Right, this is not knee-jerk as this is a sentiment that I have expressed many times before, and has been met with mixed reactions. I'd appreciate if people actually read my thoughts on this and didn't jump to the default "he's past it" argument - even if he was, I still think it would be a good move.
Look at the facts though. At the moment, United lack three things in my opinions - experience, creativity through midfield and drive.
Beckham comes with all of these things and more. In addition to increased revenue from merchandise sales, and a boost in morale from a club legend returning, he is also a model professional and someone for all the young players in the club to look up to. He would be a fantastic influence - who better to teach them that United is a special club than someone who left United only to regret it thereafter?
But not only this, he would deflect news away from the younger players of the team - with Beckham comes the "Beckham circus", which would seem counter-productive. It isn't though. Journalists will write about United even when there isn't a story. However, when all of the media is focused on David Beckham and not Anderson, Nani, Phil Jones or De Gea, it puts them out of the spotlight and allows them to quietly play their game knowing that they are not the players under the most scrutiny while Beckham is there. Also, I think some of the midfield needs a kick up the arse, and to be forced to compete for a place - Beckham would give 100% for United, and that could spur on the likes of Anderson and Jones to try that extra bit harder to cement their place on the team-sheet ahead of him. I think he could really help with the breaking on of younger players in that regard, which is an issue people have brought up before. Quietly influential, determined and proud to wear the shirt would be just the ticket to show younger players how its done.
He provides all of this, without even kicking a football.
Now, I know a lot of you will say he is past it, but he isn't. It's no tall order, but he is STILL clearly the pick of the bunch in the MLS. He is still in impeccable shape. Beckham has come on in years, but his passing, crossing and set-pieces are better than ever. This is something United really lack, in my opinion. He's lost his pace - but he was never blessed with much to begin with - and he certainly never relied on it - unlike Giggsy (who is older, and now one of our best performers in centre mid).
He might not be the solution to everything in midfield, I certainly don't think he would be - but he would be a fantastic player to have on the squad. He'd add a new dimension to the midfield. He'd add a new, more straight-forward option when, like today, our other midfielders aren't performing. Imagine the service Hernandez would get from his crosses and set-pieces. Imagine the interplay between himself and Berbatov. Hell, just imagine a United corner beating the first man for once. It could be sublime.
In my opinion, it would be worth the shot. He'd nearly play for free for United, we need a creative player, we need some influence,we need some drive - Beckham is a short-term solution that fixes all of these problems, giving time for the younger players to come through - ideal, at least inmy opinion.
Brooklyn is now 13 and is training with the LA Galaxy youth team as well, so could be a good long-term investment!
This is usually an opinion people get flamed on here for holding, but I hope you can see that, while it might first appear silly, nostalgic and far-fetched, there is indeed some logic to bringing him back (even if you don't agree with the idea).
Look at the facts though. At the moment, United lack three things in my opinions - experience, creativity through midfield and drive.
Beckham comes with all of these things and more. In addition to increased revenue from merchandise sales, and a boost in morale from a club legend returning, he is also a model professional and someone for all the young players in the club to look up to. He would be a fantastic influence - who better to teach them that United is a special club than someone who left United only to regret it thereafter?
But not only this, he would deflect news away from the younger players of the team - with Beckham comes the "Beckham circus", which would seem counter-productive. It isn't though. Journalists will write about United even when there isn't a story. However, when all of the media is focused on David Beckham and not Anderson, Nani, Phil Jones or De Gea, it puts them out of the spotlight and allows them to quietly play their game knowing that they are not the players under the most scrutiny while Beckham is there. Also, I think some of the midfield needs a kick up the arse, and to be forced to compete for a place - Beckham would give 100% for United, and that could spur on the likes of Anderson and Jones to try that extra bit harder to cement their place on the team-sheet ahead of him. I think he could really help with the breaking on of younger players in that regard, which is an issue people have brought up before. Quietly influential, determined and proud to wear the shirt would be just the ticket to show younger players how its done.
He provides all of this, without even kicking a football.
Now, I know a lot of you will say he is past it, but he isn't. It's no tall order, but he is STILL clearly the pick of the bunch in the MLS. He is still in impeccable shape. Beckham has come on in years, but his passing, crossing and set-pieces are better than ever. This is something United really lack, in my opinion. He's lost his pace - but he was never blessed with much to begin with - and he certainly never relied on it - unlike Giggsy (who is older, and now one of our best performers in centre mid).
He might not be the solution to everything in midfield, I certainly don't think he would be - but he would be a fantastic player to have on the squad. He'd add a new dimension to the midfield. He'd add a new, more straight-forward option when, like today, our other midfielders aren't performing. Imagine the service Hernandez would get from his crosses and set-pieces. Imagine the interplay between himself and Berbatov. Hell, just imagine a United corner beating the first man for once. It could be sublime.
In my opinion, it would be worth the shot. He'd nearly play for free for United, we need a creative player, we need some influence,we need some drive - Beckham is a short-term solution that fixes all of these problems, giving time for the younger players to come through - ideal, at least inmy opinion.
Brooklyn is now 13 and is training with the LA Galaxy youth team as well, so could be a good long-term investment!
This is usually an opinion people get flamed on here for holding, but I hope you can see that, while it might first appear silly, nostalgic and far-fetched, there is indeed some logic to bringing him back (even if you don't agree with the idea).
a 'great' signing.