Donovan still has age on his side man. He's no spring chicken but 26 is good age. I give him 6 more years of good form barring injury...that's 2 more world cups.
Donovan did himself no favors by staying in the U.S. for so long, but I wouldn't write off the chances of a decent career in Europe. He is a technically gifted baller with good break away speed and an eye for the net. I think the biggest adjustment for him will be recognizing that unlike at the Galaxy he might have to assume more of role player capacity depending on where he lands up. If he does this well and stays fit he'll be fine.
Is 26 realistically a good age though for a player whose best asset is his speed, to being only now going to Europe to establish himself? See I doh really see Donovan as a "technically gifted" baller... to be honest not that I know what dat mean. I assume ah man who know how to execute the fundamentals, kick, trap and pass efficiently. Having seen nuff of his games the past 6-7 yrs I would say his touch is adequate, passing so-so... he foot hard enough (although only he and he alone think he's ah free kick specialist eh, lol). I dunno I doh really think "technically gifted" when I think of Donovan... I more think "hit ah man ah belt and chase de ball".
I didn't mean that any team would have to accommodate him. I'd expect the situation to more likely arise from a combination of 1) good fortune and 2) good judgement. When Pires left Arsenal, he had offers from bigger teams yet chose Villareal. Some eyebrows were raised. Now its clear that Pires made a wise choice. I think he made the choice of a player who understood where he was at in his career and what he could contribute to the team (granted Villareal was not a middling team, but its the best analogy I can come up with at this late hour..heheh). But nothing is guaranteed, so it is also with good fortune that things clicked so well for him at Villareal. I don't think the squad changed for Pires. In many ways, Donovan is in the same situation. He needs to carefully pick his spot from the options available. Not sure how much interest there will be, but he lost the chance to chase the biggest money, or biggest challenge and risk riding pine while he develops. Donavon needs to be more mature/realistic in his decision and then also hope for the best - hope that he can build that chemistry with his teammates that brings out his best qualities on the pitch
Yeah but see Pires was a proven commodity... he played on arguably the highest professional level... not so with Donovan. Mind you I not trying to pick apart yuh analogy, I don't expect you to come up with a perfect one, I hear the point yuh making and agree with the luck part, lol. Allyuh men know me, I probably give Donovan more props on dis site dan anybody in de short time I've been on here.... so I ent crying him down, wish him luck in fact.
Like yuh say doh, to find that situation would talk a lot of luck and some good judgment (sinned86 this point that Filho getting at, is what I was responding to). In my mind it go take real luck to find that 'right' club, and with young players from other parts of the world available (maybe even cheaper) I doh really see clubs pursuing him like that. The 'good judgment' part I infer to mean he'd have to choose his situation wisely... I juss dunno if he'd have dat many options.
Like ah said earlier though, it remains to be seen what the market for him looks like (I think in the original article he's more expressing a desire to play in Europe, rather than responding to feelers from teams).
