It’s very rare these days that I read a football article that really provokes my ire.
Sure, I often read articles or stories that I disagree with—but hardly ever to the extent I feel compelled to respond. However, Paul Gardner, writing in this month’s World Soccer magazine, has managed to achieve that particular feat.
In his article (which, if I could find it online, I would link to—but I can’t so I won’t), Gardner expresses his disgust at David Beckham’s cameo appearances for England, describing it as a “degrading hunt” for caps.
Gardner cites the example of Bobby Moore—whose record of 108 international caps Beckham is now only one shy of—as a player whose memory is somehow tarnished every time Beckham appears on the pitch for the final few minutes of an England match.
“I don’t recall Wright, or Moore, or Bobby Charlton going through this awful, degrading business of virtually begging to be picked for England,” Gardner writes.
“Beckham’s quest for England appearances seems to have taken possession of the man to the exclusion of a number of other things which ought to be important to him. His dignity, for a start.”
Now, of course I would not want to deny Gardner his right to an opinion—he is free to think as he pleases. But that doesn’t mean he should labour under the misapprehension that he speaks for the masses.
Gardner is symptomatic of the rather ancient scribes that litter World Soccer’s pages. Judging by his picture (which, if he is following common journalistic practice, was taken at least 15 years ago), Gardner was born in the time of Bobby Moore, and followed the former West Ham and England captain through his many career highlights.
Brought up to appreciate Moore’s no-nonsense approach, Beckham’s media circus is no doubt anathema to Gardner’s sensibilities.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean his opinion is right.
By the same token, I would never want to suggest that I speak for the entirety of the new wave of football fans—the thirty-somethings and younger that now dominate the game’s terraces.
But I would like to think at least some share my viewpoint.
To me, Beckham’s hunt for England caps is not degrading—not to the player, nor the caps. As far as I am concerned, England caps have long since been degraded in the modern game—Sven-Goran Eriksson’s 11 substitutes each friendly and the ability for Phil Neville to wear the captain’s armband has long since seen to that.
No, for me, Beckham’s willingness to submit himself to the criticism of wizened old hacks like Gardner, all in an attempt to do a job for his country, does the man great credit.
34 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
JukeBox Moon 7 months ago
God...I love your every single word as it is the same as what I've been saying all these times.
And thank you for mentioning about Jamie Carragher. I'm and will certainly begrudging him and his attitude until I'm no longer watching football and supporting England (I don't know when that will happen..lol). If anything, Capello is extremely happy with Beckham still making himself available because one of Capello's biggest problems is that for not having a field full of quality, available players to be selected in the first place. He has already said several times how he's so dissapointed with Carragher's and, ESPECIALLY, Scholes' decisions. Not to mention only 40% of English players in EPL.
Anyway..thank you for this article. Thank you for fighting back. (it is certainly one of Beckham's best attitudes that Capello really like. ;p). Cheers! :>
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Joe G 7 months ago
A well-written and well-reasoned article, Alex. I'm in complete agreement with you.
Hasn't Beckham essentially said that he wants to be around as long as he feels he can be a benefit to the England squad? Hasn't he graciously accepted a reduced role? From what I've seen, he would gladly take glory for his country over individual accolades. If he stays in the team to mentor the next generation of talent, isn't that beneficial to England as a whole?
Sure, he's no longer able to live up to the lofty expectations that were once set for him, but that's a problem that's plagued almost everybody in the England side at one point or another in the last few years. He's still working hard to make himself effective when he is called upon, and that's admirable.
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S B 7 months ago
All sounds pretty heroic and all from a Beckham fan standpoint but I question if this quest for caps has to do with serving country or breaking records.
Romario desperately wanted to serve Brazil in the 2002 WC and qualifiers partly in a bid to surpass Pele in national goals scored. He was dropped - Brazil was spanked -end of story.
But it`s not end of story - as Romario went on to play for his favourite Rio clubs for another 5 years or so sometimes not even being paid. This showed that he had a great love for the game....or was it the chance to get to 1000 goals? Anyway even after the 1000 goals he still went on playing so who`s to know.
My point here is I wonder if Beckham will really want to serve England even after passing his cap record aim.
His motive for representing England is what I question.
Is it about England or personal glory?
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S B 7 months ago
CORRECTION 1998 WORLD CUP. (Romario) not 2002.
Brazilians got it tough...so many W.C. titles we get muddled sometimes.
hehe
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Alex Dimond 7 months ago
It's a hard question S — but I honestly don't believe it is about personal glory. For all the press he gets about being stupid and media-orientated, I genuinely believe that Beckham deeply wants to help his country achieve something big in the game he loves. He probably doesn't have the time left to play in 2010, but he can help them get there.
And boasting about your World Cup wins — it hurts, man. But get back to me when one of your countrymen scores a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
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Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
My viewpoint on this is that Beckham can't pick himself - he can put himself up for selection but not actually put his name on the teamsheet and if Capello feels he can do a job for England then he'll pick him.
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Jamie Ward 7 months ago
Fantastically and professionally written.
Its like an article from a proper football magazine.
All the points are pretty much spot on as well, You really do have at it takes as a writer.
I completly agree with the article, except for the presentation of the headline, it just looks a little messy, but thats just me :-)
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S B 7 months ago
R U kidding ...I love those `and another thing`......headlines.
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Shyam Parthasarathi 7 months ago
If Beckham is good enough, Cappello will pick him. He's not the kind of manager who gives out sympathy caps anyway.. so he has to be on top of his game if he wants to get picked for England.
Well written Alex.
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Yoosof Farah 7 months ago
ok alex, i guess this means we're friends again. unfortunately, i have to say great article mate, well-written, very interesting, and like most of the others, i fully agree with what you say. great stuff alex, you certainly have what it takes to become a top writer, one day you could be up there with the likes of martin samuel and gabriele marcotti.
it's quite incredible really, i never thought i would be saying this to someone who supports a team worse than clowntown. i'll admit gillingham are bad, but crystal palace? LOL.
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Alex Dimond 7 months ago
Yoosof, consider this friends reunited.
I love Palace despite their faults — although this weekend I do find myself having a begrudging respect for Bury. Wonder why?
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Yoosof Farah 7 months ago
yes i do wonder why, because we all know bury will get relegated this season. and when they come down to the krbs priestfield, everyone knows we will thrash them 8-0. up the gills!!
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Barney 7 months ago
Another great article Alex! Gotta agree with you here as well! I've always said it - David Beckham is an England legend, and is in the England squad (or was, and will be again) because he is playing well and deserves to be in it. It's not his fault that Capello brings him on with 2 minutes left, I'm sure he'd rather play all 90, and I still think he should! I'd start with him instead of Walcott!
5* and POTD from me!
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Willie Gannon 7 months ago
This is a comment I left for Alden last week Alex. Good article and well written as usual but I think it would be fair to say I'd be in Gardner's corner on this one.
Nice piece Alden.
My opinion of Beckham,
he's an incredibly over-rated player and always has been. A superb dead ball specialist and a possessor of good technique, despite what most think, his passing is average for a pro footballer. His short passing is ok but his long range passing is poor at best. Look it up I'm pretty sure statistics will back me on this.
While he was always one of the fittest players at United, his fitness has started to diminish in recent years, and credit where it's due- he always worked hard on the pitch...except he can't tackle, can't head the ball and was poor positionally (at the highest level, against the top teams).
To even mention him in the same breath as Bobby Moore is an insult to football fans everywhere. It's like comparing Diego Maradona and Steve Stone, they just don't match up.
As far as the caps thing is concerned International's play around 10 games a year now-a-days. In the 60s and 70s they only played around 4 to 5 games a year bar tournament years. So Moore's record is just phenomenal.
When Beckham was on the verge of getting his 100th cap I was of the opinion that he should be given it for service and dedication to the cause. He deserved it.
This 108th cap thing is a different animal entirely. And there is no way on earth that Beckham is good enough to deserve this accolade, is he good enough to be considered a legend? Hardly.
And while I would be vehemantly against him winning this treasure, I expect him to win it sooner rather than later.
It says a lot about the state of English football if he does.
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Alex Dimond 7 months ago
Thanks Willie, I can certainly see your view point and many of your criticisms of Beckham's ability are more than apt.
To be fair to Beckham though, he was a fairly integral part of the Champions League winning United side, and also acquitted himself well at Madrid — so in his career he has made meaningful contributions to two of the biggest clubs in the world. Bad players don't do that.
It's obviously difficult to compare Beckham with Moore — particularly as the later won a World Cup. But don't let sentimentally cloud your judgment. Moore played for England from 1960 - 1973, so if Beckham get's his 108th cap next year he will have done it in exactly the same number of years (and in a time when physical fitness was far more important to the game).
And remember, Moore wasn't without his faults. Would he be revered to the same extent he is today, if he had been subjected to the critical media Beckham has been?
I don't think — or want — that Beckham's 108th cap will put him on the same level as Bobby Moore. But he doesn't deserve to be that far off, and that symbolic number will ensure that.
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JukeBox Moon 7 months ago
While I understand your criticism, I would like to say that Beckham would have passed the Moore caps, and probably even Shilton caps, had Mclaren not dumped him last year. So..the question of surpassing the caps or getting it is actually quite unrelevant.
And I think we should, or you should, leave the past in the past. As Alex said, and everyone else said, football nowadays is different than 40 years ago. Beckham is overrated only because of the media interest on him on and off the pitch. And he is deemed as overrated because the media and the journalists who don't fancy him said so. And people trust them. If anything, I think Beckham is UNDERrated..simply because people always forget and purposely blinded themselves of the services he has done to bring victories/success to all of his teams (yes..he hasn't won a thing with England YET, but I think if Capello became the manager in 2000 and didn't leave it to Sven G. Eriksson like he has said, I think maybe Beckham would have won something already and you can't say that Becks is nothing as a player).
I don't want to compare Beckham and Moore at all..coz they are totally different players and in different era, and Moore is in the past and majority of football fans today are below the age of 40/35..but as Rio Ferdinand said, Beckhams has won more trophies than Moore, he has won everything domestically, except of course the highest trophy of all, and he has been awarded with some of the highest awards in the game and other A-list players always praised him and praising him still..so Beckham CANNOT be that bad of a player. If anything, he is way above the average.
As I said..Beckham has been way underrated and covered by the media criticism so much people can't really see him. Cheers! ;)
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Willie Gannon 7 months ago
Asolutely right about Beckham being an integral part of the United team, he did ok at Madrid. I don't think Beckham is a bad player, I just don't think he's a great player.
I think that greatness is used far too often to describe players in this media driven age.
To me,
Pele and Maradona were great. ***** (world class)
Cruff, Puskas, Best, Moore etc **** (european class)
Beckham, Premiership Players *** (premiership/serie a/ la liga class)
Danny Murphy,etc ** (premiership-championship class)
Your average Palace player LOL * (championship )
I think Beckham was a very good premiership player but in the whole scale of things he's average.
If that makes sense.
On the trophies thing....I think that's just a red herring. Just because he has had a great trophy haul, doesn't make him a great player.
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Anthony Sanchez 7 months ago
I was never a fan of Beckham when he was at United really. His route one football used to frustrate me immensely. I prefered Kanchelskis before him and Ronaldo after him to tell you the truth. He's not someone with pure natural talent rather acquired skill through total dedication. But its hard to criticise him really after what he achieved with United. I read recently that even now five years after he left there isn't much difference between the amount of assists he provided for United compared to Ryan Giggs which is unbelieveable really. If Beckham is needed by England 108 times then he deserves the caps. He shouldn't be denied the caps if his country needs him. Especially not to maintain the legacy of some over-rated shop lifter from West Ham.
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Anthony Sanchez 7 months ago
Top quality writing by the way Alex worthy of all the compliments. great piece!
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Steven Ho 7 months ago
Interesting opinion on Moore. His legacy has this seemingly 'untouchable' aura to it, and I've never read of any discontent with it even though it has all the hallmarks of media hype to it.
So brave words Anthony. I like that.
p.s. sorry to digress.
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Long John Silver 7 months ago
i could not agree with you more - lovely
for the all the things that has been done and written to/about him - every time he has rocked up to play for england with 110% commitment
when they lost that last game - to not qualify for Euros - remember it was becks who ONCE again crossed it to crouch .... to make the goal
its just crap - that he is going after caps .... and nonsensical things like that
leave em alone - they are entitled to their own dis-illusions like you said
picked it AD - loved it
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mark andrew 7 months ago
Yes Alex , Well said , well written and well done !!!!!
David Beckham will play for England as long as he can and feels fit enough to , he is living every English boys dream every time he wears three lions on his chest .
Plus how is he degrading himself , every player begs their manager to pick them even at club level , they dont beg verbally but they beg when theyre tryin damn hard to impress the gaffer .
I dont blam Beckham one bit for trying to get the cap needed to break a record , but i guarantee that if he can , he will still play for England afterwards again .
5 * and POTD , oh by the way that Gardner is a fool !!! :0)
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Long John Silver 7 months ago
FOR ONCE IN my life - i do agree with you mate, David is class ... and he is a really really decent bloke for all the crap written bout him
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mark andrew 7 months ago
Ha ha finally Long , finally .
Becks has always been a great player and leader on the pitch , if anyone deserves another cap then its him .
For me , people only hate him because of his wife , why not just hate her instead of Becks , hes a nice bloke too , hes set up his academies for children to become footballers , with his own money .
Man United got fed up with his wife , not him , and was sold because his wife turned him into this fashion icon , which started overtaking the headlines of his performance .
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Steven Ho 7 months ago
Firstly, I gotta credit the article's writing. Intelligent, well argued, convincing. Excellent again, as usual.
Regarding the topic, it's a blurry matter. Both sides are right in my view. Getting a cap for 5 mins (or 30 seconds in Peter Crouch's case) on the pitch does degrade and distort the legacy of those who earned their caps, such as the aforementioned Bobby Moore. But it's also true that Beckham is not, in any way, at fault for saying that he'll be there whenever his country needs him. This is a guy who is clearly patriotic to the bone and I think he carries himself well enough that a significant amount of people realise that.
A la this article.
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Tanade Mohamed 7 months ago
Beckham was one of the best players in the world in his day and no doubt deserves to have the most caps for England. He has given his all for England and deserves to be remembered regardless of the criticism thrown at him.
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illya mclellan 7 months ago
wonderful writing Alex, your goal of professional journalism looks to be more within your grasp with every passing article. Have to agree with your summation of this topic as well, it seems as if Beckham has copped a lot of criticism because he was made media darling by the media, when in truth he is definitely one of the better players England have had in many a year.
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Simon Williams 7 months ago
Great article Alex and I completely agree.
The older members of the media fraternity, the likes of Gardner, Glanville, Lawton, to name but a few, can't stand Beckham, and they criticise every little thing he does (ironic that they say he is the one who loves the lime-light, yet they are the ones who keep him in the papers all the time with their constant sniping),
Beckham clearly loves representing his country, how many other England players in the last 10 years could you say that about? Some of them look like they would rather be somewhere else, but soldier on like rabbits caught in the headlights, some of them just give up because they can't be bothered.
Beckham always looks like he wants it, always looks like it means everything to him, and thats why he is so loved by England fans in this day and age where commitment of players is always questioned.
The sniping of Beckham is also a great insult to Fabio Capello. Here is a manager who has achieved everything in the game bar National management success, which he is now trying to. Do they really think he would jeapordise any success for Beckham's legacy? How ridiculous does that actually sound when you see that Capello oozes professionalism from every pore?
He picks Beckham because he can still do a job, because he can still influence the dressing room, because he can still inspire the fans.
The presence of Beckham will make no difference to the glory in which the likes of Charlton, Moore and Wright are held, they will always be legends of English football, and its actually insulting to them as well to suggest they will be forgotten just because someone overtakes their caps haul.
The 3 aforementioned journo's need to get over it. Knocking Beckham is not good journalism, it is lazy, easy journalism, and all they do is repeat themselves over and over again. Well guess what, we might read what you right, but we are not taken in by it, get over it!
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Simon Williams 7 months ago
Or even 'read what you write', lol.
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Steven Ho 7 months ago
You can edit comments now.
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Salaar Arshad Shamsi 7 months ago
Enjoyed the read, Alex - I have to agree with you here.
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Nikhil Nadipelli 7 months ago
dude... full points for this work.... becks deserves every bit of it...
HE gave much to the country..... he is still hungry for wins ....
go on dude...
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Roberto Alvarez-Galloso 7 months ago
This is a great article. I give it a 100%
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Roberto Alvarez-Galloso 7 months ago
This is a great article. I give it a 100%
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