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Landon’s Last Gameday in England

February 18th, 2012 · No Comments · Football, Galaxy, Landon Donovan, soccer

Wow. This seems to be over in the blink of an eye.

Landon Donovan’s last game with Everton, during his second two-month loan spell to England’s Premier League, will come in an FA Cup game with Blackpool today. And he may not play because he has been ill, David Moyes, the Everton coach, said on Friday.

Everton has ridden the little American hard since he arrived. Landon has played every minute of every match (nine) since he became eligible, ahead of the Bolton game on January 4, and the club has done fairly well during the time — two wins, three draws, two defeats. And the victories were very high-profile, indeed: 1-0 over Manchester City, 2-0 over Chelsea.

Everton also won two FA Cup matches with Landon in the lineup. So the team, overall, with Landon in the lineup: Four wins, three draws, two defeats. Not bad.

He was named Everton’s player of the month, matching the same honor from his spell there in 2010, and on the eve of his final game before he returns to the Galaxy he did a seven-minute interview with Everton TV.

Some of the highlights:

Asked about the warm reception from fans:

“I’m a very loyal person, I always have been, so I wanted to reciprocate that and make sure that every time I put on that jersey that I give everything I have.”

About having the respect of Everton fans:

“I’m very fortunate to play in a couple different places where I think I have the respect of the people. Forget the footballing side of it, as a person that feels good.

“The reality is that people work every week and earn money and pay their hard-earned money to come watch us play, and sometimes as athletes we forget that the minimum you should be required is to give everything you have and try to give them something to cheer about on the weekend and, fortunately, in L.A. and here in Everton, people appreciate what I do. I want to make sure I keep giving them a reason to appreciate it.”

Asked about whether he would consider a third winter loan to Everton:

“I would approach it the same way that I’ve approached each year that I’ve gotten a call from the manager here. One, am I physically able to do it?  Two, does he want me to come back? Three, do I feel like I can contribute and benefit the club?

“I’m not going to come back if it’s just for me to have an experience but I’m not good enough to contribute. That doesn’t do anybody any good. I have too much respect for this club and for the manager and the players here to do that. So, the expectation is very clear, if I come back, what I need to do. And if I feel like I can do that and they want me back then I would absolutely do it.”

Asked if he would come back only to Everton, if he were loaned to a Premier League club.

“I know I’ll be back here, I just don’t know if I’ll be back as a player. but I hope I’ll be back as a player, too.

“I don’t think my agent would appreciate me saying that this is the only club I would come back to; I’d probably lose some leverage in negotiations. But I can’t imagine playing anywhere else. There’s something magical about this club that captures you from the minute you step into Goodison, and it doesn’t let you go.”

Here is the full interview with the Everton website.

Landon did not score in his nine games so far, all playing on the right wing, but he had six assists and regularly took corners for the club.

Originally, he was going to play through the league match with arch-rival Liverpool, originally scheduled for February 25, but that game now is in flux, and Landon apparently will be on his way back to Los Angeles sooner than anticipated, which may give him an extra few days to rest.

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