Owen supports David Beckham
Owen Hargreaves talks about David Beckham's move to the US in his BBC column this week, online here. He clearly has a lot of respect for Becks and amongst many good quotes, I especially liked this part
For Becks this is a new challenge and a new chapter. For anybody that doubts him, I predict Becks will probably have the last laugh.I also spotted a really interesting article, "Why America will love Beckham" on the Guardian Blog, if you haven't read it, it's worth checking out as it gives an interesting insight as to the grass-roots popularity of soccer in the US.
I admire him for everything he has achieved and the way he has handled it - not many people could have withstood what he has gone through.
It takes a unique person and that is why he is a good example for people to look up to. I have had nothing but great experiences with him
In a case of "too little too late" Ramon Calderon has apologised for the personal attack he made on David Beckham yesterday. He has also been busy giving the "sorry" word a workout to the clubs players and fans. I can not help but wonder why a man who does not hold the players and supporters in high regard, should even want to be the club's president? Calderon may not have expected his comments to receive the publicity they did, but it does not change the sentiments expressed and whether he is talking to one or one million, he is acting as the President of Real Madrid and surely his actions should always reflect well on the club and be able to bear public scrutiny? Calderon is a buffoon. He should resign. Story here.
update @3.15pm It is reported that Capello may soften his approach to David Beckham. Story here. However, I think this interpretation is optimistic. Capello was asked about Beckham and simply said that nothing could be ruled out. This vague answer may suggest some regret over his previous choice of words, considering he has drawn much criticism and possibly opened the door to legal action, but does it really signal that David Beckham could be allowed to play? Becks has been left out of the squad for tomorrow's game and for the foreseeable future Capello has expressed no intention to consider him. In fact he will count on injured players before he calls upon Becks. I hope, rather than believe, that Capello will have a change of heart.
I have added a few more photos to the training gallery.
posted by rpm at 11:27 PM
5 Comments:
the often by so many disliked hagreaves has got it spot on. that's what I call a "neutral" journalism. balanced not biased.
the other article is top class aswell.
Ben
12:01 AM
I really like Owen Hargreaves because he has the guts to give his honest opinion, even if it may not be popular or win him brownie points with selectors etc He has always been very true to himself and like Becks is a guy who has real character. The dude is ok :)
I was glad Capello apologised but seriously what a plonker!
5:42 AM
Thank you so much for both articles. I had just been idly pondering how one would go about sending a press release to the world, so frustrated was I about two things missing from the many articles published on the topic of Mr. Beckham's move--and mentioned only in a couple of blogs I was able to find. Although no one can possibly read everything, most are copied directly from the same wire feeds or from other stories, and the two pieces of information I had found sorely missing are:
1) the fact, pointed out in the fine Guardian blog, that Mr. Beckham will be paid up to 5 million pounds a year by the Galaxy (about what John Terry now makes), but also that the rest of the income provided for in his 128 million pound arrangement with the club is to come not just from any endorsements deals, the deals listed as part of the package are with sponsors he is already contracted to--Addidas, Pepsi, Motorola and Gillete. His Galaxy contract simply allows him the full income generated by those deals. Fair enough to include this income in announcements of Mr. Beckham's future earnings as it illustrates to both other owners and potential players how huge the U.S. sports market is, the kind of incentive for investment that Mr. Beckham's visibility is meant to communicate in helping to build the MLS.
2) in the coverage of Mr. Calderon's remarks, including his claim that Mr. Beckham accepted the Galaxy offer because no others were presented, I have been shocked to find only one article (unfortunately NOT used as a blueprint for others) that provides balance in their reporting by simply listing the clubs that had expressed public interest in Mr. Beckham, including Inter Milan, Liverpool, Bolton and even Barcelona at one point. The same media outlets, only days before, published Inter Milan's announcement confirmed by Mr. Beckham's management, that they had extended a solid offer he was still considering in the days leading up to his final decision--an offer said in those articles to have included a similar pay packet to the one he is receiving at Madrid as well as 100% of his image rights, in other words one similar in value to what he will be getting from the Galaxy, only with a shorter contract term. The coverage could have added to this list the number of clubs quoted as saying they would be very interested if not already happy with players they are currently fielding in Mr. Beckham's position.
I like Mr. Hargreaves' column, as well as the support, and comments on his skill, workrate and team loyalty, expressed by Mr. Beckham's Real Madrid teammates and others he has played both with and against. I only wish I could read Spanish so that I could get an idea of the reaction of Madrid supporters to Mr. Calderon and Mr. Capellos remarks and actions! I know many fans think it is the right time for Mr. Beckham to leave the team, but one has to think they would be outraged at his treatment on the way out.
Oops, I promise not to go on truly forever, but can I just point out regarding the allegations of pre-January 1st negotiations, that with the sponsorship part of the package already in place through Mr. Beckham's current contracts it would not have taken any longer for the Galaxy to table an otherwise common salary package regularly put together by any club acting during the short January transfer window.
Best of luck to Mr. Beckham and to his past and future teammates.
Diane
6:20 AM
Footnote-
From an article by Sam Wallace in The Independent, 12 January:
"David Beckham rejected the chance to sign for the Italian giants Milan and Internazionale as well as Marseilles and Lyon in France before he opted yesterday for the best commercial deal at Los Angeles Galaxy...
The notion that Beckham, 31, signed for LA Galaxy because he had no chance of playing Champions' League football has been dismissed after sources revealed that he was pursued by some of the biggest names in world football. Internazionale are seven points clear at the top of Serie A and Lyon lead the French championship by 15 points and both are serious contenders in the last 16 of the Champions' League this season.
There were also several mid-table Premiership clubs interested, thought to include the likes of West Ham United, Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United , but Beckham's advisers made it clear that the former England captain was only interested in a move to either Chelsea or Manchester United."
I guess I haven't been hallucinating!
D
6:44 AM
Hi Diane,
I also found the coverage of Calderon's comments disappointing. His quotes were reported verbatim in hundreds of publications and yet 99% could not take the time to add one paragraph citing stories they themselves had previously published about the offers he refused!
It was terrible. A person seeing that story might be unaware of the fact that there was so much evidence to show Calderon was lying. I actually wrote e-mails to The guardian and to The Times lol - there's a first time for everything - asking why they couldn't put all the information in front of readers so that people could at least reach an informed opinion.
I mentioned he had offers in the news post below this one and linked to an article with the quotes from Galliani but of course 90% of the people who come here are Beckham fans and are well aware of this stuff.
It is a pity that the media does such a poor job :( and an even greater pity that Calderon said such things in the first place.
8:32 AM
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