Everton News, Season 2011-12
Donovan talks Everton
However, the American international is concentrating on his time with LA Galaxy, for now; "Right now, my focus is obviously is on this season and qualifying for the World Cup. It's a big, really important year, and then we'll see what happens.
"I've always said the same thing: I'll see how my body feels, I'll see how I feel mentally, I'll see where the Galaxy are at and what they're OK or not OK with and then we'll make a decision."
It's conceivable that Donovan could return to Everton on loan for a third spell in January and then, with his World Cup commitments out of the way and his LA Galaxy contract entering it's final 6 months, make his move permanent next summer.
Much would depend, of course, on the price and the player's fitness and condition — Donovan turns 31 next March.
Original Source: FIFA website
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At what price l wonder, and will Moyes be tempted?
Although this is apparent to us, this is something we missed out on a few years back with Li Tie. We should have flooded the Chinese market but instead we didn't.
When he was with us Li Tie had the biggest fan base in WORLD Football, eclipsing Beckham and everyone else. But we didn't make anything of it, and, anyway, China was possibly not the country or economy it is today.
Probably not the China of today but it was still the most densely populated place on Earth and we still missed a trick by not selling the club over there.
Once the shirt manufacturer, distributor, importer, retailer, all take their cut, how much left of a $50 shirt in the usa to a handful of fans is there going to be for everton? Not much I would imagine.
Shirt sales in asia? Forget it, the market is flooded with cheap knockoffs, and anyway, even if it wasn't you can't sell a shirt for $50 in these countries where there is very little money. It's all relative. These countries (and their fans) only pay what they can afford and deem acceptable. They are not capitalistic money-grabbing commercial entities like the uk. It just doesnt work that way.
TV rights? From what some of our usa posters have put up here recently, nearly every efc match is screened on some channel over there anyway. So where is all our revenue from that? It won't increase by signing donovan thats for sure, we already have howard. Just because an efc game is shown in the usa doesnt suddenly mean we become cash-rich.
So, let's have some more financial sense, please! The reason we haven't signed donovan is because we haven't been able to afford him or consider the fee too high. If, as some of you are saying, its a financial no-brainer, then surely the banks would be queuing up to lend us the money to buy him based on a road-to-riches return.
I can't see a queue forming, can you?
Anyone who says he is merely ok is adding him to the most underrated Everton list. He creates way more than Pienaar.
I would take him for anything less than 4m pounds, but probs not more than 5m.
Anyway, less of the Hedgemaster educational tips on things that will never be... Donovan's comments will only do us good in the American market but I think he should put his money where his mouth is and 'just do it'. He knows he's loved here, and there will always be a place in the team as long as his body is able...
Anyone heard if we have money to spend yet?
There MAY be some truth in what you say but surely, if you can reach one of the biggest populations in the world and raise your profile for very little ,or no, outlay you'd be mad not to do it. Or am I missing something here?
Remember the Thailand Tsunami disaster? When Everton set up a fund and rebuilt a school/village? How much of that made the national news or papers? Yet when Utd gave away a kit (or something equally as trivial) it was all over the place. We must improve our profile and the likes of Donovan, with Howard, would surely help us in the USA.
Personally I don't think his age should be too much of an issue. Look at Giggs at United? And I tell you what Landon looks one hell of an athlete so why shouldn't he be able to play for another 4/5 more years at a good level. 31 should be a players peak, not the start of his decline!
Imagine him on one wing and Pienaar on the other with Jelavic upfront...I think I just exploded in excitement!
Then again if you can do that and still get quite a few assists its not a bad thing.
The more he keeps just coming on loan, the less chance he has of signing permanently due to his age ? unless of course he doesn't want to sign full time in the first place.
I live in Texas, and there's not much Royal Blue around, unless my family is out and about!
Plus, am currently spending some time in Mexico City; even before the CL win, there was way too much Chelsea blue around, plus of course Man U and the big ones are Barca and RM here.
I haven't seen much sky blue in Texas or Mexico (yet).
As mentioned earlier, add in the Nike marketing machine and you have a good proposition ... especially for us living here :-)
James, he stayed in America because he prefers it here, gets paid more and gets more endorsements, especially in Mexico because he's fluent in Spanish. No reason to make a permanent move. Maybe after the World Cup he'd be more interested, but I still doubt MLS will let him go.
Another loan spell would be fine with me.
These cryptic statements are relatively meaningless and seem to be something of a challenge to EFC to come after him on yet another loan. No thanks.
a) you're in the usa and
b) there aren't many other everton supporters around.
And....back in the room! Now, can you show me the "no-brainer" argument where its based on cash vs performance vs revenue?
"There MAY be some truth in what you say".
Yes, there is.
"but surely, if you can reach one of the biggest populations in the world and raise your profile for very little ,or no, outlay you'd be mad not to do it. Or am I missing something here?"
Maybe you are missing something? We HAVE reached some of the biggest populations in the past and current. Howard is american - yes? So the same audience? He is a first team USA regular. Have we become rich? No. And let's call it as it is; donovan is not "little or not outlay". He's top dollar.
Li-Tie - another of the biggest population. Have we become rich? No.
We've had international players from pretty much every country. They don't get bigger in aussie land than tim. Have we plundered aussie shirt sales and tv revenue? What about our other internationals past and present? Did we cash-in shirt sales in russia when bily signed? What about croatia tv with jelavic?
Maybe I'm mad...or maybe, just maybe, these dreams of unfound gold in them there hills, has gotten to some of you. As if we'd have plundered first? Christ.
Football has plundered all it can. There are no more cash-cows (outside rich owners). Football has lived beyond its means for a good few years. Finally, the banks have caught up with everyone - they want their money back and pronto (as they have defaulted on far too many 42" tv's on credit for the unemployed and £300k houses for those on £20k a year). Consequently, they are not going to give it out very easily to football club on players purchases either, if they do at all.
You can rest assured that every footclub is employing good accountants, salesman, strategists, who are trying to find ways of being profitable, break-even easy.
So to suggest we can just buy whatever player we want and make up fantasy financial balances - well thats what got football, and the world, into this recession.
There are no buried hoards of unknown revenue treasure.
Can you tell me what our blueprint has been to promote our club in these countries? Howard in America? Li Tie in China? Cahill in Australia?
You see, I don't know what we've been doing to advertise our club, do you? All I know is that Blues who come on here from other countries seem to think we're invisible. I have read of fans trying to buy Everton shirts, but are unable to find them.
Christ indeed.
Secondly you would hope he would have some ambition of testing himself against the best surely? He can quite obviously hack it over here so I can't really see what he is achieving over there other than a cushy lifestyle. It isn't even championship standard their league ffs. I personally think someone like Dempsey has to be held in much higher regard for doing it week in week out over here as apposed to Donovan who seems to like being a tourist for 2 months.
I would say thanks for the memories Donovan but unless you want a permanent deal then I wouldn't take him back. Waste of loan fee and wages.
if he has any personal ambition, then he needs to try a move before he retires instead of getting a few months of love on twitter with his cheesy love of Everon, then pissing off back to his sunny comfort zone.
if you love us so much sign and if you did I would be pretty happy as he is a great little player.
I think it's worth pointing out that our pre season tour of Australia netted the club just under £2 million in revenue, and was probably the main reason for the tour rather than the competitive element of the opposition, obviously having Tim (Australia's most bankable football star) was a massive help, markets can be exploited by having foreign stars in the team, but I don't think it will ever be worth zillions.
My team 4 2 3 1
Howard
Coleman, Heit, Distin, Baines
Fell, Gibson
Donovan, hoilett, Pienaar
Jelavic
Subs
Hibbert, Duffy, Nev and Rodwell and some youngests for defence
Rodwell and Nev for def Mid
Gueye, Barklay and either Cahill or osman as AT&T Mid
And finally vellios and Donovan as spare strikers
And try and use more youngsters on the bench.
As far as shirt sales go, ever remember Real madrid quite happily boasting their purchase of Beckham would be paid for in shirt sales alone and it pretty much was. Everton's current credit rating would kick it in the teeth over anything more than a JIT merchanidisng deal but doesn't make it impossible.
"I miss the people. I miss the people a lot. I miss driving to Goodison Park. I miss just the positive energy of the fans walking into the stadium and how much they care about that club and the team. And I miss the players a lot. The players are really what made it easiest for me when I first went. I?ll be forever indebted because with a lot of teams? guys there would be jealousy, they wouldn?t be welcoming, and they would do everything they can to not allow you to get on the field in that couple of months. And, it was the opposite when I first got there (Everton) and I will always remember that.".
That brought a tear to my eye.
Everton really is a special club.
If possible and I will repeat this till I'm proven right... the CB partnership should be Jags/Heitinga.
guess my alignment comes from the Pienaar/Donovan/Hoillet axis which is my wish list.
Move heaven and earth for Pienaar and Hoilett, keep the rest together and maybe sell Rodwell.
Reckon we would be knocking on door for CL then.
am a big fan. When I compared him to drenthe in jan, it was no contest for me. Pre hindsight.
For those who are interested Donovan earns $2.4m per year at Galaxy. Breaks down to about $46k p/w. The top earners salaries were published in the Guardian. He could easily have earn more here.
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