Landon Donovan..... I ain't mad at ya.

Discussion in 'LA Galaxy' started by TequilaJoal, Aug 30, 2007.

  1. TequilaJoal

    TequilaJoal Red Card

    Mar 3, 2002
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thankyou for the most exciting game this year. yes over Dallas 6-5 and over NYRB 5-4.


    You and the boys did something I cant really describe, but actually come together and play like you wanted it. I haven't seen that in so long it took me by surprise, because I was so used to seeing you guys give up, pack it in, take the loss..... that anything else is just foreign.


    I haven't yelled at my TV that much in years. We are a young club of 12 years old and there arent alot of memories we as Galaxy fans can look to as ours. and share and commiserate about.

    The first MLS Cup in 1996 and Eddie Pope heading away our dreams.

    The Kevin Hartman gaf in next MLS cup.

    We'll always have De Rosario killing our MLS Cup hopes in 2001.

    And who can forget our complete bomb to that same San Jose team in the playoffs a few years later.


    But we'll always have Carlos Ruiz goal to win our first MLS Cup.

    Pando's shot in 2005.... the double that year. and EZ's super strike to win the first ever Concacaf Champions Cup.



    But this game tonight will go right up there as a top memory. The one thing this game had that none of those others did was... sentiment.

    In all those other games we were great. we were supposed to be in those situations, we deserved every win and every loss.... The Galaxy for lack of a better word was in command, and by some other circumstance or another we won or lost.

    But tonights team was bad news bears-esque. Going up against the Mexican super club and champions of the region. This Galaxy team was so bad that nothing was expected of it tonight, even with its great "stars" and when our brightest star went down with an injury and we were down 1-0..... everyone could have packed it up and gone home.

    But they didnt. and that beyond the heavens themselves shocked me the most. Cobi Jones, Pete Vagenas have been riding the pine for weeks now. And no team with both those men on it at once should compete with Pachuca.

    But they did. and well. the eb and flow of the game, the near misses, the great saves, the head scratching, tv yelling, overly excitable emotion in one game was not like myself, and not expected from this team.

    Who are you guys? and what have you done with the Los Angeles Galaxy players?

    The bicycle kick was phenominal for sure. the highlight of highlights.

    But that moment when you Landon Donovan stepped up to the spot to kick the los angeles galaxy into glory was going to be our finest moment.

    Come on, one kick. one chance, at home, all those fans, millions watching on TV in several countries, MLS fans glued to it, FMF fans stuck on it too.

    The atmosphere is a buzz... we all know and either love or hate your wrist kissing ritual. the keeper is outta central casting, ugly and intimidating. he glares at you from his line. spits his water out and grimices.

    This is the oppurtunity of a lifetime. there may never be a 2nd chance again as long as you live. you gotta put it away for more reasons than not.

    I cant believe the pressure your under. you have so many haters in this world who have wished for your demise at time like this. and you have so many fans who have waited for this moment for all of your life. (thanks phil collins)


    LD your gonna step up to that spot... kneel down to the ball... do the prayer... kiss the wrists... your gonna stand back up and take 4 steps back.

    your gonna blast that ball low to the keeper left, trying to hit the side netting. the ball is buldge the onion bag and your going raise your arms do a 180 circle and fall to your knees looking at your teammates huddling behind you.

    They are gonna rush you, mob you, tackle you, and some crazy fans in the stands were going to join in. the confetti canons were going to go off, and music played super loudly. the cameras would be jumbling around to get you and the team in frame.... the pachuca players hanging there heads as the crowd goes wild.


    That didnt happen though. I dreamed the whole thing up in my head.

    Landon, its not really a dream though if it could have been reality right?

    That was a tough one tonight.... The toughest im sure. But dont leave us with that as our last memory of you.
     
  2. tambo

    tambo Member

    Jun 9, 2007
    But as for you, Abel Xavier...

    !
     
  3. Samminish

    Samminish New Member

    Mar 7, 2005
    LANDON - YOU TWONK!

    (sigh) .. ..

    You had a chance to bring a tiny bit of joy into this nightmare of a season, but an easy save ensued .. ..

    (deep sigh) .. ..

    U R who U R - Not a pressure player - And, we should all know that by now!

    (deeper sigh) .. ..

    Of course, the real TWONK is Peter, but we already knew that - He can't score with an empty net in front of him, but he neatly slots home an OG which was his most difficult chance in years .. .. And, Coach-Y gives him a chance to vindicate himself in PKs and .. .. .. .. oops .. .. .. ..

    But, we had a single PK to win hardware + coin and we didn't have the bottle to do it .. ..

    Time to face facts about this 2007 side > THE COMMITMENT IS THERE & THE EFFORT IS THERE (most of the time) .. .. We just don't have the players with the technical skills (especially first-touch) to be competitive at this level, or MLS level .. ..

    So 'whomever' is making the personnel decisions - It's time for us to say 'Goodbye' .. ..

    THANKS FOR THE EFFORT GUYS - But the longest pre-season (3 years and counting) in athletics history continues .. ..

    (sigh) .. ..
     
  4. GalaxyOne

    GalaxyOne Member+

    Dec 6, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm sure Landon will create a few more memories.

    Wow, glad you enjoyed the game, but I think you WAY overstated this match. Winning it would have been nice, but nothing to really celebrate over...it wouldn't have changed the fact that 2007 will go down as one of the Galaxy's most dismal seasons ever.

    And yes they looked to play with some heart, but Pachuca looked so much better out there, and the Galaxy got lucky to tie.
     
  5. Dammit!

    Dammit! Member

    Apr 14, 2004
    Mickey Mouse Land
    Disagree-ing.

    This was a great match. Winning a lackluster Superliga final would have been good. Winning this would have been great. And it wasn't just luck. Both keepers had to make some great saves. This game was much more even than the first. Remember, they never scored on us. Plus, we had the pk non-call. If anything, THEY were lukcy to get this to pk's.

    This was a match for real soccer lovers.
     
  6. dashiel

    dashiel Member+

    Jul 15, 2000
    orange county
    totally agree with this and TJ's post (great by the way)... that was the first time in maybe six years that this team has left it all out on the field – not since our loss in mls cup 2001 have i been so proud of our boys. let's not forget the cheating or inept refereeing go either. that ref was bad, bad, bad, but gave us 1 in 5 bad calls compared to pachuca.

    it's a shame frank's gotta go, because the team that played last night; the team that beat dallas 6-5, and the team that beat chivas 3-0 this season would rock next season when we don't have a stupid schedule.
     
  7. Itsakitnotajersey

    Itsakitnotajersey New Member

    Jul 20, 2007
    SoulCal
    I may be wrong but I think that with a packed house, the Galaxy would have won that match. The energy seemed through the roof. 12,500 fans of the game sounded like the Camp Nou when Barca plays Real Madrid. You could feel it through the television. Shame on CSDH.
     
  8. ultraprime

    ultraprime New Member

    Sep 14, 2005
    Plano
    There is a word to describe that PK attempt, and it is 'pathetic'.

    If your pre-kick routine (which is absolutely ridiculous, BTW) takes longer and has more steps than a 70's blaxploitation flick handshake, you better not embarrass yourself by lofting up an absolute creampuff of a kick.

    He did the same thing in Gold Cup, but got bailed out by a do-over. You think he would have learned, but apparently not.

    All the hard work he put in during the previous 120 minutes completely eradicated by that abysmally weak kick.

    I wouldn't be mad either, I'd be puking disgusted. I'm sure some of his teammates are (even though they'll never say anything).

    I sure wouldn't want to be Donovan and certainly not Vagenas today.
     
  9. churchill2000

    churchill2000 3x MLS Cup Champions

    Jul 12, 2004
    Monde Virtuel
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy

    You sir are a moron.

    The minute lady Becks went off the field Donovan took over. And much like TJ points out, the entire team came together.

    All the chances and pressure Donovan helped create during those 120 minutes are the reason last night was a game. To be so narrowminded and say his pk miss overshadows that is evidence that you don't know what the hell you are talking about.
     
  10. StillKickin

    StillKickin Member+

    Austin FC
    Dec 17, 2002
    Texas
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Landon on his PK:

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/grant_wahl/08/30/superliga.final/

    I hope he recovers from this. I'm sure Becks will help him, though. After all, he's bounced back from some pretty low times ('98 World Cup, for example).

    **Good little article there. Frank with some fire in the post-game press conference.

    ***and TJ - your post gives me both chills...and tears, reliving the moment. :(
     
  11. ultraprime

    ultraprime New Member

    Sep 14, 2005
    Plano
    Um, if the point of a professional soccer tournament is to WIN, then absolutely his choke job overshadows everything prior to that.

    I already had to forget about the 3 point blank headers straight to the keeper that LA uncorked, any of which being 'on target' would have precluded the necessity of going to PKs to begin with.

    Once you get to PKs, everything that preceded that point is moot. 0-0 or 10-10 in regulation, it doesn't matter anymore.

    The point is, he's supposed to be a superstar, he was the captain, he had a chance to win, he has a ridiculous pre-kick routine, and he choked. So all the hard work that came before that went out the window.

    And he looked like a dweeb in the process.
     
  12. EL GATO SOLITARIO

    EL GATO SOLITARIO New Member

    Aug 28, 2007
  13. Acekiller

    Acekiller Member

    Jun 19, 2007
    Los Angeles
    Landon was the man. He was running up and down the field, at full speed (as usual), but it proved to be too much after 120 minutes. The PK was spot on, just not enough power to it. If he didn't have to basically be the only offensive player capable of doing anything, and have to run his butt off, then he probably could have had the energy to drill it. I just hope it doesn't become some mental thing now, and ruin his PK proficiency. Had he been on the USMNT, this wouldn't have happened, since he wouldn't have had to have been Mr. Energizer Bunny on speed, with all the other talent. But with LAG, he had to be, and in the end, it showed.

    Anyway, still love ya LD, even your crazy routine!!
     
  14. shirteesdotnet

    Feb 13, 2007
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Jesus Christ. Donovan didnt screw up because of his pre PK routine. Why are you naysayers always bringing that up? It is what it is. The guy just played 120 minutes of soccer on a hot LA evening and he screwed one up. I give Donovan a break for once. He deserves it. Although, God, it would have been the awesomest thing if he made it!
     
  15. rock-star_79

    rock-star_79 New Member

    Nov 13, 2006
    Milwaukee
    He's gone after this year, he will be in San Jose take that to the bank. :D
     
  16. Geneva

    Geneva LA for Life

    Feb 5, 2003
    Southern Cal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    TequilaJoel - thanks for wearing your heart on your sleeve & bringing me to tears. Outstanding post.

    One kick - glory or agony is yours, what's it going to be? I barely slept last night, and I can't believe Donovan did at all.

    I'm glad to read in the SI article that the Galaxy players share $100,000 for 2nd place. That takes a little bit of the sting off. Wahl is right - that prize money discrepancy is bogus.
     
  17. EL GATO SOLITARIO

    EL GATO SOLITARIO New Member

    Aug 28, 2007

    Xavier should not have taken that PK..... Klein should have taken it or even Randolph. Yallop strikes again!
     
  18. churchill2000

    churchill2000 3x MLS Cup Champions

    Jul 12, 2004
    Monde Virtuel
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy

    WTF does his pk routine have anything to do with him missing?

    All the hard work that came before that moment goes out the window?

    Really, well I guess Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, David Trezeguet, Roberto Baggio and now Landon Donovan are all dweebs then? Cause everything they accomplished before missing their respective PKs goes out the window right?:rolleyes:
     
  19. soccrfn

    soccrfn New Member

    Mar 21, 2003
    I agree. I haven't been so ancy jumping up and down since the US-Italy World Cup game last year.

    I don't know what it was..I think it was became a US-Mexico thing...but it was an unbelievable exciting...yet tragic game.

    AEG (or Beckham) should throw in the $million for those players, at least for the ones making under $100,000. Those players worked their butts off.

    That would show real class. Except don't give any to Pavon or Buddle. All they should get is their pink slips.
     
  20. StoneIsland

    StoneIsland Member

    Mar 3, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Actually, the weather was quite pleasant down there. If you've lived here long enough your blood thins out and you might have actually thought it was cool.

    It's probably one reason why they chose Carson as opposed to downtown or some other such.

    Since the HDC is close to the beach, it's rather moderate in temperature compared to the rest of the basin.
     
  21. StoneIsland

    StoneIsland Member

    Mar 3, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    :confused: Randolph, a rookie who has problems with even simple technique and placement, vs. Xavier, a capped European international who saved our bacon more than once over the course of the game.

    And hadn't Klein already kicked at that point?
     
  22. Acekiller

    Acekiller Member

    Jun 19, 2007
    Los Angeles
    Yes.
     
  23. CACuzcatlan

    CACuzcatlan Member

    Jun 11, 2007
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm gonna cut him some slack for that. 1st, he shouldn't have been kicking, and 2nd, he had a great game and was part of the reason we were able to make it as far as we did.
     
  24. ProudNatRN

    ProudNatRN Member

    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Jun 10, 2002
    Norwalk, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Seeing as how Landon once said his idol growing up was Roberto Baggio, it didn't surprise when he failed his penalty kick with the trophy on the line. I for one am looking forward to next season and all the changes that will come with it, Landon or no Landon...
     
  25. ultraprime

    ultraprime New Member

    Sep 14, 2005
    Plano
    I didn't say the routine is why he screwed up, I said if you are going to have a long, goofy looking pre-kick routine, you better not serve up what he served up.

    Buddle didn't do anything except put the ball down, back up and put in a perfect PK. That's how it should be done.

    When you draw attention to yourself on a big stage, produce or be subject to ridicule for looking ridiculous. That's all I'm saying.
     

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