As if he was not getting enough “stick” already, Steve McClaren yesterday made
a rod for his own back by recalling David Beckham to the England squad for
next Friday’s friendly international against Brazil at Wembley and the
crucial European Championship qualifying tie away to Estonia in 10 days’
time, which could decide the coach’s fate.
The decision was taken against the advice of McClaren’s staff, including his
tactical guru, Terry Venables, for whom it could be the last straw.
Increasingly marginalised since advocating the switch to 3-5-2 for the
debacle in Zagreb last October, Venables is known to be unhappy and
considering his position.
McClaren himself is under pressure after the poor performances against
Macedonia, Croatia, Israel and Andorra, and faces the sack if the result is
disappointing in Tallinn on June 6. It is against this background that his
judgment appears to be unsound again. There is no other logical
interpretation of Beckham’s return, nearly a year after he was discarded as
yesterday’s man. The erstwhile captain is not restored after a glorious
Indian summer in Spain, as some would have us believe.
Far from being the architect of Real Madrid’s late challenge for the La Liga
title, he has started just three of Real’s past 11 matches, and the obvious
conclusion is that the England coach has bowed to a tabloid campaign on
behalf of the icon of their fashion and celebrity pages.
Lest we forget, it was McClaren who opted to dump Beckham in the wake of
England’s poor showing at the 2006 World Cup.
The man himself did the decent thing and resigned the captaincy straight after
elimination in the quarter-finals, but he wanted to prolong his
international career, only for McClaren to call time upon it by excluding
Beckham from the start of the Euro 2008 qualifying series. When he took
charge, last August, the new head coach was at pains to distance himself
from the Sven-Göran Eriksson regime – a process which had started even
earlier, with some unattributed briefings through third parties towards the
end of the World Cup.
McClaren was going to be his own man, we were assured. He had not agreed with
some of Eriksson’s decisions, notably taking Theo Walcott to Germany, and
everybody was going to see a big difference.
The early indications were promising. Out went Beckham and other remnants of
the old guard, such as David James and Sol Campbell, and McClaren got off to
a flying start, with three straight wins against Greece, Andorra and
Macedonia. Then the wheels started to come loose with a goalless draw in the
return fixture at home to Macedonia, a couple flew off spectacularly with
the 2-0 defeat in Zagreb, and suddenly the new boss was looking very much
like the old boss. Cue Beckham.
Was McClaren admitting he had been wrong to exclude him in the first place?
“No, I wouldn’t go back on that decision”, he said. “But as I told you at
the time, and I know nobody believed me, you should never close the door on
anybody, and I included people like David James, Sol Campbell and Nicky Butt
in that as well.”
Welcoming Beckham back into the fold, three weeks after his 32nd birthday,
McClaren admitted he had not been to Spain to watch him play live this
season. He said: “David is in the squad because his form is good and he can
help us to win in Estonia. Brazil on Friday is just preparation for that
match, which is the one we need to go and win to set us up for qualifying.”
So what is the message here? That England’s finest cannot overcome little
Estonia without the serial underachiever of successive international
championships? Beckham failed to play to his overhyped potential at the past
two World Cup finals and at Euro 2004, and his diminishing but still voluble
fan club has to go all the way back to the qualifying tie against Greece at
Old Trafford in October 2001 to laud him as an international match-winner
with any justification. He was lambasted in Germany last summer by some of
the same critics advocating his return now, and the faults for which he was
criticised then are clearly still present.
Beckham possesses neither the tricks nor the pace to go past his full-back and
get to the byline to supply the most damaging cross of all, and has a
tendency not to pass and move, but to stand and admire his long deliveries
from deep, which are more showy than effective. He looked like a spent force
at the World Cup, and if that was not the case would he really be heading
for the elephants’ graveyard that is North American “soccer”? Out there in
the galaxy of mediocrity that is the rough equivalent of our Nationwide
Conference, he cannot hope to be fit enough, or sharp enough, to complete
the European qualifying series with England next season. His selection at
this stage represents a gamble that smacks of desperation by the manager.
McClaren refused to accept it as such.
“It is certainly not a panic measure,” he said. “Our situation changes every
time we play. After the Spain game [in February] we looked at the situation
and reassessed where we were because that was a big disappointment and we
felt things needed changing.
“David came under consideration for Israel and Andorra, but unfortunately he
got injured at the time. I always like to plan long term, but there is a
pressing short-term need to win in Estonia, and I think David can help us to
do that.
“It’s all about winning games for England. I met David 10 days ago for a chat.
We talked about the possibility of him coming back, and I was impressed by
the passion he had about playing for his country. That passion is what I
felt we needed after the Spain game.
“He’s fit and strong and playing well. He has got his appetite back since the
New Year, and I believe he’ll strengthen our team.”
Denying the suggestion that Beckham was back to save McClaren’s job, the coach
added: “It’s to help me win the game in Estonia. End of story. His
experience, passing and crossing ability are going to be an asset to us.”
Others, Venables foremost among them, advocated a more clear-sighted,
forward-looking strategy and argued for the inclusion of young Aaron Lennon
in the role envisaged for Beckham, on the right.
Others who had a mention were Jermaine Pennant, after his eye-catching
contribution for Liverpool in the European Cup final, and Blackburn’s player
of the year, David Bentley, who forced his way into the squad with his
man-of-the-match performance for the B team against Albania on Friday night.
In going for the retread option, sources close to the England coach say he
believes his way is a win-win situation. If Beckham plays well, McClaren
bathes in the glory of being man enough, and astute enough, to change his
mind. On the other hand, if Beckham is a flop, McClaren will shrug and say:
“There you are, I was right about him all along. Now you’ve seen he can’t do
it any more.” Having brought him back, McClaren clearly intends to play him.
It would make no sense to turn the England camp into a media feeding frenzy
just to have him on the bench.
So if Beckham is to start, who makes way? Recent form points to Frank Lampard,
who has not played well for England for a long time, but McClaren is more
likely to choose a softer target and omit either Joe Cole, or possibly
Michael Carrick, who is otherwise in line for the vacancy created by Owen
Hargreaves’s absence, injured. Even against such limited opponents as
Estonia, who have yet to register a win in the group, the Beckham gambit is
a dangerous one in that it presupposes McClaren can afford another failure.
He cannot.
Of much greater significance, long term, than the return of “Goldenballs” is
that of Michael Owen, who demonstrated his complete recovery from the knee
injury that kept him out for so long with a full 90 minutes in the B game at
Turf Moor on Friday. Having managed only three appearances for Newcastle all
season, England’s principal striker was obviously in need of the run out,
and he emerged all the better for it, even if his finishing skills were a
little rusty.
At 27, Owen, unlike Beckham, has time on his side.
Beckham is back, but what do the experts think?
AUGUST 2006
Steve McClaren I told David I was planning for the future and he wasn’t
included. His reaction was the one I wanted, that he would continue to f ght
for his place, and I will never close the door on that
Glenn Hoddle Steve is correct in saying the door is not shut. If we
found ourselves on a sticky wicket I think David would be brought back
straight away and rightly so
Jamie Redknapp Does Beckham deserve to be dropped and told his England
career is over? Surely, he could still do a job for England. What happens
if, in six months’ time, Ruud van Nistelrooy is top scorer in Spain with
Beckham as his chief supplier and top of the assists?
Jimmy Greaves McClaren needs to show the public that there is a bright
future. A new-look England will do that. Sadly for David Beckham, it needs
to be one without him
Sir Bobby Robson You need a balance between players with pace and
players who control the tempo of a game. David can certainly do the latter,
so to discard him forever would be foolish
MAY 2007
Steve McClaren, yesterday All I’m thinking about is the next two games
and we’re not looking beyond that. The priority is the next 10 days.
Obviously, his form has been excellent at Real Madrid and he can help us win
in Estonia. Beyond that, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it
Terry Butcher It’s a backward and unnecessary step. His days on the
international stage have gone. There is no way a player in MLS can be
considered for England, so they would be effectively recalling him for a
friendly and a qualifier in Estonia that they should not need Beckham to win
Sam Allardyce Steve McClaren is a mate of mine and I will back him all
the way, but I don’t think Beckham should have been left out in the first
place. I would welcome his return – however long it’s for
Jamie Redknapp Three months ago, it wasn’t right, he wasn’t needed, but
now is he one of the best 22 players? Yes he is
Andy Townsend McClaren was strong when he decided to leave him out, so
what does this say about him now? Beckham was peripheral in the World Cup
and I don’t see what has changed
What a nasty and spiteful little column this is. This isn't sports journalism. This one man venting his spleen and setting down his petty prejudices.
Shame on the Sunday Times for printing such bilge.
So, Terry Venables might quit his place on the bench. Well thank goodness for that. He shouldn't be there in the first place. His whole *reputation* is based on a myth. And, gullible mugs like Lovejoy are happy to buy into that myth. Now there's a story about an under achiever. Not that it will ever be told.
RJA, Nottingham, England, UK.
Calling Major League Soccer the equivalent to the Conference shows an obvious lack of understanding with the quality the league has gained over the past few years. North American soccer is getting better by the day with the increase of players coming from Latin America. Sure there sre certain teams in MLS that are not very good, but that's the case in every league. I would pit any of our top 4 teams up against any in the Championship for a positive result.
And credit to Beckham for realizing that and for realizing that he can be the Pele in a league with a far better financial structure than that which featured the toe Cosmos.
Lionel, Miami, FL
Me I’m Scot’s and I think bringing back Beckham is a disaster (for Scotland) - England have been poor since the world cup - lots of huff and puff but no class - fortunately for England and unfortunately for Scotland Beckham will bring that touch of class.
Lennon just doesn't cut it
Nick, Edinburgh,
David Beckham is set to play infinitely better and more consistently for England second time around, scoring goals from open play as well as from free kicks. This is not a matter of opinion. It is dictated by the ' macro ' circumstances of Beckham's return to the England team.
In psychological terms Beckham has nothing to lose and everything to gain. He knows he has one last chance which, if he seizes it, will mean his inclusion in all of the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifyers and, possibly, the European Championship Finals themselves.
Beckham is not the England captain anymore and can therefore concentrate on his own performance. His fewer games for Real Madrid this season mean that he is fit and fresh, mentally as well as physically.
Christiano Ronaldo faced a similar moment of truth at the start of the EPL season just ended. So did Didier Drogba with Shevchenko's arrival. Both focused their efforts as never before in game after game. So will David Beckham.
Terry Daly, London, Great Britain
"Perhaps McClaren is at last going to be "his own man" and not do the bidding of certain segments of the media "
Rubbish. It's the partly due to the pressure from the media that Beckham is back in the side. McLaren's U-turn shows that he's not 'his own man' and is fast becoming the worst manager England have had.
Oscar Acosta, Dubai,
"Far from being the architect of Real Madrid’s late challenge for the La Liga title... " so says yet another article - the same as others I have read in this newspaper from so-called journalists who aren't even watching him play. I live in Spain, and have watched Real Madrid's revival since his recall to the team, and there is no doubt that he is the main reason that they are doing well. All the commentators and journalists here are saying the same thing. Oh, and last night's result? Madrid won 3-1 - two of the goals created by Beckham. He deserves his recall to the England squad on merit. My advice to your 'hacks'? Get a satellite dish and see for yourselves or shut up!
GJC, Santander, Spain
MLS is not as bad as nationwide conference. You have several MLS players in MLS and we have several recent ex-Premiership players in MLS. It's closer to championship level. But hey, why let facts get in the way of bashing Beckham?
Gary Flinch, Columbus, Ohio
Fantastic! Now, when England lose and fail to qualify, the press will have its usual scapegoat. Beckham must be even less intelligent than his detractors in the press would have us believe to set himself up like this. McLaren (go! GO!) would have been well served had Beckham shown some of the peevishness he has often been accused of displaying and told him to stick his offer and to go on depending on those other 'stars' who were so much more preferable than him. Then, when England failed to qualify, the blame would fall squarely where it belongs - on McLaren.
David, you deserve better than this.
C. Morland, Bath,
"... Jermaine Pennant, after his eye-catching contribution for Liverpool in the European Cup final."
That eye catching performance was one of the reasons Liverpool came away with nothing. Time and time again the young show pony got the ball in the sort of positions Beckham regularly puts in killer crosses, only for nothing to happen.
I bow to no one in my dislike of McClaren, but on this he has got it right, if belatedly. Lennon and Pennant and plenty of others of their ilk may have pace and the ability to grandstand their way past defenders, but until their final ball improves, Beckham will always be preferable. After the World Cup there was a case for dropping him from the team, (even though, as has been pointed out here, he had a hand in virtually every goal England scored there) but he should never have been kicked out of the squad because of McClaren's weak minded posturing.
Grokes, Derby, UK
Well I agree that the American MLS is not up to the speed of English Football, but still for our benefit Beckham is making a respected move that can greatly impact our future in the game here. As for seeing him back on England, for which this American has supported for over a decade, I am very excited. One thing about the world cup is that England suffered as a whole and the only glorious goals that come to mind were by Becks. If it is only for the fan support, well lets look at the whole picture and not forget that moral is sometimes more powerful than sheer talent. The guy is infectious, plus, even though my English counterparts seem to deny at the moment his is a hell of a lot better than most. I mean shouldn't this be about McClaren alone!?
Wayne, Stevensville, MD
The logic of the article and some of the comments illustrate the real problem England are having. Asking whether Beckham is still a 'good player' is to miss the real point which is whether he will add anything to the team. His good form for Real is not necessarily going to translate into good form in a team made up of different players with a very different playing style. He hasn't looked good for England since the 02 World Cup, leaving aside the continued excellence of his free kicks.
If he does play well, then will Steve McClaren please drop Lampard and Rooney?
Tim Saunders, Auckland, NZ
David Beckham is frankly more than good enough to be included in the England set up. There is no doubt about that. His passing ability in play and from set plays is of a very very high standard. Althougn I will not go as far to say the highest standard in the World.
As for Mr. Lovejoy's views on the MLS, well I am not impressed. The MLS is a very proffesional and competetive league. The youth coming through is of a good standard and the league will soon be as good as our Championship! Comparing it to our Conference (And no disrespect to all involed in this league) is Ludicrous.
Mickey, Northampton, Northants
Beckham is a better player than Lampard, and was used as a sacrificial lamb after the World Cup. If the media did not whip up a frenzy to choose a successor before the World Cup it is quite possible that Mc Laren would not have gotten the job.
Beckham is a match winner and no, Mr.McLeod, I don't see anyone that can cross the ball and take free kicks like Becks
in the current English team. Sometimes I wonder if it's pure jealousy that motivate some of Beckhams' detractors.
Vijay, London,
what is the point of bringing back David Beckham,he has performed admirably for england in the passed ,England are preparing for a tilt at winning Euro 2008 and no one can believe that they will achieve this with Beckham in the team.
have people forgotten the clamour to have Beckham replaced AT LAST YEARS WORLD CUP.SURELY NO ONE IS OF THE OPINION THAT BECKHAM IS A BETTER PLAYER NOW THAN THEN OR HE WILL BE A BETTER PLAYER NEXT YEAR. MCCLAREN SHOULD GIVE A MASSIVE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TO ARRON LENNON WHO COULD GIVE ENGLAND A REAL CHANCE OF GOING CLOSE TO WINNING EURO2008
Jean Deans, EDINBURGH,
This attack on Beckham is stupid. He NEVER had "the tricks or pace to go past the full back and get to the byline". Just as Michael Owen never was never a great header at corners, or Paul Scholes a demon tackler. The absence of these qualities didn't stop Beckham being a key part of Manchester United's treble winning 99 side.
Beckham didn't need to get to the byline, because he can deliver "the most dangerous crosses of all" from pretty much anywhere in the final third, and he just needed to create a few inches of space - even with the full back in front of him. He was pretty good on dead balls too - how many of England's world cup goals came from those?
The only problem with Beckham is when he got built up to be something he isn't (and maybe he started beleiving it). But take him for what he is - a specialist wide right, first class crosser of the ball and dead ball specialist - and you have a useful addition to any team - if used well.
Nick, France,
A rude, ill informed article! And so it has begun - all the pressure is once again to be heaped onto one player. Instead of dragging out the usual cliches - "spent force", "neither tricks or pace " perhaps Joe Lovejoy might in future try and resist doing a simple cut and paste job and try some insightful commentary for a change. Perhaps McClaren is at last going to be "his own man" and not do the bidding of certain segments of the media who personally dislike Beckham and want him out of the team whether it is a fair decision or not. And please desist from stirring up stories of unrest in the team as to who might have to be left out. If a player is on the bench because a better player is available then so be it. Their paychecks can keep them warm! The irony is not lost on me that Joe Lovejoy is a mainstay of the media feeding frenzy that he laments will happen as a result of Beckham's presence. Rubbish - as this article illustrates it's made his job so much easier.
steve, sydney, australia
How striking are the comments by Glenn Hoddle and Jamie Redknapp.........
Damon, Newcastle, UK
Beckham has never been good enough - he has never won a game for England. His only really good performance was in the 2-2 draw with Greece. He is only average and vastly overrated. Anyone can cross ball, it is the player on the end of the cross who deserves the credit. Please encourage skill and talent and stop hyping talentless individuals.
John McLeod, Evesham, Worcs.
Beckham won games for England in the World Cup as a top class player - there is no doubt of that. The article is a pointless moan against "Becks" and is just as annoying as the adulation of others. Beckham was, more crucially for our success in the cup, a poor captain - just like Flintoff is - that doesn't mean either are bad players. Dropping him was foolish and rather spiteful and has probably led to "Becks'" stupid decision to go to LA. So ends another hero, not with a bang but a whimper.
Benjamin, Fairford,
Beckham is not the only star to have under achieved for England - most of them have. Beckham is just singled out because of who he is. The fact that we have such high expectations of him suggests an underlying belief that he is one of our best players - and he is. He should never have been stuck out on the right by Sven, and he should never have been left out by Mclaren. He should always have been playing in the middle of the field - where he told everyone he was best - and then perhaps the criticism of him would never have materialised. He may even have still been captain. We may even have actually won something. There is nothing to the England manager's job - you just have to play the best players in their best positions. How hard is that? This England team picks itself, the tactics are obvious. A monkey could manage the England team - and even a monley would play Beckham in the middle every game.
Paul, Ipswich, Sufolk, UK
This is a real dilemma;
If England win with the presence of the "talismanic" Beckham, then were still left with McClaren as the manager.
It's a lose - lose situation!
MGB, Carmarthen, Wales
I will never waste another second of my life reading opinion pieces written by people ignorant enough to believe Major League Soccer is roughly the equiv. of the Nationwide Conference.
Joe, Newcastle, England
Could any of England's super young players cut it with Real Madrid right now? I think not. Beckham was terrible on the England squad during the last world cup accord to Lovejoy. I really wonder if he actually watched the games. England qualified easily for the world cup, something they are having a difficult time doing for the European cup with all these young fast paced talents currently on the squad. Beckham played a role in all of the goals England scored in the World cup. England lost to an excellent Portugal team on penalties. England played with ten men for the final 30 minutes. I guess Beckham is to blame for Rooney getting a red card. He is responsible for Lampard missing golden chances including the penalty along with Gerrad. Lovejoy, you are biased and hate Beckham because of his lifestyle and not for football reasons. You must not be a football fan if you say Beckham is doing not well for Madrid. I watched the game last night and the guy is in rare form. England needs him.
Siafa Bright, Monrovia,
The MLS as equivalent to the Nationwide Conference? Surely you must be delusional. I've watched matches before, and I would say the MLS is of at least Championship quality (I believe they have beat or drawn with Premiership clubs in the past). Before you make such comments, sir, I suggest you do a bit more research and rely less on stereotypes.
Walter, London,
The England national team return to Wembley, the chance to promote the new stadium around the world.
What better way than to bring back the media circus that is "David Beckham".
A few more shirt sales in the far east should help pay for that stadium.
Ed, York, England
The facts are simple, while Lennon, Downing, Pennant are all potential England stars, they lack the quality cross at the end of their pacey run to make a difference for now. Beckham doesn't need that pace to provide that crucial quality ball. And of Beckham's 3 starts of last of 11 Madrid games is misleading, he was injured and suspended, instead be honest with yourself and see that in each of his games he has been key to Real's WINS. Just read what the Spanish are saying. England will qualify if they go back to the system that so easily worked for them; holding midfield player, with Gerrard free in the middle, Beckham on right, Cole on left. Drop Lampard until his form improves and then he and Gerrard compete for the same one position).
YZ, Bahrain,
What about Terry Butcher and Gascoigne?
Oh! I didn't know you were being serious.
Ken Wyatt, Todmorden, UK
Why use him joining the MLS as the reason to attack him?
a)Beckham has NEVER had that side to his game, but he's still pretty damned effective, he's never relied on pace for his game to work.
b)Why call it "Soccer" with the quotation marks when refering to the American game? It is used widely and originally in areas of the UK particularly where Rugby is the dominant game.
c)If you thinks the MLS is the same standard as the Conference, then why do they have so many players who are of Championship standards playing over there? Looking at the average age, it's hardly an "Elephant's graveyard" is it?
d)To suggest he'll not be fit enough while their Season is in full flow is an insult to both the League & Beckham's own professionalism.
e) Is it desperation? Probably, but desperate times call for desperate measures. What would you have written if he weren't recalled & England Lost? Would it be scathing, you questioning why the most inform Midfielder in England wasnt recalled?
Gregg, Newport, South Wales
This article consists of shockingly bad journalism. The fact is Beckham shouldn't have been dropped in the first place. He has been Englands best player for ten years and is still our best right sided midfielder. I watched the Real Madrid game yesterday and he was absolutely incredible. The only reason he was dropped in the first place was due to media pressure and England haven't improved without him, in fact they've got worse. He was the most productive England player at the world cup in terms of goals and assists and it is an absolute scandal that he has been treated like this. A place in the England team should be based on current club form and not reputation, if anyone hasn't been doing it for England and you needed a scapegoat (which the media seem to insist on - why can't we just admit we got beaten by the better team, learn from the experience and improve) then it would surely have to have been Frank 'look at me' Lampard.
Danny, Manchester,
I don`t think Mr Lovejoy has been watching DB play in the same matches as the rest of us. Fantastic ball control and excellent reader of the game. What he lacks in pace, and thats not much, he makes up for with astute passing. Get him back in an England shirt and get rid of Lampard...
lee marriott, Doncaster,
Mr Lovejoy talks of the "eye catching display" of Jermain pennant in the champions league final , then maybe he can show one example of a cross or pass that he made that was in any way effective , he had both time and space and failed on every occaison to put in a quality final ball , which is the thing that seperates the also ran player from the quality . David Beckham has never had great pace or tricks but is the most effective crosser of the ball we have and for that reason he desrves to play . Aaron Lennon is blessed with pace but again fials to deliver a quality pass or cross and until he does will always only be useful for brief substitute appearances
david williams, london, london
Hey Mr Lovejoy, Did you see Real's 3-1 win this weekend...
Or the rest of the La liga matches? Maybe you should view some of them..
tom, London, England
Yes, This article is indeed unbalanced. You obviously have some sort of irrational prejudice against Beckham, Mr Lovejoy. Irrational as it is not based on reason. Reason being the ability to weigh up and make sound judgement on the basis of the evidence at hand. Not seeking out the most recent evidence is no excuse. Open your eyes and watch him prove you wrong. You clearly have not been following his matches recently as he has been instrumental in a number of their crucial goals. Are these not precisely the attribures England have been lacking recently with the exception of Gerrard - quality delivery and finishing in and around the goal....
james, edinburgh,
Did you see yesterdays game - Beckham's deliveries, the free kick that beat everyone except the inside of the post?! This article is quite unbalanced and plays down the absolute fact that Beckham is playing excellent football again.
The arrogance surrounding the English team is unfounded. Ok, Beckham is not the greatest player in the world - but one thing for sure is that he is at present a far better player than Downing, Lennon and Bentley. These players have great potential but are not yet international quality, and then there is Lampard who is a small game player and should have been dropped during the World Cup. Beckham is a big game player of international quality, and if you think he is too old, remember Paul Scholes - he would also stroll into this present England team.
Mike, London,
Has Mr Lovejoy even seen Beckham play for Real Madrid lately? This weekend he was sublime - setting up two of their three goals (one assist a beautiful curling cross from the left wing with his left foot after an exquisite one-two with Roberto Carlos; the other a traditional pin-point arcing cross from the right ) as well causing all sorts of headaches for Deportivo all through the game, including hitting the woodwork from a long-range free kick and spraying passes around with slide-rule accuracy, particularly to Van Niesltroy.
The tail -end of this season is proving to be like 1999 all over again, in other words. The truth is that Capello - after writing off DB, just like much of the UK media - has finally built a system that makes the most of his talents & Real Madrid are now topping the table.
Karl, Canterbury,
I would rather see Beckham in an england shirt than pennant. Beckham creates goals when he plays. Thats almost fact. This article reminds me of last year with the papers predicting spurs to get 4th, utd to get 5th. Man, journalists always seem to hit the nail on the head, don't they...
johny m, shanghai,
the ignored fact here is that nearly all the goals (somewhat important in football) in the world cup had Beckhams influence all over them. Englands "failed" in the world cup because rightly (but honestly, very wrongly) Rooney got sent off. Englands failure included no defeats. Italy, supposidly the most sucessful team in the competition got the penalty(!) against Australia and squeaked a result agianst the USA with dubious refereeing and of course Zidane's rush of blood. Contributing goals is far more important than beating a full back or having pace but no end product. Beckham was not a captain, but he did make the only difference that really counts in football.
Leigh Rogers, Bath,
Late next Friday BBC2 will show the Star Trek episode called "McClaren's Brain" in which an alien beams into Soho Square, stuns everyone on board the USS England and surgically removes the England manager's brain.
Luckily, due to the unique physiology of football managers, McClarens body can be controlled mechanically to carry out simple tasks like picking a squad and explaining tactics to Frank Lampard.
It is discovered the brain has been stolen by a group of aliens from planet Football called International Footballers, otherwise known as the "givers of pain and delight".
The brain is recovered when Becks, their leader, attempts to escape across space and time to the sunshine planet California.
After an unsuccessful attempt to replace the brain using the combined intelligence of the FA and football journalists,
McClaren continues to manage England and Adidas unveil their new World Cup Braingeist Replica Football with grey and white lobes using the slogan "The Thinking Ball".
Alan, Eastcote, middx, uk
Regardless of whether England are a better side or not with Beckham included is something of a moot point. When McLaren dropped Beckham and said he was looking to the future and it was seen symbolic of the new manager being his own man and not just Sven’s assistant. We were led to believe that Beckham had far too much influence over the previous manager (to the point of influencing team selection) and getting rid of him was a clean start. This smacks of a weak, incompetent manager who has no idea what he’s doing. Why not go all the way and bring back Sven too? After all, he’s still on the payroll.
Oscar Acosta, Dubai,
David Beckham is a world class player. The emphasis on his form in the World Cup as opposed to Frank Lampard's lacklustre displays is an absolute disgrace. Look at Beckham's cross to Raul in last night's Madrid game - effortless! Come on England!
Andrew, Putney , United Kingdom
Does anyone else appreciate the delicious irony that, at almost the exact time Joe Lovejoy was penning this uninformed tripe, David Beckham was dominating and almost single-handedly winning yet another game for Madrid?
Two from the title now, and then the people who mock Beckham for winning nothing at Madrid - even though he's had six managers in four years - will need another drum to bang.
Tom P, Cambridge,
The argument being made here is almost the right one - is Beckham's form good enough. Whilst this is very important, how will Beckham contribute to the development of a side with 3 years to go to the world cup - or is it just European glory England is after?
For my belief is that England needs to be completely remodelled and as much as I find Beckham superb his inclusion is mere short-termism. Going for Europe is too short a time frame even if you do well it won't be enough structually for the team to be "right" for the world cup.
The British media have not given McClaren 3 years to remodel - you have become Americanised and expect to win every game, every trophy with what you currently do. You all agree on change but not on development.
Chris, Radlett, London, Herts
The MLS is the equivalent of the Nationwide Conference? That's laughable. I love people that have seen nary an MLS match, but wish to judge it so quickly. Celtic lost like 4-1 to the Revolution who have been mediocre squad, Chelsea lost to the MLS all-stars; the list goes on. And this comes from a big fan of SPL and English football, but even though those are just friendlies, the gap isn't as far as so many claim it to be.
Alex Weldon, Chicago, IL, U.S.
agree very much with the general tone of disillusionment at this futile and backward step into the beckham circus which was shown to be utterly hollow and lightweight when it came to the crunch in the big tournaments.However,are you definately assuring us this was Mcclarens decision and his decision alone?Is it not very much possible he was leant on by certain powers that be within the sports establishment?New wembley,Brazilian opponents,lots of sponsors to keep sweet,much money to be made,back comes the "brand".Is this all a coincidence?
robert, London, UK
have you seen the article "american idol's golden farewell"
lily chan, hongkong, hongkong