bettermirror Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Fox Sports World Report had a segment prior to the Match of the Day highlights (which, ugh, was a replay of the MLS Cup Final) saying that LA was having a press conference where they were likely to announce Landon Donavan has signed for them with FC Dallas getting Carlos Ruiz. A) What happened with Leverkusen? Shouldn't Ruiz go to San Jose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devioustrevor Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 A) He rarely plays for Bayer. Since coming over from San Jose he's only made two starts and most of the time he is subbed on late in games. Bayer's coach and the German media have been very critical of him. I think Donovan's MLS contract was up at the time. I remember something about MLS trying to re-sign him for an amount that was almost the entire Salary-Cap level for a team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devioustrevor Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Landon Donovan's return to the MLS was eased when Bayer Leverkusen, the German team for which he has been playing since January, agreed that he could head back to the U.S. That probably will be the Los Angeles Galaxy rather than the San Jose Earthquakes, for whom he played four seasons. The Los Angeles Times reported that the Galaxy were close to acquiring him from FC Dallas, the MLS team that apparently now has his rights, in exchange for Guatemalan forward Carlos Ruiz. -- San Francisco Chronicle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ed Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 quote:Originally posted by devioustrevor A) He rarely plays for Bayer. Since coming over from San Jose he's only made two starts and most of the time he is subbed on late in games. Bayer's coach and the German media have been very critical of him. I think Donovan's MLS contract was up at the time. I remember something about MLS trying to re-sign him for an amount that was almost the entire Salary-Cap level for a team. Well you made two points and they are both wrong so why bother. The German coach has been anything but 'very critical'. US fans expect Donovan to walk in and take over a key offensive position on a top Bundesliga club but that is not going to happen. He had a very poor outing against Liverpool but otherwise he was doing fine, working his way into games as a late sub until he got settled. Augenthaler has continually said he has great potential and would work out eventually. On the second point, Donovan never had an MLS contract. He was on loan from Bayer Leverkusen and they recalled him. Now, apparently, Leverkusen is pulling the pin on Donovan who phoned Augenthaler from Mexico after the WCQ loss on Sunday to inform him he did not want to return. Bayer Leverkusen will now try to 'sell' him to the MLS prior to MLS trading deadline in two days. Donovan certainly does his own thing. He has stated publicly on more than one occasion that he could not care less if he ever played for a big club in Europe. His latest venture might just rule out that option for him for a few years at least. He would be better suited to Spain as he is true to his California root and just does not like English or German winters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonovision Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Interesting article about the situation from stateside. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=328994&cc=5739 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 quote:Originally posted by jonovision Interesting article about the situation from stateside. LOL yeah, funny article. Is anyone really surprised that Donovan is heading back to MLS with his bottle and blankie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthew Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 One for the Seattle song book?: you're only good in California you're only good in California good in California you're only good in California . .. cheers, matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettermirror Posted March 30, 2005 Author Share Posted March 30, 2005 hehe. thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 quote:Originally posted by matthew One for the Seattle song book?: you're only good in California you're only good in California good in California you're only good in California . .. cheers, matthew To the tune of "It Never Rains in California", right? end it with "But man your still...just luke-warm" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youllneverwalkalone Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Ed Well you made two points and they are both wrong so why bother. That's right. Don't ever bother again you ignorant prick! Go hang yourself! <s>California</s>, oops, I mean Deutschland Uber Alles! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthew Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 quote:Originally posted by beachesl To the tune of "It Never Rains in California", right? I was thinking Guantanamera, but we've got months. I'm sure Johnnie Monster will have a whole batch of ditties, funnier and more profane than I'd come up with. cheers, matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditty Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 It's official. Kicker reports Donovan has been sold to MLS by Leverkusen for 1 million Euro. Donovan is now negotiating a deal with LA Galaxy, who apparently traded that Guatemalan striker (Ruiz?) to Dallas to make room. Ed is bang on. Donovan seems to want to live in the States. Leverkusen have been uber-patient with him the past three years an in my opinion he's let them down. Don't see how he'll ever come close to reaching his undoubtedly great potential playing in MLS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeta Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Well, I guess that settles that. That articule reads like the history of Donavan critiques from the last few years and it's getting harder to find fault with them. And it is true, MLS will do there darnest to continue to market LD as an elite "world player" but that's getting to look more and more silly. Right up there with all that Freddie Who? nonscense. And MLSE wants to buy into this company? Not so sure that LD has a problem with the English/German winters. Think it's more of a problem with the English/German speed, intensity, quality, and tackling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 carlos ruiz and eddie johnson attacking for fc dallas,should be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I don't think MLS should be criticized for marketing one of their top players regardless of his problems elsewhere. Every league with a shred of sense would do the same regardless of the country. Donovan may lack the willpower to excel in the top leagues despite his obvious ability but he still is a good player and the MLS is stronger with him in the league. He will probably not reach his maximum potential in the MLS like he could in the Bundesliga but obviously he has other priorities in life and who are we to criticize his personal decisions. I must admit to some amusement though on reading his statement 10 weeks ago where he stated he would now succeed in Germany because he was coming to Bayer now as a man not a boy like the previous time. Doesn't seem like a particularly manly decision to only give 10 weeks time to succeed at a big club in a big league but to each his own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJT Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Cheeta MLS will do there darnest to continue to market LD as an elite "world player" but that's getting to look more and more silly. Remember you're talking about a country that refers to its baseball, basketball and football winners as "world champions". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devioustrevor Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 quote:Originally posted by DJT Remember you're talking about a country that refers to its baseball, basketball and football winners as "world champions". In baseball, basketball and football they have the best leagues in the world, so it's not too much of a stretch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamIAm Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I like the fact that Donovan is coming back to MLS, though I would have preferred for him to have waited for the summer transfer window, but it is not up to us. If you are happy you play better whether it is for his club or country and I think he's already proven that he does not need Europe to compete on an international level. I believe he is gonna go to the EPL after the World Cup. He hates German culture more or less and it was written into his contract that he could come back to the US if he was not happy with his situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 quote:Originally posted by devioustrevor In baseball, basketball and football they have the best leagues in the world, so it's not too much of a stretch. hmmm... so it wouldn't be a stretch for me to declare FC Barcelona world champions next month? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditty Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 quote:Originally posted by SamIAm I like the fact that Donovan is coming back to MLS, though I would have preferred for him to have waited for the summer transfer window, but it is not up to us. If you are happy you play better whether it is for his club or country and I think he's already proven that he does not need Europe to compete on an international level. I believe he is gonna go to the EPL after the World Cup. He hates German culture more or less and it was written into his contract that he could come back to the US if he was not happy with his situation. I'm sure Donovan will be a perennial choice for the US even if he spends the rest of his career in MLS. I'd disagree that he will develop to his full potential in MLS. A good World Cup will open lots of doors but a middling or poor one will see alot of European doors closed. I'm sure a mid to lower stature EPL club would take a risk on him now but I'd doubt any of the top 5 or 6 have their sights set on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 quote:Originally posted by SamIAm I believe he is gonna go to the EPL after the World Cup. He hates German culture more or less and it was written into his contract that he could come back to the US if he was not happy with his situation. The bad news for Donavan is that English culture doesn't vary that greatly from German culture. Of course he would be clueless to this fact. [)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loud Mouth Soup Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 Why does this release about it have Toronto as the dateline? http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=329277&cc=5901 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youllneverwalkalone Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 quote:Originally posted by amacpher The bad news for Donavan is that English culture doesn't vary that greatly from German culture. Except for the whores, drugs, and football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devioustrevor Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 quote:Originally posted by amacpher hmmm... so it wouldn't be a stretch for me to declare FC Barcelona world champions next month? First of all, it's debatable whether or not Spain has the best League. Second, the NFL, NBA, and MLB are worlds apart from all other leagues on the planet in their given sport. Even if Spain has the best league in the world, it is not significantly better that Italy's or England's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canso Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 He hates German culture more... Beersteins & Beethoven vs Burgers & Brittney. hmmmm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.