Quote:
Originally Posted by RobsonLegend
I can appreciate if you disagree, but the essence of your response seems to be centered around ONE portion of my main points, and that's a classic case of tunnel vision. Anyway..........
Ok, so he didn't "fail" in Europe. This changes the rest of what I said how, out of curiosity? To be honest, I don't care if his time was judged after 1 match or 100 matches, and I don't care if he ever wanted to play in Europe or if he ever wants to go back. Point is, he returned to the US. And he's chosen to stay, ergo......a big fish in a small pond. One who thinks he belongs up there with the big boys (which, in a twisted way, I've put a positive spin on).
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It changes what you said about him because
1)he didn't fail (which you've already accepted, so I'll let it go)
2) it's not about his ego (ie "now that he's had a chance to rebuild his ego as a big fish in a small pond")...it's about his
happiness.
Criticize Landon all you want for a lack of ambition (although, unless you're a cynic and don't believe him when he says that he wants to build up MLS and US Soccer, he could be very ambitious by staying in MLS...a la Beckham "making soccer popular" or something), but Landon puts his happiness and family ahead of his career. A lot of fans don't like that. (I would characterize them as being unhappy with it because they want to live vicariously through him and he's not making the decisions they would, but I digress...) He feels he can develop just as successfully in MLS as he can elsewhere, but seems to be willing to make the sacrifice (to his career) if he can't because he wants to be near his family and live where he's comfortable and happy....and can you really blame him? (...well, if you're a soccer fan obsessed with seeing a US player become considered an elite player on the world stage then you can, but it's not really "fair"...)
As far as Landon "belong(ing) up there with the big boys"....I don't think I've ever heard him put himself forward as an elite player or say that he should be considered as such....it's others who do that...
He can be very cocky at times, but I don't think he's been cocky about himself or his own abilities...more about the team and the team's abilities (ie not backing down, they shouldn't be over-awed, they can play with anyone, confidence they can beat anyone, etc.).