Beckham to Milan - Escape to victory or a cynical marketing ploy?

When I heard that David Beckham is set to join Milan in January for two months, my first reaction was this was good news for both club and player. I still hold that view. However, not surprisingly the news has received a very mixed reaction from the media; many observers are sceptical of both Milan and Beckham's motives. Some say this is mainly about keeping Beckham's name in the spotlight, others have added that Milan are looking to cash-in on the name of the LA Galaxy star.

No matter what Beckham's detractors say, he remains a huge favourite with many England supporters and rightly so, he didn't deserve to be dropped by former manager Steve McClaren. The decision to axe Beckham was nothing more than a disgraceful publicity stunt. McClaren went pandering to the clowns in the media and they loved him for it, but the fans knew better. What's more, neither Shaun-Wright-Phillips nor Aaron Lennon have been totally convincing while playing for their country in Beckham's absence. Theo Walcott is new on the block and despite his recent goals he has much to prove, he lacks consistency and none of the players mentioned can cross a ball like Beckham.

As for Milan, they've been going backwards for a couple of seasons with their ageing squad; it is partly why they find themselves in the European backwater that is the UEFA Cup. It could be argued that Beckham's move is a bit like that awful 1981 POW football film, "Escape to Victory", or simply "Victory" as it was known in the USA.

The catchphrase for the film was "now is the time for heroes". The cast included Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles and Pelé. Former Ipswich Town stars Kevin Beattie and Paul Cooper stood-in for actors Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone, hilarious really. To take the analogy further, some of the Victory team members tried to escape at half-time, again a bit like Beckham leaving LA Galaxy at the season end...

While some will pour scorn on my not so serious comparison of Milan and Victory, there is a thread of truth in it as respected Times columnist Gabriele Marcotti has described Milan as 'galácticos lite', following the recent of addition of big stars names who are heading beyond their sell-by date, if somewhat prematurely, I refer to Ronaldo (the fat one) Ronaldinho and now Beckham. According to Marcotti, the arrival of Beckham et al is a part of Silvio Berlusconi's long-term vision to add glitz and glamour to the Milan mix...

Poking fun Milan and Berlusconi aside, you do wonder how well Beckham will fit into the Milan side, if selected. I really hope the Milan move works out well for Beck’s; he did himself no favours when he left United - it was handled very badly by his advisors, at least that is the fans' view of his transfer to Madrid. Since then I for one have mellowed about that episode and I really do wish him well because he has been a true professional. I also hope that Beckham goes to South Africa with England and plays some part in the World Cup Finals.

Beckham is a product of the once fabled, but now largely unproductive Manchester United youth system and like his former team-mates Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs he has been an absolute credit to the game.

Beckham set to join Arsenal in bid to extend career..

A report in the Times claims that David Beckham is set to train with Arsenal in a bid to maintain his fitness over the winter, while at the same time the LA Galaxy star will be hoping that he can also help England qualify for Euro 2008 and in doing so further extend his England career. For that to happen, Israel have to do England a favour against Russia on Saturday night - a victory for Russia is likely to end Beckham's international career, the same can be said of manager Steve McClaren, his future is very much in the balance.

If Russia fail to win against Israel and England then go on to beat Croatia next week then Beckham is very much likely to be among McClaren's Euro 2008 finals squad. Reports claim that former Manchester Untied star has had offers to train with Watford, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal – who are all based near his home Beckingham Palace in Hertfordshire – the MLS close season, lasts until February.

Men who play with odd-shaped balls and 'fans' who boo their own players...

This blog has temporarily fallen asleep during another unwelcome Premier League hiatus while International football and 'Rugger' takes centre stage. During the build-up to England's Euro Championship's Group match with Russia in Moscow there's been so little news to comment on that I've even been contemplating writing about those men with who play with odd-shaped balls, but then again maybe not...

So instead let us discuss what has become the ugly side of the beautiful game and specifically those so called 'fans' who boo players like Frank Lampard. He doesn't get booed by the Chelsea fans, but of late, whenever he's been selected for England a large vocal section of the numpties who follow England have been booing the midfielder every time he's gone near the ball. He's even been booed while warming up.

Booing your own players isn't anything new where England fans are concerned, the little Inglunders have a history of booing United players down the years. David Beckham, became a figure of hate for the mob after he was sent-off during the 1998 World Cup Finals, our so called gentlemen of the press didn't help matters when stirring up tensions. It was ever thus.

Beckham eventually won the hate mob over with his performances on the pitch for England and that is precisely what Lampard is going to have to do if the mindless booing is to stop.

Quite why Lampard gets booed and Steven Gerrard, another international under-achiever, does not is hard to understand.

I'll be glad when we get back to Premier League action perhaps then we will be able to forget about the boo-boys and those who play with odd-shaped balls for a while.

Pundits right over Beckham and the club v country debate...

I never thought I'd find myself agreeing with BBC Radio 5 Live's Alan Green, but over the current David Beckham club v country situation I do agree.

Green has pointed out that apparently Steve McLaren allowed Beckham to play the full 90 minutes against Germany because the former England captain wanted to play the whole game. On returning at speed to LA to play for Galaxy, his club manager Frank Yallop did likewise, again because Beckham 'wanted to'.

Green also quite rightly pointed out that Beckham was clearly injured and so shouldn't have even been expected to fly home for what was only a friendly, especially given that he was clearly not fully fit and carrying an injury.

Beckham, as so often happens when playing with injuries, has now picked up a potentially more serious injury to his knee.

Another pundit commented recently that Beckham isn't apparently capable of looking after himself when it comes to matters concerning his fitness and decision making. It seems that Steve McLaren and Frank Yallop are also guilty of not using common sense. McLaren should have told Beckham not to return home for the game with Germany, it was ridiculous to allow him to do so under the circumstances. I have some sympathy for Yallop, given Galaxy's situation having shelled out so much money to entice Beckham to the USA, but again playing injured players is stupid.

Gabriel Marcotti says that Beckham should retire from playing international football, given what has happened of late I tend to agree with him. Something has to give. That does not alter the fact in my view Beckham was treated disgracefully by Steve McLaren when he axed the former England skipper. If that had not happened then things would be very different, for starters Beckham wouldn't be playing for Galaxy.

Beckham must end International dash madness

David Beckham cannot be faulted for his desire to play for his country, especially when like this week it was a totally meaningless friendly with Germany. However, it was fairly clear to anyone watching his performance at Wembley that the former England skipper is carrying an ankle injury, and it was therefore complete madness to play him, but that is what happened. The former United and Real star played the full game and despite his injury problems he played quite well too, creating chances for Lampard and Dyer to score as well crossing the ball well and spraying the passes across the Wembley turf.

No doubt given his commitment to play and after flying across the Atlantic to make the game, Steven McLaren felt it only fair to give him the full ninety minutes, but at some point someone has to start looking after Beckham's long term interests and playing with an injury will serve neither England or LA Galaxy well.

After the defeat to the Germans Beckham flew straight back to LA to play his part in another defeat, this time losing three nil to local rivals Chivas. Beckham hobbled through another ninety minutes.

It's hard enough playing at the highest level, but trying to do it with injuries and then flying across the pond to meet punishing schedules is complete madness.

Sooner or later events will overtake Beckham and injuries or loss of form will dictate his selection both at club and country level.

At this moment in time Beckham isn't doing Galaxy, England or himself justice. Given his total commitment to both club and country, it will be such a shame to see him crucified by the media if and when his injuries and the travelling takes their toll.

Beckham set to return to England fold and rightly so..

David Beckham's name looks set to be included in Steve McClaren's next England squad, this after being discarded and treated shabbily by the then new England coach. The decision to axe Beckham was nothing short of a disgrace as the former United star had done as much, if not more, for his country than any other player over recent times.

What's more Beckham wasn't axed for purely football reasons, rumour has it that the decision was based more on off the field goings on, ie the circus which surrounds the player - this too was insulting to the professionalism of the player who has given his all on the pitch for United, Madrid and England.

England fans will no doubt welcome back Beckham and rightly so.