The most controversial story from Tuesday came from an unlikely source, Brad Friedel’s mouth. Following Clint Dempsey’s game winning hustle finish vs. Liverpool on Monday, Tottenham’s quiet, humble goalie was quoted praising Dempsey and his magnificent EPL run over the last couple of years. However, while praising Clint, Friedel managed to throw Landon Donovan under the bus. Here is what transpired.

“Dempsey’s work rate is second to none. In my opinion, Landon Donovan took the easy route to stay in the States,” said Brad Friedel.

Friedel then want on to say, “Clint (Dempsey) came over to become one of the best. Not taking anything from Landon. He’s magnificent.”

I know Friedel’s comments are not a big deal by any means, but there’s definitely a story here. First off, Dempsey deserves all the accolades right now. He just keeps grinding it out on a very AVERAGE Fulham club and continues to get better while delivering big goal after big goal. Clint just never gives up and at this point deserves to be on a team with more quality players. I know it’s not in his DNA but come January Clint should pull a Tevez and request a transfer to a Champions League side.

Now, the other side of the coin. Did Landon Donovan chicken out by not playing club ball in Europe later in his career?

Friedel did not intend to criticize Landon and his career choices but more so was congratulating Dempsey for being a baller; however, there is a legitimate question that he posed here…Did Donovan take the easy road to greatness? Can a player even be considered the greatest American of All-Time if he has not consistently competed against and defeated the very best?

Let’s address one question at a time. Everyone knows about Landon’s two unsuccessful stints in the Bundesliga. First, with Bayer Leverkusen when he was a mere child and then with Munich back in 2009. There were multiple factors that played into his lack of minutes and overall lack of success in Germany – immaturity, his style of play, dysfunctional front-offices, etc. – so let’s not get too carried away with over analyzing this segment of his career.

Then Landon stood up to all the critics in the winter of 2010, showing elite form for an Everton squad that went on to beat a lot of the top EPL clubs (Man City, Chelsea, and Man U) during his reign on the wing at Goodison Park. However, didn’t that leave you wanting more? Didn’t you want to see Landon try and continue to excel on the big stage?

Yes, but coming off the World Cup and a crazy run of non-stop play (MLS Season-Everton-1st part of MLS Season-World Cup-2nd part of MLS Season), Landon had all the right to enjoy an actual offseason. Now, as he approaches 30 years of age Landon has arguably an even better reason to rest his legs ahead of a new World Cup cycle. Despite all of this, I do think Landon needs to give it one more go in the EPL. I know it’s tough to leave sunny California and a championship side like the LA Galaxy, but it’s time for him to move on and show the world what he’s got.

As for the second question- can a player even be considered the greatest of All-Time if he has not consistently competed against and then defeated the very best? All the greatest competitors in sports history have aspired to reach the Mecca of their specific sport’s world and have succeeded at the top level. I specifically say ALL because those who settle for mediocrity at any point in their careers are generally not considered the greats of their prospective sports. However this is not a normal sports scenario due to the interchanging relationship of club and international soccer.

So yes, Donovan has spent pretty much his whole career playing in the MLS against inferior competition to put it lightly. This is especially true since the quality of the MLS has only picked up dramatically over the last few years. Even with that his performances at the international level make up for all the MLS hate and more. He is the #1 goal-scorer and assist leader in the history of the US Men’s National Team, he has played in 3 World Cups, he has the 2nd most appearances in US history and he has done all of this before the ripe age of 30. All you really have to look at is his clutch-ness in the 2010 World Cup. It couldn’t get any bigger than the Algeria goal unless he did the same thing in the Ghana match, but wait he did score in that one as well to keep the Americans alive.

In conclusion, there’s no doubt that Landon is the de facto American #1 but I’ll say it once again he should MOVE to the EPL if he wants to go down as one of the greatest in the sport. Clint Dempsey has made it his top aspiration to measure himself against the best, where as Donovan has chosen a more comfortable path, which Friedel perfectly articulated whether he wanted to or not.

Please share your opinion on Donovan’s career and his legacy in the comments…

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i.am.Legend

When Arsenal played Everton on Saturday, the overall performance of the team was slightly above average and a draw seemed on the cards until that Van-tastic moment from the man on red-hot form. When a striker is in the form Robin van Persie is, it’s only natural for goals to come in any possible manner.

This season van Persie has scored 19 goals already and he has smashed them in with his left foot, right foot and head. I’m still waiting for van Persie to score with his buttocks like William Gallas against Celtic in the Champions League playoffs of the 2009/10 campaign.

The striker has admitted his goal was a gamble that paid off but he also beat himself up by saying he wasn’t happy with his performance. To be frank, van Persie was having a stinker up until that moment because he seemed to lack that cutting edge he has been renowned for all year long but in a split-second, he showed his technique, precision and class all wrapped in a big red ribbon.

Arsene Wenger has ran out of superlatives for his consistent squad that has amassed 22 points from a possible 24 but he reserved special praise for his captain:

“Today Robin got us a goal which was at the moment of the game where we struggled a little bit to create chances. He delivered something special and three important points. Robin has scored an exceptional goal, he said himself he was not in his best of days, but what is important is you are efficient”

It’s really amazing to know how Arsene Wenger rallied his troops after such a dismal start to the season. Arsenal has become a very serious threat and are in the kind of form title contenders wish to emulate. A true test of the Gunners’ ability will be revealed in the Etihad Stadium next Sunday and it promises to be a mouthwatering encounter.

However, van Persie’s goalscoring exploits have been noticed by the juggernauts of Europe and media Vultures have reported that Real Madrid plans to hijack him from Manchester City that are planning to swoop for the star in January or the summer. Van Persie has refused to sign a new deal till the end of the season and I’m sure that he’ll weigh Arsenal’s campaign before making his decision.

Arsenal is out of the Carling Cup and with teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich still in Europe’s elite competition, Wenger will have to invoke the spirit of 06? if he wants to win the major trophy that has eluded him in his Arsenal career.The FA Cup still remains the most realistic target in my opinion though.

The Road to Paris 06? Champions League squad was very balanced and it had everything Wenger wanted as a manager. An insane commanding goalkeeper that kept 10 clean sheets in a row, a relatively unknown yet formidable defense that had a Farmer, a Flanimal, a young Swiss brick wall and Mr. Kolo Mentality.

The midfield was protected by one of the most efficient holding midfielders from Brazil that used a very ‘clean’ style to do the ‘dirty’ work, a young protegee that inherited Patrick Vieira’s jersey, the experienced and dreamy Le Bob, the fleet-footed and efficient Freddie Krueger and the best ever Belarussian in recent times.

The striker was the greatest player to ever wear the Red and White and he was around this weekend to see how he became immortalized by the club he served from 1999 to 2007. The media Vultures were tipping Thierry Henry to be resigned by Wenger but the boss has quelled those claims by saying that Henry will soon be on his way to America.

Tony Adams is a legend that has been renowned for being Mr. Arsenal. He served the club with all his heart from 1982 to 2002 (20 years) and notched up an impressive 504 league appearances for the Gunners and went on to win a boatload of trophies in his time at the club.

As expected from any footballer that had been in the game that long, he opted for club management and he got his first start just a year after retiring as the manager of Wycombe Wanderers. Adams couldn’t prevent the club from being relegated so he parted ways with the club.

Following a few coaching roles in Holland, Tony Adams returned back to management as an assistant manager to  Twitchy Ol’ Harry Redknapp. When Redknapp left for greener Tottenham pastures, Adam was advanced to the role of manager but he managed Portsmouth for only 10 league games before getting sacked in February 2009.

Adams moved to the East to manage FC Gabala in Uzbekistan but he quit after a year and half due to family problems:

“I came to Gabala with big ambitions, wanting to build a strong club and share experiences. It has been an interesting time and hoped that I could achieve something here.”

“However, due to family problems, I have to leave the club. It is hard to leave the management and players, but family is more important to me.”

He was approached by some media Vultures and he was asked about his next coaching role if he returned to the UK. Adams told them that there’s only one club that he’d love to go back to and be No.1 or even on the backroom staff. You don’t need a soothsayer to tell you the club he’s talking about.

Following the poor defensive performances of Arsenal in the tail end of last season and the early part of this present campaign, the fans have called for a new defensive coach and Tony Adams will be a perfect addition to the backroom staff because he knows the club like the tip of his fingers.

He was a legend in catching opposition forwards offside and he orchestrated Arsenal’s defense for 20 amazing years.

Arsene Wenger has the final say though.

Sayonara.

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