First came: this Lalas really needs to stop speaking altogether before he alienates entire football playing world and gets new signing murdered by teammates.

Then: no need for murder by teammates, management and sponsors will do fine all by themselves [set me firmly in agreement with your play-em-injured-for-the-cash trend assessment, Laurie, but really how new is that].

Followed closely by: international jaw-drop at absurdity of fielding obviously injured–and not quite as keen as claimed–player in friendly (consensus was that what took golden balls was agreeing to display what had no chance of being more than a weak performance for scrutiny of whatever dozens of cameras, “but the lad’s a good sport that way.”)

Which brought us to: (maybe Lalas was brilliant) insulted U.K. tucks wandering (only-to-be-unabused-at-home) son deeply under wing and sets out to scrutinize every moment of his adventures and treatment abroad.

Ensuing Brit pundit coverage of MLS complete with standard (just as if they’d been done them all along) match reports has been hilarious, but FANTASTIC FOR KIDS ON GALAXY who are getting a true look in by the football viewing world, through eyes of analysts who know what they are talking about and have not been unkind. AND the Galaxy seem to have inherited Beckham’s real football fans. Those parts were nice to see.

Less nice parts well covered well, hope boys come out on top in balance. Agree with all hopes that $ guys don’t wreck team and league first.