Football
Reuters 19y

Soccer-Beckham turns on Butcher in spat of captains

By Trevor Huggins

BELFAST, Sept 6 - David Beckham has issued a
rebuke to criticism from former England captain Terry Butcher,
saying it was sad the Motherwell manager had descended to that
level.

In a Sunday newspaper story headlined "Becks is a liability,
his legs have gone", Butcher said Beckham lacked the pace and
energy for wide midfield and was "completely vulnerable" in the
centre where he played in Saturday's 1-0 win over Wales.

Beckham began his retaliation on Tuesday by saying he would
never sit in judgement on his successors as England captain.

"I respect all former England players who have worn the
shirt and captained their country," he told reporters as he
prepared for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Northern
Ireland.

"You'll never see me come out and criticise any captain in
the future or in the past because I respect them.

"At the end of the day everyone has their opinion.

"But I do find it a little bit sad that people drop to that
level sometimes to criticise players, and I'm not just talking
about myself, but some of the other players in the team.

"I respect Terry Butcher as a footballer and an England
captain...he's got his right to his opinion. There's no point in
me questioning him about it because he's put it on a double-page
spread.

"I'd rather he said it to my face, personally, but that's
the way it is these days."

As for the doubts over his physical shape, Beckham retorted:
"My fitness level is the same as it was five years ago."

Though Beckham has an almost guaranteed starting place in
Sven-Goran Eriksson's team, popular support for the Real Madrid
midfielder has been ebbing since he fired England to the 2002
World Cup finals.

Hampered by injury, he was below par at the finals and was
solid rather than outstanding two years later at Euro 2004 where
England bowed out at the quarter-final stage.

HANSEN DOUBTS

Former Liverpool and Scotland defender Alan Hansen expressed
doubts about Beckham's standing and scepticism over his new
position in an article on Monday headlined "English love affair
with Beckham nears its end".

"Never in a million years is David Beckham going to evolve
into a holding midfielder," Hansen wrote, a comment which drew a
laconic response from the England skipper.

"I'm glad he's not the England manager because I wouldn't be
in the team," said Beckham, who remains convinced of his
abilities in any position but aware of the sceptics.

"Some people think I'm better on the right, some people
think I'm better in the middle and some people think I would be
better on the bench," he said.

"But that's people's opinions...and that doesn't matter.
It's the manager who picks the team."

^ Back to Top ^