Where are all of you Leverkusen fanatics from???

[Leverkusen04USA]

Milwaukee Wisconsin, USA here,...any leverkusen girls in here?,...anybody feel free to im me or e-mail

[Dead Fingers]

Man--do you have some time on your hands?

All the "Leverkusen fans" are in the Yanks Abroad forum :rolleyes:

[Bayer04fan]

I am from Southern California and although I do like LD, I am not a bandwagonner. Ive been supporting Bayer 04 for 3 years now!!!

[Lewie]

NYC!, hmm i wonder if bandwagonner is a word

[  ]

Vanished as quickly as Donovan's European ambitions.

[Dave141]

Any real Leverkusen fan would not be a Donovan fan. The guy has sapped time and energy from the first day we signed him. When he did play for us, he was worthless. In the last month, he wasn't even getting into matches anymore.

I think he is incredibly overrated. Maybe Arena knows how to get the best out of this guy, but his performance for us has been horrid. Good riddance.

[96Squig]

Leverkusen has fans? I thought they were all just workers? ;-)

[Mattbro]

Maybe Arena knows how to get the best out of this guy, but his performance for us has been horrid. Good riddance.


That is a massive overstatement. His performance was horrid for 52 minutes in one single match, when coincidentally the rest of the team's performance was also horrid. Other than that he hardly figured into the equation.

So nice try but no dice my friend.

[Mattbro]

Leverkusen has fans? I thought they were all just workers? ;-)

Ha, this is actually more like it. I am a Leverkusen fan and former Bayer employee!

[Dave141]

That is a massive overstatement. His performance was horrid for 52 minutes in one single match, when coincidentally the rest of the team's performance was also horrid. Other than that he hardly figured into the equation.

So nice try but no dice my friend.


He played in 7 Bundesliga matches, starting only once. In the other six matches, he played for less than 20 minutes each time. This was during a time when we had 2 mid-week Champions League matches and injury issues, so our depth was being tested. But this supposedly "versatile" player wasn't put out on the pitch a whole lot by our coach.

And by the way, he didn't even make it in as a substitute for the last 2 rounds of the Bundesliga (rounds 25 & 26). Amazingly, he did get the start in the return leg at home against Liverpool in the Champions League. And you are right, the entire team sucked that night.

But in his entire 2 month tenure with the club, there weren't any noteworthy performances at all. There certainly must not have been in practice, since he couldn't even earn serious playing time. The few game opportunities he had were lackluster. And despite all the positive talk in January about how he was enthusiastic about making a renewed commitment to a club which had gone out of its way to accommodate him, he couldn't even last 2 months.

So I stand by my statement. His performance was horrid. That's not a massive overstatement. It isn't even an overstatement at all.

I know there are people who love him, and I hope he does well for the USMNT. But the fact that he had no dedication and no commitment to try to take his game to the next level is an opinion that will be almost impossible to shake in my mind. And it's not like he left to go to another club that perhaps was a "better fit." He's heading home. To all that is safe and easy. Where a core group of fans will always idolize him.

Take a look at his current ability. Because he's never going to get any better. And if that makes him happy and fulfilled in his life, that's fine. But don't ask me to give props to a guy who gave up when the going got just a little tougher. Maybe now every third thread on BS won't be about the guy.

[Mattbro]

Dude, you are being every bit as goofy as the posters with names like "Landonsgirl82". You cannot be horrid if you don't get PT. Aside from one single match, he was not given enough time to show what he was capable of. Apart from the CL return leg, his performances were unremarkable, not horrid. Horrid is Jeff Agoos during the last World Cup, not playing a bit part in the last five minutes of several Bundesliga games. But you obviously hate the guy for some reason (maybe he isn't European enough for you), so it's probably too much to ask that you be objective.

[Dave141]

Dude, you are being every bit as goofy as the posters with names like "Landonsgirl82".

Great. Although I don't even come close to criticizing you personally, you don't hesitate to put me in the same category as pre-pubescent girls who think LD is going to score four goals in the ChL return leg match against Liverpool because he's so "dreamy." Please. Can't you at least acknowledge that if the topic is Leverkusen players and performances, I know more than how LD looks in his uniform?

You cannot be horrid if you don't get PT. Aside from one single match, he was not given enough time to show what he was capable of. Apart from the CL return leg, his performances were unremarkable, not horrid.


You know what, I'll concede this point. Perhaps he wasn't on the pitch enough to be labeled as horrid. I was projecting the fact that if he couldn't even get in matches when we needed all the solid players we could get, that that must mean his training/practice performances must have been subpar. But I wasn't there, so I withdraw that assumption. However, I will not retreat from this: The entire LD experience at the club (that is, the sum total of game performance, inability to earn PT, homesickness, lack of commitment, etc.) was horrid.


But you obviously hate the guy for some reason (maybe he isn't European enough for you), so it's probably too much to ask that you be objective.

Again, another personal attack. I must not be objective because I don't share your view about LD. Frankly, I was hoping that LD would succeed in a big way. If he had, my club might wind up on US television more than three times a year. Merchandise sales would have gone up. And imagine this, he would have been a great asset on the pitch. Even this second time, he was still young and supposedly was due to get better. But I guess it was too much to ask him to try.

[Mattbro]

Great. Although I don't even come close to criticizing you personally, you don't hesitate to put me in the same category as pre-pubescent girls who think LD is going to score four goals in the ChL return leg match against Liverpool because he's so "dreamy." Please. Can't you at least acknowledge that if the topic is Leverkusen players and performances, I know more than how LD looks in his uniform?

Well now, that wasn't so much a personal attack as much as I was trying to point out that you are being every bit as unreasonable in your distaste for Donovan as the fanboys and girls are in their worship of him.


You know what, I'll concede this point. Perhaps he wasn't on the pitch enough to be labeled as horrid. I was projecting the fact that if he couldn't even get in matches when we needed all the solid players we could get, that that must mean his training/practice performances must have been subpar. But I wasn't there, so I withdraw that assumption. However, I will not retreat from this: The entire LD experience at the club (that is, the sum total of game performance, inability to earn PT, homesickness, lack of commitment, etc.) was horrid.

Agreed, the whole episode was not exactly a glorious moment for Donovan.

Again, another personal attack. I must not be objective because I don't share your view about LD. Frankly, I was hoping that LD would succeed in a big way. If he had, my club might wind up on US television more than three times a year. Merchandise sales would have gone up. And imagine this, he would have been a great asset on the pitch. Even this second time, he was still young and supposedly was due to get better. But I guess it was too much to ask him to try.

Well no, I was saying you were not being objective because you specifically described his on-field performance as horrid, which with the exception of one single game was not true (and also because I got the impression you are the typical Eurosnob, you being located in Jersey and apparently caring way more about teams thousands of miles away than the one in your own backyard. But I apologize if that is not the case). Maybe he would have been horrid on a more consistent basis if they'd given him an opportunity. But we already covered that and basically came to a consensus.

Again, I just think you're being too harsh on him, and I say that as someone who was never particularly bullish on him in the first place.

[footyfan1]

Well no, I was saying you were not being objective because you specifically described his on-field performance as horrid, which with the exception of one single game was not true (and also because I got the impression you are the typical Eurosnob, you being located in Jersey and apparently caring way more about teams thousands of miles away than the one in your own backyard. But I apologize if that is not the case). Maybe he would have been horrid on a more consistent basis if they'd given him an opportunity. But we already covered that and basically came to a consensus.

Again, I just think you're being too harsh on him, and I say that as someone who was never particularly bullish on him in the first place.


Keith's Response: There's that word again. "Eurosnob". I have a question. If we are TRUE FANS of teams thousands of miles away, where is it written that we MUST support some team in MLS we have zero allegiance to because we might be "close" to them in location.

I say that because I have a friend who loves that term "Eurosnob". He uses it to describe any of us who might have the audacity to actually see MLS for what it is. A league that's up and coming, but as far as level of play and talent level goes, still has a long way to go.

I'll admit, I'm not MLS' biggest fan, but I know we need this league to succeed for the future of the game in our country. And that's what I want. I want to see the TRUE game of FOOTBALL succeed in my country. I actually hope to see us become the best at it before I die.

However, to expect me to just all of a sudden switch my football allegiance to FC Dallas and MLS from Borussia Dortmund and the Bundesliga just because I moved back to Texas in my opinion, is not only unreasonable, it's f#(king absurd!

I'm getting into MLS and FC Dallas. I intend to try a bit harder this season. But I don't believe it will ever be #1 with me ahead of Borussia Dortmund and the Bundesliga.

If that makes me a "Eurosnob", then I'll wear that tag proudly. But I think it's kinda stupid.........

[Dave141]

Keith's Response: There's that word again. "Eurosnob". I have a question. If we are TRUE FANS of teams thousands of miles away, where is it written that we MUST support some team in MLS we have zero allegiance to because we might be "close" to them in location.

I say that because I have a friend who loves that term "Eurosnob". He uses it to describe any of us who might have the audacity to actually see MLS for what it is. A league that's up and coming, but as far as level of play and talent level goes, still has a long way to go.

I'll admit, I'm not MLS' biggest fan, but I know we need this league to succeed for the future of the game in our country. And that's what I want. I want to see the TRUE game of FOOTBALL succeed in my country. I actually hope to see us become the best at it before I die.

However, to expect me to just all of a sudden switch my football allegiance to FC Dallas and MLS from Borussia Dortmund and the Bundesliga just because I moved back to Texas in my opinion, is not only unreasonable, it's f#(king absurd!

I'm getting into MLS and FC Dallas. I intend to try a bit harder this season. But I don't believe it will ever be #1 with me ahead of Borussia Dortmund and the Bundesliga.

If that makes me a "Eurosnob", then I'll wear that tag proudly. But I think it's kinda stupid.........


Agreed 100%. Using the same logic, if a minor-league baseball team moves to my town, I guess I have to blindly support every one of its players and abandon my passion for a major-league club because the other is my "local" team. Which pretty much ignores where MLS is on the pecking order of world soccer right now. MLS is a minor league compared to the world universe. Maybe 20-30 years from now, that won't be the case. To be honest, many times I find the pace of the MLS game unwatchable, similar to watching high-school football next to the NFL. But I'm trying. (and by the way, New Jersey is a big place. I am at least 90 minutes from the Metrostars - hardly my home-town team.)

But there are 2 ways the MLS will achieve that grand vision. Part one is local support at home. And part two is when its best players go overseas and bring respect and credibility onto the league. It's one thing if LD left Leverkusen and went to a club that was a better fit, or he got hurt, but he simply got scared and ran home....TWICE. This is hardly the behavior that will make the world take MLS seriously.

[Dave141]

Well now, that wasn't so much a personal attack as much as I was trying to point out that you are being every bit as unreasonable in your distaste for Donovan as the fanboys and girls are in their worship of him.


Again, I just think you're being too harsh on him, and I say that as someone who was never particularly bullish on him in the first place.


I guess we'll never agree on this, but I still feel your lumping me with the "Landongirl69" posters was a direct insult.

[Mattbro]

Keith's Response: There's that word again. "Eurosnob". I have a question. If we are TRUE FANS of teams thousands of miles away, where is it written that we MUST support some team in MLS we have zero allegiance to because we might be "close" to them in location.

I say that because I have a friend who loves that term "Eurosnob". He uses it to describe any of us who might have the audacity to actually see MLS for what it is. A league that's up and coming, but as far as level of play and talent level goes, still has a long way to go.

I'll admit, I'm not MLS' biggest fan, but I know we need this league to succeed for the future of the game in our country. And that's what I want. I want to see the TRUE game of FOOTBALL succeed in my country. I actually hope to see us become the best at it before I die.

However, to expect me to just all of a sudden switch my football allegiance to FC Dallas and MLS from Borussia Dortmund and the Bundesliga just because I moved back to Texas in my opinion, is not only unreasonable, it's f#(king absurd!

I'm getting into MLS and FC Dallas. I intend to try a bit harder this season. But I don't believe it will ever be #1 with me ahead of Borussia Dortmund and the Bundesliga.

If that makes me a "Eurosnob", then I'll wear that tag proudly. But I think it's kinda stupid.........

Well Keith, I think Eurosnob is indeed the perfect word to describe all those people who won't give MLS the time of day because it isn't far and away the best league in the world, or merely because the fans don't all chant in unison or because they don't light fires in the stands (or whatever the current excuse is), but will happily bask in the national team's ever-improving form - ever improving as a direct result of MLS. So yeah, it's a good word and whoever came up with it was dead on.

If you're planning to take in a couple of Dallas games this year, that's certainly a good start though, and I applaud you for it. And no one is expecting you to drop Borussia Dortmund like a bad habit and become a hard-core fan just because you've moved back to Texas. Just give the league its due and try to support it, that's all.

MLS would be a lot better off if everyone in America who claimed to be a rabid soccer fan would recognize that it is not comparable with double A baseball or high school football (another unfair comparison, as I've seen plenty of Bundesliga games that weren't world-class affairs either). That's what I find frustrating: all of these people who for some reason or another claim to be passionate supporters of big Euro clubs snub MLS because they consider it inferior, yet the biggest reason it is (still) inferior is because they won't support it. So MLS has to bust its hump to succeed without its natural fan base - and yeah, I find that frustrating.

[Dave141]

Well Keith, I think Eurosnob is indeed the perfect word to describe all those people who won't give MLS the time of day because it isn't far and away the best league in the world, or merely because the fans don't all chant in unison or because they don't light fires in the stands (or whatever the current excuse is), but will happily bask in the national team's ever-improving form - ever improving as a direct result of MLS. So yeah, it's a good word and whoever came up with it was dead on.

If you're planning to take in a couple of Dallas games this year, that's certainly a good start though, and I applaud you for it. And no one is expecting you to drop Borussia Dortmund like a bad habit and become a hard-core fan just because you've moved back to Texas. Just give the league its due and try to support it, that's all.

MLS would be a lot better off if everyone in America who claimed to be a rabid soccer fan would recognize that it is not comparable with double A baseball or high school football (another unfair comparison, as I've seen plenty of Bundesliga games that weren't world-class affairs either). That's what I find frustrating: all of these people who for some reason or another claim to be passionate supporters of big Euro clubs snub MLS because they consider it inferior, yet the biggest reason it is (still) inferior is because they won't support it. So MLS has to bust its hump to succeed without its natural fan base - and yeah, I find that frustrating.


In terms of being a serious soccer fan, I am a relative newcomer - presumably the very type of fan that MLS should be targeting. I have worked hard to understand the sport - its history, its organization, how it operates. But as I began following soccer, it was not hard to come to the conclusion that while America is moving up the ladder on its way to world-class status, the journey is far from over. And while the USMNT has had some great recent successes, the presence of so many other major sports in the US makes it hard to keep that momentum moving.

Thus, the "hard-core American soccer fan" has determined that the future performance of the USMNT is dependent on the growth and success of the MLS. I strongly disagree. In the last 3 World Cups, the third place matches were as follows: '02 Turkey-South Korea, '98 Croatia-Holland, '94 Sweden-Bulgaria. Of those six countries, the only one with a Top 10 league is Holland. Three of them have leagues that I challenge anyone outside of that country to name more than 2 of their teams. So clearly it is possible to achieve national team greatness without having a dominant domestic league. If you are not home to a Top 10 league, the purpose of your domestic clubs is youth development. You use the funds that you get from having say, Eddie Johnson over in Portugal, to develop even more young players. It is the USMNT that will make more Americans care about soccer, not the MLS. Of course, the people trying to make money off of soccer now don't want to wait that long, so they want their payoff today. Thus, instead of doing what we know will make more Americans fans of soccer, we want the current core group of supporters of the sport to stop diverting their energy, their attention, and of course, their money to anyplace other than the USA.

Thus, I find extremely frustrating the "if you're an American soccer fan, you better be a fan of the MLS" attitude of MLS marketers and its supporters. It is an incredibly protectionist attitude, in an era where every other major American sports league is going out of their way to jam themselves down the throats of the rest of the world. There are only begrudging (if any at all) admissions that the quality of play in MLS is not on par with many European leagues. Note that I didn't say the soccer wasn't entertaining in the MLS, or say that every game played on the European or South American continent is a gem. Of course, MLS backers acknowledge that Spain or England are better than MLS, but after that, one gets resistance. I have heard MLS compared favorably by some folks to leagues such as Portugal and Holland! And as for the rest of the European leagues (Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Central Europe) it is considered blasphemy if one even suggests that perhaps the MLS is inferior to some of those leagues as well. Of course, in the only meaningful international club competition involving MLS clubs (CONCACAF Cup), a US team has only won it twice, and in the last four years has only placed three of its teams in total in the semifinals. [Pause to hear the litany of "explanations" (excuses) why MLS clubs have not done better - not that interested, timing of league season, etc.] Point that out to a bunch of MLS backers? Oh, you must be one of those 'Eurosnobs.'

And when American MLS players do go over to Europe, the fact of the matter is that some of them are solid, regular players. But are they superstars in their respective leagues? No, not yet. But is that good enough for the MLS hype machine? No. Because it's probably the case that the coach, or the press, or the other players have it "in" for the American, and they are trying to keep "us" down. And don't get me started about the hype machine that accompanied LD. But point out how badly his lack of commitment will impact future American players and the prestige of our league? Oh, you must be one of those 'Eurosnobs.'

I don't feel the cause of growing MLS is improved by ignoring its actual place in the hierarchy of world club soccer. Part of me wonders whether more aggressive corporate support is lacking because the league tries to oversell itself as something it isn't, and corporations find that difficult to sell to the public. And if we want to enhance the prestige of our league, than MLS teams have to make it a mission to win every time they go against clubs from other counties, especially in our own back yard. I don't care if it isn't convenient or messes with training schedules. If an MLS team won the CONCACAF Cup every year for 5 years straight, the world would start to take notice, and those other countries would have to be the ones making excuses. But what do I know, I'm just one of those 'Eurosnobs.'

[Mattbro]

In terms of being a serious soccer fan, I am a relative newcomer - presumably the very type of fan that MLS should be targeting. I have worked hard to understand the sport - its history, its organization, how it operates. But as I began following soccer, it was not hard to come to the conclusion that while America is moving up the ladder on its way to world-class status, the journey is far from over. And while the USMNT has had some great recent successes, the presence of so many other major sports in the US makes it hard to keep that momentum moving.

MLS is targetting your type of fan. They've done a lot in that direction, including continuously improving the level of play, getting rid of practically all of the original gimmicks. They are no longer courting the sports fan in general, but rather trying to appeal directly to people who characterize themselves as passionate soccer fans. I don't know what more you want them to do, short of breaking the bank and signing players of the caliber and price tag of Zidane and Beckham - something which was clearly proven not to work over the long term with the old NASL.

Thus, the "hard-core American soccer fan" has determined that the future performance of the USMNT is dependent on the growth and success of the MLS. I strongly disagree. In the last 3 World Cups, the third place matches were as follows: '02 Turkey-South Korea, '98 Croatia-Holland, '94 Sweden-Bulgaria. Of those six countries, the only one with a Top 10 league is Holland. Three of them have leagues that I challenge anyone outside of that country to name more than 2 of their teams. So clearly it is possible to achieve national team greatness without having a dominant domestic league. If you are not home to a Top 10 league, the purpose of your domestic clubs is youth development. You use the funds that you get from having say, Eddie Johnson over in Portugal, to develop even more young players. It is the USMNT that will make more Americans care about soccer, not the MLS. Of course, the people trying to make money off of soccer now don't want to wait that long, so they want their payoff today. Thus, instead of doing what we know will make more Americans fans of soccer, we want the current core group of supporters of the sport to stop diverting their energy, their attention, and of course, their money to anyplace other than the USA.

That is not the point. In none of those six countries that you mentioned, nor in the countries whose teams played in the actual final, is soccer's survival in danger. Soccer is the number one sport in every single one of those countries - even Sweden, although hockey is a close second. By contrast, there was a serious risk that MLS would fold in its initial years - it almost certainly would have, but for the grace of Phil Anschutz and Lamar Hunt. Especially in those early years, the league could have used the support of people like yourself, who claim to be passionate fans. It is easy for you to say they should sell EJ to Benfica and use the money to develop more players, but no one would have ever even heard of EJ if not for MLS. The league makes it far, far easier to identify and foster talented young players. Which brings me back to what I said before: you enjoy the fruits of MLS - namely the success of the national team - but snub the league itself. That is extremely short-sighted. And yet, correct me if I'm wrong, you will probably be happy to jump on board once MLS does reach a level you deem worthy of your attention. And hell yeah, I take objection to that.

Thus, I find extremely frustrating the "if you're an American soccer fan, you better be a fan of the MLS" attitude of MLS marketers and its supporters. It is an incredibly protectionist attitude, in an era where every other major American sports league is going out of their way to jam themselves down the throats of the rest of the world. There are only begrudging (if any at all) admissions that the quality of play in MLS is not on par with many European leagues. Note that I didn't say the soccer wasn't entertaining in the MLS, or say that every game played on the European or South American continent is a gem. Of course, MLS backers acknowledge that Spain or England are better than MLS, but after that, one gets resistance. I have heard MLS compared favorably by some folks to leagues such as Portugal and Holland! And as for the rest of the European leagues (Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Central Europe) it is considered blasphemy if one even suggests that perhaps the MLS is inferior to some of those leagues as well. Of course, in the only meaningful international club competition involving MLS clubs (CONCACAF Cup), a US team has only won it twice, and in the last four years has only placed three of its teams in total in the semifinals. [Pause to hear the litany of "explanations" (excuses) why MLS clubs have not done better - not that interested, timing of league season, etc.] Point that out to a bunch of MLS backers? Oh, you must be one of those 'Eurosnobs.'

Well, it is generally acknowledged among most MLS fans that the league is below the top 4 and generally on the level as the English first division. All of the other leagues that you mentioned - places like Portugal and Holland - have two or three clubs that compete for the championship every year, and it has been that way for decades. That is not the mark of a strong league overall. You mention the CONCACAF Cup, and the failure of MLS clubs to make a strong mark in it, yet you don't want to hear the reasons for that, which you refer to as "excuses". It is a FACT that that competition is played during the MLS offseason. Yet more importantly, the other leagues send the teams that have proven year after year to be winners, while we send teams like the old DC United, which - after winning MLS Cup - each year had to give up its best players in the interest of league parity. That is the number one reason right there.

And when American MLS players do go over to Europe, the fact of the matter is that some of them are solid, regular players. But are they superstars in their respective leagues? No, not yet. But is that good enough for the MLS hype machine? No. Because it's probably the case that the coach, or the press, or the other players have it "in" for the American, and they are trying to keep "us" down. And don't get me started about the hype machine that accompanied LD. But point out how badly his lack of commitment will impact future American players and the prestige of our league? Oh, you must be one of those 'Eurosnobs.'

Don't confuse the hype coming from the league office with that coming from the Landon fanboys on BigSoccer. Sure, it can be annoying, but I wouldn't blame it solely on the league. Moreover, what would you have the league do, completely ignore its success in developing players that have moved to more established leagues? I will bet you are proud of DMB's performance in Holland. Yet he almost certainly wouldn't be there - and we almost certainly wouldn't have heard of him - if it weren't for MLS. And you are seriously claiming that this hype is what is turning you off the league?

I don't feel the cause of growing MLS is improved by ignoring its actual place in the hierarchy of world club soccer. Part of me wonders whether more aggressive corporate support is lacking because the league tries to oversell itself as something it isn't, and corporations find that difficult to sell to the public. And if we want to enhance the prestige of our league, than MLS teams have to make it a mission to win every time they go against clubs from other counties, especially in our own back yard. I don't care if it isn't convenient or messes with training schedules. If an MLS team won the CONCACAF Cup every year for 5 years straight, the world would start to take notice, and those other countries would have to be the ones making excuses. But what do I know, I'm just one of those 'Eurosnobs.'

There is no lack of corporate support. MLS has some very high-profile sponsors. OTOH, WUSA relied solely on corporate support, and corporate America dropped the league like a bad habit when things started to go south. What the league needs much more than corporate support is for people who claim to be soccer fans to actually support the teams that exist in America. And I say again, if you are too short-sighted to acknowledge what MLS has done for American soccer and instead choose to exclusively follow clubs thousands of miles from where you live who don't need your support anywhere near as badly as e.g. the MetroStars, then you are indeed a Eurosnob.

[MarioKempes]

He played in 7 Bundesliga matches, starting only once. In the other six matches, he played for less than 20 minutes each time. This was during a time when we had 2 mid-week Champions League matches and injury issues, so our depth was being tested. But this supposedly "versatile" player wasn't put out on the pitch a whole lot by our coach.

And by the way, he didn't even make it in as a substitute for the last 2 rounds of the Bundesliga (rounds 25 & 26). Amazingly, he did get the start in the return leg at home against Liverpool in the Champions League. And you are right, the entire team sucked that night.

But in his entire 2 month tenure with the club, there weren't any noteworthy performances at all. There certainly must not have been in practice, since he couldn't even earn serious playing time. The few game opportunities he had were lackluster. And despite all the positive talk in January about how he was enthusiastic about making a renewed commitment to a club which had gone out of its way to accommodate him, he couldn't even last 2 months.

So I stand by my statement. His performance was horrid. That's not a massive overstatement. It isn't even an overstatement at all.

I know there are people who love him, and I hope he does well for the USMNT. But the fact that he had no dedication and no commitment to try to take his game to the next level is an opinion that will be almost impossible to shake in my mind. And it's not like he left to go to another club that perhaps was a "better fit." He's heading home. To all that is safe and easy. Where a core group of fans will always idolize him.

Take a look at his current ability. Because he's never going to get any better. And if that makes him happy and fulfilled in his life, that's fine. But don't ask me to give props to a guy who gave up when the going got just a little tougher. Maybe now every third thread on BS won't be about the guy.

Donovan played essentially 2 full games for Leverkusen. The first "game" was spread over 6 matches, averaging about 15 minutes. Not much time to show anything. The second game was a CL match in which he played badly along with the entire team.

There is no evidence to support the idea that he played "horridly". He simply didn't play enough to make any sort of judgements other than he wasn't an instant star. Very, very few players are. You can count them on one hand.

I was disappointed that Donovan didn't stick it out. Very disappointed. But he did not play badly. He simply gave up without a fight.