How good was David Beckham?

Gehrman

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Probably had the sweetest right foot of all time. Don't think he's underrated, due to his fame he was massively rated through the world when he was playing. None of my oppo mates rated Giggs but all rated Beckham.
 

Inter Yer Nan

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A great player. The best crosser of the ball I've ever seen. A great passer in general be it cross field, short over the top etc; such a great creative player and a scorer of great goals. Very few could take a free kick as good as him (or better). Now he wasn't a great dribbler nor did he have great speed and explosiveness but he also had intangibles that others didn't have. When the chips were down there are few players you'd pick over Beckham to come up with some magic or grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Between 1998-2001 he probably was second only to Keane in our team as far as importance. That's a hell of a peak. We are very lucky that we had a midfield quartet who were probably all among the world's top 10 players for a 3-4 year stretch and their games complimented each other's so well.
 

Gehrman

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Controversial but I've never witnessed Figo have a good game, for Portugal or Madrid (when United played them).
Figo was world class. Nearly scored a sublime chip against us when we played them.
 

Inter Yer Nan

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Controversial but I've never witnessed Figo have a good game, for Portugal or Madrid (when United played them).
Really? Figo was great the entire Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 tournaments. Also had a good World Cup in 2006 and played well against us for Barca and then when he scored for Madrid. He was immense between about 1996-2004. Between about 1998-2003 he was probably always one of the top three players in the world I felt.
 

Inter Yer Nan

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Probably had the sweetest right foot of all time. Don't think he's underrated, due to his fame he was massively rated through the world when he was playing. None of my oppo mates rated Giggs but all rated Beckham.
Mine always felt Becks was overrated but they always rated Giggs and Scholes. I think Beckham's celebrity clouded some people.
 

gerdm07

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Beckham was a weird one. He wasn't a particularly technical or a pacey player. You won't see him dribble past or outpace three defenders very often. In fact he was more of a right sided midfielder if anything. However his work rate and his passing (especially his crossing) was top notch. He's the best passer I've ever seen in my life. Without him Sir Alex would have probably ditched the 4-4-2 system earlier then he did + he would have needed a better RB (Gaz was great once he hit 27 but he was too rash when he was young).

We were lucky to have some of the finest right wingers football had ever seen. Kanchelskis was like the flash. His pace gave Maldini a mare. Beckham's crossing was mind blowing while Ronaldo was, well, Ronaldo.
How can you not be technical and be the best passer you have ever seen? To be a great passer, and Beckham was this and not just a great crosser like many only think, you have to have a great first touch, great technique and feel.

Still my favorite United player.
 

Gehrman

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Mine always felt Becks was overrated but they always rated Giggs and Scholes. I think Beckham's celebrity clouded some people.
I've grown up and live in denmark, so my mates didn't actually watch Man Utd games other than when they were playing Liverpool and Arsenal. Giggs and Scholes were probably higher rated by casuals in britain, because more people actually watched the games. Casual football fans around the world thought that Beckham must have been the best in the world to be so famous.
 

Fingeredmouse

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Probably had the sweetest right foot of all time. Don't think he's underrated, due to his fame he was massively rated through the world when he was playing. None of my oppo mates rated Giggs but all rated Beckham.
They never rated Giggs?He ripped them all a new one at some point.
 

Gehrman

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Really? Figo was great the entire Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 tournaments. Also had a good World Cup in 2006 and played well against us for Barca and then when he scored for Madrid. He was immense between about 1996-2004. Between about 1998-2003 he was probably always one of the top three players in the world I felt.
Ive always felt that Beckham would have been without the doubt the best rightmidfielder in the world in his prime if not for Figo. It would be hard for me to choose who was the best. Figo had a sublime foot as well but was a much better dribbler.
 

Gehrman

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They never rated Giggs?He ripped them all a new one at some point.
They were casuals. If you listened to non Man Utd supporter here, you'd think someone like Paul Scholes never existed.
 

Sandikan

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I know someone who genuinely believes Darren Anderton was better.
 

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Beckham was a weird one. He wasn't a particularly technical or a pacey player. You won't see him dribble past or outpace three defenders very often. In fact he was more of a right sided midfielder if anything. However his work rate and his passing (especially his crossing) was top notch. He's the best passer I've ever seen in my life. Without him Sir Alex would have probably ditched the 4-4-2 system earlier then he did + he would have needed a better RB (Gaz was great once he hit 27 but he was too rash when he was young).

We were lucky to have some of the finest right wingers football had ever seen. Kanchelskis was like the flash. His pace gave Maldini a mare. Beckham's crossing was mind blowing while Ronaldo was, well, Ronaldo.
Best passer ever? Maybe you mean best crosser ever certainly not short passing (though he was incredible at it). I don't see how Beckham was a weird one though. His technique was incredible. Pinpoint accuracy and very good with the ball at his feet. He just wasn't a dribbler.
 

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On his best, Ballon D'or contender.

One of the best passers to ever play the game and a very good leader.
Never stopped running. Given his life outside football he never stopped traning hardest and showing extreme passion.

I think he's underrated
 

devilish

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Best passer ever? Maybe you mean best crosser ever certainly not short passing (though he was incredible at it). I don't see how Beckham was a weird one though. His technique was incredible. Pinpoint accuracy and very good with the ball at his feet. He just wasn't a dribbler.
I am referring to his dribbling.
 

Hughie77

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Hes appreciated more now, I think after he's stopped playing, than he was playing, he was a constant for England that says alot . I watched a re run of the Juve 99 semi , the other day and he worked his socks off in that game.
He could put the ball on a sixpence, best crosser , corner taker, free-kick taker , that's been around, for a while.
His personal life outshadows his ability he had, by some not myself,More appreciated now I think,
 

Holsinho

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On his best, Ballon D'or contender.

One of the best passers to ever play the game and a very good leader.
Never stopped running. Given his life outside football he never stopped traning hardest and showing extreme passion.

I think he's underrated
Never Ballon D'or contender imo. Brilliant crosser, long range passer and workrate. Played his strengths perfectly, but his lack of pace and ability to beat his man puts him a tier below the likes of Figo etc. Would still love to have him our current team.
 

GifLord

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Controversial but I've never witnessed Figo have a good game, for Portugal or Madrid (when United played them).
He even scored against us thanks to fecking Barthez doing his best 'im the shittiest keeper in all the country' impressions
 

UnitedSofa

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I know it's not the right thread but Barthez has got to be up there with one of my favourite United Keepers the crazy Bast*rd!

Would run out the box, dribbling it like a mad man.
Would run out the box 40 yards up the pitch to do a clearance that wasn't need
Who can forget the P*ssing on the pitch incident :eek:

He even scored against us thanks to fecking Barthez doing his best 'im the shittiest keeper in all the country' impressions
 

tjb

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Beckham was a weird one. He wasn't a particularly technical or a pacey player. You won't see him dribble past or outpace three defenders very often. In fact he was more of a right sided midfielder if anything. However his work rate and his passing (especially his crossing) was top notch. He's the best passer I've ever seen in my life. Without him Sir Alex would have probably ditched the 4-4-2 system earlier then he did + he would have needed a better RB (Gaz was great once he hit 27 but he was too rash when he was young).

We were lucky to have some of the finest right wingers football had ever seen. Kanchelskis was like the flash. His pace gave Maldini a mare. Beckham's crossing was mind blowing while Ronaldo was, well, Ronaldo.
I agree. In fact, I actually feel we played a variation of a 442 rather than the flat 442 that it seemed on paper. I saw it more like a wide diamond, with both giggs and beckham as the creative midfielders operating wider , and scholes acting as the link between midfield and attack. Beckham was fantastic in his role. His passing game has been criminally underrated over time. If people understand how difficult it is to create chances, they will understand how impactful Beckham's final ball was in his period with us. As far as i'm concerned, aside from Keane keeping things ticking, i felt that Beckham was the best player in that team. A lot of people at the time also felt the same way. Over time, his legend at united has dwindled due to the other players on that team having greater longevity and some like scholes getting better than they initially were on that team. He was undisputedly a top 10 player in the world and in my opinion was robbed of the PFA award in 1999. If he had won this, in hindsight, he may have been looked upon differently. This is a major reason why I want Debruyne to win one now.
 

tjb

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Probably had the sweetest right foot of all time. Don't think he's underrated, due to his fame he was massively rated through the world when he was playing. None of my oppo mates rated Giggs but all rated Beckham.
This was accurate imo. Beckham was a better player than Giggs when they were both playing at United, at least when I started watching.
 

Wilt

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Superb dead ball specialist.

Richer than Croesus.
 

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Fergie was right though, his other activities ruined his football career. Went to Madrid to become water carrier for Zidane.
 

GailSpaceWynand

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Wrt 99', people talk a lot about Keane's game against Juve (semis; despite not being available for the final). Or Ole's winner. Or Giggsy's goal against Arsenal. Surprisingly few mentions of his 2 deliveries under pressure in the dying minutes of the CL final.

I think his global appeal distracts a few from how good he was as a footballer. Pros can keep different aspects of their lives separate. You can have a flourishing public image (and what it takes to maintain that) without it affecting your football. It's called being professional. Not everybody has to live like Paul Scholes.

At his best, becks was the world's best at his position (2nd in B'Dor is proof this is not hogwash). Also, gave his all for the team.
 

GailSpaceWynand

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He had what 3-4 seasons there? I recall seeing his last one and he was really good. Sometimes moves don't workout for many reasons.
Almost like driving a super shiny car without an engine or something.

He wasn't that bad tbh. Worked his ass off and played a part in their first La Liga in 4 years.
 

Gehrman

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This was accurate imo. Beckham was a better player than Giggs when they were both playing at United, at least when I started watching.
I would rate them about equal. They had different skillsets.
 

MrMarcello

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I've grown up and live in denmark, so my mates didn't actually watch Man Utd games other than when they were playing Liverpool and Arsenal. Giggs and Scholes were probably higher rated by casuals in britain, because more people actually watched the games. Casual football fans around the world thought that Beckham must have been the best in the world to be so famous.
Americans and the media when he arrived in the US.
 

JoeyJoJoJrShabadoo

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With the way few defences have figured out how to defend against Trent Alexander Arnold, Beckham would fecking walk it in this day and age.
 

Eyepopper

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Outstanding player, I was devastated when he left.

But yeah, going on to play for Real, AC & PSG afterwards, he was clearly shit.