Landon Donovan has a message to any first-time MLS All-Stars who are thinking of having an extended vacation in Toronto this week.
"If they do come in and don't understand (the importance), a lot of us will tell them right away," Donovan said in a conference call Monday morning. "They'll see it in training and the way we approach it."
If there's anyone who really appreciates the MLS All-Star Game it's Donovan, who will be playing in his eighth when the best of MLS takes on English Premier League side West Ham United Thursday night at BMO Field in Toronto.
"Obviously we're not going to get any points and no one is going to move up in the standings," Donovan said. "But being a part of the All-Star Game the last few years, in the locker room and the hotel, the guys understand this is a big opportunity to prove we're good enough."
• Fun secondary for MLS All-Stars
• West Ham visits land of opportunity
• Healthy Angel primed for All-Star Game
• MLS announces All-Star First XI
• MLS All-Stars to face West Ham
ANALYSIS • A look at West Ham United roster
PRESS RELEASES
• MLS finalizes '08 All-Star roster
• West Ham to face MLS All-Stars
• Toronto to host 2008 All-Star Game
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
The Los Angeles Galaxy star, who leads the league with 12 goals, has seen every All-Star Game format the league tried, from East vs. West to the league's international all-stars against the U.S.-eligible all-stars to the current format, which has the top MLS players facing a club from abroad. He doesn't need to think twice when asked which format he prefers.
"For me, this is a slam dunk," Donovan said. "In one sense (the other formats) are more fun, especially for us attacking players ... but it doesn't have the competitive fire you want and you need to play with. When you play against big quality teams, the competitiveness comes out."
And while Donovan and the other MLS All-Stars will take the game seriously, so too will West Ham, Donovan said, especially considering the league is undefeated in these competitions with wins against Chelsea and Celtic on its impressive resume.
"This (format) is much better and more exciting for people to watch," he said. "Now you see when teams come in, whether they're in preseason or not, they take this game seriously because they don't want to get embarrassed."
If Sunday's 3-1 victory against the Columbus Crew is any indication, the Hammers are certainly all business on their preseason North American tour.
"What I do know about West Ham is that they're a damn good team," Donovan said. "I didn't see (the game against Columbus), but I saw the result and they played a lot of their big boys. Dean Ashton scored. They're a very good team and they're going to be tough to play against."
Donovan is also looking forward to some intriguing combinations on his team, especially in the midfield.
"For me, that's the exciting part," Donovan said. "I watch Shalrie (Joseph) play all the time and I'm excited to be on the same field as him. Playing with (Cuauhtémoc) Blanco will be both interesting and fun at the same time. It's fun to play with Kenny (Cooper) up front and it's good to reunite with Dwayne (De Rosario) when he gets on the field. We all feel the same way. It's a mutual respect."
New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol, who will once again coach the MLS All-Stars, is also anxious to see the league's stars on the same field together Thursday.
"On the attacking side you have (Juan Pablo) Angel, Cooper and Blanco," he said. "(All the combinations) are pretty tasty, to be honest. Whichever player we put on the field it doesn't matter because they're going to be quality. It's nice to be in charge of a lot of guys who have quality."
Nicol said he didn't struggle with some of his selections, including picking Angel despite the Colombian missing much of the first half of the season to injury while leaving D.C. United's Luciano Emilio off the squad.
"I didn't think it was difficult at all," Nicol said. "There were a lot of good players to choose from."
In fact, Nicol said he only has one worry Thursday night.
"My biggest concern is getting everyone on the field and at the same time winning the game," Nicol said. "You only enjoy it when you win and do well."
No comments:
Post a Comment