LA Galaxy/Everton’s Landon Donovan lies over the ocean in Merseyside, but only for a few more days as the Galaxy seem set upon his return to MLS. Although, the same rhetoric was used last year in the case of David Beckham and Beckham got his extended loan. The labor strife in MLS will certainly play into any loan calculus, but Donovan can’t sell shirts like Beckham, plus Everton and Donovan do not have the same amount of money as AC Milan and Beckham.
However, unsubstantiated rumors have Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea chasing the American to replace Joe Cole. Of course, Chelsea’s interest has no bearing on Donovan’s return to MLS or his remaining at Everton as they cannot acquire Donovan until the summer transfer season.
All of that though was just a backdrop to Everton’s 5-1 victory over Hull City today. The match saw three Americans feature with Tim Howard setting up in his customary role as Everton’s goalkeeper and Donovan coming on as a second half sub for the Toffees and young Jozy Altidore appearing as substitute for hapless Hull City. Donovan scored a goal in his presumable Merseyside sendoff and assisted on Jack Rodwell’s goal late in the match. Donovan could have had a second assist if Yakubu had not been wasteful in front of the goal when Donovan set him up for an easy one-on-one with the keeper only to have the Nigerian sky it over the bar.
The Everton faithful seemed to appreciate Donovan with chants of USA and signs pleading for him stay on with the club. His teammates also relished the opportunity for a good sendoff for Donovan as well enthusiastically celebrating Donovan’s plays with Rodwell actually carrying Donovan around on two occasions.
Up, up and away!
great moments for American fans at Goodison this afternoon; well done LD
Is it weird that I always see your moniker as “u khan dolt” which makes me think you think uconn fans are dolts.
thats fair, to each his own. are you a uconn guy?
nope. i just seem to read the capital I as a lower-case L.
He’s too good to be in the MLS. His performance today was damn impressive, yet again.
Landon should stay. I doubted him but he has been very good thus far. His miss at Spurs was unreal and I thank him but for the good of US soccer he has to keep at it for the Toffees
Doesn’t he have a contract with Galaxy? Shouldn’t he come back since he made a promise to?
I would hope that MLS (and the Galaxy) would see that he’s too “big” for MLS and that it only helps soccer in the USA (and the rest of the world’s estimation of US soccer) for Landycakes to continue to play for the Toffees. He was on point today (although against a Hull City defense that Ned with two broken ankles could have possibly gotten through).
If he has a contract…he shouldn’t just skip out on it. It’s not like a marriage or something that doesn’t mean anything.
He has a buyout, Dustin. If he broke his contract, FIFA would not allow him to play. Something about player certification fits the bill, I think.
But he hasn’t been bought out yet right?
Not to necessarily argue, umlaut, but FIFA has ignored nearly every single contract rule it has when it comes to the MLS.
That said, my question becomes “who f’d up”? Assuming both he and his agent wanted the Everton “loan” to happen, did he not think he’d really do well (and thus allow MLS a too-high buyout), or did his agent over-estimate what Everton could afford? Because he could have just been a plain-old free-agent after last season, and gone to Everton on a free instead…and I’d presume either he or his agent knew Moyes was interested…
Or is there something I missed in the timeline?
At the same time, you could make the argument that after all Landon has given to the Galaxy, they could be at least trying to help him, and help out US Soccer in general.
@Ryan: like Arena (or Gulati) has ever given a rat’s ass about what’s best for US Soccer… :/
or Garber, for that matter…
Mls had an option to extend ld’s contract for two years at the end of last year. Landon negotiated a four year extension a considerable more pay, also secured his loan to everton, and I believe a preset buyout number. So he secured himself financially for the forseeable future in case his loan didn’t work out and I would hope secured a portion of any transfer fee for him which would be considerably more with his extended contract. In all I think he did the best he could to secure his future financially while also giving himself a realistic shot of going to Europe. I believe his prior contract did not have an explicit buyout number which really put him at the mercy of mls.
Grant Wahl confirmed on Twitter a few weeks ago that there’s no buyout number. He initially reported that there was but retracted it. I doubt that Landon ends up at Everton — there’s not money.
I will argue that all American sports contracts have buyout clauses because of the franchise system. If they don’t have buy outs, they can just payout the remainder of the contract to the league/team.
Joe Cole is playing for Liverpool next year, I’ve got a feeling.
Also as much as I dislike Donovan, the MLS, and Everton, I actually think him leaving would be the best for the MLS because he’s peaked there, sustained success in Europe would make the league look better.
Hey folks, long time/first time. Mandon needs to go back to LAG until someone comes along to buy him. This loan business was bulls**t when Goldenballs pulled it off, and it doesn’t make it right if LD does it (and yes, I know we’re comparing apples-oranges with their MLS contribution).
On a slightly different topic, it’s ‘MLS’, not ‘the MLS’. Yes, I am a pedantic a**hole. Thanks for your understanding.
You need to use full quotation marks for “MLS” and “the MLS” instead of apostrophes, you’re not using them in either a philosophical manner or outside of their accepted usage. Pedantic ftw!
But yeah if he gets huffy about it without a team ponying up, tough titties for him. It’s his fault that teams were reluctant to buy him straight off the bat anyway, seeing as his carfax report showed a history of being a little bitch in Europe.
BTW, highlights from Everton-Hull — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNKR7-PNSQw
@Georger – ftw needs to be capitalized, a la “FTW!”.
I win, me.
Back on topic, given his performance at Everton, he will be sold in the summer. He wants to go, MLS will make a tidy profit, and LAG will be able to make room for Raul.
If there’s no labor agreement and the player’s union succeed in nullifying all contracts (like they’d likely push for), than what’s to say Everton would have to pay anything for Donovan? If his Galaxy contract is voided he’d be a free agent, and Everton (or anyone else) could snag him on a free.
Is that you, Loney?
Do you really think MLS will sell him? I can see MLS holding on because he’s still worth more to MLS than elsewhere.
Plus, what is Landon worth now? $10 million was the number before this loan. Trecker pitched out $30 million in his blog today, but that seems nuts.
Him?
To me, 10 million seemed a little excessive before the loan, now I think that would be about right. I think paying much more than that would be foolish.
@corky – I’m not Loney, but thanks for the high praise! Trecker is a lunatic for suggesting $30mm. That’s what, 22 mill GBP?
I agree – he is MLS’ biggest attraction outside of Beckham, so for their sake he needs to stay. OTOH, how valuable is a sulking superstar? That’s the $10mm question – he’s served his time, done MLS well, and now you’re gonna make him stay? FWIW, I always thought that’s why they signed him right before loaning him out. If he craps the bed again, MLS is still rewarding him for his great work in the U.S. If he lights it up at Everton, MLS has leverage in negotiations with whatever club makes an offer.