Left field
The Reuters global sports blog
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Soccer Break Thursday
Gareth Bale. The dashing Welsh winger primed to scare the living daylights out of England on Saturday. Injured. Did anyone else hear that collective sigh of relief from England fans today?
But what about Tottenham Hotspur fans. Are you worried your star man’s recent struggles with injury could hamper your club’s Champions League quarter-final chances against Real Madrid?
There are of course plenty of qualifiers this weekend so read our preview for all the latest.
Anna on the Italian Soccer Serie A has picked what she reckons might be Italy’s team to play Slovenia in Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifier having spied on Cesare Prandelli’s training sessions. Read more here.
Our man Simon Evans in Miami has written a blog on a player familiar with Spurs, Real, and Euro qualifiers. Read on for the latest on David Beckham’s US adventure.
We’ve a bit of a US theme going today in fact. NFL player Chad Ochocinco (see last Thursday’s Soccer Break) has started his soccer experiment. Can he be successful?
Over in San Francisco, spare a thought for a referee on the receiving end of a player’s anger.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Beckham’s value is his values
Harry Redknapp does not need a right-sided midfield player and, with the depth of talent regularly available on his bench, he hardly needs to bolster his squad with a three-month loan signing.
Yet he, and several other Premier League managers, are trying to secure the services of 35-year-old David Beckham.
Many observers are scratching their heads and wondering just what is the enduring appeal of a player clearly several years past his peak.
They point to the unavoidable media frenzy that will come as part of any loan deal arranged with LA Galaxy, if the American club agree to let their number one asset go again after he suffered a serious injury on his last sojourn, to AC Milan last year.
Yet Redknapp, who has seen football from all sides, knows the value -- or more to the point -- values, Beckham brings.
Having served his apprenticeship with West Ham in the penny-pinching 1960s and now overseeing players earning millions of pounds a year, Redknapp recognises that the professionalism and dedication to his art that Beckham shows could help turn some of his “nearly men” into the finished article.
"I am a great fan of his," Redknapp said.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Unlike Del Piero et al, at least Beckham may get a farewell game
Fabio Capello's impromptu announcement that David Beckham was too old to play for England has divided opinion across the blogosphere.
Some have said it was typical of Capello's hard-nosed, no-nonsense style. Why should he have informed the 35-year-old? Why should he have made the announcement in a more official way? As coach he has the right to do as he wants and Beckham should have had the know-how to quit the international scene long ago.
Then again there are other bloggers who think Capello has been unnecessarily mean and that England's most capped outfield player deserved better, especially as he is injured and went to the World Cup anyway to help out.
At least Capello has shown one slight chink of sentimentality and said Beckham can have a farewell in a friendly. There is a list of top players who never got that chance.
In Italy, Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi entered their mid-30s not knowing if they had played their last game for the Azzurri or not. As time went on through the reigns of Roberto Donadoni and Marcello Lippi, it became clear they would never be picked again but there was no soppiness. No goodbye for two good servants.
Raul had a similar experience in Spain. Perhaps it all goes to show that it is better to do a Zidane, Maldini or Shearer and nominate your retirement game so you can decide when to say goodbye and not the coach.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
10 things to watch out for in the new MLS season
The 15th Major League Soccer season kicks off on Thursday as fans thankfully turn their thoughts from collective-bargaining agreements and guaranteed contracts, to action on the field, safe in the knowledge that the only strikers making the news this week will be those who score goals.
Others will make their judgments on the deal that avoided a strike -- but what is certain is that the new five-year contract and modest salary structure ensures not only that MLS will start on Thursday (Seattle Sounders host the Philadelphia Union) but also that it will enter its 20th year in much the same status as it began its first – a league featuring a surprising number of good players, being paid a surprisingly low amount of money.
But anyway, this writer too has had enough of all the financial and contractual talk and rather is looking forward to the start of the new season. Here are ten things to keep an eye on this year:
1. Philadelphia Union – a brand new franchise to finally give the enthusiastic supporters club who preceded them, the Sons of Ben, something to cheer about. With the canny Pole Peter Nowak as head coach, the Union will be well prepared but they lack a proven prolific goalscorer and are relying on the unpredictable (but superbly named) Brazilian midfielder Fred for their inspiration. Expect workmanlike solidity, the odd upset and perhaps some sparkling moments from their number one draft pick Danny Mwanga, who could get more playing time than most rookies.
2. New York Red Bulls – with a shiny new stadium and an experienced new coach, the Austrian owners also hope for a new vibe around one of MLS’s most disappointing franchises. Last year saw abysmal crowds and performances to match. Red Bull’s success this year will be measured more in terms of tickets sold than goals scored but Swedish coach Hans Backe has been trying to drill some shape into the formation. Bustling Belgian Ibrahim Salou has been signed to partner the prolific Colombian Juan Pablo Angel in attack.
3. Kyle Beckerman – The dreadlocked Real Salt Lake captain was outstanding in the MLS Cup final win over the LA Galaxy at the end of last season but needs to get off to a great start this time if he is to earn a place in Bob Bradley’s U.S squad for the World Cup finals. Beckerman has the quality most sorely lacking in MLS midfielders – composure. The U.S national team could do with some of that as well.
4. Strikers – Bob Bradley needs to find at least one to settle on for the World Cup. Houston’s Brian Ching and Colorado’s Conor Casey are two big target men who are in contention for the slot alongside Jozy Altidore for the U.S but there is such a lack of real firepower that the field is pretty open for any American forward to make a blistering start to the season. Is there any hidden talent out there in the MLS?
Who will rise to the occasion and become a worthy replacement for Beckham?
Fabio Capello has plenty of options for the right midfield slot, even if David Beckham’s snapped Achilles rules him out of the World Cup.
Between Shaun Wright-Phillips, Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon (if fit) and James Milner there is a wealth of talent at the Italian’s disposal.
The nagging worry for Capello may be the question of why one of those younger players has not made the position his own already.
There have been plenty of opportunities after all. It’s four years since Beckham resigned as captain after the World Cup in Germany. It might have been the end of his international career but Steve McClaren eventually recalled him and Capello has made him a regular in the squad, if not the starting line-up.
Now the prospect of Beckham coming off the bench and to the rescue has gone, it should be a signal for Wright-Phillips and co that someone needs to take responsibility in that area and give Capello one less thing to worry about, as the gruelling and relentless English season lurches into its eighth month.
Wes Brown has fallen prey to the curse of the metatarsal — a broken toe that in the past has previously cut down Beckham, Gary Neville, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney twice — and is fighting to make the World Cup.
Capello’s other main right back Glen Johnson is only just tentatively returning to action after ankle ligament damage that kept him out for more than two months. Left back Ashley Cole has a broken ankle that will at best leave him desperately rusty and at worse rule him out of the tournament altogether, while his obvious replacement, Wayne Bridge, has retired from the international game after his personal problems with centre-back and former captain John Terry.
He’s able to go to the World Cub…But only as a mascot of the team!! That’s what Beckham’s Doctor sarcastically said anyway. He also said “The left Achilles tendon was totally torn… ruptured” and it would take 3 – 4 months before he could even run again. The British are devastated…their best player is out before he even had a chance…I guess he will never be in a world cup…as usual a lot of Brits are going out and getting drunk this evening…I learned some more here
http://ketiva.com/Sports/david_beckhams_ injury_rules_him_out_of_winning_the_worl d_cup.html
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Beckham poised to miss World Cup – your views
David Beckham's dreams of playing in a fourth World Cup look to be in tatters after the England midfielder ruptured his Achilles tendon in AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo on Sunday.
Club doctors have said he is all but ruled out of June's tournament in South Africa and will fly to Finland for an operation on Monday.
The 34-year-old, England's most capped outfield player, went back on loan to Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy chiefly to safeguard his World Cup place.
Even though he has only been a substitute of late, Fabio Capello will miss his experienced head. How badly would his absence affect England?
Admittedly Capello is spoilt for choice on the right wing with Walcott, Wright-Phillips, Milner and Lennon ( if fit) also in recent squads. Might the loss of Beckham actually make it easier for Capello to find the right balance in the 23?
Second-placed Milan are just a point behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan with 10 games left. Beckham has not been in great form but with Alessandro Nesta also set to miss the rest of the season, the Rossoneri are suddenly short of bodies and experience.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Big decisions loom for growing MLS
Major League Soccer shows plenty of signs of good health and progress but beneath the surface the North American league has some critical decisions to make over its future direction.
After a week of largely upbeat build-up and nationwide publicity for a sport that so often struggles to get space, the league’s title deciding game, MLS Cup, was played out in front of over 46,000 fans here in Seattle – the city that is staking a strong claim to be the de facto home of U.S soccer.
"It was a memorable night for soccer in the United States," said league commissioner Don Garber.
Strolling through the squares of downtown Seattle, packed with fans bedecked in team colours and chatting to the soccer-savvy locals, it was hard not to imagine how the sports scene in the U.S could change if the Seattle experience truly was replicated across the country.
David Beckham and L.A Galaxy didn’t get their title, losing on penalties to Real Salt Lake, but they did both earn some respect.
Beckham has surely put to bed the argument that he is not fully committed to his MLS project by playing through the pain barrier of a badly bruised ankle for 120 minutes and since Bruce Arena took over as head coach, the Galaxy feel like a real team rather than the circus act they were in danger of becoming.
Salt Lake won the league in just their fifth season of existence – a real boost for the trio of new teams about to enter MLS, Philadelphia in 2010, Vancouver and Portland a year later and encouraging also for other teams in the league without a big name foreign player.
A few observations/ponderings
With increased expansion, there is more money and roster positions available for American players. Their are only so many roster spots available to internationals. That could keep more of those players in the US rather than leaving to Denmark or the Norwegian leagues. If each MLS team had cap space for 2 of those Americans/Canadians then expanding would simply allow for more of those players to stay in MLS.
Regarding Holden, I believe he is being smart and has not renegotiated his contract because he knows that by waiting until his contract is up he can get the best deal possible. So while it is shocking to see him making so little, it is not like Houston and MLS haven’t tried to extend his contract and offer him more money.
You will also have a player like Hurtado in Seattle demanding more money. But it shows that players can come to MLS and then use it as a spring board to make money in other leagues. Similar situation with Montero, but he is making decent money.
MLS does have issues with some players making more money than they deserve as well and it is very difficult to renegotiate those salaries down. The stronger the Player’s Union gets the harder it will be to do that.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Are you ready for MLS Cup?
Major League Soccer’s finale, MLS Cup, takes place on Sunday in Seattle and (perhaps surprisingly to some) the game between L.A. Galaxy and Real Salt Lake will be broadcast in over 120 countries.
For the benefit of those fans outside of the States, who might be tuning in to watch David Beckham play for the Galaxy (or perhaps admire the intelligent midfield play of Real’s Clint Mathis?) and aren’t familiar with MLS or it’s final, here are some answers to the kind of questions you might be asking yourself as you sit down on the sofa and get ready for…
Well no, not really a Cup final. Officially the game is known as ‘MLS Cup’ (or Copa MLS in the league’s Spanish language literature) but unlike say every other Cup final in the world, this is not the final game of a knockout Cup competition. No, this is the game which decides the league champions of MLS.
But what about the team who finish top of the league table? Aren’t they the champions?
What league table? There is no single league table in MLS. The 15 team league has two league tables for the two conferences – East and West. The top two teams from each conference alongside four teams with the next best record in the league overall go into a knockout playoff format and this is the final game of that process.
Ah, so it’s like the NFL’s Super Bowl then, or the World Series. MLS Eastern Conference champions v MLS Western Conference champions?
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Beckham’s return to AC Milan confirmed
David Beckham will tread a familiar path once the MLS season is over, joining AC Milan on loan again for a five-month loan spell from January.
Milan have just announced the deal on their website (just in Italian for now), meaning any lingering hopes Premier League clubs had of changing the England midfielder's mind have finally been dashed.
Milan sound thrilled:
"We are very happy to David Beckham in the red and black shirt again after the splendid experience of last season," Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani told www.acmilan.com.
"We are sure that this period in Europe will help the player to take part in the next World Cup and then to continue his career at Los Angeles Galaxy, whom we thank for their help."
Beckham's main target is obviously the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as the Milan chief hints. Wonder if he'll be on the plane...
PHOTO: Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham walks on the field during Game 1 of their MLS Cup western conference semifinal soccer playoff series against Chivas USA in Carson, California, November 1, 2009. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
You’re probably right. I was just thinking back to a recommendation I made on the blog recently, saying Liverpool should move heaven and earth to sign him (in the absence of Gary McAllister).
http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2009/10/ 22/wheres-the-new-gary-mcallister-when-l iverpool-need-him/
Why do golf fans cheer tap-ins? And when is a fine not a fine?
A few thoughts from two weeks following the PGA Tour:
Just wondering why people clap like mad every time a golfer taps in a two-inch putt? Are these the same people who break out in applause when a plane lands? Aren’t both these things suppose to happen? - – - - Best thing I heard on the golf course this week: “Instead of reading the greens you have to read the currents out there,” joked former U.S. Masters champion Mike Weir at the rain-hit Canadian Open.
Second best I heard on the golf course this week: “Let’s go watch someone who wants to play.” — A disgruntled spectator to a friend at the Buick Open after watching Rocco Mediate miss twice from three-feet at the par four 12th at Warwick. - – - - You have to love a tournament like the Buick Open where the trophy looks like a hood ornament. - – - - Best joke I heard: England midfielder David Beckham was fined $1,000 by Major League Soccer for confronting unhappy fans following his return to the LA Galaxy during AC Milan. That works out to 1/250,000th of Beckham’s reported five-year $250 million deal that brought him to the United States to spread the soccer gospel.
For Beckham, that basically amounts to — nothing.
Now, FIA’s $100 million fine slapped on McLaren for spying on Ferrari – that’s a fine.
PHOTO: Tiger Woods holds up the trophy after winning the Buick Open PGA golf tournament at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, Michigan August 2, 2009. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook
I wouldn’t be so sure Redcoat. The bizarre turn of events regarding the England captaincy and the fact England haven’t played well recently mean that Wales could certainly spring a surprise on Saturday. It’ll be interesting viewing.