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Everton-Donovan deal not done. Yet.

Los Angeles is Landon Donovan's home ... but he'll be keeping an address at Everton.

Los Angeles is Landon Donovan's home ... but he'll be keeping an address at Everton.

I’m hearing now that today’s announcement from Los Angeles is not regarding Landon Donovan’s short-term loan to Everton. That remains on track, apparently, but there’s just a bit more I dotting and T crossing to complete. Stay tuned.

So, what is Wednesday's hullabaloo all about? Since Donovan and manager Bruce Arena will be there, it’s safe to speculate that a new deal could be announced that would tie up the current league MVP for a few more years. (Updated ... yep ... here 'tis.)

So, good on him for that. I’ll have a piece up at ESPN Soccernet later today (updated: the piece is here) that begins to ask and answer some questions attached to Donovan’s high-profile lease agreement with Everton. In the meantime, here’s something to ponder:

Say what you want about the style and quality of soccer (er, football) in England. But who can doubt this: supporters there appreciate performance. Combine steady production with effort and the supporters on the British Isles will surely raise a glass to you. Unlike U.S. Soccer supporters, they aren’t overly caught up in big-picture issues of best case scenarios for player development and global regard and such.

Let’s say for argument’s sake that Donovan “tears this mutha up.”  Let’s say the good fans in England nod their heads and concede that this Yank is pretty darn good. Let’s say they adopt him in the way they have adopted Tim Howard, Brad Friedel, Brian McBride, Clint Dempsey (to an extent) and others, tipping their hat, perhaps a bit begrudgingly, and acknowledging their respect.

That might mean that Donovan would be the recipient of more respect in England than in his own homeland, where the man is a three-time MLS Cup winner, the all-time leading U.S. men’s national team scorer and a six-time U.S. Honda Player of the Year.

How ironic, eh?

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Maybe

But I think many American soccer fans suffer from an inferiority complex in which they must be validated in the opinions about US soccer and our players by fans and opinion makers in England. The reason why all of those players you mentioned are well regarded in the US is because US fans have seen them succeed and become accepted in the UK. Many US fans will never appreciate Donovan as a player until he is appreciated overseas, which is too bad, in my opinion. If Donovan becomes a hero to Everton, he’ll be seen as a hero over here.

</amateur psychoanalysis>

Not mediocre. Right about average

by trza on Dec 16, 2009 5:22 PM EST reply actions  

Well said, we are always looking for approval from big brother.

So once (if) he gets the respect in England, then the trickle down effect may be felt here.

Of course, for this to happen on a grand scale, we need a sociological shift of dramatic proportions for that to occur. Meaning, soccer as a sport has to become more accepted in the USA for all their (Donovan, HOward, McBride,etc) accomplishments to be recognized. It’s unfortunate, I know.

by misfit15 on Dec 16, 2009 6:07 PM EST up reply actions  

well said, indeed

i hope you’re right, Trza. it will restore my faith in the u.s. soccer community and possibly in all of humanity. clearly, there’s a lot at stake for me here.

by Steve Davis on Dec 16, 2009 7:14 PM EST up reply actions  

So does this mean?

So we all know that Landycakes isn’t playing for the league capped salary, so does he get 4 more years of being grandfathered or will LA be forced to get a second DP slot?

Will every team now have two spots just so LA can again have an advantage? Consider that half the teams haven’t used their first dp slot, so why would the league up it to two, unless to allow LA to continue having 2?

I think the league has some more questions to answer about the deal.

by denz on Dec 17, 2009 12:17 AM EST reply actions  

Any real fan of US Soccer....

already respects LD. The important goals he has scored in the WC and it’s qualifiers already garners my respect. And if you’re a knucklehead LD hater, then turn in your shirt and don’t watch the games anymore, for you have no reason to be a USA supporter.

Chad the Ref

by Chad the Ref on Dec 18, 2009 10:58 AM EST reply actions  

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