21 Feb 2016 06:34:36
Not sure if you're still answering questions on footie players Ed001 but I'm interested in what you think of Beckham, probably one of the most famous and recognisable player in the world, must admit I hate Man U but I thought him and Scoles were exceptional players.
{Ed001's Note - good crosser and passer, but lacked skill, had no pace and was completely one footed. He worked his backside off, both in training and in matches, but could be a headless chicken at times, getting caught out trying to do too much. He lacked the intelligence to be a great player, I can remember one game for England everyone lauded him for the free kick goal he scored against Greece, but glossed over the fact that the Greeks only scored their goals because he was caught completely out of position and they attacked down that side.
He was a very good player, but his complete lack of tactical awareness stopped him being a truly great one. His desire to be involved in everything was a weakness in the systems he played in, which relied on width from wingers.}
21 Feb 2016 06:53:12
Thanks Ed I appreciate your answer, I watched gazza play when he was at Spurs and my own personal opinion is that he was one of the greatest English player I've seen, as for England, Shearer and Lineker our best strikers not a big fan off Rooney to be honest.
{Ed001's Note - I have to say I am not a big fan of Lineker, too lazy for my liking. He never got booked because he never made any effort to challenge anyone. It was signing him that cost Everton a title, as he strolled around unlike Andy Gray who led the line for them.}
21 Feb 2016 07:08:29
I agree with you about Gazza, Sid - he had exceptional ability. But for me, Beckham was pretty over-rated and had a limited skill set compared to others. Basically he was very good at passing and crossing but just ok at everything else. To give him some credit though, he practically won that match that match against Greece by himself - his work rate in the second half was phenomenal and the winning free kick sublime.
{Ed001's Note - except that he never did any such thing as they only scored because he was off chasing around in midfield. Both goals came down his side while he was missing.}
21 Feb 2016 07:19:34
Also, I lost count of the number of free kicks he'd already had in the game but wasted. That said, his effectiveness for Manu, particularly his feeding of van nistleroy, was priceless.
21 Feb 2016 09:17:16
I agree with the comments about Beckham in general. Having said that, I can't remember a player who had greater command of what the ball did once it left his foot. A truly unique striker of the ball.
21 Feb 2016 10:59:25
Only England could win a game 2-2 😄
I never understood the fuss about Beckham, a one trick pony.
21 Feb 2016 11:29:31
To the disagrees from my above post. You don't agree that he was effective in his role at Manu? You also don't agree that his crosses to van nistleroy were excellent? I can only assume you're too young to have seen him play back then. I didn't suggest he could beat a man no end, or could tackle like Roy Keane.
21 Feb 2016 11:31:11
For years I have argued that Beckham was not as good as his superstar stardom says! Agree with ed that he only had a right foot. Yes it was a great right and so on.
Tactical awareness, pace, control. Tackling, heading the ball. Without Gary Neville behind him sorting out his lack ground to make up he wouldn't be no more than a David Bentley in my eyes.
Ed. would you consider posting a all time premier league 11 and all time Liverpool 11?
{Ed001's Note - I have added those to my to do list. My memory is not good enough to do one off the top of my head. I end up forgetting 90% of the players I would have put in there otherwise!}
21 Feb 2016 11:36:14
Beckham page is it now!
21 Feb 2016 11:41:09
Beckham did a lot for football that was not just down to his ability. Yes he was a model professional, but so were Scholes, Giggs and both Neville's. He worked extremely hard on his stregnths and his dead ball ability was superb.
He was more effective as a football advertising brand than as a footballer. Just look into short sales at his clubs and the increase in oversees interest in those clubs.
21 Feb 2016 12:20:54
Half, whilst being a Liverpool site it is also a place to discuss football in general.
And to defend the fact that I compared Beckham to other United players and no others, I used those players simply because they played together and came through together.
21 Feb 2016 12:26:53
Burkeyboy mate, the disagrees have been going crazy lately, not sure why, I only asked what Ed thought about Beckham as a player so Halflot it's not a Beckham page as Ed001 has been posting about previous players from the likes of Ronaldo, Henry even our Macca and it's great to see other lads reply too and it put their input in, as I said in my previous post Gazza is my all time favourite English player, nevertheless I still think the likes of Beckham, Scoles were great players to watch, which hurts me to say as I hate Man U with a vengeance, which doesn't help matters when all my family here in Ireland support them.
21 Feb 2016 11:49:58
Hey Ed1, I always thought of Beckham as a player with the intelligence to know exactly where the ball should be and the right foot to put it there. It may have been one trick but what a trick it was.
{Ed001's Note - except it doesn't take intelligence to know that. I don't get why you would call that intelligence. Next you will be saying Tony Pulis plays intelligent football, as he knows where to put the ball too.}
21 Feb 2016 13:41:58
Beck ham was a hard worker and his career showed what can be achieved if you keep your head down and work on simple things like crossing and dead ball accuracy. Btw, free kicks and crossing ability is not a natural talent. It is something anyone can do if they work hard on them willingly. Therefore, Beckham was a hardworking player but severely overrated.
21 Feb 2016 14:46:39
Ed1, I think you're under estimating it, what I refered to as intelligence can be broken down into vision, awareness, decision making, timing and more. Beckham had that far more than most players.
{Ed001's Note - how so? He got the ball and whipped it straight into a dangerous area. Nothing more. There was no 'timing', it was simple, old-fashioned and highly effective, but it was not intelligent. It also requires no 'vision' to simply hit a dangerous area. He wasn't looking to pick out anyone, he was putting into an area and letting his team mates attack it. That is not insulting him, because he kept it simple was a big part of his success, his team mates knew that they could just make runs the moment he got it as he would ping it in, and they knew where it was aimed for, so they knew where to run. No decision making, intelligence, timing or vision required. He is the epitome of how much more effective football can be when kept simple.
If you want to talk about what was particularly special about him, it was his striking technique on the ball. He had an excellent and clean striking technique which enabled him to put a lovely curve on the flight of the ball making it more difficult to defend against but better for the attacker to get to.}
21 Feb 2016 15:51:29
Gazza! i loved Gazza, what a talent. never saw an Englishman like him till him, what a maverick.
As for Beckham, what i love about him is that he was incredibly limited in kill and awareness but through hard work he turned himself into a 'good good' player. That is something i respect.