Posted May 25, 200718 yr Last Updated: Friday, 25 May 2007, 06:53 GMT 07:53 UK McClaren tight-lipped on Beckham BBC Sports News England coach Steve McClaren has refused to play down growing speculation that former captain David Beckham is in line for a recall. McClaren names the England squad for the friendly against Brazil at Wembley and the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia at noon on Saturday. Beckham, 32, has not played for England since the World Cup quarter-final defeat against Portugal in June. McClaren said: "Is the door open for Beckham? I never said it was closed." Beckham, who will move to Major League Soccer outfit LA Galaxy in the summer, has been an influential member of the Real Madrid side that is closing in on La Liga. McClaren added: "Does Beckham enter my mind? There are quite a few who do that and you will see on Saturday what the intentions are. "Is there a more in-form midfielder than Beckham? We are talking about issues which aren't here yet and we will deal with them on Saturday if they come up. "I keep my eye on everyone and David is one I said from day one that his form will be monitored." McClaren will also monitor the fitness of striker Michael Owen on his international comeback at Turf Moor on Friday, when he captains England B against Albania. Owen is on his way back after a serious knee injury suffered in the World Cup last summer. He said: "Michael looks fit and sharp but lets not put too much pressure on him. "He needs games and training sessions. He looks stronger and fitter and he has worked on that on his year out. "It is a boost for everyone that he is involved. You do miss your best players." Do you think David Beckham should be recalled or not?
May 25, 200718 yr Author Should McClaren mend it for Beckham? International football | England by Howard N - BBC Sport Football Editor 25 May 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I think it will be ludicrous if David Beckham is not selected in the England squad, he's been excellent and almost back to his form of 1999. "Injury and suspensions apart, he has dominated almost every Real Madrid game he has played in since February, with absolutely marvellous performances, particularly in top games which I think should apply to the thinking of Steve McClaren now." That's the view of Spanish-based football journalist Graham Hunter, who was talking on Five Live Sport earlier this week. He watches Beckham, 32, on a regular basis and says he would definitely mend it for Beckham against Brazil and Estonia. England coach McClaren names his squad on Saturday lunchtime, but has given no clues away about the prospects of a Beckham comeback. Graham Hunter says Beckham is "much, much fitter and quicker than he's been since probably his first season in Spain" and "is a leading performer right now because he's making and scoring goals" for Madrid. Beckham will soon be on his way to Los Angeles Galaxy, but does he deserve to recall after putting down a clear marker that he's in the final stage of his career? You also have to ask who would Beckham dislodge from the England team?
May 25, 200718 yr well time will tell if he will swallow his pride or not. Been here before, and he was reveliing in the limelight of will he won't he until Beckham got injured and he breathed a huge sigh of relief
May 25, 200718 yr The Midfield should be like this: Beckham - Gerrard - Hargreaves - J Cole I don't think many people could argue with that (apart from maybe Joe Cole) Gerrard and Lampard can't play together FACT! And Gerrard has repeatedly shown he's better than Lampard. Back onto the subject though no right sided midfielder comes CLOSE to David Beckham, the problems we've had since McClown took over have been the fact that we've had no one to get the ball in the box and there is no one else who can solve that problem but Beckham. Yes, he may not be able to get past people like Lennon can but he more than makes up for it with all the rest of the things he can do.
May 25, 200718 yr Well we need Beckham back, as we've really missed him. Him and Owen were both brilliant for England together back in the day, and I think they both work well together, so here's hoping that Beckham is recalled for the next set of qualifiers! :D
May 25, 200718 yr If he's not recalled then I really don't think McClaren is capable of doing the job. (Not that I do anyway....)
May 25, 200718 yr Well we need Beckham back, as we've really missed him. Him and Owen were both brilliant for England together back in the day, and I think they both work well together, so here's hoping that Beckham is recalled for the next set of qualifiers! :D That was 5 years ago, things have changed since then, Beckham isn't the player he was, neither is Owen at this present moment, and its unlikely he'll ever have the pace he had before. I think we should be really building for the future, get Lennon on the right wing, we'll still make EURO 2008. We should give some of these young lads with pace to burn a chance. Beckham and Owen won't be here for long.
May 26, 200718 yr Author That was 5 years ago, things have changed since then, Beckham isn't the player he was, neither is Owen at this present moment, and its unlikely he'll ever have the pace he had before. I think we should be really building for the future, get Lennon on the right wing, we'll still make EURO 2008. We should give some of these young lads with pace to burn a chance. Beckham and Owen won't be here for long. Of course David Beckham should be picked. Have Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Philips; Jermaine Pennant or Kieron Richardson scored 4 goals & 14 assists from just 1191 minutes of Premiership Football this season? That's an average of a goal or assist per 66 mins & 10 seconds on the pitch that David Beckham has managed in La Liga this season. Have Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Philips; Jermaine Pennant or Kieron Richardson been awarded Man of The Match in 3 of their last 5 matches they've played for their clubs. Well David Beckham has. I've always advocated you select the Best Eleven players AT THE TIME to play an International match, and right now David Beckham is probably the most in form English player in World Football at the moment let alone the best option for the Right Wing Midfield position. Remember Real Madrid have taken 39 Pts from their last 42 in La Liga to come from 7th place at Xmas to be leading La Liga with 3 Games left of the season. Most Spanish journalists and Capello himself have said that David Beckham has been the catalyst for this turnaround.
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