By CALEB SONNELAND
The New York Red Bulls are "cheaper" than any team that Landon Donovan has ever played against in MLS.
The USMNT attacker laid seige to Hans Backe's Red Bulls following the post-game fracas that ensued after Rafa Marquez took the ball and flung it at Donovan which resulted in a mass scuffle.
Donovan claims that New York has been displaying that kind of behavior all year and was quick to cite Thierry Henry's recent red card for kneeing Sporting Kansas City's Roger Espinoza in the back of the head when the two sides clashed.
The brawl at the end of the game saw New York's Rafa Marquez red carded along with Los Angeles' Juninho, meaning both players miss the return leg to the Home Depot Center in California.
Despite Donovan's clear disapproval at the behavior of the Red Bulls, he wasn't dwelling on the issue for long.
"You just deal with it, and at the end of it, the cream rose to the top and the better team won," Donovan said.
Here are some other stories to kick off your Halloween Monday:
HAZARD EXPECTING LILLE EXIT
The European elite have been put on high alert after in-demand Belgian winger Eden Hazard revealed that he fully intends to leave Lille once the current season concludes.
Hazard, long touted as one of the most promising young talents in the game, has been the focus of immense transfer speculation for several seasons but has always remained at Lille.
Not only is the winger prepared to leave the Ligue 1 champions, he is eager to leave the country and ply his trade abroad, which rules out big-spending Paris Saint-Germain, who was reportedly ready to offer £43.5 million for Hazard's services in January.
The player has long been linked with top clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Inter Milan and Liverpool.
"I am ready to go to the next level at a big club," said Hazard.
LIVERPOOL'S GERRARD FACES ANOTHER SPELL OUT
Only just returned from a six-month layoff due to a groin injury and infection, Steven Gerrard is set to spend a little more time on the sidelines — this time with an ankle infection.
Liverpool topped West Brom 2-0 over the weekend, and the club had fully expected its captain to play, but his ankle flared up just before kick off, forcing him out of contention.
It's unclear at this point how long Gerrard will be out of action, but after having his ankle treated at a Liverpool hospital, the Liverpool native was seen leaving on crutches with a knee-high cast on his right leg.
Despite awaiting results on his infection, it seems virtually certain that Gerrard will miss Liverpool's upcoming fixture against Swansea, England's friendlies with Spain (Nov. 12) and Sweden (Nov. 15) and possibly beyond.
VAN PERSIE CALMS NAZI CELEBRATION CLAIMS
What Arsenal striker Robin van Persie claims was a "showing of joy and celebration" to him was thought to be potentially offensive to others.
After bagging the fourth Arsenal goal to put his side one up over Chelsea, van Persie appeared to celebrate with a hand motion similar to the Nazi salute.
Once allegations began to circulate that he had indeed celebrated in such a fashion, the striker took to Twitter, suggesting that it is "totally ludicrous," "insulting" and "absolutely absurd" to even think he had performed a Nazi gesture.
Here's the celebration in question.
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Think New York is deserving of Donovan's blast? Where do you see Hazard ending up? Can Liverpool launch a Top 4 bid without Gerrard?
Share your thoughts below
I thought he was kidding (in answer to my post).
I disagree. Donovan has always been a complainer. He likes to trash talk when he is winning and likes to hide when things aren’t going his way. I have seen this behavior many times.
And HIGHlarious gifs.
As for the van persie thing i think people are reading into to much, it seemed like just a random gesture of joy. Now if he pulled his shirt over his head to reveal he was wearing a big giant swastika on his shirt then fine….but its just a case of misinterpretation.
Im a fan of soccer before im a fan of the red bulls, and there is no way to defend their actions yesterday. Keep that stuff in hockey, soccer is supposed to symbolize unity and that was invisible in the kiddish events that occurred. On a lighter note, huge fan of Hazzard..love to see him at Manchester United because they have a nack of taking talented players and nourishing those talents and improving their weaknesses….i see him landing in aresenal though, dont really see how he would fit in at real madrid.
Cream always rises to the top. You’re about to see the white hot cream of an 8th grade boy.
The Red Bulls were pathetic. On top of Marquez’s antics, Henry should have received a red card for his cheap shot on Beckham towards the end of the match. It was clear that he intentionally kicked Beckham when he was on the ground after Beckham went in for a tackle. Donovan has every right to criticize the behavior of the Red Bulls, and if the soccer gods truly exist, the Red Bulls will be humiliated in LA.
Dudes, KC is trolling. Ignore.
Van Persie could have been doing the Olympic salute.
I just keep watching that looped gif and hearing “back and to the left, back and to the left……..”
dude LA had plenty of quality opportunities and hit the bar! LA; they hate us cuz the ain’t us!
Rafa dumb play. Landon dumb comment. Henry nicks players behind the ball always, that’s who he is, no need to wake him up.
Very fitting that Keel and Marguez get blown over by a gust of wind created by a haymaker that never connects…Its a direct reflection as to how easy the RedBulls have been blown over by everyone this season. Redbull are soft, and their defense is in shambles. I respect only one player that actually has a pair on the Redbull and thats the human Roll-on deodorant Rogers.
As annoying as Donovan’s whining is, Marquez’s lack of sportsmanship is worse. Whenever the ball doesn’t bounce his way he acts out. He’s a petulant child with fading skills.
Hahahahaha
*Although it is mesmerizing as a loop, with Keel and Márquez falling in perfect synch, over and over.
No comparing LD and Duece because they have completely different personalities. Duece is a blue collar workhorse who always feels like he’s still that kid from the wrong side of the tracks having to prove he’s better than the rich kids. LD is that LA uber talented suburban kid who feels as though he’s arrived. Donovan expects certain things such as calls to go his way.
It’s the same reason Dempsey plays in EPL and Landon is an MLSer for life.
Your video seems to show Keel recoiling from an elbow to the face thrown by Juninho. Hard to draw any other conclusion without a little more pre-roll.
Robertson Stadium (cap. 32k) was sold out against LA and surely will be for the playoffs. Dynamo Stadium will only have 22,000 seats and will be in a much more convenient location downtown.
I agree… Marquez neither needed nor wanted.
Shhhh…MLS and ESPN saw nothing of this matter.
Keel is shiit too, here’s the video showing keel taking a dive and Juninho getting a red card for this,
watch the video
http://twitpic.com/78fkvj/full
What? Clint Dempsey doesn’t have to fight for anything. His spot is also guaranteed. You are making a silly argument.
I’m sure his national team buddies Ream and Agudelo appreciated that characterization. He truly is a whiny little runt.
These guys really need to work on their fighting routines. Hasn’t anyone seen The Wrestler?
Henry hustles sometimes and takes some plays off. Compared to Rodgers, he’s lazy.
Marquez certainly earned a red for being totally idiotic. Juninho earned a red for his dumb fisticuffs. What I don’t understand is why Adam Cristman is off the hook? If he hadn’t run in and started acting like a maniacal jerk, the physical altercation never would have happened. The stupid ball-throwing would have been the only evil act.
At the very least, Cristman got Juninho suspended. Without Cristman’s foolishness, Juninho never would have seen a reason to run over and prove that he’s no Manny Pacquiao.
i’ve heard they are capped at 15,000.
The replay on the MLS site doesn’t show it, but he came in pretty hard with an elbow straight to Keel’s face. Bloodied him up.
No one cares what Donovan has to say. He’s a little pr*ck whose words are meaningless.
Tickets are capped, however, there are tons of tickets left. Not on season ticket plan and a weekday.
Completely agree
I know he’s not speaking to the English-speaking press, but did Marquez say anything to any Spanish-speaking press?
I agree. Márquez caught the final punt, tossed it toward the center line, where the ref was standing, and Donovan walked into it. Which is not to say that he didn’t use that as a pretext to peg Donovan….
The bigger questions, which would be asked if we had a national soccer press: WHY NO AGUDELO? I mean, that free kick at the end? Why let Keel stay on the field? Or Miller? Remove one of those guys for the guy that gets regular starts for the USMNT and was a candidate for Goal of the Year? I’ve been willing to give Backe the benefit of the doubt, but seriously, what the hell did Agudelo do???
+1. MLS couldn’t pay to make this happen (well, if you ignore the fact that they technically pay the players’ salaries)… but they’ll gladly publicize it.
But it does spice up the return match.
You are way too rational for this site.
Joking, of course, these are lessons we can all practice.
Still haven’t seen anything from Juninho to warrant a red card.
“Some football” +1
if tickets are capped at 17,000 and all tickets are sold, it is a sell out. The stadium will have covered seats, but it is sold out.
Hate, hate, hate!
Maybe somebody said “June 17 ’02” to Marquez.
You’re making a semantic argument that ignores the general tenor of the immigration debate in our country. But this is a soccer website, so you’re forgiven.
Fact is, no one says “deport (a Canadian)” or “deport (a Brit)” out of anger. That demand is reserved for Mexicans in this country.
Is it me or did it look like Marquez wasn’t throwing at LD, he was throwing back the ball at the referee as in, “game is over, here’s the ball ref” and LD just walked into it? Mind you, I don’t care for Marquez at all, but that is what it looked like to me.
Your point would be valid except Marquez is not hustling, calling out his team-mates, has made his share of give-aways, and performs cheap-shots and other acts of unsportsman-like conduct. It sounds as if an immature player came to a quickly burgeoning and strong league and has not made the transition. I understand MLS is no where near La Liga but if his quality is so good then I would have expected to see some of it and maybe a bit of professionalism from a supposed champion and “Captain” is asking too much. Please take Marquez to Mexico where “some football” is played.MLS is just fine without him. Too bad this amateur league is beating Mexican teams on a regular basis.
Anybody else think it was hilarious when Alexi Lalas asked Alejandro Moreno to comment on Marquez’ diving in the post-game show? Asking a guy who has made diving an art form over his career in MLS to sound outraged…. At least Moreno had the grace to look a bit embarrassed.
Just to derail the post further: I’m of Dutch descent, and the Netherlands had a very unhealthy population of Nazi collaborators. Look up the Henneicke Column sometime.
No nation is innocent.
That said, before you post what a scumbag Márquez is or what a pußy Donovan is or what a fascist Van Persie is: Don’t. Take a deep breath first; find out what’s really making you angry. Go for a run. Have a coffee. Do something constructive. Then, if you must, go ahead and illuminate us. But really, if your opponent isn’t the cheapest, dirtiest scumbag pußy, then he’s probably not worth playing against. There’s a reason that Donovan, Henry and Márquez have succeeded at such a high level. They’re probably not nice guys.
That’s a load of crap. Give us just ONE instance of LD cheap shotting away from the ball. You can make a lot of cases against him, but Cheap Shot Artist is not one of them
I agree with you. Hence why I said he probably shouldn’t attempt it in general. No swag to his attempt what so every.
It was awkward, stiff and to be expected.
is it too late to trade that invsible man to Philly?
Could it be cause he never ever has to fight for his position? He is guarenteed his spot on both the Nats and Galaxy. Unlike C.Dempsey who has to continue to prove himself? It seems to me that Donovan has not gotten any better and I am really starting to question what he provides. I know he has the best skill just not seeing it lately.
I’ve read other posters state that its due to an agreement w/Cal State where they can’t sell more than 15,000 to preserve student parking.