Just when you thought Everton was Landon Donovan's most likely destination for an English Premier League move, in steps a club all too familiar to American soccer fans.
Fulham is reportedly trying to make a bid for Donovan, a development that comes amid fresh reports that Everton is interested in bringing Donovan back for another loan stint.
If true, a Fulham move would partner Donovan with U.S. national team teammate Clint Dempsey, giving the Cottagers the two best American field players in the world.
Both Fulham and Everton are struggling this season (The Cottagers are outside the relegation zone by goal difference while Everton is two points clear of the drop zone) and both could use Donovan's attacking spark. The question at this point is whether Donovan will choose one over the other or choose to take the winter off after what was easily the busiest and most tiring year of his career.
So where would you like to see him go? Cast your vote (and here my take) after the jump:
What do I think Donovan should do? As I stated in a Fox Soccer column last week, an extended loan until the summer might actually be beneficial to him and the Galaxy because it would mean he could count on some rest this summer and the Galaxy could create some salary budget space by only having him for a half season.
A short two-month loan like Donovan had last season would set him up for another taxing year that could see him play straight from January until late November, with Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying being added to a loaded Galaxy schedule and two months in England.
Which Premier League club makes more sense for Donovan? He has already played for Everton and is beloved there so that seems like the more logical destination. Fulham can certainly use Donovan though, and the allure of helping Fulham avoid relegation could drive Donovan to join the London club.
Who did you vote for? Where would you like to see Donovan go?
Share your thoughts below.
Yes exactly.
Ummm… have you watched any Akron football? They are one of the only teams in the NCAA that actually plays real football. If all teams played like them, college soccer would be in much better shape.
Gera is horrible.
He prances around like a little schoolboy.
As a Toon fan, I would love to see that. I don’t think it will happen, but imagine what Andy Carroll could do with great service from LD AND Joey Barton.
lol
How un-original of you. Not to mention you obviously like college soccer so what do you know about real football, anyways?
I don’t think Gera is in Hughes plans unfortunately because I love Zoltan.. I think Duff will stay
Are you serious? They hate Dempsey?!! Are you out of your mind?? The hate Dempsey about as much as they hate Brian McBride. BTW, have you ever been to McBride’s across the street from the Cottage? I hear they serve a nice pint there.
They hate Dempsey? Are you basing that off of something because I read the Fulham message boards and they worship Dempsey
They hate EJ no denying that
thats from like two weeks ago and how could that be true now they just sacked their manager
seriously!! Ives/US soccer world…read this Daily Mail article and others like it closely: there is NO direct mention of Donovan by Hughes. Not once. I hate how English soccer writers build their own speculation into headlines, when there is no factual basis. Quoth the Flav: DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE.
I don’t think Spain would be the best fit for Landon. He has never been known for his technical ability, and that is what reigns supreme in Spain.
While I am sure Donovan is better than the options Fulham has currently, he would be another player who is a wing/second striker when they really need another quality striker besides Zamora. They already have Dempsey and Gera who play that position plus Davies and Duff who play on the wings as well, though not well this season in my opinion. They would have to unload someone, Duff preferably, if they were going to do this and it still doesn’t solve their striker poblem.
i’m hearing they are keeping pienaar for the remainder of his contract… as they need him to apparently stay clear of relegation. unless everton could be certain to pick up a quality replacement, like landon, pienaar is likely there till the end of the season.
Fulham doesn’t deserve Donovan. They hate Dempsey, their longest serving player and one of their all-time top PL scorers. Rest, that’s the ticket.
Fulham?? Boring..
why not go to Spain, I’ll love to see Donovan tear it up there.
by address the striker situation do you mean get bobby zamora back from injury? Not sure if you know, but he’s kind of a big deal….
Don’t forget Davies, Dikgacoi and Duff.
If he didn’t play in the NOv 27th Friendly, he’s been resting over a month now. Last competetive match was November 14th.
He’s going on loan somewhere. May as well be The WHITES!!! COYW!!
Yeah clearly just rumour. The headline here is misleading.
Fulham! FULHAM!
But, unless Fulham can fund a permanent transfer, I cannot see Donovan choosing Fulham over Everton.
somebody please just step up and buy him, $10 mill isn’t that much these days. Everton is reported to be wanting to sell Pienaar anyway, so they should just do that and use the money to buy LD. makes sense no? Landon is much more versatile than Pienaar and much more dangerous attacking as well as more responsible in defense
Read a rumor on Sports Illustrated’s website (through a link to fanhouse) that claimed Newscastle are interested in bringing Donovan over. Any truth to this, Ives?
Dempsey plays some of his best ball when he’s up top for the Whites. Donovan would (read: SHOULD) fit into the lineup where Deuce currently plays, freeing him to play up top. It’s am upgrade at both positions for Fulham, as I do think Donovan is better at the attacking mid than Deuce, and Dempsey is the best striker Fulham has.
+1
This time make it “Landon Calling” for real.
I hear Qataris have a lot of money.
Landon landin’ in London?
Likely?
LOL
I agree on this point that it would be good for them to work together as much as possible. I noticed that the Spanish team that won the WC had 5 or 6 players who played together on the same club team.
The more our national team can play together, the better. Although I’d hedge my bets and vote for Donovan to take the time off.
Or MLS locked him in so that they would have some leverage, and LD would have some financial security.
everton should sell a minority interest to a uae billionaire, or jay-z, and use the proceeds to buy lando outright. this is the only move. that’s what beans would do. and if don garber says “uh uh, i dunno…”. d. moyes pulls out the roscoe and is like… bam bam bam…
yeah, i watch too much tv. so what?
No more loans for Donovan. Either buy him or piss off.
Everton would play him without any doubt. He was very popular last season, and they are desperate for some direct attacking speed on the wings.
“giving the Cottagers the two best American field players in the world.” — 3, when you include Eddie Johnson, who is currently employed at Fulham. =D
Landon in London.
If he goes at all on loan I still think he should stick with Everton. They are arguably more talented and he’s already a loan legend there.
Ives your solution to have him extend his loan until the summer was exactly the same thing Beckham did and was blasted by fans for. Double standard there, no?
LA need to look out for themselves and having their best player out for half a season sets them back after a very bright season. Why bother opening up the salary space as a benefit? It’s not like they can fill that with anyone who comes close to the skill set Donovan has.
Donovan proved himself last season, another loan doesn’t do his ego anything more. He needs the rest and LA need their man back to playing like he was in the beginning of last season. Also, his international form I feel dipped during the summer as well when his fatigue kicked in so saying his high confidence benefits the national setup wouldn’t offer much in my opinion either.
All this coming from a DC fan.
Go to Everton. Fulham is Dempsey’s club.
I would love to have like half a dozen americans playing on 1 team in the PL but most likely they’d be displaced for their starting roles by competition. Best for them to find their own clubs.
but you know I do believe Dempsey to Everton is possible next May
agreed. and i think he really belongs at a bigger club. maybe everton, but they’re awful this year.
Phuck a loan. Purchase or piss off, directed at everyone involved.
The dailymail is kinda garbage. i’m not sure I’d take this too seriously.
I’m not saying Donovan could not help Fulham, but I am not sure Donovan makes a huge difference for Fulham unless Fulham addresses the striker situation, too. I think Everton is a better fit, plus those supporters certainly seem to want him back.
Generally, though, I am in the camp of those who think Donovan is good enough that he should not be on loans anymore. If another team wants him, then they should step up and buy him.
soccer is a short career….he’s got 3 or 4 years at max level and that’s it….why rest? he’ll have the rest of his life to rest
He survived Dunsheath, Dunseth, Dunivant, Donovan OK.
But what of Bunbury to Stoke?
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Pat it and prick it and mark it with B,
Put it in the oven for baby and me.
Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it up, roll it up;
And throw it in a pan!
Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man.
Um…Fulham.
(Oh please, oh please, oh please, Santa…)
Dembele, Dempsey, Donovan? Sounds tricksy.
Getting playing time with Dempsey now will only make the pair that much more dangerous when it comes to playing in Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying games.
Agreed. Rest. He signaled his intentions with the long term MLS deal.
I’d like to see him take a nap. Forget going on loan.