Manchester United legend David Beckham is set to make his debut for Paris St. Germain this weekend, but Liverpool legend Jan Molby believes that the much-vaunted move is a big mistake for the 37-year old midfielder.
In a recent column for Eurosport, Molby admitted that he is 'really surprised' at Beckham's decision to return to Europe, but praised the midfielder for making a 'football decision'. He argued:
"David Beckham's decision to join Paris Saint-Germain is a massive gamble. There is a real danger that he will get shown up after five years away from the top level.
"It's a brave decision as he is too big a name to join a new club and sit on the bench for six months. He needs to be playing. If he doesn't then he will open himself up to criticism"
The Beckham deal has massive commercial potential for PSG, and it will help the French club build their global brand, but Molby doesn't believe that the former England captain has what it takes to make any kind of difference on the field. He mused:
"Beckham is 37 now and there will be some games in the French league where he can hold his own, but probably not the bigger matches. To be brutally honest, I don't think he can make a significant contribution to PSG's title challenge or their Champions League campaign".
Molby is probably right, but there are players at Beckham's age who are still making a difference. For example, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are still playing well for Manchester United, and if they can do it, why not Beckham?
Footballers' careers are lasting longer and longer these days, and it will be interesting to see how long Steven Gerrard lasts before he hangs up his boots. Will he still be playing at the age of 37?
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
In a recent column for Eurosport, Molby admitted that he is 'really surprised' at Beckham's decision to return to Europe, but praised the midfielder for making a 'football decision'. He argued:
"David Beckham's decision to join Paris Saint-Germain is a massive gamble. There is a real danger that he will get shown up after five years away from the top level.
"It's a brave decision as he is too big a name to join a new club and sit on the bench for six months. He needs to be playing. If he doesn't then he will open himself up to criticism"
The Beckham deal has massive commercial potential for PSG, and it will help the French club build their global brand, but Molby doesn't believe that the former England captain has what it takes to make any kind of difference on the field. He mused:
"Beckham is 37 now and there will be some games in the French league where he can hold his own, but probably not the bigger matches. To be brutally honest, I don't think he can make a significant contribution to PSG's title challenge or their Champions League campaign".
Molby is probably right, but there are players at Beckham's age who are still making a difference. For example, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are still playing well for Manchester United, and if they can do it, why not Beckham?
Footballers' careers are lasting longer and longer these days, and it will be interesting to see how long Steven Gerrard lasts before he hangs up his boots. Will he still be playing at the age of 37?
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
With Gerrard's injury record I dont think his body will hold out as long as the likes of Giggs has but that said hes played every PL game so far so touch wood he stays injury free :)
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteBeckham is a 'PLONKER'
cant blame him decision was made by Posh
ReplyDeletei think that gerrard will play until around 35-36 can't see him playing any longer than that with his injurys and also don't see him sitting on the bench and playing carling cup and fa cup matches in the early rounds
ReplyDeleteI wish he joined the A-League.
ReplyDeleteIt suits him as well. Paris is one of the fashion capitals of the world. I still remember the smell of his cologne when I met him, lol.
ReplyDeleteIt's time for Gerrard to move aside and allow the manager to test other options next season, else he could be holding the club back moving ahead. Still has some good games left in him (probably more from the bench in the near future) but no longer deserves being an automatic choice from the start.
ReplyDeleteGerards so called injuries were not that bad. the problem came because previous managers made him play on until he could go no further, because of this he took longer to recuperate and then an infection reared its head, probably picked up in hospital. He's now back to full fitness and no more likely than any other player to get injured as he doesn't have an underlying problem.
ReplyDeleteStevies a rock, beckhams a c*ck
ReplyDeleteYou wally, find us a replacement before you start retiring the greatest player to ever play for the club!
ReplyDeletethe problem with any player over 30 is that they can literally go overnight one season they are good the next they are terrible,,,,it also depends on the style of player...the problem a lot of top players have is they are multi milliomaires at 20 ...that cant be good for players who arnt motivated
ReplyDeleteMr David "I got a Gol-den Tic-ket!" Beckham, is probably still good for some bit part performances at Paris St Germain i reckon, if nothing else it will make watching them a little more interesting, good luck to him i say, nice bloke, deserved his fame and fortune, must be confident enough of his fitness to take it on, lets see if he's still got it in him.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about Gerrard though, can't see him hanging up his boots for a few years at least but who knows, maybe he will opt to play out the rest of his career elsewhere, certainly wouldn't blame him IF he left to go somewhere where he might get a shot at winning one of the bigger trophies...
Certainly deserves better than what he's got here, that's for sure!
Perfect for Beck.
ReplyDeleteHe sacrificed his football career the day he left for Yank jokeball, which they call MLS. PSG suits him perfectly, fashion capital, brutal dominant squad compared to League 1 standard, confirmed CL qualification every year, good money on the field, great money off it & lots of apple shining pampering. PSG 'll use him mostly for their global branding, which also suits him; after all Mr. Posh is model first, then footballer.
"David Beckham's decision to join Paris Saint-Germain is a massive gamble. There is a real danger that he will get shown up after five years away from the top level."
ReplyDeleteI don't agree. David Beckham might be 37 years old but he has played football at a high level where ever he as gone. Giggs is 37 years old and he continues to put on the performance you need on a pitch. Yes Beckham has played football in America. But a player like him don't loose there abilities it's natural to them. Regarding to his fitness, he trains with clubs during the off MLF offseason (Arsenal) that's his dedication. He has also had two loan spells at Milan when the MLF was finished. At the end of the day he is a accomplished footballer who has won titles where ever he has gone. The fact that people doubt he can adapt to the French league is absurd. His fitness is as good as anyone's, football is his natural ability that would never disappear (free kicks, corners, crosses etc.)
Players go on and play late into there football careers if they maintain a good healthy lifestyle. It's up to the player and how long they want to play (most maintain a healthy diet.) Gerrard is player who has that luxury of a choice. The fact that he urged Carragher to play beyond the age of 35 shows Gerrard feels that you can still play a part past 35. So I expect Gerrard to wear the LFC jersey well into 37.
He's giving his wage to a children's charity, I, nor anyone else, shouldn't care if he sits on the bench all season.
ReplyDelete7 goals, 9 assists. Enough said
ReplyDeleteplease do not get me started on this t0sser we talk about over hyped english players well he is the master,if i met im in tesco,s i would not ask for his autograph and his misses for f"ck sake she makes me want to pucke,the sooner this roadshow is over the better
ReplyDeletelol Jason say what you mean your not being clear about how you feel
ReplyDeleteActually Jaimie most LFC fans don't care TBH
ReplyDeleteI don't post stuff on the basis of whether fans 'care' or not.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but his has no links with LFC, was never linked in anyway and really wasn't that good in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIf you could ask Ferguson, I bet he'd rather of had Gerrard than Beckham.
I actually did this at work last week with a Man U supporter to draw up the greatest LFC players and I did the greatest Man U players Beckham wasn't even close to the starting 11.
your out of yur mind. gerrard is only slow. otherwise he is still a magician, experience wise without him we could possibly be teams to lose 5-0 and so because of no leadership. only player on the same wavelength like suarez. (sturridge still early days)
ReplyDeleteIf only he could have been pinging balls in to Heskey.
ReplyDeleteThe ultimate football partnership.
The comments were made by Molby, there is your Liverpool link.
ReplyDeleteI've always had a lot of respect for Beckham. Not for all the celebrity shite, but that stuff doesn't matter because it doesn't affect his game. He has always been a consummate professional and given his all for his teams.
ReplyDeleteI think he has shown remarkable resilience and character too. Once upon a time, he had effigies of him being burnt up and down the country (fucking in-ger-lund fans *shakes head*) and only a few short years later he managed to become England captain and probably (Ashley Cole aside, maybe Gerrard if he keeps up his form for a while) the best player for England out of the 'Golden generation'.
Also, it was mightily impressive the way he forced Fabio Capello, a stubborn fella, to change his mind about him, and ended up being the main catalyst in Real's La Liga win that year.
Dealing with the constant attention can't be easy either, though admittedly he has brought that on himself by making himself a 'brand' (this marketing speak is fucking loathsome).
On top of that, he seems a nice bloke, a good ambassador for the game and a decent family man.
I think most people's criticism of this guy is unfounded, usually rooted in his pretty boy image, the fact he played for United, or more often, just plain jealousy.
Good luck to him I say.
poetry in motion!
ReplyDeletei could not make it much clearer and still get my post up;-)
ReplyDeleteOr Del Piero...
ReplyDelete