Oliver Kay hits back in the Beckham for England debate

Love him or hate him, everyone has an opinion on David Beckham. At least, that would appear to be the case after the bumper postbag we received when Oliver Kay asked the question: Does David Beckham deserve to win his 100th cap for England? in Monday's edition of TheGame. You replied in your droves and today Oliver, slipping seamlessly into the role normally taken by Martin Samuel, our five times Sports Writer of the Year, answers the best and the worst of them. Remember, the fun does not have to stop here. If you care to take issue with any points raised by Mr Kay, please feel free to fill in the comment box at the bottom of this page.      

Of course Beckham deserves his 100th cap. He has been England’s best player for years. To the so-called England fans who are always on his case - "he’s played average" - what are you on about? Who is the only English player to have scored in three World Cups? Who got us to the World Cup both times? And who is the only English player who wears the shirt with pride and gives 100 per cent since Gascoigne? Beckham.
Nortz

OK: Right. Taking your points in turn, Nortz, Beckham hasn’t been England’s best player for years. I agree he was England’s most influential player between 1999 and 2001, which were without question the best years of his career, and he also went on an impressive goalscoring run in the 2002-03 season, but has he really been England’s “best player” since 2003? The competition hasn’t been great, but I would without hesitation name Ferdinand, Terry, Lampard and Rooney as better players for England over that time. Gerrard and Owen (when fit) likewise, even if Gerrard remains an underachiever in an England shirt. Yes Beckham is the only English player to have scored in three World Cups, but do you really look back on those three tournaments and reflect that he illuminated the England team? He’s also the only player to have been sent off twice playing for England. Sure that is a lazy argument, but so is the “three World Cups” statistic.

Of course yes. He is one of the best talents England has produced in the last decade. Capello's style is based on a strong, tall goalscorer capable of using both feet and head to score. Crosses from Beckham will be desperately needed as it was the case with forwards like Ruud van Nistelrooy at Real, Van Basten at Milan, Trezeguet at Juve, Morientes at Real years ago, Carew with Roma. Who in the England squad can provide better crosses than Beckham?
Ray

OK: Ray makes a good point about how Beckham’s delivery would appeal to Capello’s philosophy. But where is the English striker who fits in the Van Nistelrooy or Van Basten mould? There isn’t one, so Capello needs to be pragmatic enough to construct his team around his best players. I’m certain he will do that, which is why I can’t see how he can find room for Beckham.

Surely the wondrous strike against Greece in the last minute, which enabled qualification to the 2002 World Cup finals, justifies one cap in itself?
Tom

OK: Yes it did justify one cap: the next one. How long can he live off that free kick? For as long as it takes him to get to 100?

The monotonous anti-Becks articles are wearying. Mr Samuel has regularly rehashed this story over the years. (What don’t you like about him Martin? His skills? His looks? His success?) Let Beckham have his hundredth cap in the friendly and then we can look forward to the exciting prospect of that patriotic lion, Bentley replacing him! Hope he is not too tired this time … .
Kevin Hayton

OK: First of all, sorry to be pedantic, but I’m Mr Kay, not Mr Samuel. Yes, I’m sure Martin and I would accept we don’t rival Beckham when it comes to looks – to be honest, we probably don’t rival Wayne Rooney either – but that has nothing to do with it. I like Beckham as a person and I admired him hugely as a player when he was at his peak (seven or eight years ago), but I will remember him as a media phenomenon and a cultural icon rather than a great footballer. Billy Wright, the first player to win 100 caps for England, was married to one of the Beverley Sisters – almost wrote the “Nolan Sisters” then … -- but I don’t think that ever overshadowed his football career.

I love reading Brits arguing about football. You all obviously have great passion for the game. I'm from America, and I know that disqualifies my opinion in most of your eyes. But as far as I see the Becks situation, what's the harm in giving him his 100th cap in a friendly? He loves his country, and speaks of it proudly, and we in America love that about him.

Whether he moved here for the money or not, he has brought much more awareness and fans (myself included) to the MLS, which can only help the league improve. Most of us are not brought up around football, as in there was no middle school, high school, or even recreational leagues where I lived growing up. Now, there is a rec league and a few high school teams. In other words, he has definitely created an excitement about football here, and I for one am glad.
Patrick

OK: First of all, Patrick, let me that assure you that being American does not disqualify your opinion. It’s interesting to hear the impact that Beckham has had on the sport in the US. I’m happy, both for him and for the MLS, that his missionary work is going so well. But I do think that, the moment he moved to LA Galaxy, Beckham severely compromised his position with England. Yes he was in a difficult position, having been frozen out by Steve McClaren, but playing in an inferior league such a long way away and with a completely different calendar (spring to autumn) is not conducive to playing international football in Europe. Failing to qualify for Euro 2008 also works against Beckham, in that we’re now building towards the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. I don’t see Beckham being a key player for England in that qualifying campaign, never mind in the finals (wishful thinking, I know), by which time he will be 35.

Beckham is one of the greatest English players and will always remain at that status. He, like a few people mentioned above, single-handedly got England into the World Cup against Greece. Beckham deserves his 100th cap and also needs to get back that captain arm band back which is rightfully his. Beckham should be back for all that he has brought to English football. Hate him or Love him; he is an English hero in his own right. He might not be your late Bobby Moore, but that was a time and this a time. Let’s be positive and look at what he brought to the English game.
Tarek

OK: Ok. Let’s be positive. Let’s mention that free kick against Greece in 2001, seeing as it is the single moment that all you Beckham cheerleaders have mentioned. Let’s also recall the other “defining moment” of his England career, the penalty against Argentina in the 2002 World Cup. There were some other great performances, certainly, but you and others suggest that Beckham has carried the England team for the past decade, that he “single-handedly” took them to the 2002 World Cup finals with that free kick against Greece. Really? What about Michael Owen’s hat-trick against Germany a month earlier. What about the performances of Steven Gerrard in Munich and, just as pertinently, Paul Scholes in a 2-0 victory away to Greece? What, indeed, about the contribution of Sven-Goran Eriksson, who took over the team with a solitary point from its first two matches and took it to first place in the group? The “single-handed” myth is the greatest Beckham of them all, which really is saying something.

Many of these comments suggest that most people really do not watch Beckham play and are sucked in by the media hype. The reality is that Beckham is finished as a top flight footballer unless he does something drastic with his fitness/pace. He may well have a potent dead-ball skill, but that is not enough. He has never been the best passer in the game, but for a period when he was 26-29 years old he was probably the best deliverer of the ball from the right side of midfield. Bentley can now offer that option - although I am still bemused at his behaviour in the summer - and he has the fitness, pace and energy to get up and down the touchline.

Sir Alex always warned him that the energy spent on his celebrity lifestyle would cut his career short. Prophetic words when you consider the older Giggs is still bounding up and down the pitch.
Whitey

OK: Hats off to you, Whitey. You’ve hit the nail on the head. It is a little unfair to suggest the “energy spent on his celebrity lifestyle” has cut Beckham’s career short, but the comparison with Giggs is extremely valid. Football has always been Giggs’s motivation. Beckham, although he has undoubtedly been a committed footballer, cannot make the same claim.

Beckham should get his 100th cap, with the condition it is his last. He has been an outstanding ambassador for English football, but as a player his reputation seems over-inflated. His difficult spell in an admittedly unstable Madrid team showed him to be a team member, not a leader able to influence the direction the team was taking. I can’t escape the feeling that, marketing aside, Alex Ferguson knew what he was doing when he moved him on.
Mark Jensen

OK: The proposal Mark makes – that Beckham’s 100th cap is his last – is probably the ideal one, but the issue is clouded by the fact that it is Capello’s first game. It calls for a clean break and, in my opinion, that means drawing a line in the sand and moving from the miserable recent past to a brighter future. If he is to be awarded a 100th cap purely for sentiment’s sake, so be it. Personally, I think 99 (so near yet so far) is a number that says much more about Beckham’s international career. And if that is the case, maybe Beckham, lauded by many of you for his maturity and willingness to lead by example, will reflect that the “clever” booking he picked up against Wales in 2003 – thus incurring a suspension for an easy-looking game away to Azerbaijan, which his team-mates won 1-0 in horrible conditions – was not quite so clever after all.

Comments

[David Garratty]

From a purely football reason, there is no reason for Beckham to play for England again. The midfield is lacking pace already without putting in someone who could barely run past his missus. he hasn't played well for England for 5 years now, but then neither have Gerrard or Lampard. Capello needs to put out a sign that no players place is guaranteed, no matter who you are, as there are too many comfortable players in the England squad. Beckham sold his 100th England cap for £125 million when he signed for the Galaxy, maybe Posh can knit him 1 with all that time on her hands. Bring on the future and forget the past.

[brian cole]

adam,david bentley is 23 years old and has represented england with distinction since the age of 16.it was time for him to move on not back.so please give him some credit,or indeed respect, for confronting abject management.he deserved an opportunity at the highest level in the friendly against brazil ,not a seat on the bench.

[Jonny Lightbown]

Personally I believe as with everything in that happens in David Beckhams world, this is being overhyped by the media as it is happening to David Beckham. He is one cap away from a personal landmark and if he is fit to walk out as Captain on Feb 6th for one last swan-song then I do not think it should be taken away from him. If the script is written he will score and be able to walk off the pitch in the 89th minute to a standing ovation, replace him with David Bentley and we have our answer. If this scenario was involving Michael Owen, Frank Lampard or David James would you deny these type of players one chance at that goal. Or if someone denied you, how would you feel.

[John, Malta]

You said Lampard, owen, gerrard etc are better players than becks...is that what you think?? Lampard is the reason England didnt get past the quater final stage.....he is a useless player when it comes to closing down or dictating play, so his only good point is that he scores....and just to use stats he has one of the worst shot to goal ratio...with england he had the goal begging for a goal.....once the keeper was beaten and lampard was a few yards out...he blew the ball in the air...as for owen...please...this player WAS great....his last games for england have been average at most.....he scored when everything was done for him, missed chances and provides nothing more....gerrard....well not bad but we only see flashes of what he is capable...and you also said england dont have a rvn....we do mate...heskey and crouch....ashton isnt a a bad talisman either....so before you start hitting out at the only player that deems it fit enough to fight for his country, look at what you say and stop sulking that he is a rich famous person while you are stuck saying what you would have done when you would never have been able to do it! Becks is gonna be around for a long time to come...live with it mate...what he has is sheer talent and hard work, dedication and pride for the shirt has meant he is still worth a place in the england squad.

[Tracy]

The posters on here who discuss Beckham's celebrity betray what is really wrong with the way we view our footballers in this country. It seems that to earn respect as a footballer, one must be as aesthetically pleasing as Bobby Charlton, as substance dependent as George Best or as pyschologically flawed as Paul Gascoigne. We just don't get Beckham and consequently do not deserve him.

Gabby Logan, in her excellent article on here, commented that Beckham is a man we should be utterly proud of, but that he is the "biggest victim of tall poppy syndrome this country has ever seen". Other countries are astonished at how we belittle a man who is talented, decent, passionate about playing for his country and to boot, wants to give something back to kids via his academy.

Bobby Charlton, who was himself estranged from his own family because they commented unfavourably about his wife, nevertheless feels free to comment that the influence of Beckham's wife caused his football to deteriorate - all the while getting misty-eyed about the genius of George Best, who indisputably squandered his amazing talent.

It seems that people cannot forgive David Beckham for having it all and can only accept heroes that have a fatal flaw in their make-up. At the same time, they don't allow Beckham to have human feelings, pointing ludicrously to his emotion when he came off injured during the Portugal game in 2006. Never mind that the man was wincing with pain -or that he was genuinely distraught at not being able to play any further part - for some reason, people expect him to be superhuman, unlike the expectations we had of Gazza when he cried in 1990. This latter show of emotion was somehow acceptable to people, because Gazza was generally accepted to be a flawed genius, so allowed his moment of indulgence.

It is nonsense to suggest that Fergie got rid of Beckham because he realised he was past his best. Like Van Nistelrooy after him, he got rid of Beckham because the player had the temerity to question his authority. Cast your mind back to Utd. in 2004 when Beckham's replacement Ronaldo was still finding (and tripping over) his feet - Utd. were the poorer side without Becks and when Van Nistelrooy dared to suggest the same to the press, his days were numbered. As evidenced by both players' resurgence at Real Madrid, neither was past their best when they were forced out of Utd.

A lot of the anti-Beckham feeling is borne out of jealousy and an unwillingness to accept that a sportsman can be all the things that Beckham represents. In 20 years' time, these same critics will be reflecting on how good he was - and how remarkable that despite the fame, the money and the celebrity lifestyle, the things that motivated him most were his family, his academies and pulling on an England shirt.

Keep the celebrity stuff out of the argument and concentrate on the skills of Beckham the footballer. It all comes down to this in the end - we do not have a better right sided midfielder and Capello knows this. Fortunately, not being English and therefore able to appreciate talent and commitment when he sees it, I am confident he will pick David Beckham, for the Austria game and for many more games after that.

[Andrew Emmett]

Yes Beckham played and scored in 3 world cups. His other contributions in those tournaments were;

1998 - Sent off against Argentina. Beckham and the midfield were playing superb in that game and was probably the best chance England had in reaching a final in the last decade. Therefore Beckham shoulders the blame

2002 - Beckham unwittingly jumps out of a tackle settling for a throw in. Roberto Carlos however, plays till the ball is dead and keeps the ball in play. Brazil score and the game swings in their favour. Another moment of glory for him.

2007 - 'Hero' Beckham has control of the ball in his own half against Croatia. He doesn't clear his lines properly and Croatia have the ball in the net 10 seconds later. Yes the hero that is 'Beckham' was the last player to touch the ball when England were on the verge of qualification to Euro 2008.

Does he deserve one more cap? The answer is not one of worth because he has 99. He will be worthy if when the squad is announced he is playing well. 100 caps are earned I can't believe how people get sentimental about this kind of stuff.

But all that said, I wouldn't class myself as a passionate England fan. Which ironically means I should be the least concerned if he plays or not. All the Ingerlund fans should realise there is no future in Beckham. Bentley is the man worthy of a run in the team. But play Beckham and I hope you all have a box of Kleenex ready when 'our David the hero' runs out for his 100th and almost certainly last game...

[rob]

What also gets me is this "leadership" guff Beckhams cheerleaders continue to come out with.What did england lack during world cup 2002(especially v Brazil) and euro 2004 but surely any tangible sense of leadership or direction on the pitch?And who can possibly forget the appalling and stomach-churning image of Beckham sitting on that subs bench in germany in his final ever world cup appearance sobbing tears of self-pity because he knew HIS dreams were over?Doesnt anyone think that as nominal "captain" and with the team and country still in the event at 0-0 v portugal he should have shown some composure and self-restraint and thought of factors other than himself and how he was feeling?Do people think it acceptable that he then walks amongst our players before another era defining penalty shoot-out with a tear ravaged face and sullen eyes when the players,"his" players,needed encouragement and belief from their "captain" in the way the portuguese players were getting in gearing themselves up for the kicks?Im sorry,really i am but the continued delusions,myths and blatant falsehoods around the ultimate celebrity footballer of that age begin to grate after a while and surely its in everyones interestes that england finally put that era to bed where it belongs and move into the future.

[Blighty]

In a team of under achievers as England are - can anyone genuinely say that David Beckham is not in the best and most committed 11 footballers that are available to wear the England shirt?

Only opposing nations who fear what Beckham brings to the England team would applaud his ommission from the upcoming World Cup campaign.

If England pick their best team David Beckham would be one of the first selected and would probably wear the Captains armband.

[Adam]

1) David Beckham should be included in the next England squad because he WANTS it! Passion is something that England lacks and he has it in abundance. I challenge anybody to identify a more passionate England footballer in recent times.

2) He and Fabio Capello worked out an understanding during their last season at Real Madrid and anybody who watched the climax of La Liga will agree that Beckham was inspirational and carried Real to the title

3) Who can take his place at the moment and perform consistently?
- Shaun Wright-Phillips has been in and out of the chelsea team and as a result has lost the confident edge that made him take on teams when he was with Man City
- Aaron Lennon has a similar situation coupled with injuries and turmoil at his club which has, hopefully only momentarily, stalled a very bright future
- David Bentley is a very good footballer and I think one of the best potential replacements for Beckham, but he lost a lot of respect for pulling out of the Under 21s and needs to reflect on that for a while to appreciate what an honour it is to represent your country
- Jermaine Pennant is another really promising young englishman who is arguably the best crosser after Beckham but I worry that that is all he has!
- Theo Walcott could be used there but surely he is a goalscorer of the future. That is what Arsene Wenger thinks is best for him and I feel we all need to respect what Wenger thinks which is hard for me to say as I am a Man Utd fan!!!

The rest such as James Milner, Ashley Young, Leon Osman and Gary O'Neill are all untested at this level.

There needs to be an overlap when changing personnel in a position and why not bring some fresh talent in and say "Beckham, at his peak, was one of the best players in the world, learn from him"

In the meantime, lets let a former England captain who is still an excellent footballer and true servant to the three lions badge, win a landmark number of caps in a MEANINGLESS friendly to mark the twilight of an incredible career.

[rob]

A good post from james but the usual fill of utterly delusional ones below filled with myths these empty minds have been fed by the media.They are so numerous that one wouldnt know where to start but someone made a point about posession.Id ask that poster to think back to the last goal england conceeded-the goal which sent us out of euro2008.One player had the ball at his feet in his own box and instead of calmly finding a white shirt or getting the ball out of play and out of danger,he lacked the intelligence,class and experience to weigh up that particular situation and proceeded to play a "hollywood" ball up the middle blind,to absolutley no-one but an oncoming Croatian player who then immediately started the move which resulted in the eliminating goal for us.That players name?Yes,indeed,the multi-experinced "statesman"-dont laugh-Beckham.Dont believe me?I wouldnt blame anyone as it was typically glossed over by the simple-minded Beckham obsessed braindead tabloid media,infact i think only Henry Winter of the broadsheets reported it.Dont try and paint Beckham as some kind of "great"-he wasnt,no player that limited could ever hope to be.Lets argue the past fine,but we must now move onto a new era and on the right,and on form,that future is Bentley.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlfQ1fRd2cA

[Ivan (a Croat)]

I agree that Beckham did not meet many of the public's expectations in his recent games for England. I am not a Beckham fan. I do not consider him a universal superplayer the English public would occasionally want him to be. But that cross for Crouch against Croatia... That was a spark of genius.
Is there any other England player that can claim to have the spark of genius? Not by a long shot. These players are decent above-average players. That is exactly why it would be foolish not to have the only player on the team that could (at least occasionally) bring that spark !

[P-M Hedin]

I am Swedish, I was born in 1968. I love the Premier League.
That said, I definately think Beckham should get called into the English squad, 100th cap or not - at least if he is fine with Capello, otherwise it is no point, of course.
Why he should be in the squad? Because Beckham has always been a TEAM PLAYER and the English squad doesn´t have many of those. He is also the only English player since Chris Waddle who has been doing well playing in a foreign club. As Paul below said, Beckham´s got possession qualities.

Compare Beckham's England career to ex-Everton-sub Niklas Alexandersson's, Sweden's 36yo right winger and the relative international success Alexandersson has had with the Swedish team and I would say you have the epithomy of why England hasn´t played as well in Europe as they could or why England hasn´t beaten a pretty sorry team like Sweden in my life-time. Yes, that is true! 1968... imagine!

Beckham has what Alexanderson and the Swedish team has, what we call TEAM FEELING, the phrase meaning more than just fighting your heart out for the team's victory. It includes team members supporting each other to achieve the victory (compare Arsenal under Wenger, or France in 98-00).
Beckham seems to be the only one in England on the national level to have it, at the same time not getting the support returned from the people around him, except one, you know who (can´t mention his name since I am, you heard it already, Swedish).

P.S. I do sincerely wish you good luck next time around because World Cup finals are not fun without the English team, with or without Beckham. Find the team feeling, lads! And, please England, get your media behind the team and the coach this time...

[Crusty]

Becks is a nice bloke,but is a "one trick Pony".Lacks pace,no left foot,cant dribble,misses most of his long passes,average in the air etc...........

[James]

It always baffles me how many football fans continue to be deluded and brainwashed about Beckham's ability and I would like to offer my full support to the argument put forth by Oliver Kay. As has rightly been pointed out, the one game referred to as the example of Beckham's talent is now over half a decade ago and since then there has been an inevitable decline due to his desire to sell himself as a marketing and advertising icon while attempting to grasp as much of the limelight as he possibly can.

I, for one, find it cringeworthy to see Beckham's "boy-like petulance", as an earlier poster so brilliantly put it, as he runs around aimlessly committing fouls and playing up to the crowd in a bid to appear committed to the cause and then inevitably always being the last to leave the pitch while lapping up the applause of those who appear to see him as some kind of saviour. Beckham is as much the cause of England's poor recent performances in Japan & South Korea, Portugal & Germany as anybody, due to the massive over-reliance on him as somesort of talismanic leader, which he so unashamedly encourages.

So many myths remain about Beckham, the majority of which have already been boasted about and no doubt will continue to be boasted about. It would be too painstaking to go through them all, but I feel the following points are well worth making.

Firstly, the myth Beckham was a key player for Real Madrid. In reality, last season (the only season with silverware during Beckham's 4 years) Beckham was anything but a regular starter, even in the last dozen games when Capello recalled him. In the decisive final game itself he was substituted while Real were trailing and it was Reyes, his replacement, who turned the game and won the league for Real.

Secondly, Sir Alex Ferguson, so often touted as the greatest manager the Premier League has ever seen, felt Beckham was surplus to requirements (despite the money he drew from marketing) concluded he was passed his best and was too absorbed in his own media circus FIVE years ago, replacing him on the right wing with a striker, in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Finally, all arguments and debates aside concerning Beckham's past achievements or lack of, a player who has moved to America for a hefty pay cheque and the Hollywood glitz and glamour, to play in a league the equivalent of League One, where the season doesn't even coincide with the European calendar, is never going to be fit enough, or sharp enough to represent their country. I predict the response to this last comment will no doubt refer to Beckham's dead ball ability, but such posters should be reminded that this is football, not American Football, and a kicker cannot be sanctioned simply to come onto the pitch for corners and free-kicks, especially when David Bentley has demonstrated all season an incredible delivery from set-pieces. Additionally, the much-derided Frank Lampard (no doubt booed by the same fans who so champion Beckham) took Chelsea to two successive Premier League titles as their set-piece taker, notching up a fair few goals in the process.

I invite the inevitable backlash from Beckham's cheerleaders and should Beckham receive his 100th cap, I eagerly await the special edition of Hello! magazine, the documentary and the autobiography detailing it all, so we can all read about it.

[Damian Williamson]

People who think that Beckham carried us through to the World Cup in 2002 also forget that he was the scapegoat in 1998 against Argentina.

I really dont understand the bias towards Beckham, saying that he fully deserves his 100th cap, after putting out a lot of average performances amongst the good, which surprisingly, many England players can claim. If it was to be his 77th cap for example, no one would be crying out for his inclusion.

As good as Beckham has been before, the 100th cap is taking over logic. He has been out of fitness, and his move to the MLS indicated that he probably didnt think he was good enough to hack the top league anyway. The move to the MLS was hardly a kind of ´up yours´ gesture but an acceptance. Lets not forget that Beckham was largely injured for the 2nd half of last season, a season which Beckham is largely creditted again as single handedly carrying Real to the title. Surprise that they are still dominating Spanish football without him then.

[Paul]

People talk about Beckham having a lack of pace, being too old, being past his best etc but international football is not played in the same way that the Premiership is. Possession is of ultimate
importance in international football. Experience is also key. Beckham, having played abroad is one of the few English players with any experience of a "possession based" style of playing the game. He also is the only Englishman with over 100 Champions league appearances. He was a key player for Madrid and often a top performer in their league stats.
The only English side to base their play 100% on possession are Arsenal and (surprise, surprise) they have no English players.
Whenever England lose everyone (including Mr Kay) bangs on about how we cannot keep possession.
Croatia beat us because they kept possession better. Their central midifielder and captain is Niko Kovac who has no pace and is 36 years of age.
So why would we exclude a player who is better at keeping possession of the ball and more experienced than the alternatives? Currently Wright-Phillips and Lennon are not good enough for England - their delivery is so eratic. Bentley's passing and possession play are great. He also poses a goal threat from deadballs and open play. He will play for England regularly.
Beckham is not the best player in the world and he never has been but he is most definitely still one of the best 8 ENGLISH midfield players and until that changes he deserves a place in the squad (not first IX). Hopefully Capello will keep picking him for that reason.

[James, a City fan from Manchester]

I think all this fuss has arisen because of simply being the 100th Cap. If it was his, say, the 78th, then Beckham would be a sensible choice to include in any squad; but because it's a landmark cap we feel it's a great opportunity to 'hurt' someone who would otherwise be out of our reach.

In respect of the free-kick against Greece, Oliver Kay's response is that "it did justify one cap: the next one." If a player's performance justifies his selection in the subsequent fixture, then Beckham should be an automatic choice for the next match. We looked dead & buried against Croatia until he came on. His influence gave us the belief to bring it back to 2-2 and Beckham was the best player on the pitch. If that fact that we went on to lose the match excludes considering that performance, perhaps we should dispense with the whole first team of that day and start completely afresh.
A 'new era', 'evolution not revolution', 'a new broom'... why do these phrases only ever apply to Beckham?
Furthermore, to suggest that Rooney be included in the list of England's most recent best players is farcical. Oliver Kay belongs to the group of people that were constantly reminding us, until recently, of how long it was since Wayne had graced us with an international goal.

My thoughts are that we should continue to take Beckham as part of the squad until there are 7 or 8 better midfielders, at which point he will be replaced naturally. If Capello decides that is now, then so be it. Only one person should care how many caps he finishes with, and that is David himself.

[Timothy Tanner]

"Yes it did justify one cap: the next one. How long can he live off that free kick? For as long as it takes him to get to 100?"

How about living off the fact that of the goals we scored at the last world cup, Beckham was involved in 3 of them? Or that during our failed efforts for Euro 2008, he set up goals whenever he played including the equaliser against Croatia? Is that allowed?

[CG]

Whether or not you feel Beckham deserves a first team berth, the other question is whether he adds anything to the squad.

Does he add anything off the pitch, in training? On the pitch, is he an interesting enough option as a substitute?

Would his experience be valuable enough to warrant taking him to the next World Cup? His leadership or talismanic presence? And would you want to have him as an option to bring on, at 1-1, for a struggling Lennon when we've got a free kick 80 mins into a semi-final against Brazil?

That last is a pretty specific circumstance though there are many similar possibilities. In any case, to answer those questions we'll have to wait and see how Beckham is in a couple of years time. If it was now though, it'd be an unequivocal yes from me.

[Turbs]

I think most England fans will accept that Beckham is past his peak, and is no longer a guaranteed starter for England. But, to discard him completely from the squad would be foolish. Surely,If he is able to stay clear of injuries next season and puts in quality performances over a period of time (MLS or not!), then he is worthy of his place in the squad, even if his influence comes more often from the bench. Lets be honest, If you had 10 minutes to change a game, not many would back Bentley, Wright-Phillips or Lennon ahead of Becks. Thats a simple fact. For this reason, why shouldnt he go on to collect another 10-15 caps, as a valuable & experienced squad member? In England we dont appreciate what we've got until it's gone. The same points were raised when Gascoigne was on the wane, but really we should have been sitting back and enjoying the last Hurrah of a genius.

[Terry]

Only one more match??

{After watching all of England's performances over the past few years} Is the reason for all of the Becks marginalizing rooted in the fact that all things considered he is still perhaps your best all around player at 32 and at the height of his media-hyped career? He's not young and promising like Argentina's Messi, Portugal's Ronaldo or any number of promising French or Brazilian players... and yet, despite your denial he brings some sense of order to the pitch every time he steps on it for England. Instead of using this man as a talisman and capitalizing on his experience and maturity when you need it most, your newspapers, tabloids and fans deride him. Though your league is arguably the best in the world your national team hasn't been a serious contender since earlier in the last century. Oh wait I'm sorry... you did win that World Cup at HOME in '66 (rolling eyes).

You could do to show Beckham a bit more respect while you still have him. He and Hargreaves are the only ones that even consistently look like class while your "world class" players like Gerard, Lampard, Terry and Rooney seem to look more like little boys lost every time they pull on that three lions jersey.

But then this is the same country that's left James (arguably the best GK in the league for the past 2 seasons) on the bench and shackled and also marginalized with some silly media monicker (Calamity) in favor of a shaky Robinson and Carson.

[Tracy]

Of course Beckham should get his century - and beyond. I passionately agree with all that has been said about the Greece game and scoring in the last 3 World Cups, but he deserves a place based on the fact that he is the best right-sided midfielder we possess. Wright-Phillips and Lennon do not come close - and Bentley is not ready yet. Ask the strikers who they want to provide the service they rely on; they will tell you it's Beckham every time.

Incidentally, it's fatuous to quibble with people's assertion that Becks singe-handedly got us to the 2002 World Cup. These posters mean the Greece game of course, when Beckham literally appeared to be playing on his own that day. Also, it is one of the most baffling myths of all that he did not have a good 2006 World Cup. Who made all the goals prior to the Sweden match and then scored the goal to get is into the quarter-finals?
However, David Beckham himself would not want to live off past glories. He would merely ask to be judged on his current form. That form in an England shirt is looking pretty good wouldn't you say? Brilliant against Brazil and Macedonia in the summer - and almost rescued us against Croatia. I tell you now, we would be at Euro 2008 if he had been involved in the early qualifiers - and from the start of the Croatia game.

[rob]

i think alot of people understandably like to give Beckham the benefit of the doubt on almost everything due to his likeability but its undeniable that the delusions around him and utter indulgences afforded to him from about 2001 onwards served england and our chances of meaningful success poorly.He was a limited player with a limited talent and a suspect boy-like petulance at times and he was obsessed with fame and being the centre of the world.Good luck to him,his desire got him further than players with twice his ability managed.However,despite his lengthy career and many caps playing for england,its STILL that Greece game on his own domestic ground over half a decade ago that his champions have to relive to find a stand out display,not a european championship or world cup match aganist a major football power that is the true calling card of a "world class" player.100 caps,5 major tournaments and his USP 90 minutes was a game where he finally struck his 8th free-kick on target in injury time(almost for dramatic effect)after having created absolutely nothing from open play.People have no desire to bash his delusions constantly but his belief that he can once again be the great "boy hero" of world cup 2010 at 35 is simply propostrous and we must have a sense of reality injected into our set-up now in the way it never was when his celebrity and "culture" was at its height under Eriksson.Bentley to start v switzerland.

[Jarrad Wilkes]

Hey Bill, if I got to 99 England caps I'd consider myself to have been honoured 99 times. Might not make a good autobiography title though, eh?

If he's so serious about his football why did he take America's money?

Hey, the goal against Greece? Cracking. What about David Platt? Great goal against Belgium, probably as fit as Beckham. And anyone who thinks that England don't have players who can cross haven't watched football lately.

England need a total upheaval to clear off the dead wood and the past-their time. I'd rather we played the Under 21 side if it meant people playing for their place and honour rather than the headlines and endorsements.

[CG]

First of all, sorry to be pedantic Mr Kay, but it doesn't read like Kevin Hayton was addressing you directly when he referred to Mr Samuel's monotonous anti-Becks articles.

Beckham has a number of faults. I won't focus on his celebrity status, but rather his lack of pace, ability to dribble past a player and supposedly poor fitness. Thing is though, he doesn't need to beat a player to put in a good cross. Ultimately, when he's on the pitch he sets up and occassionally scores goals.

Perhaps as a professional sports journalist you might want to research the facts of how many goals he has set up or scored in competitive matches for England and compare this to our other internationals. You might be surprised.

[Megan]

I think Beckham should get his 100th cap - you may occasionally have questioned his motivation with regard to football, but I don't think his devotion to the England shirt has ever been questionable. However, who says it has to be this particular game, the first of Capello's reign? Let Capello make his clean break from the old regime, and get in a game or several. Then bring Beckham in the summer for his 100th, and last, England game. He'll be far more likely to be match fit then anyway, as he'll actually be playing games instead of having ducked down to Arsenal's training ground for a month. And for all the disparaging remarks about our little league over here in the US, one of the things it definitely requires is fitness - he won't be able to get lazy over here.

[Bill (Pom), Sydney, Oz]

All of those of you who would deny David one appearance for the hundredth cap he was said he so much wants, all of you should shut your eyes and imagine yourself on ninety-nine.

Would you deny yourself? Would you heck as like.