Comments on: The Beckham Experiment: The Verdict

By: Hold the BackPage – Cracking America « Back Page Football

Hold the BackPage – Cracking America « Back Page Football — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 02:01:39 +0000

[...] In the second part of the show attentions turn to the recent MLS Cup Final in Los Angeles where Michael was reporting for BackPageFootball in an official capacity. There’s discussion on Robbie Keane’s impact on MLS so far while Michael explains how the Galaxy have done following their Beckham experiment. [...]

By: The Stiles Council: the England national football team » England Links: Catenaccio, Beckham, Oxlade-Chamberlain and the 2000th England goal

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:04:08 +0000

[...] divide opinions – We Follow Futbol writer Nick Iuele edges towards the positive. Ciaran Kelly also has a say on Back Page [...]

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:44:49 +0000

Another excellent article. As usual, this is a highly astute and considered argument, and a good read. You also seem to be able to produce a piece on a really prevalent and meaty topic, yet one that isn’t covered to death already, and isn’t the ‘same old’. I’m a huge fan of your work.

By: lammy

lammy — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:33:29 +0000

This is an excellent run down of Beckham’s time in America. It was always going to be hard to raise the profile of the game over there, but Beckham has certainly helped. There was a very real danger that the whole campaign could come across as cheap and classless, especially given the way the Beckham was first presented to the media. However, in every interview that David has done on television and on radio, such as on Ellen, Jay Leno, Ryan Seacrest, he has come across as a polite, driven and respectful man.

The key to the success of the league is in bringing high quality players both through the youth ranks and across from Europe. The likes of Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane were clearly influenced by Beckham in their decision to relocate, and it needs others to make that bold step.

MLS clubs should approach clubs from the Premier League and La Liga and form the sort of alliances that they currently do with European clubs. That way there can be a feeder system where loanees can come to America to get first team football, and the cream of the crop can go out either on loan to PL teams or sign permanently.

Beckham won’t have single handedly made the MLS a better place or a success, but he has certainly made people aware that soccer has a place in the USA. It might never become one of the ‘Big Four’, but at least it is relevant.