Donovan Interview

[socks]

http://www.ussoccer.com

He seemed somber, still talking about having nothing to prove, MAYBE even a little humble?? I'd be interested in some of your interpretations of some of his not so polemical comments.

[appoo]

"the only chance I have to prove myself, will be in 4 years. IF we qualify, IF I make the team again"

[Eleven Bravo]

i thought he was going to cry towards the end and he looks anorexic.

seriously, I wonder how much our team would improve if they would just take whey protein, creatine, and hit the gym everyday.

[Silva 5]

i get the feeling like he says that he feels like he has nothing to prove to keep people (media, fans, etc) from talking. i think that inside he knows he has something to prove to his country again.

[Ringo]

why do I have a feeling that within two posts this will be spun to say Donovan has no heart, is not clint dempsey (thank god), blah, blah, blah.
in other words, how long until this is every other landon thread?

[poobah_1]

why do I have a feeling that within two posts this will be spun to say Donovan has no heart, is not clint dempsey (thank god), blah, blah, blah.
in other words, how long until this is every other landon thread?


Well, I don't think that will happen until pag 3 or 4.

But this thread may not even make it to that. LD has made himself irrelevant. Which is exactly what needs to happen, you can't have a comeback unless you go away! I wish him the best.

Just my opinion


PooBah

[sidefootsitter]

Donovan has succeeded in boring people, having had his line of excuses sapped out of him during his honeymoon.

[IndividualEleven]

Not much there. He was neither particularly defensive nor delusional(eg., our president GB).

My take on LD remains the same. He's a complementary player with superstar player's talent. Nothing wrong with that. The team just needs others to step up and stir the drink.

[NaMusa75]

Man, talk about being subdued. They gotta take him off the prozac or something. Man, when I came back from my honeymoon I was giddy as hell for a long time.

He admits he sucked balls at the World Cup and to be honest all I really read into it his comment about the "in 4 years . . . " is that the only place you'll ever see him proving himself is on the World Stage. Dude, is he gonna be the Ryan Leaf of the US MNT? (so much promise but crappy attitude?)

[IndividualEleven]

Was the attitude any different in '02? Not everyone is demonstrative.

[Silva 5]

Man, talk about being subdued. They gotta take him off the prozac or something. Man, when I came back from my honeymoon I was giddy as hell for a long time.

He admits he sucked balls at the World Cup and to be honest all I really read into it his comment about the "in 4 years . . . " is that the only place you'll ever see him proving himself is on the World Stage. Dude, is he gonna be the Ryan Leaf of the US MNT? (so much promise but crappy attitude?)

ok heres my take on what he said about that...

i think what he means is that when it came to him to show what hes worth in the greatest competition he pretty much failed and that he feels like the only way to get his reputation back on the world stage is to show that he is better when that time comes around again (4 years from now).

a heavily criticized player fails to play well for the most part and in the process fails to prove to everyone that what hes being criticized for is bullshit...will be hard for critics to forget and forgive about.

at this point i would not say that what he said shows poor attitude, but i guess that might be the critics reasoning if we continue to see the same landon we saw in 2005/06 (with the US).

[babytiger2001]

I wish the Landon Donovan of 2007 had the hunger that the Landon Donovan of 2001 and 2002 had.

That's what's lacking in his game, and his overall approach right now. A matter of hunger, and perhaps you can tie passion to it as well.

[russ]

Well,if you think your next chance to prove yourself is in four years,then there's no point getting juiced up right now is there?

[SeaOtter]

The way you prove yourself is by putting yourself in situations where you're not considered the most talented player on the field most every match. IMO ( and this is just with respect to proving himself ), he needs to be playing in situations where the majority of people on the field are at or above his talent level. That's where he can get that hunger back.

I admire the guy for realizing that his overall life and happiness is much more important than his career. In the face of all the criticism that he receives, he chooses what he wants. I just think its gutsy.

But, to say that his next opportunity to prove himself is the next WC,...I don't buy it. There will be plenty of opportunities if he wants them.

[StillKickin]

The point he's making is that no matter how well he plays vs. Denmark, vs. Mexico on 2/7, in the Gold Cup vs. all the little Concacaf teams, in Copa America - for all this year or for all the meaningless friendlies: it won't matter one whit because the critics are going to say "yeah, but it's only Cuba." He said he can only win his reputation back in 2010 on the world's biggest stage at the World Cup - which is what everyone has been saying anyway.

He's stated no one was more disappointed in his performance at 2006 World Cup than himself. He's stated that he knows he won't win people over or prove himself in the next 10 days or 2 friendlies and he's not going to be bothered by that. He's stated he's got his own goals but he's not sharing them. Given his comment about IF we qualify and IF I make the team, I'd say that's one of his goals. Doesn't sound like he thinks he's an automatic on the team.

[tab5g]

I wish the Landon Donovan of 2007 had the hunger that the Landon Donovan of 2001 and 2002 had.

i think most would agree with this. i'd also add that the LD of 2005 would be worth having back.


That's what's lacking in his game, and his overall approach right now.

your insight is incredible. to know that "hunger" is "lacking in his game, and his overall approach right now" -- that is phenomenal analysis.

have you been at training? or are you basing this on his last competitive match from almost 3 months ago?

http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20061015&content_id=75704&vkey=news_lag&fext=.jsp&team=t106

[IndividualEleven]

The man's won a couple of MLS Cups and put up serious numbers along the way in the playoffs. Keeps himself in ridiculously good condition. Unlike with Clint Mathis lack of motivation isn't particularly sailient here.

[IndividualEleven]

There's Copa America and Confed Cup before 2010. He could also head back to Europe if things get too boring over here.

[FakeFlopper]

The point he's making is that no matter how well he plays vs. Denmark, vs. Mexico on 2/7, in the Gold Cup vs. all the little Concacaf teams, in Copa America - for all this year or for all the meaningless friendlies: it won't matter one whit because the critics are going to say "yeah, but it's only Cuba." He said he can only win his reputation back in 2010 on the world's biggest stage at the World Cup - which is what everyone has been saying anyway.

He's stated no one was more disappointed in his performance at 2006 World Cup than himself. He's stated that he knows he won't win people over or prove himself in the next 10 days or 2 friendlies and he's not going to be bothered by that. He's stated he's got his own goals but he's not sharing them. Given his comment about IF we qualify and IF I make the team, I'd say that's one of his goals. Doesn't sound like he thinks he's an automatic on the team.

Yea, I think you're right. It's either the World Cup or he moves his career across the pond. We know for now that it's not going to be the latter.

[IndividualEleven]

Carries the team to Copa America(the 2nd most prestigous federation cup) glory and opinion is back on his side...