Man of the match for the Sun
A year ago he was considered a flop, a bench warmer not fit for the Bundesliga who had settled for the easy life in the LA sun. Not good enough for any European league let alone the Premier League… but this morning, Landon Donovan is a hit in England.
The player has turned in some good performances since joining Everton on loan (from the LA Galaxy), generally making a nuisance of himself and even getting on the score sheet a couple of weeks ago against Sunderland. Another good performance last night against Chelsea was celebrated in the Sun today as they made Donovan their ‘Star man’ of the game.
So he’s a hit, what now? Will Everton really let him return to LA?
If LA is truly his home, then Landycakes has some thinking to do as he appears to be right at home with Everton:
“It’s been seamless for me since day one, I walked into the locker room and Phil Neville was in there and he just talked to me like I was part of the team. He made me feel normal and everybody is the same way. You kind of get a sense of family and community here that I haven’t felt at other European clubs. I think that wears off on you and when you feel comfortable and you feel at home you’re going to play better.” – Donovan speaking after the Sunderland win on January 27.
Against Chelsea last night, it was Donovan’s corner that Louis Saha headed in for Everton’s first and Donovan also won a penalty that Saha managed to miss. He has certainly settled quickly in Liverpool and been earning rave reviews, but his three-month loan deal is fast approaching it’s conclusion; LA will want him back in little over a month’s time, unless of course Everton pony up, extend the loan until season’s end and agree to buy Donovan when the transfer window re-opens in the summer. Donovan won’t come cheap: he signed a new LA Galaxy contract (with a buy out clause?) at the end of last season that runs until the end of the summer in 2013.
For Donovan, he has finally found a place in the top-flight game where he fits in — he is reaching his peak and playing great football, and it’s all happening in a World Cup year. The best thing he could do at this point would be to extend his stay with the Merseysiders and keep playing at the highest level. It’s taken Donovan years to reach this point in his career; it would be kind of sad if he had to give that up to return to the MLS.
As good as he is for the league and as much as I want the MLS to suceed there is NO reason for Donovan to come back to the MLS now. He’s finally proven he can play at the highest level, time to keep it going
I honestly don’t think Everton can pay what MLS is going to ask for. However, I think if Donovan makes a big enough stink about it, they have to at least let him finish the season with Everton. All he has to do in my opinion is to point out that they let Beckham go for the full half-season, and he would expect the same.
AC Milan paid MLS a lot of money for that extra 3 months last year (plus assurances of a new loan for this year). It would make more sense for Everton to buy out his contract than to do the same as Milan.
Not that I have seen the contracts. Just going on what has been reported.
I think this just proves Bundesliga > Premier League.
/Bleacher Report’d
Still has a long way to go before he eclipses Adu’s career.
He also had a pretty sweet assist to give Saha another great scoring opportunity. Can’t say enough about how impressive Donovan has been. He seemed settled in from the second he stepped on the pitch and has been making numerous positive contributions in all matches save maybe for the Merseyside derby.
From what I have heard, Donovan has a 10 mil buy out clause for his contract that Everton could pull the trigger on.
Donovan’s highlights are definitely impressive, but in a couple of games (Liverpool and I think Sunderland) he’s had long, long stretches where he’s not found a way to join up with play. Against Liverpool, he had two moments: a great “pass to self” to beat Insua, and a much less great shot from well outside the area. He also seemed to be passing backwards a lot against Liverpool; I’m not saying he’s bad, but I’m going to withhold judgment. Just because he hasn’t s**t the bed doesn’t mean he’s potty trained.
@Mags: Can I use that last line you wrote?
I, too, reserve judgment until his loan finishes, or the loan is extended and the season finishes. However, all signs point to him becoming a successful wide-middie in the Prem.
I’ve heard the 10 million dollar rumor as well. Jozy Altidore sold for that same amount. I guess you have to weigh being 20 with potential and being 27 and “proven”. I would think MLS would want a little more than 10, but they might not be in a great negotiating position depending on what happens with the CBA this weekend.
Wonder how much that it’s AEG and the Galaxy’s player. The league holds the contract but if the Anchutz folks said “No way” even if Everton wanted to meet the buyout amount, who would the league accommodate. The Galaxy with Becks and Donovan are as good a bet as any to win the West in the MLS (assuming there’s even a season). With just Becks, they are a novelty.