In the mean time, Beckham's England career, having re-surfaced due to popular demand - well, popular with the media scribes and "I've only read the Sun's headlines" pundits, not so much with people who understand football - looks effectively over, given that England look likely to miss out on this summer's Euro 2008 tournament. It is reported that Beckham is looking to train with an English club for the intervening period before his call up for the next MLS season in February 2008. This begs the question of what would have happened if a fit Beckham was available for England if we had qualified?
Beckham has set a much publicised target of winning 100 caps for England. He is three short currently. This pressure exerted by Beckham's PR machine has got under RTG's skin. Indeed, it got us thinking about how the whole PR bullshit had initially promoted and then effectively destroyed the playing career of a fine footballer.
David Beckham was once a key player in the best midfield that the premiership has seen, and arguably the best ever in English football - that of Keane, Scholes, Giggs and Beckham. A few weeks after completing a unique 'Treble' of honours with Manchester United, he married Posh Spice in what was at that time one of the most kitsch and over the top celebrity events witnessed. The usual A to E celebrity guests were in attendance, along with the the money spinning photo shoots. Indeed the glorious couple had to make dozens of costume changes to satisfy their wedding photo contract. Unfortunately, this was the point that the footballer in Beckham stopped and he was taken over and subsumed into the publicity crazy ambition of his wife. Failing to revive a short, but financially successful pop career, the Beckham brand was born out of the frustration of Posh's failure as a singer. Trouble was it was affecting his performances on the field.
Whilst that United side went on to win two more successive championships, all was not well at the club regarding Beckham's playing career. His performance levels dipped - albeit in line with the rest of the team, as the champions limped into third place in 2002. By the time the World Cup of 2002 came around, Beckham's flagging United career was compensated by his captaincy of the England team - foolishly given to him by fill-in England manager Peter Taylor. The next England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, sensing the media wind, as he always did, carried on the foolishness. All of a sudden the England Captain's armband was, and is now, seen as a money making opportunity. No wonder the seeming bitterness from other players detected at the award of the captaincy to John Terry. But like the MLS/Galaxy situation, all of a sudden, England had their eye on the financial implications of Beckham's captaincy and place in the England team. A plainly unfit Beckham was taken to the 2002 World Cup less for his ability and suitability, but more for the fact that there were an enormous number of Japanese teeny boppers willing to buy Beckham 7 shirts. Even prior to that tournament, the Beckhams hosted a party at "Beckingham", where Posh announced to the press that her husband would be taking penalties if England were awarded any. Thankfully, the England team didn't pay a price for Posh's tactical expertise - though the one penalty awarded was very badly taken and was the fore-runner of a number of subsequent fatal spot kick misses by Beckham for England. The less said about World Cup 2006 and the role of WAGS, the better.
Unfortunately for Real Madrid fans, after losing his place in the United first team in 2003, Beckham got the call from the so called galacticos. They then had their least successfull four years since the Spanish civil war days. They did win the Primera in his last season - but it was a season in which he only made the starting line up a dozen or so times. Again, the feedback from Real Madrid management, was that they were very happy with the supposed financial benefits that Beckham brought. Again, we think these should be taken with a pinch of salt. There was even one claim that Beckham's transfer had brought in £250 million in extra revenue - astonishing, especially since this was considerably more that Real's entire annual revenue at that time!So will this be the last of David Beckham that English football supporters will see of him? Or are there more twists in the story to achieve his personal goal. The trouble is the answer to this question is in posing another question: is there any milk left in the cash cow that is David Beckham?
Reclaim the Game - The Week's Events
- Most eyes turned to europe this week, as the next round of matches got under way and as the media pundits tried to bury english disappointments over the weekend. Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all recorded fine wins - especially Arsenal in a 7 nil thrashing of Slavia Prague. Only some comedy defending by Liverpool spoiled the media's "we've got our pride back" english theme. However, disturbingly for those looking to the english pride bit, there were only 10 englishmen in the combined starting line ups of the Big Four. That's less than 23%.
- If ever there was a more clear cut example of what RTG is fighting against, check out the Global Sport Conference being attended by such luminaries as the Kenyons, Glazers and Hicks et al
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