Beckham commits to LA Galaxy

The long drawn-out proceedings finally ended when Beckham signed a two-year extension to his MLS contract at LA Galaxy. Over the next two years, David can apparently expect $15m from The Galaxy, and they will no doubt be happy for him to make himself available for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Beckham at Arsenal

With Thierry Henry back on the bench for Arsenal, the very day after Paul Scholes came out of retirement - The Beckham boys are back in the terraces watching the latest FA cup story unfold, this time to watch Arsenal take on Leeds at the Emirates.

Arsene Wenger has also gone public voicing his belief that Beckham could play in the Premier League again like Henry, it was with Arsenal that Beckham trained in one winter break before the World Cup campaign started.

Wenger expressed his admiration for the determination of both men when playing in the MLS play-offs in 2011. He cited the anger and frustration that Henry displayed on losing the play-off, indicating the desire of the player.

Wenger said that both Beckham and Henry show the same desire to play to the best of their ability rather than sit back and take things easy in the MLS.

Henry repaid his old managers confidence by coming on late in the second half and scoring the winning goal as Arsenal beat Leeds 1-0. A fairy-tale ending to the day for Henry - a sigh of relief from Wenger as his team of youngsters showed promise but could not break through the Leeds defence.

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.

Beckham to stay in LA?

I'm not sure that staying in LA is the best option for David Beckham's aim of getting a place in the GB Olympic squad, but it does appear that (once again) the speculation of 18 months with PSG has evaporated. This time it is Leonardo himself saying that David will put family first and will not be signing for Paris.

It's not over 'til he signs in one place or another, but LA fans see this as a positive indication that he will stay with The Galaxy who have reportedly offered a one-year rolling deal.

In the meantime, although Robbie Keane initially ruled out a winter move, he is planning to train with Spurs during January, and Aston Villa are apparently set to offer a two-month loan deal to the LA Galaxy striker. Landon Donovan of course, is already in the squad at Everton for the winter break.

Paris Saint Germain

As the January transfer window gets ever closer, it looks increasing like Dave Beckham may be heading to PSG on an 18 month deal at a reported £700,000 per month. French politicians are up in arms at the proposed salary which would make Beckham the highest earning sportsman in France.

Added to this speculation is the distinct possibility that Carlo Ancelotti is also set to join the Paris club as coach setting the scene for an AC Milan 'old boys' network with Leonardo already installed...

I was personally hoping for a return to the Premier League for Beckham, but hopefully if this move comes off, it will present the right platform to launch his bid for a place in the British Olympic team for 2012. Watch this space for breaking news....

UPDATE: The BBC are now reporting that Beckham may be favouring extending his contract with LA Galaxy, which initially looked to be a strong contender - however, taking this step might mean he is in a worse position to get a place in the Olympic team.

Melbourne Victory 2 (3), LA Galaxy 2(4)

In what proved to be the toughest test of the tour, The Galaxy drew 2-2 with hosts Melbourne victory in their final exhibition match, going on to take the victory in the penalty shoot-out.

It was penalties that got them the draw in the first place, both of them sent home by Robbie Keane. Beckham had a chance to repeat his rare trick of a goal from his own half, this time narrowly missing the target.

Berhalter came on for Beckham in the 89th minute, sparing Beckham the penalty shoot-out - Berhalter scored his penalty and LA took the honours despite Landon Donovan sending his effort over the bar.

Donovan is heading for another short stint at Everton in January, Beckham looks increasingly likely to be heading for Paris..

Phillipines 1 LA Galaxy 6

Beckham scores the opening goal in open play (!) in what quite frankly a rout seeing a host of the Galaxy's star players getting goals. Beckham opened the scoring on 20 minutes curling the ball past the keeper from just outside the box. Magee scored a scorcher from Donovan just before the 40 minute mark, and the Phillipines quickly got one back 2-1 to the Galaxy at half time.

Keane scrambles the ball into the net straight after the break, Cristman headed a goal on the hour mark to take the score to 4-1, well out of sight for the Phillipines team. The Galaxy won a penalty on 80 mins and veteran Berhalter took a great penalty to take the score up to 5-1, and Cristman rounded it off on 86 mins, the game finished 6-1 and never for a second did it look like any other outcome was likely..

Indonesia 0 LA Galaxy 1

The Galaxy continued their MLS form as they start their Asia Pacific Tour 2011. With the whole squad minus a couple (Ricketts having been traded and Birchall left at home to deal with domestic affairs), it was nonetheless a lot a unfamiliar faces that graced the Indonesian turf to grind out a win for The Galaxy in typical gritty style. One would like to think that a full star-studded squad would have made more of an impression, but a win is a win, and The Galaxy have 'blooded' some players who normally don't get the chance to play under the top-class spotlight.

It was Robbie Keane who scored after 14 minutes, the ball falling to him out of a penalty-box scramble - his finish was sharp and precise as he placed it just inside the right-hand post. More chances followed but went unconverted, and the home side was lucky to only concede the one goal in the first half.

Keane was substituted at 60 minutes, and Beckham had a few set-pieces to try a trade-mark goal, but failed to find the mark. Beckham stayed on the park for almost 85 minutes and left to a standing ovation. Indonesia came into the game more in the second half and crafted a few chances without managing to get anything past reserve keeper Brian Perk. The Galaxy see the game out retaining the one goal lead.

The 2011 MLS Final LA Galaxy 1 Houston Dynamo 0

The Galaxy settle in quickly and have the majority of the possession in the first half, plenty of chances to get forward but no efforts on target. Beckham does his fair share of set-up play by pinging balls to the front men. The first half ends 0 -0, but LA are looking likely to score at any minute. The Galaxy have Keane, Cristman and Donovan running rings around the Dynamo defence, Magee spurned a chance near the end of the first half. Cristman headed over the bar under pressure, plenty of corners have been forced, everything but a goal..

Cristman was visibly struggling and was replaced by Birchall early in the second half as The Galaxy continued to pile the pressure.

Keane had the ball in the back of the net just before the hour mark, but he was judged (wrongly according to the replays) to be offside, this rallied Houston a little and they turned attackers for a short spell.

However, it was Donovan who broke the deadlock on 72 minutes combining with Beckham and Keane and scoring the only goal of the final and securing the victory for The Galaxy. The Galaxy hold on to take the title, Beckham gets another yellow card...

Any other result would not have been right on the night, had they not found the net, it would have gone to extra time and penalties - The Galaxy out-classed Houston on the night, and have been consistent all season, if ever a trophy were deserved, this one was...

If this is how the five-season experiment ends, finally one can say it ends with success, a league title which incidentally, I think Beckham has won with every team he has played for.

We wait to see what Beckham will decide, bearing in mind the nagging back injury, the burning desire to play in the Olympics and the demands of a young family.

LA Galaxy 3 Real Salt Lake 1

The Galaxy get off to a good start with a Landon Donovan penalty after 22 minutes. Up to that point, both sides had chances to score, and neither team had a good hold on the match. This was borne out 2 minutes later when RSL convert a corner to level the match at 1-1. From this point, LA look to be taking control of the match keeping possession and creating chances, Salt Lake largely restricted to hitting Galaxy on the break. Both teams hit the woodwork in a busy first half, but the honours are even at half-time 1-1.

Just 13 mins into the second half, Mike Magee got his head onto a Beckham cross for Galaxy to take the lead. Just 10 minutes later, the result was more or less sealed as Donovan fed Keane to take the score to 3-1. A couple of yellows were picked up on the night (NOT by Beckham who is now on an extended run of not getting booked..), but nothing that will prevent players taking part in the MLS final in two weeks time. Beckham was sub'd during extra time, but stood up to the task well considering that games have been coming thick and fast this week, and the continued concern over his back injury.

Keane looks to be over his injury worries, just needs to hit the net more than hitting the post (it's a bigger target after all!). Beckham will be looking to take this chance to win his first MLS cup, having lost the final in 2009 (on penalties), and lost the semi-final in 2010, LA are hopefully a little wiser and better prepared in 2011.

LA Galaxy 2 New York Red Bulls 1 (3-1 agg.)

Leading 1-0 from the first leg, LA Galaxy take on New York Red Bulls at the Home Depot. It was New York who struck first after just three and a half minutes. Henry fed Rodgers splitting the Galaxy defence open, Rodgers passed the ball into the net to level the two-leg tie. Luke Rodgers lost his head a bit after the goal, getting a booking for 'unsporting behaviour', then fortunate not to get a second before 10 minutes have elapsed as he fires the ball into the crowd in frustration. However, in general Red Bulls are looking the most composed of the two teams early on. After the initial knock-back, LA begin press the visitors and come close a couple of times. There was a short-lived scare for LA fans when Beckham was helped off the field clutching his back, but he then rejoined the play and delivered the perfect corner for Mike Magee to head into the net on 42 mins for 1-1 on the night, 2-1 ahead over the two legs.

Beckham returned for the second half, and after plenty of goalmouth action, if was Beckham who won a penalty after being kicked in the ribs from behind whilst shielding the ball in the box.

Donovan stepped up to calmly stroke the ball home, 3-1 up in the tie and LA are in full control with 15 minutes left on the clock. This was just about enough for Beckham who spent enough time on the turf for one match and was substituted with about 12 minutes remaining.

Hopefully the back will hold out for the home game against Real Salt Lake on Sunday for the Western Conference Championship game - if successful, LA hope to be playing in the MLS final on 20th November especially as it will be played at the Home Depot Center.

Beckham News

I have been saying all along that Beckham would probably hold to the MLS to the franchise deal that was included in his five-year contract, however this is something for retirement and does not answer the question of where Beckham will play out his career.

It looks likely that he may retire after 2012 if he manages to make it to the GB squad, but whether this is a pipe-dream remains to be seen.

I am quite certain that Capello will not pick Beckham for the England squad - whether Pearce will pick him for the GB squad is surely not exactly nailed-on? although if you check with the bookies - they have him as odds-on for a place in the squad.

The question remains where will Beckham sign next, and as someone who has been observing his tactics for the last few years it will be somewhere that promotes his chances of a GB squad placing, and surely the best place for that will be Spurs? Paris St Germaine gets him into Europe, but now we know what the agenda is:

1. Olympics
2. Retirement
3. MLS Franchise

...a place at Tottenham with Harry Redknapp (confirmed Beckham fan) would surely

be preferable to playing in France? I suppose when you look at it from Pearce's point of view, having Beckham to call on gives you a lot of positives including an undisputed world-class set-

piece expert (not including penalties of course). He potentially plays holding mid-field and can still curl devastating ball into the box from mid-field as well as from the right wing. With Gerrard looking rather injury-prone at the moment, and Lampard not being a dead-cert any more, there may be central gaps that Pearce will want to fill.

In other Olympic news, already Welsh contenders have annoyed the

Welsh FA by being pictured in the GB kit. The non-English home nations don't want their players to be involved as they are worried about losing their identity. To be honest the Welsh, Scottish & NI FA's don't really have an identity to be worried about - their leagues are hardly high-profile, and they should be gracious enough to give their blessing to players who want to play at a level that would normally be denied them

.