It's funny when Pele signed with Cosmos fans cheered and cried. When Beckham came to MLS he was booed.
This is going to get people talking, for sure. Skeptical of it actually happening, but admit it would be cool if it does. Worst case, nothing changes for the NASL. Best case, the couple of seasons between now and when the Cosmos move to MLS that they spend playing in the NASL could do a number for the leagues profile and fan interest.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/vie...Beckham-and-Eric-Cantona-reach-for-the-Cosmos http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/180811.html
ESPN picking it up lends some credibility to the story, but the line in one of the links, "The Cosmos are widely expected to be in the MLS league next year", doesn't inspire much confidence in that source lol. I wouldn't bet on it, but if this were to happen, it could be a great thing for soccer in North America. The same "mania" that you saw at MLS stadiums when the Galaxy came to town those first couple of years would probably take hold in NASL towns. It would be like the SPL where the also-rans benefit from big ticket sales increases when Celtic (and formally Rangers) come to town. And unlike the old NASL, I doubt any of the other owners would try to compete by signing big name guys of their own, because in this case even if they wanted to they probably couldn't. From the reports Beckham, if he is interested in the Cosmos, is in it for the ownership aspect and probably shoe-in future MLS prospects if he gets involved. Also, as a South Florida resident, perhaps the biggest benefit of all would be another massive hole being shot in the "MLS Miami Bid". It would be nice for the 3+ years of ridiculous posturing about "Beckham coming to Miami!" to end. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.
I am not going to lie, David Beckam playing for the Cosmos would be a huge deal. The league could bill it as a one year or two year farewell tour. Sellout crowds could be had if teams could get their crap together. Not to mention the guy still is better than a vast majority of NASL players. That said, I will believe it when I see him in a Cosmos jersey. The source is a British paper, which they are notorious for not understanding how American soccer works (it's like they hired cdskou to do their reporting ). ESPN is just running with the British story. Go to Australia, Qatar, France, and even his native England and you find stories claiming he is heading there. So it is anybody's guess at this point. My hunch is he still wants a big payday. He still wants one more 'challenge' as he says as a player. The NASL really doesn't fit the mold for either of those criteria. The Cosmos can't match the dollars the other leagues will pay and do you think he is pining away for a second division winners medal to make his collection complete? Not likely. He does like New York. I am sure the Cosmos would love to have him. I just don't think he ends up with a New York team until they make it to MLS and then only as ownership/management.
I was wondering is this tabloid bullshit? where did they get the monetary figures for NY Cosmos: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4656001/david-beckham-centre-global-tug-of-war.html
Yes, the Sun is a tabloid. If the Cosmos actually spend that, they'll never make it back unless they get an amazing TV deal.
Just wanted to point out it quite clearly states the original story came from the Irish newspaper The Sunday World and we've not been British for 90 years! Ever since Beckhams move to LA interest has grown, it increased when Keane went and now his goals make the national evening news. Even the Cosmos returning to the NASL made it into a lot of the press here. The Sunday World is our biggest selling Sunday paper and has a good reputation. I believe them
It would make sense for him to go to Paris or Shanghai now and then come back to the Cosmos if they bag a spot in MLS. I'll bet they'd still want to sign him at age 40.
That'd be about $15M per year. You could make that back in the shirt sponsorship fee and jersey sales.
Wouldn't mind Becks at all in a future MLS ownership role. He continues to suggest that MLS ownership is his next step.
I don't care if Moses himself was the source and it was written on stone tablets. Color me skeptical that Beckham will be wearing a Cosmos jersey in 2013. He apparently isn't retiring as an active player or he would have characterized his departure as such. There is too much money to be made in a Beckham swan song tour. The question is where can those dollars be maximized. Certainly not in the US Second division. It wouldn't yield the cash grab that David and his management are looking for his last hurrah. Beckham is a shrewd man and would obviously be welcomed with open arms into just about any ownership group in this country, Cosmos or otherwise. But as a player, his best value lies elsewhere.
That's what I heard, but QPR is he willing to have relegation as part of his resume? If he wants to further the growth of soccer here, then Cosmos is right choice. If he wants silverware than PSG is right choice.
He isn't going back to England. That doesn't fit the 'next challenge' mantra he spouted. I don't think it is about a championship either. What does a French league title mean to Beckham? About as much as a MLS title I would gather. Not much new ground there either. If he could win the Premiership, I think he could be enticed, but none of the top teams are going to give him that chance. He isn't going to turn out for QPR or West Ham. I am telling you his next year or two is about squeezing as much money out of his legs as he can possibly manage. Legacy and all that grandiose stuff is secondary. He will end up where he can earn the most money and that isn't the Cosmos. The timing is right for him to play one or maybe two more seasons in China, Middle East, Australia, Outer Mongolia, wherever he gets paid. Then he retires to join the Cosmos (or another NY group) for their ramp up into MLS in 2016 or so.
I could guarantee you that people would put on a Cosmos jersey with Beckham's name on the back a lot faster than Melbourne Heart, Shanghai whoever or Al Ain. People wear Cosmos gear here already. When I talk about US soccer to Joe Soaps here there's vague knowledge of teams in Dallas, Chicago etc. Everyone knows Galaxy because of Keane and then there's the Cosmos. EVERYONE talks about the Cosmos and they don't even have a team yet. If this stadium deal in Queens is nearly done, if Garber has been talking to the Cosmos about that expansion slot and if they want to launch their huge superstar franchise that will be promoted to the MLS in 3 years then Beckham makes perfect sense. We could see the expansion announcement and Beckham signing on the same day?
a way to get around the clause of owning MLS team in NY: Beckham as Cosmos executive???? http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/m...mos-franchise-article-1.1208631#ixzz2DQkrWXci
I never said "Everyone in Ireland talks about the Cosmos" I said "When I talk about US soccer to Joe Soaps here there's vague knowledge of teams in Dallas, Chicago etc. Everyone knows Galaxy because of Keane and then there's the Cosmos. EVERYONE talks about the Cosmos and they don't even have a team yet." You seem to put your own spin on things I say.
By the way, "everybody" knows the Cosmos because of guys who last played some thirty years ago. "Everybody" doesn't know these Cosmos, who, no matter what people may say, aren't those Cosmos. And if the rumors of them only playing in the second half of the NASL season next year are proven true, it'll be more proof of how overblown the true power of the brand is in 2012.