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Donovan left out of Bayern Munich’s Champions League match

Landon Donovan (Getty Images) 

You can officially call Landon Donovan's chances of staying with Bayern Munich after his loan period expires ice cold after the U.S. national team star was left off the squad list for today's Champions League match vs. Sporting Lisbon.

Donovan had been included in Bayern's Champions League roster, but did not make the bench for today's match. Luca Toni is back in the lineup for Bayern Munich while Lukas Podolski was chosen for the bench.

What do you think of this news? Have you given up hope of Donovan heading to Europe any time soon? Are you a relieved Galaxy fan who likes the idea of having your best player back? Are you still holding out hope that something happens?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I am a diehard Fan-of-Landon. Juergen gave him a good chance at Bayern. Landon just didn’t show the confidence he normally has. Some of the shots he made would have been goals in the MLS, and he was too casual with the opportunities he had. He needed more luck and more time. But unless Juergen is a very brave guy, he doesn’t have more time in his pocket for Landon.

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  2. I think it was tough for Landon to make an impact at Bayern Munich. He came in mid season and they were using him to sub for Luca Toni. Luca Toni and Landon Donovan are two VERY different players. You can’t chip long balls to Landon and make him play as a holding forward with his back to the goal. Watch the Cologne game, he started dropping back, linking up with the midfield and was able to move the ball in the attack a few times. They ended up sending their center back Van Boyton forward just because they wanted a big guy they could chip in to. That’s their game.

    Here’s hoping Landon gets a better chance over the summer with a team that can use him. And that the MLS doesn’t jack up his price and screw his transfer options.

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  3. Did anyone actually beleive that he will crack the bayern lineup in 4 weeks? You have to be one of the top five forwards in the world to do that. And Landon is not that and will not be. But he’s still very good.

    I’d like to see him in La Liga. Maybe not for Barca or Real. But how about a team like Valencia? Man, I’ll pay to go see him in tandem with David Villa. Dream on!

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  4. Failing to crack the Bayern Munich lineup ahead of Toni, Klose, and Podolski isn’t exactly an earth-shattering defeat for the guy.

    He tried his hand at a top club and fit in pretty well. He wasn’t getting schooled by bigger, faster, better players… He just never put away the few chances he found and when he did find himself with sizeable portions of minutes, he was unable to make a positive impact.

    He did well to show enough in training to be used as a sub for such a talented club. I wish him the best in the future and I look forward to seeing how he does when another European club takes a chance on him. He’s too good to stay in MLS for any longer than the start of the next season.

    Perhaps it shakes out that Klinsmann can use dismissing Landon as a way to motivate Poldi and the rest of the bench, but I just think the chemistry isn’t there and JK just can’t afford to let the Landon Donovan experiment carry on with a Deutschland national team star like Podolski fit and ready to leave on a high note.

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  5. forget Donovan. I’ll bet that Freddy Montero gives him and Kenny Cooper a proper run for leading goal scorer. He’s been arguably the best player on the field for Seattle already.

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  6. I think you have to ask: “what does LD bring to the table that none of the other attacking options BM has?” not to rag on LD (and i have in the past), but i don’t think he’s got anything obvious that would make him an obvious pick over Toni, Klose, Ribery, even Podolski. Therefore he had some time to prove himself and to prove that he’s one of the best forwards in the world (which he would have to be to break into that line-up). its too bad, i think Donovan could make it in Germany or Spain or France in the right situation and maybe even be a star (I think he’s got more to his game than Rossi for example).

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  7. He will make it in Europe next rransfer window. Who knows, maybe well see a Donovan, Bradley connection at Monchengladbach. They are looking as if they will make a push to get out of relegation.

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  8. Donovan has played for Bayern like he usually plays as striker – without any confidence to take people on, making safe passes, risk averse, deferring to other players to dictate the action, wasting his perfect technique on one-time passes to others when he should be the one surging forward; then deciding whether to go for goal or to dish it off to someone else. He played exactly that way in the recent US – Mexico game. If someone is to blame for his demise at Bayern then it is Klinsmann. He brought Donavan in to be striker who goes for goal. Donovan showed that what he really is a tweener, neither striker nor midfielder. Just a useful supporting player with exceptional touch. Obviously, the board of directors at Bayern are pissed at Klinsmann but will take it out on Donovan. Donovan’s only hope is a dose of therapy with a sports psychologist. But I suspect that he has already gone that route and it still has not turned him around. Too bad. He is a great technician but psychologicaly fragile.

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  9. BlueWhiteLion got it right. Bayern is not willing to pay the MLS asking price. Considering that they are getting Olic on a free transfer, why should they pay for a good but not proven player? Podolski is also back from injury. Bayern just signed a couple of players from their reserve team to pro contracts. They have enough players and you just don’t spend that kind of money on a sub, at least not in the Bundesliga.

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  10. I would love to see Landon in England (Aston Villa, Everton, Reading after promotion, Sunderland, Hull City, West Ham, Fulham). I think he could do well. Yeah he is small in size, but he has quickness too which would work in his favor. Spain could be a good opiton too.

    He is hands down the best field player the USA has right now, no way he can’t make it in Europe while other Americans (Dempsey, Cherundolo, Bradley, Beasley) can.

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  11. And this suprises who? I said last week that Donovan would remain the 4th sturmer till his release in two weeks. He isn’t playing in another game folks, so give it a rest. He had several opportunities and great players, which Bayern has several, take advanatage of those oppty’s. Although he played well and much better than his previous tours over here, LD did not play up to the level expected of a Bayern player, BUT he DID show he belongs in Europe. I still think that Bremen could use him to get back up to the EUFA Cup (4-5 places in the BL), especially when Diego leaves this summer. Bremen is a hurting club, especially in the clubhouse.

    Two things are for sure:

    1) Donovan will be in incredible shape for the MLS season, far better than his LA teammates, and if Becks returns, both will be back and PISSED to prove one thing, they both belong in Europe.

    2) Klinsmann, with Donovan’s help, showed that Donovan doesn’t belong playing in the German Bundesliga 3 equivalent, MLS.

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  12. I have seen both Toni and Klose miss sitters numerous times, but they are supposedly proven players. LD tried out for Bayern not for Fulham. He probably would have been signed, though, but the Galaxy is asking way too much money. Donavan can cut it on any team in Europe. Spain would be the best place for him.

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  13. He had his chances and he didn’t convert them. At this level you have one shot to out it in. Klose doe it.Toni does it. Donovan doesn’t. Simple as that. I really feel bad for him as I was pulling for him all the way.

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  14. I agree with most posters that Landon got a raw deal. What were Bayern thinking? If they did not have any long term plans why even bother bringing him in? 4 games off the bench is all the time you get to show what you are capable of?

    Hope he gets a fair shot somewhere else. I’m sure that’s all Landon’s asking at this stage of his career.

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  15. He needs a summer move to a different situation. Don’t care the league but the move needs to for the long term so he can adjust. By mid season he would be in top form. Like someone posted already Tevez, JO, Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Eddie Lewis, Brian McBride, Kyut, Ryan Babel, Reyna, Convey, etc… the list goes on and on. All these guys had an adjustment period that was longer than what LD got.

    Also, someone compared LD to David Beckham and I could not disagree more. David walks into the locker room and guys can’t wait to be his boy and pass him the ball in training and games. LD walks in the same locker room and it is who this stupid american and why is he here.

    I will say it again he is the best US field player and should be in Europe.

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  16. Steve by your way of thinking donovan should have never accepted the loan deal in the first place because in two months there was no chance of him succeeding at bayern. LD took his shot at a top club and it didn’t work out, no shame in that.

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  17. I think Donovan would be better off going to a team in Spain. I just think he has already a lot of baggage in Germany and I think his playing style would fit better in Spain than Germany.

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  18. Brandon, 3 sub appearances is simply not a legitimate shot to impress. Carlos Tevez took the better part of an entire season to finally get comfortable and show his potential when he moved to west ham. Donovan went to a much bigger club, and couldnt stick after limited action. Absolutely no shame in that.

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  19. What was Landycakes supposed to do with the little time he was given? It’s not hard to find elite talent that have been held goaless in the same amount of time.

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  20. He went to a team- the only team in Germany- that is loaded at the positions he can play. It would have been a miricle if he had made a place on the staring 11 without a bunch of injuries.

    This isn’t like what happened before. This time it was a numbers game.

    And this comes from someone who has been highly critical,sometimes unfairly, of him in the past.

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  21. Podolski over LD is Bull$hit. LD has a better preseason showing and in the short time he played he showed more than Podolski. Besides Lukas has been talking smack to Management and making a mock of the BM team. I guess LD should have been an @ss to get Playing time and gurantee a stay. This stinking Germans (pun intended) don’t get it.

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  22. Landycakes only has himself to blame! Why go to a team that is stacked up at your position? He made a bad call going to Bayern…He could have gone to another team, and got in the starting lineup right away. But boy does he look great in games that don’t count!

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  23. Why Bayern or nothing? Bayern’s one of the top teams in Europe! He hasn’t been bad, but Podolski, Toni and Klose are tough to get past. Why not try Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen or Portsmouth?

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  24. Bayern Munich laid waste to Lisbon 5 – 0. So that is the end for Donovan as now they will say how well they did once Donovan was not there.

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  25. Welcome home, Landycakes. You’ve tried, and tried, and tried. No disrespect, but you could have been a little better. Shame, though, as our best player, can’t cut it in Europe.

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  26. He was never going to be on the roster for the match as he was never named in the roster submitted to UEFA last month. It has nothing to do with whether or not he will stay (although I don’t think he will).

    It is the same reason that it was shocking that Milan named Beckham in it’s roster for the UEFA Cup, as he would only be able to appear for them in a handful of matches prior to the end of his loan. If the loan is not extended, Milan cannot replace him on the roster.

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  27. Landon Donovan = Bayern Munich’s scapegoat

    It’s really too bad. If he’d been anything other than an American, he probably would have been bought based on the potential he showed in the exhibition matches. His recent form would have been explained as what it actually is: the team’s playing like crap as a whole and there’s always an adjustment period. But he’s being made the butt of the joke that’s being played on Jurgen Klinsmann instead. Maybe Klinsmann will follow Landon back to the States after the 2010 Cup.

    http://www.endlines.wordpress.com

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  28. Once again…This kid was given decent minutes when Bayern needed something extra, and lose to two horrible teams. He again did not seize the opportunity

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  29. I really don’t understand the “he didn’t have a proper opportunity” argument. He had to have known he wasn’t going to be a starter, given BM’s roster of attacking talent, so not acclimating to the role of bench player doesn’t hold water, IMO.

    Plus, it’s not like he didn’t get an opportunity. The PT that he rec’d was pretty good considering, again, their roster of talent.

    Then, when you consider the impact that a 200 yr. old David Beckham made at Milan in such a short time, it really makes Donovan’s results look pretty poor.

    But, I maintain that it wasn’t a wasted opportunity. He was able to spend his offeason training against world-class talent. That experience alone is good for him.

    I wish him well going forward, but it was an opportunity missed.

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  30. LD would not fit into EPL or Bundesliga as well ass he could in France or Spain. They fit his style much better. Maybe even a top side in Portugal or Holland.

    I would love to seem him in La Liga, he does speak Spanish.

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  31. This development actually benefits the Nats, as Landon is no good when he’s expected to travel, especially across the Atlantic on a consistent basis. Plus, he’s a confidence player, and dominating the MLS is good for him.

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  32. Looking back, all those people that celebrated when Donovan was scoring against Al-Jazeera and teams like that, look a bit silly now, eh?

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  33. As an avid galaxy fan i’m stoked for him to be coming back…

    but i think he deserves a good move. I wouldn’t be suprised if he goes to the EPL in the summer to a team like Everton or a promoted team like reading, and does well!!!

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  34. It’s too bad. He seems like he might be the kind of guy who really needs time to settle into a new situation, in other words way more than 3 or 4 games to prove himself! It’s unfair for fans to bash him for not doing well so far. If he’s let loose by Bayern I really hope he gives Europe another go and stays long enough to get through the early growing pains.

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  35. “Americans are just no good in Europe, Clint Dempsey excepted.”

    What a ridiculous statement. Pure foolishness. Brad Friedel, Steve Cherundolo, Brian McBride, Kasey Keller, Marcus Hahneman, Claudio Reyna. These are just some of the players who have EXCELLED in Europe.

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  36. This goes to show you when you have a chance early on to be on a European team being home sick really isnt going to help you.

    He had a chance early in his career and decided to go back home. Sometimes you only get only one shot in life. Suck it up Landy Cakes.

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  37. I don’t think this was anywhere near Donovan’s last chance in Europe. It’s clear that he not only fell into their camp when they hit a bad patch on the field, but also at a time when the dressing room was in disarray (Podolski keeps leaving his sweaty jock in front of Toni’s locker, apparently) and there was disagreement and tension in the management between Klinsy and Rumennigge. Meanwhile, Donovan showed something in the friendlies, made it back onto the pitch in the Bundesliga, and got a good deal of press. No contract? Oh well. Last chance? Probably not.

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  38. I hate to say I told you so, but… I TOLD YOU SO.

    Not about Landon’s ability – I think he has the ability to play at Champions League level. The problem is Bayern Munich was a *terrible* situation for him. They have too many good players at the positions he plays! He is not going to start ahead of Toni, Klose, Podolski, Ribery, Schweinsteiger, etc. So there was no way he was going to get enough playing time to establish himself there. And it turns out he didn’t get the playing time – not a single start. Which is EXACTLY what I commented I thought would happen.

    I don’t know who the moron was who told Donovan “try Bayern Munich – they’ve sure got a place for you”. But whoever that person was should be fired. He needs to find a team that can use a player like him – which does not include Bayern Munich!

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