first off i dont know why people hate beckham so much he is one that will lead england into the next millenium, and all that crap that he costed england the world cup is pure rubbish, who missed the pk's during the shootout? sure england lost some of there momentum but the way the lost the game was not because of becks

why were the shooters not killed like beckham was in the media, all of you people were just looking for a scapegoat, for englands disspointment!!!!

hes awesome at free kicks and hes the best crosser in the game!!!!!

On the Beckham issue I sit clearly on the fence and sadly I find this a lonely position to be.

People are clearly divided into two camps over Beckham. On one side there are those who enjoy slagging the player off at every opportunity and a great deal of fuel has been added to their fires this week. In the second camp are those who wrap Beckham up in cotton wool and argue vehemently that he is misunderstood and without any trace of blame, (sadly includes his manager).

I feel both camps are completely out of order. We must recognise that David Beckham is a highly gifted footballer who COULD be a key asset to England's hopes over the next decade. However, the attention given to the player's footballing ability is superceeded by his personal life in the eyes of the media and this is clearly affecting the player.

Most of this attention I am sad to say is self inflicted. In the past English football fans and the media have not taken too kindly to exuberant flair players living celebrity lifestyles and it is clear that an attitude prevails that wants them to fall flat on their faces. George Best and Paul Gascoigne are two similar examples and few would doubt that their potential was not fully realised.

I rate David Beckham as a player, but as an individual I feel he should grow up. He should leave the Hello magazine alone for a while, put Victoria's sarongs and thongs back in the drawer, and tell his wife to concentrate on her career and get down and earn his corn as a PROFESSIONAL footballer.

I fear that as a footballer his career may be cut short if the pressure does not subside shortly, (after all he now doesn't NEED to work), and this would be to the detriment of the English game.

Just my humble opinion.

You're right guys.
David Beckham is definitely not the most stupid player in the world, he is the best crosser in the world and possibly the best free kick taker.
Losing the World Cup was most certainly not Beckham's fault, nor was the draw with Nexacca. Alex Ferguson had a right to protest and what's the point in banning him when he's just going to sit in the stands anyway?

I'm pleased that in this topic nobody has accused Beckham of being awful, evil or anything else that people think the legendary number 7 of Manchester United is.

Yes Beckham is a fantastic crosser and freekick taker. Also his control is great. He is a very very talented player, but sadly he is stupid. He needs to learn to control himself, or he'll remain unpopular. He should certainly have been banned for more games, that tackle was disgraceful.

England in the World Cup - I was one of the few people who didnt blame him at all for that, he was an idiot, but that doesn't mean we woulda won with him

England is unfair on Beckham, because he's an extremely good player, but he still must learn to control himself

true true!!!!

Best free kicker MY ASS!
Miha does it all better.

Cantona07: "and all that crap that he costed england the world cup is pure rubbish, who missed the pk's during the shootout? sure england lost some of there momentum but the way the lost the game was not because of becks"

Please, don't bring up memories of that game, and don't dare blame anyone but Beckham, Simeone and the Ref. With one example of his immaturity Beckham broke my heart - England had the momentum, they were playing strong, and then that idiot decided to lash out and it cost England. From that point on they had to defend for the rest of the game and in injury time. Why blame the penalty takers, if Beckham used his head instead of acting like a child England would have had a better chance. Think of how players like Adams and Ince must have felt - this was their last World Cup, (maybe Adams has another in him but I doubt it), and they're at 2-2 and this young talented, but highly volatile, upstart ruins both their, and England's dreams.

I hated him for it, but not any more. I give Beckham great respect for rebounding from that and having an excellent season afterwards - but it still seems as if he hasn't learned his lesson. The sending off the game before last had been a long time comming, he should have been sent off earlier in the season when he stamped on Redknapp and when he tried to kill Stephen Carr with a crazy tackle.

For such a talented player that's such a horrible downside - yes he can be a game winner, but how can he help when he's sent off and can't control his temper. I'm sure this has a lot to do with Fergie, and the mentality he has imparted into his players that make many of them feel as arrogant as he is - that they are above the rules of football - see how Becks and Neville bitched vs Derby to get that guy sent off.

Not to mention Beckham is cursed with having the world's most stupid wife. Yes its silly enough the guy wears women's underwear - BUT DOES SHE HAVE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW ON TELEVISION?

He is truly a troubled genius.

Best freekicker if you dont take Rivaldo in consideration.

Case Study - (too much work http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif )
In Brazil there is a player, that I think none European will know. Valber. When he start playing, everybody wants him. He was super ++ players, super skills, super passes... and he played in every posistion, from Leff Defender to Striker, and played well in everyone. But he was like Beckman, made the same stupid things...
He played for national team...
But after so many stupid things his star start to shine less and less... and now he is a medium player... (he continue to be a super player, but who is going to play 10 Millions for someone who escape from hotel, training...)

Gotta agree with Neutral on this WC98 thing ( and all the other things he said) , one can't blame anyone except Beckham. Why ? He let his team down by being sent off, which ultimately destroyed their attacking options as they now had to lay back and defend. England had just started getting the edge in that game and with 11 men might have had enough in them to score and win outright. With only 10 men England were forced onto the back foot, and Argentina dominated the game and their confidence kept on growing. If England had 11 men on the field at extra time they might have put on another striker and there might not have been the need for Batty to take that penalty kick. And before anybody points it out to me, I know everything here is ifs and mights, but it's a scenario and there will always be ifs and mights. You can't blame anyone but the person who put the pressure on the rest of the team.

"why were the shooters not killed like beckham was in the media"
Firstly, they are penalty takers or not shooters and the media hasn't killed anyone as yet. Who would you blame if it was Man utd who was knocked out of Champs league on penalties after having had a player sent off ?

And before Cantona in particular goes calling me a man utd hater, let me just say this. I liken Beckham a lot to Vieira, both brilliant players in their own right, but both seem to be rather unstable. Take the Vieira ban, he might have been provoked by Ruddock, but spitting at the guy is just plain stupid, and that has cost us. We missed him in the prem games, and although Grimandi fitted in well he's not half the player Vieira is.

Beckham is a great player. Only he can't control hisself. That's why some people hate him. It just like Patrick Kluivert. He can't control hisself either.

fifams