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Donovan set to return from loan Sunday

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

Landon Donovan has one more game to leave his mark on Everton.

The Los Angeles Galaxy captain will be returning from his loan spell this Sunday, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena told reporters on Tuesday. He will be returning to Los Angeles in full shape. In each of his nine matches with the Toffees over the last six weeks, Donovan has played the full 90 minutes. He has assisted on six of Everton's 11 goals in that time.

Donovan's loan was supposed to extend for another week, but Everton's Merseyside derby scheduled for Feb. 25 against Liverpool had to be postponed to a yet-to-be-determined date after the Reds advanced to the Carling Cup final. That match is slated for Feb. 26 at Wembley Stadium.

As a result, Donovan's final match will be Everton's FA Cup fifth-round battle on Saturday against Blackpool. He is slated to return to the Galaxy and train with the club in Tucson, Ariz., ahead of the Diamond Desert Classic. He will then return to Europe to join the U.S. men's national team for its friendly against Italy, according to Arena.

What do you make of this development?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I think Moyes knows exactly what he’s doing. LD comes over at just te right time to get them out of a relegation battle and give them enough momentum to ride through the spring and finish mid-table. I think he has no desire to buy LD for the money it would cost. And he doesn’t need to.

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  2. Sorry, but Everton are not a top three team on any planet I’ve been on lately. Also Tottenham have their sights set a little higher than Donovan.

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  3. I’m fine with this. In my eyes he has nothing to prove.

    Also, I really want the Galaxy to do well in CCL. Its about time that MLS clubs start winning that competition.

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  4. MLS will not let the “best American soccer player of all time[sic]” leave the US domestic league without a fight. Everton is notoriously cash-strapped. Donovan is just pumping cred into MLS with these loan spells.

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  5. The transfer window is closed so Donovan is definately going back which is unfortunate. However, I could see a summer transfer. I could also see a winter transfer when Donovan only has one year left on his contract, the price will be much lower.

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  6. Interesting comment. Makes me wonder if there might not be more to Donovan’s Valentine’s Day statement saying that he would like to make a full transfer to Everton but first wants to fulfill his contract with LA. Could it be that because of his special relationship with Moyes, that he does not want risk a move to Everton now only to have Moyes move on to a new team. If Moyes does move to a new team by this summer, which seems possible, then Donovan, instead of moving to Everton, would instead follow Moyes to the new team in December.

    I can see Donovan fitting in quite well next season at Tottenham playing in the Champion’s League. And Tottenham would have no trouble paying a big transfer fee to LA and a huge LD salary.

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  7. You gotta remember AEG would not be restricted to upgrade the rest of their roster, and we all know they have enough money….they tried to buy D’Alessandro for 10 million 2 years ago from Brazilian side Internacional when they were Libertadores champs!

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  8. We need to convince someone like Mark Cubin or Arthur Blank for you ATL Folks to buy them…those guys have enough money to buy Everton and invest a nice 20-35 million to get into UCLA battles….maybe Everton gets more US players and starts becoming big in the US? lol

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  9. Yes, they should have picked up Tim Ream and Robbie Rodgers…

    Better question is which Starting 11 is better…LA or Everton. I take LA with Donovan and Gonzalez

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  10. See 2010 World Cup in South Africa…

    Last 3 minutes of the Algeria game to be specific? Who missed and who set up the play to begin with and then finished it?

    Nuff said….

    But if it’s not look at Slovenia game, keeper almost had his head ripped off, and if the ref hadn’t robbed Edu, LD would have had the goal to cut the lead and the winning assist!

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  11. How is 10 million ridiculous for a guy who has thrived in EPL play for them? Both this time around and in 2010? He did great vs the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City etc etc last time and he did great vs Chelsea and Fulham this time around?

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  12. Living in Brazil for years and traveling to many countries has confirmed to many that many know Landon all over the world. This was even as far back as 05-06.

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  13. I hope he doesn’t leave. I’d hate to see him get torn about by the egos and expectations of the big clubs. Being great at making the most out of mid table teams doesn’t necessary mean he’ll be great at managing bigger clubs. Remember Roy Hodgson…

    That being said, spot on post GW.

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  14. I think you make a good point and I’ll take it a step further…

    Donovan has the quality to play for a round of 16 caliber champions league team. Currently, there are no USMNT field players playing for a club of that level.

    By playing at a high level for a top team, Donovan has the chance to open the door for future Americans looking for a spot on these teams. He can raise the reputation of American soccer, and the kind of players America is capable of producing by simply performing at the level he is capable of performing at.

    I think Americans have the reputation as tough, hard nosed, very athletic players. Donovan’s ball skills, positioning, and play making ability could help change international perceptions and inspire the big clubs to look to the next generation of American playmakers.

    I think this is what most fans are trying to say when they ask for him to stay abroad.

    I do however feel his desire to stay at home and grow his domestic league is admirable and equally beneficial to US soccer. I guess it all depends on how you look at it.

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  15. I want him to stay in the MLS because it keeps up the MLS profile, but I want him to leave because I like the increasing respect for American players and watching one of our best go against the world’s best. It’s a tough dilemma…

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  16. Everton brings out the best in Landon FAR more than the Galaxy have or ever would. In MLS, Donovan is alot more of a cry baby and “diva” despite being the so called “face” of MLS. In Merseyside, that would never happen and he is much more appreciated for his work ethic, along with contibution, to Everton.

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  17. The Galaxy finally won the MLS Cup during the season when Beckham played the enitire season for the Galaxy and LD stayed with the Galaxy for preseason. I don’t think that is a coincidence. Top players adapt quickly to new players and a new situation. As the quality drops players need time together to develop chemistry, understand each other and become cohesive. The Galaxy need Beckham, Donovan and Keane to be part of preseason not because those three need it, but because the rest of the players need to learn how to play with them.

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  18. Perhaps he will make Everton part of his annual winter preparations for the MLS, USOC, CCL, WCQ grind. Hopefully not. That’s a LOT of soccer.

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