Come in No.23 Your Time’s Up

David Beckham got a sharp response from the LA Galaxy fans on Sunday night and the message was loud and clear, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!” Large sections of the crowd were extremely unhappy by the No.23′s presence and it was reported that the boos were louder than cheers. Beckham now finds himself against a rock and a hard place. Quite frankly, I can understand the dissapointment of the LA Galaxy fans, they paid an extortionate amount of money to rent brand Beckham and help boost the profile of the MLS (Major League Soccer).

Such as the harshness of words being branded about in LA regarding ‘Beckham’s Return’ that one major LA blog wrote, “L.A. Galaxy fans got to see two sellouts on Sunday — the exhibition soccer match against AC Milan and the first home appearance of superstar David Beckham.” OK, Beckam has received a whole lot worse, especially from the media on these shores and I doubt the criticism will sting much but it will scuff the brand – being tarnished a traitor is bound to knock off a few dollars from any future projects being launched stateside.

The whole situation really turns the spotlight on the modern footballer. Is there anything resembling club loyalty left? Have we totally succumbbed to the ‘age of the mercenary’ in football? Even in today’s multi-million pound football tranfer betting market it is difficult to judge just how much loyalty is in existence when you dangle a contract stuffed with big fat zeros under a footballers nose. However, that said, when Beckham signed on for LA Galaxy at least he never uttered the eternal mercenary warcry, “This is the only club I have ever wanted to play for!” No, in true LA speak, “that would have been a bad PR move for No.23 aka brand Beckham!”