Avoiding the Drop

Don’t forget that Daylight Saving Time has started, so move your clocks up an hour this morning if you didn’t do it last night.

Due to DST starting here three weeks before it starts in England, the match start times are a bit wonky until they make the move.  You will notice, though, when the schedule comes up below the break, that this is a day loaded with huge European squads in action, starting with Manchester United dealing with Fulham first thing this morning and ending with Real Madrid’s contest with Valladolid this afternoon.  In fact, if you’re not fussed about the conference championship games or pre-season baseball, you can watch high quality football right up until the Selection Sunday show starts at 6.  Oh, and in comments, can you let me know if you do or do not have access to ESPN 360, and where you are regionally (you don’t have to give your actual address, just something like “Yeah, I have it, and I live in Modesto”).  I was just sort of wondering yesterday how many of our readers actually have access to this fine service.

I’m trying to speculate this morning on the mindset of Landon Donovan.  He’s had his best spell away from the sunny (or not so sunny, if you live here on the East Coast) shores of the US these last few months during his loan to Everton.  The knock on Donovan has always been that he would not get stuck in in a league known for physical play and hard tackling, but nothing could have been further from the truth during his time with the Toffees.  When a manager with the cachet and smarts of David Moyes wants him to stay, you know that he’s impressed.  Everton is in a fight to get up to the European spots in the Premier League, and a player of Donovan’s caliber could certainly help in that regard.  It’s clear that Landon has matured.  I’m sure that he and national team-mate Tim Howard enjoyed having this time together before the World Cup.

I can see why Bruce Arena is keen to have him back as soon as possible, though.  I keep hearing the best and the brightest journos in this country say that they have no earthly clue what’s going to happen with this MLS labour situation, so Landon may be walking back into a snake pit.  Could he come back here only to see the players go out on strike?  Would he stay here if that happens, or would he be keen to go back to Everton not only to maintain form but also keep up his fitness ahead of South Africa?  If that scenario unfolded, would Arena expect him back if and when a settlement was reached?  Would he infuriate his team-mates and colleagues in the league if he left while the strike was going on?

I feel like this situation regarding Donovan is a real shame.  It’s a World Cup year, and arguably, this will be the best USA side that he’ll have ever been on.  He’s playing, in my opinion, at the top of his game right now.  As I said, I understand Bruce Arena (and ultimately, MLS’s) position here.  Landon is the marquee American star in their league and his side is the marquee side in the league (because of him and David Beckham).  They want him here for the start of their season because the Galaxy draw the biggest houses when they go on the road.  You just think if this was next season and the World Cup wasn’t looming over everything, Arena might not be as keen to get him back as he is right now.  Nevertheless, I wouldn’t expect to see a major smile on Landon’s face on the plane tomorrow.  I’m betting he’s feeling a bit disappointed this morning over his morning tea and scone.

On to the television and internet schedule:

9:30am- Fox Soccer Plus- Manchester United vs. Fulham [England]
9:30am- ESPN360.com- Juventus vs. Siena [Italy]
9:55am- FSC/FSE/ESPN360.com- Livorno vs. AS Roma [Italy]
11:30am- ESPN Deportes/ESPN360.com- Ajax vs. PSV Eindhoven [Netherlands]
Noon- FSC/FSE- Sunderland vs. Manchester City [England]
Noon- GolTV- Villarreal vs. Xerez [Spain]
Noon- DirecTV- Racing Santander vs. Real Zaragoza [Spain]
Noon- DirecTV- Almeria vs. Malaga [Spain]
12:30pm- ESPN360.com- Bayer Leverkusen vs. Hamburg [Germany]
2:00pm- ESPN2/ESPN360.com- Barcelona vs. Valencia [Spain]
2:00pm- Telemundo- Toluca vs. Cruz Azul [Mexico]
2:00pm- ESPN360.com- Nacional Funchal vs. Benfica [Portugal]
3:45pm- FSC/FSE- AC Milan vs. Chievo Verona [Italy]
4:00pm- GolTV- Real Valladolid vs. Real Madrid [Spain]
4:00pm- Fox Soccer Plus- Sydney FC vs. Wellington Phoenix (Delayed) [Australia]
6:00pm- FSE- Puebla vs. Monterrey [Mexico]
6:00pm- FSC- River Plate vs. Huracan (Delayed) [Argentina]
6:00pm- Fox Soccer Plus- Livorno vs. AS Roma (Delayed) [Italy]
6:30pm- GolTV- Corinthians vs. Santo Andre [Brazil]
8:00pm- Azteca America- Puebla vs. Monterrey [Mexico]

As I said, it’s a really fine day of matches to pop up on the television, so enjoy it.  Comments, Twitter, the usual places are where we shall be.