Landon Donovan: no signs of fatigue

by Steve Davis on Aug 24, 2010 1:22 PM EDT

Landon Donovan ... still going strong after a very busy couple of years.

I keep waiting to see Landon Donovan fade.

For the last two weeks, as I prep for marathon MLS match watching, I think about particular elements to watch for. (Here's the end result, the weekly "Five Things ... " at SI.com, if you're up for it.)

One of the bullet points on my little OneNote screen of items to observe is Donovan’s performance. After all, who could blame the guy if he started fading at this point? He’s been busier, as I like to say, than a dog with three peckers.

The year started with Donovan pouring himself into Project Everton. And he was quite successful, as we all know.

Going back a little further, in fact, Donovan really didn’t have much of a break before heading over to play at Goodison Park for David Moyes. Donovan played in the MLS Cup final in late November. He took about a month off and then jumped right across the Atlantic just after Christmas.

So, he was at Everton until mid-March. From there it was back to the Galaxy, where the regular season started a couple of weeks later. By early May, he was in the U.S. training camp, going through intense prep for World Cup 2010.

Donovan jumped right back into MLS afterward, never mind the mental and physical drain of the South African experience.

Not long after, he flew a red-eye to Houston to play in the MLS All-Star game, less than 24 hours after playing inSouthern California for the Galaxy. Two weeks ago, he flew across country to play in the U.S.-Brazil contest.

Now, of course, he remains smack in the middle of the travel and training summer drag. It’s hitting some players, for sure.

But Donovan was lively over the weekend. It wasn’t his fault that L.A. got beat in San Jose. Yes, he blew a couple of chances to score. But that has nothing to do with saggy, heavy legs. His passing and vision and general level of alertness looks fine.

Same for the week before as L.A. played at New York. Just another reason this guy is the best soccer player ever developed in the United States.

By the way, anybody remember the last extended injury absence for Donovan, who is 28 now?

That’s right. It’s a trick question. It’s never happened.

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Was talking to a friend about this the other day

how amazing it is that he’s still going strong. Not much of a break at all for LD. The conversation was brought up, though, in regards to how any of the players in the WC who play overseas really don’t have much of a break either, especially those in England who started their season 2 weekends ago.

by I need more Esteban on Aug 24, 2010 1:54 PM EDT reply actions

Knock on wood!!!!

For the sake of the US National Team, and all that is good and right with the world, please knock on wood!
I thought about this myself a while back, but with the world cup approaching (at the time), I immediately dismissed the thought, lest I jinx LD (and our hopes for having ANY success in South Africa).
The guy really is remarkable in his fitness, both in terms of his conditioning and avoiding injury. I think it either says a lot about his genetics, or his professionalism and dedication to his sport. I’m guessing it’s a good bit of both.

by jrnail23 on Aug 24, 2010 5:01 PM EDT reply actions