Do Leverkusen fans even want Donovan back?

[roarksown1]

This is an honest question to all Bayer Leverkusen fans who are familiar with the Landon Donovan situation, and the apparent possibility of him returning to the BayArena in January of 2005. Do you want a player who has so often stated how much he didn't want to be there? Sure, he's grown up and matured since he was a teenager there, but I know Germany and I know that the Bundesliga fans are not apt to forget things like this.

What's the word?

[F96]

There is a thread on Landon in the Leverkusen forum:
L.Donovan Thread (http://www.werkself.de/thread.php?threadid=2304&sid=d63dc71dbf7b3c0aeef4767aa14ec779&threadview=0&hilight=donovan&hilightuser=0&page=1)

[Danks81]

Sorry, I don't sprechen zie douche. Care to give us the jist of what they're saying?

[F96]

Sorry, I don't sprechen zie douche. Care to give us the jist of what they're saying?

Sorry, I know it's german. I suck at translating.

They look forward to see him play but are kinda fed up with the whole situation.
They want a decision wheather he really wants to play in Leverkusen pretty soon.

Most don't wanna see him if he doesn't really want to play in Leverkusen but they want to hear it from himself. They fear that he will mean trouble á la Simak.

Some of the posters have seen him play and think he's a great player, others haven't heard of him and are your typical "eurosnobs² ;).
Those don't care about his stats and accomplishments in the MLS because they don't take it seriously.

[footyfan1]

[Hannover96Girl]Sorry, I know it's german. I suck at translating.

They look forward to see him play but are kinda fed up with the whole situation.

They want a decision wheather he really wants to play in Leverkusen pretty soon.

Keith's Response: I don't blame them at all!

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H96Girl: Most don't wanna see him if he doesn't really want to play in Leverkusen but they want to hear it from himself. They fear that he will mean trouble á la Simak.


Keith's Response: From what I know, Landon doesn't have a problem with Leverkusen as a club, he has a problem handling being in a place where he doesn't speak the language and isn't the "big fish" in the pond. Some of us think he might be a bit of a "spoiled brat".

I just want to see the kid go to Leverkusen and give it his best shot. I think his best would be more than good enough for Bayer.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

H96Girl: Some of the posters have seen him play and think he's a great player, others haven't heard of him and are your typical "eurosnobs² ;).


Keith's Response: Funny, I'm American and one of my best soccer buddies here calls me a "Eurosnob" because I'm not at all entertained or very interested in MLS.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Those don't care about his stats and accomplishments in the MLS because they don't take it seriously.

Keith's Response: I don't blame them for not taking it seriously. From what I've seen of MLS, the overall quality of play is at the "Lower 2. Liga - Higher Regionalliga" level. But, it is improving.



Keith

[shutoutj]

He is ove . I've seen him play many times for San Jose and he can't finish. He's shaky and I would give him a 6 out of ten.
He honestly wouldn't be able to compete at Leverkusen and even if he could, "at his best", that doesn't come around very often.

[Bayer04fan]

Landon is a great player. He had a great game vs Mexico in a friendly a few months ago. he is America's and MLS best player by far. I think moving onto the Euro stage would help him improve his game even more. He has accomplished everything there is to do in MLS, time to move on.

I hope he can come here ASAP. Didn't the coach scout him when he was 17? I think so.

[southsideirish71]

Donovan's rights are co-shared between MLS and Bayer Leverkusen, with the latter already showing some of their cards this summer by recalling Donovan come January 1. The league may in the end purchase Donovan's rights from Bayer, but at this point Donovan still seems unwilling to leave his native California.

He also suggested that if the Earthquakes were moved to Texas, he would greet a trade to either of the teams based in Los Angeles - the Galaxy or the new Chivas USA franchise. The latter seems rather unlikely, but landing Donovan at the Home Depot Center would be fruitful both for the Galaxy and the league, giving its best player a bigger market to show off his skills both on and off the field.

He doesnt want to leave Cali. His selfish crybaby crap about wanting to stay in Cali is getting old from a US National Team supporters view. Beasley, Howard, Boca, etc all are in Europe getting valuable experience against better competition and it will help the US Team in the next world cup. While our marquee player wants to stay in Cali, not just in the MLS but specifically in California. He has a lot of natural talent, but talent only gets you so far. At some point you start to play to the talent around you. He is playing against slower less talented players and now that he is the primary threat he gets double teamed and stacked up against all the time. He will wind up crying and getting sold from LeverKusen and will do nothing for us in the next world cup. Sad selfish player.

[Catfish]

He doesnt want to leave Cali. His selfish crybaby crap about wanting to stay in Cali is getting old from a US National Team supporters view. Beasley, Howard, Boca, etc all are in Europe getting valuable experience against better competition and it will help the US Team in the next world cup. While our marquee player wants to stay in Cali, not just in the MLS but specifically in California. He has a lot of natural talent, but talent only gets you so far. At some point you start to play to the talent around you. He is playing against slower less talented players and now that he is the primary threat he gets double teamed and stacked up against all the time. He will wind up crying and getting sold from LeverKusen and will do nothing for us in the next world cup. Sad selfish player.

Smashing good show old boy! LOL. I couldn't have said it better myself. I think Donovan is good, but might be totally average in Europe. I'm sorry I support the MLS, but the game is sloppy and slow. LD isn't even in the top 10, 20, or maybe 50 players in the world. Sorry, but the USA/MLS shoving Freddy Adu and LD down my throat instead of good teams is so wrong and getting old.

[Onionsack]

I think Landon should do whatever makes him happy, who the ******** are you to decide what is best for him? I hope he goes to Europe mostly to satisfy my desire to shove it in the faces of "eurosnobs" that say he can't make the grade, but if he decides to stay in California be with his family and his girl-friend I woulnd't hold it against him.

As for Leverkusen fans, if I were one I honstly would like to have a player of his caliber in my squad. But if he doesn't want to play for Leverkusen as a fan I would want the club to get a good value for him.

[SABuffalo786]

I think Donovan is good, but might be totally average in Europe.

Kind of like DMB?

I'm sorry I support the MLS, but the game is sloppy and slow.


Well, we have this thing called summer where it gets much, much hotter than the European football season. I'd like to see how speedy those EPL teams are after playing a 4 pm kickoff in mid-July Dallas. And as far as sloppy goes, it's a 9 year old league, what the f--- do you want? Good Christ.


LD isn't even in the top 10, 20, or maybe 50 players in the world.


Yeah, sucky players do tend to have multiple goal World cups.

[Catfish]

Kind of like DMB?
Well, we have this thing called summer where it gets much, much hotter than the European football season. I'd like to see how speedy those EPL teams are after playing a 4 pm kickoff in mid-July Dallas. And as far as sloppy goes, it's a 9 year old league, what the f--- do you want? Good Christ.
Yeah, sucky players do tend to have multiple goal World cups.

Take it easy. I didn't say he sucked and I do support the MLS. I understand that it is 9 yrs old and that everyone of the European leagues probably went through the same growing pains many yrs ago. I also consider the heat, as well. Maybe night games should be the norm and allow more substitutions per side?

[southsideirish71]

Well, we have this thing called summer where it gets much, much hotter than the European football season. I'd like to see how speedy those EPL teams are after playing a 4 pm kickoff in mid-July Dallas. And as far as sloppy goes, it's a 9 year old league, what the f--- do you want? Good Christ.

I am sure they have summer in Spain, Portugal, and in Italy.

[Dr. Wankler]

Yeah, sucky players do tend to have multiple goal World cups.

Well, fans of Davor Sukor and Martin Brolin might want to say something here. Assuming any of them exist ;)

[wolfsburgh]

Well, fans of Davor Sukor and Martin Brolin might want to say something here. Assuming any of them exist ;)

Oleg Salenko.

[John L]

Seems that most people who don't think much of Donovan are either avowed Eurosnobs or people from MLS cities other than San Jose - Simply put Donovan has been great whatever US team he's played on the past 3-4 years - He was a leader in WC 2002, he's led SJ to 2 MLS titles (sorry about that MR CHICAGO FIRE!!), and is always a major force on the field whether as Striker or withdrawn forward or whatever

Not all of the best young MLS players look to Europe as The Holy Grail - Some do - Some don't - And perhaps Donovan is remembering too much the Eurosnob system he was under in Germany originally - He's said that coaching on California youth clubs was better than what he had in Germany -

BUT - This is a business and sometime you gotta go where the business sends you - If Donovan ends up with Leverkeusen and he plays well and scores a bunch and is important to their success than all this will be forgotten

and MLS vs other countries - the skill and intelligence of play in MLS has improved dramatically since the beginning - I never used to want to watch any games other than DCU because the play was so sloppy - the past 3-4 years have shown consistently well-played games - fun to watch for skills and attacking and great defensive games -

In Europe - there is nothing duller than watching mid and bottom level teams play Wha(n)ck-the-Ball-Upfield in England - Or hack each other in Germany - Or play stultifyling dull defensive games in Italy - France and Holland and Spain have much more consistently better games throughout their leagues than these other countries

[dawgpound2]

He is ove . I've seen him play many times for San Jose and he can't finish. He's shaky and I would give him a 6 out of ten.
He honestly wouldn't be able to compete at Leverkusen and even if he could, "at his best", that doesn't come around very often.

Well, at least we know you rate Leverkusen as able to win the World Cup, were they able to enter.

Read this and here me now! Landon Donovan, the day he steps foot onto the pitch for Leverkusen immediately becomes their most talented player. You WILL love Donovan.

And yes, I've seen plenty of Leverkusen and they are a fine club.

[StillKickin]

I am sure they have summer in Spain, Portugal, and in Italy.
but to the best of my understanding, they're in off season during the summer.

Question any of the european players (non-Americans) who come here to play and they'll all remark at how unbelievably hot it is here and how it slows down the game. A Mr. Howey, over with the Revs, is the latest example.

[F96]

Read this and here me now! Landon Donovan, the day he steps foot onto the pitch for Leverkusen immediately becomes their most talented player. You WILL love Donovan.

I guess you haven't seen Franca play this season have you?
If Donovan is more talented than him Leverkusen should win the Champions League.

[Coon]

Well, fans of Davor Sukor and Martin Brolin might want to say something here. Assuming any of them exist ;)

Golden boot winners usually aren't sucky.... ;)