Is Beckham's physical playing style making him a better player?

[Argiepoo]

I was looking through some of my old videotapes and found several season review tapes between 94-98. I looked at Beckham and found him to be a much different player than he is now. Looking at the tape and comparing them to the past 1 or 2 years, it seems that Beckham has become increasingly physical and aggressive, compared to his early years in the mid-90's. He seemed more graceful then, being able to beat the opponents with his skills.

However, especially in the last few years, he seems more physical, making extremely hard challenges, leading with the elbow, etc. He also seems easier to provoke now. Yells more at the opposition, referee. The grace in his game doesn't seem to be there anymore.

Is he a better player now or is this new physical style taking away from his innate creativity? Is he becoming more physical because it is required of him or because he feels he needs to become a 'stronger' player?

 

[Murt]

Ive allways believed that he needed to toughen up and get meaner and hes done that. Imo hes improved and would make a very good central midfielder.

 

[WeasteDevil]

I think that the Beckham of 99 was by far better than the Beckham of today. I wish he would just stay on that right wing and do what he does best - get them crosses in.

The Physical side of things probably come from when he has to play for England all on his own while the rest of the team has gone to sleep.

 

[golden_blunder]

i think the physical side this year has come from fear of being injured again. IMO Becks is still not the same after that injury.

 

[Livvie]

Originally posted by WeasteDevil:
<strong>I think that the Beckham of 99 was by far better than the Beckham of today. I wish he would just stay on that right wing and do what he does best - get them crosses in.

</strong><hr></blockquote>

Right.

Doesn't matter what he wants to do - he should do what's best for the team, and that's cross from the right.

 

[thumper]

He's trying to show SAF that he has the tenacity to play in the middle when Keane's not there(although as yet he cant run a game or take it by the scruff like Keanoe does) Hopefully though with some of the young'uns coming through we might find another "david Beckham" on the right wing because I think Becks more so than Veron could be the answer in europe to unlocking defences so its a handy tactic to have imo.

 

[golden_blunder]

Originally posted by Livvie20:
<strong>

Right.

Doesn't matter what he wants to do - he should do what's best for the team, and that's cross from the right.</strong><hr></blockquote>

the problem is some of his crossing this year has been terrible. Its frustrating to watch him continually hit the first defender.
The Becks of old used to bend them in early, causing all sorts of problems with the accuracy and usually resulting in a header from Yorkie.
Maybe, hes changed his game because we no longer have the type of attacker who gets in there and attacks the ball like Yorke and Cole used too.
Ruud plays with his back to goal quite a lot and Ole tends to come from a bit deeper or the wing these days..

 

[Livvie]

Originally posted by golden_blunder:
<strong>


Ruud plays with his back to goal quite a lot and Ole tends to come from a bit deeper or the wing these days..</strong><hr></blockquote>


Is that down to the system then - because when Ole has played up front with Scholes behind, he plays with his back to goal more than he ever used to.

 

[becks75]

"the problem is some of his crossing this year has been terrible. Its frustrating to watch him continually hit the first defender.
The Becks of old used to bend them in early, causing all sorts of problems with the accuracy and usually resulting in a header from Yorkie.
Maybe, hes changed his game because we no longer have the type of attacker who gets in there and attacks the ball like Yorke and Cole used too.
Ruud plays with his back to goal quite a lot and Ole tends to come from a bit deeper or the wing these days.."

That´s right. IMO Becks is a better allround player than a few years back. But somehow his crosses were not that great the last 2 years. Maybe he is not training them very often anymore?

On the other side the type of strikers we have at the moment are not very good at heading. Ruud and Ole are topclass, but they are both better with their feet, same goes for Diego. We are missing a good header in our attack imo.

 

[WeasteDevil]

Originally posted by Livvie20:
<strong>


Is that down to the system then - because when Ole has played up front with Scholes behind, he plays with his back to goal more than he ever used to.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Playing 4-5-1 forces that on forwards without tremendous pace, as the main forward needs to hold the ball for the support forward, then they can either play a 1-2 or the support striker can go for goal.

 

[golden_blunder]

Originally posted by Livvie20:
<strong>


Is that down to the system then - because when Ole has played up front with Scholes behind, he plays with his back to goal more than he ever used to.</strong><hr></blockquote>

down to the system and lack of options. When we had Yorkie he did a lot of the holding work allowing Cole to attack the 6 yard box area. But, similarly, Cole was also able to do the holding allowing Yorke to get in there.
When you only play 1 forward up then this is obviously not going to work.

 

[Bjorn]

I believe the defensmen know about his deadly crosses ad stops him earlier...they allow Neville to do the crosses instead intentionally.

Therefore he should play more central and perhaps momentary switch positions during the game. He is way to predictable on that right wing as it is now.

 

[MancFanFromManc]

Beckham is a tremendously talented footballer, but he is one of those players who has to practise his socks off and has to play in every game. He suffers when rested or injured and it takes him time get back into gear.

His desire to play in the center, and generally improve his all round game has to be respected and appreciated. Its a shame that we dont have a decent right wing option because we miss his service from position.

 

[kkcbl]

I'm glad there are other posters who also see that Becks' crossing has left much to be desired recently - he's getting almost as bad as Giggs in being unable to beat the first defender with his crosses!

Also, I think his free-kicks are also lacking nowadays & I believe it's because he's now playing in central midfield & uses so much more of his energy that I believe he looks very tired earlier on & his crossing & free-kicks are suffering as well!

Having said that, I'm glad the coaches are finally noticing the lack of effect from Becks taking all the free-kicks & corners & are now allowing Giggs to alternatively take those!

I believe this variation will lead to more goals & has already been put to good effect when a Giggs corner led to Blanc's headed goal against Olympiakos!

 

[christiepark_boy]

Originally posted by golden_blunder:
<strong>i think the physical side this year has come from fear of being injured again. IMO Becks is still not the same after that injury.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I agree entirely - after a recent euro game (Olympiakos ?) one of their players was quoted as saying that Becks was avoiding tackles. His first touch is always away from the contact zone, he seldom touches the ball at all with his left foot, and he is frequently found to be tumbling to the floor after the first contact or threat of a tackle.

The problem this season with the crossing and with the free kicks that the other posters have noted above is part of the same problem...he isn't pivoting fully on his left leg/foot, and he isn't properly balanced.

Last night agst Leicester was a great effort, but he isn't over the injury, and it may take several months before he gets his physical confidence back.

 

[spinoza]

Originally posted by golden_blunder:
<strong>

the problem is some of his crossing this year has been terrible. Its frustrating to watch him continually hit the first defender.
The Becks of old used to bend them in early, causing all sorts of problems with the accuracy and usually resulting in a header from Yorkie.
Maybe, hes changed his game because we no longer have the type of attacker who gets in there and attacks the ball like Yorke and Cole used too.
Ruud plays with his back to goal quite a lot and Ole tends to come from a bit deeper or the wing these days..</strong><hr></blockquote>

Perhaps Diego could do the job. He looks pretty versatile actually. He'll never be the ball player Ruud is, or the super quick predator Ole is, or the quick natural that Cole or Yorke were, but he's got a little bit of everything.