OT: Landon Donovan Left Off USA WC Squad

[Jimdish255]

15 minutes of LD per game was going to be the difference between US embarrassment and not? It's not like he's Messi. We are in the legit grupo de la muerte. If we get through (with or without LD) it would be a gift from whatever god you prefer.

(on the goal itself, while it was a nice run, you probably could have done better than an open net from the 6 yard line! )

His pass set up the goal but to your main point about the Group of Death. Your logic is we're going to lose anyway so get rid of just Landon Donovan. He's the best choice to chop off the roster to look towards the future? And the message to the players is we weren't winning anyway. I'm struggling to rationalize any of it. And who deemed his being limited to 15 min?

 

[UConnDan97]

Hmmm, left footed, too.

http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...axy-vs-philadelphia-union/details/video/17101

We just simply do not have 23 players better than him. Period.

 

[intlzncster]

His pass set up the goal but to your main point about the Group of Death. Your logic is we're going to lose anyway so get rid of just Landon Donovan. He's the best choice to chop off the roster to look towards the future? And the message to the players is we weren't winning anyway. I'm struggling to rationalize any of it. And who deemed his being limited to 15 min?

Well, that wasn't my logic at all. My point there didn't have to do with whether he should have been on the team or not. The guy said something about foreseeing 4 weeks of embarrassment for JK. I'm saying that it wouldn't have made a difference either way, so this decision isn't going to define the outcome nor lead to enormous embarrassment for JK. Maybe the US gets close or even through, but I wouldn't bet on it. In fact, I'll be happy to bet against it for whomever is willing.

 

[SubbaBub]

I can name only one player on the current roster who could have made those plays and I'm not sure Dempsey has the quality to have made that free kick on the first goal. If LD is scoring and playmaking, you don't think people will be talking about it. I'm pretty sure the announcers will talk about it every time the US misses a chance. Fairly certain that despite all attempts to say otherwise, this has divided the locker room. There are a lot of guys for whom this is their last or only WC. I'm sure they'd like to have the best player in US history on the squad. More than one thought that last night.

 

[rich1122]

If LD pulled his little sabbatical in any traditional soccer nation, he would have been summarily retired from national team duties for the duration of his career. They would also burn his likeness in effigy.

Seriously, if the whole sabbatical thing was supposed to help, it didn't.

Old fart teachers and professors take sabbaticals. World Class soccer players that are supposed to be in their prime don't.

Yes imagine if Ronaldo or Rooney took a sabbatical.

 

[rich1122]

Why do I foresee 4+ weeks of embarrassment for JK.

http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ma...axy-vs-philadelphia-union/details/video/17092

We give our best effort ever in the qualifiers and finally beat Mexico and we are going to do worse than ever?? If this is what it takes to change the culture and develop the program then so be it. I am tired of hoping that we make elimination rounds by the skin of our teeth. If we are mediocre then we will be mediocre with or without him.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

It's MLS and not the World Cup; but, I didn't see much wrong with LD's play last night, plus he got two goals. The record break goal was classic LD. On the run, pinpoint, 20 yard pass through a lot of feet to get to Kean who then crossed it to LD for an easy 1 yard, empty net shot that LD kept his head on an stayed onside for.

http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1832142/landon-donovan-broke-mls-career-goal-scoring-record-win-philadelphia"?cc=5901

 

[UConnDan97]

Yes imagine if Ronaldo or Rooney took a sabbatical.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but your hypothetical is starting to show how little you know about soccer.

If Cristiano Ronaldo took a 3-month sabbatical, he would be back on the Portuguese national team exactly 0.8 seconds after he announced that he was ready again. If you think otherwise, you're crazy. If you think any coach would have the clout to tell Ronaldo where to stick it, then you don't understand soccer. He is a player that coaches get fired over, plain and simple...

 

[Waquoit]

Why do I foresee 4+ weeks of embarrassment for JK.

Probably because you hate America

 

[rich1122]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but your hypothetical is starting to show how little you know about soccer.

If Cristiano Ronaldo took a 3-month sabbatical, he would be back on the Portuguese national team exactly 0.8 seconds after he announced that he was ready again. If you think otherwise, you're crazy. If you think any coach would have the clout to tell Ronaldo where to stick it, then you don't understand soccer. He is a player that coaches get fired over, plain and simple...

But he would NEVER do it and that's the point.

 

[rich1122]

Probably because you hate America

Subba is already primed to blame Bush,.

 

[UConnDan97]

But he would NEVER do it and that's the point.

Rooney (one of your two examples) took 3 weeks off earlier this year on his "Hot Weather Break", presumably to get his groin back to 100% health, even though reports had come out that he was able to play.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/wayne-rooney-sent-away-manchester-3008279

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/55/91295/Sports/World/Manchester-United-striker-Rooney-in-Egypt-on-a-‘ho.aspx

“We've sent a fitness coach with him and he is away with his family. So we've given him a bit of a break. I always hoped I would be able to do that at some point in the season, but his groin is not as good as we hoped at this point.”

Players, especially those who are around 30 years old or higher, have to take some time off to help prevent against injury as well as burn-out. Many of the great players do it. The problem for Landon was not that he took the time off, but that he called it a sabbatical. Had he just claimed a nagging injury that he had to get back to health from, this sabbatical talk wouldn't be an issue...

EDIT: Here's a report where Rooney could have played:

http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/...ey-robin-van-persie-played-sunderland?cc=5901

"But ESPN has been told both could have been involved, with manager David Moyes opting not to use his most prolific players as United prepare for two Premier League games in the space of five days against Cardiff and Stoke next week."

 

[rich1122]

Groin injury different than sabbatical. I watched Rooney every week. Even with the groin problem he never let up.

 

[UConnDan97]

Groin injury different than sabbatical. I watched Rooney every week. Even with the groin problem he never let up.

Well, I know that you didn't watch him every week, because he missed a lot of weeks. Call it what you want, but these players get burned out. Most of these players (Landon included) are playing for their club in both the regular season and post-season tournaments as well as international games for their country year round. After a decade or so, you get burned out, both physically and emotionally. Add to those facts that Landon played a couple of years for Everton in the off-season, and it's no wonder he needed a sabbatical.

But let's not get confused here. The sabbatical was not the issue. If it was, he never would have started two more games in World Cup Qualifiers after that point, nor would he have been on the 30-man provisional roster. Let's all be clear on that...

 

[spsct]

That's not true. Let's be honest about it.

If Bastian Schweinsteiger took a "sabbatical", and then wished to return during WCQ (which is what Donovan did), he would either be let back on the team or the coach would be changed. The average player? Maybe you'd be right. The star? You're dead wrong.

I'll give you two recent examples from Italy that fit the mold of people who had lost their minds even more than Donovan: Balotelli and Cassano. Both found themselves back on the national team, and the coach found ways to reincorporate them into the team dynamic.

If the player is good enough, the coaches find ways to adjust...

Sorry, I just don't agree. If a player chose to bail on the first 3 games of qualification, especially (if my recollection is correct) when those are probably the toughest and most critical matches of the cycle, then I don't expect him to be welcomed back with open arms. Especially if that player is so critical to the team's success, as everyone on the web seems to think is the case.

We'll probably never know, because in the 8 years I've lived here I can't remember it ever happening. And that includes qualifications for 2 World Cup and 2 European Championships. I'll ask around and get some of my friends thoughts on the topic; I could be wrong.

In any event, I also said that my belief is there were other factors in play that played a bigger part in his exclusion.

 

[UConnDan97]

In any event, I also said that my belief is there were other factors in play that played a bigger part in his exclusion.

I agree with this statement. Especially once you consider that Klinsmann has ALREADY welcomed him back with open arms prior to the conclusion of the WCQ.

By the way, the greatest soccer player (IMO) to ever play the game was marred with many "sabbaticals" for non-injury related issues:

 

[Waquoit]

I don't think you guys comparing LD to Rooney, Ronaldo and Maradona are helping your case.

 

[intlzncster]

I agree with this statement. Especially once you consider that Klinsmann has ALREADY welcomed him back with open arms prior to the conclusion of the WCQ.

By the way, the greatest soccer player (IMO) to ever play the game was marred with many "sabbaticals" for non-injury related issues:

Maradona could hop on our team right now! Apparently, he's been looking positively svelte of late.


/jk

 

[ZooCougar]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but your hypothetical is starting to show how little you know about soccer.

If Cristiano Ronaldo took a 3-month sabbatical, he would be back on the Portuguese national team exactly 0.8 seconds after he announced that he was ready again. If you think otherwise, you're crazy. If you think any coach would have the clout to tell Ronaldo where to stick it, then you don't understand soccer. He is a player that coaches get fired over, plain and simple...

A: Donovan is not Ronaldo.

B: Ronaldo doesn't take sabbaticals to go find himself.

 

[whaler11]

A: Donovan is not Ronaldo.

B: Ronaldo doesn't take sabbaticals to go find himself.

A: The US doesn't have 20 players better than Donovan

B: Seemingly everyone in the world realizes this except for the coach and those who blindly accept his decisions because he is the coach.

 

[UConnDan97]

Look, everyone: I like Klinsmann. I think he has done a nice job of changing our style of play over the last three years. I think that he understands tactics, and has made us a stronger side than we were prior to his arrival. But the man is not infallible. He let emotions dictate this past decision, and it's pretty clear to most everyone that is the case.

Will we still be okay in the World Cup? I hope so. I hope every move he makes works out and that we are headed to the Promised Land. I hope some of these young kids come out and light it up. But Donovan should have been on the squad. Hopefully, we can get a nice job done without him...

 

[SubbaBub]

Groin injury different than sabbatical. I watched Rooney every week. Even with the groin problem he never let up.

So if LD said he had a groin injury, you'd be OK with his time off?

As for hating america, why would you want anything but the best squad representing the good ole USA in the most important soccer tournament in the world?

Btw, your opinions aren't worth any more outside the cesspool than inside it. In both cases, it's zero.

I've watched every MNT match since 1990, advancing out of this group would be the greatest accomplishment in the history of the program and make me very happy. I think this would have been our best squad ever if LD, Goodson, and either Parkhurst or Ream were added and Brooks, Davis, and Yedlin were left at home.

 

[ZooCougar]

A: The US doesn't have 20 players better than Donovan

B: Seemingly everyone in the world realizes this except for the coach and those who blindly accept his decisions because he is the coach.

A: Edsall should have started Dennis Brown in 2005-6

B: Not a soul on the planet believed we had good QB play in that season and the season before, remember: "DJ is a gamer".

C: Donovan hasn't scored a goal in intl play since what? October? I say let him eat orange slices with his mommy in the minivan.

 

[whaler11]

A: Edsall should have started Dennis Brown in 2005-6

B: Not a soul on the planet believed we had good QB play in that season and the season before, remember: "DJ is a gamer".

C: Donovan hasn't scored a goal in intl play since what? October? I say let him eat orange slices with his mommy in the minivan.

Not that it matters in this discussion but no one can look at Dennis Brown post transfer and say.. wow we lost a good one there.

 

[rich1122]

So if LD said he had a groin injury, you'd be OK with his time off?

As for hating america, why would you want anything but the best squad representing the good ole USA in the most important soccer tournament in the world?

Btw, your opinions aren't worth any more outside the cesspool than inside it. In both cases, it's zero.

I've watched every MNT match since 1990, advancing out of this group would be the greatest accomplishment in the history of the program and make me very happy. I think this would have been our best squad ever if LD, Goodson, and either Parkhurst or Ream were added and Brooks, Davis, and Yedlin were left at home.

Probably yes. It's the best God Cup since forever. Don't underestimate them.