I do watch quite a bit, but it suffers from mostly being available only in Spanish audio and from games that start pretty late from an East Coast perspective. The games can be wild (3 ejections, multiple ref rushes, last minute goals), but it's really hard to listen to if you aren't fluent in Spanish. The announcers never let up and it's difficult to even pick out player names because the rapid chatter. Even the Bundesliga suffers in the US because of the limited amount of English language coverage -- both broadcast and online. Accessibility matters.
My spanish isn't great, but it's easy enough to follow along. Just learn the words for chance, ball, pass, cross, touch, shot, etc and the players' names, and that's a good 70% of the vocabulary!
It's the speed of the discussion that makes it tougher. I can listen in German or Dutch or French and pick up what's going on without watching closely. I can't do that with Liga MX matches.
When Donovan did, his last two stints in England, he was an impactful player for Everton. Led them to many upsets of among the greatest teams in the world. At that point, they were lucky, and fans unlucky we didn't get to see more of him in a top league. He had the talent to play anywhere in his prime. Donovan certainly wasn't lucky, if you're implying he would have been exposed.
He was lucky that he got to get rich off off soccer without having to succeed abroad. and two short loan stints at everton don't count. He quit/retreated any time it was hard for him but he was lucky that he had MLS where it was easy. he never had to beat out anyone for playing time. He never had to worry about someone taking his spot if he got injured. He never had to worry about a new manager deciding that he didn't fit the system or having to prove himself to a skeptical new manager. He is exceedingly lucky to have so much talent that was able to become an icon and be financially set for life despite playing almost his entire career leagues below his talent level. No other US player has ever or will ever have it so easy if they want to make it as a player.
I think there is a good chance too that maybe MLS was the correct environment for Donovan to grow and what not. I don't really have a stance on it really, but you can't deny it as a possibility.
You keep saying lucky and I really don't think that's the word your looking for. Unless of course, by lucky you mean: worked very hard his career to be a phenomenal athlete and likely the best American soccer player of all time.
Two things: 1. This is not a Donovan thread. 2. If you're not new, then why aren't you using your original account?
There are plenty of people on the site who would like to see US players go abroad. There are plenty of threads about Donovan, where this tired old argument can be reconstituted. This thread, however, is devoted to Gonzalez' club career. Please either stay on the topic at hand or find a thread that will allow you to discuss the topic of your choosing without hijacking the thread. Thanks.
How much is Gonzalez expected to make? Is Pachuca a big club? Didnt Gomez play for them years ago? Was this transfer seen as big news in Mexico?
Anyone know if he has a slow or poor start what type of leash he will have? How's the rest of their defenders?
I don't know anything about any of their individual defenders, but the team collectively had the worst defensive record in the Apertura. 33 goals allowed in 17 matches.
probably something similar to what he was making in LA, it is hard to find sources that tell you the salaries of Liga MX players solid midtable with a great youth academy, used to have a top team a few years ago when they won the Sudamericana though. one season, he wasn't that good there. Not really, media barely talked about it. Pachuca is known for having awful defenders, Mosquera is the captain so he'll be a lock starter, his competition will be Herrera Equihua who is average at best and Stefan Medina who was a flop in Monterrey
Thanks for the info. I think it's a great move for him for two reasons. One he needed to shake things and take on a new challenge and the Mexican League is just that. He won't have that same comfort level there and will have more of a challenge to win and keep his starting spot than with LAG. Two if he ups his game it will be easier to leave MXN on a transfer than it would be to leave the MLS.
Gotta imagine having the biggest Mexican American player now playing in Mexico might be a PR plus for the club or something
not necessarily, Pachuca usually demands a lot to sell a player considering that they are backed up by the second richest man in the world, no doubt that if he plays great he'll get interest but who knows if Pachuca would be willing to sell him if that was the case.
Maybe but it would be value based on what the owner views Gonzales worth to the team versus what the MLS views Gonzales worth to team and to league.
The nice thing about Liga MX is that it's pretty easy to find their matches on the US TV and the highlights of pretty much every match are usually available on YouTube at the very worst. Their first match of Clausura 2016 is on the 8th. And, forget their defensive woes. They've got Oscar Perez in goal. Gaffes and hi-jinks ensue.