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..
Thursday 25 June 2009
Tuesday 16 June 2009
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."
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."
Wednesday 10 June 2009
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.
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.
Saturday 6 June 2009
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...
Monday 1 June 2009
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.
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.
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