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Rumor Mill: Donovan to Europe

11
Vote

by The Beast

Could Landon Donovan soon be playing in the English Premier League?
Could Landon Donovan soon be playing in the English Premier League?

Rumors are circulating that Los Angeles Galaxy captain Landon Donovan is interested in moving to the English Premier League. Donovan had previously played in Germany during the 2004 season Bayer Leverkusen. However, Donovan struggled with the club as he started just two games. Frusrtrated, he moved back to the states to once again play in the MLS. Upon his return, Donovan said that he had no intention of playing in Europe again.

However, that idea of playing in the America forever is starting to change. Yesterday, Donovan told Sky Sports News that he might like another crack at European football. He was quoted saying, "The older I get and the more I play, the more I'm yearning for that highest level I can play at and I think the Premiership would be the best place the play."

American soccer fans and Galaxy supporters have to be a little upset. Donovan is regarded by the fans and media as Major League Soccer's top player, and losing him to Europe wouldn't help the growth of the MLS.

However, all sixteen MLS diehards must not argue with him if he really wants to play in the Premier League. He will be able to play against better competition and earn a larger salary. You don't see the Europeans forcing their basketball players to play in the Italian league instead of the NBA.

If he does indeed wish to return to Europe than the time is right for him to make that move. He has already been the top player in the MLS for the past few seasons and is just reaching his prime at twenty-five years of age. Leaving the Galaxy for Europe is an advantageous career move for Donovan and makes perfect sense for him as well.

He has also earned the right to move on. Unlike many other American soccer players he didn't run off the first time somebody offered him a truck load of money. He stayed at home in the states and contributed to the growth of the MLS. Due to his efforts to improve American soccer he has surely earned the right to move on.

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Twins15Varsity Captain
855 days ago
Score 1+-
Losing him to the Europe might not help the growth of the MLS, but I still think it would be a good thing for American soccer in the big picture. He doesn't really have much more room to improve his game, so if he can go to Europe and improve playing against the best competition, that is only going to help the U.S. in the World Cup.
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SmittyliteSoccer Kid
855 days ago
Score 1+-
MAKE him go. LanDo is a great American soccer talent, but needs the top competition to push him to the next level. Playing in MLS can only do so much for him, and he has achieved that. He needs to now challenge himself and play against the best players in the world day in and day out.
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Ea34Div-I Stud
855 days ago
Score 0+-
Donovan leaving doesn't help MLS much, but the door will be opened for another American player to step in as the face of MLS. My only concern is whether he'll be capable of making a meaningful impact overseas. If he leaves never makes a positive impression, the reputation of American soccer and MLS will suffer for it.
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MegECass110AAA-er
855 days ago
Score 0+-
Taylor Twellman and Clint Dempsey, your thoughts?
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WoodsmeisterVarsity Captain
855 days ago
Score 0+-
I thought that MLS worked some arrangement with Bayer Leverkusen to get him back to the states such that they retained his overseas rights and that he's essentially been on loan to MLS.
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Dolph72Varsity Captain
855 days ago
Score 0+-
It sounds like someone is a bit upset that they are no longer the big fish on the team.
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TyduffyRed-Shirting
855 days ago
Score 0+-
I don't see him leaving. I believe that in that interview he said that he might consider going to England a couple years down the road, but that he wanted the opportunity to play with "Dave" (He may be the only person in the world to have ever called him that) Beckham. I honestly think that he would be a disaster in England. He'd be a 5'8" 140lb soaking wet forward going to a league where a 6'0" 180lb center half is considered undersized. I don't think that he has the mental fortitude to fight his way back into the lineup, and I don't think he has the inkling to leave his high salary and cushy beach condo in LA to go get kicked in the rain in Northern England.
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NejoshiDiv-I Stud
855 days ago
Score 1+-
Attempting to score goals on MLS goalies is nothing like facing Cech or Reina in the Premiership either
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TyduffyRed-Shirting
855 days ago
Score 0+-
Actually, I have to disagree with you Nejoshi. The U.S. actually has a pretty high standard of goalkeeping. Howard w/ Everton , Hahnemann w/ Reading, and Friedel w/Blackburn were arguably the three best goalkeepers in the Premier League last season.
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SSreportersLegend
855 days ago
Score -1+-
Then what the heck forces them to go with fossil man himself, Kasey Keller?
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NejoshiDiv-I Stud
855 days ago
Score 2+-
None of those American goalies play in the MLS though. That only makes my comment even more relevant.
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SSreportersLegend
855 days ago
Score 1+-
Landon is only good for the MLS. He's a waste everywhere else.
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JukeboxheroPee Wee
855 days ago
Score 1+-
Landon never produces on European soil..or at least he doesn't play as well as advertised
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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
855 days ago
Score 0+-
I don't think Donavan would be good in the Premiership. I can see him being good in the Championship (the tier down), but I can't see him being a regular starter, or linchpin of a Premiership team.
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This page was last modified 19:38, 28 July 2007. Content is available under the GFDL.

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