Donovan Won't Seek Job Overseas (darn)

[El Chalan]

I could tell I was still angry about this topic when I read the results of the the KC vs LA game. Landon scored 2 goals and I thought those were meaningless. He could be the MVP of the league and as a USMNT fan I would think it doesn't matter at all he will still not be ready for the next world cup. He has to live his life but as a USMNT fan and actually as a Donovan fan, I used to go to Earthquake games when he first came to mls, I wish he would go to Europe. I don't agree with the argument that MLS would fail if the best players went to Europe. I think that would just mean that new players would have the chance to shine especially if MLS continues to make stride to develop youth prospects. There are several leagues in the world that serve as feeder leagues for other bigger leagues. I feel confident that MLS would find its place in the hierarchy and would still put out a good product. One example would be the Argentine domestic league. Granted they have a much broader talent base to choose from, but of their starting 11 for the game against Germany all but the goalee played outside of Argentina. Clearly there are many Argentine players in Europe, their league hasn't failed, and the national team seems to benefit from having their best players playing in the bigger leagues. MLS has been great for the Nats, but we still need our best players to go to Europe IMO or we will take steps backward not forward as a national side....that includes Donovan.

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by El Chalan

I could tell I was still angry about this topic when I read the results of the the KC vs LA game. Landon scored 2 goals and I thought those were meaningless. He could be the MVP of the league and as a USMNT fan I would think it doesn't matter at all he will still not be ready for the next world cup. He has to live his life but as a USMNT fan and actually as a Donovan fan, I used to go to Earthquake games when he first came to mls, I wish he would go to Europe. I don't agree with the argument that MLS would fail if the best players went to Europe. I think that would just mean that new players would have the chance to shine especially if MLS continues to make stride to develop youth prospects. There are several leagues in the world that serve as feeder leagues for other bigger leagues. I feel confident that MLS would find its place in the hierarchy and would still put out a good product. One example would be the Argentine domestic league. Granted they have a much broader talent base to choose from, but of their starting 11 for the game against Germany all but the goalee played outside of Argentina. Clearly there are many Argentine players in Europe, their league hasn't failed, and the national team seems to benefit from having their best players playing in the bigger leagues. MLS has been great for the Nats, but we still need our best players to go to Europe IMO or we will take steps backward not forward as a national side....that includes Donovan.

I respectfully disagree with your comparison of Argentina and the US in regards to soccer.

Argentina and the US are in completely different realms from a soccer standpoint. Apples and Oranges comparison. Their nation will "feed" off of soccer regardless of what happens with their best players. It's their nations number 1 sport by a long shot. The US doesn't share that attitude - which is why the way we look at building/maintaining soccer here needs to be different. If MLS folds, the casual fans and semi-hardcore soccer fans will always have a plethora of other options to choose from.

I still contend that our national team success hinges on the continued growth and development of MLS, and that without big names, MLS will sink.