By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Jan 5, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- I suppose it only makes sense to chime in on the seemingly obvious, but strange situation surrounding the Landon Donovan loan deal to Bayern Munich. The deal is done based on most accounts, yet the LA Galaxy and Major League Soccer have yet to release any sort of news regarding the arrangement. Donovan is in Dubai training with his new teammates and we haven’t heard a peep from the League. Strange, to say the least.
Based on the Bayern Munich official website, Donovan is signed until March 15th. At that time, Bayern and Donovan will decide if he will be staying with the club any longer. Obviously, the League will have some say in this decision. Based on their acknowledgment of the current deal (or lack thereof) you get the sense they are trying to play up their position.
For his part, Donovan hasn’t done much to show any willingness in returning to sunny SoCal in the near future. He was asked flat-out on the Bayern website if he wanted to stay with the club beyond March 15th. His response was "Yes, I’d definitely like to stay longer." Pretty concrete if you ask me. He is on loan and wants the deal to become permanent, yet we get nothing from the league or the Galaxy.
Companies, in general, do not announce happenings that the public is already aware or for one of two reasons. They are either embarrassed about something that has happened and they hope that by not commenting “it” will just go away without many people noticing. That, or they just aren’t sure how to approach a certain topic. They figure that no words are better than a few uneasy sentences mashed together in a press release. In the Donovan case, I really feel it is more of the latter.
Sure, the League would probably prefer Donovan to stay and play with Becks in LA, and if he's going to leave it will be for a premium. We get it. Unfortunately, that glamor partnership has been short on results up to now. The US still hasn't proven it can put domestic talent into the starting eleven of major clubs as field players, regardless of escalating transfer fees.
If this move happens, it should be celebrated by the League as a success of monumental proportion. Especially if Donovan can win a regular slot with Bayern. Some things are bigger than figuring out where to set a transfer fee.
Donovan wants a new challenge. He wants to prove to himself, and probably many other people, that he can make it at the highest level in Europe. You can’t blame him, and neither should MLS. He has done his part for club soccer in this country.
American Abroad Report Card
English FA Cup (Round 3): Clint Dempsey started and played 90 minutes for Fulham in their 2-1 FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Frank Simek did not make the Wednesday team on Saturday. Andy Johnson scored both Fulham goals sandwiched around a strike from Wednesday defender Tommy Spurr.
Tim Howard started in goal and played 90 minutes for Everton in their 1-0 win over Macclesfield Town at the Moss Rose Ground. Leon Osman scored the only goal of the game in the 43rd minute.
Brad Friedel started in goal for Aston Villa in their 2-1 win over Gillingham. Brad Guzan watched from the bench. James Milner scored both goals for Villa while Simeon Jackson scored for Gillingham
Jonathan Spector watched from the bench as West Ham United moved on to the 4th round of the FA Cup courtesy of their 3-0 win over Barnsley. Herita Nkongolo Ilunga, Mark Noble and Carlton Cole scored for the Hammers.
Bobby Convey started and played 74 minutes for Reading in their 2-0 loss to Cardiff City in Wales. Marcus Hahnemann did not make the Reading bench. Eddie Johnson did not feature for Cardiff as he is home in the US attending to the illness of a family member. Ross McCormack and Joe Ledley scored for Cardiff.
Jay Demerit started and played the full-90 for Watford in their 1-nil win over Scunthorpe United. Grzegorz Rasiak scored the Watford goal.
Scotland: Neither DaMarcus Beasley nor Maurice Edu made the bench for Rangers in their 3-0 win over Inverness Caldeonian Thistle. Pedro Mendes curled in a goal from the edge of the box to start the second half before a late double from Kris Boyd sealed all three points for Rangers.
France – Coupe de France: Carlos Bocanegra started as Rennes move on in the Coupe de France by virtue of their 1-0 win over Sochaux. Andrew Jacobson and Lorient advanced to the next round after a penalty-shootout victory over US Alencon 61. Freddy Adu wasn't in the squad as Monaco advance courtesy of their 1-0 win over fifth-tier club Blagnac FC.
Spain: Jozy Altidore was not involved for Villarreal in their 1-0 loss to Real Madrid. Arjen Robben scored the only goal of the game for the Madrid club
Graig Carbino covers American Abroad and writes a weekly column for USSoccerPlayers. Contact him at graiger11@yahoo.com
