In another of the many threads on this someone said that on the KNBC news at 5:30 they reported that the deal was done.. No info was cited in the post as to sources.. Just a heads-up in case they mention it again in their next sports segment or at 11PM...
Karl Malone plays a season for the Lakers, then Landon Donovan becoming a member of the Galaxy. What's next - Barry Bonds to the Dodgers?
I'm thrilled if this happens. Kiro/ Ngwenya/ Gordon/ Naldo can get the job done if our midfield rocks. With Donovan and Pando and hopefully Nagamura, it will. Mike
If this is coming true, it's probably best for Ruiz since he did not look like he was in the groove for the past two seasons. Even with Pando signing, perhaps Stevie & Dougie saw that Ruiz (and the team) still needed a change. But Donovan with us? It still seems weird.
Whatever happened to the old sports addage about never trading your best players within your own division? I belive these new foreign players (the Hispanics) are not going to gell in one season, then be gone next year and were will the Galaxy be? Who's going to link with LD? JV? I foresee the LAG as cellardwellers and SJ and FCD as the cream of the West. What is Sampson and the LAG front office thinking? Sampson coaches CR for a year and now he's a Central American convert? Too many talented Americans around to fill the Galaxy squad, than having to go south for talent. Sampson the Galaxy destroyer!!!
Landon @#$%ing Donovan?! LANDON @#$%ING DONOVAN?! SEÑOR FRUITY @#$%ING PEBBLES? HERR RHEIDSBENCHKREIEN? For Carlos Ruiz? Pescadito? I think I'm goin to be ill. I'm just going to go to bed tonight and wake up tomorrow and it will all have been some kind of awful dream. Seriously -- Landycakes? A G? No Fvcking Way.
Re: Too Weird The only way that the San Jose Earthquakes go to Houston would be if/when they visit the Houston MLS expansion team there in a few years. In truth, there was a much greater chance for them to have been moved to Houston last August and September than there is now... and as we all know, they're still in San Jose. Don't worry, there'll still be a San Jose Earthquakes (correctly named as such) for you all to hate for years and years to come. That has nothing to do with Landon Donovan. -G
Exactly. Donovan can play striker, but he's not a striker to build a team around. He's a Totti, not an Henry. He needs a pure finisher to work with. (insert Totti sucks / Donovan wishes he was Totti cracks here)
Re: Too Weird Goodsport, you get maximum points for consistency. Which, considering the fickle tendencies of this league, suddenly goes a long way in my book.
Just for added info .......... Goltv just reported that "sources close to the club" (the Galaxy), have reported that it's just about a done deal.
This so surreal, I thought I'd come over to the LA forum and post. Just one comment. Several of you are crediting Donovan for the Quakes turnaround in 2001. Credit belongs to Frank Yallop. The Quakes would not have won the cup without Donovan, but they would have been just as successful up to the playoffs. Donovan took them over the top in the playoffs. OK, two comments. Donovan is a special, special player when he is motivated (i.e. World cup, 2001, 2003 playoffs). But I saw less and less motivation last year and there were many minutes on the field where he was putting in time. Couple that with the outcome of his 2nd German foray, and I'm concerned. I hope he hasn't lost his passion for soccer.
Re: Too Weird I just hope you have this saved as a macro on your computer... At least it'll save you fingers EVERY time you post it.
I think some of you guys are worrying too much. We have to remember, when the European team comes calling for Ruiz, he will more than likely answer the call, just look at Ralph, you think if Ralph was getting paid what Mathis or Galvan Rey or Adu are, that he would have left for a team that isn't even well recognized? Donovan, is a good fit in LA, he gives us more bang for our buck, he can play in the midfield, and he can play up front, and unlike Ruiz, he makes his partners better. I for one will not miss Ruiz's whining and diving. Now for some retrospective, recall the Galaxy-Osasuna match, I recall someone on this board recognized that El Pando made crosses to just about everyone but . . . Ruiz. I also recall someone on this board saying that Kirovski fizzled last season as a forward, not because he sucks, but because he wants to be the star up top. Placing Donovan in the midfield and having Kirovski up top, who knows, the possibilities are endless.
Re: Too Weird It'll be engraved along the walls of the San Jose SSS once it's ready for use in 2-3 years. -G
I keep hearing about this european interest or the fact the Ruiz will split soon -- does anyone have any real info on this? This is an honest question, I just haven't heard any "real" rumours about european interest. I could see him going south, but didn't he tryout with an English club and get a big "No Thanks?" Or did I dream that?
Here's how it would work: one of the defenders passes to Pando Pando passes to Donovan Donovan to Kirovski- GOAL then there's the secret play: Pando-Kirovski-GOAL and the change-up: Pando-Kirovski-Donovan-GOAL
Maybe, but if Kiro plays like last season, it would be Pando to - Donovan to -Kirovski gets pushed off the ball by big defender. Kirovski looked so much better as a withdrawn striker/attacking mid that I just assumed he'd be there again this year. Ps. Thanx Fidlerre, I knew someone could do it.
I agree with most of your points, but... 1) Ruiz is 25 and by most standards, that's not really aging. 2) F*C* Dallas actually has A LOT of benefits coming their way. I wouldn't be at all surprised if MLS decided to suddenly make a few changes to facilitate this move. Not at all.
Yes it seems weird to me. Leverkusen would be willing to let go of him for two reasons. Reason One would be if Klaus Augentaler has seen enough of Donovan and has concluded he has no chance of making it with his team. Landon simply wasnt good enough. This is certainly a possibility. Kicker Magazine declared Landon's performance as a starter for Leverkusen in its Champions League match against Liverpool was his "athletic Waterloo" as far as his European career goes. It was simply that poor. Reason number two would be that Landon has whined so much that he continues to come of that bench and has recent been benched because of his above mentioned performance against Liverpool, that Leverkusen is sick of him and is looking to ship him off. This is also a possibility. Don't get me wrong, Landon is an exceptionally gifted player and is probably one of the best talents the US has ever produced. But........ do we really want a player who clearly has the potential to make it in Europe yet has failed to display the work ethic required to do so on our team???? Spot on............In my humble opinion of course. Landon is an excellent player, but were I the manager I would try to keep Ruiz.
But all the qualities you hate about Donovan are also true about Ruiz. Whiner, bad work ethic, etc. Both are champinonship level player nontheless. The only thing I have against DOnovan is how quickly he ran home from Europe.