Beckham's LA Adventure
Google Beta User
Expert:
By mid-July, Donovan felt he needed to say something to Beckham about
it, but it was a sign of their increasingly distant relationship that
he did so by text message. I know you're frustrated and I know you're
trying, Donovan wrote, but we need you farther up the field where
you're more dangerous. You're the best player out there and you need
the ball, but it doesn't help us achieve anything if you're doing
other people's jobs.
Beckham's reply was short: We just need guys to be better on the field
and do a better job. Donovan tried to follow up with Beckham in the
locker room the next day -- "You understand what I'm saying?" he asked
-- but Beckham clearly didn't want to talk about it.
Mike Hall
> http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/the_bonus/06/29/beckham.book/2.html
>
> Excerpt:
>
> By mid-July, Donovan felt he needed to say something to Beckham about
> it, but it was a sign of their increasingly distant relationship that
> he did so by text message. I know you're frustrated and I know you're
> trying, Donovan wrote, but we need you farther up the field where
> you're more dangerous. You're the best player out there and you need
> the ball, but it doesn't help us achieve anything if you're doing
> other people's jobs.
>
> Beckham's reply was short: We just need guys to be better on the field
> and do a better job. Donovan tried to follow up with Beckham in the
> locker room the next day -- "You understand what I'm saying?" he asked
> -- but Beckham clearly didn't want to talk about it.
He should have kicked a football boot at him like Fergie did when Beckham
did the same against Arsenal. Or the umpteen times he did the same to
England under Sven. It is pitiful that a veteran player has to be screamed
at to stay in his position, but clearly after Gullit left no one had the
guts to do this at LA Galaxy.
Mike Hall
Mike Hall
> He should have kicked a football boot at him like Fergie did when Beckham
> did the same against Arsenal. Or the umpteen times he did the same to
> England under Sven. It is pitiful that a veteran player has to be
> screamed at to stay in his position, but clearly after Gullit left no one
> had the guts to do this at LA Galaxy.
To correct myself, no one save Landon Donovan.
Mike Hall
MH
There have been more reports recently about Landon complaining about
Beckham (in a book about to be published - this was reported on
soccernet). There is lots wrong with Beckham, but he has always worked
hard, even when not selected at Real Madrid. I don't think this
criticism is productive given that Beckham will return to LA soon, at
least for a while.
I don't know why Donovan has to do this type of thing, but he often
comes across (on and off field) as a bit of a spoiled brat. Quite
frankly, I don't think he has the talent or accomplishments to give him
the clout to come out like that. Add him to the list of players who
should (if reports and rumours are right) have kept their mouths shut
this summer, which already includes:
Tevez (whining about playing time when you start over 30 games is a bit
much)
Lucio (aggrieved at suggestion he will be number three behind Demichelis
and Braafheid at Bayern)
I am sure there are more.
Google Beta User
> I don't know why Donovan has to do this type of thing, but he often
> comes across (on and off field) as a bit of a spoiled brat. Quite
> frankly, I don't think he has the talent or accomplishments to give him
> the clout to come out like that. Add him to the list of players who
> should (if reports and rumours are right) have kept their mouths shut
> this summer, which already includes:
>
> Tevez (whining about playing time when you start over 30 games is a bit
> much)
>
> Lucio (aggrieved at suggestion he will be number three behind Demichelis
> and Braafheid at Bayern)
>
> I am sure there are more.
Eto'o.
nau...@nil.com
>
> There have been more reports recently about Landon complaining about
> Beckham (in a book about to be published - this was reported on
> soccernet). There is lots wrong with Beckham, but he has always worked
> hard, even when not selected at Real Madrid. I don't think this
> criticism is productive given that Beckham will return to LA soon, at
> least for a while.
The excerpt you responded to was from the same book, by Grant Wahl. On one
hand, maybe it is bad timing. OTOH, maybe it will light a fire under
Beckham, who clearly had given up making anyting like a professional effort
in the second half of the season.
If what Donovan describes in the book is even half true, if it were a more
typical professional situation, Beckham would have been benched. But
because he was the golden ticket goose, he was left to poison the side.
And he was truly awful, both in attitude, effort and ultimately,
contribution. I also believe that Donovan said these things less recently
than it seems. All of those quotes are from the book which was written a
bit of time ago. The book release and all this publicity were timed to
coincide with Beckham's return.
I'm ambivalent about who was less professional here--Beckham for his
behavior with LA or Donovan for publically calling him out for it. Either
way, it will sure be interesting to see how this plays out opn the field in
a few weeks.
Google Beta User
> I'm ambivalent about who was less professional here--Beckhamfor his
> behavior with LA orDonovanfor publically calling him out for it. Either
> way, it will sure be interesting to see how this plays out opn the field >in a few weeks.
Looks like Beckham has handled it like a man without sulking or
throwing a tantrum or bad-mouthing Donovan in return (which would've
been easy).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/16/david-beckham-la-galaxy