Beckham in Manchester

David Beckham is one of two Manchester old boys popping up at Old Trafford today. He appeared in the crowd whereas Paul Scholes made a surprise return to old Trafford, suspending his retirement to help out Manchester United take on Manchester City today.

For a brief moment you wonder whether Beckham would consider putting himself forward if Sir Alex is looking to bolster his squad for the rest of the winter - but the wily Scot is unlikely to entertain the idea for very long, although stranger things have happened ...

The game itself was a good advert for both the FA cup and the Premier League with ManU going three up in the first half after Kompany was dismissed for Man City. ManC pulled two back in the second half and the rest of the game became rather tense. Another long-lost ManU old boy Owen Hargreaves also took the field, but in the blue of Man City.

Man United teased City for the last five minutes keeping possession until City finally got a break and a free kick for a foul on the edge of the box. 92 mins on the clock and a nervy United keep the ball out of the net, the game finishes Man City 2, Man United 3 - ManU go through to the next round of the cup.

No doubt, the Beckhams will be happy with that result.

MLS All-Stars 0 Manchester United 4

Following on from their 7-0 drubbing of Seattle Sounders, Man U took the MLS All-stars to task yesterday. Beckham took a midfield role as he does for recent Galaxy games and was able to drive forward a couple of times once striking just wide, and another time testing the keeper from range. However, as Man City over-ran The Galaxy last week (even though they only managed a 1-1 draw before penalties), there was never any doubt that Man United were the superior team. It was Anderson who opened the scoring after 20 minutes. Park doubled the advantage with a superb individual effort before half-time.

Goals from Berbatov and Wellbeck in the second half ensured an emphatic victory for Man United, establishing proof of the gap between the top of the English Premiership and the top of the MLS.

Manchester United 1 Juventus 2 (Gary Neville testimonial)

Beckham has been given a few days off to take part in Gary Nevilles testimonial at Old Trafford. Beckham joined both of the Neville brothers, Nicky Butt, Rooney, Giggs, Scholes and Michael Owen amongst others - bizarrely both Owen and Beckham wore a no. 7 shirt...

United got off to a good start when Rooney put them one-up after just 18 minutes, Juve got one back before the end of the first half, and a Beckham foul led to a superb 'Beckham-esque' freekick to take Juve a goal ahead with less than 15 minutes left on the clock.

Overall the game was taken reasonably seriously although without the tempo of a truly competitive event. No-one was dragged out of retirement to make a token appearance - all the players who took part are fully functioning full-time professionals, a surprising amount of Man United youngsters were honoured with an appearance too.

Beckham flies back to join his team on Thursday to prepare for the weekends MLS action, he will miss tomorrows game as he did last time LA had a mid-week game.

Will Beckham go on loan?

There seems to be some dual messages coming from the LA Galaxy camp and from David himself. Whilst in the UK, he has said that he would be looking for a Winter loan-spell again, but LA Galaxy have said that he will not be going on loan.

It is already established that AC Milan are not a possibility this time, but it looks like the Beckham camp are keeping European options open - in the meantime, Sven-Goran Eriksson is faintly hopeful of bringing Beckham to Championship team Leicester City - but even he has realised that this is not very likely...

Beckham has reiterated his desire to represent England again, and he may feel that a European loan spell is once again a key factor in regaining his national place.

Last time there was a dispute over whether Beckham was going on loan or not, Beckham did what he wanted regardless - I have a feeling that if the right offer comes in, he will once again ride rough-shod over LA Galaxy and risk the derision of the fans once more.

Beckham has previously said that the only Premiership team he would come back for is Manchester United, we can safely assume that this pretty much rules out Championship teams too. Whether there is the remotest chance of Sir Alex considering bringing him back to Old Trafford is unknown, but he was prepared to take a risk on Michael Owen...

Personally, I imagine that he will either get a short-term placement in another Italian or Spanish club (although I don't have a clue which ones would be up for it) apparently two German sides, Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg have both been cited as possible options, or end up training (but not playing) with Arsenal again as he did a few years ago.

In other Galaxy news, the team have announced that Landon Donovan will not be going out on loan during the off-season, but personally I believe Donovan performed well below par for the galaxy recently - form that would not be tolerated in the EPL. Also, The Galaxy have 'signed' Jaun Pablo Angel - don't ask me what the 2nd entry draft is all about, the way MLS teams acquire players is frankly ridiculous -but that's basketball...err baseball I mean soccer...

Beckham prepares for Christmas in the UK

Man United top the Premiership

It has been reported that the Beckhams' plan to spend Christmas in the UK with friends and family.

In support of this, Beckham is seen here alongside his good friend and old team-mate Gary Neville watching Manchester United take on Arsenal in the Premiership title race.

He saw J.S.Park open the scoring at the end of the first half, and Rooney miss a penalty on the 73rd minute. Man United eventually running out 1-0 winners and going to the top on the table in the process... leapfrogging local rivals Man city.

Manchester United 4 AC Milan 0 (agg 7-2)

Beckham starts on the bench for his much-hyped return to Old Trafford and Manchester United came out fighting with a few early efforts from Rooney, but Milan replied with a couple of chances of their own all within the first 10 mins. It was only a few minutes later when Rooney put United 4-2 ahead on aggregate with another headed goal from a cross by captain Gary Neville. With the pressure of extra goals needed, Milan continued to pile the pressure on United. Both teams finished the frist half strongly, but United seem able to contain Milan and prevent them from playing the game their way. The half ends 1-0 to United, with Milan needing to score three to win the tie.
The second half gets under way with Seedorf coming into the game, but Rooney strikes again in the first minute to surely put the tie out of Milan's reach. Fed by Nani from the left, this time Rooney was clear to slip the ball past Abbiati in the Milan goal and watch it trickle over the line. Meanwhile Beckham is warming up in earnest, as Milan contemplate their predicament at 5-2 down on aggregate. On 58 minutes United added to Milan's woe through Park who managed to strike across goal from close range beating the keeper for 3-0 on the night and 6-2 on aggregate.
Beckham finally joins the fray with a little under 30 minutes left, shortly before Rooney and Neville leave the field. The crowd gave Beckham a very warm reception, and then proceeded to boo when he had his first touch, jokers began to chant 'Fergie, Fergie sign him up!'. Inzaghi also joined the fray, but the tie is over to all intents and purposes and United are not likely to give away four goals...
However on 74 minutes Beckham had a dream strike from distance that Van De Saar managed to parry - it was the kind of volley you dream of, which was both well-hit and on target, unfortunately it was not far enough away from the 'keeper to change the score. Beckham was also able to demonstrate delivery from the right hand side that Milan have been missing in his absence. The last cheer was to go Manchester United's way with Fletcher getting on the end of a soaring cross to head home for United's fourth goal on the night with just a couple of minutes left to play. In extra-time Beckham again was given far too much time on the right and put in a cross that just skimmed the goal line and eluded the Milan strikers. All-in-all a masterful performance by Man United who easily contained and dominated the Serie A side.
Beckham was the last to leave the field as he took the time to walk around and thank the crowd who were so generous in their plaudits.

Beckham ready to play at Old Trafford

Barely visible in a sea of photographers, Beckham is mobbed by press and fans as the Milan team arrive in preparation to play Manchester United tomorrow night.
Milan face an uphill struggle to turn around a 3-2 home deficit for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Beckham has not started a game since the first leg at the San Siro, but there is hope that he will be able to play a significant part in what will be his first and quite possibly last visit to Old Trafford as an opposition player.
Nerves seemed absent as the team worked hard at training today, Ronaldinho and Beckham share a joke whilst they vie for who will take the free-kicks:
Quite rightly, Sir Alex will be more concerned about players like Pato and Huntelaar rather than what the 34-year-old former Manchester United player will bring to the game. Milan have a strong squad and will need to play to their strengths to turn this tie around...

Milan 2 Man United 3

Beckham starts in this poignant clash between the reds of Manchester and the reds of Milan, and shows class from the start. After just three minutes it was a Beckham free-kick that fell to Ronaldinho after Evra cleared wildly. The Brazilian flashed it past Van De Saar for the first goal of the match. Chances continued to come thick and fast for Milan and Man United looked like they were in for a torrid time.
But Manchester United are not a team to give up easily and it was 10 minutes from half time when Fletcher crossed into the box for Scholes to swing at with his right foot - he mis-kicked and the ball span off his left shin beyond Dida and into the Milan goal. The tempo was set and both teams fought for dominance, a fight in which Milan were marginally ahead - yet the score remained 1-1 up to half time.
The game continued with entertaining football form both teams, Rooney leading the attack for Man United, Ronaldinho full of tricks for Milan. It was Rooney who made the impact on 65 mins, rising in the box to place his looping header over a stranded Dida to go 2-1 up in the tie. Five minutes later Beckham left the field to be replaced by Clarence Seedorf. Just four minutes later Rooney again stole behind the static Milan defence to head a simple chip from Fletcher over a rooted Dida, 3-1 to Man United. Seedorf justified his presence by scoring in the last five minutes with a back-heel finish in the box to give a thrilling finale to the game. Inzaghi who had also only been on the pitch a short while almost made it a draw just seconds later, but shot over the bar. Milan continue to push for the equaliser making a real game of it as the seconds tick away. Michael Carrick was sent off in added time for a second bookable offence, although he committed no foul. The final whistle went, embraces were exchanged and we look forward with keen anticipation to the return leg at Old Trafford.

Becks set to return to Old Trafford

Not for Man U, but for AC Milan as the two sides have been drawn to play each other in the Champions League in Mid-March 2010. Beckham has never returned to play against Manchester United since leaving the club in 2003 and can be assured of a warm reception.

There are a few hurdles to be overcome before this dream becomes a reality, Beckham (34) must remain fit, and has to be registered by AC Milan by February 1st as a member of the AC Milan Champions League squad as one of three additions allowed.

Manchester United do not have a particularly good record against AC Milan, and will be looking to stop Beckham and the AC Milan team in their tracks.