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Should Donovan stay or should he go?

Landon Donovan (ISIPhotos.com)

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

Should he stay or should he go?

No, this isn't another Landon Donovan transfer question because, let's face it, the general consensus is that Donovan should move to Europe if a team is willing to pay the asking price.

No the question here is whether Donovan should really consider making another loan move this winter like he made last winter. He is coming off the busiest year of his career and while he is surely resting up right now, you have to wonder whether it would be wise for him to jump right back into action on January, with no rest for him until a year from now.

I touched on the subject in my latest Fox Soccer piece and my theory is that a longer loan move through to the summer would make more sense than another brief loan for just two months or so.

Give the story a read and feel free to offer your take. Think he should take an extended break? See another short loan to Everton making sense? Like the idea of the extended loan to the summer?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I think he deserves a break and while I understand that he could play most anywhere in the world, I love that our country’s top player is here at home.

    So while I’ll chant Landycakes at him when he comes to Seattle, and I’d happily cheer him in the EPL or wherever he goes abroad, I like that our flagship player is anchored here in the US.

    Do your thing Donovan, even when we give you crap, your never far from any American soccer fan’s heart.

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  2. If the Galaxy secure Ronaldinho, then there is no doubt that Donovan would go to Europe. I can’t see Galaxy letting him go if they don’t bring in another big name to lead the team.

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  3. Absolutely true. He should play at the highest level possible. EPL is certainly that league for him at this point. USMNT and World Cup would be the only other reason for him to play. LAG should be his 3rd team and play with them the months that EPL and MLS don’t overlap.

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  4. I think a top table Ligue One team actually makes more sense for Donovan, but I almost always thought that. England is too cold–at least there *is* a warm part of France. He’d pick up French in a hurry with his Spanish. There is still Euro play galore, and the style of play works for him in some of the same ways as EPL, and has somewhat fewer murderous DeJongs.

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  5. No the best way to raise the profile is more success in the World Cup. How to accomplish that I don’t now. But, look at Brazil and Argentina they have tons of respect internationally even though none of their best players stay in their home countries.

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  6. Have you only been around MLS for like 2 minutes?

    Garber and his MLS suits hold all the damn power. They probably only let him go on loan last year once he signed the contract extension with MLS and the Galaxy.

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  7. A loan move at this stage for Donovan really makes little sense. Especially the 2-month one. Keep in mind that 2 months is a really short period of time to seamlessly transition to a new club (even back with his Everton mates). My fear is that if he goes over on another short loan and doesn’t hit the ground running as well as he did last time, his value and reputation as a player will take a huge, probably undeserved hit.

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  8. I think it’s pretty clear that Landon does NOT hold the power when it comes to his transfer. MLS has a lot more invested in him then a team normally does in a player.

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  9. First of all I would rather see him in MLS. He is wasting his time at Everton.

    Second, the Landon Donovan circus side show in EPL was Sooooo last year. LD, rest and come back for a great season next year.

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  10. If he’s going to go, he should secure a more permanent deal. He’s at his peak, but he’ll shorten his career if he keeps overworking himself as he did this year. He’s got nothing left to prove to anybody, but I think he’d be happiest at Everton, where he has a clearly defined role, knows the players, and has established a good rapport with the fans. Go, Landon, and godspeed. But I don’t wanna see you back in MLS until you’re on the downside of your career!

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  11. I did not read your story Ives, nor any of the other comments.

    He should rest. I love to see him succeed as much as anyone, but homey’s body needs a rest. He is at an age where he is going to start to feel the knocks more. Do we want him to continue successfully as the face of MLS? Do we want him to contribute to the Gold Cup. If he goes on loan now, what shape will he be in when World Cup qualifying begins?

    For his own and the MLS’s and the USMNT’s good, take a well deserved break and come back for Galaxy pre-season!!

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  12. few questions..

    1. in Ives’ piece he said “With MLS playoffs having ten teams now”… did this already get announced? if so bad idea!

    2. is Juninho coming back to LA? or another quality midfielder. LA could survive quite well with a Stephens-Kovalenko/Berchall-Juninho-Beckham midfield.. especially if they sign someone to take Kovalenko’s spot.

    i like Ives’ idea of a long loan but only if a deal really can’t be made. IMHO some Euro team should put up the $12-15 million and take LD thru his best years.

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