Donovan and mls both prefer he stay, so he did.

Donovan and even LA had very little power in the whole thing.

All Donovan could do is sit out or see out his contract... And note if you will, that he has now done both of those things, and that 4year contract is up in a few months. He had plenty of ambition, but the damn contract he had to sign to be allowed to go on that first loan proved impossible to get out from under.

 

[njligernj]

I'm sure he is and if he'd played for us he would be here. As a neutral I think he wasted his talented and was not ambitious.

Or maybe he was SO ambitious he thought he could turn Southampton into title contenders by staying.

 

[cbpointblank]

Just not true.
It is coming up on 4years when he started his first stint with us. Before that loan spell, most thought he was not up to European standards due to his 2 failed stints in Germany. Before he came for loan #1, he signed a 4year contract extension with LA. At that time, LA had Beckham and Donovan and the MLS had high hopes of increasing their visibility in a World Cup year.

After he signs that contract, he is allowed to go on loan to keep up fitness before the cup. He has an excellent loan spell and World Cup. LA and the MLS were publically adamant on not letting him go anywhere and he was under a newly signed contract.

After the second loan spell was the only spot that it seemed it may be possible to sign him. Remember though, MLS contracts are with the league, not the team. If Everton wanted to buy, it was from the league, not LA. The league is intent on raising the values of heir players, so there was no way that everton was not going to get him cheap. In fact, if you remember, man city was publcally showing interest at the time too. It was rumored that unlike everton, man city was willing to pay the MLS's price, but Donovan was only interested in Everton. With value set from the mls (who did not want to sell the top American star playing with their top contending team with their top celebrity player but had not gotten a title) and the price validated by mancity, when everton were unwilling or able to meet that price, Donovan and mls both prefer he stay, so he did.

Donovan and even LA had very little power in the whole thing.

All Donovan could do is sit out or see out his contract... And note if you will, that he has now done both of those things, and that 4year contract is up in a few months. He had plenty of ambition, but the damn contract he had to sign to be allowed to go on that first loan proved impossible to get out from under.

^ 100% correct.