Turns Out David Beckham is Mean

Landon can say whatever the hell he wants to say, bottom line is David Beckham had play with the cream of footbll, Landon hasn´t and will never play in a big team, he will never have the level of football David has and will certianly never be as important as David is in football.
Donovan was 4 years playing in Germany and did nothing, then he went back and again nothing happened.
Becks needs to get the hell out of the MLS , and go back to where good football is played, Europe.
Landon can saty there for the rest of his life..

Becks needs to get out of that 3rd rate league asap and go to either Serie A or back to a premiership team.

I seriously doubt if he knew just how poor the MLS was. God I wish the Americans would stop playing rugby in 20 miles of padding and calling it "football" and join the rest of the world in playing the beautifull game.

Let's face it, if the boot was on the other foot and one your big name basketballers wanted to come over here and try and promote basketball but wanted to leave to increase his chances of playing for the USA national team he would be loved by everyone.

Why don't the Americans play a sport seriously that the rest of the world play? Football (REAL Football), Cricket, Rugby...

Sunderland? Leagues better than L.A., I'd say.

Thank you, Shazback! Thank you.

"Can’t we just say that they both acted like assholes?"

I'm pretty sure that was the gist of my post.

Johanna, do you really think that the difference between how he played at Milan and LA was just down to "how much he wanted to play"?

The Milan Lab got him back to peak physical condition. His first friendly with Milan saw a tired, almost clumsy player running around senseless, constantly out of position, inaccurate (for him) in his long passes, and unable to even shake off a second-rate defender. Three weeks later, he was fresh, he'd improved his touch, he had stamina and had recovered a yard of pace (i.e. 50% of his pace). That's not just him "wanting it". That's physios knowing what training schedule to put him through to bring him back to his best. Did LA's physios have the know-how and the ability to act upon that know-how? I don't think so. Hence why Beckham started out OK, and over the course of his stay in LA saw his form go downhill.

How about his team-mates? LA's not a bad club, but I'd venture that Kaka, Gattuso, Ronaldinho, Pato and the rest of the Milan squad are better all-round players than the Galaxy, in particular in their passing and anticipation of the game. This means that Beckham can do what he does best -stay by the wing and wait to cross the ball in from deep-, without having to go out of position to help the central midfield, the defence or the strikers and even more importantly, has space when he gets the ball. Less running around to help players in other positions meant he had more energy to do what he does well, and the good passing, movement and anticipation of Milan's whole squad increased the efficiency of how he played. Instead of getting balls by the half-way line, where he was too far to cross and since he's not a great dribbler couldn't do much but pass back to whoever passed him the ball, he was getting balls 30-odd yards from the by-line, where he could whip in the early crosses that made him famous.

Milan put him in a situation where he could play to his best: proper training schedule adapted to his needs, team-mates and tactics allowing him to concentrate on the best aspects of his game, and allowing him to concentrate on his football.


If LA thought they were buying a playmaker when they signed Beckham, it's a gross misunderstanding of how Beckham plays. He's got a limited set of skills, but with hard training and dedication became one of the best in those few skills. He's not a tackler, nor a dribbler, nor really able to anticipate play, he's slow and he's only got one foot. But give him the ball down the wing and a bit of space and he's able to deliver crosses with almost mechanical precision, allowing attackers chance after chance to score. Similarly, blocking him out of a game is easy : just put a player on him for the 90 minutes. He'll not turn his man, nor out-run him to get to a long ball, and he'll drop deeper to get the ball (and pull the defender out of position to allow the wing-back to overlap and cross, but LA didn't seem to grasp that)... What did LA think they were getting? Zidane? Kaka? A central midfield playmaker? Keane? Vieira? A central midfield enforcer? Pirlo? A deep-lying playmaker? Ronaldinho? Giggs? A dribbling winger? Henry? Ronaldo (the real one)? A versatile attacker? Beckham is like Van Nistelrooy, Makelele or Inzaghi, a player who's all-round skills aren't very good, but when used as part of a team where he is given a precise role, he's excellent. Makelele isn't a midfielder able to pull a Zidane, and that's not his job. Inzaghi doesn't do link-up play that doesn't involve a freak rebound off his knee or neck. Van Nistelrooy doesn't understand that he can touch the ball outside the penalty area. Does this mean they're useless? Well, yes if your team can't put them in a situation where they're -just- doing what they're best at. If you never get the ball into the penalty area, Van Nistelrooy is useless. If you're not piling on pressure, then Inzaghi is useless. If you're unable to create anything going forwards, then Makelele is useless. Beckham's the same, just a very good crosser of the ball and not much else. He'll never win games alone, nor turn a mid-table team into league-winners. As soon as he's not able to only do what he's good at, he becomes a jack of all trades, and not even a good one at that. LA couldn't let him concentrate on his crossing, Milan could. Hence why he seems to be a better player for Milan. Nothing to do with how much he "wanted", but much more to do with how much he "could"...

there are waaaay too many people here that are basing their arguments on how amazing of a player beckham is or what and how landon said what he did. shouldn't they be addressing what beckham said bc that is what this article is about?

Can't we just say that they both acted like assholes?

Beckham was never there because or for Ancelotti. If he goes back Berlusconi and Galliani will make sure he sees pitch time.

It will be the funniest thing in the world if the post-Ancelotti Milan has no place for him and he ends up in, say, Sunderland. This would be karma biting back.

Becks - a one-time-(almost)great who has simmered down to
an idol for clueless teenies in Asia.

Good looks, still, yet mediocre kicks, for too long.

Ought to have called it quits before Germany 2006.

How many aging international stars has the MLS brought in the past and have just walked around the field waiting for their paycheck?

Landon has lead teams to the MLS championship, and he was expecting that the addition of Beckham would lead them back to the promised land and possibly to push MLS up a notch in the sports hierarchy in this country.

I am a Beckham fan, but if I was a person who bought season tickets to watch Beckham last year, I would have wanted a refund because his desire was not there. When he went to Milan it was. It was like a switch went off in his head. The switch should have always been set at on. That is what Landon was complaining about.

Was Landon wrong for bringing it to the media, no because it was in the context of the "Beckham experiment" in which Wahl talked with many people on the teams, management and articles from other magazines and newspapers. He was giving an honest opinion on a teammate who just happens to be one of the stars of the game.

Should Landon have brought directly to David in private, without a doubt, but if you have a press agent get in between you, you have to go to a different route.

Donovan is acting like a kid with an Americana attitude. He needs to grow up and act accordingly - this is soccer bull.

And yeah, Becks is really hoping to get the fuck out so he can have the chance to go play in South Africa in 2010. He is a smart guy, Landon not really. Staying in MLS will never get Becks were he needs to be right now and everyone knows it.

No drama. Just reality.

No, Landon is mad because the Beckham who played for Milan is not the same one who played for the Galaxy.

After watching him play in LA, I thought Becks was totally washed up. He seemed half the player he was just a couple years ago. It was sad.

Then I saw him play for Milan. He was a different player all together - and I admit, it made me angry too. What I thought was a guy at the end of his career doing his best but sadly running out of steam was actually a guy phoning it in. If Beckham cant be bothered to give his all for LA then he should bugger off.

Personally, I am not angry that he wants to play for AC Milan over the Galaxy. I am angry because he clearly didn't put the same amount of effort while playing for LA that he did in Milan. In my mind, that makes Beckham unprofessional. Simple as that.

A professional, in any environment, always strives to do whatever they are doing to the best of their abilities.

Yeah Beckham is a little bitch.

I guess I am biased as I am huge Becks fan but little Landon needs to just shut his mouth. Landon is mad because Beckham clearly regrets signing for MLS and wanted out. Little Landon felt slighted. Is Becks the first player that has requested a transfer? It happens daily in Europe yet teammates manage to play for each other every day. Beckham has always played hard for his teammates. This isnt Jordan in the NBA freezing out teammates. Its on the field that matters.

If management in LA thought this coming and going was a bad idea then they shouldnt have taken Milan and Becks cash to let him play in Italy and leave early. They knew he could opt out next summer so they made a deal and got some of their money back. He was out in 2010.

What MLS fails to understand is that you need more then one Beckham to make a league so dont expect him to carry it alone. Even Pele needed Best and Chinaglia to come which followed with Beckenbauer etc yet MLS cannot afford to do that. Therefore players like Landon get angry and jealous of players like Beckham who can hold MLS by the balls because they have options. I think if AC Milan called Landon and he needed to play in Europe to have a chance at his national team, he would go to. His criticism carries no weight.

And for those of you who dont think a man with Becks unique although not all around skills are not valuable to a big european team or on a world level, then you need to learn some soccer. He was huge for Man U and huge for AC Milan and his free kicks and crosses have helped England more then most of those prima donnas in london who run all day and get nothing done. Why do you think Capello still wants him even on the other side of 30.

Landon Donovan is american for pussy when it comes to soccer. Our world image I hope is never based on his achievements or his criticism of a legend like Becks so the less we hear from him the better. We need to develo players who see the game on a world level and Donovan opening his mouth reminds us that we have a long way to go.

If any of Beckham's reprsentatives go through this website looking for people that badmouth him, read this.

Get. The. Fuck. Out.

All you people taking Beckham's side here need to realize that he's responding to a teammate who called him unprofessional through the media... by calling his teammate unprofessional through the media.

Only one of these two have publicly stated they didn't go about this in the right manner. I'll let you figure out who.

While I admire Beckham for wanting to be an integral part of making soccer a big sport in the United States, he was always going to be too big for the league - which is one of the poorer leagues in the world despite having come so far in the past few years. If Beckham wanted national team honors, he should have never even considered a move to a sub-par league. He needs to leave so MLS can get on and get better on its own.

There are two problems here as I see it.

1) Donovan shouldn't have run his mouth about a CURRENT teammate knowing full well it would end up in a book/article regardless of whether he attempted to rectify the issue personally with Beckham or not.

2) Beckham should not be in the MLS. He is not committed and although he handled the public relations aspect of this feud better, it doesn't change that he doesn't give a shit about MLS or the Galaxy.

So both players are right with their opinions. Donovan in his criticism about Becks, and Becks in his handling of the criticism and denouncement of the way Donovan brought it about.

Donovan should have waited until Beckham departs before taking shots at him. He should have lobbied internally within the organization. And Beckham...well...should get the hell out.

Poor old Becks, I bet he's regretting signing for LA Galaxy now. It's obvious he'd rather be playing in Europe.

Guilermo Barros Schelotto > David Beckham

Both midfielders. Both men expected to throw more assists than goals. Same amount of time in MLS. Yet Guille has the better results, never taking a day off on the pitch, always worked hard for his respect in a league that has little knowledge of his legendary status in Argentina.

That is class.

I expected more from Becks. The proof is on the pitch.

Whatever. Beckham is being paid beaucoup bucks specifically because he was supposed to be head and shoulders above regular MLS players, etc, etc. He was being paid millions not to care about who he played with. I think he's acted like a jerk -- he's openly and overtly demonstrated he has no commitment to his team, whatever the quality, and I will be glad to be rid of him. It is low class to make it clear to others that they're not good enough for you.

Terrible attempt to spin. Donovan was out of line and unprofessional, furthermore he's a coward. If he had these issues with Beckham, he should have told him face to face before going to the media.

And by the way, where are the 'style of play' arguments that US Soccer fans love to use when the US doesn't do well against better teams? It's clear that Beckham is much better suited in a more technical league like, uh, I don't know, Serie A. Donovan proved he can't play anywhere but here in a second rate league.

Just watched the video. Wow. He really comes across as a petulant little bitch, doesn't he?

@ Johnny: I don't know if Zizou has commented on the game yet but he gave an interview to La Opinion newspaper in LA that afternoon (at that Adidas thing in El Segundo) and he spoke about MLS and how he came close to signing on and, get this, he said if he had signed with MLS he would have signed with the Chivas USA.

ok no one is arguing that beckham isn't one of (if not THE) best players in the league and definitely the most established so he isn't lying when he says it. the problem that a lot of ppl seem to be missing though is that, like daryl said, he's using it as an excuse to sort of win the conflict, but the problem is that the conflict isn't about his skills, it is about his leadership.

and to take it one step further, his whole "captain of England" argument just ends up sounding like "if some of the top european players don't have a problem with me, then why do these obviously lower people's opinions matter?" obviously they don't have a problem bc david actually seems committed to England, but not the Galaxy, which has become obvious over the last year.

Rather transparent way to sell books.

Sorry, off topic. But has Zidane made any public comments after watching Saturday's HDC match with Becks? Just curious.

Beckham is right. Landon did wrong by going to the media and bashing a teammate. If I remember correctly William Gallas was stripped of his captaincy for an IMPLIED bashing of unnamed teammates. IMO Donovan is in the wrong here. Bekham has been honest 100% of the way. They weren't winning with his any ways so he figured e may as well get to play for England again. And Galaxy fans wo think they signed Becks for any reason other then making money should wake up... Beckham is dedicated to the sport. Nothing else. Very respectable IMO

Well Landon had no business going to the press before speaking to Becks. And anyways I hope he leaves the MLS. Its nowhere near his class.

David, if you read the excerpt, Donovan did try to talk to him personally. It did not go well. Apparently Becks is not used to criticism.

Recovering Galaxy fan says: Daryl speaks the truth.

(Or maybe it's the "troof.")

Good for beckham.

His teammate (and supposed "real" captain of his club) decided to bash him in a book/the media rather than talk to him personally. Donovan's behaviour here is ridiculously unprofessional regardless of whether or not Beckham is a good captain/player/person.

Beckham is tying to rise above this because he knows that Donovan is just an egotistical crybaby. Needless to say, although I'm an MLS fan, the whole thing makes this league look unprofessional and pathetic. Very disappointed in Donovan's handling of this.

Or it turns out that two good players who work for a dysfunctional organization have frustration levels and tempers.

Two bad we couldn't get the suits into a mud-wrestling ring -- with a few alligators.

lol Beckham sucks, all you have to do is show to his left foot and he is neutralized, he can't dribble or run. I used to find his character admirable, not the player but the man but after the whole Milan thing, I've unsubscribed to his brand.

I've never been one to wrap myself in a flag but all I could think was: USA! USA! USA! love it or leave it. If he's too good for us then he should leave. Now. Never come back. Cut ties with all his US endorsements - including Geico for whom he obviously does voiceover work as the voice of that gecko.

I'm glad to see him going. His considerable talent was completely wasted in a league the quality of the MLS. He's right, he is head and shoulders above the rest of these guys.

He thinks he's too good for us. Get out of here Beckham, you weren't even the best player in the league last year. I'm not going to take goal scoring into question because well, we all know you're not a scorer, but you weren't even the top assists man. Give me a break dude. Shut the heck up and just go away.

He IS a better football player, it's not like we've discovered anything new. Is it bragging if it's the truth?