Galaxy vs Whitecaps 20071107

[johnnybluenose]

Yeah, there was a sheer lack of professionalism there.

Dolie on GolTV (Terrible Broadcaster By The Way, good keeper in his day, terrible TV Commentator) made a comment that the Galaxy only brought their white kit with them, and the Caps had only prepared their white kit (I guess new players names & Numbers etc)

So the Caps wore their training kits...shocking.

[Tim Berners-Lee]

beckam is a joke....lets reflect on someone who can actually bend a ball YouTube - R.Carlos Top 10 Goals

[johnnybluenose]

I would humbly suggest that Beckham is far from a joke. Lets face facts, when fit he is still capable of playing in Englands National Setup...(Is that a compliment to Bex or a sad commentary on McLaren and his side? ) Sean Wright Phillips and Bently are hardly 'vastly superior to Beckham' again, when fit...

He was large contributor to Real Madrid winning La Liga last season and came to LA damaged.

I saw him play for Real last (or two seasons ago?) I can't remember, what i do know is his crosses are often leathal and his free kicks are usually great.

He is a tireless runner in the middle on the flanks. I think they are making a mistake allowing him to play a roaming role, or playing him in the center of the park.

When fit and in the right position there are not many guys better than Beckham at what he does.

I know it is fashionable to slate him like the British Tabloids because he has funny tatoos that you see on NBA'ers and married a dimwit Spice Girl, and has funny haircuts, and wears yoga gear...but he is still a good footballer, and at 32 is not 'past it'

People expecting him to make 30 yard dancing runs with 30 stepovers will be extremely disappointed....speaking of stepovers, what got into Hamse last night ?

[knvb]

Actually, I thought it was a pretty neat event. I had my boy there in his Beckham top and it was pretty exciting for him, despite the game being complete mince… The place was packed full of people who bought into the hype that is Beckham. 70% of the crowd didn’t know a bloody thing about soccer and I could tell because I spent at least 60 minutes banging my head off the chair in front of me (the other 30 in line for beer) having to listen to the complete cnuts behind me who couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t shooting his free "boots" AT THE HALF WAY LINE!!! I actually turned around at one point to say “I think it's because he’s 45 YARDS OUT!!!!” Though, these are the people who name their kids soccer teams the “speedybooters” and think Beckham should have got the ball and run past 4 fat kids and scored every time he touched it. I digress....

It was obvious from the outset, no one, other than maybe Kindel (try hard), gave a fcuk. The Galaxy were just strolling about in the first. The second was a little better when some of the keeners got on and started to pick up the pace. It was after all an exhibition game all about Beckham that they were trying to pass off as The LA Galaxy vs The Vancouver Whitecaps. I think the Galaxy minds were already at the Roxy or on a plane to Australia. Beckham did give away a few balls but really when you’re use to giving balls and getting balls from guys like Terry, Rooney, Gerard and the like getting them from Landon Donavan or Kobi Jones… surely there is a difference in how it’s going to turn out.

Anyway, I though the buzz was good and a neat event for what and when it was. The kids were well chuffed and I think that is excatly what Bobaduzzi wanted.

[bulljive]

Originally Posted by Tim Berners-Lee

beckam is a joke....lets reflect on someone who can actually bend a ball YouTube - R.Carlos Top 10 Goals

Beckham haters are nothing but **** blockers. One of the greatest at what he did. He was a passer and a free kick specialist. Ask andy cole and dwight York where they would rate him. People can't get over the celebrity aspect, its good for the game. He is using his celebrity to promote the game and work with kids. i just really don't understand the dislike for the guy. He wasn't flashy but he worked tirelessly and brought the best aspects of his game pin point passing, spectaculor free kicks and a heart.

[Regs]

Well said bulljive.

[johnnybluenose]

He was runner up for FIFA world player of the year twice wasn't he? Lost to Rivaldo once(Year United won the FA Cup, EPL, Champs League, Carling Cup), and I can't remember the player he lost to the second time, maybe Henry?

*Edit, just checked, he lost to Figo in 01. Lost to Rivaldo in 99.

2001
1st Luís Figo Portugal Real Madrid Midfield
2nd David Beckham England Manchester United Midfield
3rd Raúl Spain Real Madrid Striker
2000
1st Zinedine Zidane France Juventus F.C. Midfield
2nd Luís Figo Portugal Real Madrid FC Barcelona Midfield
3rd Rivaldo Brazil FC Barcelona Midfield
1999
1st Rivaldo Brazil FC Barcelona Midfield
2nd David Beckham England Manchester United Midfield
3rd Gabriel Batistuta Argentina AC Fiorentina Striker

for what it's worth here is a list of all players nominated and ranked for FIFA Player of the Year since 1991 (FWPoY inaugural year)

Player First place Second place Third place
1 Zinedine Zidane 3 1 2
2 Ronaldo 3 1 1
3 Ronaldinho 2 0 1
4 Romário 1 1 0
5 Luís Figo 1 1 0
6 George Weah 1 1 0
7 Rivaldo 1 0 1
8 Roberto Baggio 1 0 1
9 Marco Van Basten 1 0 0
10 Lothar Matthäus 1 0 0
11 Fabio Cannavaro 1 0 0
12 Hristo Stoitchkov 0 2 0
13 David Beckham 0 2 0
14 Thierry Henry 0 2 0
15 Jean-Pierre Papin 0 1 0
16 Roberto Carlos da Silva 0 1 0
17 Paolo Maldini 0 1 0
18 Oliver Kahn 0 1 0
19 Frank Lampard 0 1 0
20 Dennis Bergkamp 0 0 2
21 Gabriel Batistuta 0 0 1
22 Jürgen Klinsmann 0 0 1
23 Raúl González 0 0 1
24 Andriy Shevchenko 0 0 1
25 Gary Lineker 0 0 1
26 Thomas Häßler 0 0 1
27 Alan Shearer 0 0 1
28 Davor Šuker 0 0 1
29 Samuel Eto'o 0 0 1

[Kevin Hector]

George Feakin' Weah???

[LION]

Spot on Bulljive.
The event was what it was....
do you really expect the guy to play like its a meaningful match. He has internationals around the corner. Especially on that field.

I had fun. Felt bad for the skinny kid who got it at the end from the cops. But the streaker got a minute and was dealt with pretty politely.

And yes... the caps blue, white and black socks? what?
didn't look to hot... but whateves... it was the becks show anyways!!!

Didn't they say that they were going to auction his game worn jersey to BC Childrens Charity,,... then he gave it away a minute after that!!

Great night.... but when the streaker gets the biggest cheers... got to say soccer is far from going anywhere soon here in Van.

[Backline16]

Accurate commentary on the game already on the thread, and love him or hate him, Beckam draws. Probably the queitest 48000 in BC Place history. I left the game thinking about adding "see a football match in Europe" to my lifes 'to do' list. As I am sure it would have been a lot more fun if their were more people who knew what they were watching. Also, I know it was a freindly, but should have been a Red for the Galaxie keeper.

[johnnybluenose]

sounded like a graveyard on the tele...
There was great atmosphere at the Real Madrid v DC United game that I attended a while back, the Shellick vs Chelsea match 3 or 4 years ago was pretty quiet though...

I guess it all depends on the support really

[Guinness]

The missus and some mates had a great time at the match. We had a few bevies at the Shark club before the match and actually enjoyed a few $7.50 pints. As LION said, it is what it is. I think Bulljive and JohnnyBlueNose pretty much put things into perspective. I'd also say Becks is a great embassador of the game and though he still looked injured last night, put on a brave face and was a class act.
Hopefully Lenardbobaduzzie learns from some of the mistakes made last night and Kerfoot gets this city to open their minds and get a 15,000 - 20,000 stadium built for occasions like last night.
I think we could support an MLS franchise and have atleast 10,000 season ticket holders. Toronto has done everything great (except for turf) in its first season and Montreal has almost completed its facility.

Vancouver needs a better product than the shite that is currently here.

[Rangerforever]

Originally Posted by Guinness

The missus and some mates had a great time at the match. We had a few bevies at the Shark club before the match and actually enjoyed a few $7.50 pints.

That's too bad you couldn't join them inside.
What was their excuse for not hooking up with you afterwards?

[Dude]

Originally Posted by Backline16

I left the game thinking about adding "see a football match in Europe" to my lifes 'to do' list.

Looking like Dude, Mrs. Dude, Mini Dude & Mini Dudette will be in Portugal for a bit of surfing, then Spain for a bit of skiing late Feb. Perhaps we should jam in a couple of matches in between.

Yeah baby.

[knvb]

We're going streaking...

[Rangerforever]

Have to admit my kids had a good laugh at that when the guy made his run.
What do you say?
Um, boys, that's not very funny...

What do you lot think of this:

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Beckham returns to England squad

[johnnybluenose]

RF, It was a given...You could tell he was going though the motions at best Wednesday night, it iwll be another story against Croatia and in the friendly against Austria.

Say what you want about him...I'm not convinced either Bentley or Shaun Wright-Phillips are better options...

[italian_stallion21]

Originally Posted by Rangerforever

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Beckham returns to England squad

Who would have thought the MLS was his springboard back to the English side?

[johnnybluenose]

He actually had been in the English side pre-MLS, that is why he was damaged heading to LA, he hurt himself playing for the English Nat Side

[italian_stallion21]

Originally Posted by johnnybluenose

He actually had been in the English side pre-MLS, that is why he was damaged heading to LA, he hurt himself playing for the English Nat Side

And for once I thought I was somewhat informed