OT: Beckham out for England
England can't catch a break - or maybe too many breaks - between Ashley Cole and now Beckham. Out for the World Cup with a torn Achilles. (Might get Cole back, though.)
So....rotten deal for England and a big boost for USA's chances? Or a stroke of luck in being able to give a chance to a younger, faster, less overexposed and overrated player?
March 16th, 2010 at 10:34 AM ^
Please, please, don't Bend it like Beckham.
This has been a Public Service Announcement.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:39 AM ^
"So....rotten deal for England and a big boost for USA's chances? Or a stroke of luck in being able to give a chance to a younger, faster, less overexposed and overrated player?"
I'm going with the latter.
March 16th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
I respect David Beckham's commitment to get into the kind of form needed to compete for England but he is not the player he was a decade ago. Beckham was a solid and very experienced substitution option for Capello this summer; but, he's been cursed with the worst luck/form imaginable in major competitions.
Aaron Lennon
Theo Walcott
James Milner
Shaun Wright Phillips
Adam Johnson
There is a lot of depth from which Capello could select on the right side. Any of these players, at this stage, aside from the leadership qualities is an upgrade from Beckham. That said, it's sad to see a player work so hard and have such a freak injury.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^
I am not sure that one older player on one team will in any way help or hurt American chances in the World Cup.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:54 AM ^
Considering it's a team that the US plays in group play, it could most certainly have an effect.
That said, Beckham is a bit washed up, and has been a first-team selection for England on reputation (and set piece delivery) only for quite some time now.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^
He still can float some of the most beautiful crosses and has one of the best free kicks in the world, even though he's a bit washed up.
March 16th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
A lot of people like saying that Beckham is washed up but he was not useless, well, until his injury that is. He came off the bench for AC Milan this year but that's more because of their new coach rather than him.
And he hasn't even been a consistent first team selection for England for some time, particularly under Capello. It was common knowledge that he was going to South Africa to provide maturity and professionalism to the England squad which they are severely lacking right now. But, he is most likely still going to do that, except he just won't count against the 23 member squad and won't see the field.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
"less overexposed and overrated player"
we are talking about england right?
March 16th, 2010 at 10:49 AM ^
instead of watching from the bench.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:51 AM ^
BBC practically ran an obit for him last night. It was really sappy--NBC Olympics sappy.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^
This is old news. I know that maybe soccer news comes e little too late to you guys just like football/basketball/baseball news comes a little too late to me. But nobody mentioned it here so +1 to you. I was going to start a thread yesterday but i thought that no one would read it.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:59 AM ^
Beckham's only seen spot duty since Capello brought him back. His leadership might be missed but from a soccer standpoint, this is not a major blow.
March 16th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
most probably involved a major blow.
March 16th, 2010 at 12:35 PM ^
I think his leadership will be missed along with his free kicks and his crosses along with the fact that he deserved to have the most international appearances i am disapointed that he got injured
March 16th, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^
Maybe it's karma for Ashley Cole. How he could run around on a wife that hot is beyond me.
Don't forget your t-shirt.
http://cheat.spreadshirt.co.uk/i-haven-t-slept-with-ashley-men-s-A12015…
What ass would cheat on a wife that looks like that? She is amazing.
I don't remember where it was (on a movie or TV show or something) but a guy on it said something like "you show me a hot wife and I'll show you a husband who is tired of F'ing her". It is a sad quote, but it does have a lot of truth in it.
March 16th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
Aqua, I completely agree! I'm not sure what Ashley Cole was thinking.
Certainly the English have some very public in-house problems.
I don't agree with the sentiment of many on this thread. For people who actually follow England soccer it has been clear that the main reason Beckham has only received spot duty under Capello is because for most of that time Beckham was playing in the USA.
The travel involved to get him to the games England was playing in qualifying was ridiculous and he was exhausted by the time he would join up with the team.
I will be the first to admit that his skill has diminished somewhat over the past few years and also that his skill never matched his celebrity, but he would still have been a welcome addition to this squad.
As far as his deliveries go, there is not another player on the England squad who can get crosses in like he can. His corners and free kicks go unmatched as well. I think he is getting shortchanged by many on here.
I will say again, his skill has gone downhill the past couple years, but I think Capello had every intention of using him (and using him a lot) in this world cup. Sadly for Beckham, England and Capello, it won't work out that way.