Reworked one of yesterday's statistics. Hopefully it is clearer now. http://nnelli.wordpress.com/2014/05/29/reworking-yesterdays-passer-statistics/
In that gif, Davis looks like he's saying, "Hey, that's my girl. That's my girl." Must be some sort of inside joke or I fail miserably at reading lips. Anyway, I like that shot.
It's interesting to me how many people forget the Gold Cup in 2011. Rumors abounded that Bradley had lost the locker room. Donovan went to his sister's wedding in the middle of the tournament and ended up benched in the Quarter and Semi Finals. Lots of questions about his commitment before Klinsmann was even the coach. He had already lost the captain's armband from Bradley. Seems like Klinsmann rarely gave it to him (Gold Cup 2013 and perhaps Korea friendly?). I think his inconsistency worries Klinsmann.
To a large extent, Landon's teams and managers have lived and died on his level of commitment, which requires certain compromises when it wavers. Arena and the Galaxy still do. Bradley knew that. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Klinsmann also recognized that fact and decided that the benefits didn't outweigh the (real or perceived) costs.
Though he was at various times captain frequently Galaxy captain, Donovan has rarely worn the captain's armband. After Reyna it went to Bocanegra followed by Howard and now Deuce. Beas captained the gold cup squad last year. Since you kicked off your post with "it's interesting how many people forget...." I think that it is only fair to point out that during Gold Cup 2011, both Donovan and Deuce missed a day of practice for their sisters's weddings but only Donovan was benched.
Who wore the armband during 2006 qualifying? Reyna was MIA most of that cycle, is my recollection. I can recall, perhaps incorrectly, Arena talking about Donovan becoming a leader and giving the armband for the USMNT at one point.
McBride, Mastro, Armas and Keller sported the captain armband when Reyna wasn't around. Keller had it the most. http://www.ussoccer.com/mens-national-team/lineups/2005-lineups I remember a friendly where Heydude had it. PS: It was for the first game of the CC2013, against Turkey.
The numbers don't lie. Dude has been far more consistent with his production than any other first choice player over his career. Klinsmann's an idiot. And being a Wondo fan boy yourself, I'm surprised you want to remember the 2011 Gold Cup.
Yes. The Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of Texas granted the Dempsey's a special dispensation for a second female child. http://www.dallascup.com/mediacontent/News/746339.html http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/13/34/texas-two-step-clint-dempsey
I'm a Donovan fan boy too, but that doesn't mean I can't see why Klinsmann would be concerned about having Donovan on the team. You ever coach, Matt? Are you willing to tell me that if you coached a great player and he told you in the middle of a struggling season "I got to go coach, sorry to leave the team right now, but I'm feeling burned out and I need to take a break" that you wouldn't question his desire? If your team rallied together after he left and you made the playoffs, you would be okay if he said "I want to come back and play in the playoffs now"?
Yes, but that coach better apply that same standard to all of his players. "Hey Timmy, you don't like flying? Cool bro, take her easy, and if she's easy, take her twice."
Only thing I can say about this, Chandler suffered an injury that would have kept most players out of the Cup and he rehabbed like crazy. Donovan showed up to the Mexico friendly looking like a guy that had been sitting on his couch eating pizza and Doritos.
Unforgettable. When he came in in the semi-final against Panama, he made one of the most amazing passes I remember from the NT: Adu pass was great, too. But the Donovan cross was of a very high degree of difficulty. Dempsey had pointed to where he wanted the ball, but then he got covered, and Donovan was covered by two men. Clint didn't expect it to happen. But Donovan threaded that ball cleanly, including a nutmeg --that's why Deuce got so excited. As a footballer, he realized the degree of difficulty of what Landon has just done. A great moment, up there with his split-second long pass to Shea in 2013 to break the Costa Rica defense. Never going to forget the man.
I don't think the sabbatical hurt Landon in Jurgen's eyes as much as this winter did. Landon's contract was up last Nov/Dec but he extended with LAG despite interest from top leagues. Instead of moving to a better league, and then opting not to go on loan, he showed up to Cupcake and wasn't all that impressive, then laid an egg against Mex. Meanwhile, Clint went on loan, had a few EPL appearances, got fit in training and came to Sea ready to go. So come March, Clint was in form, fit and did what he had to to gear up towards Brasil. Meanwhile, at that same time, Landon was heavy, not performing well for either club or country and knowing Jurgen, it likely really rubbed him the wrong way and he wanted Landon taking more the Clint route. Clint showed more initiative/ambition in getting fit. Clint himself said going on loan was key to getting fit. Landon himself has said the Everton loan in 2010 helped him prepare for the WC. With that thinking, why not do it again if you saw benefit to it? If you don't go, his choice, then we better see similar form if you do it your way, and we haven't/didn't. That's what I believe Jurgen was thinking at least. Clint goes on loan, better form. Landon goes on loan in 2010, he saw a benefit. Landon chooses to stay home with winter, worse form. In Jurgen's mind, that's probably Landon not "wanting it" enough. Not saying I agree or disagree, just that IMO this was a bigger factor than the sabbatical a year earlier.
He's not dead and we're not in Brazil yet. As unlikely as it seems, he could very well be added to the roster if something happens. If he does, I suspect he'll have the biggest chip on his shoulder that he has ever had. It wouldn't shock me at all to see him go off and prove to Klinsmann that he made a huge mistake. And knowing Klinsmann, he'll just shrug with that sly smile on his face.
This is probably the most valid rationale for the Klinsmann position I've heard thus far. Still doesn't mean he's worse than Brad Davis and Graham Zusi...neither of whom have set foot in a European league once.
Donovan had interest from abroad, but I don't think anyone, not even Everton, could have matched what the Galaxy was offering (almost 5 million bucks). If Bradley & Dempsey came back for the money, not leaving because of the money is just as valid, right?
Hey, you know what, that's a great analogy, except it doesn't fit at all. You conveniently forgot that he already brought this hypothetical player back in order to secure a place in the playoffs. To dump him after that is beyond petty.