The simple fact is that Soccer or Futbol, whatever you want to call it, is big business. AC Milan thinks that the MLS cares about European press, which they don’t, because MLS realizes the same people who are outraged by this don’t watch MLS in the first place. AC Milan is trying to save money because they are playing hardball on negotiations.

No European team would ever be forced into selling a player for less than he is worth to the team. Beckham is worth more than 3 million. He can take his “better” futbol, and his “nationalism” and suck it. If he wants out, he can shell out his own cash, or get AC Milan to fork over some money. MLS is not so weak that it can just be bullied. It is, in many ways, akin to a second tier European league. Not bad quality of futbol, decent financing, and a decent reputation in the western hemisphere have made it so it can’t simply be stomped on any more by eurosnobs, and european teams.

If Beckham is the most recognized footballer in the world and this is probably so, my gosh, what would the transfer fees be for fellow Englanders Frank Lampard? Steven Gerrard? Wayne Rooney?? Would the English teams, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester Utd. be happy with a 3 million (4 million, what ever it is) dollar transfer fee in this day and age for these players? We know they would not be… even if you factor in some sort of an age factor which I don’t think is a decisive factor here. Capello has coached Beckham before, so he should still be able to judge.

“American style football is different with high flying kicks and raised top ball with little ground game…..”
That’s what you might see in a high school or lower level college game. Not so much with the pros. If you map the ball movement in most MLS matches, it the league it resembles most is the Mexican league. The individual players don’t move with the same rhythm as the Mexican players, but the team collectively moves the ball similarly.

“But the Question is ….do they care????”

I would say no. The English and continental European press’ collective bloviation has little to do with whether or not the Los Angeles Galaxy win an MLS Cup or make a profit.

Many American soccer fans (at least I have) have come to the conclusion that what comes out of the European press is always going to be biased and condescending to our community and our take on the game. Our national team could win the World Cup and the English press, rather than saying how good our team played, would rip them because the crest on their shirt says “U.S. Soccer” rather than “Football.” Trying to please them would be like trying to please the popular kids in middle school. You keep changing yourself and sucking up to them but they keep making fun of you. You get nowhere except more miserable. You eventually figure out that they make fun of you to try to make themselves less miserable at your expense. You get off the little mouse wheel and think for yourself and be yourself, regardless of what stupid, uninformed insults they throw at you. You realize that their idiocy has little to do with your self-worth.

The European press’ idiocy with respect to our soccer and soccer community has little to do with our national team’s or MLS’s future success on the field. AC Milan is just using a press that is all-too-eager to suck up to wealth and power for their own benefit. It’s as much about saving face in their own social circles as anything else. The Galaxy and the league is wise to stay out of a game that is rigged against them.

The Bottom line is Beckham is not playing the Best football he can in LA and since he has gone to Milan we have seen an improvement and hope he can keep it up…We do not want the mediocre football in LA to worsen his form….. Beckham is a kind of player who needs other talented players on the recieving end of his crosses to score goals…..he’s not some one who can just go ahead and score goals…American style football is different with high flying kicks and raised top ball with little ground game…..

Now the question is…How much is he worth?? Tshirt sales is the biggest income LA are getting from him…….he;s not improving their chances in the MLS…..with Milan…the side is different with him wide out in mid field and he also provides suppourt for ronaldinho and pato and kaka…..

LA …if they let him go create a positive image for MLS…..allowing some other European team to may be want to trade with them and give them some players…

But the Question is ….do they care????

Northern Ireland 1 : England 0

and for the actual topic…Beckham has just not fit in with the Galaxy, he has never looked comfortable

England and Beckham should understand the world game, but they do not. Does the fact that almost the entire Argentine and 100% of the Brazilian national team play in Europe but yet somehow manage to get back to represent their nations well in South American qualifying ever penetrate the obstinate, self absorbed, insular English mind?

Kartik’s point on another post that the English are used to taking coaches to games and leaving the morning of games and never crossing into another time zone or an area with different climates or geography applies here. If the Argentines and Brazilians all travel to represent their countries why must an Englishman play close to home to be considered?

Keep in mind it was the English, Spanish and German clubs who forcefully tried to stop several South Americans from representing their nations in the olympic football tournament. So if a player is under contract in europe they should honor it and it is club over country but if they happen to play America it is country over club. HYPOCRITES!