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Donovan talks Everton

22/05/2012 |  43 Comments: First  |  Last
Speaking to the FIFA website, Landon says, "I would absolutely like to come back. There's no question about that. And I know I will be back at some point. Now, whether I'm back as a player or just as a fan, who knows?"

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

Comments

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Christine Foster
909   Posted 22/05/2012 at 13:49:57

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Just seen this put up on ESPN, Landon Donovan wants to return to EFC and it sounds like he wants it bad.

At what price l wonder, and will Moyes be tempted?

Ryan Rosenberg
910   Posted 22/05/2012 at 13:50:16

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What more does he need to accomplish in the MLS? Should have made it clear he wanted to compete with the big boys 3-4 years ago. I would take him back, although age is an issue, much like Pienaar.
James Morgan
912   Posted 22/05/2012 at 13:54:13

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Worth it for a couple of mil but his age is the down side. Maybe his name on the back of Nike made Everton shirts would shift by the ton in the states and cover the cost, who knows?
Chris Morris
918   Posted 22/05/2012 at 14:14:41

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James Morgan #912 that is a great shout. Just having his name is a major draw over in the US and couple that with Nike advertising it could sell by the bucket load.

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.
John Daley
930   Posted 22/05/2012 at 14:45:24

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Are we ever going to move on from this? Nothing against Donovan, he's a decent player but that's all he is. He's in his comfort zone in LA, he's never going to want to leave there and we can't afford him anyway. Even if we could afford him, the money would be better spent elsewhere.
Ray Roche
934   Posted 22/05/2012 at 15:07:15

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Chris Morris

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.
Chris Morris
936   Posted 22/05/2012 at 15:10:43

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Ray Roche

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.
Jeremy Benson
943   Posted 22/05/2012 at 15:26:50

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Come on guys, if you could make quick bucks on overseas shirt sales every man and his dog (read: every premiership club) would be doing it. You must see that surely? And they aren't. I know everyone thinks they can make money where there is none and teach the dragons den a thing or two but...back in the room!

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?

David Chait
949   Posted 22/05/2012 at 15:46:16

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My dream is Donovan on the right.. I would take him over Pienaar given the choice!

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.
Jem Traynor
953   Posted 22/05/2012 at 15:31:45

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Re; the Chinese market, back then there was a lot less money about post the 97' opening repatriation of Hong Kong. Nowadays it would've been better but still surveys show that the Chinese like to save their hard-earned money.

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...
Chris Morris
956   Posted 22/05/2012 at 16:08:38

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What's the point of all this talk anyway?

Anyone heard if we have money to spend yet?
Ray Roche
960   Posted 22/05/2012 at 16:13:20

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Jeremy,

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.
Adam Cunliffe
962   Posted 22/05/2012 at 16:15:32

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Jeremy Benson hits the nail on the head for me! The only thing that's stopped us signing Landon is a) his reluctance (although maybe this is changing?) and b) his price tag/wages.

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!
Paul David
967   Posted 22/05/2012 at 16:28:41

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Am I the only one who thinks dovovan wasnt as good the second time,he seemed to be playing within himself.

Then again if you can do that and still get quite a few assists its not a bad thing.
James Stewart
980   Posted 22/05/2012 at 16:59:45

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Decent player but his age is a concern. He definitely adds quality but I would question his motives. If he really wanted to achieve more he would have abandoned the MLS and pushed for a move here earlier. I think he has left it too late sadly. As one of the above posts rightly points out why has he stayed in america after already winning everything there? whats left for him to achieve.
Paul Ellam
981   Posted 22/05/2012 at 16:59:20

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He would be a great signing but I wonder if Moyes could cajole him into signing permanently instead of just having a holiday in Liverpool! Surely he has no more to prove in MLS and he has said himself he has the confidence to play at Premier League level for more than just 10-15 games now... so why not prove that to us?

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.
Julian Wait
982   Posted 22/05/2012 at 17:01:21

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From the other side of the pond, this is a no brainer if we can make it happen. And if we can get Dempsey to boot it's a huge win in the States in terms of presence, with basicaly their three top players.

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 :-)
Julian Wait
985   Posted 22/05/2012 at 17:06:22

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+ I am not worried about age with Donovan .. as referenced above he's a bit like Giggs, although not as strong IMHO, Giggs is a wiry character ..
Mike Gaynes
990   Posted 22/05/2012 at 17:07:33

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Paul, I thought he was even better the second time... more in the flow of the team, fewer mistakes.

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.
Brian Hill
992   Posted 22/05/2012 at 17:08:22

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Surely it is time for Donovan to either say he wants to play for us full time or not? I would not be interested in another loan as that, in the long term, benefits him much more than us. Yes, he does improve the balance of the team considerably when he is here, but that balance is needed throughout the season, not just for a few weeks.

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.
Richard O'Shea
993   Posted 22/05/2012 at 17:16:38

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Playing within himself, have to disagree. How many assists did he get in a team that could only score 1 goal a game and had no confidence before he arrived? I think it was about 5 or 6 ? most of the time playing without Jelavic. Think he gets loads more playing with Jelavic.
Jeremy Benson
005   Posted 22/05/2012 at 18:19:51

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Julian, it's a no brainer for you because

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?
Jeremy Benson
010   Posted 22/05/2012 at 18:25:07

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Ray,

"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.
Jeremy Benson
017   Posted 22/05/2012 at 18:37:40

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And just to spell it out a little easier;

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.
Ray Roche
019   Posted 22/05/2012 at 18:47:50

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Jeremy,

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.
James Stewart
021   Posted 22/05/2012 at 19:04:58

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I doubt he gets paid more in the MLS Mike. We will have been matching his wages at least. It's only Beckham who is on mega bucks there.

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.
Paul Gladwell
028   Posted 22/05/2012 at 19:22:58

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Tell him to sign fully or do one.
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.
Steve Smith
033   Posted 22/05/2012 at 19:34:55

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Jeremy,
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.
Joe McMahon
037   Posted 22/05/2012 at 20:11:01

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As much as I love him, won't he be getting a bit too old? It's bad enough having to carry an ageing Cahill.
Steve Smith
038   Posted 22/05/2012 at 20:02:25

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Oh and Donovans salary....he is the highest paid forward in the MLS and is on a guaranteed $2,300,000 per season, endorsments and advertising away from the pitch earn him about another $4,000,000 per year, so I don't think he stays there just for the sunshine.
Steve Smith
041   Posted 22/05/2012 at 20:27:17

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Sorry that should say highest paid American forward, I think only Henry and Keane earn more than him, also the salary listed above is for his contract with MLS not his club, he may well be getting paid retainers by his club as well, but these are not in the public domain.
John Tyrrell
097   Posted 22/05/2012 at 23:52:52

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Personally if playing CM I would like Donovan £4mil, pienaar £4mil and hoilett £2mil. Total £10mil. I would sell the following as I believe we need to sell to buy, yobo £3mil, jag £8mil and anichebe £2 mil I would also let either osman or Cahill go if we got offered over £3 mil. Total £16mil
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.
Jason Lam
105   Posted 23/05/2012 at 02:15:23

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Straight swap with Anichebe they both play on the right.
Mark Stone
107   Posted 23/05/2012 at 02:24:51

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Love how people just fabricate transfer fees & wage demands.
Gavin Ramejkis
222   Posted 23/05/2012 at 14:18:37

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Some interesting views there Jeremy on the economics of marketing, did you travel to either Australia or USA with any of the preseason tours we held there or read any of the disappointed write ups or available merchandising the club took with them? I remember reading the feedback on the Australian tour saying the stuff for sale was well out of date and not much of it either. The carte blanche reckoning of claiming the club hasn't made a killing needs to be put into the context of it fucking up with marketing and selling itself for way over a decade. Christ on a bike it couldn't even screw a good earner out of the Capital of Culture on its doorstep, the paucity of the club's marketing is legendary.

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.
Ciaran Duff
398   Posted 24/05/2012 at 08:13:18

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The above extract misses the best part of the interview for me:-

"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.

David Chait
401   Posted 24/05/2012 at 08:15:46

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John.. think you got that team about spot on for me in terms of theoretical summer action.... but believe it or not I would keep Hibbert as my first choice RB.

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.

Adam Fenlon
402   Posted 24/05/2012 at 08:24:30

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I think Ciaran Duff hit the nail on the head. He might come back, he might not. ? If not, there's plenty of other players out there who could be just as good. But nonetheless its nice to hear the very positive impression the club can leave on ex-players.
James Stewart
431   Posted 24/05/2012 at 12:22:42

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Bosingwa now available on a free. Would be a useful signing.
Neil Pickering
432   Posted 24/05/2012 at 12:32:40

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Sorry James but I think Bosingwa is gash. He also has a unibrow like Burt off of Sesame St.

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.

Paul Washington
512   Posted 24/05/2012 at 20:38:26

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If the proposed tie-up with Nike gets us more exposure in the US, then great... I hope that the club can get its UK act together, I cannot buy any kit etc in Widnes ? just 12 bloody miles from Goodison Park!!!
Ian Bennett
555   Posted 24/05/2012 at 22:24:50

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I thought he was really effective 2nd time around. He seemed a little bit slower, but kept the ball better and created more effective chances, being comfortable with physical nature this time around.

am a big fan. When I compared him to drenthe in jan, it was no contest for me. Pre hindsight.

James Stewart
894   Posted 26/05/2012 at 13:31:13

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He played pretty well in CL final though neil.

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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