RSL Player News/Rumor/Gossip Part IV

Joking about Claudio Reyna's imminent return to MLS from Manchester City in today's SoccerAmerica "MLS COnfidential":

"The New York Red Bulls, on the other hand, need publicity and quality players now. It would be a gamble to use a DP on a 33-year-old prone to injuries doomed to play more than half his games on artificial turf, but the trade of Amado Guevara has left a huge hole in the Red Bull midfield. RBNY also has a second DP slot it acquired from Chivas USA in the Guevara deal.

(The Red Bulls could also trade him to Real Salt Lake so it could finally land Freddy Adu. Just kidding.)"

 

I got a really sick feeling tonight as I watched the news. The tv station was talking about Becks coming. The part that made vomit start coming up my throat was that there is the possibility of the Trans-Gender Donovan coming to RSL. Can someone put my nerves at ease. RSL doesn't need another douch bag on their team.

 

Why would he ever do that? This is one of the greatest days of his professional life. The only two people happier are Nate Jaqua and Barry Bonds (anything that takes any of the heat off him...)

 

That really brings up some interesting issues. Remember all the hoops MLS jumped through to get Landycakes here in the first place? He's been MLS' golden child since then. Now what happens since MLS and the Galaxy have someone new to worship? This will get fun. Maybe that's why New York wanted two DP slots... Coming to Utah, that's about as likely as him going back to Leverkusen.

 

I think you can suppress that gag reflex.....no way RSL picks up Donovan. I have 4 reasons:

First, when Donovan came back from Germany he made it known in no uncertain terms that he would only live in LA.

Second, there's a rumor going around that his wife (they got married last week) is an LDS girl from Orem, so she wants to live in Utah. Not true on either count.....she's from LA and not LDS. So scratch that.

Third, RSL already has two a-mids who deserve to be starting.....I don't think even Ellinger is nuts enough to pick up another one (now watch him prove me wrong by drafting one this morning).

Fourth, Donovan's salary would put us way over the cap, so the league wouldn't allow the trade unless we used the DP slot. Based on what I'm hearing from inside the organization, they plan to use that slot on someone else.

Put all this together (especially #1) and what do you get? Chivas USA, say hello to your new metrosexual midfielder.

 

I think if Donovan goes anywhere away from California it will be to Papa Arena in New York...
If you think the Galaxy fans hated Donovan at Earthquakes you can bank on the Gal fans instituting a Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan style encounter at first site if he goes to the Goats.

 

She's from Edmonds, WA (just north of Seattle, my home town) and lives in LA because she is an actress. Pretty sure she is Catholic (went to Blanchet in Seattle)...

everything else is spot on...

 

I don't know if it was a joke or not by the RSL FO but Dean Howes / Checketts said to my Councilman friend about a week ago that MLS was working on getting Beckham to LA... in the same breath, they mentioned something about working on getting Donovan.

Now, "working on" might constitute - they left a message to see if there was any interest... they had a brain fart on the drive over to the county offices... they're deep in negotiations... they're kidding around.

 

Please no.....

 

Landycakes was The Face of my original MLS team--the Quakes. Things would have come full circle to see him in my current team's kit. I'm all for it.

 

The last thing we need right now is another midfielder or forward. Especially if that player is Landycakes.

 

I can't imagine having Adu, Cunningham, Tejada, and Donovan all on the same roster. It would be impossible to keep everyone happy.

If Donovan comes Ballouchy is gone, probably part of the trade. This will be a dark day in my eyes.

 

Landy isn't even what I would consider a great player. To me a great player is one who brings it every night. I'm not convinced he does that. Basically my impression of Landy is that he's a pouty little bitch.

 

But look at what he did at the world cup....America's Star....
Oh wait, nevermind.

 

Look at what happens to him after he has someone play a bit physical with him. He does well in MLS because everyone backs off and gives him the space he needs and because he is the star, the refs protect him a bit. Look what happens to him outside of the US where he isn't the star or even the best player on the pitch and does not get the same level of respect he gets in MLS. Every time he has been in that situation, he has been a dismal failure, first at Leverkusen and then the World Cup.

 

I also watched the World Cup in 2002 - he was terrific.

And as for the glut of midfielders, any acquisition of Donovan (or any starting midfielder) would result in a trade of one of the current crop.

 

I'm not going to say he didn't have a bad world cup, but other than Zidane, were there any playmaking central mids who did? Ronaldinho, Totti, Lampard, Gerrard, Riquelme, Nedved and Ballack all had bad world cups as well. Teams really kept it tight in the middle and didn't give those guys any space. The standout players were mostly wide players; Ribery, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Grosso, Zambrotta, and for the US Dempsey was our best player. Teams wanted to force wide players to beat them instead of central players. That's why the final four were Italy, Germany, Portugal, and France. Italy, Germany, and Portugal in particular were very strong out wide. France was good out wide but also had the advantage of Zidane being good enough to beat the tight defense in the middle with incredibly quick, precise and visionary passing.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing that Donovan struggles against physical teams. But I think you are exaggerating it a bit. Remember he was outstanding in 2002. He is a small, fast player. But if he doesn't have the space to play his game, of course he will struggle. His game is to attack with the ball at his feet. If there is no room and he has to slow down, he will naturally struggle because he is not strong enough to hold the ball and wait for teammates to get into better positions. That's what happened at the world cup. I haven't seen any of his Leverkusen games but I'm betting it was a similar situation. That's just the type of player he is. Clearly, having just Brian McBride up top alone made it even more difficult for him since defenders could cheat and give him less space without worrying about a long ball over the top.

Nearly every player, even truly great players like Ronaldinho and Gerrard can be taken out of their game by certain tactics, if that's the only goal of the other team. Very, very few players can say they've played to their potential at every stop along the road. Maybe just Zidane. And players like Donovan who are not really balanced but are great only in a few aspects of their game are more likely to seem inconsistent. I just don't think Donovan deserves nearly as much criticism as he gets for the World Cup.

 

Donovan no, Arena for not understanding exactly what you are talking about, yes. The US team was built around Landon Donovan and when he was shut down, there was no tactical flexibility to adjust.

 

With all due respect to you Donovan bashers, who the hell do you think you are and what the hell do you think you know? I really dont want to be mean or rude but you guys dont know what your talking about. Yes, Donovan struggled in the World Cup. Yes, Donovan struggled last season. All players go through that. However, Donovan is the most dynamic, creative, and visionary player in the US system. Lots of soccer players are fast, but Donovan posses something that not all fast players have. He plays at pace with the ball. Most players with pace cant do it while holding the ball. Not only that, he has exceptional vision. Vision and pace from an attacking midfielder is key. Very few players have that ability. Just because his 2006 was bad, doesnt mean that he isnt a great player and to be honest, perfect for RSL.

I would like to know what all you people have done in soccer or what coaching level, playing level, or game analysis qualifications you have. I dont brag or talk about myself much but lets just say I have been around the block in the soccer world. Playing and coaching at high levels. I love these posts but I just wish people had more credibility in what they say. Develop a strong argument against Landycakes and I will listen. But so far, I havent heard anything that makes sense. Donovan has the potential to be the best US player we have seen YET! Donovan at his best, allows players around him to do things that they normally cant do. Ask Brian McBride. I was an evaluater for the USSF and the u-14 national identification program, and in conversations that we have had among evaluaters, Donovan has continually been talked about as the best player in our system. This comes from european based coaches as well. He still has learning and developing to go, thus the 2006 season. But I promise you all, He is the real deal.

 

I think the reason most people are so hard on him is becuase of how much pressure was put on him to lead the US to a better finish then in 2002. He didn't in fact he was terrible. He wouldn't attack the ball and his passes to hit forwards on the run were non-existant. He was a flop at the world cup. That said he is still one of the best players in America. He will be an asset to any team that picks him up. Though I would rather see Ballouchy then Donavon on my team. (I think Ballouchy will be as good or better then Landon.) But Would welcome him if we got rid of a certain inconsitant Andy Williams. Sorry I know everyone loves Williams but I think he is too hot and cold. (Yeah so is Donavon but on a lesser degree.) Plus he is at the end of his line anyway. Like I've said I am not an assitant coach for the US under 14s nor have I been around the block in the Pro rankings like some of us claim. But I think Landon is good. Not as good as advertised but still probaly the best that America has.

 

How's this for convincing arguement?