Sam Allardyce is out as England manager after only 67 days. The Daily Telepgraph’s undercover expose and 10-month investigation finds English football embroiled in one of the biggest scandals in years. The big question now turns to who will replace Big Sam? In England, the polls and voting has already started and the man being mentioned once again as a potential successor is Jurgen Klinsmann! Is he the right man for the job? Would England really hire a German coach? Would the USMNT fight to keep him should there be interest? Join the conversation. Get stuck in.
Tag: United States
In the land of Donovan…
Many in the media had suggested that Landon Donovan couldn’t hack playing football in Europe. And you really couldn’t blame the media for doubting the American star’s potential.
After a disappointing 4 years at Bayer Leverkusen and an unsuccessful loan spell at Bayern Munich last season, the hope for Donovan’s talent to transcend to the European game were all but over. But as we all know, anything is possible in the funny old game of football.
In the MLS season that just ended, Donovan led the LA Galaxy to the championship game and even though they were defeated, his MVP performances throughout the year grabbed the attention of Europe’s elite clubs once again. Donovan was being given another chance to prove himself on the big stage of European football and he was determined to make the most of his opportunity, especially heading into a World Cup year.
This time, the American chose the right club and the right country to play his trade. Everton are one of the most famous, traditional and prestigious clubs in England. And they have a great manager who is able to identify talent when he sees it. David Moyes didn’t hesitate in signing Donovan on loan to Everton. He needed him. With Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta and a host of other fantastic players on the injury list, it seemed a perfect fit for both club and player. Sure it was a risk based on Donovan’s past European experiences, but Everton’s injuries meant they had to gamble. Donovan was given the famous #9 shirt by the club and he has certainly worn it proudly.
There’s no doubt Donovan has been inspirational at Everton. He has risen to the occasion, taken his opportunity with both feet and has starred for the Premier League team in many games, including victories over Chelsea and Manchester United. Donovan was just voted Player of the Month and a certain love affair might be brewing between the American and the Toffees faithful. His performances have engaged the British media and many are seeing Donovan as a completely different player. In fact, some Brits are a little more afraid of facing the United States team in their first game at the World Cup because of how Donovan has played!
Donovan now faces a very difficult decision. He finds himself in a similar situation to David Beckham following his successful loan deal at AC Milan last season. When football superstar Beckham extended his loan deal with the Italian club, Donovan was a huge critic as he questioned Beckham’s loyalty and dedication to the LA Galaxy team. After being quoted in the book “The Beckham Experiment”, Donovan made his feelings about his teammate’s contributions or lack thereof crystal clear. With things going so well at Everton, should Donovan follow in Beckham’s footsteps and extend his deal? If I were an Everton fan, I wouldn’t want to lose him. If I were David Moyes I wouldn’t want to lose him. If I were the LA Galaxy, I would want him back. But what does Donovan want? After all the criticism of Beckham, would he even consider staying with Everton until June?
As Donovan continues his preparation for the World Cup, surely staying in Europe is best for him and the United States team. Right now, it’s great to be in the land of Donovan…
What’s it all about..?
I am a Brit living in the United States. I grew up in London watching the beautiful game. Arsenal is my team. I had the privilege to watch them play at Highbury for many years. Then I moved to the States. Luckily, Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports have given me my weekly Premiership fix. My fix also requires the images and sounds of La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Eredivisie and the Bundesliga. ESPN came to the rescue too when they started broadcasting the Champions League in High-Definition. Life got better that day. I am also a huge fan of international soccer, especially European and the flare of those exquisite South American teams. Brazil and Argentina have been an art form for decades.
So living in the States has not affected my football. The sport will never be as big as the NFL, NBA and MLB. It might get close to the NHL! Soccer can have a place though. It just needs to realize where it sits in the pecking order of US sports. Let’s not get greedy too fast. David Beckham is only one piece of the jigsaw puzzle that has been building for a few years now.
It is on these pages where we will discuss the world’s most popular sport. It has its beauty and yes, it can be ugly too. The passion and love for the game is often misunderstood. Some of my best life experiences have been associated with football. Don’t give the red card until you’ve truly exhausted all avenues in your pursuit to like this game. And if you are already a believer, we have much to debate and discuss.
This is the freedom of football speech blog. Our soccer sovereignty is governed by you the people. The only twist is that I have a woman’s perspective on the game. A different insight with all the qualities and qualifications of a seasoned soccer lover. So call it what you want. Football. Soccer. Pick your poison. I’m still weighing up my own options. All that matters is opinion.