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Editorial January 2011
Soccerphile Editorial - January 2011
The Return of Beckham
Love him or loathe him, few can deny that one of the biggest stories of the January transfer window so far has been David Beckham's return to the Premier League. The story would become even bigger if 'Goldenballs' is given permission to play for Tottenham Hotspur as well as just train for the club over the forthcoming weeks by LA Galaxy.
When Beckham left Manchester United in 2003, he vowed never to play for an English club again. He trained with Arsenal some years after leaving Old Trafford but Spurs are the first club in the UK Beckham has actually expressed an interest in playing for, since his time as darling of the Stretford End. Is his temporary move home a sign how far the North London club have progressed under Harry Redknapp, or as many cynics might see it, Beckham's lack of football taste ever since he left the European game for America? Seems most people have already come to their own conclusion on that.
The reaction to Beckham's 'loan signing' can be described as 'mixed' at best in the British media. BBC Radio Five Live commentator Alan Green says the midfielder's "legs are gone" and that he's only fit for a "well below top standard Major Soccer League." Former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen added to the criticism, suggesting he would have "steered clear" of Beckham had he been in Redknapp's shoes. The Scot questioned what influence he could bring to a midfield that already contains the likes of Aaron Lennon, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart. Of course, that question may never been answered, as Beckham is likely only to train with Spurs.
Karen Brady, vice-chairman of West Ham United, delivered perhaps the most stinging verdict of all on Beckham's arrival. She suggested the Hammers' London rivals had only done the deal to use Beckham as "a puppet", as their bid to move to the 2012 Olympic Stadium intensifies. "The link is this...." said Brady. "La Galaxy is owned by Philip Anschutz whose company AEG is Tottenham's partner in their stadium bid. I admire Beckham as a football champion and I'd hate to see him being used as a puppet for AEG."
Louise Taylor of The Guardian had another angle for her disapproval of the Tottenham-Beckham deal. She believes that Beckham has the potential to "disturb the equilibrium of powerful egos already resident in Redknapp's dressing room." Taylor pointed to Newcastle's "trophy signing" of Faustino Asprilla in 1996, which coincided with the Geordies' subsequent title challenge evaporating, as an example of why you can sometimes have too many good players at your disposal as a manager.
Perhaps biased as a Tottenham fan myself, but I struggle to see why there is such a volume of disapproval associated with Beckham's 'transfer'. Firstly, he's only training with club and might actually never play. Thierry Henry is doing exactly the same at Arsenal currently, but nobody is talking about him as a 'disruptive influence' or a 'trophy signing'.
I question anyone's judgement who sees Beckham as the kind of individual to disrupt a dressing room. Granted, there is a 'media circus' that trails the player wherever he is in the world, however in the safe compound of the club's training ground, where it matters, he is nothing other than a shining light.
Beckham is a model pro and someone who all Spurs' stars can all hope to learn something from, even in a short space of time. If all he achieves in his few weeks with the club is to teach Aaron Lennon an improved technique for crossing the ball, then his trip across the Atlantic will have been worthwhile. And if he was granted the opportunity to play, he would still be a great back-up to Harry Redknapp's squad, firing on three fronts in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
Beckham isn't the player he used to be, but at 36, is any individual going to be at the peak of their game at that age? The midfielder has never really relied on his pace to turn a game, it's his crossing and ability from dead ball situations which is how he has always made his name. Nothing much has changed there - he could still put the ball on to the head of the diminutive Luka Modric from 40 yards, let alone the human bean-pole that is Peter Crouch.
Given the chance to sign Beckham themselves, I think the majority of Premier League clubs would have jumped at the opportunity. And they would have done likewise at the chance to have one of the game's greats train with them.
I never thought I'd be in the position of defending David Beckham. I've always rated him as a player, but even in his pomp, I thought far greater midfielders existed around the world such as Zidane, Figo and his then teammates, Giggs and Scholes. In fact, I'd go as far as to say I think Darren Anderton was a far better all round player than Becks during the time they were both in the England squad together. Sadly injuries got the better of Anderton for large spells of his career.
But to suggest David Beckham isn't a good asset for any club is complete nonsense. For Beckham and Tottenham's sake, I hope they are able to secure a playing deal as even in a few games, I'm sure Becks could make a lot of people eat their words.
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