Soccer

[Roygata]

Ok normally I am not a big fan of soccer besides watching the World Cup, but now US soccer has gotten me interested since the LA Galaxy has signed david beckham. I seriously think the galaxy overpaid for him with giving him a 5 year deal worth 255 million dollars. Was wodnering one do you think it is worth iot and second do you think he will do well with his new team.

[Tensai]

look at it as part of business...of course there are many more skilled players worth that money for their play-like Messi...but Backham brings a lot of sponsors and that's the reason why he might be worth it (tbh there would not be reason to buy him as a good player because he isjust an average these days)

[T-Zone]

Beckham has, at most, only a few years of good play left in him. And he's only really good at free kicks. I always thought him rather overrated.

I had to laugh at the amount Galaxy paid for him. I feel that they're signing a name and not a player. Granted, he's good at his free kicks, but there's not much else he excels at. He has looks (or so other girls say) and a certain amount of charisma, but it never worked for me.

His price will be probably worth it short-term, but not in the long run. Beckham alone won't convert that many sports fans in the US. He'll have fangirls, probably, and sponsors, but can he win real sports fans? I doubt guys care much for how he looks. LOL. Even most of the (guy) soccer fans I know don't really bother about Beckham. They'd rather cheer Ballack or Henry or Cristiano Ronaldo or Tevez, etc.
And anyhow, when Beckham retires, what then? Unless the US soccer league comes up with their own big names, the fever's going to die out when Beckham leaves.

[Slam Dunk]

LA Galaxy isn't paying him 5 years worth up to $250 million, his contract is worth that much. Galaxy is paying him $50 million or so for 5 years, and the rest of the money is from endorsements, advertisements, merchandizes, and so on. Beckham is getting 100% of what I just mentioned above, while in Real Madrid, he was getting 60%. All those money is a big gamble from the AEG group (I forgot the name of the owner at the moment).

The name will draw lots of fans in the beginning, but for how long. He's probably the world's most famous soccer player mainly because of his looks, associations, and the like. He's a good player, but not a great player IMO.

I don't think he can change how US will view soccer. Unless like T-Zone mentioned, MLS can come up with its own big names, or be able to get other big names players to come here, like what Pele did back in the '70s, though that was short-lived, Beckham alone won't be able to change the outlooks of soccer in US.

[Tensai]

The name will draw lots of fans in the beginning, but for how long. He's probably the world's most famous soccer player mainly because of his looks, associations, and the like. He's a good player, but not a great player IMO.

I don't think he can change how US will view soccer. Unless like T-Zone mentioned, MLS can come up with its own big names, or be able to get other big names players to come here, like what Pele did back in the '70s, though that was short-lived, Beckham alone won't be able to change the outlooks of soccer in US.

Yeah that is the difference between great players and Backham. I think that great players would change view of US fans on soccer. But great players would never exchange their clubs for some MLS club even when it would pay them several times the salary of Backham.

David was perfect choice for LA because he is priceless for Real Madrid. He dosn't play much anymore (no he doesn't play at all) and like T-Zone said his only strong side are free kicks.

I don't think that there is club in MLS that can pay 125 000 000 euros for Ronaldinho or 150 000 000 for Messi (Barcelona said that those are their pirces) or any other top players like Robben etc. etc. and then spare enough to offer them salaries big enough to make them leave their clubs ^^...but these players decide matches...not Backham

[T.Omimura]

Basically, LA Galaxy is getting Beckham for the merchandising. Beckham is an ok-player, but as some of you said already, he's only good at free-kicks. He's not the type that can decide matches. So it's only for the sale of more shirts. It's the same as what Real Madrid did the past years. I mean Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham all where bought to increase merchandising. They never won a prize with them (at least not that I can remember). Beckham is extremely populair in US and Azia, so it will be good for income to LA.

And I think that clubs of MLS are trying to get more old-players into their competition. I heard that one of the clubs is trying to get Edgar Davids (player of Holland and Tottenham Hotspur). So they are trying to make the MLS look more interesting.

[Roygata]

I really would like to see how Beckham is going to do against the so called prodigy Freddy Adu. As to concerning the 250 million my brother told me that it was probably by endorsements because mostly with that amount of money he could buy his own team almost. Either way it should be interesting to see what other big names are going to be signed to play this season.

[Babii_Boo]

Hey all ~ I live in England so i guess i don't need to explain how 'big' football/soccer means around here. Anyways, how can Beckham just leave his fans in England to move to America! Not like i'm a big fan of his, but seriously, 9/10 people in the UK that likes football are his fans! I personally like Henry from Arsenal.

[Metaphoenix]

I think Beckham is a great football/soccer palyer, he can still influence the game greatly despite his age.