Today's kicker article on Leverkusen: US soccer player of the year says that return is possible LANDON DONOVAN: “ONE YEAR MAXIMUM, NOT LONGER” The election was clear: with 497 votes – 115 gap to Brad Friedel – Landon Donovan was elected US soccer player of the year. “A young guy like me shouldn’t win this title”, said Donovan and was almost refusing the choice. The offence player is less modest when talking about his sportive future. Donovan, who is kicking for San Jose Earthquakes, is having a contract until 2007 in Leverkusen, but he’s not exactly amazed to return: “Maybe I’ll return for one year, but not longer”. Bayer is following this topic very laid back. “We’re not differing very far in our imagination”, said GM Reiner Calmund. He’s having “full understanding” for Donovan, regarding both human and sportive aspects. And that’s why they are thinking. Either the status quo remains and Donovan stays home “as otherwise it doesn’t make sense”. Or he’s getting a quasi-guarantee for the starting lineup. “It only makes sense to have him back if the coach can assure to a large extend that he’s going to play”, says Calmund. The next weeks will decide. Klaus Toppmöller: “I didn’t make up my mind about it yet. Fact is that we could have needed Donovan in the last weeks. We’ll deal with this matter, talk with the guy and hopefully find a solution that satisfies everyone”. In January, when the transfer market reopens, the decision has to be dropped, Bayer could get him back for the 2003 season part. And Donovan wouldn’t only be the youngest Soccer player of the year, but probably the youngest pro with guarantee for the starting lineup.
I just have to weigh in on this: I like Landon and think that he's a very good player, but for any player to say that the only way they are going back is if they are assured of playing time is assinine. To be assured of a fair chance is all any player should be given. When Landon left Leverkusen he was given almost no chance to play and therefore I can understand his position (similar to Twellman), but to say he has to be assured to play or he isn't going back is just dick. If you don't want to go back...don't. Plain and simple.
I see it another way...... I say good for LD for stating what he wants. Why should he give up a good thing in San Jose for some unknown in Germany. Young, Talented, Rich...............I think we could all go for that. You go LD!
I do tend to agre that such a demand is a bunch of crap. I'm in the camp that thinks players should earn their time on a regular basis. From a coach's point of view, I wouldn't want to be in a position to be have lineup choices forced upon me. Still, it looks like he may actually be getting closer to getting what he wants. Sometiomes being difficult pays off.
He has options (and don't give me any line about his contract as that means little except who gets the transfer fee). He's taking them. You would do no different. If BL is dumb enough to tell him he's going to play. So be it.
This is a matter of law and business. If Landon has a contract until 2007, then Leverkusen can call him back anytime they want. If there is a buyout clause, then Landon can borrow $x million dollars from Nike and buyout his contract. It should be just that simple. It is only less simple if the contract has other clauses.
He is good enough to start and, two years ago, probably was good enough to see regular time. But US players historically have gotten the short end of the stick in Europe. Getting one start and staying a starter game after game are two different things. Let us all hope that if Donovan leaves San Jose he will get a decent, fair, unbiased shake at Leverkeusen. He knows how to compete; he can and will succeed on that basis.
I think that if LD goes for this year, then that could only benefit him. Personally I think he has the skills to be in the starting 11, but no matter what each player has to prove it. I say he goes and shows it to all.
I think this is a very levelheaded approach by Donovan. He has continually stated that he has a good thing at SJ. He's essentially saying that it's going to take a lot to pull him away from that, and Leverkusen has continually stated that they will take his needs and wants into consideration so they have given him this leeway in their discussions. Blame Leverkusen for not playing hardball if you want, but Donovan is taking their terms to heart and stating what he truly feels is best for him, and Leverkusen is listening. Again this seems to be just a very levelheaded discussion with two sides that are taking each other's terms into consideration.
I think you're putting too much emphasis in this guarantee. Never ever will he get a contract clause that gives him a claim to be in the starting line-up. The whole business will look like this: Calmund doesn't want to have trouble, he likes Donovan and would allow him a further MLS season if necessary. OTOH he knows that this is crap from a business point of view and that he should demand him back if seeing the matter from a professional perspective. To avoid trouble he'll talk with Toppmöller, who now is the person to decide the whole matter. Calmund tells him that he should give a fair chance to Donovan and a decent amount of playing time - Toppi will listen to Donovan, think about the situation and decide afterwards. Toppi would love to have more depth in the roster, but to please Calli he'd agree on a further loan if he sees no chance for Donovan at the moment. It'll surely be a major aspect how the situation for Bayer looks like in the winter break - if it is quite relaxed and all injured players are back, then they can afford to be more generous; if the situation remains tensed and the injury situation does not improve, then Donovan has to return anyway. The one year thing is a joke though. If Bayer demands him back, then definitely longer than one season [please, no contract assumptions now, we had that long enough]. And Landon surely won't refuse to stay if he's a regular player until then.
For the UMPTEENTH TIME the contract flat out doesn't matter nearly as much as some of you assert. How many times have you seen players get their way when they want out. Answer - all the time. Slavery does not exist. And that contract is worthless to Leverkusen if Landon says he won't play for them. If they play hardball with Landon and demand his return and he refuses, then what do they do. They can force him to sit out and thereby potentially cost themselves not only Landon but also goodwill with other players they want to sign or they can transfer him to a club he's willing to play for. Guess which one will happen. History is full of examples of this. Landon has already demonstrated this once. Paulo DiCanio is another example. He had a falling out with Celtic. Celtic very publicly said he'd play for them or no one. A month later he'd been transferred to Sheffield Wednesday on the cheap.
As always, Olaf does a bang-up job identifying and translating relevant articles. Thanks! Unfortunately, the tone of the article is quite nuanced, which is worth elaborating on... There is not a HINT of sarcasm or arrogance in this article. The very fact that KICKER is relating, in a serious manner, the fact that Bayer is even DISCUSSING a "quasi-guarantee" with Landon and his representatives (which, Olaf, you must admit, you called a virtual impossibility only a few weeks ago!) is stunning. It is very factual, very detailed and very reserved in tone -- Toppmoeller's quote could be more precisely translated as I have done above, indicating that Bayer's GM and coach agree that Landon is plenty good enough to contribute to the cause RIGHT NOW (not least of all because Simak has been -- as I anticipated -- a giant disappointment, which is definitely a topic for a different thread). Funny, I never thought I'd see the day where Big Soccer posters spew more vitriol for the oft-dubbed, and totally unwarranted moniker, "Baby Jesus" than a major European soccer magazine. Stay tuned: tomorrow, Osama reveals he is renouncing Islam and taking up a position as a motivational speaker at Wharton Business School, followed by Hell freezing over...
I agree with the above analysis regarding employment contracts. I will say this though. The kid, while being a kid, made a commitment to the club in exchange for more money than a 17 year old kid would normally get. I know the situations referenced above with regards to Dicanio and several others show that this isn't that big of a deal. I would just prefer that Landon honor his contract, and go earn the starting spot over at Lever. Its his life though. My fear is that this is turned into some spoiled US Player thing and it hurts others transferability.
The problem with DiCanio is that because of his troubles at Celtic, he as been labled as trouble. If LD were to do the same thing he would also get this lable, on top of the anit-Americanism that many Yanks still get. Now that may not matter much if he wants to play in MLS for the rest of his life, but I assume that somewhere down the road, he will want a new challenge, specifically in Europe. If he refused to play for Leverkusen now, that could hurt who would want to sign him down the road. Of course this is speculation far into the future, but worth a thought, IMO.
Riddle me this Batman. (And all your Robins.) What good does it do Landon to be the greatest player in the German 4th division? What good does it do BL for Landon to be the greatest player in the German 4th division? The playa hatas out there don't get it, but it's in everbody's best interest for Landon to play at the highest level he can PLAY. If he's not good enough to play for Leverkusen, then he should play for the Quakes. If you're not blinded by Landonhate, it's obvious. Plus, there's two ways Landon could mean this. He could mean it in an arrogant, Carl Everett type way. Or he could mean it in an eager, "I want to improve" kind of way. I don't see any evidence he means it the first way. I can think of lots of evidence he means it the 2nd way. (His comments about his high school team being as good as the BL reserves, his praise for Yallop for helping him develop as a player, etc.) If you have any evidence he's pulling a Garry Templeton (if I ain't startin' I ain't departin'), as opposed to him wanting to get on the field and learn and improve, I'm willing to listen. Errr, read.
Of course eveyone understands this. But the contract matters as much as B.L. decides it matters. They have the upper hand. They can recall Donovan and have him rot away through 2007. He will be 25, 26 in March 2008 and may have trouble finding another gig after that if he hasn't played the prior 5+ years. Of course they can try to sell him. MLS can't afford him unless Nike pays the tab, so he will most likely go to another European club. The contract is not worthless at all. The contract is protection for Leverkusen. The contract allows them to get fair market value for LD in the worst case. Just because Celtic handles players poorly doesn't mean that Leverkusen will. It's not all about Landon. LD has some bargaining power, but BL still holds the trump card. Of course I wish the best for Landon, but contracts do matter. One must be careful what one signs at all times.
Well, if my reading of the situation is correct--and Tim Donovan has given some hints here--then in the worst case, Leverkusen gets the contract buyout bucks which are below fair market value for LD. I'd say Donovan holds the trump card in the form of the low buyout figure. Landon truly likes his situation in San Jose, and I don't blame him for waiting until he's got a really good chance at significant playing time before returning to Leverkusen. If he'd return to the fourth division, he'd rather stay with the Quakes. Nothing wrong with that, and the way his contract is structured, it seems he can afford to be selective.
I think it is safe to say that you have, in a nice way, echoed the feelings of most posters here in the YA section. Some people resort to name-calling ('baby', 'whining', etc.), but all-in-all, everybody just wants to see LD face up to this challenge, earn the spot, and then start scoring goals for BL. You know, succeeding in the place where so many Americans have tried -- and failed, for the various reasons. But then, some misinformed role model type, has convinced him to live his life and be happy at our expense, the people who really care about his development!
LD's playing his cards right so props to him for that. IMO he should train with BL this winter and if the coach decides he's good enough to play then LD will get a shot. If not, then LD comes home in February to prepare for MLS. Everyone wins in this situation, except for MLS if BL wants LD to be a starter through the remainder of the Bundesliga season.
Agreed. Landon could get a really good feel for his chances at playing for BL without committing to them and sacrificing his position with the Quakes. Plus, training with BL in the off-season couldn't hurt him.
There is another aspect to this (I think no one has touched on)....Landon only has to worry about what's good for Landon....Leverkusen has to worry about Landon and their team, but also their image in negotiating w/young American soccer players, etc. going forward. This thing blows up in their face, and it could cost them signing the next Landon, and the next Landon after that....US is now on the world map as a good source of young talent, and WC (and youth WCs) have helped pushed US stronger in Euro minds. Its a complicated issue, and I am not saying either side is "right" (its business, that's all....portraying right and wrong not so easy..)...but I think Leverkusen perceives there is more at stake for them here than just Landon, maybe partly explaining shift in tactics... As well, if Landon returns to Germany a headcase....he won't be worth much anyway
I agree. For example, take the World Class Jovan Kirovski. How could such a maestro be stuck on such a lousy club. Or Joe-Max Moore, surely one of the top ten players in the world but can't start on Everton. Seriously, go one by one and American players haven't been treated badly at all. Sometimes it takes a few years, but eventually players end up where they belong in Europe.
Where do you get the idea that MLS can't afford him? The owners in MLS could buy any player on the planet if they wanted to. There is no point in paying for something you can get for free.