So, according to Steve Nicol, all that is needed for Landon to have success in Europe is to bring in an electrician into the mix. Read on below (between the lines) ESPNsoccernet: Prior to the game some players had said they didn't want to go, citing tiredness and fatigue. At the same time some MLS clubs were less than enthusiastic about sending their players due to the fixture congestion and U.S. Open Cup. What were your thoughts about going to this game - were you excited or did you think the timing was wrong? Steve Nicol: Both. I think there's no doubt that we played the game at a tough time for everybody. We're at an important part of the season and all the teams have just played a lot of games in a short space of time, so from that point of view, it wasn't ideal. At the same time, you'd have to be absolutely excited to go there given who we were playing and where it was taking place. Before the game Paul Mariner and I were excited, we wished we were playing ourselves. The atmosphere at the Bernabeu is fantastic, let's face it, as a player if you really don't want to go and play in a game like that then you're wired wrong.
Obviously he is talking about Landon Donovan. Also check out this article in BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4194084.stm. The French were watching the game, and it seems to me that all Donovan needs to know is who is boss.
how can ever single quote by anyone in the world of soccer be turned into a slam at Donovan? Get help.
Well, he did win the European Cup and FA Cup at Liverpool. The Scousers revere him. Don't get me wrong-- I'm in Landon's corner-- he'll soon be the USA's all-time leading scorer. He just may be the best attacking midfielder the USA has ever put on the field. Which just makes him all the more disappointing. Did you read where he said that he'd rather go home and spend some time with his dog than go to the Bernabeu and play Real Madrid? The thing about Donovan is that he's the first USA soccer superstar made in America. He didn't have to go abroad and sink or swim like the great players before him like Friedel, Keller, Reyna, and Harkes before him. He could always come back to MLS. He's one of the first players for the USA to have the opportunity to be a prima donna-- Reyna and Harkes had to be humble abroad to earn respect.... Landon doesn't have to because of their earlier contributions. And he's come along at a time when he's got some great players around him to make him look good. But boy does Landon play well for the USA MNT-- he's carried us through some of the Gold Cup and Qualifier games. It's just that Landon could do a lot more for getting the USA respect abroad if he took the challenge of Europe seriously instead of sandbagging it so that he could come back to sunny Southern California
ESPNsoccernet: If you could have your pick of any players in MLS to add to your squad who would you take? SN: There are certainly players around the league I like. Obviously any team would have Landon Donovan and Jaime Moreno. I'm sure other teams would like to have some of our guys like Shalrie Joseph or Taylor Twellman, but certainly Donovan and Moreno are two of the guys I like. yeah, that article had Nicol really slamming Landon.
To be fair, Donocan said he'd like to play Madrid, that he was excited about the game, but he wasn't about the travel and the timing. The stay home quote was specifically about the travel. He said he wished there was a portal so they could just be in Spain without the stress of travel. In Madrid, he was one of only a few players to do press conferences, tour the city on the welcoming tour their hosts prepared and play the game, while others were too tired to participate in all of that.
well, that does not jibe with the need to slam Landon at every turn, so maybe we should ignore those things.
Well then I plead ignorance... and I agree that elsewhere in the article Nicol sings Landon's praises. I don't see why you can't sing Landon's praises while criticizing him. Hell, I even have a couple of USA MNT Landon jerseys. I think Landon's a great player, I just want him to be better. I like our #6 ranking-- I just want us to be #5, then #4, then #3.... and eventually #1. And I'm not sure what Landon still has to prove in MLS. He's outgrown the league. For him to be a better soccer player, he has to accept that. And his window of opportunity in Europe is closing soon. The USMNT getting better and the US players becoming more prominent players abroad are part of the same process... and I don't want Donovan to miss the boat.
I am just curious if european people know who donovan is ...and in which level he is can be compared with ? he is not at the level of Beckham obviously but, which stars are on his level ?
Well, there is this Brian McBride guy that plays for Fulham. And this Reyna dude at Man City. He's prolly at their level Joking aside... uh... no clue, sorry Yanks Abroad are funny in that they usually have to be quite good in order to get international attention, but they aren't at the star level yet. Solid at lower or mid tier Euro clubs but not often above that. Note: often and usually used to combat a general ignorance.
Exactly what I mean. McBride and Reyna have given solid performances, but have not won top honors in the EPL. McBride takes his chances well, and has had runs of good form to raise eyebrows in England-- and Reyna made the all-World Cup team. But Landon has the kind of potential as an attacking midfielder to be a star-- as Beasley might be on his way toward being. The problem is, soon we might be saying that Landon HAD the kind of potential to be a star. I don't want him to lose his chance.
who gives a damn if he's a star? Obviously he doesn't, so why do BS posters have this maddening compulsion to see him become some sort of mythical figure in Europe to allay their inferiority complexes about the game in America? Are you that insecure that you need to live vicariously through someone else? So much so that you invent slights against him when none were uttered, no less? Get over it. Let the man do what he wants.
What's wrong with wanting your heroes to reach their full potential? What if Michael Jordan said "Nah, I don't care about going to the NBA. I had a great college career. I'll just keep going to the Olympics every 4 years and play in Italy." IT'S THE SAME THING!!!! That's what you don't realize, apparently.
Landon is your top player. Why so many people still critize him? Landon will be defitely in Germany for the WC next year. So I would not be so negative about him. He did not deserve it. Bltleo Germany
Landon has persuaded me about his talent last WC and since this time I have been following his career. I had the possibility to see him in Leverkusen, to see him play life. He is definitely the best "made in the USA" player. You will always find better player than Landon if you look in Europa. England, Germany, Italy and other "old-fashion" soccer countries have much better player than Landon. But Landon is YOURS, the best player from the USA! He made your soccer sport popular. He was the player who is famous abroad so much. Landon is Landon. Stop to critize him only. He made so many nice scores for your team, so why to critize him? He is great. Bltleo Germany, Leverkusen
I'm not sure whether Landon was tired, unexecited or what. The fact was that he played rather poorly in Spain. The fact also is that this was his 4th match in the span of 10 days including a WCQ against TnT and a 90 minute performance in which he scored the game winning goal (his second) on the road in the second half to beat the defending MLS champs just a couple days before taking the cross-continental flight. I think it may just be possible the guy had a reason to be tired.