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Spartak · 04-25-2004, 06:51 PM

Ok, I'll set this out as FOR and AGAINST the sale of Beckham:

FOR:

Beckham was about 28 when he got sold to Real Madrid, normal soccer contracts are about 3 years which means he would have been 31 when his contract expired. Soccer players ussually retire when they reach their mid-thirties. By getting something like 19 million pounds from Real, I think Man U got a good deal on a player who has already peaked and will probably decline as he gets older. Add to that his strained relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson (the boot incident), as well as Sir Alex disapproving of Becks marriage to Victoria, if Beckham had stayed there would have been a very tense situation in the locker room, which could have affected team morale. The transfer money also helped fund some imporant signings like the hugely promising Christiano Ronaldo, world cup winner Kleberson and striker Louis Saha.

AGAINST:

Beckham is a threat on the wing and has the ability to deliver pinpoint crosses. In 02/03 United got the job done playing Ruud Van Nistlerooy up front as a lone striker and having Beckham (as well as others) deliver pinpoint crosses to him. Beckham's player ability has not been adequately replaced during the summer by Sir Alex. Kleberson and Christiano Ronaldo as promising as they seem, right now do not measure up to Beckham. Hence the abandonment of the 4-5-1 and instead implementing the 4-4-2 with any variation of RVN, Saha, Scholes (as more of an attacking midfielder, hanging a bit behind) and Ole Gunnar.

Essentially I like to think no one player is bigger than the team, while Beckham's departure certainly added to United's decline this season, I don't thin it was solele responsible for it.

PS Real Madrid were leading the Primeira up until this morning, when they got beaten 2-1 by Barcelona this morning, which allowed Valencia to take a 1 point lead. As both clubs have 4 games to play, I see it going right down to the wire.

04-25-2004, 06:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Spartak Bang bang Location: New Zealand	Ok, I'll set this out as FOR and AGAINST the sale of Beckham: FOR: Beckham was about 28 when he got sold to Real Madrid, normal soccer contracts are about 3 years which means he would have been 31 when his contract expired. Soccer players ussually retire when they reach their mid-thirties. By getting something like 19 million pounds from Real, I think Man U got a good deal on a player who has already peaked and will probably decline as he gets older. Add to that his strained relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson (the boot incident), as well as Sir Alex disapproving of Becks marriage to Victoria, if Beckham had stayed there would have been a very tense situation in the locker room, which could have affected team morale. The transfer money also helped fund some imporant signings like the hugely promising Christiano Ronaldo, world cup winner Kleberson and striker Louis Saha. AGAINST: Beckham is a threat on the wing and has the ability to deliver pinpoint crosses. In 02/03 United got the job done playing Ruud Van Nistlerooy up front as a lone striker and having Beckham (as well as others) deliver pinpoint crosses to him. Beckham's player ability has not been adequately replaced during the summer by Sir Alex. Kleberson and Christiano Ronaldo as promising as they seem, right now do not measure up to Beckham. Hence the abandonment of the 4-5-1 and instead implementing the 4-4-2 with any variation of RVN, Saha, Scholes (as more of an attacking midfielder, hanging a bit behind) and Ole Gunnar. Essentially I like to think no one player is bigger than the team, while Beckham's departure certainly added to United's decline this season, I don't thin it was solele responsible for it. PS Real Madrid were leading the Primeira up until this morning, when they got beaten 2-1 by Barcelona this morning, which allowed Valencia to take a 1 point lead. As both clubs have 4 games to play, I see it going right down to the wire. __________________ I can read your mind... looking at you... I can read your mind...