[dannius]

Steve Mclaren will be announcing his squad for the upcoming friendly against Brazil and the qualifier against Estonia on Satuday, and speculation is rife that he may recall David Beckham http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ls/6690471.stm

Personally I think he should, England have been woeful in recent matches and could definately do with his ability down the right wing. I've watched plenty of Spanish football on Sky this year and Beckham has been in top form and has helped Real Madrid to the top of La liga. I can't think of another right winger who has played as well (I like Lennon obviously as a Spurs fan but he's been very on and off).

Mclaren dropped Beckham in the first place because some newspapers told him to. If he truly wants the public to respect him as England manager then he needs to pick players based on form, and if that is the case I don't see how he can leave him out to be honest.

And I think maybe it is time to leave fat Frank out, not out of the squad but definately out of the starting 11.

[Basil Plumley]

Beckham for England? Yes - if only to instil some passion into a very lame and un-confident squad...

Beckham responsible for RMFC's revival? No - he's only played 2 out of their last 9 games...

[geomuss]

being a scot i have a more objective view on this ha ha ha

in all honesty imho get him back in there sharp!

your team is gutless, directionless, and above all PASSIONLESS!!

now a lot is down to the manager Mr erri .... sorry his clone mclaren.

but the team really need someone on the park that plays for the jersey.

beckham might not be able to sprint past 6 players, but he is still the best dead ball specialist in the world!

and he will run his heart out for 90+ minutes, this inspires people around him

ps if yous dont want him well take him thanks!

[Steven]

On current form, definitely

Certainly doing better atm than a few of them. McClaren should swallow his pride. I will as well - Becks has come up good and proven his doubters wrong again

[overkill]

Not sure really. Beckham was dropped for a reason - he wasn't and hadn't performed for England in a very long time. Yes, he's shown some better form in an Madrid shirt in his final games for them, but is that reason enough? Not sure it is. Besides, I doubt even Beckham can inspire the current England team. Most of them play with one eye on their fat wallets, so 'getting stuck in' is out of the question. On the other hand Mcwitless couldn't inspire a team of Stuart Pearces, never mind the current lot.

It's also a retrogressive step. I would rather Mcuseless was playing younger players with an eye on the future, than sticking with an icon of the past.

[Steven]

Well the first criteria for an international call-up is club form your name and the club you play for As well you know

[zmoosa1]

I think he should be in the squad at the very least. Yeah he may not be the long term plan for the manager but his presence in the squad would give everybody a lift.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Well the first criteria for an international call-up is club form your name and the club you play for As well you know

I do indeed............

[Nebby]

Give Lennon or SWP a chance ahead of Beckham, or put Gerrard back out there.

This is the time to be bedding in a new squad, not going backwards.

[dannius]

Originally Posted by Nebby

Give Lennon or SWP a chance ahead of Beckham, or put Gerrard back out there.

SWP? Your having a laugh surely Nebby? And Gerrard's best position is undoubtedly in the centre of midfield, he shouldn't be played out of position if we want to get the best out of him.

Originally Posted by Nebby

This is the time to be bedding in a new squad, not going backwards.

I'd have thought now was the time to qualify, let alone bedding a new squad in.

[Steven]

Originally Posted by Nebby

Give Lennon or SWP a chance ahead of Beckham, or put Gerrard back out there.

You're kidding me! A man who can't get first team football vs averaging an assist a game for the last 4,5 games now for Real. In fact I watched the highlights tonight, his cross culminated in a goal, directly created another and hit the inside of the post. Another virtuoso display indeed. And Gerrard is wasted on the wing - we do not need to see him play out wide, go inside all the time so we have no presence on the right wing (club + country!) and consequently the LB has an easy night of it. Lennon has the thrills but I don't think he's consistent enough just yet

Originally Posted by Nebby

This is the time to be bedding in a new squad, not going backwards.

Ordinarily I'd agree with you, but I think McClaren realises the short term gain of gaining qualification is far more important than the long term at the moment

Ironic isn't it? He has proven the critics home wrong, his club manager wrong and the man that ended [sic] his international career wrong and has shown his best form since his Man Utd glory days. People don't want him because he's not playing well enough? Nope. Because he's a step backwards apparently! McClaren was a step backwards! If it was any other player over 30 who let their form do the talking, we wouldn't be having this discussion. But it was never simple with David Beckham!

[overkill]

LFC, I do wonder whether we are all getting a little carried away here? What form? As someone rightly said, he's only played a few games in Real's run in, and yet he's being hailed (in classic British fashion) as the 'architect' of the teams revival!?

So, what are we saying? On the evidence of four of five games in months, we should be dumping younger players for a player who was dropped because he hasn't shined for England in years?

I have to ask why the press are being so pushy about this? Guilt over lumbering us with Mcminimind? Looking for a scapegoat, and Becks is ideal as he's jetting off to the US in a few months to be forgotten by all and sundry?

It's certainly not on the evidence of his match fitness, suitability for competitive international football, or his potential long term (which even the most optimistic Beckham fan would admit there isn't a long term) influence on the team.

The danger of keeping older players on when the team should be going through a transition is all too evident in Frances dismal WC final, and awful campaigns in the post EC 2000 period.

[Steven]

Mate, you're putting words in my mouth! You find me where I said that anywhere and I will don an apron and serve you breakfast in bed for a month!

Nah, the architect is still Stevie G in the middle, playing ahead of Fat Frank as the AMC

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by overkill

Not sure really. Beckham was dropped for a reason - he wasn't and hadn't performed for England in a very long time.

If that was the case 5 others probably should of gone with him.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Ironic isn't it? He has proven the critics home wrong, his club manager wrong and the man that ended [sic] his international career wrong and has shown his best form since his Man Utd glory days. People don't want him because he's not playing well enough? Nope. Because he's a step backwards apparently! McClaren was a step backwards! If it was any other player over 30 who let their form do the talking, we wouldn't be having this discussion. But it was never simple with David Beckham!

There ya go. That's what I were referring to.

I like bacon and egg on sunday, toast and marmalade on Wed-Fri, just tea on a Monday and Tuesday. Oh, and none of this tickled toast either, I like it browned lad!

Chop, chop.......

[KevD]

I dont understand this backward step thing, Everytime Paul Scholes (who has discovered his best form this year) plays, they commentators say "oh, if only he would play for England", Yet Beckham (also in his best form for years) is a backward step

Now different positions and we have noone else like Scoles, but at the minute we have no one like Beckham Glad his back, hope he plays in both games

[overkill]

Originally Posted by KevD

I dont understand this backward step thing, Everytime Paul Scholes (who has discovered his best form this year) plays, they commentators say "oh, if only he would play for England", Yet Beckham (also in his best form for years) is a backward step

Now different positions and we have noone else like Scoles, but at the minute we have no one like Beckham Glad his back, hope he plays in both games

I'm sorry, but Scholes has shown his form over a whole season. Beckham has played a few games and proven he's match fit. Period. There is no comparison.

There is also the growing suspicion that this 'recall' has little even to do with Beckham's form, or his possible potential for England, and more to do with the FA wanting a crowd pleasing 'stunt' for the first England game back at Wembley. Oh, and the fact that he's back in the England squad to boost LA's profile..........

[Steven]

You had me until the end LA don't need the English FA's help - they have managed that all by themselves and paid off Beck's wage time ago on ticket sales since the signing

There's cynicism then there is overkill!

[Basil Plumley]

Also reports this morning that LA are in direct conflict with the FA over his recall and may not release him for future matches anyway...

[overkill]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

You had me until the end LA don't need the English FA's help - they have managed that all by themselves and paid off Beck's wage time ago on ticket sales since the signing

There's cynicism then there is overkill!

Not me mate. One of the guys on a footie discussion programme was talking about it this morning, and he was taking it up from one of the quality 'Sundays'. LA themselves have admitted it's a 'boost' to their 'prestige'.

No need for cynicism when it comes straight from the gee gees mouth.

Not that I'm denying I'm cynicism personified mind!

[overkill]

Originally Posted by Armoured Tiger

Also reports this morning that LA are in direct conflict with the FA over his recall and may not release him for future matches anyway...

No (in a patronising tone ), the manager in fact said it was an 'honour for him to be called into the squad, but that they would be unhappy about 'inappropriate friendlies'. They have no problem with competitive matches.

[KevD]

Originally Posted by overkill

I'm sorry, but Scholes has shown his form over a whole season. Beckham has played a few games and proven he's match fit. Period. There is no comparison.

There is also the growing suspicion that this 'recall' has little even to do with Beckham's form, or his possible potential for England, and more to do with the FA wanting a crowd pleasing 'stunt' for the first England game back at Wembley. Oh, and the fact that he's back in the England squad to boost LA's profile..........

Admittedly Beckham has played fewer games, but from what I have seen is form has been great the whole season.
Have to disagree with the "suspicions" about his recall, think its purely the fact he is currently the best Englishman playing in his position.

[KevD]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

There's cynicism then there is overkill!

[overkill]

Originally Posted by KevD

Admittedly Beckham has played fewer games, but from what I have seen is form has been great the whole season.
Have to disagree with the "suspicions" about his recall, think its purely the fact he is currently the best Englishman playing in his position.

Hmmmmmmm. There's fewer games, then there's hardly any games at all, and Beckhams in the latter. Would someone playing in England, as few a times as Beckham has, regardless of form be picked for England? Well, no they wouldn't. There is no proof that he has consistently been playing well.

On the other issue, sorry but thats three different sources now that I've heard voicing suspicions over his recall and why.

Cynicism has nothing to do with it. Naivety however, is obviously on the menu this morning................

[thomo14]

Bringing Beckham back for publicity and taking heat of maclaren or due to his recent form is irrelevant really. What we are trying to accomplish is getting an England side to actually put in a strong performance for a change. Whether or not you are pro Beckham or not, you must surely recognise that at least something happened when he's on the field. Yeh he may not run around that much anymore, but he still could make a difference. His crossing is still up there with the best in the game. If we didnt play Beckham on the right - who would we play? SR Phillips? Lennon? Pennant? Most of these loose the ball too much, play with their head down and are very average crosses of the ball. Mind you when we are lacking decent strikers who can consistently score (that rules out rooney) and consistently perform (rooney again), do we need a good crosser. If we cant score hevily through our strikers with owen still not around yet, we must be excellent at set pieces and the delivery is everything. Hate Eriksson as most of us do for wasting such talent, but playing beckham, he may of simply just playing the best side to tackle the circumstance (missing/underperforming strikers).

Lampard had a poor world cup and is consitently very poor. I would swap him for an average Beckham anyday. Least then you know that a contribution would be made. I think we should play Beckham for the time being until we srt out the striker problem ie owens return. To be honest it couldn't get any worse. Lets make qualification and give us time to sort out this mess.

[Steven]

Originally Posted by overkill

Cynicism has nothing to do with it. Naivety however, is obviously on the menu this morning................

If you insist. Saves me a trip to Asda

Who cares about whatever ulterior motives there may be concocted by the guy who sits at the back, to the left in the pub? England have been pants for about a year now. Estonia should be confident of a result or at least to give a game! Frankly one or two in the England team could do with being dropped and exiled. He has his faults but Beckham can be commended in that respect. Some of this lot are taking the , naming no names

[dannius]

I think Beckham has featured in about 28 games for Madrid this year, ok not the 60 odd that alot of players have played in but it's hardly only a few games. Maybe that extra freshness will be a boost for England?

Fabio Capello has also openly praised Beckham's form and said he can't understand how he couldn't be picked for England. I've watched Madrid's last few games and Beckham has indeed been playing really well, he got 2 assists in yesterdays game for example and another last week.

I bet the likes of Crouch and Owen aren't dissapointed they'll have Beckham's ability on the wing to supply them crosses and passes.

Oh, and the FA didn't need Beckham to raise the profile of the Brazil friendly. It's huge news already being the first full international at Wembley and sold out the 90,000 tickets with ease.

At the end of the day we'll all be able to see if it was a wise decision to pick him after the result against Estonia. The way we've been playing lately it was hardly a guarantee'd win!

[overkill]

Originally Posted by dannius

I think Beckham has featured in about 28 games for Madrid this year, ok not the 60 odd that alot of players have played in but it's hardly only a few games. Maybe that extra freshness will be a boost for England?

Fabio Capello has also openly praised Beckham's form and said he can't understand how he couldn't be picked for England. I've watched Madrid's last few games and Beckham has indeed been playing really well, he got 2 assists in yesterdays game for example and another last week.

I bet the likes of Crouch and Owen aren't dissapointed they'll have Beckham's ability on the wing to supply them crosses and passes.

Oh, and the FA didn't need Beckham to raise the profile of the Brazil friendly. It's huge news already being the first full international at Wembley and sold out the 90,000 tickets with ease.

At the end of the day we'll all be able to see if it was a wise decision to pick him after the result against Estonia. The way we've been playing lately it was hardly a guarantee'd win!

As before, not playing in games is not likely to produce greater effectiveness. He's played in 20 all season.

This is the same Capello that slagged Beckham off not so long ago? Funny how he's warmed to him now Madrid are doing better and he can afford to be generous.

The tickets issue has nothing to do with it. It was obvious that the game would sell out, it's the TV rights that they want to flog, and Beckhams profile is seen as, according to the pundits, just the job for that. In particular, as everybody keeps pointing out, England are hardly a draw at the moment, as they've been pants.

I must admit all this is making me chuckle. Are we talking about the same guy that not more than a few months ago people were quite rightly demanding be dropped after under performing in an England shirt for years? Non? Now, he has a few decent games for Madrid, in the twilight of his Madrid career, ie with something to prove before he goes, and suddenly, due to Englands poor form, he's the 'man' again. Have we all forgotten the game after game after game **** poor form he showed year on year?

Of course we have.

Because we are clutching at straws.

He may well do alright against Brazil and, less likely, against Estonia, but that hardly helps England, qualification or not, next year.

Finally, what we need is MadMC out, and if Beckam helps him survive, what the hell use is that?

[KevD]

Originally Posted by overkill

He's played in 20 all season.

20 La Liga, 28 in all

[JohnG]

Originally Posted by overkill

I'm sorry, but Scholes has shown his form over a whole season. Beckham has played a few games and proven he's match fit. Period. There is no comparison.

There is also the growing suspicion that this 'recall' has little even to do with Beckham's form, or his possible potential for England, and more to do with the FA wanting a crowd pleasing 'stunt' for the first England game back at Wembley.

My thoughts exactly. This really is a backwards step as far as I'm concerned.