Official Landon Donovan Appreciation Thread

[Jordan]

Yeah, Landon Donovan is a pussy. In fact, if I have to admit, I don't like the guy. He irritates me. But as much as I hate him, I love him. He is the best foot..., err, soccer player the USA has ever had (when Clint Dempsey gets 139 caps, then we'll talk).

Of course, there was this (and tell me this isn't the most passionate commentary you've ever heard):

And on Saturday night, Donovan not only raped the sorry squad that Scotland brought to Florida, but probably the entire country of Scotland itself. He scored a hat trick and was directly involved in the other two USA goals as they destroyed the Tennent's-Super-drinking-bastards* 5-1.

(By the way, that English voice you hear doing the commentary for USA-Scotland is none other than Arlo White's. If you don't know, Mr. White is a huge Leicester City fan, and always figures out a way to mention LCFC when he covers games here in the USA. Legend. And Craig Levein is still a bastard.)

Anyway: I'm not saying that Landon Donovan is on Lionel Messi's level, or anything. But he is a very, very good footballer player. He doesn't play on the big stage often, and that definitely makes it seem like he doesn't have the heart to battle with the world's best. But his cameos at Everton and some of his World Cup games definitely show that he's a legitimate baller.

Show him some love.

* No real disrespect meant: I quite like the Scottish people, and Tennent's Super, if not a sign of Scottish cultural decay, is a sign of Scottish drinking prowess.

[Finnegan]

Several notes:

1. I don't have the usual prejudice British people have towards Americans and football but you boys should not be allowed to commentate on the sport.

2. Jesus Christ, Scotland are terrible.

3. Klinsman has you playing some good football, be interesting to see it against a competent defence.

4. The numbers on your shirts are completely stupid.

5. Michael Bradley's goal shit all over anything Landon Donovan achieved in that game, there's a reason Donovan has never made it in Europe. Tidy player but all too easy to look exceptional as a dribbler when you're playing against crap.

[martyn]

I thought Donovan was pretty decent during his loan spells at Everton. He had a poor spell in the Bundesliga but I wouldn't write him off as being able to cut it in top European leagues based on that, some players thrive in different environments.

Think Donovan is similar to Cuautehmoc Blanco for Mexico, talisman for their own (decent) nations, but never appreciated/rated outside of their homelands simply because we never see them here.

[Fox in the North]

Arlo white used the term soccer? I know he's commentating for Americans but *shudder*.

Didn't think the American commentator was that bad, i've certainly heard a lot worse

Finally what club does Bradley play for? Seems a good midfielder though it was against Scotland....

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Like the USA team, and think really they are not much further behind England now in terms of quality.

Donovan would probably get into our squad as well, and like the US team in general he is underrated.

[HEGGSY]

I thought you were the USA not the MNT*

* I know MNT means men's national team and it's stupid.

[ousefox]

That Bradley goal was ****ing quality!

[Fox92]

No disrespect, but players like Donovan could easily be at a bigger club, in my opinion. I think he did have a spell at Bayern Munich, and I fully well know he was at Everton. Both big clubs of course. To be fair, the USA have some good players; Donovan, Howard, Edu, Dempsey etc...

I dislike, and I've always not liked him, and that's Jozy Altidore

[21st Century Fox]

Several notes:

1. I don't have the usual prejudice British people have towards Americans and football but you boys should not be allowed to commentate on the sport.

I concur.

I watched The Red Bulls vs Chivas match a few nights ago. It was just 90 mins of pure, cringe-inducing, hyperbole. That cumulated in them stating that Juan Pablo Angel was "one of the greatest". After the match finished level the commentators sounded so apologetic.