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Donovan leaves lasting impression with Everton loan

Landon Donovan 11 (Reuters)

Landon Donovan's final game at Goodison Park may have been against Hull City this past weekend, and if it was, the Everton fans' chants of "U-S-A" is all you need to know about how they feel for Donovan. 

Ives was at Goodison Park on Sunday (and is currently en route back to the U.S.), and witnessed the fans' reactions after Donovan scored a goal and got an assist in a 5-1 victory that could have been Donovan's last home match for Everton. Ives wrote a column for FoxSoccer.com about Donovan's loan and the impact it has had on the Everton, the fans and Donovan himself.

Give it a read and let us know what you think of the column. Agree that Everton was a perfect fit for Donovan? Think Donovan will get his loan extended?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Hi

    I’m an Everton fan from Liverpool. Supported them my whole life, go to every home game and most away games. I can honestly not remember somebody coming in to a team, mid season nevertheless, and have such an impact on and off the field.

    He has brought a feel good factor to the team and fans. It’s rare that the Everton fans get so attached to players in such a short space of time, I’ve seen countless players come and go but only a handful are revered in the way Landon has been. This to me says it all about the type of guy he is and player he is. We are willing to give everyone a chance but those who truly understand what it means to play for our club, work hard, play passionately and leave everything out on the field are the ones most appreciated by our support. Landon has done this from minute one and thus will forever have a place in Evertonian hearts.

    Rather selfishly I want him to stay here with us permanently but I entirely understand it is a difficult situation with him being so loved and important back over there too.

    So, thank you Landon, hopefully this weekend is not a goodbye, just see you soon. You’re most welcome back here anytime.

    Always in Evertonian hearts.

    Reply
  2. The big deal is that, by all reports and comments, its what HE wants to do. I don’t believe ANYONE wants him to stay in the EPL for our own satisfaction…what an absurd comment!

    If HE wants to stay at Everton to stay sharp, to me thats better than a few early season games in second rate MLS.

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  3. Nah, lead Everton to new heights like he has for San Jose, Galaxy and the USMNT. Everton looks great for Champions league ’11-’12

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  4. LA Galaxy let the man stay and ply his trade at Everton until the end of the EPL…. it will do wonders for his form and assist the USMNT in the world cup. he can then come back to the Galaxy a hero …….

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  5. I think the impact that one more month of EPL would make on Donovan would be negligible.

    Sorry, but the best thing for him is to come back home, be happy that he did well in Liverpool, and focus 100% on SA.

    Face it, all of you just want him to play in the EPL for YOUR satisfaction. If Landon does well in SA he’ll land an even bigger contract and head back to Europe so I don’t see what the big deal is?

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  6. A perverse observation: I wonder if LD staying in England could be bad for USMNT.

    How? In MLS LD deals with a – wide range of players – being polite now. For example, on one side he has David Beckham, behind him he has players that couldn’t ever crack League One.

    Kind of like…the USMNT.

    Clint seemed to be a bit spoiled by a quality coach and decent players at Fulham, making it hard to adjust to USMNT.

    So then LD goes to Chelsea, plays with Drogba…and then Jozy? wow that would be tough.

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  7. I’m definitely not an LA fan, but you’re absolutely correct that Donovan has a contract and all parties involved should honor that. If Everton wants Donovan badly enough, they’ll make it worth LA’s while to let him go. If not, Bruce will hang on to him. Simple as that.

    I wish it were otherwise, but this is why we sign contracts in the first place.

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  8. Great way to go out in his last game, with one goal,and an assist. The one thing you could see is, players on Everton could finish his passes for goals. Coming back to MLS he is going to miss that. Whatever scenario happens, if he stays or comes back it will be good. One way he keeps playing top level soccer, the other he gets a break prior to the World Cup.

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  9. Americans do transfer on a discount.

    But that’s good for US players now, as the US is becoming known as a source of (cheap) talent.

    MLS may not like it, but their little domestic monopoly doesn’t change price range for US players in a world market. Only success of more US field players at Dempsey and Donovan level will begin to do that.

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  10. Would love to see LD feeding balls in for Drogba, Kalou, Malouda etc. He could help widen their game and hopefully be healthy for longer stints than ‘Glass’Joe Cole…Everton is a great fit, but given the opportunity to bust it up for Chelsea…Good for MLS too…

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  11. Two things.

    1) A transfer to Chelsea is enormously risky for anyone except a superstar (eg. Rooney, Ronaldo, Messi). It’s just unstable. Ancellotti just got there, and who knows how long he’ll stay. And, even if he likes Donovan, it’s not like he can’t go out and buy a replacement if at any point he feels differently. Sure Donovan will get his money even if he’s not playing, but I don’t get the impression that that’s his primary motivation.

    2) I would be shocked if Donovan did not have a minimum buyout clause in his contract. He’s way more valuable to the Galaxy than he is to anyone else because of the MLS salary rules, so they’re naturally going to over-value him. Plus, he’s the highest profile American player out there, so MLS wants to keep him too (which is probably why the salary rules were fudged for him in the first place). So if Donovan (or rather his agent) is not completely stupid, what any club who wants him is going to pay has already been decided. It’s just up to him where he wants to go.

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  12. Yes…but if LD doesn’t want to play for Chelsea he doesn’t have to go… if Everton could put up a good, fair bid, he might prefer to player there… a team that always plays like a team..with team before ego… and a manager who he likes and respects and who likes and respects him…

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  13. Hush, I agree — if he has the chance to play at Chelsea, he has to take it (and this from a guy that DOES NOT like Chelsea). He probably wouldn’t start every game, but he’d play a lot and would get tons of both EPL and CL time.

    Reply

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