Defending Donovan. Sigh. We've seen this flick before, eh?
by Steve Davis on Feb 22, 2010 4:57 PM EST
29 comments
You ever watch a soap opera? Don’t you get the feeling that you’ve seen that same story before? It’s because you have.
It's in that frustrating, cyclical bent that I (again … sigh) find myself defending Landon Donovan. See? We’ve been here before.
I was on Marcelo Balboa’s radio show last night and, yep, there I was once again, hearing complaints about the guy. (Landon, that is ... not Marcelo.) Man, I might as well be on Donovan’s payroll. Say! Does such a thing exist?
I’ll say it for the 89th time (and that’s just this month!): I don’t understand all the outright hostility toward Donovan. But here was more it, this time coming from Marcelo's co-host. I respect people's opinions and I try to hear their arguments, but some of them just don't wash. I do truly think some of it is the province of group-think. It’s fashionable within a certain set to knock the guy, and it’s dangerous within the group dynamic to go against the grain. So people pile onto Donovan in order to establish themselves in the order.
One of Marcelo’s co-hosts dragged out the argument that “Donovan coasts through MLS games.”
Oh, Sweet Jesus, we haven't put that one to bed by now? While we’re at it, let’s start arguing about Friendster vs. Facebook, too. In other words, that argument died an inglorious death around 2007. I thought. But it helps makes my point that people are so attached to a herd mentality here that they continue to lob grenades that have clearly been identified as duds.
To wit: There was certainly a time when Donovan did have difficulty retaining focus over an extended period. I wrote about it. That was a clear deficiency in his game. But he copped to it and then worked to improve it.
He may not be as quite as sparky on a given Saturday as he was on the previous Wednesday, but that's the same with every athlete at very level. I really don't think he shrinks over entire matches, as once was the case. In April and May of last year, for instance, he absolutely carried the Galaxy offense for about a third of the season. He performed on high rev match after match, scoring or assisting on all but one Galaxy goal over one long, early stretch.
I also heard that he’s a drag for the media, that he comes across as something less than a likeable guy. Personally, I don’t see it. When I’ve asked to speak to Donovan, he gets on the phone. When he sees me in a locker room, he says hello. If I ask him for a few minutes, he stops what he’s doing and chats. When U.S. Soccer folks ask him to stop in mixed zone settings for a group that has requested him, he does.
Believe me, I’ve been around athletes who “big time” reporters and fans with a fierce regularity, and he’s not one of them. I have a real chip on my shoulder about athletes who don’t want to do their part for fans and reporters. The implication is this “I’ll take the money, the lifestyle and the fame, but I’ll do it on my terms. I’ll let everyone else deal with the media and such … I’ll just take the good stuff.”
Donovan isn’t one of them. He does his part and then some.
So, again … If you don’t believe Donovan is the 100 percent, complete player that he could have been had he remained in
(I’ll be in
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True in general
It’s the same with soccer haters. They never really knew enough about the game to appreciate it. They just are hopping on the bandwagon, which says that Donovan is inconsistent, or soccer isn’t the Greatest game on planet Earth. Nope, they simply don’t know enough to have real, educated opinions.
by patrickhattrick on Feb 22, 2010 5:11 PM EST reply actions
agree
people (especially Americans) like to bag on soccer just because the group does, when in reality, it’s an amazing game if people would just take the time to learn how it’s played and the strategies involved.
by I need more Esteban on Feb 24, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
Donovan is proving himself
For all of those that don’t believe, look at how he’s playing now. Forget all of the work he’s done in SJ and LA and the USMNT, look now. He’s making it in the EPL! He was the man of the match last week! Give it up all you naysayers.
Chad the Ref
It's all about timing...
I think the problem is that a fairly large number of people joined the Good Ship Soccer during the years where Landon didn’t deliver like he could have. Their first knowledge of him was as a young – and therefore inconsistent – player who was good enough to go overseas, but then came whining back home. (Probably doesn’t help to rip your All-Star game jersey off to reveal a sports bra that goes along with your new bleach blonde highlights….just saying….).
It’s like that pudgy, nerdy girl you knew in high school. Sure, she showed up at your reunion in amazing shape, but some part of your brain still remembers that she was the pudgy, weird kid. If you started watching his career in the last couple of years, Donovan is a pure and simple soccer stud. But to some folks, he’ll always be Landy-Cakes.
Old habits die hard, I guess
Keep up the good fight, Steve. It’s greatly appreciated.
Maybe as the previous comment said, it’s all about the timing…but these folks still criticizing need to open their eyes and do their homework. If they would stop being so blind and pig-headed, they would get to enjoy seeing a player progress, mature and just blossom into what we all knew he could be.
Or at least I knew he had it in him. And I knew he could play anywhere. And this Everton loan has been all manner of fun!
Its about the brand
Unfortunately, people aren’t infinitely smart, so we learn to generalize or stereotype. Early in his career, it became fasionable to knock Landon; some of it was deserved, some not. But it stuck for people who don’t pay close attension. Or for the radio host who needs to say something provacative.
It is the same reason we all bought Toyodas. In recent years, there have been a number of car makers with similar quality, but if people wanted a quality car they bought a Toyoda. They didn’t check to see what the data said. Now, only when Toyoda screws up royally are they losing their reputation.
Similarly, the only way that Landon will overcome his old image is if something miraculous happens like scoring five goals against Brazil in the World Cup, or ManU pays $60M for him, or …
Donovan Takes games Off
I think he does, but he needs to. Its tough to lead a team an entire season and a national team without strategically taking breaks.
Just like every player on a soccer field cant make every run. You have to be strategic an use your energy wisely.
What can I say?
I didn’t rate him when I first came upon him (ho ho) in Germany, never quite got the fuss when he played in America (although he looked good when he played FOR America) and now he’s in Liverpool and has fitted in like players almost never do.
Colour me impressed. The Donovan haterz have picked a dumb time to make their feelings known: he’s attracting almost universal praise this side of the Atlantic (and further cementing Moyes’ rep as an astute manipulator of underappreciated players).
If you accidentally fall south of London on your trip, Steve, let me know. I’ll show you the delights of south coast football – it won’t take long…. ;-)
He's still Judas
for deserting San Jose via shenanigans… he played a big roll in San Jose 1.0’s collapse.
You can change your job, you can change your wife, you can even change your gender, but you can never change your club.
Win or lose, we will always be here for you.
Fear no foe, wherever we go.
by johnjahafanclub on Feb 23, 2010 1:39 AM EST up reply actions
Dude was on loan
He was never yours to lose. Are Everton supposed to despise the Galaxy and call Landon a Judas too?
Admit it, it’s only because it’s the Galaxy. If it had been any other club, home or abroad, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I think the only reason SJ fans take the move out on the owners is because Anschutz owns the Galaxy. If it had been Bob Kraft doing it (as it almost was), the venom couldn’t have been quite the same, now could it?
'Gentlemen' he said,
'I don't need your organization,
I've shined your shoes,
moved your mountains and marked your cards,
but Eden is burning.
Either get ready for elimination,
or else your heart must have the courage,
for the changing of the guards.'
That Is Completely Ridiculous
I don’t think you know much about what happened so let me just fill you in on the details. The fact that he was on loan had nothing to do with it. San Jose STILL OWNED the rights to Donovan when he came back from Germany to MLS. However, AEG forced out SJ’s GM Johnny Moore, appointed their lackey Alexi Lalas as GM, and he immediately traded away the Quakes rights to Donovan for nothing and planned the move to Houston. Lalas’ reward for dismantling San Jose 1.0? A position as GM of the Galaxy, Donovan’s new team. AEG orchestrated the whole thing.
You can change your job, you can change your wife, you can even change your gender, but you can never change your club.
Win or lose, we will always be here for you.
Fear no foe, wherever we go.
by johnjahafanclub on Feb 23, 2010 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
Your explanation
did nothing to indict Landon… I’ll Summarize:
Landon a very very bad person.
Landon is bad because someone way above him in the food chain got tossed and replaced and the replacement orchestrated a personnel move involving Landon as part of a fire sale and Irsay-ish relocation scheme before leaving themselves. All of which was driven by someone even FARTHER up the food chain. So Landon is bad. And when I mean bad, I mean ‘use a comparison to the single most iconic case of betrayal in western civilization’ bad.
I get that you’re miffed about SJ1.0 and gosh, they might not have crapped out like a bad Windows upgrade had Landon remained. But I fail to see how AEG and Lalas maneuvering qualifies as Donovan being Judas. I mean, hyperbole much?
Donovan could have
put a stop to it, he is the golden boy of US Soccer and MLS. If he wasn’t also in on the shenanigans he was at least happy the move happened and a complicit accomplice. He never tried to put a stop to it or make a fuss over it in the media. It’s OK though, I don’t expect you to understand as you are a Revs fan and have never had to deal with AEG.
You can change your job, you can change your wife, you can even change your gender, but you can never change your club.
Win or lose, we will always be here for you.
Fear no foe, wherever we go.
by johnjahafanclub on Feb 25, 2010 6:33 PM EST up reply actions
Regional Loyalties :)
When the MLS launched, I lived in MA, so yeah… been with the Revs ‘since day one’. I live in So Oregon now, and the ‘Quakes were the only team in road trip distance for years, so the abrupt departure to Houston miffed me, though I wasn’t paying the attention you were. Of course, all that will change when the TIMBERS promote…
But, honestly, you’re ascribing a sound decision-making and accountability to someone who was basically a kid at the time. Landon may well have been a golden boy, but at age 22, we barely trust people to drink alcohol and you are hoping he’ll be standup on a series of events that involve his player rights and a franchise ‘move’ (technically a suspension and a reallocation of roster and staff intact to an expansion team… whatever)? I have been impressed with Landon’s skills on the field, but his decision-making when young was demonstrably iffy. We think of him as a 4 year veteran at the time of this deal, but that’s a bit deceptive. Anywho, if you want to carry some baggage around about Landon, it doesn’t bother me. I was pleased to watch he and Becks lose to RSL and generally I do root against him in an MLS context. But when he’s wearing the US strip, or when he’s carrying his weight in the Premiership, I am happy to support him.
do these alleged delights ...
… include that weird park at Brighton? I’ve been there … looks like something I’d see at Haverford College in the northeast here. (just goofin’ with you here … but you deserve it for spelling ’haterz’’ with a “z.”) in all honesty, this one will probably take us to Fulham and then points north, up to Everton and then a Monday match in Wigan (v. Liverpool). But the offer is truly appreciated.
by Steve Davis on Feb 23, 2010 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
Craven Cottage
is beautiful. A cosy wee ground with the home team playing some really neat (as in “and tidy”) football currently. Goodison’s old but adequate and the DW is soulless and empty off the pitch and resembles the Somme on it.
And yeah, the Withdean is basically a non-league ground; the extra-pretty proposed new stadium is a story so long and depressing it doesn’t bear repeating. Shame you’re not coming south though – it may be the last chance to see Fratton Park before it’s tidied up and used for landfill… ;-)
Donovan is a gentleman
My wife and I had the exceptional opportunity to do an Ultimate Fan experience at the Salt Lake City USMNT WC qualifying game last September. Despite being awesome in many, many ways, at the end we got to hang out a the end of the mixed zone and talk/get photos/autographs from the players as they left to get on the bus.
When Donovan came buy he was slicked, obviously ready to take a rest, but was nice and stopped to talk and take a picture with my wife. The team officials who were with us talked about how accommodating he is to fans and is sincerely grateful for the support of him, the USMNT, and soccer in general. He’s a genuine guy.
Tim Howard is nice almost to a fault he spent so much time with this lady who was a huge fan. Great, great guy.
Carlos Bocanegra was the last one out because he was the random draw for post-game drug testing. He family happened to be there that night so for the next 30 minutes we hung out and talked to them (mostly his mom). Wonderful people and I was special to get to learn about Carlos as not just a soccer player but who he is and the stories of his youth. We all know he’s playing at Rennes but it’s neat to hear about how he feels about living there, how his goal is to learn French proficiently, and the trepidations he had about going.
Sorry this was such a long comment. You reminisce on one thing then others just roll out along with it.
by Wallydrag on Feb 23, 2010 12:01 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
good stories
there’s no word count limits here, so no worries at all…
by Steve Davis on Feb 23, 2010 12:39 PM EST up reply actions
Part of the issue people have with Donovan is that we, as US fans, project our hopes on him. He’s our best field player, and has been a big deal for a long time. Right or wrong, he’s had the responsibility of carrying our national team thrust upon him. So, when he goes abroad and comes up short, or when he isn’t a clear MVP candidate in MLS, the disappointment is much more upsetting to people. This leads to the torrent of criticism, whether it’s justified or not. It’s not just groupthink; it’s a reaction to finding out that your highest hopes might not be met. Donovan becomes the scapegoat for the fact that US soccer, as a whole, isn’t progressing at light speed.
Donovan has been very good at Everton
and hasn’t been a part time player, as many expected, but went straight into the starting XI and never left it
"We're investigating the investigative procedure of the investigation of Tony Bernazard"---Omar Minaya (he really didn't say it but he would"
And since his arrival,
Everton have drawn with Arsenal and beaten Chelsea, Man City and United.
I’m not giving him credit for those wins, but the Toffees are pretty clearly a better team with him than without him.
I wouldn't say clearly
because whats key is that Everton have also gotten a lot of their injured players back, Phil Neville, Distin, Arteta, and Saha has been fit the whole year. Donovan has been a good signing, but I think Everton would’ve got those results without him because they are a good side. We were really lucky to beat them 6-1 on the opening day of the season, and if Everton had started better I’d be backing them for fourth
"We're investigating the investigative procedure of the investigation of Tony Bernazard"---Omar Minaya (he really didn't say it but he would"
by firejerrynow on Feb 24, 2010 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
yup
we got screwed over with health. But overall, we still an inconsistent team. that loss at lisbon today really hurt
After Fuentes blows a save and an Angels loss to the Indians:
"Angels still in first place" - UCI Halo
"Hey you know who would have gotten those 3 outs in the 9th?
Darren O’Day." - FirebatM3
LOL
Relatively new to the soccer world
and I haven’t been able to understand the Donovan hate so I appreciate the article. I mean I could understand it from other countries fans but I sit here stunned at the hate from Americans towards him. What more do people want? Personally, I feel there should be hate towards more guys not getting to Donovan’s level, from what I’ve seen there are maybe 2 or 3 contenders with only Clint Dempsey being a true contender for best American player (non-goalie).
by I need more Esteban on Feb 24, 2010 1:17 PM EST reply actions
From someone who's been around...
I don’t get the hatred either. Now I understand why the SJ peeps don’t like him for clubside (johnjahafanclub, you’re onto something), but for USMNT, he’s been nothing short of spectacular. Hell, the goal he scored against Mexico in Columbus on that cold nite in 2001 (?) wins him HOF honors in my books forever.
Chad the Ref
donovan hate is weird...
i would figure all of the europeans would be onto us americans for overbearingly, irrationally loving our star player…and yet, we overbearingly, irrationally hate him. i agree with you steve, i just don’t get it.
capital letters suck.
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