The Rumour Mill, Season 2011-12

Donovan return not close to fruition?

05/12/2011 |

Comments (40)

They don't offer anything in the way of supporting evidence — except the forward's lack of commitment either way — but the Mail claims that Everton aren't anywhere close to bringing Landon Donovan back to Goodison for a second loan spell.

After turning the Blues down a year ago and opting for rest instead after his World Cup and MLS commitments, the American star made it known that he'd love to return to Everton one day.

With Donovan closing in on 30, many Blues are feeling it's now or never for the LA Galaxy player, particularly given how badly David Moyes's team needs an injection of pace and creativity.

With the domestic season in the US just finished and Galaxy on a tour of the Far East and Australia, Donovan has not had time to figure out his next move. Some observers say that because of a couple of injury troubles and yet more international action this year, that next move could well be to stay put in the California sun for another year.

Original Source: Daily Mail

Comments

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Mark Riding
1 Posted 06/12/2011 at 00:00:14

If you were Landon, be honest, what would you do this winter...

Go on a warm holiday after a tough, championship winning season... or Sunderland away on Boxing day?

Adam Fenlon
2 Posted 06/12/2011 at 01:11:22

Plenty of time for a warm holiday! Would give me left nut for Sunderland away on Boxing Day!

Ryan Rosenberg
3 Posted 06/12/2011 at 01:15:21

Saw Landon train yesterday in Melbourne. Looked very sharp, would LOVE to have him back. Him & Drenthe would run riot down the flanks.

David Barks
4 Posted 06/12/2011 at 02:48:34

If Everton want to try to pull their heads out of their asses and get some market pull in the US, a huge market, they need to just get this guy to sign and not for only a loan. Get him signed, convince him to try to advance his career by committing to a few years at Everton. We would have Tim Howard and Landon Donovan, the two most recognizable players in the US game.

Then pay for some commercials in the US selling these two players, just like you would if you were any other business. ESPN would be covering or showing highlights of every one of our games, our jersey sales would go way up, and our market penetration would lead to more income.

It's really simple business logic. Get him to sign. And yes, him on the right and Drenthe on the left with Fellaini and Rodwell in the middle would instantly make us a threat going forward.

Dan San
5 Posted 06/12/2011 at 02:55:01

Let's put it this way: if I was him and I read the comments on here and thought it was a fair representation of the view of the majority of fans, then I wouldn't want to join us at all.

But, as it is, there are plenty of positive aspects of wanting to join Everton too. He's just what we need right now; I hope it happens.

Peter Barry
6 Posted 06/12/2011 at 02:59:51

Love the idea you are selling David but it has as much chance of succeeding as the squadron of pigs has of taking off. Under Tactics devoid Dour Davey and 'its all mine' Kenwright good ideas just don't fly.

Gerry Morrison
7 Posted 06/12/2011 at 04:57:19

Forget about Sunderland on Boxing day; the transfer window does not open until January.
I would like to see him sign for us on January 1st.

Martin Mason
8 Posted 06/12/2011 at 05:26:13

April 1st more likely.

Dave Richman
9 Posted 06/12/2011 at 05:51:53

David Barks #4: "It's really simple business logic." - Sadly, that's where your post falls flat, mate. We'll no doubt be doing the opposite.....

James Flynn
10 Posted 06/12/2011 at 15:01:38

Would love him back, but can't see it. Certainly not on a loan. He played thru a thigh injury for 2 months, there's a N. American club tournament in March, then the WC qualifiers kick-in.

EFC would have to purchase his contract. That's the only way I see a move. And we don't have the money to make that happen. What's really fucked is that by EPL standards, Landon wouldn't really cost much.

Gerry Morrison
11 Posted 06/12/2011 at 16:14:59

Martin. Oh ye of little faith. Where is your Christmas spirit?

Kristi Panduku
12 Posted 06/12/2011 at 16:28:14

Great points by David Barks. I don't understand how we're not capitalizing on the marketing power that Howard combined with Landon Donovan would have in the US. Sure he would cost a little bit, but not more than a crappy striker from the Championship that would just sit on the reserve team for the rest of the year. And aren't we supposed to have a little money to spend in January? I hope it happens and I hope the team does a better job marketing Donovan Howard and Everton in the US than they did this past summer.

Rob Murphy
13 Posted 06/12/2011 at 17:38:28

DREAMS

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

Langston Hughes

Jeremy Benson
14 Posted 06/12/2011 at 17:41:17

Re: David @4

By your logic, we are already getting half of this fantasy "income" from having Howard (one of the two most recognisable us players, etc etc) in the team.

If you can show us where this income is in the accounts, perhaps Everton FC might consider your idea of doubling it by signing another one.

As for commercials - if you can show me a TV advert paid for by a premiership club, to showcase their signings, then I'd be delighted to see it.

No? Maybe these clubs have no financial nous either, eh?

Or maybe, your idea is a little bit silly...

Alex Mullan
15 Posted 06/12/2011 at 17:46:32

Didn't Moyes say he was too old to buy the last time? He wouldn't join us permanently now anyway, what the hell sort of maniac would? Life of hero-worship in the States, in a warm climate playing in the best team in the league, or the drabbest Everton side since Walter Smith in the pissing rain of Liverpool.

Dean Adams
16 Posted 06/12/2011 at 17:59:55

Rob Murphy 13 14

Is he related to Yosser?

Slimani Toto
17 Posted 06/12/2011 at 18:42:26

Like my facebook Page for Donovan return to Everton!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Landon-Donovan-return-to-Everton/208004759280271

Jeremy Benson
18 Posted 06/12/2011 at 18:49:21

I'd rather cut my own bollocks off with a rusty hacksaw.

James Flynn
19 Posted 06/12/2011 at 19:14:08

Someone - A fifth of whiskey and a rusty hacksaw for Jeremy.

Steven Traynor
20 Posted 06/12/2011 at 19:15:17

This is how bad things have gone; we are all sweating on the return of a 30-year-old MLS player who played okay for a few months nearly 2 years ago....

Jeremy Benson
21 Posted 06/12/2011 at 19:26:59

No need for the whisky - the thought of people having a fantasy facebook transfer campaign is enough to numb all essential nerves and brain cells.

Tommy Heskrth
22 Posted 06/12/2011 at 19:36:15

Gent's afer reading this classic Moyes post I'm not sure we will be bringing anyone in...

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11671/7355425/Moyes-unsure-over-funds

If he was told he was getting money back in September why so unsure now? Smoke & mirrors, although come Jan 1st I'm sure we will have 3 interested parties again.

Gavin Ramejkis
23 Posted 06/12/2011 at 19:44:12

Well spotted Tommy, the sheeple will quickly forget Billy Bullshitter's the Arteta money didnt go to the bank and we didnt have time to spend it, no doubt the fuckwits will be on here with some more harebrained excuses when the cupboards are bare yet again, equally forgetting where the rest of the money has gone since the start of last season:

Gosling's wages
Yobo loan fee and saved wages
Pienaar sale and saved wages
Yakubu loan fee and sale and saved wages
Beckford sale and saved wages
Vaughan sale and saved wages
Bellefield sale
Arteta sale and saved wages
other minor player releases and saved wages
current loanee saved wages

all gone mysteriously again

James Flynn
24 Posted 06/12/2011 at 19:51:37

Jeremy (22) - Ha! Good one. I'd already cracked the fifth, so it won't go to waste.

Glen Anderson
25 Posted 06/12/2011 at 19:53:03

Gavin, reading that list sent a chill down my spine.

I knew it already bit seeing it listed like that is terrifying how deep the financial shit we are in really is.

Glen Anderson
26 Posted 06/12/2011 at 19:53:56

Hmmm, that last sentence doesn't make sense but I think you all know what I meant.

Tommy Heskrth
27 Posted 06/12/2011 at 20:12:20

Gavin it's not gone... It's in the "other Operating Costs" column in the accounts.

Reading your list just brings home how apathetic we have become, were like members of a cult totally brainwashed with all the spin, lies & total bullshit were fed alamost on a daily basis.

Not sure what it will take for most fans to realise the shit were really in as last years accounts were worrying enough god help us when the next set is released.

Just a side note is Timmy smoking crack???

Just read the last sentence of his interview:

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11671/7356205/Cahill-We-will-come-good

If he thinks were doing very well someone should get him to watch the Stoke/Blackburn/Chelsea/ games to name a few.....

Richard Dodd
28 Posted 06/12/2011 at 20:25:36

Yes, Gavram, all that money gone to keep the club afloat! What would you rather have happened? Blow it all on a super star and see Everton in administration or selling out to the next Venkey in the queue?

Your constant sniping never contains one sensible suggestion as to how we get out of the mess that the idiotic finances of football has forced the club ? and many others ? into!

Glen Anderson
29 Posted 06/12/2011 at 20:34:27

Tommy, can you explain? Whether it is "gone" or whethe it is in the "other operating costs" isn't that all really neither here nor there cos we can't use it can we? So does it matter that Gavin uses the term "gone" and you use the term "in the other operating costs"? Either way we are skint.

Tommy Heskrth
30 Posted 06/12/2011 at 20:40:08

Glen,

No mate, it doesn't matter where the money is cause not even the Chairman knows where it's gone. My point is last year's accounts were pretty bad, but this year's may be even worse without any major sale i.e. Bellfield/Lescott.

Richard, keeping the club a float??? Are you insane? Did you not read Blue Bill's interview with the BU? He has brought this once proud club to its knees. You can roll out the usual rhectoric about him saving us from Agent Johnson, however that one good turn has been completely wiped from my memory as he's done more damage to us than Agent Johnson ever did.

Worrying times indeed...

Gavin Ramejkis
31 Posted 06/12/2011 at 20:48:07

Doddy, dear god, grow a set, all that money gone to keep the club afloat, so what does Billy Bullshitter have to sell next to pay the next bills? There's nothing left, smallest squad in the EPL, multi mortgaged ground, loaned training facility, no overdraft facility and BK and his merry bunch of fuckwits sitting back with their pockets sewn up.

My sniping doesnt have to give your blue rinsed tart a pension Doddy, he should have sold up when he admitted he was potless and clueless years ago but he hasn't instead clinging onto the old investment chestnut, pissing away millions of the club's money on Desperation Kirkby

One sensible suggestion? How about a few?

Sell the club you blue rinsed charllatan for its current value - £0

In source the piss poor merchandising deal - barely any profit whatsoever and nothing near our peer group - failing that negotiate a better deal and get the club merchandising out where people can buy it

Renegotiate the current sponsorship deal - again a pittance in comparison to our peer group

Develop non match day revenues

Simple starters for ten and ALL of which I have posted on this site before today, take off your BK tinted specs Doddy, this is like taking sweets off a baby.

0 out of 10 must try much harder

Glen and Tommy my feeling is that the monies raised by the list I posted have gone to various short term loans BK has signed up to with high repayment and the bank overdraft those lines are not other operating costs, I think Finch Farm and its atrocious fees make up a good slice of that.

Tommy Heskrth
32 Posted 06/12/2011 at 20:59:56

Gavin,

I think your right on the money with the "my feeling is that the monies raised by the list I posted have gone to various short term loans BK has signed up to with high repayment and the bank overdraft those lines are not other operating costs"

For me the problem is not what's happening this season even though it's shite ithe acid test wil be 2012/13 season when we potentially won't have anyone worth selling and Wonga won't give Bill anymore payday loans.

His statement saying I" I won't let the banks kill us I just won't" well if what's happened this season is them not killing us then god help us.

Eugene Ruane
33 Posted 06/12/2011 at 20:47:50

Richard Dodd you ask Gavin - "What would you rather have happened? Blow it all on a super star and see Everton in administration or selling out to the next Venkey in the queue?"

Queue!?

WHAT queue?

I appreciate that you have spent years believing in and arguing on behalf of a hopeless, inept, shifty, proven liar, but even you must realise that there is....NO FUCKING QUEUE!

(nb: the 'queue' is formed ONLY in Bill's head when season tickets go on sale).

Denis Richardson
34 Posted 06/12/2011 at 21:10:10

Dodd #29, not really sure you're getting it. Asset stripping to fund operating costs is not a viable business plan!

Only leads to the very place you already mentioned.......administration. Although at least if that happened we would finally be rid of BK and the other major shareholders. (Small shareholders would unfortunately also be shafted).

David Barks
35 Posted 06/12/2011 at 21:21:55

Jeremy #14

The club does no marketing with Tim Howard right now, hence making no money off of it. Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal advertise often on American TV, but they don't have American players so it might be a bit difficult for them to put American players in their commercials. I think Everton should be advertising on the TV now with Tim Howard. But Howard's notoriety is nothing compared to Donovan. Even if people don't know much about the game they generally know who Landon Donovan is.

If we signed him and marketed Donovan and Howard as Everton players, sell Americans on supporting two of their own, you could get kids into Everton jerseys with Donovan's name on it instead of a blank United jersey. It doesn't happen over night but you start with getting the kids, you get the sports media to pay attention, offering him up for interviews on Sportscenter to check his progress, and use those opportunities to sell the club.

And by the way, there are different forms of marketing than just commercials. In fact, commercials are getting to be outdated as far as bang for your buck goes. Advertising on line is much bigger these days for most industries.

And there are creative advertising schemes that just involve getting your name repeatedly mentioned, an example being setting up recurring interviews with Fox Sports and ESPN with Donovan and Howard. The public sees players they are interested in, keeps track of when their games are, wants to purchase their jerseys and other goods. Our tickets sales for when we tour the U.S. would increase greatly. And at the end of each interview with any American sports media it can be mentioned to go to Everton's US website (currently doesn't exist) to purchase Everton goods involving Howard and Donovan, and keep tabs on all things Everton. This drives traffic to the website (advertising revenue online increases), would increase sales, and increases Everton's brand recognition.

Andy Kay
36 Posted 06/12/2011 at 22:04:43

Was he really that good 1st time around? i remember the miss a Spurs! Who came back to us and pulled up trees? Terry Curran , Andy King , David Johnson ? Gravensen , Jeffers, even big Dunc didn't really cut the mustard second time around. Mcfadden ? no mate , time to look to a fresh younger option from the lower leagues for me.

James Flynn
37 Posted 07/12/2011 at 02:10:25

David (35 etal) - He aint coming back. I wish he was.

But as far as EFC profile building in the States? Next Spring-Summer we start our WC qualifiers. If LD was back in the fold, that's when Everton would be in the news over here.

Everton would nesesarily have to be mentioned. However, how much EFC gets mentioned over here is connected to how well ownership works at promoting EFC.

We need new ownership for that to happen.

Jeremy Benson
38 Posted 07/12/2011 at 06:23:55

Why would we want to build our profile and focus energies in the states?

Football is not popular there. The only team games they seem to like are those minority sports were they are world champions (i.e,no-one else in the world plays it to challenge them). It is not a real potential market like asia and africa and europe.

We have players in the team from belgium, france, germany, holland, argentina, greece, nigeria, poland, russia. There is a whole world outside the USA...

James Flynn
39 Posted 07/12/2011 at 16:20:07

Jeremy (38) - Can't agree with you there. Soccer here has been building year by year. If you went into a restaurant or bar here, the US WOMENS Team was on the TV and people were watching and cheering.

What we don't have are the superstars of the game and American sport practically invented the superstar marketing system like we've seen in show business since forever, starting back with Joe Namath in the 1960s.

Plus, fans here know quality and MLS' wage suppression is preventing stars in their prime from being signed, resulting in MLS' "Product" from taking off (Even though attendence keeps going up).

The US is fertile territory for the club that plants the flag here. No European team has done so. Yes, the ManUs and Barcas pack them in when they come over pre-season. But they do not have a full-fledged effort to make the US their own. No one else is trying either. Why not EFC? And signing Landon would be a nice start.

Of course, that's not going to happen. Galaxy ownership have an aggressive agenda in "flag-planting" and keeping LD is a key part of that.

James Flynn
40 Posted 07/12/2011 at 16:40:14

Dave (35) - You know what struck me as I read your post there? You're suggestions were basically Marketing 101 or Generating Publicity For Dummies.

And our Club isn't doing it. Ugh!

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