In the early days of the 2010 Major League Soccer season, the LA Galaxy have two wins, six points, conceded no goals, and beaten their stadium-mate rivals in the first round of the their two round fight. Key to that success has been been their steady defense and the play of Edson Buddle, who has all three of the team's goals scored in the new year.
But it's eminently clear that one player in particular makes the Galaxy go. Landon Donovan draws attention from defenders, tracks back on defense, puts his teammates in good positions, and threatens opponents with his pace and skill every time he has the ball. Though the Galaxy aren't burying opponents or playing consistently enough yet to be clear favorites in the Western Conference, it's doubtful they'd be sitting where they are without their star.
Why then, considering that LA's other high quality star, David Beckham, is out for months and might not play in 2010, is the prevailing wisdom that Donovan will leave this summer?
LA's desires are just one element of the equation, I know, but thinking that they would willingly let their best player, marketing star, and face of the franchise go back to England permanently is impossible to believe. Never mind that Donovan just signed a brand new contract with the league/club, one that gave him a massive raise and put him into an ultra-elite MLS stratosphere that few players, and fewer American players, have joined.
Donovan had a nice little run at Everton. He proved he could play in one of the best leagues in the world, and save a missed sitter against Tottenham, did just about everything right. The turnaround in Everton's fortunes coincided with his arrival, a coming together that had the wonderful effect of rubbing off on Donovan and bolstering his reputation on both sides of the pond. Even if you don't ascribe to the theory that Donovan was a direct reason for Everton's improving form, he no doubt had a fantastic stint at Goodison Park.
So fantastic, in fact, that when asked about returning to England in the future, Donovan stated unequivocally that he would play for no one else but Everton. Never before has a player's love affair with the club taken hold so completely, so quickly.
Players often make these type of statements. Rarely do they stick, especially when large amounts of money are involved. But I don't think anyone doubts Donovan, and if he was to have an opportunity to go back to Europe post-World Cup, comfort and familiarity might win out over money and prestige. It's hard to imagine a player turning down Chelsea if they came calling, but I wouldn't put it past Donovan. The man knows what he likes, and has been burned too many times playing with teams for which he was a poor fit.
It's Everton or bust. Not that I'm calling the Los Angeles Galaxy "bust".
Does Everton have the resources to buy Donovan from MLS in the summer? Everything we've seen to this point says they probably don't, though it's conceivable they could sell to buy. But why would they do that for a 28 year old complimentary player? The trade off of selling a player to buy Donovan would need to be significantly in their favor for it to make any sense.
All of this talk about Donovan leaving in the summer presumes that MLS is even amenable to selling him. Without a healthy Beckham, and because it's a World Cup year that will put Donovan on the biggest stage and in front of the largest amount of American eye balls that watch any given soccer event, Donovan is a marketing commodity as well as a playing one. What's the price tag? Will MLS "overvalue" him because of his importance to selling the league to Americans?
Donovan's new contract gave him a raise, security, and the ability to go on loan. If the loan was a calculated move to showcase himself for a potential European buyer, then the prevailing wisdom is probably correct, and Donovan's as good as gone. But if the loan was simply Donovan's desire to prove himself in Europe, give it one last good shot to satisfy himself and no one else, don't be surprised if he's leading the Galaxy down the stretch run of the MLS season come August.
The world (i.e., the American soccer community) is convinced Donovan wants to leave for Europe in the summer. If it's not Everton that comes calling, I'm not so sure.
