SOCCER: Bye-Bye Beckham
November 2, 2008 by Mark Lincir
Filed under Soccer
I don’t need a crystal ball to predict what happens next with David Beckham. He’s headed to A.C. Milan on a two-month loan spell soon and is due back with the Los Angeles Galaxy when Major League Soccer starts its preseason in February.
My question is this…who and what army are going to get him back to the Home Depot Center where he is signed on to grind away with the worst team in MLS for THREE more seasons?
Kiss him good-bye fans of the Galaxy. There’s no way he’s coming back! That’s not to say that he’s going to stay in Milan, but David Beckham has to save his sanity at this point and ask to be let out of his contract with the Galaxy.
I don’t know if Beckham is good enough to contribute a whole lot to an already star-studded Milan lineup, but I do know that he’s lost more games in the last season and a half with the Galaxy than he had in many, many years. Why?
Money.
Beckham wants to take soccer to the next level in this country and I commend him for his will…but it’ll never happen, especially with him playing soccer for team that regularly DOESN’T even make the playoffs. He’s got to save his sanity and move on, the Galaxy will sign another mature (i.e. old) European veteran who will bring in the fans. I’m sure he’ll still be okay financially.
The Galaxy have been there and done it now and they’re still losing. But they’re making money (so what, you still suck!). The most important thing here is that the Galaxy start to put together a team that is not AWFUL and that Beckham moves on to a more glamorous club that has capable players (oops, wait…that’s what he’s doing by going to Milan).
Let’s make it a clean break…we all enjoyed the hype while it lasted, but now it’s over. I personally would rather see what Beckham can do with guys like Pirlo, Gattusso, Kaka and Pato around him than have him gut out another year with a team that used to be good a long, long time ago…but is now the laughing stock of MLS.
Here’s what happens next…Beckham enjoys his time at Milan so much that he asks the Galaxy to allow Milan to keep him until the end of the European season. They oblige him, because they know he’s got one foot out the door already. He stays in Milan til June…then needs some R&R before he reports to the Galaxy.
He joins the Galaxy midseason and loses (because that’s what the Galaxy does, they lose) and goes away from time to time with England. He misses the playoffs again and then takes off for Europe…AGAIN.
Both sides will then agree that the experiment is over. At least when Pele was here he was on a good team. As for all the talk about Landon Donovan wanting to go play in Europe…I WANT to be fit and good looking and smart, but that isn’t happening anytime soon either. Landon isn’t going anywhere and it’s not because HE doesn’t want to. If he goes to Europe and does well…more power to him. But I know he won’t.
QUESTION: Should David Beckham continue to play for the Galaxy or ask to be let out of his contract?
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Last post (s) by Mark Lincir
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November 2nd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Mark - Is it possible that the whole Beckham experiment was simply a marketing ploy, and that he has an “out clause” in his contract that would allow this to happen? I am of the belief that he was simply a tool to get MLS some media attention, and that it was simply a matter of time until he went back to some European team (without fulfilling his MLS contract)…
Thoughts?
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
From the time he signed I have said that he has to have an out clause in his contract. I’m sure he has one. If not, I’m sure that if he asked to be let out of his contract MLS would let him. It doesn’t do the league any good to have him here and unhappy. His arrival did garner the league unprecedented media attention that will never be duplicated…so they could let him go and still consider it, in some way, a success. It’s too bad that the team he came to is so bad. That hasn’t helped either. He will leave after next season for good, if he even plays next season. I agree with you…marketing was a huge part of it, because at this point in his career, Beckham is more image than substance. A good spell at Milan might change my mind on him, but on the field I haven’t seen much from him to warrant millions a season.
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Okay, so I guess we agree on this topic…
Here’s another one for you: Can the MLS attract any more top-end talent with the Beckham experience being so weak? I mean, if I’m a top-level prospect even, I’m not looking at playing in MLS unless I can’t get a div 2 job in Europe… It just seems like a step back in the career, if you catch my drift…
November 11th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I think the MLS can attract aging talent. and they will come over for the same reason becks did- to live (and retire) in america. less taxes, potentially better weather, and a “rec” league versus the competition of 18-24 yr olds you would get in second div european league. but dont expect big names before the WC - they need to be over there for team selection and becks knew it. after the WC, if the economy is better, and if the MLS survives - expect some recognizable names. i am personally hoping for joe cole - cant you see him working frankie for 90!!!