Life with (and without) Landon means planning for Donovan’s return

Brune Arena and the LA Galaxy are in a tough spot with all this Landon Donovan business. Their mercurial icon has been quiet since helping Los Angeles to a second straight title, making good on his promise to drift away and recharge.

Take those Everton rumors and blow your nose with them. In all likelihood, Donovan’s enjoying some quiet time in Southern California, enjoying family and far too many sessions of FIFA13. If he does find his way back to Carson, it may be with a bad case of carpal tunnel.

On one hand, the break’s a prerogative Donovan’s earned with his contributions to club, country and league. The man who’s logged thousands of miles wants a couple of months to recharge? Who wants to tell him no?

On the other, he did sign a contract. He’s entering the last year of a deal set to pay him $2.4 million in 2013.

No surprise, Arena seems to be taking everything in stride. That’s why he’s Bruce Arena. Rather than bemoan the uncertainty fostered by his star’s, the four-time MLS Cup winner is moving forward.

And he’s moving forward with the assumption the players he has under contract will be with him come training camp. From MLSSoccer.com:

“I’ve never said he wasn’t [coming back],” Arena told MLSsoccer.com. “He’s on our team. On the contrary, I would think he’s coming back unless I hear otherwise. I’m going to plan on Landon being back until I hear otherwise.”

What else is Arena going to do? He knows Landon as well as anybody (so his instincts may be guiding this decision), but it’s not as if Arena can take the Galaxy in a different direction.

They’re not going to go get another Designated Player. They’re not going to fill his spot on the roster. This is Landon Donovan we’re talking about. And we’re only a month removed from the end of the season.

If Donovan needs more than the few weeks before training camp to decide his future, he’s going to get it. LA will suffer, but given Donovan’s sporadic fitness problems and callups to the national team, Arena knows how to prepare a team without him. If the Galaxy have to make it through spring without an indecisive Landon, they’ll survive.

But just as Arena’s instincts are telling him to prepare for Donovan’s return, a sixth sense may dictate when Los Angeles starts seeking a resolution. If, at some point, Arena gets the feeling Donovan’s inching away from the game, he’ll likely seek closure, not wasting any time refactoring the team around whomever replaces their cornerstone.

Until then, Donovan’s going to get whatever time he needs. And Arena’s going to prepare for his return.