Galaxy coach Frank Yallop said on Tuesday that he might consider playing Landon Donovan against Chivas USA on Aug. 23.
That doesn't seem like much of a statement except when you consider where Donovan will be on Aug. 22. Donovan was called into the United States national team for a match in Sweden on Aug. 22.
Yallop said that he'd consider playing Donovan depending on how much playing time the U.S. player sees against the Swedes.
I find it difficult to imagine anybody playing in Europe and Southern California within a 36-hour span and being effective. It kind of smacks of desperation.
10 comments:
Well yeah LAG is pretty desperate for a win right now. If they fail to make it into the playoffs Yallops is certain to lose his job.
Maybe this is a good time for Donovan to decline a callup like he wanted to do if he had been called in for Copa America. Donovan stated back in May or June that he wanted to be in the US to help make sure LAG made it to the playoffs. This seems to be a perfect time to follow threw on those statements. An Bradley must realize the predictment he is putting Donovan in by doing this. If he does go you have to question his priorities.
Maybe Donovan can fly back with Bornstein.
After WC 2002 Donovan flew back to San Jose and played, was effective. It was the next game after that he was not effective. Beckham intends to do the same, I read today.
Donovan does not need to be questioned about anything. His priorities are correct for both club and country.
I beg to differ about Donovan priorities being correct. I don't know what value this friendly could have to him other then trying to win a match on European soil. Maybe he does need to prove to himself that he can play well on European soil. If he cared so much about LAG making the playoffs like he said he did a few months ago then he should maybe decline this call up. I'm not an LAG fan but I would think if you really want to make that last push to try to get in then he would need to say thanks but no thanks on this one.
Well, I'm going to continue to differ with your differing. Donovan has shown that he values both his club team and his national team. It is not his fault that both club and country depend so heavily upon him. Neither team is the same without him. And tries to walk a fine line of allegiance to both - and has done an exemplary job. I'm not going to question him. No one should.
I can see why Landon would want to come back home as quick as possible. The last few times he's played in Europe haven't gone to smoothly see Bayer Leverkusen, and Germany 2006. At least he has Bianca in So Cal just like he always wanted.
according to jaime cardenas' lastest chivas article (yes, i read him too) preki said bornstein won't be playing when he gets back from sweden. but if donovan plays when he gets back maybe that will spurn preki on to play bornstein too. we'll just have to see.
I don't see how you can expect a player to play one day in Sweden and literally 30 hours afterward play a game in Southern California. I just don't see it.
If it were a cup final or the playoffs, perhaps then I could see it. But a regular-season game? Why would you put the player in such a risky situation?
I don't question his allegiance to club or country I'm saying sometimes you have to say no thank you. They don't really need him for this game in Sweden, but his club needs him more for that Aug23 match. BB should have been more mindful of that, but LD could just say no. I don't think he would take much heat for missing a friendly(against Sweden) and we do need to learn how to win w/o him on the field.
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