That said I am all but certain this will get done. To adapt a George Bernard Shaw quote, “We have already established what you are, Mr. Beckham. Now we are just haggling over price.”

Sorry, I guess that’s a different thread topic.

and its not over yet, at the end of the day its gonna go down to what David wants and decides.

Posted from China
cornercorner”

Clearly you have not watched many of his MLS performances in China then…..

It’s not really in anybody’s interest for it to go that way though, I think.

I’m more surprised at how little Arena and LAG have been trying to strengthen their team. Sure, the draft is still coming, but LAG’s problem last season was that they were crap behind more than anything going forwards. They scored 55 goals, so it’s not really understandable that the Galaxy don’t want to stick to their attacking options (OK, Donovan wants out so it’s hard for LAG to keep him, but they might be able to agree to keep him for one more season, since with Buddle they were very effective). They conceded 62 goals, so why they’re not out there selling off their defenders is even harder to understand (they should have made that their #1 priority by mid-season last year, and yet in two transfer windows they haven’t had any notable movement in that sector). Lastly, the club structure looks like it might need some tweaking (if the coach can’t get the best out of his players and can’t keep them motivated, then adjustments need to be made).

LAG seem to be lacking actual ambition to do anything else than cash in on Beckham. Sure, he’s costing LAG lots (DP+big salary+…). But even Pele didn’t win the NASL in his first full season, and only qualified for the play-offs in the second, despite considerable reinforcement in the person of Chinaglia. I wouldn’t be surprised if Beckham has grown a bit disillusioned about the difference between what LAG were telling him before Jan 2007 and up to Jan 2008, and what’s actually happened during these two years. LAG wanted to build a team that could challenge for the title, and the strike force can. But the defence and midfield can’t. With the salary cap, there’s a limit on how much a club can spend, but LAG’s lack of activity to re-shape the defence both in July-August last year and in January this year do leave some questions as to LAG’s desire to succeed. This lack of desire is visible in the squad, but also possibly for Beckham amongst the staff. Beckham has trained with some of the best coaches in the world, and the different training regimen at LAG might also be in his eyes a lack of desire/professionalism.

I’d like to think that Beckham will give 100% if he goes back to the Galaxy in March and will not invoke the Webster ruling, perhaps only leaving in Jan 2010. But I feel that he can only bear a little of the blame that is waged against him. If Manchester City stopped signing players and during next year Robinho announces he wants out (not qualified for CL, not improving squad, etc.) I would similarly find it hard to blame the player much, since he signed on the basis that whilst he would be the most substantial step in creating a CL-level team, he wouldn’t be the only one.

It would be interesting to see him try to invoke Webster. For a player over 28, it can be invoked two years after the contract. I’m guessing that since he signed the contract in January 2007 it might work, even though he didn’t start playing till July. Which would kind of suck for the Galaxy. Any legal experts know?

It would also be interesting to see the dollar figure the Galaxy would aim for. Would it be just his salary for 2009, i.e. $6.5 mil? Is there anything about lost revenues from merchandising and ticket sales? Damage to third parties like Herbalife? I think Webster says salaries only, but Beckham is more brand than player, and I’d be surprised if all the extra contingencies weren’t addressed in the original contract.

Boy, would the lawyers have fun with this!