Major League Soccer Talk - Latest Comments in A Galactic Mess

Re: A Galactic Mess

jacob reilly — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:09:39 -0000

i don't think Beckham cares that much. he is somehow still holding down a place in the England sqaud (in the starting XI believe it or not!!) and so actually his career hasn't suffered at all. he has been used as a marketing tool (and used himself as one) since the turn of the century, i reckon it is nothing he can't deal with.

you need to calm down a bit on how "great" a player he is too. really, he isn't that "great" nor has he ever been.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Bob — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:36:32 -0000

The quality of a player is marked by how he is rated by his peers. We can argue whether he was anywhere near as good as Zidane or Figo, but the truth is only an exceptional player would have been able to break into that team - it just says how good the rest of the galacticos were to say that they were better.

The quality of the man is marked by the level of prominence he has attained for himself. We can argue whether he is a product of pure marketing or whether the marketing is a product of his ability but it doesn't change the fact that he inspires more kids, aspiring players and fellow pros alike (even Landycakes loves him), and there's no doubting Beckham can sell more shirts than any other sporting figure.

And he still works everyday on his game and his image, so is it because of this or in spite of this that he is still a pretty normal bloke who average people like you and me can relate to?

Re: A Galactic Mess

Stuart — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:02:47 -0000

David Beckham got us (England) to one World Cup singlehanded, by virtue of scoring the last gasp equaliser aginst an average Greece Team. (Yes they were Euorpean Champions 2 years later but they had improved). That was in 2002 - I'd imagine Kevin Costner was still making profitable movies in 2002 but would you open a $200m blockbuster with him tomorrow? Since that game, Beckham has done nothing in two World Cups and one European Championship. Good player but vastly, vastly overrated.

Re: A Galactic Mess

mark jenkins — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:19:39 -0000

Beckham flew to China so that he could be used as window dressing to promote the 2012 Olympics. That, presumably, was more important than training with his team and their new coach. And you still wonder why the Galaxy are a pathetic joke.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Will Kuhlkamp — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:06:10 -0000

Beckham left Man. U. for Real a team which did not need him and were he had no impact on their performance on the field. He was basically bought in to improve their
marketing potential. No change there in his move to the Galaxy. Years ago David was a good player who had the potential to become a great one. Unfortunately for his fans he decided to follow the money. The normal thing to do these days. Since those days it has been all about hype rather then substance gladly provided by the English media.
For him it's too late now. His best years as footballer have been wasted. As for the Galaxy and North American football who knows. Pele and Beckenbauer certainly made a greater impact here years ago but even that came to naught.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Chris — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:51:04 -0000

I can't get my head round the beckham myth, he's good but ffs, he has never been one of the greats. I would imagine in a few years time, his mythical status will only grow. He has more exposure than far better players in his own generation. Ronaldo, zidane and rivaldo are legendary. all time greats. His work rate is also a work of fiction. He is 15 yards of the centre line all game, never tracks back and as to his amazing free kicks, his record is pretty poor; 5 free kicked goals in 103 englad games tells its own story. He is really a corner kick taker. Imagine if he had the same talent as the likes of henry, his hype would dwarf the milky way. Bur as a man, i like that he made 100s of millions, something even Ronaldo and zidanne can only dream of.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Hawk — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:02:51 -0000

We need more people like Rainer Scheer in this world.......able to see through all the charade and notice that Beckham was surplus to requirements as a top flight footballer five years ago.

A man who will also no doubt remember that during Beckham's supposedly Lazarus-like comeback in his final months at Real, they still almost threw the title Barcelona had presented them away in the final match against Mallorca. That was until Beckham got the hook with half an hour left and his replacement, Jose Antonio Reyes, turned the game around.

Mr Cruise still celebrated though.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Nemo — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:47:22 -0000

Everyone always forgets one fundamental about David Beckham - as a footballer, he made the absolute maximum of his abilities. He would be the first to tell you that he doesn't have the natural ability of a Zidane/Best/Pele etc., but he made his reputation by working like a maniac to be the best that he could be. He was superb for Man Utd and Madrid. He's still first choice for England and although I haven't seen him play for Galaxy, it's clear that he's not finished yet. If you ignore all the celebrity nonsense (the only reason Ferguson ever let him go), you're left with a decent (world class in his day) footballer and a decent bloke - nothing more, nothing less.

Re: A Galactic Mess

bocia — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:02:34 -0000

i agree that beckham was great, but still unavoidably over-hyped as the poster-boy of british soccer. too pretty for the blood and guts uber-macho american male, he cashes in but inevitably fails to bring either more fans or any real presence to the game. mls would do better to bring in some working class heroes, like rino gattuso!!! ha ha ... no, really!

Re: A Galactic Mess

Andrew — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:28:50 -0000

I will agree that Beckham has been overyped by the Media but there is no player that could live up to that amount of hype. Beckham was instrumental in Madrid winning the title in 2007. I watched most of the games and even went to Madrid twice so I feel pretty confident that my assessment is not media based and probably more accurate than Mark's.

However, I must admit I am biased as I am a huge Beckham fan. I can't wait for the movie he and the rest of Real Madrid are in, GOAL 2, comes out next friday.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Thom — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:48:54 -0000

"Coz, dontcha know, America’s gonna win their first World Cup well before the self-devouring English get even a sniff of a second."

You're funny...

Re: A Galactic Mess

dan — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:44:37 -0000

I've seen Beckham live three times this year, watched another four on TV. Can't say I've seen many problems with his game. He's scored some terrific goals, his passing has been superb, his work rate more than satisfactory. Still tracks back into a defensive role like he did in his younger days. Seems to be playing with a sense of enjoyment.

And the Galaxy draw big crowds wherever they play. As usual, critics make mountains out of molehills. Pro soccer isn't going to become an overnight sensation in America regardless of Beckham. The game and its glamour boys have been there before, floundered and been reborn to become stronger than ever. It has a long way to go to achieve the success it seeks, but whether Beckham succeeds or fails won't alter the progress of the process.

The fact that MLS continues to grow as a business through the construction of new, soccer-specific stadia or the addition of incredibly wealthy, successful owners like Paul Allen in Seattle or MLSE in Toronto - who own the NBA Raptors and NHL Maple Leafs - is far more indicative of the league's bright prospects than anything one player does or doesn't do.

All this criticism directed at Beckham only serves to show the deep feelings English and European fans still have for him.

And if this carping about a high-profile MLS player helps them overcome their general ignorance of MLS Beckham has done service to both the game over here and fans over there.

Coz, dontcha know, America's gonna win their first World Cup well before the self-devouring English get even a sniff of a second.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Thom — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:52:57 -0000

Look, I'm English, and I'll concede right now that Beckham is woefully overhyped. Even in his prime at United he was a one-dimensional player. George Best said it, er, best: "He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that he's all right. " Add to that he's slow and cannot beat a man to save himself (a significant deficiency in the armoury of a supposed winger).

Beckham has always been about his own brand. Imagine if he looked like Paul Scholes (twice the player Beckham could ever hope to be) - there's no way he would even have held a steady role in the England team, let alone wind up with a cushy payday in LA.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Dave — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:05:26 -0000

Well he's in the England squad, hardly mediocre.
As i said, 1 man doesn't make a team, he was loved at Madrid due to his hard work and impressive passing. Ask a spanish fan they'll say the same. Trophy's are not everything. The great Ronaldo (not Cristiano) has never won the Champions League but he's still one of the greatest forwards to have played the game. Beckham has got himself into the England squad as he's still doing now what he's always done, right midfield, get crosses into the box and be a threat from set peices.

Re: A Galactic Mess

rainer scheer — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:56:41 -0000

Beckham was once a very good player, but his lifestyle hastened his decline into mediocrity. At age 27 he was over 30 as a footballer. Now, at age 32, he is washed up. He can still kick a ball, but only because itr requires little movement. And, as stated earlier, kicking a ball is hardly a unique skill.
Putting it another way, do you really think Sir Alex would have sold him to Real Madrid if he didn't think that Beckham was past his prime? 3 years at Madrid where the team underperformed and a 4th year where they won the title only because Barca threw it away. This with a team that was supposed to be the best in the world. Becks started about 10 matches that season, and I don't think he played 90 minutes in a match all season, but his buddy Tom Cruise showed up for the last match so it had to be because of Beckham that Madrid won the title.

Re: A Galactic Mess

jo — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:45:25 -0000

I wonder how many of Beckham's games for Real Madrid Mark saw for him to pronounce so damningly on him. You'd get profounder soccer insight from George Bush.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Dave — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:42:07 -0000

Beckham was 2nd in world footballer of the year twice. He was an amazing footballer who could hit a ball onto your head from anywhere on the pitch. I think doubting his calibre has been part and parcel for him as his career has come towards its finale but people should remember him for the footballer he has been. You do not play week in week out for Manchester Utd and then for Real Madrid if you're not world class. People in the UK may have hyped him, but he did single handedly get England to the world cup, set up 70% of the their goals for 5/6 years whilst being immense for Man Utd. Only people that have seen him for season after season in his prime should be allowed to comment on him. In the US LA are the top scorers or thereabouts and he's setting up and scoring goals as is his job. He's not a defender which is what the team need. Regardless of pay 1 man doesn't make a team and he cannot do it all on his own.

Re: A Galactic Mess

thomas — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:42:26 -0000

An interesting measured tone in this article which fails to compensate for its inconsistent argument.

New supporters need to be won with a higher quality product, so the prescription is to force out the highest earning and most visible symbol of quality..? well really!

No. The artificial parity may create new levels of league-wide excitement, but only by artificially maintaining internal disparity on rosters.

As you say, Houston and New England are the most consistent performers, but this is because they have the fewest weaknesses and afford the highest median quality of player, which is at most an indirect consequence of a lack of a designated player. It is more directly a consequence of having the most stable internal set-up, which follows on from their billionaire ownership groups supporting them above and beyond pure fiscal sense but in the interests of league stability - neither of these teams make a profit and neither are likely to until they build SSS's, yet they will be among the last in MLS to do so.

The answer is that MLS is developing just fine, it is only the commentators who are impatient for the point in 3-5 years time when it can start to be taken seriously.

This point will occur when everyone recognises, understands and accepts how MLS integrates with global competitions - it is the same as trying to enjoy the game before you know what the offside rule is.

Only when the Concacaf CL is bedded in and a US club qualifies for the CWC and pits itself against a European or S American team in a meaningful competitive match will MLS start mattering. And until then everybody must remain patient.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Chris — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:25:49 -0000

David beckham was a decent player, but not a ronaldinho, he is overhyped to a large degree. the man played 13 games in his last season at real madrid and was subbed in most of these games. ruud van nistelroy scored 20 goals, even the likes of reyes had a bigger role in the title run. He was bought by madrid to sell T-shirt to asian fans. He is exposed in the us. He can take a corner but for 25 million a year i would want more than that.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Forxa Barxa — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:05:12 -0000

Bruce Arena's appointment is a nightmare. He wil bring in the typical English style game: long passes, and physical play. This sort of game will, however, suit Beckham, a style which may compromise its p opularity in the MLS. IF my true fears are confirmed, then Go Chivas!

Re: A Galactic Mess

Max — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:25:32 -0000

Beckham seems a step slow in MLS without adequate cover. MLS was supposedly a slower league but the league is almost moving too quickly for him. He cannot do anything down the flank and seems uncomfortable in the middle. How Bruce Arena works this out will be a real test to his coaching caliber.

Re: A Galactic Mess

J Harris — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:56:06 -0000

Beckham's lack of impact with the Galaxy has been striking. The team has now gone something like 45 games without scoring off a corner. He may have been a great marketing tool to the types of people described above but as a footballer, Blanco has had a much bigger impact and thus Chicago is far ahead of LA in the table.

Re: A Galactic Mess

THOS O'SULLIVAN — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:16:06 -0000

The Beckham idea was good and still is. It has brought attention to the MLS that never existed before. The US media have shown marginal interest where they showed none before.
For those of us who have known and followed the game for years, Beckham has been a failure as a player. He has never dominated or stamped his personality on a game the way Blanco does or Valderrama or Donadoni did. He hasn't scored from a free kick since last year and his dead ball distribution is now average. However his arrival has been good. It is now important that teams sign foreign players that want to produce.

Re: A Galactic Mess

Mark — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:47:13 -0000

Gross exaggeration from the English media, but what else would you expect? When you let the media form your opinion for you instead of using your own judgement, you'll find that you get things wrong more often than not...

Re: A Galactic Mess

Forxa Barxa — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:03:20 -0000

Michael: Our dear brother Sid Lowe wrote of Beckham in 2007 thusly:

"With Madrid collapsing, Capello granted Beckham clemency on February 11, insisting "wise men correct their mistakes". Beckham's first act was to rescue the Italian from the sack with a free-kick in a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad. Injury followed but he returned for the crucial final weeks of the season - just as Madrid began to believe in a title that had appeared beyond them. Now an undisputed starter, Beckham has proven fundamental."