The bitter irony in the city of Liverpool, England is that where one of the city's clubs (Liverpool) wants to see their American owners leave, their cross-town neighbors (Everton) don't want to see their talented American winger leave.
Landon Donovan was a standout for Everton in their 5-1 win over Hull City on Sunday at Goodison Park, which could serve as his finale prior to returning back to Los Angeles to join his LA Galaxy teammates as his loan with Everton concludes.
Grant Wahl covered Donovan's last match for Everton, and recaps his success in his stint in the English Premier League.
It was, I have to say, one of the cooler goose-bump moments I have witnessed in a long time. As Landon Donovan took what was probably a goodbye lap after Everton's 5-1 win over Hull City on Sunday, the home fans at Goodison Park stood and cheered the 28-year-old American who came here a European washout and stands ready to depart, just 10 weeks later, as a beloved figure in this soccer-mad town.
And then, like a low rumble at first, but then as loud as a Lake Placid lullaby, the chant began:
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
Only later did I come to understand that some in the stands were actually booming:
U-S-A! YOU-MUST-STAY!
They do not want Donovan to leave Everton when his loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy ends next Monday and he has to return to California for the start of the MLS season. Not the fans, who were likely seeing his final home game. Not his teammates, who literally held Donovan aloft, jolly-good-fellow style, after his goal and assist on Sunday. Not Everton manager David Moyes, who said once again that he wanted to try to extend Donovan's loan.
And, it should be noted, not Donovan himself.
When he finally had a quiet moment nearly an hour after the game, I asked Donovan if he wanted to stick around these parts instead of flying back to LAX, the airport code that could just as easily describe the pressures of the league he's rejoining compared to those of the Premiership.
"Yeah," answered Donovan, looking as comfortable in his gray suit and open-collared dress shirt as he does fitting into this Everton team. "It would be nice to stay."
Landon Donovan was a standout for Everton in their 5-1 win over Hull City on Sunday at Goodison Park, which could serve as his finale prior to returning back to Los Angeles to join his LA Galaxy teammates as his loan with Everton concludes.
Grant Wahl covered Donovan's last match for Everton, and recaps his success in his stint in the English Premier League.
It was, I have to say, one of the cooler goose-bump moments I have witnessed in a long time. As Landon Donovan took what was probably a goodbye lap after Everton's 5-1 win over Hull City on Sunday, the home fans at Goodison Park stood and cheered the 28-year-old American who came here a European washout and stands ready to depart, just 10 weeks later, as a beloved figure in this soccer-mad town.
And then, like a low rumble at first, but then as loud as a Lake Placid lullaby, the chant began:
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
Only later did I come to understand that some in the stands were actually booming:
U-S-A! YOU-MUST-STAY!
They do not want Donovan to leave Everton when his loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy ends next Monday and he has to return to California for the start of the MLS season. Not the fans, who were likely seeing his final home game. Not his teammates, who literally held Donovan aloft, jolly-good-fellow style, after his goal and assist on Sunday. Not Everton manager David Moyes, who said once again that he wanted to try to extend Donovan's loan.
And, it should be noted, not Donovan himself.
When he finally had a quiet moment nearly an hour after the game, I asked Donovan if he wanted to stick around these parts instead of flying back to LAX, the airport code that could just as easily describe the pressures of the league he's rejoining compared to those of the Premiership.
"Yeah," answered Donovan, looking as comfortable in his gray suit and open-collared dress shirt as he does fitting into this Everton team. "It would be nice to stay."
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