by FRANCO PANIZO
Since claiming earlier this year that he wanted to return to Europe to play club soccer, U.S. national team midfielder Landon Donovan has kept relatively quiet about his future. That is, until now.
Donovan sat down with Outside the Lines reporter Bob Ley on Wednesday, and discussed a myriad of topics, ranging from Thierry Henry's handball, to the perception of the U.S. national team domestically and abroad, to the U.S. team's World Cup draw on Friday.
But perhaps the most interesting topic touched on by Donovan was his uncertain future with the Los Angeles Galaxy. When asked by Ley if it was more likely that he would stay with the Galaxy or move abroad, Donovan answered "At this point, it's probably 50/50", and added that both options are on the table.
If you missed the interview, you can see it in its entirety in the jump below:
What do you think of Donovan's future? Will he ultimately stay in MLS, or will he make a move abroad? What club would you like to see him on next season?
The following players, when they were in their prime, they could arguably have started for any team in the world. In no particular order they include the likes of Peter Schmeichel, Ferenc Puskas, Denis Law, Jim Baxter, Jimmy Johnstone, Roy Keane, Michel Platini, Glenn Hoddle, Dragan Dzajic, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Marco Van Basten and my favorite example, George Best. You would have a hard time convincing me or any knowledgeable person that they were not “World Class” in their prime.
None of these players led their team to, or even played, in a World Cup final.
I left out players who may yet fit your criteria but don’t just now (such as Messi, Rooney and C. Ronaldo). I would point out there is a very good chance that at least one of them and maybe all three will not meet your criteria. That alone should tell you something.
The term World Class can be whatever you want to define it as. In your case, the criteria you chose is quite flawed as this list demonstrates. You could have said that Donovan, while very talented, is not at the highest level in terms of current talent around the world. But you did not and now you are defending your fakakta point by essentially saying everyone else is stupid. Not very convincing.
In fact, Donovan is not at the level of, say, a C. Ronaldo, a talent that you build a team around if you have any sense. However, he is talented enough so that if he gets the right situation he could shine. Next time make an argument that can be more logically defended.
France would be best as there won’t be a lot of pressure on him to succeed. But if Landon wants to play in a league that fits his style, he should opt for Spain. Being from France and a regular watcher of Ligue 1, he’d be physically undone week in and week out. Every Ligue 1 team has a strong, physical holding midfielder type player, with some using two, whose main job is to physically and mentally destroy players like Donovan. Can Donovan effectively handle the physicality of guys like Alou Diarra, Toulalan, Matuidi, M’Bia, M’Vila, Sissoko, Capoue, etc.,? Maybe…..but can he do it consistently on a regular basis?
Anyway, Donovan reminds me of a poor man’s Stephane Sessegnon, in terms of the way they play, with Donovan scoring more goals, while SS assists on more. Don’t take that as a negative comment fanboys.
“Landon is the most talented player in the world, I would love for him to join me in Spain”-Lionel Messi
Landon is plenty tough enough.
there are a lot of players who haven’t done what you have used as qualification and are yet considered world class.
As someone else pointed out, Drogba comes to mind. No one can tell me he isn’t world class.
Also, this idea that the Gold Cup doesn’t count or MLS Cups don’t count. Please. Why should any other competition count then? A player has to win what is put before him. Landon will NEVER play in the European Championship. Neither will Samuel Eto’o. I don’t think that tarnishes either player.
What’s up with the comment about the keepers in EPL too? Are you kidding? Friedel and Howard are undoubtedly at the top of the pile in EPL with some other keepers. Who is so remarkably better than them that they deserve no consideration for best in EPL? Cech has sucked for 2+ years. Reina is inconsistent. David James is in that same boat. Van Der Saar is on the decline the last year. Really, who do you feel is THAT much better than either of them that neither would rightly merit any consideration as being the best in EPL?
I have to agree on the Italy angle. I’m not a huge Serie A fan but the teams outside of the top 4-6 teams in Italy play a style that is MUCH more similar to the USMNT though in some cases more nuanced and tactically aware. I think a move to a place like that would help him stay in national team mode more easily.
La Liga would be great, but unfortunately for the USMNT we play nothing like that. Mid-table Bundesliga would be great too. It requires the tactical awareness and counterattacking prowess of Italy but also a lot more physicality which is lacking from him game. (thus why he’s failed to latch on in Bundesliga in previous trips)
I heard that he may be going to club America.
MLS won’t let him. Which American do they have like him? Also if he moves now the league wont get anything for him.
Donovan is not worth more than $5 million. World Class so why are teams not breaking the bank to get him. Why was Livorno the only bidder after the Confed Cup for the World Class player? Dude is okay, he is FAR from world class status. Ley said he is in a small group of World Class players; an insult to like Drogba, Eto’o, Messi, Torres, Essien, Kaka, I can go on, but he does not fall in that class at all. Sorry
I think it’s gonna cost more than 10M to get the MLS to part ways with Donovan. He’s the best player in the league’s history and the best player in his national team’s history as well. It’s a known fact that the MLS structure gives the league a stranglehold over its players.
understood, “if you want to bring the opinion of european talent evaluators into the discussion…”
Let’s do that,
“Fulham completed the signing of striker Diomansy Kamara from West Brom for a fee of £6million in July 2007, on a five-year deal”
There’s many more crappy evaluations to follow. let’s bring some more in.
“the more appropriate measure would be to take a look at what scouts, managers, and owners think about donovan…and from everything we hear…none of them are even willing to lay out $10M for the dude…hmmmmm”
Not one note of authenticity. Hmmmmmmmmmm
“from everything we hear” Hmmmmmmmmmm
Must be true, Hmmmmmmmmm
The debate about Landon’s ability, and where he stands with other players cannot be measured mathematically, except for the results. When you look at his accomplishments both nationally, and internationally no one stands near in the USA and only a few internationally.
But if you insist on foisting opinions about his ability and the meaning of terms, than opinions by Xavi and Iniesta and other contemporaries have much more weight than Max, Pete, and Tim.
Thanks for the vid
Patrice Evra comes to mind.
Most of the classic ones, i.e. Ashley Cole, Roberto Carlos, Phillip Lahm,(spelling?) are on the downhill side of things. Paolo Maldini, who just retired, was arguably the best fullback of any description ever. He would be my first choice for the modern era.
There are a number of good new young guys in Europe coming through but, like you, I can’t remember their names.
LOL @ people clinging to xavi and iniesta’s polite comments as some sort of confirmation of donovans worth…just the mere fact that youre using that weak piece of evidence (as opposed to you know…tangible concrete things like playing week in week out and contributing against the highest caliber of competition) in the argument exposes its lack of strength…in fact if you want to bring the opinion of european talent evaluators into the discussion…the more appropriate measure would be to take a look at what scouts, managers, and owners think about donovan…and from everything we hear…none of them are even willing to lay out $10M for the dude…hmmmmm
Germany, Denmark you guys are so picky! What’s the difference?
Maybe the latter is the world’s elite, of which Landy is not a part. If he were Chelsea would be knocking on his door.
My verdict:
– world class? likely
– world elite? no way
– critical to team USA? definitely
Move. Don’t stay in MLS!
dude you’ve made two ridiculous posts. I gotta call you out.
Donovan went over to leverkusen at the age of 17, how many 17 year olds can you name that are contributing to big teams like that right now? Please, list them, and then we can discuss the ratio of success at that age.
As for the bayern situation, klinsmann was a lame duck by the time the bundesliga started up again.
World class player to me is someone who could start for any Club team in the world. There are not very many of those and LD is not one of them. Otherwise, teams like Man. U, Barcelona, AC Milan etc would be bidding for his services.
I think he could play for midtable teams in the top Euro leagues. Whether or not these midtable teams would be willing to pay the transfer fee is another matter.
The full interview will be on during the draw tomorrow
while I think donovan is absolutely good enough to contribute to a european side, I find it hard to believe that any chairman of any club in europe is looking at donovan in terms of off the field commercial value. Here’s why I think that:
“Americans are already able to watch most of these matches on TV, and bringing Landon Donovan onto a squad could bring massive new revenue opportunities to a club.”
–Yes, its nice that we can tune into FSC on the weekends now, but the increase in viewership for a european side from adding a devoted american audience has got to be marginal at best. I certainly disagree that it is enough to move the needle to the point where corporate sponsors sign on as a result of the addition of an american player. a player with the ability to do that would need to be a star of stars.
As far as “massive” revenue opportunities, this certainly exists with the emerging soccer market in the us, however, adding donovan, while creating an opportunity, would not add up to massive revenue for the club.
“we’ll all watch and probably buy a jersey”
–No, we wont. Landon Donovan is my favorite american player of all time, but Im gonna buy his US shirt, not his club shirt, unless he signs for my favorite club (Go on gunners!)
My main point is that Donovan is good enough to be valued above so many other players simply in soccer terms, I think if youre assuming clubs will look at him from a commercial standpoint, you’re stretching a bit.
To be honest, I think he could. I’m not saying any coach is going to play him ahead of any of these guys, but I believe he could really be in the same group as those players. We put him on the world stage with four of these players and he showed us things that we probably predicted we would see out of him when he first trotted out to Bayern Leverkusen as a teenager.
World class yada yada. why dont you take it for what it’s worth. He’s good. Under a broad umbrella he is. Under a finer definition he’s not but arguably he may have that potential. And of course this was an American broadcast of an American player so he gets the broader definition.
As for teams.. I like what I saw of Ligue 1 for CD9. I’m tempted to say that would be best. Eredivisie is good for playing time, but I don’t think the stage is quite big enough. Spain is good.. England would be interesting and for selfish viewing reasons I would still like to see. I think he would do well on a mid-table team. Different player type obviously but on a talent level look what Franco is doing.
A few years back Portsmouth wanted him on a loan.. I wonder what would have happened if that could have worked.
Yes Arsene Wenger is but not Donovan. He has his eyes on better talent not an 0-for-3 in Europe. As my Arsenal friend just said THANKS BUT NO THANKS!!!!
Here’s my plan for Donnie
1) 1 yr deal from the Galaxy
2) Loan deal over the summer to Mexico
3) Returns to MLS To play out the rest of the year.
4) Post World Cup Signs for any La Liga team he wishes!
Timf,
He had me laughing too, small group of world class players, REALLY?? Reality check, if he was world class why has he not attracted a team other than LIVORNO since Confed Cup? The last euro trip was a Klinsmann favor.
Im sorry but landycakes is a world class player, he is, he just never got a chance to truly prove himself at a high level and dont give me the Bundesliga bs crap, he never got a true chance there either. He wasnt consider a starter and yet he played some good soccer there.
LD is a bust in Europe. No major club touches bust more than once. Not even an American lol
while it is definitely not 2006 and the Landy cracks must decrease, he is not ‘by far and away’ our best player. Until he proves what Dempsey does, twice a week for Fulham, he cannot be our best player (not too mention our money keepers). We need him to go to La Liga and score 8-12 goals. Man I wish he had done this in the 2008-09 and 09-10 seasons – we need more real deal experience in South Af.
As for what matters: lets go draw! Come on South Af, Slovenia and one of the Guay’s!
This host says “You’re in that small class of world class players” REALLY???? World class playing at 27 in MLS, LMAO, ROFL. World class failure is probably what he meant to say; failed at Leverkusen TWICE, failed to impress at Bayern. That is a failure to me.
Isn’t Arsenal looking for a January replacement for van Persie?
If that is your true definition of a world class player, then I can name you 10 players that are considered world class that didn’t lead their country to any successes. History said it best people don’t remember who won third or second place. The only thing that matter is win it all. What has the following players did to bring great successes to their country in a World Cup? Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Stevie G, Frank Lampard, Ruud v. Nisteryool(spelling), Raul Gonzalez, Frank Ribery, Ballack, Drogba, Luis Figo. These are just a fews from the top of my head.
I’ve heard that idea floated on a few articles/podcasts actually. However, it isn’t set in stone nor is Chelsea the only team interested. Also, I heard somewhere (I think it was WFD) that he has a clause in his contract that says if any team is willing to pay Atletico 60m euros, they can simply take him and there is nothing Atletico can do about it.
So you say Donovan is not world class, because he is no Messi. Then you say to be world class requires leading your national and club team to glory. Unless I’m mistaken, Messi plays for an Argentina team that barely limped into the world cup. I’m confused.
Der Bundesliga, Der Bundesliga Landon! Come on, you know you want it, it’s calling your name again.
Landon would fit nicely in Hoffenheim’s system or Kaiserslautern run for the BL and I wouldn’t be suprised if Klinsi is working something behind the scenes with SAD Stuttgart who could really use his services.
left sided guys – giggs, arshavin, henry(for barca), malouda, ashley young, riera, robinho, perotti, simao…
Everton
Excellent point.