By CALEB SONNELAND
With his contract at the LA Galaxy set to expire at the end of December, it's still unsure whether or not David Beckham will be playing in MLS for the 2012 season.
After the former England international helped his side to its third MLS Cup (the last coming in 2005), Beckham was quizzed about his well-publicized future in the game. He was, however, was non-committal, and it appears only he knows what lies in store in coming months.
Many thought that the result of last night's game could determine his decision going forward, but the Englishman was quick to refute those claims.
"I've said that all the way along," he said. "It doesn't matter what happens at the end of the season."
Beckham has been linked with clubs overseas in Ligue 1's Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League duo Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers.
Here are some other stories to kick off your Thanksgiving week:
EBOUE ON END OF SHOCKING ABUSE IN TURKEY
Turkish soccer fans have a reputation for letting the heat of the moment get the better of them during games, but it's difficult to imagine that Arsenal old-boy Emmauel Eboue was ready for the level of abuse he was set to receive over the weekend in Galatasaray's 0-0 draw with rivals Besiktas.
Eboue was pelted all game long with seemingly whatever the Besiktas faithful could get their hands on. Whether it was a coins, bottles or lighters, every time the Ivory Coast international made his way to the sidelines, he was under fire.
Eboue made several pleas to the referee throughout the game but there was little solace as the projectiles continued to rain down upon him.
On the heels of what has been a very sensitive few months in terms of racism, questions have to be asked of Besiktas supporters and the level of tolerance in the game.
Here's the video of Eboue during the game.
ROONEY ABSENT FROM TRAINING
Wayne Rooney was the most notable absentee from Manchester United training today with a clash against Portugal's Benfica on the cards tomorrow at Old Trafford.
The English striker played a full 90 minutes in the club's EPL match over the weekend against Swansea, which makes his absence from training that much more interesting.
United refused to comment on Rooney's condition earlier today, but with a press conference coming up later today, it remains a virtual certainty that Sir Alex Ferguson will have to answer the question.
Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck and Chris Smalling are all nursing injuries as well, but Patrice Evra looks ready to go after shaking off a virus.
AVB NOT WORRIED ABOUT AXE
Despite losing 1-2 at home to Liverpool over the weekend, Chelsea boss Andre Villa-Boas says he is not worried about the possibility of club owner Roman Abramovich giving him the axe.
Abramovich paid a world record £13 million to prise Villa-Boas away from FC Porto this summer, but the appointment has since been somewhat disappointing considering the hype surrounding the young manager.
The defeat to Liverpool was the third in four matches and marked the first time the club had lost back-to-back home games in eight years. Still, Villa-Boas insists he is not feeling the heat.
"The owner didn't pay £13 million to get me out of Porto to pay me another fortune to get out."
With former Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink now in the job market after quitting his post at the Turkish national team, there was some speculation that Hiddink may be brought in to steady the ship in London.
Last time Hiddink was in command at Chelsea, it was in a care-taking role following the dismissal of Luis Felipe Scolari, but Hiddink stepped in and won the FA Cup, leading to a massive show of support from the Chelsea fans.
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Think Beckham moves abroad? Where to? How distressing is it to watch the video of Eboue? Think United stands a chance without Rooney?
Share your thoughts below
Off-topic, but is there any info out yet in regards to the protected players lists for the MLS expansion draft.
Fact! MLS has a higher average attendance than the Turkish League. In 2011 MLS ranked 10th in average attendance of all professional soccer leagues. Turkey ranked 15th. So your argument, about playing “in half empty stadiums for half their games”, could apply to just about every European league except when the top teams are playing. And your comment of Champions League games in Mexico or Costa Rica could also apply in Europe to teams that are eliminated from Champions League play and drop to Europa Cup. Games in the Balkans, Greece, Turkey and Eastern Europe in decrepit stadiums in the dead of winter with unruly fans aren’t games I will take off work to watch or stream live on my work PC.
Unfortunately, not everyone has heard Sepp’s full comments which were not as bad as the snippets that were taken out of context, but good luck trying to get anyone on here to agree with us.
European leagues want to expand their influence into the US market because they think it will raise their bottom line. If players started coming to MLS to avoid racial abuse, don’t you think that leagues would be proactive in cleaning up their image to appeal to US fans, not drive their players into the US league? Of course, it should have happened already (cleaning up their game), but like gay marriage, ending segregated schooling, or japanese internment camps, humans don’t always do the right thing as soon as they should.
That wasn’t empty.
Gals better have a backup plan for midfield distribution and for assists on goals. Junhino is solid but it’s not like he’s going to do anything close to what beckham does.
Arena is a good coach but he’s not a miracle worker. He needs three great DPs to win.
A very insightful repudiation of my argument. Well done. Why point out facts, as I have done, when you can just go ad hominem and save yourself the mental effort?
My ears still ringing from the Cup
euro-twat
Eboue gets hit on the back by an empty plastic bottle and clutches his head Lol, there’s a reason he was singled out and its got nothing to do with being Black.
I blame the ref. He should have abandoned the game and have the home team forfeit. That is the only way to stop this behaviour
Not clear if there was any racism involved in the fans actions, or if they were just throwing objects at an opposing player.
But the ref should have stopped the game and threatened Besiktas with a forfeit if it continued.
Those damn Turks will host the 2026 World Cup for this!!
When has being polite been a part of sports?
I actually agree in some respect to TwoSevenStreet statement that “European racism is what will eventually drive players to come to MLS…..”. Maybe not your star players in their prime or prospects who have their sights set on the top 4 leagues or the Champions League. But players who are not the stars, a bit past their prime, are not getting paid insane amounts of money and who have little offers accept from leagues in Turkey, Greece, Russia or other Central or Eastern European leagues, might choose to play in the MLS instead of taking the kind of fan abuse that Eboue was subjected to.
No, it wouldn’t. It would sully his legacy.
“Donovan had a few crushed plastic cups thrown at him because he was blatantly burning time…”
And flashlights and flares. Way to be polite guests, Houston. Enjoy your 28 hour bus ride home.
17 years. No cups. Beckham wouldn’t be able to improve the putridness that is the red bull franchise. dream on.
Donovan had a few crushed plastic cups thrown at him because he was blatantly burning time off the clock right in front of the Dynamo’s fan section.
Pretty big difference from getting pelted by coins and batteries.
lol.
players come to MLS because they can make more here than they can somewhere else(in certain rare occasions), they want to use it as a stepping stone to playing in a better league, or they want to be able to walk down the street without being stopped 50 times for an autograph or picture. They don’t come here because idiots in Turkey insult them.
If abuse gets to be a huge issue, and it will be soon, then the players will force the league(s) to take punitive steps to punish the fans and teams that permit/don’t stop the abuse. They will not decide to come to MLS in order to avoid it.
You cannot troll in truth.
It’s a silly suggestion to think that occasional racism will drive players to MLS where the quality of player is half of the top flight euro leagues, the salaries are worlds apart, the travel is less strenuous, the locations you visit are better, and the competition is superior.
If Beckham wants to stay in MLS, he should go play for NYRB, to bring a championship to New York with Henry. Now that would be a story, and take the Beckham legend to new levels.
Beckham should move on, either back to the EPL or to PSG. It doesn’t make sense for either party. Beckham: His Galaxy story is complete, it had the Hollywood ending. Galaxy: There will be on Beckham boost to ticket sales, merchandise, or TV. The Galaxy should find some other high-profile DP, like a Drogba or Forlan type.
You don’t have to have remarks ripping on MLS when a guys suggests that MLS has an advantage or is a better league because of the advantage. I think that is called being a troll.
What answer do you have for players that could play in Europe, but play in MLS inspite of all of your hate filled reasons not to ?
Idiot.
right, so they can make less money, play in half empty stadiums for half their games, and travel to Mexico and Costa Raico for the “Champions League” fixtures that are broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel late at night with grainy picture quality.
Yeah, Donovan had a ton of junk thrown at him near the end of the game when he was taking a corner kick by the Houston travelling section. Maybe it’s because he’s got an Irish surname?
European racism is what will eventually drive players to come to MLS…..
Wait a moment, it’s Eboue’s fault that he was pelted with things because he was irritated and upset that he was already being pelted with things?
Donovan had a ton of junk thrown at him last night? IN L.A.? At home? This is not Mexico
your comments are almost as appalling as the OBVIOUS racial abuse Eboue was taking…
I’d love to see how “Theatrical” you would act begin pummeled with beer bottles.
“The defeat to Liverpool was the third in four matches and marked the first time the club had lost back-to-back home games in eight years. Still, Villa-Boas insists he is not feeling the heat.”
Shocking. Torres starts coming back to form with a slew of great games and some timely goals and you have a midfield maestro in Mata who has national and youth team chemistry with Torres. So, of course the solution is to bench Torres almost permanently and then lose 3 of your next 4 games.
Sounds good to me.
Look, 2011 was the year of LA Galaxy. We took the league and the Cup, and had many other successes. But all good things must end. If Landy and Becks go to Europe, I won’t be butt hurt. I love Everton too. 😉
Umm, what evidence is there that Eboue was the victim of racial abuse? If he wasn’t acting so ridiculously and theatrically the fans probably wouldn’t have thrown nearly as much stuff on the field.
For goodness sake Donovan had a ton of junk thrown at him last night.
Why does it have to be a blackout? Racist.
The treatment of Eboue is despicable. The ref should have stopped the game and forced Besitkas to forfeit the game. UEFA/FIFA should discipline the ref for not doing so.
Not that I agree with what Blatter said. But he was refering to whats on the pitch not the fans.
Plus I think Blatter was trying to say that the players are not racist they just say bad things in the heat of the moment but afterwards they shake hands and all is forgiven. Pretty asinine
I thought Europe was the cradle of raw milk cheese?
yes, but if he AND Landy move to greener pastures that will be the equivalent of the floodgates opening… not necessarily saying it’s a bad thing, but still.
Sepp Blatter is the 1%
Totally agree. What else can he do? Neither Christman or Barrett is ever going to turn into Ruud van Nistelroy, so why not have fun with the game while you can.
PSG have apparently already sold tons of Beckham shirts. I don’t begrudge him at all if he leaves.
Having said that, I’d much rather see him stay and have Donovan go back to Everton or whatever decent team will take him.
I’d trade both for a half season of Jimmy Bullard.
Yes… I said it.
Okay. That’s never going to happen… and for good reason.
So… let’s see.
Ronaldinho…. never going to happen so long as he’s playing for the national team. Same goes for any Brazilian or Argentinian I guess.
Ballack? He’s broke d#ck, unfortunately.
Pires? See above.
So… my wish list for Santa.
1. Jimmy Bullard
2. Park Ji-Sung
3. Eidur Gudjohnson
4. Juan Francisco Torres
5. Steven Hunt
Beckham to sign a 6 month extension to stay with the Galaxy through the CONCACAF champions league. Then he leaves during the summer.
This is BS but you can blame Blatter all you want until UEFA and Platini stand up and blackout teams who allow this nothing will ever happen. Nothing. But why be surprised Europe is the cradle of racism.
Eboue should just shake everyone’s hand.
I’m a Galaxy fan and Beckham has proven his worth this season, but I’m 100% okay with him NOT resigning next season. I’m sure he’ll still contribute a ton of assists if he sticks around, but he’s won his championship. Seeing him end it now just seems right for me.
And it will free of $6.5 million. That’s a lot of spending money.
This must be one of those rare occasions…Expect a surge from Sepp to put the debate out of question..
Doesn’t Eboue know all that can be settled with a handshake with the fans after the game? Just line them all up to meet him at the gate.
I don’t think the motives of the people throwing items matters. The fact that they are throwing items at any player is disgusting.
racism 1 Sepp Blatter 0