US Soccer roundup - CBA, Donovan, US-Holland

Wait For It... Wait For It

The Collective Bargaining agreement between MLS players and the owners keeps getting pushed back. In last month's column, I noted that we were supposedly only a few days away from resolution. This month? Days? Weeks? Months? Your guess is as good as mine. There was an initial delay when things seemed hopeful, then the bottom seemed to fall out of the negotiations completely, and now both sides have returned to the table with a federal mediator. What's a fan to think?

MLS teams are continuing their pre-season preparations and trades continue to happen, both of which point towards the regular season going forward, regardless of whether an agreement is in place by First Kick, now just two weeks away (March 25). So it would seem that disaster has been avoided. Or is it just waiting under the stairs, preparing to leap out at the last minute and dismember the league before our horrified eyes? And what does all this mean to...

Donovan's Dilemma?

Two goals, some assists, and yes, that awful miss against Spurs later, Landon Donovan is poised to return to the Galaxy despite earning rave reviews, a rumored link to Chelsea, and the adoration of the Everton faithful. After stumbling three times in German auditions, the best American player finally made his mark in Europe. Now the question is: will he return to MLS?

All signs seem to point to yes. He inked a new deal with MLS in the winter, Arena desperately wants him back in LA, and Donovan has always maintained that he'd return. But he seems to be less certain now. Having soaked up the adulation, found a more welcoming European port, and proven himself on the big stage, is he ready to give that all up for being the (and you'll pardon the hackneyed phrase here) big fish in MLS's small pond again? I suppose much depends upon whether the MLS season proceeds as scheduled.

Splitting the Oranje

Of course, even with all of Donovan's success at Everton, you'd be forgiven for thinking his Euro-troubles continued unabated if you watched him turn invisible against the Dutch in last week's friendly. The first ten minutes or so of the second half aside, it was almost one of those classic "tale of two halves." The Dutch dominated the opening stages, going 2-0 up courtesy of Bornstein conceding a penalty and a deflection. Still, the US didn't give up too many solid chances, and, down the stretch, they were unlucky not to knot things up after Carlos Bocanegra nodded home a Beasley free kick to make it 2-1.

In the aftermath of the defeat, the reaction was decidedly mixed. Had we just been horrendously outplayed by a superior opponent, or put the fear of god into them as the final whistle approached? Were Bob's stodgy, rigid tactics exposed by the fluid Dutch, or did they do the job he had intended in keeping things close for a final thrust? Will the US ever find a competent left back or is Bornstein the best of a bad bunch? And can we finally put the Findley-as-Davies-replacement trial to bed?

Looking Forward

Those are all questions that will have to be answered in the next three months as the World Cups looms. But what else should be on the US soccer fan's radar?

• News on the injury front: Can the likes of Onyewu, Cherundolo, Clark, Feilhaber, Holden, and Dempsey make their way back to the field in time to find form before the summer? Can Davies complete his miracle recovery?
• Who blinks first in the CBA? Or does the mediator split the difference? Here's hoping we actually have a First Kick on March 25.
• With only two tuneups prior to the World Cup (May 25 and 29 against the Czech Republic and Turkey), does Bob have his 23 set or can a strong showing over the next two months still earn the odd hopeful an audition?
• Does Donovan extend his loan at Everton, and is such a decision contingent upon MLS not kicking off on time?