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Canales Corner: Halving It All, Having A Ball
Perhaps all the elements wanting a piece of Landon Donovan will just have to learn to share.
Mar 8, 2010 5:42:00 AM
By Andrea Canales
The old aphorism has long been, "You can't have your cake and eat it, too."
Truthfully, I'm more of a pie person, but it's cake that's used in the famous analogy to curb greed by pointing out the impossibility of the sweet residing in both the stomach and the plate at the exact same time.
Unless, of course, one doesn't eat the whole cake. In which case, one can have a partial cake, and yet have happily eaten the rest. It's a compromise, sure, but the outlook of the glass half full, or half empty applies. Basically, it's not a tragedy unless it's viewed that way.
It's simple logic, but it seems to have escaped some who are now dreading Landon Donovan's loan termination with Everton.
Yes, if Donovan's invasion of Merseyside wasn't as comprehensive as the British invasion of the USA by the lads from Liverpool in 1964, it still mattered to many Everton fans.
They made that clear to the American when he scored a goal in what could be his final appearance at Goodison Park, chanting fervidly Donovan's country of origin. U-S-A echoed around the stadium with such enthusiasm that I had Olympic flashbacks.
What a nice note to end on, even if it was a rather meaningless goal, given that Everton were comfortably ahead.
In some ways, that goal could be taken as a metaphor for any extension of Donovan's loan at Everton. It's nice, but not needed.
Frankly, with the team's midfield maestro, Mikel Arteta, returning to form, Everton are all set to do what Donovan has helped them accomplish already - avoid relegation and end up in the upper half of the Premier League table.
That's pretty much it, though. Everton won't contest any more trophies this year, having already been eliminated from the FA Cup and Europa League competition. Does Everton coach David Moyes need to splash out money on Donovan to finish 6th instead of 7th or 8th in the Premier League? Probably not.
So there's no real urgency, from Everton's point of view, to sign Donovan up quickly - especially not at the price that would make it worth the while of Major League Soccer to give up one of their marquee players.
That's what the people pushing the "Free Landon" campaign don't seem to realize - that they're actually devaluating Donovan if they honestly believe he should sign permanantly with a team that pays far less than he is worth as a a player. That sets a terrible precedent for other American players looking to move abroad - when their supposed cream of the crop has signed for peanuts.
"Free Landon" may be a literal slogan, in that sense.
So if the club doesn't come up with a serious buy offer, there's no need to look back on Donovan's time with Everton as anything but a fond memory. The skills and talent the midfielder brought to the team he still takes with him when he leaves. Bottom line - if ten years in MLS hasn't ruined Donovan yet, another few months before the World Cup isn't going to do any damage either.
Who knows, if Donovan carries his good form to the World Cup, perhaps bigger doors could open wide. He might attract the interest of a club that could pony up the kind of cash that Everton simply can't, perhaps a club that is a Champions League regular. Sure, he'd have to work hard for playing time at any such club, but Donovan has proven to be effective against some of the top teams in the world's toughest league, so he has a fighting chance of making good on that risk.
Or perhaps a buy offer wouldn't come through. Donovan could then turn the offseason of MLS into his personal barnstorming tour, converting hearts and minds who have too long denied the evidence of the eyes that he's a good player. Maybe Donovan could sign on with a La Liga team like Espanyol, (another team whose loyal fans kick out at the idea of being the second-best club in their city), and lend his assistance to the club's campaign to finish far from relegation. The technical, flowing style of soccer in Spain's league might suit him perfectly, and he could give interviews to the local press in Spanish, which would endear him to the club's fans.
The next year, perhaps a move to Serie A would take place, to a club like Parma, who have plenty of history, but have fallen on difficult times of late. Donovan could supply Hernan Crespo with some good service, and win fans in the land of calcio.
Finally, there's that little matter of destiny and Donovan stepping onto the field of Azteca Stadium - but this time with the local fans cheering his contribution. South of the border, Club America and Donovan nearly agreed to a deal before he chose Everton, and the possibility of the USA's best player on loan to Mexico's storied team is a dynamic combination.
At that point, Donovan's extended contract with the Galaxy would be set to expire and he could play anywhere he gets an offer.
Who is to say that Donovan can't play anywhere in the world if that's exactly what he does?
Between the loan deals, however, Donovan could still offer MLS fans live, fully-dimensional examples of his abilities while performing with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Besides drawing fans and scouts to the league (other talents might catch the eyes of coaches abroad when they're watching Donovan as a loan possibility) Donovan could be the example that the next generation of young, impressionable soccer players follow, thinking that finally, their excuses for not achieving are cast aside. They don't have to move to a Brazilian favela or call where they play a pitch or despair that they live in the USA, because that's worked out just fine for at least one player.
A lot of things are possible, including that the current labor dispute of MLS will remain unsettled. A work stoppage would leave Donovan without a league to come back to, so he could then remain at Everton. He'd probably be fine with that, as would many Everton fans.
The sky is not falling if Donovan leaves, though. Other options could work out just as well, or better.
The first bite may well be the sweetest, but there's more cake on the plate.
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com North America
Become a fan of Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything the related to the beautiful game!
Truthfully, I'm more of a pie person, but it's cake that's used in the famous analogy to curb greed by pointing out the impossibility of the sweet residing in both the stomach and the plate at the exact same time.
Unless, of course, one doesn't eat the whole cake. In which case, one can have a partial cake, and yet have happily eaten the rest. It's a compromise, sure, but the outlook of the glass half full, or half empty applies. Basically, it's not a tragedy unless it's viewed that way.
It's simple logic, but it seems to have escaped some who are now dreading Landon Donovan's loan termination with Everton.
Yes, if Donovan's invasion of Merseyside wasn't as comprehensive as the British invasion of the USA by the lads from Liverpool in 1964, it still mattered to many Everton fans.
They made that clear to the American when he scored a goal in what could be his final appearance at Goodison Park, chanting fervidly Donovan's country of origin. U-S-A echoed around the stadium with such enthusiasm that I had Olympic flashbacks.
What a nice note to end on, even if it was a rather meaningless goal, given that Everton were comfortably ahead.
In some ways, that goal could be taken as a metaphor for any extension of Donovan's loan at Everton. It's nice, but not needed.
Frankly, with the team's midfield maestro, Mikel Arteta, returning to form, Everton are all set to do what Donovan has helped them accomplish already - avoid relegation and end up in the upper half of the Premier League table.
That's pretty much it, though. Everton won't contest any more trophies this year, having already been eliminated from the FA Cup and Europa League competition. Does Everton coach David Moyes need to splash out money on Donovan to finish 6th instead of 7th or 8th in the Premier League? Probably not.
So there's no real urgency, from Everton's point of view, to sign Donovan up quickly - especially not at the price that would make it worth the while of Major League Soccer to give up one of their marquee players.
That's what the people pushing the "Free Landon" campaign don't seem to realize - that they're actually devaluating Donovan if they honestly believe he should sign permanantly with a team that pays far less than he is worth as a a player. That sets a terrible precedent for other American players looking to move abroad - when their supposed cream of the crop has signed for peanuts.
"Free Landon" may be a literal slogan, in that sense.
So if the club doesn't come up with a serious buy offer, there's no need to look back on Donovan's time with Everton as anything but a fond memory. The skills and talent the midfielder brought to the team he still takes with him when he leaves. Bottom line - if ten years in MLS hasn't ruined Donovan yet, another few months before the World Cup isn't going to do any damage either.
Who knows, if Donovan carries his good form to the World Cup, perhaps bigger doors could open wide. He might attract the interest of a club that could pony up the kind of cash that Everton simply can't, perhaps a club that is a Champions League regular. Sure, he'd have to work hard for playing time at any such club, but Donovan has proven to be effective against some of the top teams in the world's toughest league, so he has a fighting chance of making good on that risk.
Or perhaps a buy offer wouldn't come through. Donovan could then turn the offseason of MLS into his personal barnstorming tour, converting hearts and minds who have too long denied the evidence of the eyes that he's a good player. Maybe Donovan could sign on with a La Liga team like Espanyol, (another team whose loyal fans kick out at the idea of being the second-best club in their city), and lend his assistance to the club's campaign to finish far from relegation. The technical, flowing style of soccer in Spain's league might suit him perfectly, and he could give interviews to the local press in Spanish, which would endear him to the club's fans.
The next year, perhaps a move to Serie A would take place, to a club like Parma, who have plenty of history, but have fallen on difficult times of late. Donovan could supply Hernan Crespo with some good service, and win fans in the land of calcio.
Finally, there's that little matter of destiny and Donovan stepping onto the field of Azteca Stadium - but this time with the local fans cheering his contribution. South of the border, Club America and Donovan nearly agreed to a deal before he chose Everton, and the possibility of the USA's best player on loan to Mexico's storied team is a dynamic combination.
At that point, Donovan's extended contract with the Galaxy would be set to expire and he could play anywhere he gets an offer.
Who is to say that Donovan can't play anywhere in the world if that's exactly what he does?
Between the loan deals, however, Donovan could still offer MLS fans live, fully-dimensional examples of his abilities while performing with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Besides drawing fans and scouts to the league (other talents might catch the eyes of coaches abroad when they're watching Donovan as a loan possibility) Donovan could be the example that the next generation of young, impressionable soccer players follow, thinking that finally, their excuses for not achieving are cast aside. They don't have to move to a Brazilian favela or call where they play a pitch or despair that they live in the USA, because that's worked out just fine for at least one player.
A lot of things are possible, including that the current labor dispute of MLS will remain unsettled. A work stoppage would leave Donovan without a league to come back to, so he could then remain at Everton. He'd probably be fine with that, as would many Everton fans.
The sky is not falling if Donovan leaves, though. Other options could work out just as well, or better.
The first bite may well be the sweetest, but there's more cake on the plate.
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com North America
Become a fan of Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything the related to the beautiful game!
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