L.A Galaxy

[CaleyJags07]

No wonder L.A Galaxy are keen to get Beckham sooner rather than later because they are lying 2nd bottom of the MLS table, Behind Toronto FC :015: :015: :015: no offence Scotty! Anyhoo I would be very suprised that when Beckham goes to Galaxy that they will immediately climb the table to the top.

[Guest TinCanFan]

Well, one player doesn't make a team great and it wouldn't suprise me if Beckham only lasts have a season in the MLS as the standard of play is not as high as in other countries and he wants a tougher challenge.

[CaleyJags07]

Yeah thats what I mean but I worded it wrongly  :017: :017: Beckham will do pants IMO because everyone in America thinks that he will do brilliantly when he arrives which i doubt will happen becasue as TinCanFan said one player doesn't make a team and he is past his best.

[PullMyFinger]

Come on now have they not approached Dec from Ant 'n' Dec Let's all laugh  at Beckham

:clapping03:

I bet Toronto are quaking in their boots now. :001:

[Scarlet Pimple]

My spies tell me that L.A. Galaxy management have already set up several matches  abroad (Japan?), England,  worth incredible amounts of money (try $60 million).

As a business investment he will probably pay off handsomely.  But I can hardly imagine that poor form will be overturned overnighjt even if the team has had a couple of  players on the injured list of late.

:023:

[clacher_holiday2]

beckhams one of the best holding midfielders in the world, if not the best.  when he used to sit infront of the real back 4 and ping the passes around he was clinical and impossible to predict.  the majority of people in the uk (and the england management for some reason) thought he should still be stuck out on the right where he played best as a teenager, he isnt fast or aggressive enough to do anything there and hasnt been for a decade

would imagine at la galaxy he'll probably pick where he wants to play, theyll build the team with him in the middle and very possibly change the way the games played in the states forever.  i think he made a big mistake in leaving madrid and will lose his place in the england team but he'll do well

if arsenal or spurs were a bit more serious in their contract offers then either wouldve been a better move, if he had to move at all

[Guest TinCanFan]

I see that LA Galaxy have changed their badge, colours and shirt all because of Beckham's arrival.  How sad.  Their next move will be changing the team name to LA Beckham.

[Scotty]

LA Galaxy are one of the worst teams in an improving league. Beckham is going there as part of the 'revolution' that will transform the team .... or so they say. Not to mention the fact that his missus wants to break into hollywood and had lined herself up for a 6-part reality TV series which has now been cut down to a one hour 'special'  :rotflmao: As part of his contract he will also have help in setting up David Beckham academies all over the states !!!

Beckham will find himself designated as "S-I", or senior international (a tag for foreign players of which you are only allowed so many) and will find a few other names in his team, albeit lesser known names in Europe. In the Galaxy side are American Internationals Landon Donovan and Cobi Jones, and former Portugal international Abel Xavier.

The S-I tag means foreign players are limited in MLS as each team has a quota but there are a lot of Canadian and American internationals playing in the league as well as South Americans and players from the Carribean.

A look at the 'rosters' brings up a few interesting names and also shows that the list goes from the sublime to the ridiculous !!! Alongside Beckham as an "S-I" (not at Galaxy) there are the likes of Paul Dalglish (ex Livi), Collin Samuel (ex Dundee Utd), Ronald Wattereus (ex Rangers), Avery John (Trinidad 61 caps), Juan Pablo Angel (Colombia 33 caps), Markus Schopp (Austria 50 caps), Danny Dichio (ex Sampdoria, Baggies and Preston), Shaka Hislop (Trinidad 26 caps), Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala 72 caps) as well as Americans Claudio Reyna, Clint Mathis, Eddie Pope and Freddy Adu .....

Having seen most of the teams play either on TV or in person at BMO Field, I would agree that the quality is certainly not Premiership standard but lets not be snooty here, most teams would hold their own against non-OF teams in the SPL !!! However, even the good games on TV seem to be ruined by clueless commentators that make the game sound and look more amateurish than it is when you are watching it in person.

Toronto held their own (0-0) against a decent Benfica side (inc Rui Costa, Paulo Jorge, Manu etc) in what was a competitive match considering it was a friendly, will play Aston Villa in 10 days time and next week's "all-star" game will see the MLS select take on Celtic. The gulf in quality is there, but it is closing quite quickly and those who choose to disrespect the league because its "the americans and they dont play football" are sadly mistaken.

MLS has had two massive boosts this season. David Beckham and Toronto FC.

Beckham has raised the profile considerably and will probably be the best individual player in the league (I will see for myself on August 5th when he makes his MLS debut in Toronto).

Toronto FC has also been a revelation, 20000+ at every game, season tickets sold out for the next 3 years, a crowd that has been described as 'rabid', 'raucous', 'european like' and all round a total success (even on the park where new teams tend not to win any games in their first season). I personally put this down to the multicultural mix in Toronto and to be experiencing it in its first season is tremendous ..... 

The revolution in North American "soccah" as Becks called it has started and even the indifferent Americans are starting to take a little notice of this English guy married to one of the Spice Girls and the Crazy Canucks in the north

[Guest TinCanFan]

Even though the MLS is an improving league I don't think Beckham will last long there and should Zidane follow him there it may soon become the World Retirement League.

[Scotty]

Have a wee look on Wikipedia at the squads of some of these teams .... and of the former "notable players" ... there's some good names in there, and although a lot of europeans seemed to go over there to retire (much like signing for Rangers or Celtic !) not all of them are retiring to the states ..... DaMarcus Beasley is going in the other direction, and so is Freddy Adu (or so they say) ... Claudio Reyna also headed to the UK before going back

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_...Notable_players

[Guest Arab4Ever]

hows sammy gettin along

[Scotty]

hows sammy gettin along

He's played 4 (away) games, scored 1 goal (penalty). He hasnt made his home debut yet as TFC are in a run of 6 away games on the trot due to the U20 World Cup. Home debut will probably be against Aston Villa on 25th, Home MLS debut probably on 29th V Chicago Fire.

http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/players/bio.j...tatType=current

[note FC - fouls conceded, FS - fouls suffered !!]

He was anonymous in last night's 0-0 draw with current champs Houston (and was subbed in 56th minute) but the same applies to all but 2 or 3 of the team. seems that Mo sent them out to play for the draw and it was painful to watch, (and listen to as it was another set of clueless commentators) especially after one of the midfield was sent off and his strike partner was sacrificed to bring on a replacement midfielder.

[Guest TinCanFan]

I saw a DC United game on telly recently and the quality of play was quite poor but how does it compare to the SPL?  I'm sure I heard Lothar Mattheus say that it was as bad as the bottom of the German Division 2.

[Scotty]

I saw a DC United game on telly recently and the quality of play was quite poor but how does it compare to the SPL?  I'm sure I heard Lothar Mattheus say that it was as bad as the bottom of the German Division 2.

Lothar Mattheus played a total of 16 games in the MLS ... 7 years ago ... and I am sure he is not wrong - the quality would have been terrible as the MLS was only formed in 1994 (coincidentally) and was exactly what you described - a dumping ground for past it stars to pick up a pay cheque. Just think of how far Caley Thistle have come in the same timescale ... in our early years we were playing at Cliftonhill, Ochilview and Firs Park and our hospitality suite was a portakabin beside the wooden stand, now its Celtic Park, Ibrox and Hampden and at least some executive and dining suites in the main stand. In our early years we had international superstars like Vetle Andersen but recently we have had the likes of Juanjo, Dargo and now the possibility of Austrian, French or Romanian players of a decent calibre (perhaps) .... in other words, things change !!

I have said it numerous times. The MLS does not rival the English Premier League, nor does it match up to La Liga, the Bundesliga or Serie A. However, outside the Old Firm, I think most MLS teams would give Scottish (SPL) teams a good test and unlike the SPL where ticket prices are driving fans out of the game, the MLS is growing in stature and bringing fans in in droves (as i mentioned - TFC season tickets are sold out for at least the next three years because of the waiting list they have for them and the owners are already failing to deny that they will consider building a second tier of seats round the ground or part of the ground).

The refereeing is (for the most part) terrible, the commentators are worse, and some of the play can be schoolboy stuff but when you see a decent team playing it can be as good as, if not better than some games in the SPL.

[Guest TinCanFan]

I agree that some teams could hold their own in the SPL (ie DC United or Houston Dynamo) but I hope the SPL doesn't become flooded with corporations which could well in the MLS because of Beckham's arrival and what has already happened to the Metrostars.

[Scotty]

I agree that some teams could hold their own in the SPL (ie DC United or Houston Dynamo) but I hope the SPL doesn't become flooded with corporations which could well in the MLS because of Beckham's arrival and what has already happened to the Metrostars.

You mean the New York Red Bull's  :rotflmao: ... Incidentally, Red Bull also bought Austria Salzburg and renamed them FC Red Bull Salzburg !!

[Guest TinCanFan]

Did you know that the now New York Red Bulls don't actually play in New York.

[Guest TinCanFan]

And talking RBNY how would they fair if they were in the SPL?

[Scotty]

they are a decent side so would do OK.

[Guest TinCanFan]

What do you think the score would be if the played ICT?  Who do play in the place that's in their name.

[Scotty]

As I said, they are a decent side and have a few internationals - Mathis, Reyna, Angel etc.

I was at the Toronto V NYRB game and it was a classic game of two halves. Toronto dominated the first half but NY did likewise in the second and ended up winning 2-1. I reckon they would have close games against any of the SPL other than the OF .... would win some, would lose some .... If I had to pick a position, I would say "Kilmarnock" - comfortable top 6 usually but can win/lose on any given day depending on which version of the team turns up.

[Scarlet Pimple]

I hear that the L.A. Galaxy  highly-priced seats are now dubbed ....the "Posh" ones.... and are available on a first come first served basis only if Milady  does not turn up on match day to claim hers for her Hollywood pals.

Choice comments from the riff raff in the cheap seats  are rumoured to be about to ..."spice"... up the atmosphere on match days too. :002:

Never mind the Diver, Scotty, don't forget the Whitecaps, they are heroes too.. mon... :015:

[Exiled ICT]

beckhams one of the best holding midfielders in the world, if not the best.  when he used to sit infront of the real back 4 and ping the passes around he was clinical and impossible to predict.

What are you smoking?!  :015:

I'd agree that Beckham should play in the middle, as he seems to play better in there but there is no way he's the best holding midfielder in the world! He couldn't tackle a fish supper, never mind an attacking midfielder!

Gattuso, Makelele, Xavi, Mascherano, Cambiasso, Pizarro are just some players who would be easily ahead of him and a fair few others as well. Beckham's become too much of a one-trick pony these days, only remembered if he scores a free-kick or provides a good cross for a goal. The reason Madrid signed him and the reason that he's in LA is marketing, pure and simple. He wants to open academies in the states, wants to become more involved in the hollywood scene in order to earn a lot more money from sponsorship deals. He'll play well for Galaxy because he'll stand out a lot more and of course the media will fall over his every move.

[clacher_holiday2]

beckhams one of the best holding midfielders in the world, if not the best.  when he used to sit infront of the real back 4 and ping the passes around he was clinical and impossible to predict.

What are you smoking?!  :015:

I'd agree that Beckham should play in the middle, as he seems to play better in there but there is no way he's the best holding midfielder in the world! He couldn't tackle a fish supper, never mind an attacking midfielder!

Gattuso, Makelele, Xavi, Mascherano, Cambiasso, Pizarro are just some players who would be easily ahead of him and a fair few others as well. Beckham's become too much of a one-trick pony these days, only remembered if he scores a free-kick or provides a good cross for a goal. The reason Madrid signed him and the reason that he's in LA is marketing, pure and simple. He wants to open academies in the states, wants to become more involved in the hollywood scene in order to earn a lot more money from sponsorship deals. He'll play well for Galaxy because he'll stand out a lot more and of course the media will fall over his every move.

beckham couldnt tackle a fish supper.. where you getting that from?    because he poses for photoshoots and shaves his legs?

the guys a great midfielder and is as committed as any of the players you mention, i was as surprised as anybody to see him playing infront of the back four at real but he made gravesson look like nakamura.

when he did make himself space and had more time to pick a pass the only player ive seen this past 5 years that bettered him was zidane.  only critique of beckhams style is that he doesnt come forward often enough, if he worked himself into positions where he could whip shots in hed score about a dozen goals a season

[Guest TinCanFan]

Did Beckham actually play for LA Galaxy last night? and has anyone noticed what number the goalkeeper is?  Like a few other goalkeepers in America he plays as number 0.  What about ICT trying that?