Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
The Los Angeles Galaxy's 4-0 thrashing of the Seattle Sounders was arguably the best team performance of the season in MLS, but one player stood out for pulling the strings on the blowout.
Landon Donovan.
The reigning MLS MVP is no stranger to dominating matches, but his one-goal, three-assist effort on Saturday was especially impressive as he tore apart the Sounders in front of their own fans. That performance, along with his assist on the Galaxy's lone goal in a 1-0 win vs. Colorado last Wednesday, made him the easy pick for this week's Player of the Week award.
There were some other contenders for Player of the Week honors, such as FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, Toronto FC forward Chad Barrett, and San Jose midfielder Bobby Convey, but Donovan takes the prize this week.
Agree with our choice? Who did you think deserved MLS Player of the Week honors this week?
Share your thoughts below.
Well I guess beating the Sounders 4 -0 could be described as tearing them apart. However the first goal was just a horrible error from Keller, the second goal, I would give more credit to Omar G. for reading the corner well and putting a great ball in the net. The third goal, I did not think there was anything special that Donovan did but it was more about horrible defending. However the last goal was a great read off Buddle, a vintage burst of speed from Donovan and a great goal.
He is a great player and in the end there was nobody else that had his stats this week so I suppose he deserves player of the week.
I really wanted to pick Hartman on my ballot, but ended up going with Donovan as well.
Not fair. He should return the award to Sounder season ticket holders,
Adrian
Ives no mention of Gaven? He was outstanding this weekend.
I was at the FC Dallas game right behind the goal when the ball hit the crossbar. It was a scary moment. Especially when you are 10 feet away from the ball.
ummmkay. That “magic” IS technical ability. It’s just more of it, which is why I said that Donovan has Ronaldo’s type of ability, just not to that EXTENT. I don’t know if you don’t know what those words meant, but I dont think I’m stretching it by saying Donovan is, in a lot of ways, comparable to Ronaldo. Obviously not EXACTLY, but they have most things in common.
Chad Barrett had an outstanding game this week and probably would have been my personal choice, but Landon did dominate from the first whistle. He deserves it too.
Good spot
actually bad spot, I didnt notice it till you mentioned it than went back and noticed it
ouch
I really think Landon is gonna have an Arshavin ’08 euro type of World Cup
Fingers crossed that it happens
Yep
Landon Donavan treats the MLS as a junior league, he needs to make the move to Europe sooner rather than later.
“but Donovan has the kind of ability that Ronaldo does,”
Um, no. Not really. Listen, Im a HUGE LD fan, but Im also an objective observer of the beautiful game. Donovan beats defenders with his pace, catching them off guard and blowing right past them. C. Ronaldo beats defenders with his technical ability and his ball control. Ronaldo is a magician with the ball at his feet, doing things very few on this planet are capable of. These two players are really nothing alike.
straight down to SA. The 15th is the last gameday for these players in the MLS until they come back after hoisting the World Cup
After seeing donovan tear up my team in person I can’t disagree with your choice.
On a related note, after the camp in princeton do players go back to their teams for a week or do they head straight down to SA?
I couldn’t care less where he goes after the world cup. As long as he helps take the US to the quarterfinals, I wouldn’t mind if he left to Vietnam, joining Nguyen this fall.
I think he could go to Chelsea and performances like this can only further their interest in him. He fits in no matter what style the Blues end up playing,too. He could be a third wheel forward sitting behind Anelka and Drogba, or he could be a winger forward on the left or right of Drogba with Malouda, Cole, or Anelka on the opposite flank.
In fact, most of the “Big Four” and maybe even the Premier League could use Donovan, or someone like him somewhere in their lineup. A confident, pacy winger with close control, skill, deceptivity, creativity, incredible fitness, a nose for goal, and a high work rate who happens to be in the form of his life and has already shown the ability to do well in the EPL, not to mention the best teams in the world? Is it just me, or did I just describe Cristiano Ronaldo? Now, I’m not saying Donovan is better or equal to Ronaldo, but Donovan has the kind of ability that Ronaldo does, just not to that extent and I believe he would do a better job than Antonio Valencia has.
I dont see LD leaving MLS this year. He’s worth too much to Galaxy and MLS, and they just arent gonna let him go. Maybe next year.
Well done.
a little sidebar, but i want to visit every MLS stadium in America before i pass this life.. Ive been to a Sounders game, which was downright the best Ive experienced. ive heard Barra Brava is pretty badass, and Toronto is nuts. LA Riot squad seems pretty fun too. those are all on my list.
up next: the brand new Red Bull Arena!
well, this weekend this californian is gonna visit NYC to check out the red bulls arena! so stoked!
There should be a SBI Mafia VIP pass for MLS games. just sayin…
no argument. Donovan is head and shoulders above the rest of the league.
cant wait to see him back at Everton, or maybe Atletico Madrid… heh
Ives, this is a question unrelated to this post, but where is the post game report for FCD? It seems they get left out weekly of your news cycle, so wasn’t sure if it was because you don’t have a local reporter or what. Thanks!
(SBI-Correct, as of right now I don’t have a writer in Dallas.)
Well at least when he joins up with the MNT, others will get a shot at player of the week! I’m with everyone else above on this one – Donovan needs to be in Europe.
Landon’s time has come to an end here in the MLS.
He is the best we’ve ever had in US when you add all the intangibles. He needs to be in Europe. He has nothing to prove here.
I do think it will impact LAG, but they’ll probably sign Ronaldinho or something.
He is a very polarizing figure for many of us Chivas USA fans, but as a USMNT supporter, Donovan will be judged by what he does in South Africa.
I hope he doesn’t burn out.
I hope Landon leaves some in the tank for World Cup 2010; that’s where his legacy will be defined.
i wish LD would take more rips from outside. if you watch his highlights, he has a few insane goals that he just fires into the top corner. he’s got a much bigger boot than most people realize. i just wish he (or somebody on the national team, for that matter) would take more chances from outside rather than pass it away all the time. that being said, i love his passing ability, he truly is the king of assists and those are just as important as scoring the goals yourself
MLS gives credit for hockey assists, which LD got on the Kirovski goal.
Guy has looked great this season and just drives this LA team. I think he will finish out the season with LA. I think the LA management understands how much excitement there will be once Landon returns from the WC and realize that with this squad they could really have a special season. I think he is sold after he leads LA to be champions.
It is great to watch Landon when he has that desire to take over games. I wish ESPN would amp up their coverage of LA- forget Dallas and DC United on Thursday night soccer- LA should be on prime time every week, this guy is the face of the MLS and the face of US Soccer- exploit him, exploit him more.
I also love that he just turned 28. If were lucky Landon could have five really good years left in him and unlucky 2-3 at this current level and 2-3 at a good level. We are witnesses to the best player USA has ever produced, it is too bad we don’t treat him that way more often.
nipple shot!
I am not a Landon hater. I do think if he had played with that intensity last Nov, LA would have won it all instead of Salt Lake.
BUT he will be defined by the World Cup more than anything. He doesn’t need to PROVE anything, he has done that repeatedly, but to go down in history…playing at Everton ain’t gonna do it.
Ouch, I think I need to take a break from the soccer blogs until next weekend.
Landon had 2 goals (Poland and Mexico) in the 2002 WC and his third was called an “OG” on a deflection (Portugal). He tore apart Germany and if it wasn’t for the brilliance of Oliver Kahn he would have had at least one more. He has already “torn is up” on the world stage but the haters will always hate…
I feel that he is the player of the week every week. I just dont think he tries to be the goal scorer. He works on other facets of his game during the game.
I think he already proved he can play with the best every week at Everton. I think you are suggesting he still needs to prove he can make plays under immense pressure? Similar to what Phil Mickelson had to do in golf?
Maybe there is some truth to that but I hope there are not any remaining LD haters after what he has accomplished.
Did you see Landon yell at his teammates early in the match after his handball call? I’m sure he was criticizing their slack play up until that point. It was great to see him being a leader.
Michael Stephens had the assist on the Kirovski goal. I don’t know why they gave Landon credit for the assist.
I just hope he has agood World Cup, I mean good as in “let me shut some mouths” attitude. Once he does that at the big stage then I can say you’ve proved your point Landon.
as a Galaxy season ticket holder and huge Donovan fan,I will be sad but happy to watch Landon play what I believe will be his last game with the Galaxy on Saturday.I believe he will be bought by somebody,hopefully Everton after the World Cup! I was never more proud as a fan and an American to watch him play so well with Everton earlier in the year.Hope he tears up the World Cup and goes to Europe and continues his fine form,making us all proud.Thanks for all the excitement and highlights You have provided all Us Galaxy fans Landon.
Nice pick Ives. LD had a great game. He takes advantage of his speed on the quick turf there in Seattle.