Chris is definitely one player who will always be one of my guys !

Jen, I agree with you about believing Beckham still loves the game and also that, as an athlete, he probably made a mistake in leaving Europe. But his last couple of seasons worth of Real Madrid management and politics were horrendous, the weeks before he signed for LA had been torture for the entire team, and, of course, he had no idea he would be called up for England again. When he was forced to make a decision, he was given around ten days and both Beckham and the Galaxy have since admitted that the choice between Milan and LA came down to minutes before the contract was signed.

It seemed back then like he chose the States because it felt less complicated, more fun, someplace he could play every day, walk down the street without causing a riot, and push the sport he loved (which he’d done for so many years as England captain). A lot of people thought that neither party, Beckham or MLS, knew what it was getting itself into. Apart from the football itself, the culture, geography, weather, timetable, media habits are so different in the States than anywhere Beckham had been before — and that’s not counting the Keystone Kops level errors made by Galaxy, MLS and his own management. You don’t have to be extremely stupid to miss some of that call. As to lacking forethought, look up eternal optimist with blinders on and Beckham will top the list.

The one thing Beckham could not have come to MLS for, and the most enduring popular theory, was the money. Although his wages are staggering in this league, they are less than half of what he would have earned if he had accepted any of the other offers made him, in some cases significantly less. In terms of endorsement income the US is the only major market in the world where his potential had not yet been tested — literally since every sponsor MLS originally listed as a source of his 200 or so million in “possible earnings” was one he brought to the deal with him. If he had played in any other league in the world he would have had the same sponsors as well as an established market.

I’ve no doubt that Adidas were huge supporters of him eventually moving to the States with them, but he was still making them more money in Europe than any other player on their roster so I doubt they were pushing him across the pond early. Manchester United, Real Madrid, even England, and certainly the Galaxy sought to use Beckham to open doors for them in Asia. (The others were more successful because Asian fans like good football along with their Becks, but even with the poor planning of that first tour MLS still has its foot through the door).

Laurie, in terms of world-wide exposure, true, I only read the English and Spanish press, but I’m not the only person who can attest to the fact that Beckham didn’t need the U.S. to become a “world-wide superstar again.” He got less coverage after joining MLS, not more, most of the world truly did think he was retiring here and that he had lost his game — something both statistics and match reports would have backed up if anyone outside of the U.S. was paying attention. The one thing in the rest of the football world people hadn’t stopped talking about yet when Beckham signed for the Galaxy, was Beckham — as you can attest to by the number of hits this blog got every time you put his name in the headline (well that and the word penis, which will never lose its high profile — hopefully…can I make a joke about not underperforming here too or are we being too serious…ok not possible…as you were, imagine as you will…):) .

You pointed out during our little chat on the MLS offside page that we disagree because Beckham is my guy while the rest of the Galaxy and fans are yours. The funny thing though, is that they way I know Beckham is from the days when he played for ManU, my guys’ hated rivals — I’m a born Liverpool supporter as you know. We withstood Beckham then because we supported England and he did a lot for our boys in the England camp. When he joined Real Madrid I could view him just like any of the England squad — all of whom I keep an eye on wherever they play (as always as long as its not against LFC).

I’ve added quite a few Galaxy players, some gone even during my short time following the team, to my keep an eye on list, and as I’ve said before, even with the dismal record I really enjoyed seeing how so many stepped up, and how bravely.

I don’t think LA should keep Beckham. I think the Galaxy would be much better served with the cash for a more reasonably distributed payroll and a better balanced, more consistent, team. Also some amount of privacy to focus completely training and each match.

Note: Beckham’s football manager, Terry Byrne, who stays with him through whatever team and whatever management company, and is said to be one of the genuinely nicest men in sports, recommended Ruud Gullit after Frank left(?) and Klinsmann turned down the job. I would like to have said it was the evil-seeming Simon Fuller, but it was Byrne who made the introduction. Not the hire, but that still relates it to Beckham’s management, and true it was a disaster. For the entire team, fans, and even casual observers suffered. But did anyone think it was a bad idea at the outset? I truly hope Arena works out and that he gets to build a real team (with whatever personnel he has come March).