re: Is there a legitimate chance that Jurgen leaves Donovan off the final 23?

That Howard quote is part of the reason JK is hesitant about starting Landon IMO. Landon is such a big figure in US Soccer, even in the minds of the other players, that the game is almost surely going to go through him if he's on the field.

That's great if he's the Landon of whom we are all fanboys, but if he's out of shape and form, we might be better off without him even with a lesser player in his spot if that lesser player is able to mesh better with the whole.

I think it comes down to how much you believe the team overall has progressed. There was a time when we definitely needed Landon in the 11 whether or not he was in form. I don't know anymore, and I know JK believes we've progressed past that point.