http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/oped0312connolly.html?gamename=03082003_CLBDC&version=recap its near the bottom of Marc Connelly's (sp) column on MLSnet. com Sounds like Yallop and Arena are on the same page in regards to Donovan and what he needs to do. Tony
Yeah......the difference is that Arena kept his discussion between him and Donovan. Yallop brought it to the media.
I liked the way Arena said it better than Yallop. Yallop comments seemed to focus on Landon's "off-the-field" activities where as Arena's comments focused on his mental attitude. In his play at the end of last year and some of the recent USMNT games, he didn't appear to have that extra "spark" (I.e. I'm out to prove something!!!). Hopefully the feedback from Arena and Yallop will have a positive effect on his game and the Quakes...
If the kid has to be continually told to focus on the job and not the extra-cirruculars, it doens't bode well for the future...... his only two coaches have noticed this problem with his new found stardom.....
He's young. He's good. But he could use a reality check from time to time. That's what coaches are for.
Hey, part of the problem is everyone wants Landon Donovan. Not just the media. I heard a story from a very reliable source that Bruce Arena was pressuring Donovan to play in Honduras during WCQ. If you remember, he had just played for the U-20s in T&T and cracked/bruised his ribs in a collision with Marvin Lee (who has since died tragically). Arena wanted Donovan to play with a flak jacket and be available to sub in. It seems to me that it might benefit Donovan to be left out of a national team camp or two. He's played U-17, U-20, U-23 and full national. Why does he need to be there every time? How can he be expected to play well at club level if he is constantly adjusting to new players for the USMNT? Arena is experimenting with all kinds of new players....not much consistency right now. Not to mention different positions (striker, attacking mid, right mid). I don't know much about your job, but if you were getting jerked all over the world and working with new teams all the time, how much focus would you have back home????
you know, when I look at my job, getting jerked all over the world sounds kinda sweet... although I don't think my girlfriend would like it.... so i guess you are right?
It would be fun for awhile, but after 5-6 years of the pressure, you'd get awful tired of it. That brings up another point, it seems like Landon is in the middle of his first "serious" relationship. As a coach, I've witnessed first hand many top athletes that started to slip when they dated someone. Not blaming Bianca, but she certainly has an effect on Donovan's focus....
Yeah right.......every "real" man knows that it's: 1.)Soccer 2.)Beer 3.)More Beer 4.)Relationships .....In that order.....duh!
I use to be an assistent coach for a guy that absolutely forbide his star players to date. He told them "soccer or girlfriend, you choose". He refused to help them improve if they got into a relationship.....
Ahh...a Mathis fan, eh? Look, Arena by all accounts talked to Mathis in private about his "problems". Since Mathis didn't do much to improve the situation, Arena went public trying to motivate Clint (re:embarrass). I'm sure that Yallop did the same thing with Donovan. I'd bet anything he talked to Landon about "overexposure" and Landon didn't listen. Therefore, Yallop tried to "motivate" him. It seems that Arena's private talk was enough for Landon to get the message. Make no mistake, if Landon doesn't improve, we'll see quotes in the media from Bruce about Donovan....
sheesh. what's the fuss? it's only pre-season. he hasn't even played a single game yet, just a couple of meaningless friendlies. his response seemed to be the most telling part of the exchange. he took it like a man and said yea, i'm ready to go, not looking for any handouts. hopefully he'll hvae the jets motoring starting this weekend... (i do agree, however, with above posters that one's first "serious" relationship can upset an athlete's balance. hopefully LD's dealing with it okay...)
I don't disagree with what you've said, just pointing out that this tactic is definitely in Arena's arsenal. He's not one to swallow his words or varnish his opinions.
Yallop is a disciple of Arena. Same thing, tell the player in a face to face and if it doesn't change....well a smart reporter will get a great quote for his article.
is there a thread anywhere in here that talks about yallop telling the media about how landon needs to be careful with his extra-curricular activities? i can't seem to find anything on it.
All they do is fly, train, sleep to recover from the flight, play games and move on. They never get a chance to soak in wherever they are. If you ask them their impression of various countries, all they could really tell you is about the airports, hotels and training grounds.
Re: Re: Arena to Donovan: Don't get complacent (R) speaking as a man (and i apologize ahead of time for the upcoming self-indulgent wallowing) who was just dumped monday night, by a woman who, for the first time in my 36 years on this bullsh1t orb, i could have pictured marrying and trying my level-best to make her as happy as possible that she made that choice, all i can say is: the head coach you worked with was (and undoubtedly STILL IS) a complete d1ck. so....we insist that "our" star athletes NOT be human beings, then tsk-tsk them when they act out like morons (which is not to say that i believe this is the case with donovan...but come ON: NBA, NFL, MLB, pick your poison, are rife with examples)? that's some pretty "neat" logic. let's rent some perspective, folks. sometimes, life gets in the way of a f-ing GAME. let the man have a girlfriend; if it screws up his game somehow, recall that IT'S JUST A GAME!!!! if he's personally happy, that probably should be enough, huh? spoken by a man in a world of hurt, so please forgive.....
okay...quibble time.... I sit and stare at the same fricking computer and the same wall behind said computer 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (visiting these godforsaken boards) and then, after work, go out to the pitch and knock it around to live the life of the weekend warrior.... so tell me, if you could be pampered, flown all over the world to play soccer to many adoring strangers who view you as a diety, you wouldn't take it because all you see is hotels and airports? you are kidding yourself if you say no.... the kid is living a charmed life....and I am sure that they have "off" days....how good is LD's golf game? how many courses has he played already? and i bet you it isn't the local pitch-and-putt......
I'd trade my life for Donovan's(except my wife is hotter than Bianca) and I doubt he'd agree to it. The notion that they have it rough is simply ridiculous.