Is Landon ready? Is the MLS ready?

Over the weekend Landon Donovan won the Golden Boot for most goals in the regular season. However, maybe he should have one for the Golden mouth award for comment of the season. Landon stated that he was ready to make a move to La Liga or the Premiership. Landon, who had a disappointing spell in Germany before joining the MLS, sees himself as a possible facilitator on any team.

However, lets look at his track record. Even just recent track record. The Galaxy failed to make the playoff. Landon can’t do it, even with Beckham. It is arguable that he needs a better supporting cast, but any player who feels they can survive in Europe should be able to lift their team to a playoff position. Especially a player in an offensive position. I can’t knock Landon too much, he did lead the league in scoring, and I could see him in a supporting role for a team like West Ham or Hull City. I just feel the statement should have been made quietly. The Galaxy organization is in a state of disarray, coaching changes, their star player asking to leave after having missed most of last year. This is the last thing they need. 

It just seems as if Landon is playing a game of follow the leader. If Becks can go I can too! No Landon you can’t. Well not as easily. However, all this may just be my jaded view of Landon. Captain America, America’s shinning star and so on. Now to hear the once poster boy for the team I supported through think and thin, the loses and the wins (the few there have been), through the Beckham Saga and the ridiculous management/announcing of Alexi Lalas wants to leave leaves me disheartened.

The worst that could come from this is an eventual taking of players from the MLS by European teams. With the American game offering subpar competition (and pay), European teams could look to the US as a place for cheap young talent to use and abuse as they see fit. Eventually leading to a deterioration of US soccer due to the fact that players are not in the country to train and play together.

I still wish Landon the best of luck, it’s great to see any American succeed and do well. But the best by product will not be the highlights of Donovan goals or the resulting advertisements, no it will be the respect for the American game and a possible shift to Europeans coming here not in their twilight years but in their youth or, dare I say it, their prime.

I know many of you will see this as rambling or nonsense,and if you do, I urge you to speak up. I’d like to know your thoughts on this beautiful game we call “futbol”.