Good morning all. As we try to wrap our heads around Landon Donovan's new contract (which Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl puts at four years, $9 million), things continue to get more and more interesting in MLS during a time of year when things are usually slow.
So what is our take on Donovan's new contract? I think it's a good deal for both sides and offers Donovan some serious insurance. How so? Well, if Donovan had faltered with Everton, or at next summer's World Cup, he would have been in far worse position to negotiate a new deal and it would have been extremely unlikely that a team would come along next summer and pay what MLS would want for him.
Now, with the new deal, Donovan can head to Everton with some added security. And if he enjoys a strong showing at Everton AND at the 2010 World Cup? I have a feeling MLS would listen to the offers that would likely come pouring in come July.
Is the deal a cop-out by Donovan, as some fans and critics are suggesting? I find it hard to call going from two years/$1.8 million to four years/$9 million a cop-out. I've written on more than enough occasions that Donovan needs to go to Europe, but I also never thought I'd see the day (at least not yet) when MLS would give an American player a $2 million deal. Combine that with the fact that Donovan is about to head to England to play in the world's toughest league for ten weeks, and I really don't see Donovan as someone who is running from challenges. If he's running anywhere, it's to the bank.
Now, onto the D.C. United coaching search.
Few could have ever pictured D.C. United having trouble finding a head coach, but that certainly seems to be happening. The league's most successful franchise is struggling to find a coach after Akron head coach Caleb Porter turned down the D.C. job in a move few could have seen coming. Curt Onalfo had been considered the most likely successor to Tom Soehn if Porter didn't work out, but now even that looks suspect after the team's failed attempts to talk to Frank Yallop and John Spencer (though D.C. United insists that the attempts to speak to Yallop and Spencer came earlier in the process, and not this week.)
Should D.C. fans panic? Not entirely. While the draft is less than a month away, D.C. does have the luxury of still employing general manager Dave Kasper, one of the best in the business and someone well-equipped to run the draft on his own.
————
Perhaps the most interesting thing we've uncovered in our digging on the D.C. coaching story is the fact that Portland has begun looking for its head coach. A handful of MLS veteran coaches have already been contacted and one source believes Houston assistant John Spencer is a candidate for the job.
Spencer's situation is an interesting one. I know folks are wondering whether he really wants to be a coach after passing on the Chicago job two years ago and passing on the chance to discuss D.C. United's job this week. The Chicago situation came down to Spencer being made a low-ball offer. The sense I get as far as his current situation is that he is waiting for other jobs to open up and would rather stay on the Western side of the country.
————-
As Houston Dynamo fans (and for that matter, U.S. national team fans) await word on where Stuart Holden will go next, a new club has emerged as a potential suitor. Sources tell me that English Premier League club Blackburn is expressing interest in Holden, who will head into the January transfer window a free agent. Blackburn is currently sitting in 12th place in the EPL but could be losing left winger Morten Gamst Pederson to Scottish club Celtic. While Holden isn't a natural left winger, his versatility and status as a free transfer could make him an attractive option for Sam Allardyce's squad.
————-
For some quality reading, check out this in-depth piece on FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala from our Designated Player brethren over at The Original Winger.
————-
That's all for now. What do you think of Donovan's new deal? Stunned to see D.C. struggling to find a coach? Excited to hear Portland has begun its coaching search? Can you see Holden succeeding at Blackburn?
Share your thoughts below.
who would want to live in the east coast anyway? there is a reason y Arena and Sigi r out here.
What are you talking about ?
The second biggest contract in MLS history is hype ?
The most MLS has ever paid for a US born citizen is hype ?
MLS being able to keep US talent at home is hype ?
I think this could be a moment that we look back on and say wow, that was when we could start competing with the bottom 3/4ths of the EPL….teams that noone in their right mind would want to play for ( outside of money )
Quoting the article: “If [Donovan]’s running anywhere, it’s to the bank.”
Too funny Ives–but i agree. Exciting news about Holden.
Pete, Donovan just said (ESPN article) that Galaxy said they WEREN’T going to sell him. He had no leverage with the option years – they exercise them, and he has to stay here and play for 900,000 (nice money) with no ability to be sold and no loan. He had to sign this new deal to get the opportunity to go on loan, get a chance to do well and then be sold…and if things don’t go well, he still makes 2.25 million dollars (great money.)
I’m with you, Ruiz. I’ll add Tuscany and Southern France to the list. give me a steady paycheck, duct-tape a wine glass to my hand and I’ll move to any of these places.
Ives,
Why haven’t you commented on the absudity of Donovan’s Grandfathering. This could potentially lead to LA have 3 designated players. If this isn’t pandering to the larger revenue markets what is?
Off-topic: Just got done watching that Jeremiah White highlight reel for the hundredth time. Can someone remind me what happened that’s kept him out of the US camp? Was it his doing or what? I’ve either forgotten or never heard that full story. He exhibits skills in that video that I haven’t seen another US player do in years–if ever.
1. Hamlett’s Chicago Fire didn’t knock DC United out of the 2008 playoffs. DCU didn’t make the playoffs in 2008 or 2009–two consecutive years. JCO’s Chicago Fire knocked DCU out in the first round in 2007 after DCU won the Supporter’s Shield that year.
2. I’m not stunned that Hamlett isn’t a candidate for DCU. He was a candidate earlier (when Nowak was hired). So they’ve had a chance to research him, talk to him. I’m assuming they concluded based upon what they found out then that they didn’t want him as the head coach.
3. I am a bit surprised it’s dragged on this long. But then the team didn’t want to fire Soehn outright but do a search in which Soehn could be a candidate (and he withdrew his name) which lengthened the process. And they didn’t go out of the way to reach out and touch Porter while his team was in the hunt for the College Cup. So those have really contributed to lengthening the process a lot.
Same for Holden quite frankly, although the weather is a little rough ( hot ) in the summer for me. It has to be better than England.
I am left wondering if the people that think Blackburn is a good fit for Holden, hate him ?
Why would anyone want to play for a team that is obviously not going to win it all this year? And I could probably post 1000-1 odds for the next tens years and have no takers. The money better be a lot bigger than what Donovan is getting !
Thank you.
Don’t believe the hype.
Ives thinks 8 mil. (see above posts). So, 10 isn’t too irrational.
I can’t see Holden walking into EPL and playing either but this kid has shown so far to be mature and hard-working. So I can certainly see him coming in and working his way to first team within a month or so.
No issue there.
So why did he run his mouth the last year about how ready he was for it to happen?
That’s, I believe, why folks are disappointed at this anti-climactic “announcement.” Some felt this was his time to go (justifiable given his comments the last year). Can’t blame folks for the disappointment in this. They were led along to believe that something “big” was coming. It didn’t. USA Hype.
Now will it happen down the road? Maybe. Good luck finding a club to plunk down that much for a guy that, despite that you think he doesn’t have to prove anything, does have to prove he’s worth it. That’s the reality of the football world. You prove you belong on the field against the best everyday, not every few months.
Best of luck LD.
If that’s considered a cop-out, I’d gladly accept a “cop-out” that’s 2.5 times my current salary.
Okay seriously, some of you simply need to get a reality check. You folks that have it in your mind that the league would get 10-15M for LD is bordering on insanity. It’s not going to happen. There is no rational argument that you could ever come up with to make that number make sense. Stop it now. I enjoy debating and welcome other opinions. It’s fun. But for you to make completely irrational statements like LD is worth 15M is…..well, its idiotic. He’s worth what the market says he is worth. And at this point, no 28 year old American with the past “issues” Donovan has had in Europe is going to be valued at such a ridiculous price.
OK. Thanks for the info (no sarcasm). But can someone explain the way this contract works (options, et al.).
I know that Bayern would have had to pay 10 million Euros if they wanted Donovan last spring.
I was under the impression that the “core” of his contract was basically over and that there were two more “option” years left on. I was interpreting these option years to mean that they were years Donovan and Galaxy could do one of two things: a. go their separate ways provided a team pays a decent fee, or b. contract extension with the Galaxy.
Did he really not have any leverage from his contract?
I just don’t get the safety argument. He’s been doing safe for years now. I’m a Galaxy supporter, but there’s still just no comparison between playing in MLS and playing in a good league in Europe (except maybe at Seattle and BMO).
Of course, I wouldn’t necessarily want to go to Everton, but you could bet your Christmas stockings I’d rather play in Livorno or Paris than in MLS.
If he wants to take it easy, he can join me and a bunch of guys at Pan Pacific Park every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.
Really. I just don’t get it. Why the U-turn? Why the heck did he try his luck at Bayern if he wasn’t committed to trying to get a new challenge.
Also…. Ballack was 29 when he went to Chelsea (on a free).
(SBI-Come on Pete, there’s a SLIGHT difference between Donovan’s accomplishments at 29 and Ballack’s, particularly with regard to what they could reasonably assume to find on the transfer market for their services.)
Good point.
It doesn’t matter. Their 2 big names didn’t get them a championship 🙂
@tim
Who wants to live outside the US? Lots of people, especially if you have a cushy job waiting for you there. 😀
I wouldn’t mind a stint in Spain or even London or especially Paris. But especially Barcelona.
I just cannot see Holden walking into any Premier League team and getting first team playing time. He’s a player with potential, but he is nowhere near BPL level currently, in my opinion.
I agree with you, Ives, on your take on Donovan’s new deal. At first I was disappointed that the announcement wasn’t an outright sale, but the more I think about it, it’s really a good thing.
Would be very interesting to see how Holden would hold up in the EPL. Its a great move for Landon Donovan. Hopefully it will provide him with some great work in the run up to the World Cup. As for his new deal in the MLS…I honestly think he’s got himself a great deal. Perhaps some other players in the league are now under-paid? Congratulations for IVES on winning best soccer blog! Its a joy to read every day.
nice salary, playing futbol in sunny CA (vs lousy euro winter weather!)…. maybe where he lives and the quality of life he is enjoying means more to LD than playing in EURO year after year. He really doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone!
Let the guy enjoy… and please – don’t tell him what is best for him!!
I mean I still think he should go back to Holland if he can, he had success there, but if you read the article it makes it seem like Beasley was wanting out because he wanted a shot at a spot in SA and that his lack of playing time in Scotland was hindering that (which it most likely is/was) and the manager has told him that he had no need to be worried if he kept up his current form.
Still, if he continues his current form I would like to see him get one last shot at the WC.
I’ll take the DC United job.
a little confused here about the grandfather clause affecting Donovan. Isn’t this considered a new contract and that his salary should now be subject to the MLS cap?
I’ve found that Smith’s choices for roster spots to be simply inexplicable from week to week.
pete $4 mil US? really? the reigning MVP, face of american soccer is going to be allowed to leave for less than some of the bench warmers on European teams? no way, the dude generates the most income/interest of anyone in a league (save Beckham) whose main goal right now is to continue cultivating a fan base, you think they let those assets go cheap? 10 mil is my guess for what they could get for him now before he tears it up this summer, then i’m going 15
eh, Donovan doesn’t really want to go abroad and it is not that big of a deal. How many people here really want to live outside the U.S.? Plus, he does play against the best in the world (national team anybody?) and has already proved he can play. He will have the opportunity again this June while collecting his hefty MLS salary.
Thank, Ives. I really appreciate our reply. Good to know. It’s making more sense. As long as MLS let’s him go if a legit offer comes in. I just hope he’s not priced out of the market and “trapped”. Ya, know?
(SBI-Give me $9 million and you can trap me too. LOL. Seriously though, I highly doubt that this deal wasn’t worked out without having some sort of guarantee from MLS that it would listen to serious offers, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there were a fee-release clause.)
it’s an easy decision if your goal is to have LA win and be the face of the league. this grandfather clause needs to stop or the league needs to let all teams have the same ability to sign players to big contracts and do away with the stupid mls cap system. this makes the league stance on the spending cap look like a bag of bs.
If I could have picked two teams in the EPL for Stu Holden, it would have been Sunderland and Blackburn. I’d be happy to see it go through.
Alright Holden. Now here’s a guy who needs to make some runs to the bank.
Just read that Beasley is assured of playing time with Rangers if he keeps up his current form that has been present over the last week. Here is the link:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=714518&sec=americansabroad&cc=5901
Couldn’t disgree with you more, Ives.
Why the heck does Donovan want to continue to play in the MLS? So he can keep his dogs at the same dog park?
If he wants to go to Europe, he should do like Stuey and keep his transfer fee low.
So the theory is that a Scotsman is going to play an inflated fee for an American?
I don’t have the exact numbers, but it seems like his transfer fee right now would be under 4 million US. If he did relatively well at Everton (let’s say something like 2 goals and 4 assists) and showed like he belonged, I can easily imagine a team like Everton (or a club of similar stature) would go for Donovan. Can’t say the same after this new deal.
Does this really make sense to anyone if Donovan does actually want to go to Europe long term?
(SBI-Pete, Donovan’s old deal kept him in MLS through 2011. Would you really have him play out his deal and give Europe a try when he’s 29 and without having had the chance to play in Europe between then and now? That’s something else that needs to be pointed out. LA didn’t have to let Donovan go on loan. They could have simply stopped him from doing just that for the remainder of his deal, so he would be 29 going into an uncertain free agent status and would have no guarantee of having a sweetheart MLS deal waiting for him if it didn’t work out. If Donovan is 23 or 24 like Holden, then sure, play two years and you’re 25 or 26 and a free agent. Holden also doesn’t have the previous unsuccessful runs through Europe, that make it it that much tougher to find teams willing to spend money. And Pete, not sure where you’re getting your info from but there’s no way MLS was selling Donovan for $4 million under his old contract. Double that at least.
The reality is that Donovan’s value won’t change until he can prove he can play well in Europe. Now he will have that chance, while also making some serious bank. If he has a great stint with Everton, then does well in the World Cup, something tells me there will be significant bids and it shouldn’t be assumed that MLS will automatically turn down all of them.)
interesting about Holden at Rovers, but it seems like a risk on his part. While MGP may indeed be on his way out, he’s not exactly playing every week, and may end up seeing out the year and becoming a Bosman player. That leaves Holden to have to fight through for playing time, which could either be great, or could see him lose out on WC contention if he’s not regularly playing.
Alternatively, this may be a summer move for someone that may make more sense, especially if he does make the WC squad and performs.
MLS isn’t at a stage where uniformity is going to be universal. Certain teams will be thrown bones if it helps the development of the league.
Guys like Beckham and LD fall in that category. It definitely isn’t fair, but from a marketing/advertising standpoint it’s an easy business decision.
Someones banking on LD having a good summer!!smart move
I like seeing American players playing for Managers like Big Sam, it could only help Stu’s development,
Earnie Stewart for DCU
The only thing ridiculous about the contract is the grandfather clause. It’s unfair that the galaxy haven’t had to trade for a 2nd DP slot. It’s good to know that MLS isn’t still above making the rules up as they go along, especially if it benefits certain big market teams.
Depends on what the minimum out clause is in his contract. In some cases if they hit the release fee they have to let them go. But I doubt MLS made it that easy for him.
We obviously don’t know the details of the contract, but if he really wanted a shot full-time in Europe, chances are there is a transfer price trigger in the contract, that would require the league to sell him if its ever offered. That said, listening to LD’s comments yesterday, he seems content with staying in MLS.
Agreed. for DCU in particular it was the Hamlett coached team that dropped them from the 2008 playoffs
As much as we want him to go abroad, it’s silly to fault him for taking a raise. As long as the transfer fee demands aren’t ridiculous (if he earns one) it shouldn’t be terrible.
As for Stu, I could see him getting time at Blackburn, but who knows with the EPL. Is Allardyce going to give him a fair shot? Who knows, he seems to be a wishywashy type of guy.
I don’t know, Ives. Doesn’t the deal give MLS more control of Lando and won’t it, in all likelihood, RAISE the price of his transfer fee and therefore make him LESS attractive to European clubs? Am I reading the situation incorrectly?
(SBI-Not sure how it raises his fee. If anything, it will keep it closer to what it has been. MLS had to act because after this summer Donovan would have been in the final year and MLS would have moved a step closer to losing him for nothing. Also, with each passing year Donovan gets a bit older and his value diminishes. I think if someone comes in with a big bid and it’s a good club I can’t see MLS just completely blowing off an offer.)
I don’t see Donovan leaving MLS ever now even if his Everton loan is a success and he plays well in the World Cup. I don’t fault him for taking the money. It is the right thing to do for an athlete but I think people need to realize Landon doesn’t want to go to Europe permanently. I think one successful loan will clear his mind of any lingering doubts about his ability and he won’t go back again. I think as fans we want to see him challenge himself to play against the best but in the end he is happy in LA as the face of MLS. More power to him I guess.
Holden!!!..that would be huge..
Blackburn isn’t the right fit for Stu.
As a Timbers fan, I’d love to see John Spencer in the coaching box. I want a coach in their first job, who will relish the challenge of starting something new. And I’m patient to know there will be mistakes along the way. Spencer seems like a tough and smart character, at least he was when he played for the Rapids.
Aiight, Ives. Maybe I was a bit too quick with my Donovan reaction. You may be right. But were there any teams looking to take him on a full transfer during this January window?
(SBI-None that were going to pay what MLS would want. Not even close. His stock just isn’t that high right now and teams aren’t throwing money around save for the very biggest teams. European clubs are only going to spend on established veterans of European leagues or highly-regarded young players.)
How is it possible that the great Denis Hamlett is not mentioned as a candidate to fill vacant MLS coaching spots in New York and DC?
my big question is how much time holden get at blackburn. i find it unlikely he would move there if he even had a shred of doubt about playing time, he’s well aware that his roster spot is far from secure, especially if beasley continues like this, so he HAS to play