But did he ever really leave?

May 26 - 2007

The reasons for David Beckham’s recall to England are obvious:

1. Steve McClaren’s England are entirely impotent.  They are even more directionless than Sven’s England, and that is truly saying something.
2. Beckham is in fantastic form.  He has been instrumental in propelling Real Madrid into a last day title race with Barcelona, and his continued ability to contribute at the game’s highest level can no longer be in doubt.

The more complicated question is “why did Beckham fall out of favor in the first place?”  He had an average World Cup while Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard were legitimate disappointments.  He’s always been a hardworking professional, charitable and well mannered.  Yes he married a Spice Girl, but it’s important to remember: at the time the Spice Girls were hot.  The “Which Spice Girl would you most want to do?” game was played without irony, and Posh had to be at the top of your list (barring any fetishistic attraction to Sporty).  Yes, the fashion obsession wears on people, but if it occasionally produces images like this one, who among us can say we’d trade it away? 

I’ll say it now: I have a soft spot for Becks.  I marvel at his ball-striking ability, very much appreciate his work-rate, and can forgive his below average ability in the tackle.  He is not the greatest player in the game and never was.  He is, however, awfully good.

The English going sour on Beckham is a national tradition, right up there with getting sunburned on holiday in replica jerseys.  They blamed him in 1998, all but chased him out of Manchester in 2003, and already had it in their heads to ban him for life after 2006.   Predictably, the first decision of import made by McClaren was to rip the captain’s band from Beckham’s heavily tattooed, probably waxed arm.  I’d argue, in each case, that the souring has little to do with what actually transpired on the field (minus the Simeone incident).

This time around the love-loss had a decidedly American feel to it: it was MLS’s fault.  The English regard the league as a joke, and it’s tough to argue with their line of thinking - no relegation, empty stadiums, and players like Fecundo Erpen.  Just this week, Martin Samuel of The Times wrote, “It is no more possible to play for Los Angeles Galaxy and England than it is to satisfy Maidstone United and France.”  I don’t know what that means, but I’m assuming it’s a biting criticism of our domestic league.

And so the person with the most to be happy about this week is not David Beckham, but MLS commisioner Don Garber.  Having the league’s biggest signing recalled to a national team that had sworn him off is a dream come true.  The Galaxy will suit up an England International come July, and even the most mindless MLS boosters will regard that as a miracle. 

As for Beckham, it will end poorly, if only because the English will have it no other way.  They can’t have a national hero playing on a team called Galaxy, and so they won’t.  I’ll be rooting for him but the stage is set for yet another excommunication.  Pity, too, because the man deserves better.