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| Goodbye, Galaxy | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 30 2008, 09:15 PM (222 Views) | |
| Homer | Oct 30 2008, 09:15 PM Post #1 |
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I am the King
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The team's stars couldn't keep the Galaxy in playoff contention. Europe now beckons and finds a player ready and willing to make a new start. As a soccer reporter, I've seen the slightly dazed, yet determined look on the face of players when they first take the field in the colors of a new team. They're starting over - no matter how much experience they gained with other squads. Moving from one club to another is part of every professional's life. In a world in which opportunity can be fickle and fate can be cruel, most players are looking to find a place at the most prestigious club possible, earn a good salary and develop with teammates who are a good complement for one's skills. There's a learning curve of adjustment to any different situation. Even if the same basic language is spoken, there are still nicknames, inside jokes and other terminology that sets befuddled newbies apart from those in the know. There are unwritten rules or taboos players sometimes find out about the hard way. The pecking order among players sometimes takes a while to shake out. Yet despite certain difficulties, change is fundamentally intriguing. It might be comfortable for some to remain wherever they are already accepted and established, but it's human nature to push to improve, to keep striving for the best of what one is capable of doing. It's to be expected, therefore, that Europe and the prestigious clubs there hold a lot of appeal for soccer players around the world. Major League Soccer's best performers are no exception. The league has gained enough recognition for a larger number of continental clubs to scout the MLS ranks for new options. It seems inevitable, then, that Galaxy fans have to prepare to part with one of their best. But though the drama and publicity over David Beckham's possible loan to AC Milan has overshadowed everything else in Los Angeles, it's more likely that Beckham's teammate, Landon Donovan, will play in Europe in 2009. Until then, Donovan will wear the Galaxy colors for one last MLS game this Sunday. Despite the fact that the Galaxy was eliminated from the league playoffs, Donovan was motivated for the match against FC Dallas. "I'm sick of losing," Donovan said. "It's a chance to finish on a high note." With 19 goals and nine assists this season, Donovan has a chance to become the first player in league history to score 20 goals while reaching double digits in assists as well. The small striker needs one more tally in both the goals and assists column to reach the milestone, but he wasn't worried about the possibility. "It's not me trying to reach that," Donovan noted. "It's everyone else trying to have me reach that. If I score, great. But I want to win the game." Still, Donovan admitted that he did want to claim the league's coveted Golden Boot as the highest-scoring player during the regular season. Dallas forward Kenny Cooper is currently only a goal behind Donovan for the honor, which Donovan has never won in his MLS career. "I want to win it," Donovan acknowledged. "But like I said, I want to win the game. Hopefully, we can do both." Despite Donovan's scoring exploits, the Galaxy season was a turbulent one. Ruud Gullit resigned in the midst of a historic losing streak for the team, which was in defensive shambles. General manager Alexi Lalas was dismissed by team owners. Injuries affected key players, including three of the team's goalkeepers. "No team does well in constant flux," Donovan observed. Yet he refused to make excuses for the disappointing season. "At the end of the day, we've got to do our job. We were in plenty of games that we could have gotten better results. At the end of the year, you always think of games that you could have gotten six or seven more points somewhere else and we could have been in good shape. But that's in the past now and we've got to keep going." It's quite apparent, though, that Donovan doesn't plan to keep going with the team he's been a part of since 2005. "Once Sunday is over, we'll have some semi-serious discussions with the league and see where their heads are and decide where it goes from there," said Donovan. "It would be nice [to go to Europe], but we'll see what happens. Though the specific possiblity of playing for Bayern Munich has been raised before, Donovan seemed to be considering other options in Europe. "Maybe not Germany, but maybe somewhere," Donovan hinted. Though the Galaxy's poor season couldn't have provided incentive to stay with MLS, Donovan insisted that he wasn't looking to leave due to the team's downhill slide. "That's not why," he asserted. "I think competitively, mentally, physically, the way I am now, I'm approaching, or in, my prime. I want to have a chance at playing there [in Europe]. So I think this makes sense. This is the right time." One of the things that has affected the Galaxy negatively in the past few seasons has been a high level of player turnover and little continuity. While Donovan conceded that his departure could hurt the team, his dreams and goals took priority. "While clearly, I care about this team, in life, we all have to be selfish," Donovan stated. "If an opportunity comes, I have to think about it." He then offered a specific scenario as an example. "If you get an incredible job opportunity, it might hurt ESPN, but you've got to consider it," Donovan pointed out. "We all have those challenges in life." It's not too often that soccer players get to turn the tables on the journalist asking questions, but Donovan managed that trick neatly. It's true that I've been a contributor to espn.com's soccer page for years, but I recently gave up that post to come on board with Goal.com as both a writer and editor. I'm not sure who mentioned it to Donovan, but he knew. His analogy fit. I've got big hopes and dreams for what this site can become and what it can provide for soccer fans. Though I'm happy that my former colleagues have wished me well and a little sad to leave a place I worked long and hard for, I'm excited about the future with Goal.com. Selfishly, I'll miss Donovan, not only for his dynamic play on the field, but for his frank, unfiltered statements on any topic. Outspoken players are gold for media members. If Donovan's not the best quote in the league, he's at least in the top three. Nothing is a done deal with either Beckham's loan or Donovan's possible transfer, but most eyes are likely to be on #23 when the Galaxy finish off the MLS season. It's #10, however, who probably won't return in 2009. The time is right to just move on. |
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| jeebus | Oct 30 2008, 09:21 PM Post #2 |
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Emmanuel Eboue
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i wonder if beckham now regrets his move, he had a over inflated view of his popularity and he hasn't helped bring anything more than a short lived interest in "soccer" in the US. He certainly hasn't had the impact he thought he would and it would be interesting to see how much he actually earned from his image rights, i would hazard a bet that it is a fraction of what he expected and what was reported. Only thing i can remember him endorsing recently is some pens.
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PaulPinpointSCHOLES Nov 19 2008, 10:04 PM Ok ok Jeebus, you win, Homer is LFC19YEARS...Homer will comfirm it shortly I'm sure. | |
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| Homer | Oct 30 2008, 09:24 PM Post #3 |
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I am the King
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He should have stayed at Real Madrid or moved to Italy and its not him I blame it is his wife. |
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| jeebus | Oct 30 2008, 09:33 PM Post #4 |
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Emmanuel Eboue
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you can't blame his wife no matter how much of a bitch she is, he is a man is/should be more than capable of making his own decisions and if he isn't then it is his fault |
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PaulPinpointSCHOLES Nov 19 2008, 10:04 PM Ok ok Jeebus, you win, Homer is LFC19YEARS...Homer will comfirm it shortly I'm sure. | |
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| Homer | Oct 30 2008, 09:38 PM Post #5 |
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I am the King
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He is a very soft man who is scared of his wife. |
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| jeebus | Oct 30 2008, 09:40 PM Post #6 |
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Emmanuel Eboue
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then that is his fault is it not? |
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PaulPinpointSCHOLES Nov 19 2008, 10:04 PM Ok ok Jeebus, you win, Homer is LFC19YEARS...Homer will comfirm it shortly I'm sure. | |
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| Homer | Oct 30 2008, 09:49 PM Post #7 |
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I am the King
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Maybe
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