Category: Sports Bar
So, as the title of this topic would suggest, I'm keen to get other peoples views on the recall of David Beckham to the England squad for the upcoming friendly against Brazil on June first, and the Euro-2008 qualification match against Estonia on June 6. Is this a bold decision made by a coach not afraid to hold his hands up and admit that axing Beckham from the international set up when he did was overly hasty? or is it a desperate last throw of the dice by a coach who realizes that qualification for next summers European championships is fast slipping away?
To my mind at least it is unquestionably the latter. I've always felt, even before he was named in fact, that Steve McClaren was at best a poor choice for England coach in the post Sven era, however the one thing that he has done right was to drop David Beckham from the international setup. Unfortunately though it would seem that now he is even going back on the one decent thing he has done as England coach.
I have several problems with McClaren's U-tern where Beckham is concerned. Firstly he has to play on the right side of midfield for England and for whatever reason, he simply doesn't have the discipline to play there any longer. Whether he feels he's too good to follow coaches orders, or that he's simply lost the knack to be a right sided midfielder I don't know, however what I do know is this, I'm struggling to remember the last time that David Beckham played well for 90 minutes in an England shirt in that position. I've lost count of the times in matches that England have been in a position where they've needed an outlet on the right hand side, only to find that Beckham has wandered into the middle of the park offering no width for attacks what so ever. It happens with embarrassing regularity and at international level, it absolutely isn't good enough. So while I don't question Beckham's ability to play great passes; I don't question whether or not he has the eye to spot great passes; I do question his commitment to the England cause and I do question his ability to follow simple instructions for the greater good of the team, instead of just doing what Beckham thinks that Beckham should do.
Secondly I don't understand the logic of recalling a player who in a little over two months from now will be flying off to Las Angeles to ply his trade there. At thirty two years of age Steve McClaren surely can't believe that David Beckham is going to be fit enough to fly backward and forward from the States to England every time McClaren gets himself into a fix and needs to try something desperate in a bid to save his own failing international career. At best this recall is nothing more than a short term fix to a long term problem and that, like mister Beckham's performances in an England shirt, simply won't cut it at the highest level.
Thirdly, and perhaps most important of all, England's problems in the midfield aren't going to be solved, long or short term by recalling Beck's. What McClaren actually needs to do is sit down and work out how to fit Steven Gerard and Frank Lampard into the same midfield, and I for one completely fail to see how bringing David Beckham back will help him do that. If anything it will only muddy the waters further if he decides to play Beckham in central midfield though surely only an inept fool would do that? Which, now that I give it some thought, probably means there's a high chance of that happening.
The Brazil game is really a non issue. Win or lose it matters not. It's a friendly and while I'd like to see England do well, I'll not be heart broken if we get beaten. The Estonia game of course is a different matter because England are in a perilously close position of blowing there chances of appearing at next summers European championships. That though isn't due to England having or not having David Beckham in the team. That, is due to the poor stewardship of Steve McClaren and I honestly think that in recalling Beckahm to the squad, he's as good as admitting that himself.
The reality is this, Estonia is a minnow nation in footballing terms and England should win the game, either with or without Beckham. In short, I don't see that he brings anything to the squad at this point of his career that other English players don't. I firmly believe that his re-inclusion is a big step backwards for the English national side.
So that's my rant. Anybody else got any other thoughts?
Dan.
Dan I heard he was moving to Los Angeles!
Dan,
I will say that I was some what surprised when Mcclaren decided to drop Bex from the England squad as I firmly believe he still has a lot to offer. I agree that his footballing performances have not been of such a high standard in his most recent England appearances, but who's have been? I think if your arguing that he is under performing, you could level that accusation at the entire England squad.
I feel however that he does offer some real experience to the team, and at a difficult time like this, a cool head with plenty of experience could be just what they need. Not only this, but the sheer fact that David Beckham is pulling on an England shirt once again to rescue his country could just be the kick up the ass the rest of the team need. It shows that they need to improve drastically if their gonna keep their places in the team, and almost embarris them into performing.
I do see your point however about where to play him. Gerrard and Lampard definitely can play together in the midfield, but I believe only in a 5 man midfield with perhaps Michael Karick (I know I spelt that wrong, lol), and two wide plers. This means however you could only play one striker and Rooney tends to drop deep so do you leave him out?
I think it's worth a try on Mcclarens behalf. If it fails to improve the side, he only has to drop Bex again and say, "I tried." I share the same opinion that he wasn't the right man for the job, but there wasn't anyone available at the time who I would have said had the right atributes for the England job. My personal opinion is if England fail to qualify for Euro 2008 he'll resign as manager anyway.
I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens.