Canales Corner: The Landon Donovan Gamble

David Moyes | Trusted Everton coach can use Donovan

Arena trusts the Galaxy's prized asset to Moyes' tutelage. He has had contact with the Everton coach for years, having even stopped by for a collegial visit when Moyes was in charge at Preston North End.

"He's first class," Arena asserted. "He's a manager who will take excellent care of Landon."

The fact that Donovan will have to earn his way onto the field at Everton and prove himself worthy of playing time in a short time span could create a competitive pressure cooker that could push him to improve.

"He can be better," Arena said. "Landon still has not maxed out his potential. Landon's best soccer is ahead of him."

If that's true, however, it's possible that Donovan has dealt the death blow to his future career in Europe. Four years is long time to put a move abroad on hold. Donovan has incredible faith in his abilities if he believes that either a team will be willing to pay far and above his current deal to transfer him in to their club, or that clubs in Europe will be interested in signing him when he finally is available on a free transfer.

Fellow Galaxy players, though, were glad to be able to count on Donovan's assistance in upcoming seasons. Defender Omar Gonzalez, who won the Rookie of the Year award in 2009, made that clear.

"Landon was a great captain and leader this past year," said Gonzalez. "I'm really excited about the contract he signed. We had a great locker room last season and the overall team chemistry was there. We're a big step ahead of where we were last season."

Assistant coach Dave Sarachan agreed that retaining Donovan was crucial to the organization's ambitions.

"Knowing that we have Landon as a major piece is just massive," Sarachan said. "He's vital to us."

Even Gonzalez, though, couldn't promise that if he had offers from Europe himself, that he would choose to still stick with MLS.

"I'd definitely have to weigh my options," Gonzalez reasoned.

Though he had once championed more moves abroad for American players, including Donovan, Arena no longer sees playing overseas as so vital to a player's development.

"It's not as important for Landon," Arena said of gaining experience abroad. "Landon's the best player on the USA team."

Donovan has been vital to Team USA

What's strange in some ways is the dichotomy many soccer fans have when it comes to MLS. Wanting the league to improve makes them yearn for better quality players, and to celebrate when the league lands talent such as Freddie Ljungberg. The departures of valuable players the league has developed, though, is also celebrated as giving MLS important legitimacy on the world stage.

"I think they've got an improving league," commented Everton coach David Moyes to the BBC after announcing Donovan's loan deal.

At what point does that desire for outsider esteem hurt the league, though? Imagine if Red Bull New York were opening their new stadium next year with former players Tim Howard guarding the goal and Jozy Altidore playing up front. When should MLS switch the focus from bringing in foreign stars and invest in keeping the ones they've nurtured? For years, the highest paid players in the USA's top soccer league have not been American. The top three in 2009 were instead English, Mexican and Colombian. Though named the league MVP, Donovan didn't even crack the top four in salary last season, as Swede Ljungberg took that spot.

With MLS owners pulling out the cash for Donovan, though, a precedent has been set that shows clearly that USA players are valued right where they are - putting the brakes on the feeder train express.

"It says a lot about the league," maintained Sarachan. "It seemed over the years that everybody was bragging about developing players and selling them on. Now Landon is saying, 'This league is a real league that I'm committing to'. It says that he's improving here."

It's a gamble to decide that Donovan can be more influential flying the American flag at home for most of the year, mentoring young players, raising the level of play locally, and acting as an example of domestic success. If Donovan does perform well in his loan stints, MLS could well be more respected for being able to keep him.

Arena pointed out that the USA is actually in good company when having key national team players who perform in their local leagues.

"The US World Cup team and other World Cup teams are going to be highly dependent on their domestic players," Arena said. "Anyone who says that to be a good soccer player you have to play in Europe is completely wrong. They don't understand. There's a lot of other factors that go into determining the quality of the player."

A lot of factors go into determining the quality of a league, as well, but an undisputed one is the standard of its best players. MLS is betting on Donovan, and vice-versa.

Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com North America

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