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Reaction: Beckham AC Milan/Galaxy Deal
According to many reports, Major League Soccer appears to have reached an agreement with David Beckham to split time between the Italian club and the U.S. one. Now three MLS journalists take a look both back and forward on the entire experience.
Mar 3, 2009 1:42:02 AM
More of Goal.com's Major League Soccer writers chime in on the David Beckham saga and how it has affected the American league.
Now that it appears that AC Milan and Los Angeles Galaxy are headed to an unprecedented sharing agreement with English midfielder David Beckham, how has this affected the overall perception of his stint in Major League Soccer? Goal.com writers who cover the league on a regular basis check in with their thoughts.
Was the Beckham experiment worth it?
Randy Davis, Real Salt Lake correspondent
The Beckham experiment was worth it as it has clearly raised the profile of the league worldwide. More players seem to at least consider MLS an option now, where they may have scoffed about the league in the past.
Allen Ramsey, Goal.com associate editor, New England Revolution correspondent
The Beckham experiment was absolutely worth it. Jersey sales, media exposure (both in the U.S. and abroad), and massive crowds just to see Becks play was a great idea. Now, it’s run its course. I’m very happy that MLS signed Beckham. It proved that the league had the ability to draw at least one big name, and that the league would not collapse or go bankrupt from one massive salary. I am still very hopeful that in the long run the Beckham move will open up more options for teams to buy great players on down the road.
Andrea Canales, Goal.com USA Chief Editor, Los Angeles Galaxy correspondent
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I suppose, but despite the huge amounts of attention the league gained with his signing, I'm not sure MLS was cast in a good light. I think it will be hard to erase the negative impressions many had of the league when they watched for no other reason than Beckham. I wonder if it would have been better for the league to continue the small, slow, but steady approach to improvement. They went for the big splash and ended up all wet.
Should MLS have let him go now?
Davis
Unfortunately, I think that MLS has to let Beckham go, simply because if the league tries to keep him within their grasp too tightly it may show a sign of desperation and the league needs to show that they are greater than one single player. This is really a perception issue, but its a real one.
Ramsey
It’s time to let Beckham go. One thing I don’t want is for MLS to become a league that puts uninterested players on the pitch and that is what Beckham will become. The whole “time-share” agreement is nonsense. Golden Balls doesn’t want to go back to L.A. That much is pretty clear. I know that the Galaxy want him back and I completely understand their point, but what good will it do to bring Beckham to MLS for a couple of months?
MLS is, if nothing else, a tough league. Artificial surfaces, tons of travel, and hard tackles are all part of this league. What makes the L.A. brass think that Beckham will give his all when a move back to Milan is just around the corner? In all likelihood he’ll be much more worried about staying healthy than playing hard. Not that I blame him. You can hardly fault a guy for trying to make a World Cup roster. But is it what’s best for MLS to have him on the field giving a half-hearted effort? I don’t think so.
Canales
I don't see how sharing Beckham benefits the Galaxy. It didn't work when he showed up tired from playing with Real Madrid in his debut year. MLS teams are too dependant on their key players to lose them for half the season. I think that's why he prefers AC Milan, frankly - with more stars on the squad, Beckham isn't as burdened to carry a team.
The Galaxy as a whole need to move on from being Beckham's team. The organization needs to restore the club's identity with players who want to be there. This sharing deal seems like a token compensation from Beckham - alimony or something.
How will we remember his time in MLS?
Davis
I think we'll remember Beckham's stint ultimately as one in a string of many that help the league to inch up the ladder of respectability on the world stage.
Ramsey
I think we’ll remember Beckham’s stay in MLS as something good ten years from now. After Henry, or Raul, or some other big name player comes to the States and puts in a few good years, we’ll all look back and realize that it was Beckham crossing the ocean that gave the league enough credibility to draw stars in the twilight of their careers. To anyone who thinks that MLS should not try and bring in big name veterans, they should realize that signing over-the-hill stars is what lower level leagues do all around the world. It’s the way they get great players in their league so as to raise the league’s profile. It’s not all about money either. Veteran players like Beckham have a wealth of experience that they can share with the younger generation. Plus, in MLS they can still be effective on the pitch.
Canales
Well, no one forgets a circus, even after it leaves town. And Beckham's time with the league isn't quite over yet. Who knows? He left Real Madrid on a triumphant note, but honestly, I'm not terribly optimistic it'll happen again.
Goal.com
Now that it appears that AC Milan and Los Angeles Galaxy are headed to an unprecedented sharing agreement with English midfielder David Beckham, how has this affected the overall perception of his stint in Major League Soccer? Goal.com writers who cover the league on a regular basis check in with their thoughts.
Was the Beckham experiment worth it?
Randy Davis, Real Salt Lake correspondent
The Beckham experiment was worth it as it has clearly raised the profile of the league worldwide. More players seem to at least consider MLS an option now, where they may have scoffed about the league in the past.
Allen Ramsey, Goal.com associate editor, New England Revolution correspondent
The Beckham experiment was absolutely worth it. Jersey sales, media exposure (both in the U.S. and abroad), and massive crowds just to see Becks play was a great idea. Now, it’s run its course. I’m very happy that MLS signed Beckham. It proved that the league had the ability to draw at least one big name, and that the league would not collapse or go bankrupt from one massive salary. I am still very hopeful that in the long run the Beckham move will open up more options for teams to buy great players on down the road.
Andrea Canales, Goal.com USA Chief Editor, Los Angeles Galaxy correspondent
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I suppose, but despite the huge amounts of attention the league gained with his signing, I'm not sure MLS was cast in a good light. I think it will be hard to erase the negative impressions many had of the league when they watched for no other reason than Beckham. I wonder if it would have been better for the league to continue the small, slow, but steady approach to improvement. They went for the big splash and ended up all wet.
Should MLS have let him go now?
Davis
Unfortunately, I think that MLS has to let Beckham go, simply because if the league tries to keep him within their grasp too tightly it may show a sign of desperation and the league needs to show that they are greater than one single player. This is really a perception issue, but its a real one.
Ramsey
It’s time to let Beckham go. One thing I don’t want is for MLS to become a league that puts uninterested players on the pitch and that is what Beckham will become. The whole “time-share” agreement is nonsense. Golden Balls doesn’t want to go back to L.A. That much is pretty clear. I know that the Galaxy want him back and I completely understand their point, but what good will it do to bring Beckham to MLS for a couple of months?
MLS is, if nothing else, a tough league. Artificial surfaces, tons of travel, and hard tackles are all part of this league. What makes the L.A. brass think that Beckham will give his all when a move back to Milan is just around the corner? In all likelihood he’ll be much more worried about staying healthy than playing hard. Not that I blame him. You can hardly fault a guy for trying to make a World Cup roster. But is it what’s best for MLS to have him on the field giving a half-hearted effort? I don’t think so.
Canales
I don't see how sharing Beckham benefits the Galaxy. It didn't work when he showed up tired from playing with Real Madrid in his debut year. MLS teams are too dependant on their key players to lose them for half the season. I think that's why he prefers AC Milan, frankly - with more stars on the squad, Beckham isn't as burdened to carry a team.
The Galaxy as a whole need to move on from being Beckham's team. The organization needs to restore the club's identity with players who want to be there. This sharing deal seems like a token compensation from Beckham - alimony or something.
How will we remember his time in MLS?
Davis
I think we'll remember Beckham's stint ultimately as one in a string of many that help the league to inch up the ladder of respectability on the world stage.
Ramsey
I think we’ll remember Beckham’s stay in MLS as something good ten years from now. After Henry, or Raul, or some other big name player comes to the States and puts in a few good years, we’ll all look back and realize that it was Beckham crossing the ocean that gave the league enough credibility to draw stars in the twilight of their careers. To anyone who thinks that MLS should not try and bring in big name veterans, they should realize that signing over-the-hill stars is what lower level leagues do all around the world. It’s the way they get great players in their league so as to raise the league’s profile. It’s not all about money either. Veteran players like Beckham have a wealth of experience that they can share with the younger generation. Plus, in MLS they can still be effective on the pitch.
Canales
Well, no one forgets a circus, even after it leaves town. And Beckham's time with the league isn't quite over yet. Who knows? He left Real Madrid on a triumphant note, but honestly, I'm not terribly optimistic it'll happen again.
Goal.com
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