I think parts of England are perennially grey. I don't know about Germany but I know it's not as mild and sunny as LA. I Am just saying that I can respect a desire for warm breezes and that if I could cash giant checks in Leverkusen or LA, I'll take LA but that's just one man's opinion. The only reason I made the point is to say that the desire to stay in LA may be more than a lack of ambition. It may have been a well reasoned choice for his mental and physical well being.
for US soccer, the combination of an american regularly starting for one of the top euro clubs, and deep usa runs in successive world cups would both get euro clubs to take serious looks at opening doors in europe to american players for one thing. it's not far fetched to imagine a donovan career in europe that rivals those of undisputed superstars. remember, in 2002, when donovan scored 2 world cup goals (3 if you count the portugal deflection) on his way to being named the tournments "Best Young Player", and playing every game of a usa Quarter Final run, he was only 20. moreover, he had been under contract with Leverkusen since 1999. say after that breakout showcase world cup he moved from Leverkusen to, say, Bayern Munich instead of going to San Jose on loan. say he worked hard enough to be a regular Bayern starter, with a few Bundesliga and Champions League trophies by 2006, when the usa built a team around him. it's conceivable that he would have been a part of another deep world cup run. guys with multiple Bundesliga and Champions League trophies, and multiple deep world cup runs by age 24 do not have their ambition called into question. at all. all clubs want guys like that, and in the irrational world of sports, many euro clubs would start prowling america for their own donovan. the only american anywhere close to even getting a chance at the above fantasy career is donovan. instead, he walked away from his Leverkusen contract, causing the Bundesliga (and other euro leagues) to believe to this day, that talented americans, even those with breakout world cups, are soft, unprofessional, blah blah blah blah. DMB and other american legends worked their asses off to get to europe, and donovan's legacy there was to make it harder for them.
DMB improved and evolved his game. Most of the great players do this at various points of the career. LD's game by contrast matured but never truly evolved. He's very much the same player as the one who alighted the stage in '02 albeit now a bit slower and less industrious.
DMB definitely evolved his game. Improved is a bit much as I feel he has improved slightly in terms of the player he was in 2002. He can cross a ball now unlike in 2002 but his ball control is slightly better. That's an improvement I guess. It's how his game has evolved that's the most impressive thing about him though but I guess it happens to quite a few players as they get older and things change.
RESPECT maybe. Maybe he really could have been the American Park Ji Sung? Opened up more interest in US players and def more interest in the market here.
It is a shame how 1 players' reluctance or failings can effect dozens more of his countrymen. Unintentionally of course on the players part.
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=175507/ Pay particularly to the years AFTER 2002.
Beez took an injury sabbatical from 2008-2011. Some of you guys are basically suggesting Donovan would have been better if he became a RB for the national team.
Beaz had a huge game yesterday. Great wheels and positional sense. Landon's commercials have been funny, and he has been classy in his circumstances. WIN for both yesterday. ~OGx3