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Post by Maximo Mark on Feb 4, 2009 15:13:30 GMT 1
I thought I'd start the thread for next weeks England friendly with Spain early to get peoples thoughts on David Beckham. He's recently moved to AC Milan and it seems to have coincided with the rejuvinating of Milan's season.
5 games which has seen two goals and two assists and huge amounts of praise from the Italian and (less-so) English press and it's now being speculated that a transfer worth up to £14m could happen in the summer, impressive for a 33 year old!
Personally, I'm delighted with this. I love Beckham and still think he has a great deal to offer, certainly a damn site more than some of his competition (hello Mr Lennon!). He may have lost whatever pace he had but that still leaves him with his passing, creativity, vision, crossing and set-piece ability being as good as ever. I think it's widely regarded as a mistake him moving to America but at the time could you really blame him after Capello had left him training with the Madrid youth. It's not exactly uncommon for players to go to a weaker league for the end of their career either, although it's usually to the middle east rather than the USA.
His drive and commitment to getting back into the England set-up after being dropped by Steve McClaren has never failed to impress. It's clear that he still loves his country and will do anything to play for them and will always give his best, something which again can't be said for others (Carragher, Gerrard, Lampard, A. Cole...). Another thing which I think is great about him is that he's shown desire to play abroad which such a little amount of English players do now, they're quite happy to sit on the bench earning their pay-cheque than try and further their game in a different country and culture (Pennant). How many other players can say they've made an impact at three great clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan?
I hope next Wednesday he equals the outfield caps record and goes on to get many more. For 2 1/2 years now others have had the chance to take his place, only Theo Walcott looks anything like hungry or good enough to do so!
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Post by Panda on Feb 4, 2009 16:24:00 GMT 1
I echo all of that. He's playing as well as any English player right now and deserves to be in the squad.
Lennon is just another typically over-rated London player. He could be good in the future but he shouldn't be anywhere near the England squad right now. Ashley Young should be in the squad for the Spain game just because he can play on either flank.
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Post by o on Feb 5, 2009 13:42:05 GMT 1
He's willing to pay abroad, I think most people would be on the pay packet he receives! I think he has royally screwed the LA Galaxy team, and at the proper end of his career, I hope the US teams refuse to sign him again, I know they wont though. Yes he might be playing well, but that's in a good side, in the US he was pretty hopeless. I hope he can do it for England occasionally, but we have to look to the future imo... Are we playing in Spain, more racist chanting then!
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Feb 5, 2009 20:54:27 GMT 1
and they will get away with it aswel, they always do...
as for beckham he is the best option at right midfield for next weeks game considering ashley young plays left midfield so i would play him there whilst joe cole is injured.
walcott - injured lennon - can't cross, can't pass, out of form, lightweight bentley - out of form, can't even get in the spuds team young - should play left midfield against spain wright phillips - the only real threat to beckham at the moment but like lennon he is lightweight and can't cross a ball for toffee joe cole - injured gerrard - injured pennant - haha, yeah right
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Post by Maximo Mark on Feb 5, 2009 21:48:08 GMT 1
He's willing to pay abroad, I think most people would be on the pay packet he receives! I think he has royally screwed the LA Galaxy team, and at the proper end of his career, I hope the US teams refuse to sign him again, I know they wont though. Yes he might be playing well, but that's in a good side, in the US he was pretty hopeless. I hope he can do it for England occasionally, but we have to look to the future imo... Are we playing in Spain, more racist chanting then! To be fair, he was playing in an incredibly poor team. One great player doesn't make a team, just look at Robinho. You're worth nothing if your team-mates are crap!
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Post by Maximo Mark on Feb 5, 2009 21:49:44 GMT 1
and they will get away with it aswel, they always do... as for beckham he is the best option at right midfield for next weeks game considering ashley young plays left midfield so i would play him there whilst joe cole is injured. walcott - injured lennon - can't cross, can't pass, out of form, lightweight bentley - out of form, can't even get in the spuds team young - should play left midfield against spain wright phillips - the only real threat to beckham at the moment but like lennon he is lightweight and can't cross a ball for toffee joe cole - injured gerrard - injured pennant - haha, yeah right For me the only person (other than Walcott) that should be challenging Beckham for a starting birth for England is someone you've missed... James Milner. He keeps coming along better each season and is playing very well in a very good Villa team. Gets a few goals and assists too.
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Post by Panda on Feb 7, 2009 23:56:01 GMT 1
So Beckham is in. There are also call-ups for Milner and Carlton Cole. Robert Green (West Ham) Joe Hart (Man City) David James (Portsmouth) Wayne Bridge (Man City) Ashley Cole (Chelsea) Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd) Phil Jagielka (Everton) Glen Johnson (Portsmouth) John Terry (Chelsea) Matthew Upson (West Ham) Luke Young (Aston Villa) David Beckham (AC Milan) Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) Michael Carrick (Man Utd) Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough) Frank Lampard (Chelsea) James Milner (Aston Villa) Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City) Ashley Young (Aston Villa) Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) Carlton Cole (West Ham) Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) Emile Heskey (Aston Villa)
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Post by Maximo Mark on Feb 8, 2009 0:23:27 GMT 1
Yay for Milner! Pretty much the squd I'd have picked tbh, maybe have had more than one of Everton's back four though...
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Post by Panda on Feb 8, 2009 0:26:59 GMT 1
Good to see Luke Young back in the squad. He should've been back in last season but it's much easier to get in when your team's 3rd in the league.
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Paddy
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Post by Paddy on Feb 8, 2009 15:35:24 GMT 1
Can't believe Darren Bent is never in that squad, the number one goalscorer in the premiership for 3 seasons and is still shuned! But I'm glad abgon is in it. Plays very well for AV.
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Post by Panda on Feb 8, 2009 18:17:19 GMT 1
Can't believe Darren Bent is never in that squad, the number one goalscorer in the premiership for 3 seasons and is still shuned! But I'm glad abgon is in it. Plays very well for AV. Where does this myth about Bent come from? He's been the top English scorer in the Premier League once and that was 3 years ago.
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Paddy
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Post by Paddy on Feb 8, 2009 18:40:23 GMT 1
Maybe cos he's an ex Ipswich academy player . So I know how good he is.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Feb 8, 2009 18:50:40 GMT 1
Can't believe Darren Bent is never in that squad, the number one goalscorer in the premiership for 3 seasons and is still shuned! But I'm glad abgon is in it. Plays very well for AV. Where does this myth about Bent come from? He's been the top English scorer in the Premier League once and that was 3 years ago. He possibly is over the last three seasons...
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Post by Panda on Feb 8, 2009 19:04:21 GMT 1
Where does this myth about Bent come from? He's been the top English scorer in the Premier League once and that was 3 years ago. He possibly is over the last three seasons... Well that's different.
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Post by Panda on Feb 11, 2009 16:44:02 GMT 1
Any predictions for tonight?
I'd love to see England win but Spain are world #1 and haven't lost in over 2 years (28 games!) and I think they might sneak it 1-0.
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Feb 11, 2009 16:55:22 GMT 1
england always perform well against spain, even ugo ehiogu scored against them although they have possibly the strongest team they have ever had i still don't rate their defence and puyol is out injured anyway hmmm im going to go for 2-2
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Post by Panda on Feb 11, 2009 16:59:21 GMT 1
england always perform well against spain, even ugo ehiogu scored against them although they have possibly the strongest team they have ever had i still don't rate their defence and puyol is out injured anyway hmmm im going to go for 2-2 It is a defence that's conceded 1 goal in its last 9 games...
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Post by Maximo Mark on Feb 11, 2009 17:03:58 GMT 1
I think a draw too, maybe 1-1... I read the other day that Capello's 2008 record of 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat was our best in a calendar year since 1971!
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Post by Panda on Feb 11, 2009 17:11:14 GMT 1
I read the other day that Capello's 2008 record of 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat was our best in a calendar year since 1971! Depends how you define "best". In terms of winning percentage that's probably right. In 2006 we had 9 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat under Sven and McClaren. In 1996 we had 8 wins and 4 draws. In 1991, under Graham Taylor, we had 8 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat. In 1989, we had 6 wins and 5 draws.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Feb 11, 2009 18:10:43 GMT 1
I imagine so. It was from a BBC Blog...
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