The former USMNT stars expressed concern over the Fulham defender’s priorities after Robinson opted to miss the CONCACAF Nations League
Howard and Donovan discuss the implications of Robinson's choiceDebate arises over player priorities in club vs. country decisionsDiscussion highlights generational shift in USMNT player mentalityGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED
U.S. Soccer icons Tim Howard and Landon Donovan strongly criticized Antonee Robinson for what they believed to be prioritizing club commitments over the U.S. men's national team – and questioning his decision to skip the CONCACAF Nations League while continuing to play for Fulham.
Robinson opted out of the USMNT squad, citing the need to recover from tendinopathy. However, he was in Fulham’s starting lineup for their 3-0 FA Cup quarterfinal loss to Crystal Palace and played in a Premier League match against Arsenal just days later. Donovan openly expressed his frustration with the decision.
“I’m kind of coming to terms with what has happened here as he (Robinson) ended up starting the next weekend for Fulham. This is about priorities, and I did this in my career for friendly games. So this is about priorities. Antonee Robinson has three competitions that he cared about in the last two or three weeks,” Donovan said on the Unfiltered podcast. “The Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Nations League, right? So these are three important tournaments.
"And his decision was that ‘I’m going to not focus and not put my priority on the national team, and I’m going to put my priority with Fulham for the FA Cup and the rest of the season.’ Now, I understand that – I’ve been in his shoes, I get it – but it’s your national team and your country, and I didn’t like the decision, personally.”
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Tim Howard, Donovan’s co-host, further expanded on the topic, saying “I think what you’re speaking to is kind of what I see as well. He put his story on Instagram and I don’t doubt him. I respect and like and think the world of him but if he had to, whatever issue that he was dealing with, it needed rest and it needed 10-day rest or something and he’s managing that. I think from a US Soccer standpoint, he could have rested it the Premier League weekend before, which would have given him a week.
“He could have played in the U.S. games and then rested it in the FA Cup but he chose to take the rest during the Nations League. But again, I think that is what we’re seeing, that’s his choice and I think on a level of priorities, it’s the Premier League, FA Cup, and men’s national team. I think that probably speaks to a bigger problem at the national team level and it’s what I said was my biggest concern – and I actually said this going into the last World Cup. That this group of players, I wonder how many games between now and the World Cup the best group of players will play together. So that is a problem and it speaks to a bigger issue. “
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Robinson has been one of the standout stars for Fulham this season, playing a key role in Marco Silva’s side as they challenge for a place in Europe for next season. The USMNT star has contributed to 10 assists this season with only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah outdoing in that regard.
Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?
The Cottagers and Antonee Robinson currently sit eighth on the Premier League table and are four points off a place in the top four behind Cheslea with eight games left. Fulham host Liverpool on April 5 and then go on the road to face Bournemouth on April 14 in their nex two league games.
