Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
By ADAM SERRANO
Landon Donovan doesn't believe that he's going anywhere.
Throughout the past week, rumors have been rampant that Roma's new American owner was planning to make a splash by signing a big-name American player to the legendary Serie A side. When asked about rumors linking him to AS Roma, the Los Angeles Galaxy captain was adamant that no conversations have taken place.
"Don't waste my time with that," said a scoffing Donovan to reporters at the Home Depot Center on Thursday morning. "Don't waste my time guys."
Donovan skyrocketed to the top of the Roma's alleged American wish list given his pedigree, along with names like Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan, Brad Guzan and Juan Agudelo.
More news from around the Western Conference is after the jump:
CHIVAS USA
The Rojiblancos have been focusing on picking up their first SuperClaisco victory since 2007, but some of the focus has turned to Victor Estupinan, a player mired on the bench.
Estupinan voiced his frustrations on Facebook, stating that he wished to return to his former club LDU Quito. However, the Ecuadorian admitted that it was simply a joke with friends after Quito lost a key match on the weekend.
COLORADO RAPIDS
The Colorado Rapids are considering an addition to their back line as the club look to add depth as they continue on their MLS Cup defense. Head coach Gary Smith admitted that the club was looking at four potential options, three of which have MLS experience and one that is currently with an MLS side. Another of Smith's targets is a defender from the Greek Super League, one whom also as experience in the English Championship.
FC DALLAS
On Wednesday, FC Dallas learned that it will need to defeat Alianza of El Salvador to qualify for the 2011-2012 CONCACAF Champions League group stage. As FCD look to go on a run in the tournament, head coach Schellas Hyndman admits that he feels his team can go far because of the work that Real Salt Lake did to break the "mental barrier" MLS teams had with the competition.
PORTLAND TIMBERS
Eric Brunner has enjoyed a great deal of success for the Timbers since being selected with the second pick in the 2011 Expansion Draft and on Saturday, and he'll take on his former club, the Columbus Crew, this weekend. Making nine starts for the Timbers, Brunner has earned rave reviews from head coach John Spencer, who admitted that the team had to deflect interest for Brunner after his selection.
"We felt he was very underrated," Spencer told the Oregonian. "And he was that guy who when we drafted we got like four calls within 10 minutes asking us if we could trade him for allocation money. For us, I thought it was a great pickup."
REAL SALT LAKE
It has been weeks since Real Salt Lake fell in the CONCACAF Champions League Final, but according to midfielder Will Johnson, the team has not yet recovered emotionally. Johnson admitted to reporters in Salt Lake City that losing the CCL Final coupled with the loss of Javier Morales to a devestating ankle injury took a "physical toll on us, an emotional toll" on Salt Lake.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Among the Earthquakes faithful, no player is more contentious than Ryan Johnson. The versatile Jamaican, who led the Quakes in scoring in 2009 but struggled in 2010, appears as though he is rounding into form. In recent weeks, Johnson has made the switch from forward to wing and has seen his output increase immensely. However, the Jamaican midfielder admitted his return to form comes at an unfortunate time for the club as he prepares to leave on Gold Cup duty.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
Sigi Schmid has fired back in his war of words with Portland head coach John Spencer. The head coach of the Sounders responded to comments made by Spencer following the 1-1 Cascadia Cup draw at Qwest Field last week. When speaking to reporters this week, Schmid joked that clearly even in midweek, the Sounders match remained the most important thing on Portland's mind.
"It obviously shows something too when on Tuesday the most important thing they're talking about is the Sounders game," Schmid said. Following his comment, Schmid joked that he'd be sending Spencer a dozen roses, but without the petals.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
The Whitecaps drew Toronto FC 1-1 in their Nutrilite Canadian Championship, surrendering a vital away goal in their quest to qualify for the 2011-2012 CONCACAF Champions League field. Following the match, the Caps were frustrated that they failed to defeat TFC despite fielding eight first-team starters.
"I think they played extremely well," head coach Teitur Thordarson told reporters after the match. "I thought we dominated the game for 75 minutes. It’s unbelievable that we didn’t score more goals."
Guzan needs to go somewhere maybe one of the promoted teams, he played well for Hull and kept them in contention for promotion. The went to #$#@ once he left. His back line was lacking, 94 saves in 16 games with 5 clean sheets and less than 1 gaa is pretty good.
“Roma’s alleged American wish list”
People on this site can be so catty, that’s why people hate on you so much. The “list” is not alleged, it has been documented through actual interviews.
there shouls be a ban on losy posters like chris
Eurodouche
Yet, the reigning Champs League club hails from Serie A. Basically, what you’ve stated can be applied to a majority of European leagues.
I support Fulham, and Dempsey would kill in Serie A. He’s tough, yet can draw a ton of fouls (valuable asset in Italy). He has the skills that give him the potential to score 15+ goals in Italy. I think Serie A would suit Dempsey just fine, but his leaving Fulham would be a sad day.
What happens is a European club would not schedule a testimonial match during the season. Most European leagues will be done with the season before the match on the 24th.
Finally calls out the goofy media…He is simply on a list of desirable players and the Eurosnobs eat it up.
Serie A blows, unless you talking about a few teams…
Euro****
He’s not awful, but he wouldn’t be on my list of targets.
Please let Kirovski go…
“…along with names like Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan, Brad Guzan and Juan Agudelo.”
Well it would be a good move for Guzan. I don’t think they’d have to set a large sum of money aside for him though, lol. Not sure he’s the “American star” they’re looking for either.
Kljestan would never be able to cut it in Serie A. Bradley…ehhh his style of play might fit in with Serie A, but he’d never crack the lineup at Roma.
Agudelo would be intriguing though. I think that kid is going to be a star. But I don’t think he’s ready yet. He could probably use another year or two in MLS, learning under the wing of one of the best ever.
If Roma really wants someone NOW they should be looking at Clint Dempsey.
I’m generally a big Jeremy supporter, but he’s looking more and more like a tool
lol how does that not get picked up by the censors?
I’m generally a big Donovan supporter, but he’s looking more and more like a tool.
LOL! I was going to ask the same thing. Clever that he found Google Translate so he could be an idiot in Italian this time.
Ummm…he would have scored it he finished on the pass from Altidore on the play Donovan started. So if he “deserved” more, he should have scored.
He is saying that they are all rumors. And no real talks have been made between him and Roma. So, don’t ask him about it.
You see the lack of response? That’s everyone’s nice way of saying you’re an idiot…
Yeah, a guy who scores 3 times in the World Cup and tears it up on his domestic league is a real punk.
An American owner invests millions of dollars into a club and specifies that he has set aside a specific amount of money to acquire Landon Donovan. How ludicrous that reporters dare waste Landon’s time by following up on such a thin lead. Don’t they realize they are cutting into Landon’s X-box live time?
No thank you there should be a ban on international players over 30 coming to MLS
So how many of you making fun of Donovan are the same poster using a different name?
Irrational much?
Chiedo scusa se lo offendessi Adrian, io appena ritengo che Donovan non sia abbastanza buono da riuscire al livello di Serie A appena ancora. Il Serie A è una lega competitiva, malgrado la vecchiaia molto di la maggior parte dei giocatori.
You see the lack of response? That’s everyone’s nice way of saying you’re an idiot…
He said…
I think Landon Donovan should join Roma because he would be a great bench warmer and towel boy.
Credo che MENTRE Roma dovrebbe comprare Landon Donovan, perché farebbe uno scaldino di banco molto buon ed il ragazzo del tovagliolo.
Dismissing the media like he is god’s gift to soccer makes him come across as a dbag.
Who are these people that “miss for this stuff all the time”?
My first response to this was like everybody elses, who does he think he is? But after thinking about it I thought what if this was a recruiting trip for the Gals. Maybe Becks is going over to woo Neville, Scholes, and Giggs. Now there are some old players that could spice up the league, eh?
And in regards to Beckham, the regular season means nothing. He knows it. The Galaxy knows it. You should all know it.
If he misses one game to honor a long time friend and legend at the team that made him famous, who really cares?
When there are so many games in a season, people miss for this stuff all the time.
Donovan and Beckham obviously need to get oiled up.
Landon Donovan couldn’t be a more whiny b*tch if he tried. I’m really getting sick and tired of him. If he is the “face” of American soccer, we are in a lot of trouble.
You go from McBride to this? Trash.
Michael Bradley, hahahahahhah, are you serious?! The kid blows and the only reason he’s on the team is because of his bald incompetent father, who has business being a coach, not even at the MLS level. Only for a few sporadic performances he’s an average player and Roma could look elsewhere for an American player like Dempsey because he’s had more success in Europe.
Donovan should have been saying “We shouldn’t waste our time with Beckham.” What an absolute joke. The Royal Wedding I can somewhat understand. Though he didn’t even miss a game, correct? Surprised Arena is such a puss. He should stand up and say no. Don’t let Becks be the boss.
He would never be allowed welcome back….and not only at Milan, but at any league in the world with a shred of self respect.
Every journo’s head explodes and every Italians eyes turn to daggers.
The more important question is would this ever even be a remote thought in Becks’ head if he was in Milan in October.
Well said.
Honest question. If Beckham was playing for Milan and in October (comparable point in the season) wished to miss a midweek game for a testimonial. What happens?
Beckham about as loyal as a two tarantula lovers.
He’ll probably go to PSG I’ve heard, he’s more deserving than pussymouth Donovan who gets high praise all the time. Dempsey is a workhorse and has given his all for the national team and Fulham where he’s scored more goals on european soil than Donovan’s ever had. Roma would get a very solid player in Clint, he a good player to me. Also, Donovan didn’t deserve the game winning shot in Algeria, as Dempsey worked throughout the game to score at every chance he had.
Now Beckham wanting to skip a league game for a testimonial… that sounds more like a dbag move IMO.
Maybe Jovan Kirovski will go too since they were all in the academy together. The MLS regular season means absolutely nothing, but the Galaxy should not admit that by letting him go.
That makes him come across as a dbag? Not wanting to talk about rumors?
“Don’t waste my time with that,” said a scoffing Donovan to reporters at the Home Depot Center on Thursday morning. “Don’t waste my time guys.”
Does Donovan ever not come across as a giant dbag?
Beckham being uncommited again, he really needs to go somewhere else if he feels he can tgreat the MLS as his workout sessions, I’m tired of Beckham’s irresponsibility like i’m tired of hearing Jailhouse Prison sex in prisons. People ill say that he he bin all commtin major money to the MLS but I say the hell with all that, doesn’t give him the right to disrespect OUR league as Americans and the milkshakes up north. Donovan won’t be goin anywhere, Agudelo has a better chance than him anyway, he’s fresh and up and coming star for NYRB and the nats, as long as he gets rained on by the magnificent Henry, his worthy teacher, and keeps getting his feet wet along the way. Donovan is a bit of a whiny bitch sometimes by the way……
Why hasn’t Dempsey’s name been mentioned with a possible move to Roma? I doubt he will stay with Fulham next season and his name has been mentioned for other possible transfer rumors.
I don’t know why Donovan would dismiss the Roma talk outright. The new owners want to make an impact in the American market and it would make sense for their to be interest in Donovan.
Looks like Bradley is the more likely option.
Missing a match to attend a freaking exhibition in England? For Gary Neville of all people? You gotta be kidding me.