Beckham: Good, But Not That Good

On Monday’s Fox Football Fone-In show in the US, regular Milan-based guest Hyder Jawal gave a refreshing take on David Beckham’s tenure in Serie A by describing it as no more than ordinary. Having watched Beckham’s six games in their entirety rather than relying on the viewpoints peddled by the Associated Press, I am fully in agreement.

Beckham has surprised everyone – himself included – with his form since debuting on January 11. He has slotted comfortably into the Rossoneri’s star-studded line-up despite the obvious problems for foreign players arriving in a new country, adapting to a new environment, and overcoming a language barrier.

While most observers envisaged the on-loan Los Angeles Galaxy man being little more than a bit-part player during his three-month stay, a window of opportunity opened when Gennaro Gattuso tore a cruciate ligament last December. Ancelotti entrusted Beckham with a starting berth at Roma, but the formidable Brazilian duo of Kaká and Alexandre Pato stole the show – the latter scoring twice in a 2-2 draw. Beckham performed conservatively by keeping his passes short, simple, and unspectacular.

The pattern has continued. Beckham’s play remains cautious, dictated by a fear of conceding possession. The majority of his passes remain routine, shifting possession inside to Andrea Pirlo or wide to the rampaging right-back Gianluca Zambrotta. Genoa goalkeeper Rubinho was caught out by a wily free-kick in the 1-1 draw on January 28, but his set pieces and deliveries from wide areas have largely been disappointing. Pato and Kaká have many outstanding qualities – rising above central defenders to attack crosses is not one of them.

The Genoa game came three days after Beckham notched his first goal having been given the freedom of Emilia-Romagna to top off a 4-1 win against a bedraggled ten-man Bologna. It marked his best performance to date although he wilted in the final thirty minutes as the Grifone pressed for a deserved equaliser.

Beckham’s army of sycophants turned up the volume after his two “assists” in the 3-0 win at Lazio on February 1. The first pass for Pato – a square ball across the penalty box after both players had been left in acres of space by Lazio’s faltering offside trap – would have been made by any player in the Milan squad. The second – a routine set play hoisted towards the back post – owed everything to the tenacity of Massimo Ambrosini as the Italian midfielder evaded his marker to power a header beyond Fernando Muslera. Otherwise it was another inconspicuous afternoon for the Englishman.

Overall, Beckham has done okay. He certainly has not looked out of place; nor though has he resembled the second coming of Maradona circa 1986 as some would have you believe. For all the plaudits being showered upon him, he has performed no better than fellow midfielders Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, or the scandalously under-rated vice-captain Ambrosini.

On The Plus Side……

Should Milan and Beckham, as seems increasingly likely, obtain their wish in prizing the player away from his five-year contract with Major League Soccer:

1) MLS fans will no longer have to stomach the insipid, lifeless performances served up on a weekly basis by a patronising and plainly-uninterested $50m-a-year man.

2) The millions who brazenly champion England’s “best league in the world” might take a greater interest in Serie A, discovering in the process that Calcio offers infinitely greater aesthetic talent than the dire fare served up on a weekly basis by the likes of Bolton, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Stoke…..