Here’s the bottom line: Donovan HAS to return to MLS on time, otherwise this whole business of MLS lending players to European clubs will cease and desist. How does it help MLS clubs for their players to play in European leagues? Answer: ONLY if the players return on time to play in MLS. Otherwise it becomes a risk-free extended tryout for the Euro clubs, with nothing in it for MLS. Think about it:

MLS player goes to Euro club. If MLS player doesn’t work out, he returns at the end of the loan, and the Euro club loses nothing — the MLS club squares with the fact their own players still can’t produce on the big stage. If MLS player goes to Euro club and it works, then the Euro club gets to keep said player, and MLS loses someone that’s otherwise a marketable item. How does this loan arrangement help MLS grow in the long-term?

Donovan has developed into the type of player fans have hoped he would be for the better part of the past decade.

I can’t remember which game but, I saw an Everton game about a month ago in which he not only seemed more confident than I had ever seen him but, actually looked like a European soccer player while he was out there.

With all due respect to guys like Brian McBride and John Harkes, etc…it’s been very rare that the U.S. has had a guy who actually looks like an international level player (beyond the goalie position). The way Landon is playing right now is above and beyond what I thought he was capable of about 1.5 years ago.