Shipman Out Posted 15 January 2007 Posted 15 January 2007 With the Milan deal expected to go through this week (even Willie Thorn thinks so on Talk Sport) here is a taste of our new media friendly chairman...its about time our club had a profile again, Let the Foxes Trust melt away like the witch in Wizard of Oz and it will be a quality week! Im Melting, Im Melting...Good! Milan on MLS and Beckham deal
Shipman Out Posted 15 January 2007 Author Posted 15 January 2007 My link doesnt appear to be working the article is below (from today's Mirror) 15 January 2007 MANDARIC: BECKHAM IS A WASTE OF MONEY By Lee West FORMER Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric, the man who took George Best to America, has accused the MLS of wasting their money on David Beckham. Mandaric was one of the founding fathers of the American soccer league when he took over San Jose Earthquakes in 1974. The Serbian millionaire brought Best to his club in 1980 and helped convince the likes of Pele, Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer to play in the States. Despite early success and sell-out crowds, the interest in soccer eventually disappeared and Americans went back to watching baseball. Beckham has agreed a five-year deal worth £128million with LA Galaxy but Mandaric believes he will do nothing to raise the profile of the game. Mandaric said: "I was a part of that league for 10 years and was one of the founders when they were trying to introduce the game. "We had many superstars at that time - Best, Pele, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, just to name a few. "They are all bigger names than Beckham and we still did not make it. Galaxy are taking the wrong approach. We tried that way before and it did not work. "One name in one team does not make a league and everyone will notice that, once the initial excitement has died down. People want to see exciting games. "The Premiership is quite popular because it has the quality and the thrill the Americans love - you cannot all of a sudden invent that." The fact that the US season gets underway in April puts major question marks over any move by a Premiership club to take Beckham on loan from Real Madrid. Mandaric claims the vast sums Beckham will be earning to promote his brand should be poured into the game at grassroots level to guarantee future success. Mandaric, close to completing his takeover of Leicester, added: "That sort of money would be much better spent importing coaches and raising awareness that way. "It takes time. As was shown before, you can have all the superstars in the world and it still won't work out."
Geo V Posted 15 January 2007 Posted 15 January 2007 Its no different to American football over here. It will have a few supporters but they (Yanks) are so used to there own sports that "Soccer" will never make it at the high end, whatever they do. Its weird really considering all the Italian, Mexican, Irish and other "foreigners" they have living there! Well said MM BTW
Manwell Pablo Posted 15 January 2007 Posted 15 January 2007 He sort of has a point, then again saying the likes of Cruff and Pele are "bigger names" than Beckham is bollocks. They were better players than Beckham granted but David Beckham is a global brand, his world wide popularity dwarfs even Geroge Best's. LA Galaxy will make a killing from shirt sales in the far east alone. I do agree with him on the MLS point though, two maybe three months of sell out crowds and it will all die down again.
MC Prussian Posted 15 January 2007 Posted 15 January 2007 The comparison with the likes of Beckenbauer, Cruyff and Pélé is justified. There are things money can't buy and a Beckham doesn't make a summer (yet). I consider this a shame for the MLS, because it'll take the attention away from the youth and those who've come up the ranks and earned their merits. Not because they earn 50 million US Dollars a year. Joke of the Century. (EDIT: Shouldn't we move this thread to General Football?)
breadandcheese Posted 15 January 2007 Posted 15 January 2007 I do agree with him on the MLS point though, two maybe three months of sell out crowds and it will all die down again. One thing that is different this time is the large influx of Latin American immigrants into the USA. They are football mad and can provide that base needed to push the MLS on.
James. Posted 15 January 2007 Posted 15 January 2007 One thing that is different this time is the large influx of Latin American immigrants into the USA. They are football mad and can provide that base needed to push the MLS on. interesting article in the times on that at the weekend. read me i feel this thread heading towards general sport...
Geo V Posted 15 January 2007 Posted 15 January 2007 He sort of has a point, then again saying the likes of Cruff and Pele are "bigger names" than Beckham is bollocks. They were better players than Beckham granted but David Beckham is a global brand, his world wide popularity dwarfs even Geroge Best's. LA Galaxy will make a killing from shirt sales in the far east alone. I do agree with him on the MLS point though, two maybe three months of sell out crowds and it will all die down again. Pele has got to be a bigger name than Becks as before this week, plenty of Yanks had never heard of him IMO. Just watching Sky and that reporter dude who was asking the fans on the street if they recognised his pic was hilarious as most knew of Posh and not him!! Lets not forget Pele is about 200 years old as has done ads about cock problems which would appeal to the older generation!!!!
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.