So it’s a new year. A new FA cup including ManU. yada yada yada. A new England manager Sven “the cell” Eriksson. As usual, a new year brings its share of potential new glories. Can anybody catch United at the top of the Premiership; bearing in mind they carry an 11-point advantage into the crucial part of the season? Can England qualify for the World Cup after a disappointing opening two games? A cruel or ignorant observer might suggest that the first scenario was a question not even worth posing; that Man United will win the league easily and without doubt. The same ignoramus would suggest that England will not qualify and probably list a plethora of excuses why.
Thankfully, neither of these important matters of state is in fact decided and as I’ve said before – that is why they play the games.
One man who will certainly - barring freak injuries or unforeseen events – play a key role in these unfolding stories is David Beckham. He may singularly turn out to be the deciding factor in both situations. This is not to suggest that Manchester United’s supreme squad of superstars could not bring home the trophy without Beckham – but rather an acknowledgement of his appreciating maturity as a player of influence.
I witnessed recently the gourmet chefs’ equivalent of mouth-watering anticipation underestimating the eventual outcome as Beckham ruled the roost at the Bradford vs. United Premiership game. Ponder for a moment the possibility that this guy is getting better and better. He has added a willingness to run into available spaces from which to dictate play that I believe has come about thanks to the long debate over whether he should play in a more central role or continue his fame on the right side. It is almost as if United have added a flexibility to their midfield under utilised until now through a telepathic understanding between Roy Keane in particular and a general awareness of the whole team that allows Becks to go wherever Becks wants to go. This results in Beckham being on the right wing crossing those patented bending balls in to box at the right time and amazingly appearing in central midfield threading through balls when that seems to be the right option. It is comparable to the strikers’ instinct for being in the right place at the right time a la Gerd Mueller, but somehow involving more than one player.
