Is Beckham making the right decision by delaying his move to America?

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David Beckham has postponed his lucrative move to LA Galaxy to pursue a final trophy with Real Madrid, driven by his desire to leave the club on a high note after four trophyless years. Despite being sidelined by coach Fabio Capello, Beckham aims to contribute to Madrid's Champions League and La Liga campaigns before transitioning to MLS in July. His anticipated salary of $1 million per week has sparked debate about the implications for soccer in the U.S., with some viewing his move as a sign of "semi-retirement." The marketing potential of Beckham's arrival is expected to boost MLS visibility, with speculation about other high-profile players joining the league. Overall, Beckham's move is seen as a significant moment for soccer in America, despite mixed feelings about his declining performance.
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http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/tm_he...objectid=18452033&siteid=94762-name_page.html
HOORAY ..THEN HOLLYWOOD
EXCLUSIVE + Beckham signs for LA Galaxy Becks: I want to win one last trophy before going to Los Angeles
By Oliver Holt, Chief Sports Writer

DAVID BECKHAM delayed his mega-money move to America for six months so he can make one last desperate bid to win a trophy with Real Madrid.

Beckham is so haunted by his four years of failure at the Bernabeu that he put his £128million deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy on hold until the end of the Spanish season.

His Madrid contract runs until the end of June but bosses at Major League Soccer would have bankrolled his move to the Galaxy in time for the start of the American season in April.

"Even though Fabio Capello seems to be blaming what he calls 'the veterans' for Madrid's current troubles, David still wants to try and turn things round," said a source close to the former England captain.

"The main reason for the timing of the move to the States is that he still believes that he can make an impact on the rest of Madrid's season.

"He won so much when he was at United and he hates the idea of leaving Madrid after four years without having won a trophy for the supporters who have been so good to him."

Even though Beckham has fallen firmly out of favour with Real boss Capello, he is determined to have one last crack at ending his Spanish drought.

Real are still involved in the Champions League and trail La Liga leaders Sevilla by five points, and even though the Spanish season does not end until late June, Beckham wants to see out his time in Madrid.

He will play in Spain until the end of the season and then take a three-week break.

He will arrive in Los Angeles after the MLS All-Star break in July to try to help the Galaxy qualify for the end of season play-offs and will play in the central midfield role he covets, according to his new manager Frank Yallop.

But Gary Lineker claimed Beckham was entering "semi-retirement" with his move.

Lineker said: "It is tantamount to semiretirement like when I went to play in Japan. I helped introduce football there and earned a few quid in the process."

Apparently his wage packet will be $1 million per week, £1/2 million. Slightly more than I get where I work. Is he worth $52 million a year for American soccer? I wonder?

The master of the free kick is coming to the US, are you blown away by the news or couldn't you care less?
 
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What an idiot.

He's even calling the game "soccer".

This quote's priceless:

"David Beckham coming to MLS might be viewed by some as one of the most important moments for soccer in this country and perhaps the history of professional sport," MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.

What a deluded ****spud.

Obviously, Posh made him do it - I hear she's going to take the chathost scene by storm :rolleyes:

Beckham: you are a fool of the highest order.
 
J77 said:
Obviously, Posh made him do it - I hear she's going to take the chathost scene by storm :rolleyes:

She definitely made him do it- just think of the increase in money he'll get now!

However, David's, ruined his football career. I'd much rather see him playing for someone like Spurs- you never know, he might get back in the England team then! When you think back to the kid who scored from the halfway line and remember saying that he was the future of english football... should never have left old trafford!
 
He had to leave OT - got too big for Fergie and Keane.

I'd've liked to have seen him go to West Ham - to show some loyalty at the end of his career.

Not that MLS rubbish.
 
Yea, I know he had to go- I'm just sick of the years of seeing the likes of darren fletcher trying to fill his spot. Not all that bothered now though, as we've got at least two good wingers... still not impressed with the way that fergie plays fletcher so often!

West Ham? Good idea, but (a) did you reall expect beckham to show some loyalty? and (b) west ham aren't the best team to go to at the minute are they; they're awful!
 
Yeah - loyalty was out of the question - maybe not with Becks but with Posh.

You don't need anyone to fill Becks's boots this year - not with Ronaldo playing the way he is!

Keane - possibly. Fergie should've gone all out to get Essian!
 
Yeah, Ronaldo is amazing this year! Saying that, Giggs is having a good season as well, especially seeing as though it'll be one of his last.

Not replacing Keane was one of Fergie's greatest mistakes in my opinion. Saying that, however, he put Alan Smith in there, and he did a good job for the few games he played, although we know what happened to him! However, if Smith had played there more and more, I think he'd get fed up, and wander up-front, thus leaving us with the same problem! Essien's a good shout- competing with chelsea for players is tough though.

Anyway, one word to sum up how successful we'll be this year... Larsson!
 
I have to say for almost everybody with a couple of neurons in Spain this guy is a kind of "animal de feria" (a freak) in & out of a soccer field. He does not know how to play, he is fed by the stupidity of some teenagers (specially girls) that love him and also by the lack of common sense of the 50-60's population without any educational formation that btw is driving spain towards the ruin. Personally I think he is a dolly and he never will be representative of the good soccer, specially he will never be representative of the sportive part of the legendary Real Madrid, and he is much worse by far than Lineker. I think this guy is one example of how Marketing theory can exhibit a **** in front of you and make you believe that it's a diamond.
 
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  • #10
Apparently now the most highly paid sportsperson in the world. While I do think he's an idiot, you've got to give it to him that he's not doing badly for himself.
 
  • #11
J77 said:
Lineker on Beckham (from the beeb):

"It's tantamount to a semi-retirement isn't it?"
Brilliant! Almost as good as the Ali G interview of the Beckhams for Comic Relief. That was priceless.
 
  • #12
Argh I can't stand it. The game is called football. *tears hair out*
 
  • #13
Kurdt said:
Argh I can't stand it. The game is called football. *tears hair out*

:smile:

INDEED

marlon
 
  • #14
Kurdt said:
Argh I can't stand it. The game is called football. *tears hair out*

I agree. I knew an American lad a few years ago, and he was always talking about *soccer.* It was so annoying, and now whenever I read the word, it has an American pronunciation in my head. Grr.. damn him!
 
  • #15
Whether or not you like him as a player, this will do wonders for MLS. The marketing potential is massive. MLS will actually be on espn and in the news. Now it is rumored the brazilian Ronaldo might goto NY Red Bulls and Edgar Davids to FC Dallas.

side note: Excited to see Clint Dempsey play for Fulham!
 
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  • #16
Greg Bernhardt said:
Whether or not you like him as a player, this will do wonders for MLS. The marketing potential is massive. MLS will actually be on espn and in the news.

I bet the games will be on TV here in the UK too. When Beckham moved to Real, suddenly sky sports decided to air every match that Real played in La Liga; that's how popular he is!

Now it is rumored the brazilian Ronaldo might goto NY Red Bulls and Edgar Davids to FC Dallas.

I heard that about Ronaldo a while ago. Can these teams really afford to pay these huge players' wages?
 
  • #17
cristo said:
I heard that about Ronaldo a while ago. Can these teams really afford to pay these huge players' wages?

Yeah Ronaldo rejected an offer by NY several months ago, but NY will make another huge push as it feels the beckham pressure. MLS teams actually have very wealthy investors.
 
  • #18
Greg Bernhardt said:
MLS teams actually have very wealthy investors.

I'm afraid I know hardly anything about the American game! It seems a good idea though, if the teams can afford the players. I'm sure their addition will help raise the profile of MLS. I'll watch out for the games to be broadcast in England next season!
 
  • #19
Greg Bernhardt said:
Whether or not you like him as a player, this will do wonders for MLS. The marketing potential is massive. MLS will actually be on espn and in the news. Now it is rumored the brazilian Ronaldo might goto NY Red Bulls and Edgar Davids to FC Dallas.

side note: Excited to see Clint Dempsey play for Fulham!

I actually had an alterior motive for posting this on the PF other than the fact I thought this was an interesting development anyway, I wanted to gauge the level of interest in football from the US. Judging by the number of American posters on the forum and the number who have posted so far, I'd say the popularity is still a bit low. Unless I'm making the wrong assumptions about nationality.

Hopefully this move if nothing else will help to make soccer more popular, especially if other big name players move to the American leagues.

I think David knows he's not much longer for the game, perhaps this is the best way to retire gracefully?
 
  • #20
Well whateveranyone thinks of the league or the players one has to be utterly disgusted of the amount of money talked about here. I mean a million dollars a week for 5 years is just crazy.
 
  • #21
I don't know why you are disgusted, but I can think of a few people who're likely a lot more disgusted than you are.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/soccer/01/06/mls.salaries.sa/index.html

A list of MLS player compensation figures for 2004 being circulated by the Major League Soccer Players Union and obtained by Soccer America lists Freddy Adu as the highest paid player at $500,000 in 2004, although his base salary is listed at $300,000.
 
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  • #22
Schrodinger's Dog said:
I'd say the popularity is still a bit low. Unless I'm making the wrong assumptions about nationality.
Compared to other sports it absolutely is still low. But it's growing every year. Soccer will never be a top 3 sport. It will always be American Football, Baseball and Basketball. But soccer does have a place in American sports and be successful.

Kurdt said:
Well whateveranyone thinks of the league or the players one has to be utterly disgusted of the amount of money talked about here. I mean a million dollars a week for 5 years is just crazy.

True, everyone but Beckham :)
 
  • #23
Gokul43201 said:
I don't know why you are disgusted, but I can think of a few people who're likely a lot more disgusted than you are.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/soccer/01/06/mls.salaries.sa/index.html

Landon Donovan now makes 700k... not that it's a huge difference
 
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  • #24
It's always been said that footballers are paid too much, and they always will be. If this figure of $1m a week is correct, then it could have some severe consequences on the European game- players could start leaving to go to America if this is the wage benchmark over there!

Freddy Adu as the highest paid player at $500,000 in 2004

How can he be disgusted- he's not even 18 yet (is he?) and he's earning $0.5m a year!
 
  • #25
cristo said:
It's always been said that footballers are paid too much, and they always will be. If this figure of $1m a week is correct, then it could have some severe consequences on the European game- players could start leaving to go to America if this is the wage benchmark over there!

America isn't THAT rich ;) Also, there is a rule in MLS to protect our homegrown talent and development that an MLS team can only have one player "break" the salary cap. So this gives the ability for each team to sign a big name talent, but that is it. Very smart!
 
  • #26
Good for the MLS, I hope for association football fans over there this will help the standing of the MLS. However don't forget Pele played for the cosmos league it was called if i remember correctly, and didnt help Footballs standings.But realistically Beckham is over the hill and not very good anymore... wonder how he will fair in the MLS.. perhaps he will be shown up :)
 
  • #27
I think David knows he's not much longer for the game, perhaps this is the best way to retire gracefully?
Nah I think Posh just wants to get shacked up with a movie star or two... Ohhhhh David... :)
 
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  • #28
Greg Bernhardt said:
America isn't THAT rich ;) Also, there is a rule in MLS to protect our homegrown talent and development that an MLS team can only have one player "break" the salary cap. So this gives the ability for each team to sign a big name talent, but that is it. Very smart!

That's a rather clever clause! So, I guess every team will now go searching for a "veteran" to rival Beckham. Hands off Larsson.. he's ours! :wink:
 
  • #29
Larsson? He's mine and always will be :) (Celtic fan) go the hooops
 
  • #30
Anttech said:
Good for the MLS, I hope for association football fans over there this will help the standing of the MLS. However don't forget Pele played for the cosmos league it was called if i remember correctly, and didnt help Footballs standings.


But realistically Beckham is over the hill and not very good anymore... wonder how he will fair in the MLS.. perhaps he will be shown up :)

Anttech said:
Nah I think Posh just wants to get shacked up with a movie star or too... Ohhhhh David... :)

The NASL management were idiots. The comos had 15 world stars on that team it was insane and ultimately killed the league. MLS knows this and is much smarter.

Beckham might be over the hill overseas, but he will have a big impact in MLS for years. And yes, Posh definitely had a role in "David's" decision!
 
  • #31
cristo said:
That's a rather clever clause! So, I guess every team will now go searching for a "veteran" to rival Beckham. Hands off Larsson.. he's ours! :wink:

It is pricisely what is happening and you'll see in the next few years some very big signings.
 
  • #32
Dont underrate your players. David isn't *that* good...
 
  • #33
Anttech said:
Larsson? He's mine and always will be :) (Celtic fan) go the hooops

Haha, fair enough, you can take that one! He is an amazing player though, and just fits into any team so well! Just hope we can keep him to help us win the treble again :cool:
 
  • #34
Yes I agree, one of the best strikers ever.

It is pricisely what is happening and you'll see in the next few years some very big signings.
Per Quality, or per Famous?

Lets hope Quality for your sake...
 
  • #35
Anttech said:
Dont underrate your players. David isn't *that* good...

There are "some" very good players in MLS, but as a whole the league is still third rate. With most teams on par with mid-bottom table English Championship league teams. Alot of what needs updating in MLS is actually the coaching.
 
  • #36
Anttech said:
Yes I agree, one of the best strikers ever.

Per Quality, or per Famous?

Lets hope Quality for your sake...

Lets be honest, mostly famous, but with still good years. The MLS doesn't really want or need lots of huge stars coming over here. We want a sprinkling of stars surrounding and helping develop our homegrown talents. Quality needs to be grown in the states, not bought, it's the only way soccer will survive here.
 
  • #37
IMHO.. You need to have decent to good career footballers, to up the level of the game ... Stars will help get more interest, but quality is what fans will come back for...

If you have a good grass roots, and league structure, the level of your home grown talent will increase
 
  • #38
Anttech said:
IMHO.. You need to have decent to good career footballers, to up the level of the game ... Stars will help get more interest, but quality is what fans will come back for...

If you have a good grass roots, and league structure, the level of your home grown talent will increase

Absolutely, right now MLS has decided it's in need of a publicly boost to gain interest and talent. Kids all over the country are thrilled about the fantasy of playing with Beckham and will be practicing all day outside with a ball.
 
  • #39
Funny thing is, I once was on a plane with the LA Galaxy football team who had just played Utah, this was a few years ago, I was getting the hell out of SLC to go to LA... They were all sitting in *coach* with me... I didnt recognise any of them.. I wonder where this injection of cash is coming from, that they can afford salleries and transfer sums for the likes of beckham... I certainly never would have sat in the same 'plane' with Real or Man U...
 
  • #40
Anttech said:
Funny thing is, I once was on a plane with the LA Galaxy football team who had just played Utah, this was a few years ago, I was getting the hell out of SLC to go to LA... They were all sitting in *coach* with me... I didnt recognise any of them.. I wonder where this injection of cash is coming from, that they can afford salleries and transfer sums for the likes of beckham... I certainly never would have sat in the same 'plane' with Real or Man U...

Most of the money is coming from endorsers.
 
  • #41
which is good for the game... who knows, Association-Football may one day overtake Amer-Football in the states... ;) I sure hope so
 
  • #42
Anttech said:
IMHO.. You need to have decent to good career footballers, to up the level of the game ... Stars will help get more interest, but quality is what fans will come back for...

If you have a good grass roots, and league structure, the level of your home grown talent will increase

Won't happen in the US. When the http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/1998/sep01.htm (Carlos Queiroz's report on what needed to happen for the US to be a World Cup contender by 2010) came out several years ago, soccer parents (the ones that pay the bills for soccer development in the US) went ballistic.

In the US, soccer runs on two different tiers: immigrants with a cultural history of soccer and middle class families. Adult leagues have a lot of players of foreign ancestry playing the game. The youth leagues are almost entirely white middle class families.

The middle class families pouring money into youth soccer pay a lot of the bills for USSF and virtually none of them see their kids not only bypassing college, but dropping out of high school in hopes of becoming a sports star. Of course, all of them envisioned their own kids leading the US to World Cup victory in 2010 - it's just Queiroz's opinion of what it would take to develop top notch players in the US that they disagreed with.

The US won't develop the home grown talent to fill out a league. At best, it might turn out a star every two or three decades and maybe five or six 'career footballers' per decade capable of earning a spot on a real team.

Until US colleges are willing to go on NCAA probation to stock their soccer team with players with 6th grade reading levels, there will never be a quality league in the US.
 
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  • #43
BobG said:
The US won't develop the home grown talent to fill out a league. At best, it might turn out a star every two or three decades and maybe five or six 'career footballers' per decade capable of earning a spot on a real team.

Hey Bob, I could name you atleast 20 Americans off the top of my head playing overseas on "real" teams. US soccer is still a long way away, but you are vastly underestimating.
 
  • #44
Clausius2 said:
I have to say for almost everybody with a couple of neurons in Spain this guy is a kind of "animal de feria" (a freak) in & out of a soccer field. He does not know how to play, he is fed by the stupidity of some teenagers (specially girls) that love him and also by the lack of common sense of the 50-60's population without any educational formation that btw is driving spain towards the ruin. Personally I think he is a dolly and he never will be representative of the good soccer, specially he will never be representative of the sportive part of the legendary Real Madrid, and he is much worse by far than Lineker. I think this guy is one example of how Marketing theory can exhibit a **** in front of you and make you believe that it's a diamond.

Totally agree; it's about time they change their policy, although Beckham is not a bad player at all. Not to mention by the way you talk about the "legendary Real Madrid" I can deduce without a smidgen of doubt you are a merengue :P

Barça will never be thankful enough to Real Madrid for taking Beckham and all their court of gallactics.

- A.
 
  • #45
specially he will never be representative of the sportive part of the legendary Real Madrid, and he is much worse by far than Lineker.
Lineker? Lineker and Beckham are completely different football players, Lineker was an out and out striker, Beckham is a Midfield playmaker. In his hay day for Man U he was an exceptional player. I don't rate him now at all, but he was good. Real are a load of twaddle anyway, personally we could do without teams like that... IMHO :wink:
 
  • #46
Isn't it possible for a player to regain their form? A change of scenery can do some good.
 
  • #47
A friend of my cousin's that plays for my old high school is supposed to be getting a look from the Galaxy. I've never seen the guy play, but some kind of local connection like that would be more likely to get me into the league than Beckham being signed. Still, I understand I'm not the target demographic here. US sports are very star driven, and having a recognizable name will go a very long way toward establishing league credibility. Hell, they're talking about him on a Clippers broadcast right now.

As of now, I'm way more interested in watching non-pro games. My university was robbed of an NCAA bid this past season.
 
  • #48
Capello is nagged with Becks and has declared that he won't play again for Real Mandrill, so he will be fresh as a daisy when he arrives in LA
 
  • #49
meteor said:
Capello is nagged with Becks and has declared that he won't play again for Real Mandrill, so he will be fresh as a daisy when he arrives in LA

Well, that, or he'll be severely lacking match practice!
 
  • #50
US sports are very star driven, and having a recognizable name will go a very long way toward establishing league credibility.
Perhaps domestic credibility, but I think that is what you were inferring, but not international...
 

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