Beckham – Page 2 – BRITISH SOCCER {DIVA}

A Conversation With…Martin Rogers

London is unquestionably a fantastic city to host any major world sporting event. The capital of England first hosted the Olympic Games in 1908 and then again in 1948.

The 2012 London Olympics are just around the corner and joining me on A Conversation With is Martin Rogers from Yahoo! Sports. We talk Olympic football, Team GB, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Spain, Mexico, Neymar and the USWNT. We even chat Michael Phelps, LeBron James and Usain Bolt. Martin gives his insights into the security and ticketing issues being reported and how excited he is to cover the Games in his hometown of London!

The world prepares to be inspired by the Games once again so be sure to check out Martin’s articles on Yahoo! for some great stories and all the latest news.

Money, money, money…

Forbes magazine announced the top 10 richest clubs on the planet yesterday and Manchester United still rule the school when it comes to money.

Biggest surprise is Barcelona dropping from 4th to 5th place, even after their treble winning season. You would expect them to be in the top 3.

1. Manchester United {$1.86 billion} 2. Real Madrid {$1.45 billion} 3. Arsenal {$1.19 billion) 4. Bayern Munich {$1.1 billion} 5. Barcelona {$975 million} 6. AC Milan {$838 million} 7. Chelsea {$658 million} 8. Juventus {$628 million} 9. Liverpool {$552 million} 10. Inter Milan {$441 million}.

The richest players list was also revealed by Forbes yesterday. The one surprise here is that Ronaldinho is still bringing in some large coin. And John Terry must be a bit peeved that Lamps made the top 10 and he didn’t!

1. David Beckham {$40 million} 2. Cristiano Ronaldo {$38 million} 3. Lionel Messi {$32 million} 4. Ricardo Kaka {$25 million} 5. Ronaldinho {$24 million} 6. Thierry Henry {$21 million} 7. Wayne Rooney {$20 million} 8. Frank Lampard {$18 million} 8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic {$18 million} 10. Samuel Eto’o {$17 million}.

Cristiano Ronaldo once said “footballer’s are like slaves.” What do you think?

One thing is for sure, the next round is on one of these guys. And if they were getting in the drinks, who would you like to be buying yours?

In the land of Donovan…

donovan Many in the media had suggested that Landon Donovan couldn’t hack playing football in Europe. And you really couldn’t blame the media for doubting the American star’s potential.

After a disappointing 4 years at Bayer Leverkusen and an unsuccessful loan spell at Bayern Munich last season, the hope for Donovan’s talent to transcend to the European game were all but over. But as we all know, anything is possible in the funny old game of football.

In the MLS season that just ended, Donovan led the LA Galaxy to the championship game and even though they were defeated, his MVP performances throughout the year grabbed the attention of Europe’s elite clubs once again. Donovan was being given another chance to prove himself on the big stage of European football and he was determined to make the most of his opportunity, especially heading into a World Cup year.

This time, the American chose the right club and the right country to play his trade. Everton are one of the most famous, traditional and prestigious clubs in England. And they have a great manager who is able to identify talent when he sees it. David Moyes didn’t hesitate in signing Donovan on loan to Everton. He needed him. With Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta and a host of other fantastic players on the injury list, it seemed a perfect fit for both club and player. Sure it was a risk based on Donovan’s past European experiences, but Everton’s injuries meant they had to gamble. Donovan was given the famous #9 shirt by the club and he has certainly worn it proudly.

There’s no doubt Donovan has been inspirational at Everton. He has risen to the occasion, taken his opportunity with both feet and has starred for the Premier League team in many games, including victories over Chelsea and Manchester United. Donovan was just voted Player of the Month and a certain love affair might be brewing between the American and the Toffees faithful. His performances have engaged the British media and many are seeing Donovan as a completely different player. In fact, some Brits are a little more afraid of facing the United States team in their first game at the World Cup because of how Donovan has played!

Donovan now faces a very difficult decision. He finds himself in a similar situation to David Beckham following his successful loan deal at AC Milan last season. When football superstar Beckham extended his loan deal with the Italian club, Donovan was a huge critic as he questioned Beckham’s loyalty and dedication to the LA Galaxy team. After being quoted in the book “The Beckham Experiment”, Donovan made his feelings about his teammate’s contributions or lack thereof crystal clear. With things going so well at Everton, should Donovan follow in Beckham’s footsteps and extend his deal? If I were an Everton fan, I wouldn’t want to lose him. If I were David Moyes I wouldn’t want to lose him. If I were the LA Galaxy, I would want him back. But what does Donovan want? After all the criticism of Beckham, would he even consider staying with Everton until June?

As Donovan continues his preparation for the World Cup, surely staying in Europe is best for him and the United States team. Right now, it’s great to be in the land of Donovan…

He’s a blue devil now…

Join_us_280x390_845842a Here it is. The picture Manchester United fans didn’t want to see. Former United heroes Mark Hughes and Carlos Tevez proudly show-off the blue shirt of Manchester City to celebrate Tevez joining the team. If I were a United fan I’d be gutted. It would feel like someone just stabbed me in the heart. Of all the teams in all the land, did Tevez have to join City! What a dagger!

Carlos Tevez will be a superstar at Manchester City. He will be the main man. He will get everything he wanted at United and more. And Tevez wants to prove Sir Alex Ferguson wrong. Signing for City is a calculated move. It’s also a move about money of course, but why not twist the knife while you’re trying to make your point. Will Sir Alex regret this one?

United have now lost two world class players in Ronaldo and Tevez. They have signed Michael Owen from Newcastle, Antonio Valencia from Wigan and Gabrielle Obertan, a relative unknown from Bordeaux. Now these are not the superstar names United fans were expecting to see swing through the Theater of Dreams doors this summer. But if Sir Alex pulls this off, it will be the shrewdest bit of business he’s done in a while. The man has done it before with his 1990’s so-called team of kids (Giggs, Neville, Beckham) and he can certainly do it again.

So be patient United fans. Let the new season start before you start throwing the same daggers Tevez did.

I’d play at the Theater of Dreams…

oldtrafford_468x596 Why is everyone turning down the chance to sign for Manchester United? Why don’t players want to play at the Theater of Dreams? What is wrong with everyone people?

Benzema admitted today he chose Real Madrid over Manchester United. Ronaldo didn’t want to stay a second longer in the North of England. And Franck Ribery is hellbent on joining Real Madrid over United too. I get it, and I just don’t get it all at the same time. The last time I looked, Manchester United were the team with the stable manager and the countless Premier League titles, F.A. Cup and Champions League wins over the last few years.

If I were a player wanting to win things, United would be a better choice over Real Madrid right now wouldn’t it? But it seems the lure of Real Madrid and their place in football history is too much for players to overlook. Manchester United have just as much history. But wearing the famous white for one of the world’s greatest teams seems to be the soup de jour. Or is it because they are throwing money at players and they all see an opportunity to beef up their pensions while they can? Surely they don’t want to make history and be part of a football revolution do they? I’ll give Ronaldo a pass on this one. He earned his move and gave a lot to United.

But given the choice, would you play for Sir Alex Ferguson or Manuel Pellegrini? Pellegrini doesn’t have the pedigree of Ferguson. Granted neither did Pep Guardiola and he was amazing as Barcelona manager winning the treble in his first season. But how often does that happen? Not very. Real Madrid are obviously building another Galacticos team and they are desperate to emulate what their biggest rivals did last season. It’s hard to win the treble and it’s not a guarantee these superstars are going to gel and be unbelievably good together.

David Beckham and other Real Madrid players of the past have all said that the revolving door of managers at the Bernabeu hurt their own form and this obviously affected the overall success of the team. No player likes to have a couple of managers a month taking charge. Beckham has said many times the stability at Manchester United and knowing who the manager was and what was expected helped him and every other player evolve and progress as professionals. Perhaps it will be different with Pellegrini. Let’s see what happens when the new season starts.

Manchester United have been turned down a lot this summer. Does this mean the power is shifting to La Liga? Is this where most players want to be now? If I were one of the best players in the world today seeking a transfer, I’d sign for Manchester United in a heartbeat. It’s called the Theater of Dreams for a reason you know! Who would you sign for?

I see Michael Owen…

Michael_Owen_280x39_840301a Do you remember how shocking it was when you realized Bruce Willis’ character in the Sixth Sense was actually one of those dead people the kid kept saying he was seeing? Well shoot the shrink people! We’re not even halfway through the summer transfer season and we already have a shock-of-a-transfer story that could rival the shocking twist of the Sixth Sense.

Michael Owen has been signed by Manchester United. Let me just writepeat that…Michael Owen has been signed by Manchester United. Who wasn’t shocked beyond belief when they heard the news? I was shell-shocked. Anyone who says they saw this coming is a complete and utter liar.

For the last 2 seasons Owen has been hovering around St.James’ Park like a ghost. He was deflated. There was no life left in him. He had become like a dull, dark cloud. Very much like Bruce Willis’ character in the Sixth Sense. And now Newcastle were relegated, who was interested in buying this one time phenom?

Hull City, Stoke City and some other mediocre City named sides were apparently interested! But were these the only teams impressed by Michael Owen’s famous past? Not quite. Just as Owen’s reps were preparing another mail out of that now infamous 34 page soccer sales brochure, he received a surprise phone call from Sir Alex Ferguson inviting him out for a spot of lunch. By the time they were done with their pudding, Owen was offered a contract at Manchester United. It was easy for the ex-Liverpool hero to accept. Perhaps there’s even a part of him that wants to prove Liverpool made a mistake letting him go to Real Madrid all those years ago.

Sir Alex Ferguson likes to gamble and the media is painting this as a huge one. But we all know most transfers are huge gambles. This one could end up being a great gamble. This transfer could be the shrewdest bit of business this summer. For one, Owen will be playing with world class players again. No disrespect to Newcastle, but Manchester United is a different breed of football club. There are players that can inspire Owen to be better and at United, he will be a star name among other superstar names.

You could compare Michael Owen’s forthcoming adventure to that of David Beckham’s recent experience. Beckham was playing for the LA Galaxy and then he found himself going to AC Milan on loan and all of a sudden he’s in the form of his life playing in Serie A, the UEFA Cup and also playing a part in England’s World Cup campaign. With the medical facilities at United and the talent that will surround Owen, he could find himself achieving the same. And how satisfying would it be for him to pull that England shirt on again and prove his doubters wrong?

Sometimes people grab their second chance and they savor it like a fine wine. Others throw it away like an empty beer can. Michael Owen was dead at Newcastle. You could see it. You could feel it. He will not let this chance pass him by. He is a very ambitious man who wants to show the world he still has it. Do you guys think he will find his world class form again? Can he stay injury free? Has Sir Alex Ferguson taken too much of a gamble and will he be saying “I see Michael Owen” for the rest of his life…?

The unveiling of a masterpiece…

kaka_682x400_836081a Real Madrid finally unveiled one of their summer signings this week. Dressed in the famous Real Madrid white, Kaka looked like he was about to walk down the aisle with some 50,000 eager fans! Let’s hope his marriage with the Spanish giants is a happy one.

At AC Milan Kaka was the leading man. At Real Madrid, he will be one of several big names. Zidane, Beckham, Carlos and Ronaldo the Original were able to play in a team of superstars at Real Madrid. Will Raul, Ronaldo #2, Van Nistleroy, Ramos and Kaka live happily ever after in the fairy tale being crafted and written by El Presidente Florentino Perez? This man is determined to build a new era of Galacticos. Except this time he wants them to win like Barcelona!

Are you digging Kaka in the white of Real Madrid? Do you still see the stripes of AC Milan when you look him in the eyes? Stay tuned for more unveilings from Madrid. The biggest ego has almost landed…

Nudge nudge, wink wink…I’m off…

Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s best football player is finally off to Real Madrid for a staggering world record fee of 80 million pounds. This deal dwarfs what Madrid just paid for Kaka and proves the club are willing to invest whatever it takes to recapture their glory years and challenge Barcelona for honors again.

As a fan of the Premier League I’m gutted. I never thought I would feel so gutted about a player leaving Manchester United as I don’t even support the buggers! I just like to watch the best players play in the best league in the world. Now the two best players in the world (Ronaldo and Messi) are playing in La Liga.

Does this mean the power is shifting away from the Premier League? Is this a sign and should the Premier League be worried? Forget about the diving and the moaning for just a second and think of Manchester United’s Saturday afternoon clashes with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, but there’s no Ronaldo. It feels as bad as the day Henry left Arsenal for Barcelona. And let’s face it, Arsenal have still not recovered or won anything since he left. United have seen great players come and go over the years, but this one might be tough to replace.

Everyone is crying about how much Real Madrid have paid for Ronaldo and there’s no doubt those tears are somewhat justified. However, players like Ronaldo, Kaka, Messi and even Beckham are more than just players. They are a brand in themselves. A corporation. A business. And if a business performs well year after year, the value goes up and sometimes another company will come in and make an offer to buy that business for way more than what it was worth to begin with. Was MySpace really worth over $500? Was Facebook worth almost a billion dollars? Probably not, but huge corporations came in and paid the money because in the long-term, the payback from the initial investment is worth so much greater. When you negotiate your contract with a potential employer, you try to get the best deal for you right? Expense account, bonuses, travel, company car and other incentives. It’s all relative as far as I’m concerned.

Ronaldo will payback Madrid in potentially his first season. He will sell shirts, season tickets and merchandise beyond Real Madrid’s dreams. When Beckham went to Real Madrid, their shirt sales went through the roof. Wherever Beckham has gone shirt sales have gone through the roof. And the profile and publicity these top tier players garner for their team is priceless. Yes the wages are crazy. Yes they get paid ridiculous amounts of money and yes it’s tough to justify in today’s economy. But they too have worked hard for their worth. To buy the best you have to be willing to pay top dollar. And if Ronaldo is the world’s best, then surely he is worth the money Real Madrid are investing right?

Everyone is acting as though teams pay over 80 million pounds for a player everyday. But they don’t. Ronaldo is a special player. These special players don’t come around that often and when they do, teams are willing to pay whatever it takes for their services. I say good luck to the boy. Why not? He’s earned it. He’s worked hard. He gives everything on the pitch. Yes he bitches and moans and cries. But his talent makes you forget about that stuff. And like him or not, you cannot deny his talent. He came from a very humble upbringing in Portugal and his family had nothing. His God given talent has blessed him with riches beyond his dreams. The winker wins again and who wouldn’t want to be in his position…

I belong to Real Madrid…

2123220852_4bbb266060 Brazilian superstar Kaka has finally sealed his move to Real Madrid for a world record 62 million pounds. It well eclipses the 40 odd million pounds Madrid paid for Zidane all those years ago.

There’s no doubt Kaka is an amazing footballer with bags and bags of talent. Before Messi and Ronaldo started ruling the school, Kaka was the man at Milan. But in a very difficult financial time for so many people around the world, is it a smart move for Real Madrid to be paying this type of money for one player? On the flip side, if clubs and corporations have the money, why shouldn’t they spend it? Just because our pockets are a little empty, doesn’t mean other people have to stop spending their money does it?

From a team perspective, Real Madrid have landed a player they can rebuild their team around. He’s definitely going to need help, especially if Madrid want to knockout Barcelona in every way next season. Their President Florentino Perez is back at the helm and it’s evident he wants to build another team of Galacticos, just like he did a few years back when he bought Zidane, Beckham and the original Ronaldo!

Who would you buy to help Kaka deliver success to Real Madrid? Do you think Real Madrid can challenge Barcelona next season, even if they don’t buy another huge star?

Legend Peter Schmeichel…

sch Peter Schmeichel was a goalkeeping gladiator. He was formidable. He was a giant. He was almost impossible to score against. Opponents feared him. United fans loved him. They knew if they had the great Dane in goal, they could beat anyone. As quickly as he would make a save, he would distribute the ball to a hungry Manchester United player and make a goal.

Schmeichel was more than just a goalkeeper. He was a player, captain and manager out on the field. He would bark and yell directions at anyone who would listen. He didn’t care if it was Bruce, Pallister, Beckham, Giggs, Keane, or Cantona. He was a born winner and understood what it took to achieve greatness. He was willing to put himself on the line with opponents and team mates. He was fearless.

Some critics have said he made some of his saves look a little more theatrical than they actually were. Isn’t that a little harsh considering Schmeichel won countless Premier League titles and the Champions League in a treble winning season with Man Utd? Oh and he also won the European Championship with Denmark in 1992. I don’t think Utd or Danish fans cared about his theatrical style. If anything, it added to his performances. He made the goalkeeping position exciting again. He was everything Bruce Grobbelaar wanted to be.

He was a huge part of Manchester United’s success in the 1990’s. He is without question a Premier League Legend. Does he deserve to be regarded as the best? Is there anyone better than him?