It was a huge bruha when Beckham left his sports management company, SFX, to go to 19 Entertainment, but in a bizarre fun big-business gossip twist (I can’t remember names and dates now, but can find for you later if you want) the two companies have SOMEHOW ended up under the same umbrella. Business-wise, Byrne however, goes wherever Beckham goes to do the sports thing. People talk about how Beckham can separate the pitch from the “brand.” Having that one steady sports person he trusts over at the office, making sure that doesn’t get overshadowed, is probably a big priority.

Simon Fuller comes in handy in doing things like putting the commercial package together for Gullit that made him financially happy enough to go to the Galaxy.

Although I’m a little troubled that Beckham’s management company helped with the search. Are we talking Simon Fuller, or was this sports related?

1) You don’t have to look as far as a talk show encounter to connect Gullit to Beckham. AEG asked Beckham’s management company to help with coach search; Beckham’s friend and personal manager, Terry Byrne, was the physio for Chelsea (as well as the England NT) when Gullit played and coached there. It may be true that Beckham wasn’t personally involved in the search, but he trusts Terry Byrne with all things sports related. (Byrne also spent a couple of years at Watford as GM, should we connect him to Yallop who was born there? No? I guess not ).

2) It annoyed me hugely when Lalas said they were looking for a sexy (rather than, say, competent for example) coach on Monday, but it should have been a big clue as the term sexy football was popularized re Gullit. Of course everything Lalas says annoys me.

3) As a manager Gullit’s problems have largely centered around his clashes with management. Aren’t we DIEING for someone to clash with management? Never knew what the Chelsea clash was about exactly, so thanks to Andrea for that fascinating scoop. One of the reasons I remember Gullit is because it was a bit controversial that he was public about opposition to apartheid.
I’d be interested to know if he had power struggles (or the alleged “short fuse”) with teammates and the players he coached or just those in authority over him. Again, if it turns out he can also coach, the latter would make him lots of fun.

4) Football: if he grew up in the “Dutch School” and coaches from that book, he might be able to help bring out a bit more hidden fundamentals-potential (or at least sharpness)in existing players, since he’s not getting a buying spree in January. I was watching an interview with Chris Klein who said that one of the most important thing Beckham brings to the team is his work ethic. Gullit, along with all those brilliant Dutchmen, is known for that as well. Don’t know if that will have any impact on pre-season, and therefore beyond…its a hope I guess.

5) And once again to Alexi: if you are going to pull in the klieg lights, fireworks, and world press, shouldn’t you worry a little more about what you’re pointing them at FIRST!!!? You are not ALWAYS ready for your close-up (twit).

Since I’m completely naive and optimistic (when not conjuring complicated conspiracy theories), I’m hoping the coach-player thing works well, and the coach-management thing kicks ass — upwards of course.

Are you saying I’m a role model?

Whoa. That’s a scary thought.

As I was wandering around in a WGA strike related funk, muttering Ruud Gullit over and over again… trying to conjure up why the name sounded familiar but for the life of me, I just couldn’t think of who he was, er is, I was chastised bitterly by Ms. Jack who pointed out that down in the garage there are a bazillion VHS tapes of 1990’s Chelsea, where he was a player-manager. “He’s the guy that got us Gianfranco Zola, ya’ dolt!” OH! THAT guy!

If my crusty, crumbly memory now in the process of re-animation serves, I had the same reaction in ‘98 (I think?) when he was sacked as when The Special One got sacked by Rich Boy. I was traumatized. SO now he comes to LA…. totally awesome. I hope he gets La-la-boy in lots of trouble, humiliates him to no end in the press, gets him fired from AEG. I hope he benches Lando (who’s probly moving to San-ho anyway) into becoming a consistent fwd and gets him on some OCD meds. I doubt he’ll bench Becks, but I am confident he won’t damage him as this “season’s” management did. There’s no end to the damage Ruud will do to the obstacles (players, management) that stand in the path of LA glory. I’m quietly hoping this will be the very best thing for us. And if he regrows the dreads… and we retain Cobi at his side, we’ll look positively smashing at the very least.

On that – here’s a thought. Can the guy just take a pay cut? You know, Cobi did this past season. Or how about Donovan takes a pay cut and The Galaxy pays off his mortgage or something like that. See? It all works out for EVERYBODY (including San Ho).