Comments on: Becks MLS Out Clause Discovered http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html League Football, Soccer News and Views from Around the World Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:47:14 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Diane http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html#comment-136165 Diane Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:06:57 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html#comment-136165 Oops, left off the end of that paragraph...which is that the clubs players leave are thought no less of, its just a reality of the game elsewhere. In Beckham's case, it was clear that his form was severely off for the second half of so no one would blame a club for saying the fit wasn't right and trying to make money letting go a player that wasn't producing the results they expected. Again, that happens all the time -- even in North American leagues. Oops, left off the end of that paragraph…which is that the clubs players leave are thought no less of, its just a reality of the game elsewhere. In Beckham’s case, it was clear that his form was severely off for the second half of so no one would blame a club for saying the fit wasn’t right and trying to make money letting go a player that wasn’t producing the results they expected. Again, that happens all the time — even in North American leagues.

]]> By: Diane http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html#comment-136164 Diane Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:59:29 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html#comment-136164 I don't think it would have the detrimental effect comments here and elsewhere suggest. The MLS might become the laughingstock of other North American leagues, but in the rest of the world Beckham's presence has already won MLS league tables a spot in news broadcasts and sports pages -- where it had never previously been mentioned. Commentary may be critical, but no more so than before and certainly no more than of other leagues that are either underperforming or making claims they can't really back up (I'm pretty clear about which category MLS falls into). In fact I'm always surprised at how much more seriously the league is referred to in Europe than, say by the fellows on Fox Football Fone-in or some of the local L.A. press who seem to have an ax to grind. That interest may abate somewhat if the Galaxy sell Beckham, but the international football media found more of a story than his or the Galaxy's so it won't go away. The other thing is that fans outside of the U.S. who know football wouldn't think it strange, or hold it against a league or club, if one of their players left to go someplace that would benefit their game or if ONLY to make them more likely to get called up for their national team. I can mention several players in the Premiership who did so over the summer, including one from the club I support -- and we are still quite fond of him and wish him the best (apart from scoring against us of course). I don’t think it would have the detrimental effect comments here and elsewhere suggest. The MLS might become the laughingstock of other North American leagues, but in the rest of the world Beckham’s presence has already won MLS league tables a spot in news broadcasts and sports pages — where it had never previously been mentioned. Commentary may be critical, but no more so than before and certainly no more than of other leagues that are either underperforming or making claims they can’t really back up (I’m pretty clear about which category MLS falls into). In fact I’m always surprised at how much more seriously the league is referred to in Europe than, say by the fellows on Fox Football Fone-in or some of the local L.A. press who seem to have an ax to grind.
That interest may abate somewhat if the Galaxy sell Beckham, but the international football media found more of a story than his or the Galaxy’s so it won’t go away.

The other thing is that fans outside of the U.S. who know football wouldn’t think it strange, or hold it against a league or club, if one of their players left to go someplace that would benefit their game or if ONLY to make them more likely to get called up for their national team. I can mention several players in the Premiership who did so over the summer, including one from the club I support — and we are still quite fond of him and wish him the best (apart from scoring against us of course).

]]> By: sims http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html#comment-135991 sims Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:51:08 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html#comment-135991 Middle East is a cultural wastland. Middle East is a cultural wastland.

]]> By: Marco P. http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html#comment-135986 Marco P. Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:08:34 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html#comment-135986 <BLOCKQUOTE> <B>chris wrote</b>: <em>Having him leave after just 1.5 or 2.5 seasons (should he and the Rossoneri fall deeply in love) would do nothing but cripple the already fragile global reputation of the league.</em></BLOCKQUOTE> Amen to that. The detrimental effect this would have on the MLS would be far worse than the promotion boost obtained when he signed in 2007. The whole Beckham operation, coupled with his less-than-stellar performances and the horrible LA Galaxy season this year, would be nothing short of a huge fiasco. The MLS would really become the laughingstock of other North-American leagues...

chris wrote:
Having him leave after just 1.5 or 2.5 seasons (should he and the Rossoneri fall deeply in love) would do nothing but cripple the already fragile global reputation of the league.

Amen to that. The detrimental effect this would have on the MLS would be far worse than the promotion boost obtained when he signed in 2007. The whole Beckham operation, coupled with his less-than-stellar performances and the horrible LA Galaxy season this year, would be nothing short of a huge fiasco. The MLS would really become the laughingstock of other North-American leagues…

]]> By: Daryl http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html#comment-135984 Daryl Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:45:06 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/becks-mls-out-clause-discovered.html#comment-135984 I still say he's coming back. But pressure's definitely on Bruce Arena to put a winning Galaxy team together for '09. I still say he’s coming back. But pressure’s definitely on Bruce Arena to put a winning Galaxy team together for ‘09.

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