NY Red Bulls 1 LA Galaxy 3

The TV coverage started with a frank interview with Beckham, followed by some whining by the writer of the 'Beckham Experiment' book which left me thinking... if you could write books half as well as Beckham plays soccer you would probably actually write something worthwhile. I hate to see someone of average talent criticising someone with unquestionably huge talent, I can live with Donovans criticism far more than some nerd with a chip on his shoulder.
Whatever the critics might say about whether he should play or not, Beckham starts in the middle of midfield giving an embrace to Donovan before the kick off. In less than 3 minutes Eskandarian's left foot gave the visiting LA team the lead. New York responded with Juan Pablo Angel coming close on a couple of occasions. Tellingly, when Donovan had a chance to put someone in a goal-scoring position early on, he selected to cut back a long way to Beckham who's shot was blocked.
On 30 minutes Donovan scored with his right foot, after a period of prolonged pressure from The Galaxy, Beckham resuming his role as spot-kick and corner-taker. Donovan Rickets in the LA goal kept the Red Bulls out and just before the half-time whistle, Landon Donovan fed the ball cross-field right to left for Eddie Lewis to volley home with his left foot. LA Galaxy head into half-time with an unprecedented 3-0 lead for this season - whether this is the Beckham touch or not... something was going the right way.
LA started the second half brightly, the game remaining open and flowing, LA showing no inclination to close up and slow the game down. On 68 minutes Buddle had a stinging shot parried away and Beckham was replaced By Chris Birchall (previously playing at Brighton and Hove Albion). Birchall had an immediate impact placing the ball cleverly to Donovan who knocked the ball across for Eskandarian who could do no more than place it into the keepers hands. Mike McGee replaced Eskandarian as LA looked sure to walk away with the three points. The final twenty minutes were played out without any real threat emerging from the New York team. However on 85 minutes, they had the ball in the net but ended up with a penalty for hand-ball, Angel made no mistake from the spot-kick, leaving the score at 3-1. Bizarrely four minutes later a second hand-ball penalty was awarded, but this time Rickets saved from the spot-kick.
Beckham had demonstrated how smoothly he can make the transition into this new team, Donovan showed how invaluable he is to the Galaxy team as did Rickets in Goal. The Galaxy also demonstrated their capacity to lose concentration and were lucky not to give away two goals in te last five minutes. Observers are left wondering why it has taken The Galaxy so long to gel successfully as a team.

Beckham back at the Galaxy

Amongst unprecedented interest from the media, Beckham took the field for training with The Galaxy yesterday and firmly put behind him any problems that might arise with Landon Donovan and his all-to-public comments. Chris Klein was heard to say of Donovan and Beckham ".... when they get out here, they are two of the best at what they do." and that is what we want to see in action in Thursday.

Klein said that Beckham met with the team on Sunday and most of the conversation centered around family and the time spent in Milan.
Donovan himself was quoted as saying of his meeting with Beckham, "Some good will come out of it," he said. "I really believe that. I believe we're getting to the bottom of things we needed to get to. We're on the right path, and I'm excited about that."
Let's hope that comes out on the field...

New Spot The Ball competition

Spot the ball has been a game that has had families crowding around the sports pages of our newspapers for generations, and now that experience is available online. Not only can you win a car in this new online game, you can win luxury gadgets and get to pit your wits against professional Football Association referees such as Vic Callow and Dermot Gallagher.
This new site ‘Spotit’ is blowing the whistle on other sites that sell your contact details or accept entries that equate to over 600% of the value of the prizes on offer. Spotit is vowing to offer transparency by publicising the number of entries and having limited-entry competitions that give the competitor a better chance of winning.

All entries in the spot the ball competition are judged by real live Football Association referees, your spot must match their spot in order to win the top prize in the car competition.
The Spotit site has other competitions on offer to win cash prize, win mega gadgets and luxury gadgets – one recent winner won tickets to the British Formula One Grand Prix. Weekend breaks and Shopping spree prizes are also on offer.
The game of spot the ball is by no means a new innovation, but this new site is bringing the competition to the internet with an honest and transparent approach which should ensure enjoyment for all and a good chance of winning for many.

Beckham and Donovan to kiss and make up

David Beckham has issued a rebuttal to Landon Donovan's complaints citing his professional record with some of the worlds very best football clubs as evidence of his attitude to the sport. In return Donovan has admitted that it was ill-advised of him to make his comments without first talking to David. Both men have said that they will talk and clear the air before Beckham takes the field for the first time this year in the MLS.
Honestly, this is the best solution to the problem and I for one am glad that both men want the chance to meet face to face and iron out their differences before taking to the field in earnest for their club. Donovan has a point that I think is explained by Bruce Arena coming in for Ruud Gullit, I think that was the catalyst that placed a distance between Beckham and The Galaxy, and made him look about for a possible escape...
Beckham also has a point that any problem Donovan had should have been discussed with Beckham face to face initially, especially as Donovan carries the responsibility of captaining the Los Angeles club. He also may have a point that conditions of his contract were not being met if indeed Gullit was bought in as part of a deal with Beckham, and he also has a point that Donovan himself has shown a lack of commitment by trying his hand (or at least his left foot) in Europe himself in the off-season.

Chivas 0 Galaxy 1

Galaxy win against home rivals Chivas (for those that don't know, they play at the same stadium, the Home Depot Center) with Buddle scoring from a header early on - this gives The Galaxy their third win in a row, which is a vast improvement on their start to the season where draws were more common than wins. There seems every chance that Beckham could put in an appearance on Thursday against the New York Red Bulls - unless Donovan has his way of course...

Beckham prepares for hostile reception

There is not much doubt that opposition fans will give Beckham a lot of stick, he has been used to that since he arrived at the MLS and before that in the premiership. However it is not often that prominent team mates will nail their colours to the mast quite so emphatically as Landon Donovan has done recently.
Landon is a big name in US soccer and has richly deserved his position as a top player by doing that thing that cannot be argued with...ie. scoring goals. His left foot has got his team mates out of trouble on countless occasions whether he was playing for the Galaxy or for the US national team. This time he seems determined to plant his foot in something slightly smaller that a soccer goal - his mouth...! The bad-mouthing began when Beckham declared his intention to play for Milan in the off-season. Donovan voiced his annoyance stating that there could be no benefit to Beckham travelling half-way around the world to cosy up with chums in Italy - Donovan then looked an idiot when he took a similar journey himself trying his hand in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. Donovan had to come back home without signing for Munich, Beckham stayed at Milan even though it was reportedly at his own expense - and there's the real problem that Donovan has... Beckham can afford to take a wage cut to play where he wants to play, Donovan was forced to come home from Munich because they didn't want him enough.
Don't get me wrong, Donovan is indeed a top player and a valuable asset to The Galaxy - however I don't think he gives himself anything but a big headache by kicking out at Beckham - shortly the two will have to do a job together and Donovan is making things very difficult for himself. Maybe he is right (and I happen to think he is) to point out that Beckham lost interest when Ruud Gullit left LA, but he does no good to point it out and call it a lack of committment. I personally think that a top European manager was part of Beckhams requirement, and when Gullit left allowing The Galaxy to appoint Bruce Arena, a problem was created. It seems to me that Bruce Arena and Beckham were not on the same wavelength - don't forget that Beckham counts Sir Alex Ferguson and Fabio Capello amongst managers that he has clashed heads with over the years. I believe this was where the story went sour, a point where The Galaxy were not performing well and Beckham may have felt isolated and began to think about how he might escape from this 'fine mess' he had gotten himself into.
For players like Beckham loyalty and committment do not equate to cash, the advisors might want the cash deal, but the player has to feel part of a team otherwise it is 'just' a job, and this is how it has ended up for Beckham in my opinion. He has not played badly for LA, I defy Donovan to cite the match that Beckham played badly - he has maintained a level of professionalism and has steered clear of voicing his protests publicly. Maybe that is the difference between a superstar and just a good footballer, the difference between Beckham and Donovan.
Donovan wants Beckham to be benched - I have never heard a professional sportsman talk about a team mate in those terms - except When Amr Zaki repeatedly did not return to Wigan after international duty in Egypt - at least Beckham went through the proper channels before not returning the LA in March...
I hope the two men can work out their differences like professionals in the coming weeks otherwise winter will be a long time coming for both of them. I think The Galaxy would be very ill-advised to bench Beckham and if they do, I think he would be within his rights to tell the MLS to stick the mega-wages and walk away... Beckham owes his employers a performance, if he doesn't get the chance to perform then they have forfeited their rights as an employer. It is the Galaxy and MLS that should also be controlling what comes out of Donovans mouth into the public arena - in the premiership a player would surely be benched himself for offering such opinions publicly.

Beckham wins libel case

I hesitate to comment on a 'tabloid' story as this blog is unconcerned with most of what happens off the field for David Beckham. However as this comes when there is a lull between the end of Milan's season and when Beckham resumes at The Galaxy, we will make an exception.
In short, Beckham has made The Express Group of newspapers pay an undisclosed sum for it's childish insinuations in one of it's 'rags' that Beckham 'made a play' for some Hungarian model.
We who have watched his career for some time know that it is just not in the character of the man to behave in this way despite the desire that some 'journalists' might have to see superstars publicly disgrace themselves (out of a mixture of jealousy and spite). Shame on them who contribute only negativity to the world.
Beckham was not in court to hear the decision as he is no doubt taking a break before preparing to rejoin The Galaxy in a few weeks. It is likely that there will be the opportunity to get a couple of games for LA under his belt before his team-mates at Milan come calling. The game against Milan is scheduled for 19th July and with the departure of Kaka and Ancelloti, it remains to be seen whether there will be any stars left in the Milan team before the game..

Beckham's break

David Beckham having finished the Serie A season with Milan, and having taken part in two (winning) internationals with England - has a break for a few weeks before returning the The Galaxy next month. The Los Angeles team are sorely missing some 'edge' having had a less than impressive start to the season. The Galaxy are lying 6th in the league with a tally of 15 points from 13 games and a goal difference of -1. If Beckham is to make an impact on this team, he will need to do it quickly...With about a dozen games left of the season when David returns, there is little chance The Galaxy being able to threaten the league-leaders from their lowly position, or even get into a play-off position. There will of course be two major highlights of the season remaining - the games against Milan and Barcelona.
We have said it before, but the US leagues are just not ready for players like Beckham until they are really past their best and need to step down from soccer at the highest level. This whole idea would have worked after the next World Cup so much more effectively when otherwise retirement will certainly beckon.

On England's World Cup campaign, only one more win is required out of the remaining three qualifiers.England are in an almost-unassailable position at the top of their qualifying group, one more win would secure qualification without depending on any other results - to complete the group with a 100% record must now surely be the aim of the team and the coach, and right now, that looks like a very achievable goal.
The next scheduled England game is a friendly against Holland in Amsterdam on 12th August, followed by a warm-up game against Slovenia at Wembley on 5th September. The next qualifier is against Croatia at Wembley on 9th September followed by the away game against Ukraine on 10th October, and finally the qualifier against Belarus on 14th October at Wembley.
If Beckham gets picked for these international games, then he will play even less time in the MLS and The Galaxy are destined for a poor result this season.
The understanding that came out of the negotiations earlier this year, has been that Beckham will return to Milan in January 2010, but with Ancelotti at Chelsea, it is not clear whether any 'understanding' with Beckham was dependant on Ancelotti remaining as the Milan manager. On the Milan website, Beckham has said "....we’ll see what happens, but I hope to return soon."

England 6 Andorra 0

In a game where no attacking opposition was offered, England easily took the three points which leave them with maximum points and requiring one more win for definite qualification for next year's World Cup.
Minute-by-minute action is too tedious to report as Andorra's 10 man defence struggled and kicked it's way from mediocre to dreadful - in Jimmy Greaves's words, 'the worst team I have ever seen' (Andorra that is). Six-nil could easily have been twelve nil and it still wouldn't have felt satisfying against the team who faced their 18th defeat in a row.
Rooney had three good chances and scored from the third after only two minutes into the game, fed by Glen Johnson who is very quickly emerging as an international player to be reckoned with. Goals followed from Lampard on 28 minutes, and Rooney again on 38 collecting a cross from Johnson and volleying almost unchallenged into the back of the net.
The first half finished at three-nil, the odds-on favourite score at the bookies, the bookies would have been pleased to see that there was little chance of this encounter being over at 3-0.
In the second half Rooney and Gerard gave way to Ashley Young and Defoe, both had immediate chances to score in the first few minutes but the score remained unchanged up to the 72nd minute when Johnson once more provided the pass for Defoe to head into the net from the centre of the box 4-0. Beckham had plenty of chances for spot-kicks and 10 yards outside the box just two minutes later he took aim and the keeper only parried for Defoe to volley past him for his second in two minutes 5-0 to England. Becks dominated the ball and despite cries from the crowd to "shoot!" every time the ball fell to his feet, he spread the ball about to the wings hitting the mark every time. Having said that, he had plenty of time as the Andorrans were in no mood to venture very far out of their own penalty area. (In fact, mass confusion was caused in the 54th minute when Andorra had a free kick actually inside England's half, and had to work out who their attacking players were supposed to be in order to have someone to pass the ball to... it took them a full three minutes to take up vaguely attacking positions before wasting the chance by fouling an England defender). After goal number five, England were running amok over Andorra and Crouch took advantage of a defensive blunder by smuggling the ball under the keeper for goal number six. 6-0 then and 10 points clear in their group, one more win required. One hopes this evenings game will not 'spoil' England because they surely will not be allowed the freedom of the field that they were allowed tonight ever again. John Terry will never have an easier game Robert Green in the England goal will never keep an easier clean sheet. All you can say is 'job done', you can only beat the team that shows up, the main point of interest in the last two games has been the contribution from Glen Johnson who rightfully claimed man of the match.

Kazakhstan 0 England 4

A very nervous start saw Kazakhstan threaten the England goal and even have the ball in the net for a disallowed goal before England had shown any real intent. It was 20 minutes or more before England started to show their class. On 28 minutes, Heskey had a chance which ricocheted off the inside of the post. Just 10 minutes later, Barry headed England into a 1 - 0 lead, and this was made 2 - 0 after another 7 minutes when Gerard tried an ambitious chip from long distance, the keeper got a glove to it, but only knocked the ball into the oncoming Heskey who competently slotted at away within a minute of the end of the half.
Wright-Phillips came on for Theo Walcott in the second half while Beckham along with Defoe and Lescott started their warm-up routines. Having been responsible for giving the ball away in the opening seconds and almost costing England a goal, Glen Johnson imposed himself on the opposition. Johnson fought off defenders to get to the byline and squeeze a ball across the face of goal - Heskey missed it, but it bobbled up and Rooney guided in goalwards with his knee - the 'keeper got a hand to it, but Rooney pounced on the rebound spinning with his back to goal acrobatically placing the ball in the opposite corner of the net - a goal worthy of a World Cup place on it's own.. Shortly after, Beckham came on for Glen Johnson and Wright-Phillips dropped to right-back. We only saw about a 15 minute cameo appearance from Beckham but withBarry picking up a booking early in the game, there could be a more solid role for Beckham at Wembley on Wednesday. At 3-0 England were dominant and comfortable able to exert pressure which resulted on a foul on Heskey in the penalty area. Lampard blasted the ball passed a hapless keeper for a solid 4-0 victory. In the latter stages Defoe came on for Heskey, indicating that maybe he has a role next week. All-in-all a shaky performance but with the right result...

World Cup Qualifiers

England now stand on the brink of qualification with an exemplary record thus far as they prepare to meet Kazakhstan on Saturday in Almaty, and Andorra the following Wednesday at Wembley. In truth, Enlgland should not really have any problems having already beaten both these teams convincingly in the earlier rounds.
Carrick misses out having received an injury, Ferdinand and Ashly Cole are excused training as a precaution and Paul Robinson is recalled to the squad after injury to David James and Ben Foster. Also called into the squad are Shaun Wright-Phillips, James Milner and Gary Neville who has a long-standing friendship with David Beckham.
In other news, the home nations have agreed to allow and England team to play in the London 2012 Olympics. Northern Ireland, Wales and finally Scotland have signed an agreement to say they will not object to an England side representing Britain at the Olympics. Scotland have finally agreed despite their initial objections perceiving that standing in the way of the England team will only ultimately reflect badly on Scotland.

FIORENTINA 0 MILAN 2

In a busy week in which Carlo Ancelotti has announced that he is to leave Milan and the England team have been given the all clear to take part in the 2012 olympics, Milan finish the 2009 Serie A season in third place by beating Fiorentina and qualifying for the Champions League.

Beckham was included in the starting lineup against Fiorentina as he prepares himself to return to LA for the Summer. The game started briskly enough, Fiorentina came out with intent and Milan responded with equal determination. Chances came and went for both sides without the deadlock being broken for the first fourty five minutes. One of the most notable events was an admission by Kaka that he had last touched the ball when otherwise a certain corner would have been awarded to Milan. A rare show of sportsmanship in the modern game on a par with the protests by Andre Arsharvin a few weeks ago after having a penalty awarded in his favour.

It was 10 minutes into the second half that Milan took the lead through Kaka, and this was the start of a period where Milan began to dominate the game. Inzaghi was replaced by Pato and just a few minutes later Pato scored the second Milan goal. Nesta took the field in place of Flamini and Gattuso came on for Beckham late in the game - Having succesfully dominated away from home for the last game of the eason, it just remained for Milan to say their final goodbyes to long-serving Maldini who now retires.

I am sure that the Milan Experiment will figure as a much-needed success for Beckham and there is no doubt that having Beckham in the Milan side has helped them secure a Champions League spot next season. Last time Beckham played in Europe for Real Madrid he left after having helped the team win the league - the type of success that has been sadly lacking playing for The Galaxy. I think he needed to prove to himself, as well as to the England manager that he was still able to mix it with the best, and whatever the financial cost, the experience has been invaluable. After England duties and a well-earned break, Beckham will return to a very mediocre Galaxy who although not often beaten... very rarely win... Their record this season boasts a total of six 1-1 draws, and only one win to offset against their one defeat.