He was the same way with Bayern also. For his last game vs. Köln, he received a 5.5 and that half a point bump was for clearing the ball off the line after a Köln corner. And, when playing decent teams - vs. Brazil - a 2-star performance (which also allows for the favorable slant that he often receives from the US media) http://www.goal.com/en/match/united-states-vs-brazil/1253778/ratings?ICID=MP_MS_6
Is he the same guy that lead the Galaxy to two MLS Cups in 2011 and 2012, scoring the game winner in each, and several playoff games along the way? Is he the guy that leads the US MNT in scoring with 8 goals and 9 assists since mid 2013? Is he the guy who scored 3 goals and had 1 assist breaking the all-time MLS scoring record in the two heavily spotlight games after being cut from the roster under criticism of not being in shape, in form, or able to play anymore? To suggest Donovan isn't the same guy of 2002, 2006, 2010 ignores the fact that he's never been the guy of 02, 06, and 10... but he's been the guy who from 1999-present has gone out and performed on a consistent basis, and done whatever it is that was needed of him to help his side win... and been extremely successful doing so at every level. 1999 U-17 Youth World Cup 4th place, Golden Ball 2000 Olympics 4th place finish 2001 MLS Cup winner 2002 Gold Cup Winner 2002 World Cup Quarterfinal - Best Young Player 2003 Gold Cup winner 2003 MLS Cup winner 2005 US Open Cup winner 2005 MLS Cup winner 2006 US Open Cup runner up 2007 Gold Cup winner 2008 MLS Golden Boot winner 2009 Confederation Cup runner up 2009 MLS Cup runner up 2010 World Cup Round of 16 2011 Gold Cup runner up 2011 MLS Cup winner 2012 MLS Cup winner 2013 Gold Cup winner Where is the downgrade in his performance at any point in that stretch? I guess if you want to get really picky he had a poor 2004, where he was only voted US Athlete of the Year, and the Honda Player of the Year, and he had a moderately average 2006 World Cup. Otherwise you have to say the guy just gets it done.
Not sure where you're going with this... Are you attempting to say Donovan didn't show up in big games, or that CONCACAF opposition at the Gold Cup wasn't meaningful opposition? He set up the game winning goal against Costa Rica will a brilliant pass to Shea, and he redirected the ball on goal, which was tapped in as it was crossing the line by Shea against Panama in the final... How's Costa Rica shown to be at this World Cup? I guess the WCQ goal and assist in the dos a cero over Mexico were meaningless as well... You know what. You're right, Donovan only got it done verse CONCACAF opponents. Donovan was noticeably absent in the 0-0 draw with Scotland, the 1-0 loss to Austria, the 2-0 loss to Ukraine. Perhaps he should've done more in those games to prove his ability to show he was in form to make the World Cup squad...
So we are going on this decision by Donovan's own words? In his own words he felt he did enough to earn the spot. Argument is over then, isn't it...
Beckham led LAG to two MLS Cups. We're seeing the proof of that now. Omar/Landon are still there. A DP level Omar btw, whatever that means. Brucie is still there, with even more experience as a coach. Many other players are still there from the 11/12 rosters. The biggest difference is no Beckham and LAG look somewhat broken since he left.
I watched the match, saw his debut vs. Hannover, was at the only match he started while at Leverkusen against Mainz, saw him play vs. Hamburg. I followed Landon's time in Germany very closely. So, I'm seeing that LD was the standout, failure against Czech Republic when the US lost 3-0. The team was TERRIBLE but somehow everyone hustled really hard, except for our favorite whipping boy. Apparently, he's also solely responsible for BL going out against Liverpool as well. Liverpool had already scored three away goals going into the return leg. You do realize that the aggregate score was 6-2, right? And more importantly, do you remember the circumstances leading up to the match? In no way did he play well in either of those matches, and the Liverpool match, he was bad (set-up for failure, imo). I really don't get why people want so hard to remember the failures, nor why people focus SO much on these one-game examples of when he didn't perform well. There are SO many more success stories in the guy's career, but for some reason, there is what seems to be a significant minority of people want to tear him down. He is, without question the best field player that the US has ever produced and has succeeded EVERYWHERE he has played except for about 10-month period (combined) in Germany, and at the 2006 World Cup. The team scored 1-goal, and generally got worked. You know who else had a bad World Cup? Messi in 2010. Ronaldo this year. Wayne Rooney, every year. In a career that has spanned 15 years, from his time at the U-17s to the present, you could say that 14 of those years were successful, more successful than any other American in history. But you guys want to focus on the year he underperformed or cherry pick the matches where he didn't play well.
Donovan won 2 cups with SJ and 1 cup with LA prior to Beckham arriving. That Donovan scored the game winners in each MLS Cup, and the overtime goal to get them to the cup is lost on you, apparently. I am not going to deny that Beckham added significantly to LA... that's the entire reason he was brought in. What team wouldn't be lesser off with a player that caliber off the squad? Because Beckham is a great player doesn't negate the fact that Donovan's performances in the 2011 and 2012 MLS Playoffs were outstanding, and carried the team to the titles.
Oh christ. Find me one player who never had a bad game. ONE. Explain how to look up player ratings on goal.com, and we'll play a game. You look up ratings in important games, against "decent teams" where he was judged to have played poorly and I'll do the opposite. Any amount of $$ that you would like to bet - we'll get a neutral party to hold the money - and it will be on. I'll start with ... BRA-USA 2009 Confed Cup Donovan 8.5 (highest rating on team, 3rd highest for both teams) - The best player on the pitch in the first half, tearing Brazil to shreds on the counter and scoring a superb goal. Had few chances in the second half as Brazil took total command. and I'll take my second turn as well. ------- USA - ITALY 1-1 Draw 2006 World Cup In one of the all-time great performances in U.S. Soccer history Man of the match (the guardian) Landon Donovan - A touch of class in a chaotic match. The American golden boy was the most technically accomplished performer on the pitch, displaying the skill and vision to make Italy's defence look ordinary. Are those "decent teams"?
Holy chrisT!!! Get over Donovan. He's in the past. The World Cup is now. Dempsey, Howard, Bradley, Jones, Johnson, Beasley and the rest of the boys. JK is here to stay. If we were to beat Germany and top this group, get the man free all year service to Dunkin' Donuts. If he gets us to the QF, build the man a damn statue.
Don't forget the infamous Donovan back pass to Ben Olsen in the do or die game against Ghana in that same WC.
Player ratings vs. Czech republic: USA Ratings: Keller 5, Lewis 5, Cherundolo 4, Pope 4, Onyewu 5, Mastroeni 4, Reyna 5, Beasley 3, Convey 6, Donovan 4, McBride 5. Great games all around!
Nice! First we're going to sample sizes of ONE game. Now, we're establishing Donovan's legacy using solitary plays! Did this guy screw all of your girlfriends, or what?
The over-simplicity of this argument belies your ignorance on the subject and your clear bias. Of course, Landon won 3 MLS Cups without Beckham, including 1 with the Galaxy in 2005. Beckham was with Galaxy since 2007 and didn't bring home a Cup until 2011. Wikipedia stats and YouTube clips are no substitution for actually following the league and no one that does would make the argument that Beckham carried the team to the Cups, to the extent that Landon and Bruce "owe" him. He is literally the most clutch playoff performer in MLS history. Why even make such a strange claim?
It's 12 hrs before the biggest do or die game for the USMNT in 4 years and people still talking about a guy who's not even in this WC.