I was watching an ESPN Deportes report right now on the Beckham situation. Nothing we didn't know already was said although at the end they mentioned that there are a few "big name" players agents that have been talking to the Galaxy to replace Beckham should he be traded. Marquez and Bravo from the Mexican National team were the players mentioned by name. What are your thoughts? My thoughts (Putting my hate for the Mex Nat team aside): Marquez will be a huge help for us defensively but should we shouldn't use our DP slot on a defender. Bravo will only be useful if Donovan leaves but we can use that slot on a better forward. However this is AEG we are talking about and they know the potential these 2 players have in bringing in Mexican fans. They look for $$$ potential rather than what will help us win. We didn't need a RM when we signed Beckham...
I think Marquez will hold out and come to MLS when Barca Miami makes it's debut.. If LD comes back, I have no problem with using a DP spot for a CDM but I don't think it'll happen..
Wouldn't Bravo be like a slap in the face to Chivas USA, lol I think he is quality and wouldn't mind but I still hope Landon sticks around one more year. If BM doesn't make an offer he won't have a choice.
I would just love to see the look on Marquez's face when he found out that Cobi Jones was now one of his coaches.....
Let's not forget all Luis Hernandez ever did was score goals, put butts in the seats and lead us back to the MLS title game. Yes, his heart was never in it, and he gave a half-assed effort every other game, but would you rather have a Luis Hernandez-led team in the Cup Final or a Beckham-led team in last place?
No, evidently we have the real chance to see a mediocre Chris Klein/Tony Sanneh-led team fight for the last playoff spot with expansion Seattle. Isn't that we are STH's?
Rafa Marquez can come on the condition that he karate kicks somebody in the chest every other game (not including the games he is suspended for the resulting red cards of course)
Posted this in the other thread, but let me repeat. Replace Beckham with..... LANDON DONOVAN. Make him our DP, offer him DP money, outbid Bayern and bring him home. He means more to this team's success than DB ever did.
Not that I believe this for a hot second, but in the spirit of delusion: Kovalenko AND Marquez? What, Robert Mugabe's not available?
Maybe but at least we aren't hearing LD cry like Becks did and Bayern aren't being classless like Milan was. Beckham wasn't good for the lockerroom so him leaving would increase our chances of LD coming back, imo. Add in a big contract extension for LD and possibly playing with a big name player who wants to come to MLS to play and not be an "ambassador" (which is English for spoiled primadonna superstar).. Also, I know it's still early but LD isn't exactly lighting the world on fire in Germany (coming in as a late sub in games that count.. friendly matches are only friendly matches).
Milan is seeing the results, and noticing the tactical improvement with Beckham, AND Becks is benefitting from it as well with the England callups. Donovan is a lock on the USMNT so he won't gain in that respect and he still has much to prove in Europe, which could explain the reluctance of Bayern Munich to say anything. You of course noted this in your post too. That may be enough to explain the respective clubs attitudes.... maybe.... I've not heard anything that makes me think Beckham was a locker room cancer, but it's possible that with him gone, LD would be more likely to come back. Believe me when i tell you, I'd like to have him back... but he has stated he wants to try and prove himself in europe. So that's why i don't think it's a matter of just offering him more money. paying him more won't make the rest of the league compete at the higher level he is seeking right now.
Someone once asked me if there was anything that could make me stop loving the Galaxy. I said I couldn't think of anything. But I think Rafa Marquez could do it.
Well, here's the thing. There's a chance we are bringing him back NOT as a DP and forcing him to play. When you consider that things might look a little different if he has an offer on the table to sign a contract extension for a DP for 5 more years with the Galaxy. He might be willing to consider a nice paycheck, and staying in LA near Hollywood. Especially if you put it on the table up front, bring in some serious on the field help with Beckham's salary cap (DP or not), and then give LD a year playing in LA to think about it. Then 2009 can be his farewell tour and or it can be his year to assume the mantle of LA Galaxy DP. His choice. Even if he doesn't accept, I think his attitude would be much better if he felt the Galaxy were trying to build their future around him then using him.
Isn't Marquez the dude who head butt Cobi Jones in the 2002 World Cup? Considering the affinity for Cobi in LA, how could anyone get behind Marquez?
good defenders almost universally have a nasty streak. marquez is a pretty cultured back, but he has this side as well. IF.... and this is a big if... but IF he were to put on a Galaxy jersey, he'd be our meany. Just like Danny Peña and Danny Califf and any number of other dudes who weren't afraid to mix it up in the back. I'd love to have the guy playing for us. I mean he's a starting CB for Barcelona right now.. that's about as high level as it gets... don't you think we could use that right now?
It is unquestionable that we could use him and that he would help the team. But so would Satan sitting in the stands using dark powers to make the opposition collapse on the field. That doesn't mean I'd want us to use such a tactic. And in case anyone is going to jump down my throat and ask me if I'm comparing Rafa Marquez to Satan, I'll just save you the trouble of asking: Yes, I am.
I think everyone knows by now that our 'Latino' fanbase is CENTRAL AMERICAN, and not Mexican .. .. Our fans could care less if any of the new players are Mexican, or not - that's a fact! With LD & DB gone, that's gonna be a massive $25,000,000 in our coffers .. .. Let's not blow our chance to start over .. ..
Read the Mexican press stories about the WCQ. They are out for Rafa's blood, saying he has no self control. 6 red cards in 88 international matches? This is a "captain" who is supposed to set the tome? Oh, please. If he is not good enough for them, why do we want this garbage?