Tag Archives | David Beckham

Reports: Beckham Looking at Miami

By on May 20, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

It didn’t take long for the David Beckham-MLS-Miami story to start picking up following the English star’s retirement from the game.

SI.com’s Grant Wahl has the latest report on the matter and it is what you might expect for the post-retirement MLS ownership phase of Beckham’s career that is going to get underway here shortly.

Now that David Beckham has retired from playing, he may be looking to exercise his option to become an MLS owner sooner than later. Beckham has said he plans on becoming an MLS owner, and MLS vice-president Dan Courtemanche tells me his advisers have already discussed moving forward with the MLS. The contract specifies that Beckham would own an expansion team, not an existing team, and his expansion fee would be $25 million, below the $40 million fee that Montreal paid last year. The more people I talk to, the more I’m hearing that Miami is the city Beckham is most interested in right now.

The big item in that for most fans is the fact that he’ll get an expansion team, not an existing club. I’m fairly certain that has been the case since day one that we found out about Beckham being able to own a MLS club in the future but given the recent talk about relocating Chivas USA, some folks pondered out loud if MLS would allow Beckham and his group to have that club once they take them over.

Miami being the leading candidate for Beckham has always seemed to be the case as well. I wouldn’t sleep on some other cities out there though. You know the league will research the heck out of the potential sites out there (if they haven’t already) for Beckham. They won’t allow him to place a team in a city that won’t do well long term either. Time will tell where this all goes but like I’ve mentioned before, the Beckham-MLS-expansion train is heating up.

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MLS Expansion: Here Comes Miami

By on May 1, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

It seems as though the expansion window isn’t closing in Major League Soccer anytime soon. We know New York is next and that Orlando is probably very close as well.

After that it may be a true toss up as to where the league may go for club number 22. Atlanta seems eager again and there have been some rumblings that Nashville, Minnesota, San Antonio and even St. Louis could join the mix as well before long.

But according to Steve Goff, Miami may be picking up some real steam before long with David Beckham.

Getting word a David Beckham-backed effort to bring MLS to Miami is about to pick up a steam and could go public in about a month. The league has prioritized a second club in New York for the 20th team and is intrigued by Orlando’s aggressive expansion campaign, but with Miami featuring Beckham and Dolphins management, Miami has quietly re-emerged.

Miami has always been a tricky city in my mind to have a team in. I’ve long said that the league needs at least two or maybe three clubs in the Southeast to really make it work over the long haul. Miami would be a rival instantly to an Orlando team that should likely get into MLS in the future.

We’ve known for years that Beckham would have some influence with a MLS club before long thanks to the clause in his old contract with the league that stated he could be an owner of a club some day. Miami always seemed to be the destination for a Beckham-owned club.

I won’t go any further into this but for the time being it certainly sounds like we’ll start hearing more about Miami in the coming weeks and months. Yeah, this expansion race just continues to get more interesting.

 

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MLS Cup To Be Beckham’s Final Game With LA

By on November 20, 2012 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Beckham is moving on after MLS Cup. (Getty Images)

David Beckham will be playing his final game in a LA Galaxy uniform at MLS Cup. Yes, you read that correctly, the era of Beckham is coming to an end in MLS.

Let that sink in for a moment.

“I’ve had an incredibly special time playing for the LA Galaxy, however, I wanted to experience one last challenge before the end of my playing career,” Beckham said. “I don’t see this as the end of my relationship with the league as my ambition is to be part of the ownership structure in the future.”

While we don’t know Beckham’s next move, of even if there will be a move at all, we do know that this is the final capture in his MLS playing days. Continue Reading →

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MLS 2012, Week 10: What To Watch For

By on May 10, 2012 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Another amazing stadium opens this weekend. (Wilf Thorne / Houston Dynamo)

All eyes this weekend will be on Houston. Major League Soccer get to open up yet another soccer specific stadium and BBVA Compass Stadium will certainly be a proud one to display to the world. The bright orange seats and the oven-like feeling inside will almost certainly give the Dynamo a tough home environment to deal with.

Aside from that Week 10 in MLS also has some other good games of note including a huge showcase game in Seattle between Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders. That clash will open up the Western Conference race a bit and show who really is the top dog in the league.

There are plenty of talking points for the weekend so here are some items I will be keeping a close watch on. Continue Reading →

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2012 MLS, Week 9: What To Watch For

By on May 3, 2012 | Follow @WVHooligan |

San Jose and Vancouver have the potential to be the matchup of the weekend. (Getty Images)

Whew. Last night was quite a night in Major League Soccer. One game had eight goals, while the other two combined for five. Crazy night really when you throw in the two Amway Canadian Championship to the mix.

Now it is time to focus on the weekend ahead, all clubs that were involved in games last night have second games this weekend. So lots of double-dips here in Week 9.

Nine games are on tap this weekend starting tomorrow night in LA with Chivas taking on the Chicago Fire all the way until Sunday evening in Frisco when FC Dallas hosts the Colorado Rapids. Busy, busy weekend ahead.

Here are a few stories I will be following this weekend as MLS gets rolling further into a new month. Continue Reading →

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2012 MLS, Week 7: Predictions

By on April 20, 2012 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Plenty of potential draws this weekend and a couple high scoring games too. (Getty Images)

The weekend is finally here! Like we discussed yesterday, Week 7 in Major League Soccer has already gotten off to a hot start.

We have eight more games set for this weekend, seven of them tomorrow with one lone game on Sunday.

As always feel free to leave your score predictions below.

Saturday

Chicago Fire at Toronto FC: So no Chris Rolfe for the Fire, he’s listed as out with an ankle injury. I have a feeling it won’t matter a whole lot given the issues going on with Toronto at the moment in the defensive part of the field. They may have Torsten Frings back but for the most part it will be a tight game. Chicago will sit back for most of this and attack at the right time but in the end this one is a draw in my book.

WVH Prediction: Toronto 1, Chicago 1

Houston Dynamo at Columbus Crew: An interesting game in some ways. Houston is slowly wrapping up their season opening road trip and the Crew are coming off some bad losses. Robert Warzycha continues to tinker with his lineup and this game will be no different. Until his offense comes alive, it will be tough to pick his club. But then again, the Dynamo don’t have an offense that is deadly just yet either. Hello draw.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 1, Houston 1

LA Galaxy at Colorado Rapids: David Beckham is making the trip for this one, his first Colorado visit since 2007. I don’t like this matchup at all for the Galaxy either, if it were in LA I would feel different about it but they’ve never done very well in Denver. Colorado is a dangerous team at the moment too, just waiting to get their chance to prove themselves and this one would do it.

WVH Prediction: Colorado 2, LA 1

FC Dallas at Vancouver Whitecaps: Two home games in a week for Martin Rennie’s club, the first didn’t go over very well against Sporting KC. They get another quick attack in town and that hasn’t gone over well in their last two games (both losses to SKC and San Jose). Defensively the Caps need a boost but their offense has to find some life. Dallas has all the right momentum to get three points but this one feels like a draw in the end given their defense and the midfield issues.

WVH Prediction: Vancouver 1, Dallas 1

Philadelphia Union at Chivas USA: The possible return of Juan Pablo Angel helps Chivas in this one for sure as they have looked good in recent weeks. If they can make it happen at home like they have on the road so far this year, we may be looking at a playoff contender. As for Philly, there is still a lot to learn about this club. The cross country trip doesn’t help either. I’m taking the Goats.

WVH Prediction: Chivas 2, Philadelphia 1

Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes: This one had some good potential to it before Marvin Chavez got suspended and Shea Salines got hurt. Still, both teams have strong defenses and it could turn into a slugfest. I think RSL has more pieces in place though to get the three points and they rarely lose two in a row.

WVH Prediction: RSL 2, San Jose 0

Sporting Kansas City at Portland Timbers: Could be a good one. Sporting goes for a league-tying record of eight straight wins in a row to start a season. You’d think this one could present some issues for Sporting but so far this season the Timbers haven’t exactly looked good at handling high pressure. I think Sporting leaves it late and gets yet another win.

WVH Prediction: Sporting KC 1, Portland 0

Sunday

New York Red Bulls at D.C. United: Another midfield reshuffle for Hans Backe with Rafa Marquez being suspended yet again. This one could still be a goal fest and if it turns into a high scoring game, take the visitors.

WVH Prediction: New York 4, DC 2

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Video

David Beckham and Burger King

By on April 3, 2012 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Yeah, I honestly don’t know what to make of this except I think I want something to drink here.

 

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Video

David Beckham’s LA Story

By on March 15, 2012 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Down in the dumps today LA fans? How about a little pick me up. ESPN’s 47-minute Beckham story.

Pretty cool to take a trip down memory lane huh?

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MLS 2012, Week 2: What To Watch For

By on March 15, 2012 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Just an incredible scene last night in LA. I won’t go into the sad facts of Seattle down in Mexico but let’s all tip our hats to Toronto FC for being the only MLS side left standing in the CCL after last night. Wow. I never thought I would type that little bit of info.

Now LA, Toronto and Seattle have to move on to another weekend of league play. For LA and Seattle, home games should be a little bit of comfort after losing in the CCL. Though for LA it seems that home is not where the heart is as they’ve lost two in a row at the HDC. Weird times indeed.

We have a massively large weekend ahead of us with nine games on the menu – seven of them set for Saturday. The lone team not included for those keeping score at home is the Columbus Crew.

There certainly are plenty of good talking points going into the second weekend of the season so here is what I’ll be watching out for.

1. The Big O. Montreal is planning and hoping to blow the roof of the Olympic Stadium. Over 50,000 are expected to be on hand and the Impact are hoping to make it closer to 60,000 by kickoff. Yeah you read that correctly, 60,000. The Impact host a hungry Chicago Fire team that had last weekend off. You have to figure the Fire are ready for this one, even though they’ll face a monster crowd at the Big O.

Montreal is looking for their first MLS goal as well. Last weekend they struggled on offense against an up-and-coming Vancouver defense. I’d expect an even tougher task against a Chicago defense that is stronger this season. Second-year defender Jahil Anibaba is a guy that will dictate a lot in the defensive third.  Continue Reading →

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What To Watch For: Week 1

By on March 8, 2012 | Follow @WVHooligan |

BC Place will be rocking for the season opener. (Getty Images)

We are finally back to the normal weekly posts here. It is Thursday which means it is time to take a dip into the stories I’ll be focusing in on this weekend as Major League Soccer kicks off their 17th season.

We got things off to a bit of a bang last night in the CONCACAF Champions League, with Seattle downing Santos 2-1 and Toronto and LA playing to a 2-2 draw in front of a rocking crowd at the Rogers Centre.

The First Kick schedule this weekend last three days, spanning Saturday through Monday. The unbalanced schedule however means that there will be a team or two off each week. Both Seattle and Toronto will be off this weekend, thanks to their involvement in the CCL.

Let’s get started shall we? Continue Reading →

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