Beckhams Greatness...

[Mikey-Sax]

Some sense at last about the celebrity self-publicist who sometimes acts as a footballer. Great line from Evelyn Waugh about Randolph Churchill cited here which is totally appropriate in the context of Beckham`s career (footballing career that is ) .


David Beckham fails all tests of greatness
By Michael Henderson
Last updete d: 2:11am GMT 10/01/2008


In years to come, social historians will have some fun reflecting on how the cult of David Beckham bamboozled so many for so long. The football writers were the latest to submit this week, laying down their quills to honour him for his contribution to English football. duly honoured, he took his new barnet to Downing Street, where he informed the BBC political correspondent that Bungler Brown was doing `a good job`.

Presently Fabio Capello will raise the curtain on his England pageant, and if he gives this part-timer his 100th cap, the Italian will have flunked his first test. The four Englishmen who have so far won 100 caps were great players: Billy Wright, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and Peter Shilton. Beckham, in his Manchester United prime, was merely very good.


Not great: David Beckham should not receive a 100th England cap
At the highest level his record betrays him. He played in three World Cups, and failed each time. In 1998 his major contribution was to be sent off against Argentina. Four years later he jumped out of a tackle that would have prevented Brazil equalising on the stroke of half-time. with that wind in their sails they proceeded to beat England with 10 men.

In 2006 he turned up unfit and, after being substituted against Portugal in another quarter-final, the brave captain wept bitter tears of self-pity. He remains, incidentally, the only England player to have been dismissed twice. That is his contribution to English football on the biggest of stages.

Indulged by Sven-Goran Eriksson, and then by Steve McClaren, who restored him to the team even though he plies his trade (occasionally ) on the west coast of America, like a circus act, Beckham so desperately wants to win that 100th cap that it is almost indecent to watch.

"Poor Randolph," said Evelyn Waugh of Churchill`s son. "Totally unspoilt by failure." I reckon those social historians of the future will see the ruinous cult of Beckham more clearly than some of our credulous scribes.

[Jacko]

Bollocks!

beckham in his prime was better than great. this mug is obv a pool fan.

[Robb]

haha what the fuck?

they are writing this like the 100th cap is some sort of medal you should recieve for rescuing crippled soldiers from the battlefield. Dont get me wrong playing for your country is a big thing, massive infact, but you get Caps if the manager believes you are one of the best 11 players in the country available to play at that time.

I think Beckham was awesome and has put alot into playing for England.

[Jacko]

if all england players had beckhams atitude they would do a shed load better in competitions.

[Mikey-Sax]

He only really had a world class cross/right foot on him.

His all round game wasn't really world class.

[Jacko]

you are a gradeA idiot.

[Mikey-Sax]

i don't hate beckham, but i see through the hype.

he's past it. he's playing in a two-bit league for a useless outfit. he's injured all the time. he may indeed look like he wants to win but his body cannot do it anymore. he was awful in the germany friendly and frankly looked like a headless chicken at times in the croatia game, where his dead ball skills looked average. he had a bad world cup 2006, and a bad euro 2004. england will not play at a major tournament until 2010, and beckham will be long gone. what good are the likes of richards, gerrard, rooney, young, agbonlahor and so on going to get out of playing around a man who will be gone so soon?

anyone who believes we are playing beckham in the switzerland game for footballing reasons is mad. as has been said, we may as well have lineker ready to come on if we get a penalty, batty, southgate and waddle ready for the shootout, and shilton trying to save a few.

[hellonpluto]

lineker goal hangs any way so not a bad sub to have on the england bench.

Beckham is class, seen him play many times at OT. Neville and Beckham charging up and down the right wing for 90mins, overlapping and helping each other.

[Crunkers]

if all england players had beckhams atitude they would do a shed load better in competitions.

Completely agree with you Jacko. Everyone slates the bloke whatever he does. In his prime there was no-one better imo.

[Robb]

He only really had a world class cross/right foot on him.

His all round game wasn't really world class.

sorry please tell me what more you could want from a right midfielder?

Beckham found what he was good at and utilised it. Thats why he was so good at what he was did.

He isnt a prolific goal scorer, does that mean he is shit? No.

[Mikey-Sax]

Completely agree with you Jacko. Everyone slates the bloke whatever he does. In his prime there was no-one better imo.

ermmm i think figo, zidane, rivaldo et al might have something to say about that

[Raz]

ermmm i think figo, zidane, rivaldo et al might have something to say about that
listen mate...would you stop talking sh*t

Beckham was THEE best right sided mid-fielder in his prime...no-one in ANY league could match him for his pin-point accuracy and pace of the ball...he never needed pace because his balls that he crossed in were always perfect!

Zidane?? wasnt he an attacking mid-fielder?
Rivaldo?? he played more as a forward, just off the fornt 2 (or 1)
Figo?? yes he played good on the right hand side when he was there...but no where near the accuracy of beckham

for those wondering....im a Liverpool fan...

[Mikey-Sax]

Most good wingers can dribble and beat players no?

[Raz]

Most good wingers can dribble and beat players no?
typical norrow-minded c**t aint ya?

lets use the best example of a pace winger....arron lennon

he can beat any defender in the world...but when he crosses its piss poor...

[Robb]

Most good wingers can dribble and beat players no?

whats your point?

What good is a winger than can dribble and beat players if they get to the line and cant deliver a decent ball?

That was never a part of Beckhams game, and why should it. He could get the ball under control, out of his feet and into the box. Worked perfectly.

[Karl]

Beckhams all about Long Balls and set play.
Does both of those perfectly well, although his corners sometimes are a bit boring and predictable.

[Robb]

Beckhams all about Long Balls and set play.
Does both of those perfectly well, although his corners sometimes are a bit boring and predictable.

haha how can you be inventive with corners?

hammer it back to the goalkeeper or something?

[Mikey-Sax]

i just think this whole thing of 'he's a great player' is not right.

im not denying he was a very good player, but great? debatable

and raz, im not narrow minded. not in the least. i just watch other football apart from the Premier League and know that other wingers are much, much better. Cronaldo for example. Now I dont like him much as a person but as a player, you can't deny that he is superb. pace, technical ability and has added final ball to his game.

i cant remember the last time beckham beat a player to the by-line. great right foot? undoubtibly, but when all his does is get the ball and look for the 'hollywood' pass, you start to think 'is that it'? get close to him, give him no time to get the ball out of his feet and he's not that good. hasnt got the skill to skip past you and make the space himself.

[Raz]

i just think this whole thing of 'he's a great player' is not right.

im not denying he was a very good player, but great? debatable

and raz, im not narrow minded. not in the least. i just watch other football apart from the Premier League and know that other wingers are much, much better. Cronaldo for example. Now I dont like him much as a person but as a player, you can't deny that he is superb. pace, technical ability and has added final ball to his game.

i cant remember the last time beckham beat a player to the by-line. great right foot? undoubtibly, but when all his does is get the ball and look for the 'hollywood' pass, you start to think 'is that it'? get close to him, give him no time to get the ball out of his feet and he's not that good. hasnt got the skill to skip past you and make the space himself.

Christiano Ronaldo isnt an out and out winger...he plays everywhere...left...right...ive seen him in the middle before aswell.

How many times do we have to say that Beckham DOES NOT need pace to be a great winger? Look at arron lennon, as i said before. he cant cross a ball for sh*t, yet beats defenders on a regular basis...you going to tell me he is great then? Jermaine Pennant...can beat a player yes...final ball is poor, but like Lennon, he has time to try and improve his final ball

i also dont see Christiano Ronaldo beating players and playing a killer ball...cos he doesnt play like that...

Beckham uses what he has got...the best right foot in my life time, his accuracy is THEE best i have EVER seen. Even more than Xabi Alsonso for Liverpool, and he has excellent accuracy.

[Mikey-Sax]

why are you using probably the most over-rated player in the Premier League, Aaron Lennon as your example?

You've never seen Cronaldo play a great final ball? I think you might need to start watching more football.

I'm agreeing with you, Becks does has a fantastic right foot. And yes, probably the best in a long time. But being able to ping the ball like he does, does not make him a great player. All the greats have had more than one thing in there locker. Zidane - skill, inch-perfect passing, pace, finishing (headbutting skills ;)), Figo - pace, skill, crossing ability.

Beckham has one thing - being able to hit a ball perfectly. Doesn't make you great in my opinion.

[Karl]

haha how can you be inventive with corners?

hammer it back to the goalkeeper or something?

Not put it in the same damn spot EVERY time?!?!?!

[Jacko]

Not put it in the same damn spot EVERY time?!?!?!

that alone is a talent.

[Robb]

i love jacko.

[Raz]

why are you using probably the most over-rated player in the Premier League, Aaron Lennon as your example?
you name a winger in the league then that is a decent winger?

You've never seen Cronaldo play a great final ball? I think you might need to start watching more football.

i watch enough football to know that Christiano Ronaldo beats defenders and goes for goal..

I'm agreeing with you, Becks does has a fantastic right foot. And yes, probably the best in a long time. But being able to ping the ball like he does, does not make him a great player.

did you see Beckham in his prime? im sorry but what he did with the ball (accuracy, freekicks, long balls etc) was the best i have EVER seen. you say 'just being able to ping a ball like he does dont make him a great player' but the fact that the MAJORITY of his balls that he 'pinged' forward were more successful than unsuccessful.

All the greats have had more than one thing in there locker. Zidane - skill, inch-perfect passing, pace, finishing (headbutting skills ;)), Figo - pace, skill, crossing ability.

Beckham has skill, inch perfect passing, never had pace because his skill was always there, finishing was top notch (free kicks spring to mind) il admit he doesnt have the headbutting skills :P

Beckham has one thing - being able to hit a ball perfectly. Doesn't make you great in my opinion.

but gives you a better advantage over some other wingers...i know Peter Crouch would love to have his services all the time because he knows 9/10 the ball will be perfect

[Mikey-Sax]

you name a winger in the league then that is a decent winger?

Joe Cole

i watch enough football to know that Christiano Ronaldo beats defenders and goes for goal..

you cant deny that he has definitly added crossing to his skills?

did you see Beckham in his prime? im sorry but what he did with the ball (accuracy, freekicks, long balls etc) was the best i have EVER seen. you say 'just being able to ping a ball like he does dont make him a great player' but the fact that the MAJORITY of his balls that he 'pinged' forward were more successful than unsuccessful.

I'm a bit older than you Rez so yes I probably saw him play more times than you actually. how can you say that onw ability (world class though it is) makes him a great player. I cant understand your logic with that one.

Beckham has skill, inch perfect passing, never had pace because his skill was always there, finishing was top notch (free kicks spring to mind) il admit he doesnt have the headbutting skills

skill? i have never seen him beat a player apart from kicking it past him and trying to outrun him!

but gives you a better advantage over some other wingers...i know Peter Crouch would love to have his services all the time because he knows 9/10 the ball will be perfect

ill repeat what i said earlier then. if he doesn't have the space to cross it, he very rarely (if at all) is able to make his own space to get in a cross. he needs the ball in plently of space to get it out of his feet to deliver these wonder crosses.

[Jacko]

ronaldo has the killer ball as well, he is the best player since george best. he has it all.

[Raz]

Joe Cole

yes a good winger...but his ball isnt as good as Beckham's...end of story

you cant deny that he has definitly added crossing to his skills?

yes he has added crossing to his skill levels....doesnt make him a better winger or whatever. Yes Christiano Ronaldo is WORLD class...Beckham is a great Player....slight difference

I'm a bit older than you Rez so yes I probably saw him play more times than you actually. how can you say that onw ability (world class though it is) makes him a great player. I cant understand your logic with that one.

Its Raz :P

there s difference between World Class and Great, World Class is the highest, great is just below that....what Beckham has achieved in his career is VERY good in my opinion

skill? i have never seen him beat a player apart from kicking it past him and trying to outrun him!

do you have a wank at the thought of a winger 'beating' a defender...?

Speed isnt everything in football, as you so rightly think.

ill repeat what i said earlier then. if he doesn't have the space to cross it, he very rarely (if at all) is able to make his own space to get in a cross. he needs the ball in plently of space to get it out of his feet to deliver these wonder crosses.

But thats the thing mate...he crosses the ball before alot of defenders have time to close him down....he sticks to the wing and waits for his team mates to see him in space....he hasnt got nearly 100 caps for nothing

[hellonpluto]

Christiano Ronaldo isnt an out and out winger...he plays everywhere...left...right...ive seen him in the middle before aswell.




He plays on the left.....he plays on the rrriiiiggghhhtttt...theres only one Ronaldo...he makes the [insert opposition team name here] look shite. :y:

Ronaldo is world class!!

[Graeme]

one point your missing about beckham is his work rate when hes on the pitch

he doesnt give up till that final whistles blown

[chrichvtr]

beckham = shear class!!! IMO, FTW, IIRC, ROFL, LOL, PMSL

he made a mistake many people do!!

but his class has saved us in occasions

greece IIRC

thats all

[jaybiss]

you cant compare beckham to someone that beats the defender on the wing and cross it in as beckham would play a diagnol ball to the front two before the defender got near him

hes a very good player, i wouldnt go as far as world class though as world class players can adapt their game

example: england, hes fine playing them diagonal balls all the time when he has crouch and maybe even rooney (at times) on the pitch but with owen, johnson, defoe hes useless where as someone who beats the defender and put a ball across the face of the goal a shorter player can get infront of the defender and pinch a goal (height wont be an issue)

[Hughey]

Beckham = Legend!

[Graham]

what a load of shit

[Crunkers]

one point your missing about beckham is his work rate when hes on the pitch

he doesnt give up till that final whistles blown

Hit the nail on the head. Raz is completely right, Beckham is world class, I couldn't give a toss if Rivaldo, Zidane or Figo have something to say about it. They're good, but Beckham had the best right foot in the world (still pretty good tbh). He could pick out a pass that people didn't think possible. His freekick were perfection, he has so many skills on the park.