The Rumour Mill

Loan move for Donovan seems unlikely

13/12/2012 |

Comments (14)

Everton are unlikely to try to bring Landon Donovan back to Goodison Park on loan for a third time in January.

Reports from America have suggested the player feels exhausted and burned-out after a season when he scored in the final to bag the Galaxy a second successive MLS Cup, despite battling knee and hamstring problems.

That final against Houston Dynamo in October was the Californian's 49th game in 48 weeks, and in an interview with the LA Times last month, he suggested he may be ready for a prolonged break from the game.

Original Source: Liverpool Echo Rumour source ranking:
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Reader Comments

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Jimmy Salt
904 Posted 13/12/2012 at 16:24:56

We need players with a view to keeping them, so probably for the best.

Jon Ferguson
931 Posted 13/12/2012 at 20:02:03

I always think thought that Donavon was over rated by many on here. I think it says a lot that he didn't come to Europe permanently to test his talent in one of the best leagues. That would have improved him as a player.

Donavon is the past, we need to be looking to the future.

David Hallwood
932 Posted 13/12/2012 at 20:10:10

I disagree with Jon Ferguson (#931) that Donovan was overrated however it is right to question his desire and hunger. IMHO a footballer should put the club first and its locality a very distant second, and obviously he didn't want to sacrifice the california lifestyle for cold wet Merseyside.

Yes I realise that they have a different system over there, but player power is global and if a player wants a move he will get it. A great pity because his first spell with us coincided with the best football I've seen us play since the mid 80's

Paul Ellam
939 Posted 13/12/2012 at 21:00:09

I think we are pretty well covered for wingers. I would rather spend any money on a centre midfielder like Odjidja-Ofoe and a striker like Vossen or even Gameiro who seems to have been linked today

James Flynn
945 Posted 13/12/2012 at 21:10:34

Too bad. Important season, this, and he'd fit right in and give us depth.

Here's my take:

LD, incredible athlete he is, is nearing the end of his physical peak; like any player. AEG is up for sale with Beckham gone. Over here, the Lampard and/or Kaka to Galaxy talk has been for the last year.

Landon might plan on playing his last season here and retire. Who knows. My feeling is he wants to use his last 2-3 years of game-changing athleticism in the top league with Everton, not MLS.

Now, Klinsmann favors players playing to the European schedule (in Europe) and (important for our domestic league) the advancement of MLS popularity is directly connected to how well our National Side does in the WC.

So, given Klinsmann's (correct) demand that US players up for our roster in 2014, be playing on the European timetable and MLS ownership understanding how much WC 2014 will affect increased gate attendance and TV contracts, I'll speculate.

LD gets to go to Goodison late January for some minimal transfer fee. And, of course, even a modest increase in his wages is chump change, even for Kenwright and them.

And, just as an American, Lampard and Kaka in MLS!!

Chris Owens
954 Posted 13/12/2012 at 23:32:34

49 games in 48 weeks. That's an hour and a half's work every week for almost a year. No wonder he's exhausted and burned out.

Christine Foster
961 Posted 14/12/2012 at 02:47:16

Really cannot understand the willingness to just let a world class player be passed by, he may be 30 but he is class and still has a couple of good seasons in him at Goodison. The difference he made to the team was immense, compare before he left and after with big Vic playing the same role, made Vic look the immature Wally he is, how on earth can people not see?

Our midfield creativity is weak, Coleman is immature, at least two or three seasons away from his peak, Naismith is not the finished article and Osman flits in and out of games. We need his skill, experience and maturity if only for a couple of seasons.

Chris James
967 Posted 14/12/2012 at 07:33:52

I totally second Chris Owen remark.
Players have such a pampered, cushy life these days.

Tony J Williams
983 Posted 14/12/2012 at 09:49:37

Rumour from a lad "in the know" in work says that Donovan is an almost done deal. He knows a lad who was doing work in Neville's house and it is close to being finalised... I know, I know, my friend's cousin's best mates dog etc etc. But he has been right more times than wrong.
--
Good backup for Mirallas I suppose (if it's true)

Mike Gaynes
044 Posted 14/12/2012 at 16:00:03

Christine, I don't think we're passing Donovan by. I would bet Everton has been in touch with him, and I'd bet he is telling them what he has told everybody for months -- that he wants to take his boots off for a while. The prospect might be more attractive to him with a starting job waiting, now that Mirallas is out, but I doubt it.

Chris and Chris, you guys are crazy. A game a week for a year, plus training and travel, with no breaks and no offseason, at age 30? Trust me, after a stretch like that, your body starts to break down. Especially a guy who gets fouled as much as Donovan. Everything hurts.

Andy Meighan
259 Posted 15/12/2012 at 21:08:08

It pisses me off this... Every year at this time, Donovan's name crops up. Yes, he's done a decent job for us but he's really not the world class player some Evertonians make him out to be. I can remember games where he was just a passenger. We've been there, done that... now can we please move on?

John Crawley
388 Posted 16/12/2012 at 12:45:30

If at all possible we should sign him on a permanent deal. It's clear to me that he would have definitely come here permanently a year or two ago. The reason he didn't is simple — Everton didn't have any money! He would make our squad stronger and give everyone a boost if he came over.

Stephen Graham
758 Posted 17/12/2012 at 23:37:28

Forget about LD. The Guardian is fitting us up with one Joleon Lescott.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/dec/17/joleon-lescott-manchester-city-mario-balotelli

Daniel Embleton
983 Posted 25/12/2012 at 22:34:10

We should've signed him 2 years ago!! I'd still have him now!!

Show some loyalty, blue men — we're not reds!! 2 years in him yet...

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