Beckham to join LA Galaxy

patmac

iregk wrote:

Teddy is 40, Maldini is 38. Do you honestly think they would have kept going that long had they been playing international as well?

Maldini retired from international football at 34 so not a good example.

iregk

Actually he retired at 31 but came out of retirement to return. Finally hanging up his boots at 34 but I take your point.

loyatemu

he wasn't going to be signed by any major european club so his options were to sign for a second-tier side like Bolton, Newcastle, Lazio etc and spend a few years slogging it out to qualify for the UEFA cup, or to go to LA for an obscene amount of cash. He'll become a major celebrity over there too which will greatly enhance his earning potential once he hangs up his boots, and I'm sure Posh had a say in the move also - she'd hardly be keen to live in Bolton.

stooge

In response to news that David Beckham will be signing for LA Galaxy I would like to express my disappointment that a player with so much potential choose money over ambition.

Having played for two of the top clubs in Europe some may say he didnt want to play for an inferior team....i say codswallop... any player with any interest in football and ambition would have joined a half decent team and spent the next 2/3 years playing the game they love, trying to winning trophies and titles that are actually meaningful.

The statement from Beckham that he is going to the US not for the money but to increase awareness of 'soccerball' is laughable and a sad indictment of a player who has, over the last 4/5 years, seen sponsorship/fame and ego take over from football skills and commitment.

MisterAnarchy

Soccernet says that Beckham will earn £500,000 a week from his salary, image rights and associated sponsorship - but not including personal endorsements.
If thats the case its a crazy crazy deal by the MLS.

FatherTed

stooge wrote:

...
The statement from Beckham that he is going to the US not for the money but to increase awareness of 'soccerball' is laughable and a sad indictment of a player who has, over the last 4/5 years, seen sponsorship/fame and ego take over from football skills and commitment.

What is 'soccerball'?

MisterAnarchy wrote:

Soccernet says that Beckham will earn £500,000 a week from his salary, image rights and associated sponsorship - but not including personal endorsements.
If thats the case its a crazy crazy deal by the MLS.

image rights=endorsements.

LA will be paying him $10m per year. The rest is money is will get from endorsements etc: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6253829.stm

redspider wrote:

However, the league has a salary cap system in place with I understand is a limit of about 2m pa for the whole SQUAD. This is clearly a seismic change for the league over there, but not as seismic as the 250m dollars headline would seem to indicate.

Mostly right...just some clarification on MLS rules...The MLS salary cap is around $2.3m-$2.5m. The max salary per player is $300K but the new "Designated Player" allocation (1 per team) will allow a team to sign a player and play him whatever they want but only $400K will count towards the salary cap. Each team is allowed 4 Senior Internationals i.e. non US Citizens over the age of 25 and 4 youth international (under 25).

LA is getting him for the same reasons Real Madrid got him: for his popularity.

[QUOTEI think its easy to pour cold water on his footballing talents. They are very specialised. However, how one player will make such a difference on the field for a whole league is anyones guess. The promotion of the sport in the 1970's brought over a swathe of players. In recent years the league is composed of none of these types and Beckham is currently alone in that regard. Many of the current players may want to take Beckham down a peg or two, although no doubt all owners of the franchises will want him to do well, so ...... he may be afforded an easy ride. Closer to Haarlem Globetrotters than 100% competitive. Note that some of this happened in the 1970's as well as the star players were 'allowed' to showboat. Its all part of the entertainment package and the razzmatazz.[/QUOTE]

I don't think Beckham will be given a free ride on the field. Some of the younger players earn as low as $12,000. Per year. And these guys will be out to make a name for themselves.

The challenge is tough. Soccer is popular with kids and in schools, but US Football is then seen as the man's game and gets the interest in high school. It doesnt completely dissappear off the radar but at University level its probably not that much more popular than Rugby and less so than Lacrosse.

You're pretty much correct... Although I support MLS because for me, it is important to support my local league, I don't think it will ever get to the levels of Am Football, Baseball and Basketball. It is gradually getting more popular and the quality is getting a little better too. 10 years ago, americans like Cobi Jones who played in Europe were looked as a joke.

MLS is proving to be a good feeder league e.g. McBride, Howard, Convey, Hanneman, Friedel, Dempsey, Beasley, Bocanegra all came from MLS. Not exactly world beaters but there were none 10 years ago. In all, there are about 150 US players in various european leagues.

Jivin Turkey

Well apparently Milan would have taken him

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=441209&CPID=21&clid=120&lid=2&title=Milan+confirm+Beckham+snub

I still rate Beckham as a footballer. I think he still has another year or two to offer at the top level, but this to me just shows how much he has let his fame take him over. What would have stopped him going to the US in a couple of years. The difference between a 33 year old Beckham and a 31 year old Beckham wouldn't be that different as his attributes were never pace or trickery, and it's not as if he ever had problems with injuries.

Lack of footballing ambition IMO. It's a pity.

herbieflowers

72k a day! Wowzer!

sundula

I was never a fan of Beckhams. Basically he is just a right foot, an accurate crosser and dead ball expert.
Can any serious soccer team carry him ? i dont think so. Credit to SAF for getting the best out of him at Man U and playing to his strenghts. For me he was finished as a serious footballer when he left Man U to join the circus at Real Madrid as a poster boy. I was always of the opinion that oppostion players in the premiership awarded him far to much time on the ball and gave him far to much respect and never exposed his lack of pace, left foot, back bone or aerial ability. Maybe the oppostion too bought into the media hype around him.
In my opinion he brought nothing to Real except shirt sales and a move any where else other than a league to the standard of the MLS would be a diaster for him as he is not capable of playing 30 odd 90 minute matches at a premiership level. He also brought nothing to England and played like a coward and not a captain when they needed a captain most, no serious manager would have indulged his inconsistency only the wonder struck Sven who treated him like a love child.
He had a terrible world cup and even the english were begining to question his use, suggesting he was some sort strategic set piece taker whose whole purpose on the pitch was to wait for set piece. Even they knew he was a liability.
No one should be surprised he took the easy option because thats what he always does, first sign of things getting tough at Man U and bails out rather than put his head down and fight for his place. There was no way he would come back to the Prem or try and compete in Serie A when he could swan around the US playing part time soccer. I read an article once by James Lawton (Irish Independant) where he basically stated that Steven Gerrard worked best for Liverpool when he was told what to do, how to move and what way he was to play the game, Lawton basically said that when Benitiz gave Gerrard the postion and told him what to do Gerrard rose to the challenge and always gave 110% (it was to do with his performances last season on the right wing and the goals he scored) The basis of the article was that Gerrard was mush less effective if given a free role to roam around the pitch as oppose to following his managers plan because although tehnically fantastic he hadnt a great football brain like Zidane for example. You may disagee or agree with the Lawton article but i believe this situation to be true of Beckham at Man U. I believe that under SAF guidance and playing to a set of instrutions, stay wide right, cross when you can, simple passes when you cant, Beckham was effective and far more sucessful, i dont think he has the brain to play a game on his own its just to difficult for him and thats where Real made the mistake. Beckham is no football genius.

GuanYin

Exit wrote:

Well, I was kinda talking about the Canadian news channels.

Ah right - it was the North-American as opposed to "Canadian" that threw me :P :P

eirebhoy

Just watching the press conference atm. "I realise I'm not recognised as much in the United States but hopefully playing for the Galaxy will change that". I thought it says a lot about Beckham. He came across very well in fairness though.

event

sundula wrote:

I was never a fan of Beckhams. Basically he is just a right foot, an accurate crosser and dead ball expert.
Can any serious soccer team carry him ? i dont think so. Credit to SAF for getting the best out of him at Man U and playing to his strenghts. For me he was finished as a serious footballer when he left Man U to join the circus at Real Madrid as a poster boy. I was always of the opinion that oppostion players in the premiership awarded him far to much time on the ball and gave him far to much respect and never exposed his lack of pace, left foot, back bone or aerial ability. Maybe the oppostion too bought into the media hype around him.
In my opinion he brought nothing to Real except shirt sales and a move any where else other than a league to the standard of the MLS would be a diaster for him as he is not capable of playing 30 odd 90 minute matches at a premiership level. He also brought nothing to England and played like a coward and not a captain when they needed a captain most, no serious manager would have indulged his inconsistency only the wonder struck Sven who treated him like a love child.
He had a terrible world cup and even the english were begining to question his use, suggesting he was some sort strategic set piece taker whose whole purpose on the pitch was to wait for set piece. Even they knew he was a liability.
No one should be surprised he took the easy option because thats what he always does, first sign of things getting tough at Man U and bails out rather than put his head down and fight for his place. There was no way he would come back to the Prem or try and compete in Serie A when he could swan around the US playing part time soccer. I read an article once by James Lawton (Irish Independant) where he basically stated that Steven Gerrard worked best for Liverpool when he was told what to do, how to move and what way he was to play the game, Lawton basically said that when Benitiz gave Gerrard the postion and told him what to do Gerrard rose to the challenge and always gave 110% (it was to do with his performances last season on the right wing and the goals he scored) The basis of the article was that Gerrard was mush less effective if given a free role to roam around the pitch as oppose to following his managers plan because although tehnically fantastic he hadnt a great football brain like Zidane for example. You may disagee or agree with the Lawton article but i believe this situation to be true of Beckham at Man U. I believe that under SAF guidance and playing to a set of instrutions, stay wide right, cross when you can, simple passes when you cant, Beckham was effective and far more sucessful, i dont think he has the brain to play a game on his own its just to difficult for him and thats where Real made the mistake. Beckham is no football genius.

that whole atricle is rubbish, but the bit i have highlighted more than the rest

do you remember the game against greece?

aidan24326

event wrote:

that whole atricle is rubbish, but the bit i have highlighted more than the rest

do you remember the game against greece?

Is that the best you can do in Beckham's defence? We all know he had a great game against Greece, difficult to think of many other great games for England though. And he was absolutely useless in the world cup, a passenger.
I agree with previous posters who said he was finished as a footballer since he left Man Utd. He still has great technical ability (though completely one-footed) but nowadays he is a professional celebrity moreso than a footballer, and taking a megabucks deal to play in a second-rate league only proves this. LA Galaxy are not buying him for his football ability, they could buy better players who wouldn't command half the wage that Backham is on. He is a model to sell alot of jerseys and generate a bit of hype. It will be a big circus razzmattaz when he goes over there, Brand Beckham on tour.

Ping Chow Chi

amazing how much blind hate some people have for this footballer

Nunu

aidan24326 wrote:

Is that the best you can do in Beckham's defence? We all know he had a great game against Greece, difficult to think of many other great games for England though. And he was absolutely useless in the world cup, a passenger.
I agree with previous posters who said he was finished as a footballer since he left Man Utd. He still has great technical ability (though completely one-footed) but nowadays he is a professional celebrity moreso than a footballer, and taking a megabucks deal to play in a second-rate league only proves this. LA Galaxy are not buying him for his football ability, they could buy better players who wouldn't command half the wage that Backham is on. He is a model to sell alot of jerseys and generate a bit of hype. It will be a big circus razzmattaz when he goes over there, Brand Beckham on tour.

I'd hardly call a player who scored a goal and set up 2 others in 5 games a passenger

We all know about Beckhams weaknesses(they're harped on about enough), but his strengths are enough to warrant him a place in most squads even now, especially Englands. Beckham was made a scapegoat for Englands failures. Everyone knew what he brought to the table and nothing changed at World Cup '06, but the media decided that was the time to turn on him.....and most of the public followed suit.

aidan24326

Nunu wrote:

I'd hardly call a player who scored a goal and set up 2 others in 5 games a passenger

We all know about Beckhams weaknesses(they're harped on about enough), but his strengths are enough to warrant him a place in most squads even now, especially Englands. Beckham was made a scapegoat for Englands failures. Everyone knew what he brought to the table and nothing changed at World Cup '06, but the media decided that was the time to turn on him.....and most of the public followed suit.

He was a passenger. Even the cheerleaders on the BBC were beginning to realise this. I agree he's still worth a place in the squad, a good player to throw on for the last 20 mins if you need a goal, as he does still have the ability to produce a great cross or freekick. He was instrumental in United's treble win in '99, no doubt about that. But he has done nothing of note in the last few years, and yes he was useless in the world cup. A good player in his prime, but never anywhere near a great player.

Chucky the tree

aidan24326 wrote:

He was a passenger. Even the cheerleaders on the BBC were beginning to realise this. I agree he's still worth a place in the squad, a good player to throw on for the last 20 mins if you need a goal, as he does still have the ability to produce a great cross or freekick. He was instrumental in United's treble win in '99, no doubt about that. But he has done nothing of note in the last few years, and yes he was useless in the world cup. A good player in his prime, but never anywhere near a great player.

What english player wasnt a passenger?

aidan24326

Chucky the tree wrote:

What english player wasnt a passenger?

Fair point. They were all pretty crap.

Bateman

event wrote:

can you explain why he deserves to rot in obscurity?

He deserves to rot in obscurity, IMO, because rather than attempt to showcase his talents on the biggest stages, to test himself at the highest level, and to win more trophies, he's following the money, and/or allowing his wife to make decisions for him. And whether you believe this or not is immaterial to me, but I never had anything against him before, and still don't now. My respect for him as a professional sportsman has just gone down sharply, that's all.

~Rebel~

Beckham is back in the Real Madrid fold anyway. All it took was a few injuries, a few sales and a run of bad results! The next question is will he get a run out or just be left on the bench as an expensive decoration?

Link; http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_1904947,00.html

Dublin's Finest

I saw him on Sky Sports news jogging in training with a big smile on his face.

What a PR pro!! :rolleyes:

MisterAnarchy

He started last night and scored Real's first goal in a 2-1 win at Sociedad.
He played well and Real were directing most of their passing through him.
Capello said afterwards that Beckham had played very well.
Looks like he is back for good.

LundiMardi

Fair play to him. I would have loved to see him in the premiership and also the England team again. But this move ensures that neither will ever happen.

As for him not being good for England, what player is good for England? For a long time now England have been providing very poor performances. He was just one of many. But more often than not he ran his heart out in an England shirt and being England captain meant more to him than a lot of people give him credit for.

As for Man U? I'd take Beckham over Ronaldo anyday.

gustavo

Dublin's Finest wrote:

I saw him on Sky Sports news jogging in training with a big smile on his face.

What a PR pro!! :rolleyes:

?
The man is a consumate professional , I've never heard any players he's played with ever say a bad word about him , always came across to me as being a nice guy , but I suppose people have their own prerogative when it comes to him.

Raskolnikov

gustavo wrote:

?
The man is a consumate professional , I've never heard any players he's played with ever say a bad word about him , always came across to me as being a nice guy , but I suppose people have their own prerogative when it comes to him.

Absolutely agree.

People's opinions on Beckham can be completely one-sided. His performances for Real last season were fantastic. He always gave 100%, even when his Galactico colleagues weren't up to the task. How many people know that he has the most assists for any player in La Liga last season? But no, people would rather solely slate him for England not winning the World Cup, the Real Madrid decline, etc.

His talents are wasted in the USA though, would have loved to have seen him in Italy.

KdjaCL

Sent off tonight vs Betis

David Beckham's unlikely renaissance under Fabio Capello was brought to an abrupt end on Saturday night after the former England captain was dismissed in injury time as Real Madrid drew 0-0 with Real Betis.

Beckham had only recently been restored to the Real team following his decision to join LA Galaxy at the end of the season, but as Los Merengues slipped up in La Liga, the midfielder saw red for serious foul play.

Tempers boiled over in the latter stages of the game at the Bernabeu, and Beckham was given his marching orders five minutes into injury time for a reckless tackle.

The draw leaves Real four points shy of leaders Barcelona, and their historic rivals also have a game in hand as they look to retain their Primera Liga title.

Betis sort of the form team since the break.


kdjac