NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm surprised no one has posted on this today I might as well. I think its great because he's still on of the best footballers in the world and may get more in the US interested in football. His new club even has new kits for his arrival which are much better than the old ones. what do you think of this?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=445425&cc=5901

I'm surprised no one has posted on this today I might as well. I think its great because he's still one of the best footballers in the world and may get more in the US interested in football. His new club even has new kits for his arrival which are much better than the old ones. what do you think of this?


nah

nah

why not?

Meh. Sports are sports. I've never had any interest in them. And he brought one of those Spice Bitches back here to haunt us.

I'm surprised no one has posted on this today I might as well. I think its great because he's still on of the best footballers in the world and may get more in the US interested in football. His new club even has new kits for his arrival which are much better than the old ones. what do you think of this?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=445425&cc=5901

One of the best footballers in the world? Not a hope. At his peak, in 2000, 2001 and 2002, Beckham was genuinely exceptional. The epitome of a traditional right sided midfielder. At present, he has no pace, declining fitness, and a game based upon the ability to pass with accuracy; comparison to Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi, Riquelme, Henry, Eto'o and their ilk suggests that Beckham is an anachronism.

Bloody good player for United, but an awful person, with an awful wife. To think that the player so incandescent in 1997 should have events transpire to have him finishing his career as a circus act for an unappreciating audiance.

Though not a fan of Beckham, it would be really nice to see that explosion of soccer enthusiasm we Americans have been told to expect for the last couple of years. Unfortunately, I don't see myself ever supporting the local team...I refuse to cheer for a team called the New York Red Bulls. Bleh.

I'm looking forward to Beckham promoting his green credentials, while flying back and forth between LA and home for England training sessions.

I refuse to cheer for a team called the New York Red Bulls. Bleh.

It's not the only one. See Red Bull Salzburg.

Beckham is an overrated waste of money.

Also, it's called football. Believe it, Americans.

comparison to Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi, Riquelme, Henry, Eto'o and their ilk suggests that Beckham is an anachronism.

I hope you mean Cristiano.

Also, you forgot Ronaldinho, Rooney, Tevez, Torres (woo! Reds forever!)...

I've always been a soccer fan here in Canada, but never caught on with MLS. I always watch major international events, and some English Premiership games, but I'm really big on our local Montreal Impact. Sure, they play in the second-tier league of Canada/USA, but they're dominant and its fun to watch a team that always wins.

I expect it'll be like when Pelé played here in the '70s; he's good by our standards, but well past his prime, and interest in football in this country will return to its normal all-but-non-existant level once the novelty wears off.

Yeah, Americans are like that. Incidentally, Beckham FC, sorry, LA Galaxy, is playing Sydney FC in Sydney in November. They're perfect for each other, neither Sydney nor America can pull a crowd without a superstar playing.

He's not the player he was five years ago, but he's still (imo) one of the top ten or twenty right wings in the world, still probably England's best -- he's still a very good player.

He is still one of the very top set-piece takers in the world.

I wonder, however, if he's fit to play right now after taking that knock a coupla weeks ago.

Beckham isn't one of the best footballers in the world, one of the most well-known certainly but not best.

I think it will provide good publicity for American football, which can only be good for the sport.

I hope you mean Cristiano.

Also, you forgot Ronaldinho, Rooney, Tevez, Torres (woo! Reds forever!)...

Oh dear..... a real life scouser on NSG....:D

I haven't really seen all that much of Torres to be honest, and Tevez had what? One good half season after January 200 with West Ham.

Torres is supposed to be awesome though. For once, I envy Liverpool; then I remember we've already got Rooney, Ronaldo, Scholes, Anderson, Nani, Giggs and company!:p

Bah, you are living in a dream world if you think some over the hill so-called star is going to generate any interest for soccer in this country.

I hope American football collapses now...well the rednecks can secede again and have it and NASCAR as their national "sports"

Now we just need a famous cricketer...if there was one outside the cricket world..

Oh dear..... a real life scouser on NSG....:D

I haven't really seen all that much of Torres to be honest, and Tevez had what? One good half season after January 200 with West Ham.

Torres is supposed to be awesome though. For once, I envy Liverpool; then I remember we've already got Rooney, Ronaldo, Scholes, Anderson, Nani, Giggs and company!:p

You do realise than MAN UTD is going to sign Tevez, right?

Other great soccer players don't get the same hype as Beckham does, why not? What about Ronaldinho?

I'm surprised no one has posted on this today I might as well. I think its great because he's still on of the best footballers in the world and may get more in the US interested in football. His new club even has new kits for his arrival which are much better than the old ones. what do you think of this?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=445425&cc=5901
No he won't. Beckham is a dumbass. I guess he got tired of real soccer. The American public won't be interested in soccer, apparently too much skill involved.

I hope American football collapses now...well the rednecks can secede again and have it and NASCAR as their national "sports"

Now we just need a famous cricketer...if there was one outside the cricket world..

That's silly - football is popular throughout the country. It's not NASCAR. ;)

As for Beckham, I wish him luck (why not?), though I still wouldn't pay to watch soccer.

No he won't. Beckham is a dumbass. I guess he got tired of real soccer. The American public won't be interested in soccer, apparently too much skill involved.

Which is why we teach it to eight-year olds here, eh? :p

Other great soccer players don't get the same hype as Beckham does, why not? What about Ronaldinho?

There is no world outside the US :D

He'll increase the USA's overall hotness levels, so it's a boon for you guys. :)

Which is why we teach it to eight-year olds here, eh? :pForgive me for basing my opinion on what I see on the tv, but everytime you see american kids playing soccer, the entire team except maybe the goal keeper is running after the ball. Just two teams of individuals trying to put the ball in the other teams goal, no teamwork. Might just be your tv-shows and movies that paint a horrible picture of soccer though.:p

Who?

Forgive me for basing my opinion on what I see on the tv, but everytime you see american kids playing soccer, the entire team except maybe the goal keeper is running after the ball. Just two teams of individuals trying to put the ball in the other teams goal, no teamwork. Might just be your tv-shows and movies that paint a horrible picture of soccer though.:p

That sounds about right.

32.5 mio dollars annually for a player who was no longer considered fit to play for Barcelona & England, respectively.

You'll excuse me for suspecting that this will end in tears.

32.5 mio dollars annually for a player who was no longer considered fit to play for Barcelona & England, respectively.

You'll excuse me for suspecting that this will end in tears.

Real, not Barca. Also, he's been recalled a few times for England.

its not a bad move by the MLS and Galaxy.

Of course Becks isnt as good as he used to be (and how good he was is debatable, imo a one trick pony, but what a trick) and a quarter of a billion dollars is mental money for a team of Glaxy's size, but they arent buying a player per say.

They are buying an celebrity. The footballer who is friends with the Cruises. The one who sits courtside at Lakers games and goes out after with Bryant. The one with the anorexic popstar wife whose band have miraciously reformed just in time. The marketing gurus have decided that the way into the US sports market is celebrity, not the game itself.

I think its great because he's still on of the best footballers in the world and may get more in the US interested in football.

Many US citizens already are interested in football. It is played almost everywhere afterall.
They are just not interested in watching it. And many enjoy that noncommercial aspect of it.

American "soccer" is the same as American beer: Diluted piss water with nowhere near the authentic intensity and flavor.

Real, not Barca. Also, he's been recalled a few times for England.My apologies. Well, I did at least get the country right.

That he's been recalled (Sort of) for England really doesn't say a lot, though, given its rank and performances in the EC qualification :P

Who?

Where's the I don't care because I don't follow Major League Soccer regurlarly.
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Although I do like the fact he'll up the US soccer game.

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As America grows a little more interestedd in soccer but I hope the rest of the world becomes a little more interested in baseball.

I refuse to cheer for a team called the New York Red Bulls. Bleh.

I could not agree more as I hope my local team wins I won't be a true fan until Red is dropped.

You do realise than MAN UTD is going to sign Tevez, right?

It doesn't change the fact I'd rather have bought a player such as Saviola, Crespo or Forlan. Tevez is far too similar to Rooney to compliment him, whereas any of the above play as genuine "frontmen" behind whom attacking midfielders and centre forwards can play with greater space.

He's not a good player but he is still enough of a marketing tool to "play"* for one of europe's great teams. But for that much cash I'd quite happily go "play"* in some backwater.....

*Yes by play I do mean hang around on the right and get wheeled out for the odd free kick

On a completely diferent note;


Now we just need a famous cricketer.....


I can just see some redneck in 20 years time;

"Ay Monty, Monty! Monty, Monty, Monty, Monty Panesar!"

I hope American football collapses now...well the rednecks can secede again and have it and NASCAR as their national "sports"

Now we just need a famous cricketer...if there was one outside the cricket world..

Comparing American football with NASCAR? That is just... no, it can't be done. Sorry.