Landon Donovan’s Parting Shot
Landon Donovan played in what is most likely his last game for Everton FC on Sunday, facing Hull at Goodison Park. Donovan started out on the bench but he did make it into the game after the Toffees seemed to have things pretty much in control.
We all know how effective Donovan has been at Everton in his short loan period this winter and Sunday was no different as he made sure he left his mark on the Everton supporters who had already voted him player of the month in January.
First Donovan made a brilliant cross to Ayegbeni Yakubu who could not do justice to the ball played in and skyed it over the net.
Next came Donovan’s shining moment as a ball came across the face of the goal and the hapless Hull defense was nowhere to be found. Donovan slammed a one timer into the far post side netting with excellent technique. It was a beauty and in the post-goal celebration caused captain Phil Neville to wrap his arm around Donovan and look up to the crowd at Goodison and chant, “USA, USA, USA!” The TV camera zoomed into a fan with a sign imploring Donovan to stay at Everton.
However, Donovan’s day wasn’t over as he laid off a brilliant one time cutback cross to 18-year-old Jack Rodwell who made a great touch to lay the ball to himself and then scored on his second touch. Rodwell ran over and picked up Donovan as he had also done for Donovan’s goal. It’s clearly evident that not only the fans like the American but so do his teammates.
While it is still possible that Donovan could extend the stay a bit longer and he has said he would like to do so, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena made it clear late last week that the MLS team has no interest in doing so.
Personally, I hope we have not seen the end of the Donovan loan to Everton. Even though I’m a Fulham supporter, I find myself glued to each and every Everton game these days, and I would suspect I’m not alone.
Landon Donovan’s parting gift to Evertonians?
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So happy for Donovan! What a class act.
Let him stay!
How great to see an American player celebrated like that at one of the top levels of European soccer. Donovan has turned out to be everything we thought/hoped when he was just a teenager. Fabulous.
I’m fine if Donovan is to stay at Everton but they have to show the dough.
It’s only rumored at this point, but Chelsea are looking at Donovan. They could definately afford the price tag MLS is bound to put on Donovan’s head. Landon’s grown a lot since his last stint in Germany w/ Bayern.
One thing about Donovan is I actually think he is somewhat sensitive guy and I believe one of the reasons the loan worked at Everton (even though he had previously said he wanted to play for a team in London) is that he was embraced by the team, the manager and the fans. Yes, I had heard about the Chelsea rumor yesterday morning, but I think it would be a bad move. They are saying 10 mil is what they are willing to offer for his services. He could even end up going there, but I don’t think he would be as happy nor play as well at Chelsea as he has at Everton.
“As a person it feels good to be wanted,” he said of the U-S-A chants he’d heard. “And as a player obviously it does. But I’m just appreciative of the opportunity I’ve had here, and I think they appreciate what I’ve given too, and that’s a good feeling.”
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/grant_wahl/03/08/donovan.everton/index.html
Simply a magic 20+ minutes for Landon in Everton on Sunday vs Hull.
I was proud to be an American football fan! (how many times do we get to say that)
Thanks Landon
USA USA
Landon Donovan
You Must Stay
I wonder if the Brits will still cheer should he score the winning goal against the ENG side in the World Cup opener….I know its a long shot, but we can dream, right??
We can definitely dream!
If I were a Galaxy supporter I’d be wondering right now what we could buy with transfer money from a Donovan deal. I mean, he’s obviously playing the best soccer of his life right now, but there’s no way he’s sticking around after this contract’s up. Don’t they have room to gain something by taking the money now and using it to build up the rest of the team?
I mean, if it took star power to win the MLS Cup, the Gals would have won it last year.
“there’s no way he’s sticking around after this contract’s up.”
The Galaxy have nothing to worry about. Donovan is 28 and he just signed a new 4 year contract with the Galaxy last December. He will be almost 32 before they have to worry about his contract being up.
http://is.gd/9YKjJ
I thought he was done this year.
I’m bad at this.
Your not bad at this, its just really hard to keep up with it all. I seem to constantly make mistakes in this sort of thing and I am online friends with lots of people who run soccer sites and have brains like steel traps. They constantly put me to shame with their retention of soccer tidbits.
Speaking of making mistakes, I guess Landon has a midweek game away that he could still play before a decision is made if he comes back to MLS or not.
If Donovan leaves, I will go play for the LA Galaxy–I will replace him on the Galaxy roster for my current salary plus an extra $50K (Cost of Living for the LA area). I think it would be a good deal for everyone.
I’m all for Everton giving Yakubu to the Galaxy for Donovan, and maybe throw in Soccer Boy just to sweeten the deal. It would benefit the US in the World Cup if Donovan continues his play in England. The MLS is sabotaging the US’s chances.
Absolutely awesome. I really hope that he ends up staying over there. Everton is obviously a good fit. And if the team keeps up this current form, they’ve got a good chance of qualifying for the UEFA Cup. I can’t help but feel that a transfer would be good for Landon, good for Everton, AND a $10m+ transfer fee couldn’t be bad for the Galaxy/MLS either.
Oh, and here’s two more reasons:
Los Angeles Galaxy (8-4-10) vs. Chicago Fire (9-5-8)
August 19, 2009 — Toyota Park
Scoring Summary:
LA — Mike Magee 2 (Jovan Kirovski 1) 23
LA — Landon Donovan 10 (Mike Magee 6) 54
Chicago Fire (10-7-11) vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (11-6-11)
October 02, 2009 — The Home Depot Center
Scoring Summary:
LA — Landon Donovan 11 (Chris Klein 2) 42
C’mon LA. SELL SELL SELL!
To me it’s really a great thing showing the MLS as a developing powerhouse league. Look at it from this perspective: a star player in MLS (Donovan) has gone to the EPL and he is still a star player, not some mediocre addage. This is valuable to me. Of course, I’d like to see the MLS develop but for Donovan’s sake I hope he stays 3 or 4 years in the EPL and then return to MLS. Aside from that, the Chelsea possibility…hmmm…Chelsea collects and further develops great players, but they also burn out many great players. Something to consider…