I recently attended a Red Bull New York vs LA Galaxy game at the Red Bull's home at Giant's Stadium. It was the second NY vs LA game I have been to and it is quickly becoming a pretty good rivalry. Last year's game that I attended was Beckham's first game in NY and it was awesome. The final score was NY 5, LA 4. Beckham scored a beautiful free kick and set up 2 of the other 3 goals. My favorite former Red Bull player, Jozy Altidore, also scored 2 goals that game and the enitre atmosphere was just incredible. This year;s game was no less exciting. The final score was 2-2 and it could have been another 9 goal game easily, but both goalkepeer's played a hell of a game. But that's not my point.
During the game there was A LOT of anti-Beckham chants. Understandable; he is the best player on the opposite team and the fans were trying to psych him out. He still played a great game becasue he has been in much more hostile environments, I promise you that. But its when I hear people saying that David Beckham suck or is washed up and things that really irritates me. I'm not a Manchester United, Real Madrid, or England fan so I'm not here to promote my favorite player or anything. But the guy is good! He led Manchester to a never-been-done-before and since-then-ever-done Treble, which is winning your domestic league, domestic cup, and European cup. That year United won the Preimer League, the FA Cup, and the Champions League. That is absurd for one team to win all of those competitions in one year! You could argue that that was in his prime, but the year before he came to the LA Galaxy he played an entire half a season with an ankle injury and helped Real Madrid make a comeback and win the La Liga title. That was only 2 years ago.
Now he plays his soccer for the LA Galaxy. Oh and dont forget he still plays for the England National team. That's no easy feat. Players his age are usally retired from international play because they cant keep up with the younger, hungrier guys. Well Beckham is still doing it and is still showing his quality. He is still one of the most dangerous people on direct free kicks and can pick out a player 50 yards away with a perfect cross. No, not everytime he touches the ball, but no player does.
I think people expected him to come here and dominate and score goals every game, but thats not his position on the field nor is that how soccer works. There is 11 people on each side and they all have to be working together. This isnt basketball, where LeBron James can play on a horrible team and just get the ball everytime and take his team to the playoffs. (no disrespect to LeBron, he is amazing at basketball). But soccer take all players working together to win. Beckham doesnt exactly have the same quality around him that he had at Man U or Madrid so its hard to expect him to play at that level. He still shows us how good he is when the team does work together but it takes more than just him.
Countdown
16 years ago