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SBI MLS Player of the Week: Landon Donovan

LandonDonovanVAN (ISIPhotos.com)

Photo by Mike Janosz/ISIPhotos.com

It was a week full of quality performances from several players on different teams, but no one was better than Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan.

The U.S. men's national team veteran won SBI's MLS Player of the Week award after a pair of dazzling performances saw him combine for three goals and two assists en route to helping Los Angeles pick up two vital victories against Western Conference opposition in a span of four days.

Donovan first played a key role in helping the Galaxy rally to defeat Real Salt Lake on the road, scoring twice and setting up another in Los Angeles' 3-2 win last Wednesday. He followed that up by scoring a goal and adding an assist in the Galaxy's 3-0 home victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Donovan beat out a group of candidates that includes Alan Gordon, the San Jose Earthquakes forward who had a goal and an assist in the club's 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday; New York Red Bulls defender Brandon Barklage, who netted his first two MLS career goals in spectacular fashion in a win over his former club, D.C. United; and Will Bruin, who had three goals in two games for the Houston Dynamo.

What do you think of Donovan winning SBI's MLS Player of the Week award? Thinking Bruin or Barklage should have won it instead?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I think he should finish his career in Mexico. He’s huge down there, he speaks spanish and he’d make a ton of money in contract and endoresements.

    the pro NRA pro MLS crowd would probably never go for it though… too anti-american.

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  2. Klinsmann has said that with everyone healthy and available he might go with a 4-4-2. That said, Bruin has Altidore, Boyd, and possibly on or both of Sapong and Wooten ahead of him (with Gomez, Wondo, and Agudelo in competition for the other spot).

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  3. Are you suggesting that LD would have been better off spending the last two years on a mid-table Everton side, rather than winning two Supporters Shields and an MLS Cup alongside Beckham and Arena with the Galaxy? I realize Euro Snobbery runs strong in SBI-Land, but you, sir, are high. If nothing else, Donovan’s last two years have cemented his “Greatest American Player Ever” household name status (deserved or not) and guaranteed him heavy endorsements here in the States, and a job as a soccer announcer after he retires, which should be about five minutes after the USMNT gets knocked out of the round of 16 in Brazil in 2014.

    Love him or hate him, but Donovan played his cards right by staying with LA. The end of THIS season, on the other hand…

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  4. Bruin would be an interesting, improving back to goal player in a Kinnearesque USA 442 but the deal is how would he fit into a Klinsi total football-type scheme?

    (SBI-That’s the big question, and the reality is he’s not a great fit. This was pretty clear when Bruin took part in the U-23 national team camp in December. They ran the 4-3-3 with the U-23s and Caleb Porter played Bruin as a right forward. He’s not really a true target forward, but he’s mobile for his size and hustles so he was played on the right. He struggled at that spot with the U-23s, so you can imagine him having a very hard time with the MNT. Bruin is more a 4-4-2 player, but if he keeps on scoring and improving, Klinsmann will have to take a look.)

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  5. The difference now is that he can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Landon admits that his career likely only has a few years left (he’s 30 years old). It’s officially now or never, which was not the case in years past.

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  6. Well earned. he has looked much better since returning from the USMNT!

    Will Bruin has looked really good this season. If he keeps up the scoring I would say that a USMNT call-up will come along very soon.

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  7. “I think now is the perfect time for him to go to a place like Everton.”

    that “perfect time” has been said every single day for the past 2 years

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  8. Since he’s been around for such a long time, it’s sometimes easy to forget that Landon Donovan is still the most talented player in MLS (no disrespect to DeRosario). I’m wondering if this is his last full season before making a permanent move overseas. I think now is the perfect time for him to go to a place like Everton.

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  9. Despite missing two break away goals on Sat, his performance was outstanding in the best Galaxy showing of the season to date. Well earned recognition.

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  10. Should have had a hat trick yesterday. That being said, he has played extremely well — and definitely more aggressively. Perhaps, somehow, he has the found the desire again? :-p

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