End of the year

I wanted to leave an end of year post to thank all those who read this blog and the visitors who pass this way. I am looking forward to reporting on how David Beckham gets on at AC Milan in the next few weeks, and hopefully about the progress of LA Galaxy next season. Added to this is the possibility of Beckham playing some of the remaining World Cup qualifying games. All-in-all, I expect great things from 2009, I hope you do too.
Best wishes for the New Year

Beckham and Pepsi part company

After 10 years, Pepsi have not renewed David Beckham's contract to promote their fizzy drink. The deal was reported to be worth £UK2m a year. Over the years Beckham has been associated with a range of brands, including Gillette, Adidas, Vodafone, Armani and Police along with many others. Beckham has led the way in brand and image promotion for sporting stars and has shown how much image can be as important as talent when it comes to pay-day.

Capello takes no nonsense

English Football Association chairman Lord Triesman has spoken out on the new-look England and the way it has made the squad into a team of winners. Under Eriksson and McClaren, a travelling circus of WAGs and agents had begun to become the norm for the England team on the road. Under Capello, this has been brought to an abrupt end.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say, and the results justify the measures that Capello has taken to turn these players into serious atheletes rather than celebrity sports personalities. The players must take on board their managers' philosophy if this team wants to first of all reach the World Cup, let alone to progress to the latter stages. We have messed up on the European Championships, and whilst the players' attitude may not be the ONLY reason, the question remains: How can such a collection of undisputably fine sportsmen perform so poorly as they have done under the previous manager on the world stage?

It would be nice to think that the previous attitudes have been blown away by the wind of change and professionalism with prevail for the future.

Beckham at home in Milan

Beckham has been officially welcomed to AC Milan and watched the 5-1 win over Udinese on Sunday. Beckham will now be in contention to make his debut against Roma on 11th January.

Milan are also considering Beckham's inclusion in their UEFA squad, although he will only be available for a limited number of matches. He is expected to take part in a friendly for Milan against Rangers on February 4th.

Beckham joins the Milan training camp in Dubai before returning ready for action in January. Milan players and management are up-beat about the arrival of their new superstar on loan and I am sure the fans will give him a warm welcome too. The danger being that a highly successful few months will make the return to Galaxy a less attractive prospect in March.

Capello on Beckham

England manager Capello has stated that Beckham will not earn a record-equaling England cap if he does not see him playing for Milan. Beckham is on the verge of equaling Bobby Moore's 108 caps in an England shirt, but the record is by no means a certainty.
England are set to play Ukraine at Wembley on April 1st, and David is hoping that his stint at Milan will secure him a place in the squad up to the 2010 World Cup. He starts at Milan after Christmas and will be working hard to get into the first team.

Oceania All Stars 0 Galaxy 3

Jovan Kirovski, Alan Gordon and Brandon McDonald took a goal each in the first half to seal a win in new Zealand on December 6th before Beckham heads off to Milan.
As the scoreline implies, The Galaxy were dominant in the first half hardly allowing the All-stars a chance, and spurning a few chances of their own. Beckham was a real influence from set plays sending in free kicks and corners to good effect.
In the second half, both teams became victims of' tinkering' as substitute after substitute took to the field, the game slowed down and stagnated towards the end with neither team showing enough imagination to alter the score in any way even when Galaxy went down to ten men after Josh Tudela was sent off for his second yellow card.
Galaxy should be pleased to finish off their year with a positive result, something that has been difficult to secure in the MLS in 2008.

Getting ready for the Oceania All-Stars

18 Galaxy players (and 1 'guest') will be traveling to Mt. Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand for the game against the Oceania All-Stars on December 6. Unsurprisingly Beckham is included in the squad (realistically this is who the New Zealand crowd will be coming to see), but the forward line misses both Buddle and Donovan who are being rested. Cronin is out having work done to his hand which received a metal plate during the season just gone.
This will be Beckhams last commitment before joining AC Milan on loan until March 2009. Galaxy's first game of the new season will be against DC united on March 22nd