WTF?

[Figaro]

Saw the second half of the Ingerlund game on the laptop and then instead of switching the damn thing off I saw the news on ITV.

 

They did a link to some d++ck journo outside Wembley having a go at Capello for getting rid of Beckham - the journo called Beckham "our national treasure"

 

WTF?

 

A normal player with a decent right foot and a horrible wife, a player who has never won anything for his national side in 115 games. A vaunted dead ball specialist whose massive tally of 17 goals in said 115 matches makes him a "national treasure"?

 

Have people in the UK gone mad?

[fyds]

Saw the second half of the Ingerlund game on the laptop and then instead of switching the damn thing off I saw the news on ITV.

 

They did a link to some d++ck journo outside Wembley having a go at Capello for getting rid of Beckham - the journo called Beckham "our national treasure"

 

WTF?

 

A normal player with a decent right foot and a horrible wife, a player who has never won anything for his national side in 115 games. A vaunted dead ball specialist whose massive tally of 17 goals in said 115 matches makes him a "national treasure"?

 

Have people in the UK gone mad?

Only those in suits holding microphones and talking to camera, Fig.

 

Nice to have you back btw

[Snookie]

He's the perfect national treasure for a nation in love with celebrity, home make-over shows and shopping. The sight of him sitting on the bench during the world cup giving it his metrosexual take on passionate intensity pretty much summed it up. As long as he's beautiful, pulls the right facial gestures and emotes like he cares then what does it matter if it is all fake and done just to satisfy a monumental ego and sell product.

[smithdown]

I feel like everyone else in this country today. I am utterly devastated. Our thoughts and prayers are with David Beckham's family, particularly his two sons. Our heart goes out to them. We are today a nation in a state of shock, in mourning, in grief that is so deeply painful for us. He was a wonderful and a warm human being, although his own life was often sadly touched by tragedy. He touched the lives of so many others in Britain and throughout the world with joy and with comfort. How many times shall we remember him in how many different ways - with the sick, the dying, with children, with the needy? With just a look or a gesture that spoke so much more than words, he would reveal to all of us the depth of his compassion and his humanity. I am sure we can only guess how difficult things were for him from time to time. But people everywhere, not just here in Britain, kept faith with David Beckham. They liked him, they loved him, they regarded him as one of the people. He was the People's Princess and that is how he will stay, how he will remain in our hearts and our memories for ever.

 

There, I've said it.

[Benzo-13]

He's got three sons Smithy!

[muleskinner]

Saw the second half of the Ingerlund game on the laptop and then instead of switching the damn thing off I saw the news on ITV.

 

They did a link to some d++ck journo outside Wembley having a go at Capello for getting rid of Beckham - the journo called Beckham "our national treasure"

 

WTF?

 

A normal player with a decent right foot and a horrible wife, a player who has never won anything for his national side in 115 games. A vaunted dead ball specialist whose massive tally of 17 goals in said 115 matches makes him a "national treasure"?

 

Have people in the UK gone mad?

This post brought to you from spain, the home of hello magazine.

[owenthomas]

He's the perfect national treasure for a nation in love with celebrity, home make-over shows and shopping.

this is it

[Stevie H]

i've just read his england career referred to as 'illustrious'. one free-kick against greece wasn't it?

[Kahnee]

i've just read his england career referred to as 'illustrious'. one free-kick against greece wasn't it?

 

Wasn't there a goal against the Argies as well?

 

Oh, and lets not forget he inspired the 5-1 win over Germany. Not by scoring any of the goals, obviously.

[MarkD]

As mentioned, he suited the new fan post Euro 96. Not too bright, a desire to be seen in the right places without ever know what the right places were, a desire to have a manufactured wife and media life and a desperate need to keep in the limelight.

 

His footballing skills were limited to the ability to kick a stationery ball in the right direction better than most.

 

Only in England do all of those 'qualities' create such hero worship and further illustrate the fact that most couldn't not recognise a good fotballer irrespective of the number of games watched.

[Des]

Wasn't there a goal against the Argies as well?

 

 

A scuffed pen that should have been stopped.

[floyd]

For the past hour on Radio 5, discussing wether FV should of been dropped, and should he be allowed one last appearance for South England, a testimonial.

The callers are comedy gold.

[ChrisC]

115 caps for his country and many as captain to be fair to him, thats a great achievement.

[Des]

For the past hour on Radio 5, discussing wether FV should of been dropped, and should he be allowed one last appearance for South England, a testimonial.

The callers are comedy gold.

 

Quite right that the BBC's dedicated sports station should spend so much time on that with the Prem starting in two days' time.

 

And, er FV is a sh*te nickname.

[johngibo YPC]

 

His footballing skills were limited to the ability to kick a stationery ball in the right direction better than most.

 

 

He's the best crosser i've seen in the flesh and his workrate was phenomenal

[Hassony]

FV is rubbish, beckham is usually very well dressed

 

Figaro came up with that didn't he?

[Snookie]

115 caps for his country and many as captain to be fair to him, thats a great achievement.

 

I'm not certain he was made captain for the best of reasons. He was just the best known. I'm pretty sure he never filled the role at United, Madrid or Milan where he was managed by possibly the two of the best managers (and certainly the best) of the last 20 years.

 

He was key in the transformation of players from sportsmen to self-important, preening ponces. You could argue that the factors which have stymied the performances of the England team - the emergence of over-hyped, utterly deluded, self-regarding and spoilt- are his fault because, whatever you say about previous England teams, they were largely honest and played for the manager. Now they are non-performing superstars who play/dont play for themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

they'll be making a film of his life next...

[ChrisC]

I'm not certain he was made captain for the best of reasons. He was just the best known. I'm pretty sure he never filled the role at United, Madrid or Milan where he was managed by possibly the two of the best managers (and certainly the best) of the last 20 years.

 

He was key in the transformation of players from sportsmen to self-important, preening ponces. You could argue that the factors which have stymied the performances of the England team - the emergence of over-hyped, utterly deluded, self-regarding and spoilt- are his fault because, whatever you say about previous England teams, they were largely honest and played for the manager. Now they are non-performing superstars who play/dont play for themselves.

 

 

Not really sure you can lay the blame for that at Beckhams door, theres been plenty of pin-up boys in the premier league before and after Beckham. I'd argue more about the ludicrous f***ing wages being paid and the hype surrounding the champions league which has made it more important than the world cup, certainly for Englands bunch of 'superstars' . FWIW I think Beckham was a decent enough captain and certainly showed a lot more desire for England than the likes of Terry and especially that c*** Ashley Cole have ever done.

[Guest]

FWIW I think Beckham was a decent enough captain and certainly showed a lot more desire for England than the likes of Terry and especially that c*** Ashley Cole have ever done.

 

Enough to be labelled "a national treasure"?

[Hassony]

not a fan of Ashely cole, but he has always performed well for england, even though the england fans have booed him more than anyone else

[ChrisC]

Enough to be labelled "a national treasure"?

 

 

England journo in massive hyperbole shocker....

[fyds]

He was a good and reliable footballer who could take an excellent free kick and yet scored with fewer than many remember thanks to over-replay of the ones that went in. The rest was hype.

[Guest]

England journo in massive hyperbole shocker....

 

true - was also extremely shocked by the banality of ITV's match presenters - there are some bad commentators over here (J.J.Santos, for example) but Butragueno, Amor y Camacho make Keys?,Townsend and Gray look like muppets

[smithdown]

He's the best crosser i've seen in the flesh and his workrate was phenomenal

 

 

He couldn't half cross a ball for the mancs, this is true.

 

By the time he was mr england he had decided never to go past a full back ever again in case they hurted him. It was all workrate then, which meant running about like a divvy imagining himself as the best player in the world.