Landon Donovan’s remarks irk Dynamo fans

Last Sunday, after the Galaxy had been beaten at home by Toronto FC, Landon Donovan fielded a question in Spanish. Here was part of his answer:

“Some may not like it, but we are the giants of MLS. Then again, we have missed the playoffs two years in a row.”

Nothing too controversial, right? A little bragging followed by a little humility.

That’s not the way it played in Houston, where the Dynamo has won back-to-back MLS titles after winning two others with many of the same players and coaches when the team was known as the San Jose Earthquakes.

Correctly sensing that Donovan’s remark would stir the waters before Saturday’s Galaxy-Dynamo game in Carson, Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle posted it on the newspaper’s soccer blog, asking, “Who’s the giant here?”

The response was instantaneous, and here are just a few of the comments to the Houston reporter:

* “Now old Landy is drinking the LAG Kool-Aid too… . If I had just lost to TFC, I would be keeping my mouth shut and training for the next match. LAG needs to stop embarrassing itself and MLS both on and off the pitch.”

* “What Landon meant when he said ‘giant’ was ‘face of the league’ or ‘poster boy of the league.’ Those are accurate descriptions. Another accurate description: ‘The coddled team that apparently needs more special breaks in order to succeed against the real giants of MLS.’ ”

* “Does Landycakes mean they are like the San Francisco Giants? As in, they plan to finish last in the West?”

* “King Kong ain’t got nothing on me, says Landon. Yeah, right. L.A.’s problem [is that it] cannot create a workable roster with three players taking up so much money.”

* “Lando is somewhat right in that L.A. receives the most media attention and has the big stars, but their football is subpar. I don’t think any giant of MLS should lose to Toronto.”

* “The Galaxy had the chance to become the giants of MLS but they squandered it when they brought in [Alexi] Lalas and started to focus more on the business side of the team rather than the soccer side.”

So there you have it, Galaxy fans. Your turn.

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There was also some other reader mail directed in this direction during the past week:

“Thank you for printing that the Columbus Crew front office needs to get its act together. You’re right.

“The Crew has not bred a strong fan base within its community like we see with other MLS teams. The Crew’s poor attendance devalues the league. The Crew can still use its soccer-specific stadium in the USL First Division like the Rochester Raging Rhinos, Carolina Railhawks and Charleston Battery.”

Chris Talamantez,

Seattle

Reply: Front office aside, that was a gritty performance by Columbus Coach Sigi Schmid’s team in holding on for a 2-1 victory at D.C. United on Thursday night. Not sure what purpose Eddie Gaven serves on the field, though.

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“I watched the Galaxy-Toronto game on the telly and for the couple of chances they had Toronto cashed in while LD [Landon Donovan] missed two clear breakaways. [Edson] Buddle from 10 yards out couldn’t put his shot on frame in the dying seconds. [Alan] Gordon keeps stumbling along, and a Galaxy midfielder [Ely Allen] traps a centering ball five yards from goal and is stripped of the ball when he should have one-timed it.

“Toronto may be a submissive team in your eyes. But the Galaxy are in deep trouble… . Hopefully the three Cuban defectors can replace the current deadwood.”

Juke Nowozeniuk

West Mifflin, Pa.

Reply: Friday was the Cubans’ last day in camp and they will not be retained. But it was a great ride, they said. See the story in Saturday’s Times sports section.

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“I agree with [Galaxy Coach Ruud] Gullit in general [about statistics not being important] but here’s one:

“All three Toronto goals went through Greg Vanney. He had to foul because he was beaten; he couldn’t reach the pass while his mark could and scored; and [Jeff] Cunningham got past him.

“I don’t know if he should have been expected to prevent any of those, but I know he didn’t. If I could choose a team, the central defenders would be the fastest players.

Jim Geissman

Van Nuys

Reply: In Vanney’s defense, he got no help.

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“I know it’s important that MLS get maximum exposure and backing … [but] there are lots of passionate games occurring all over Europe, not to mention South America. Is there a way we could get a Eurail Pass for Grahame L. Jones and put the new American season on hold, or maybe the back pages? Once the European season comes to an end this summer, he can switch back to the domestic scene as if it were the most important in the world.”

Doug Worsley

Temecula

Reply: Believe me, I’d be more than happy to be at Anfield on Tuesday for Liverpool-Chelsea.

grahame.jones@latimes.com