QPR bid for Beckham

Becks: out and about in LA

It's the story that won't go away. Armed with big bucks, Queen's Park Rangers are holding on to their dream of bringing David Beckham back to the Premier League.

The former England, but future Team GB skipper's looking for full match fitness in England as his own dream of playing for all four home nations at London 2012 beckons (Beckhams?)

Arab-owned Paris St.Germain fished around for his signature for a short while, but it's Tony Fernandes and his hurriedly assembled reputation for pro-active wheeler-dealing in the transfer market that gives this one legs.

Beckham's 37; he's probably played his last game for England (lap of honour/last-minute sub appearance possibility aside) - and a top Champions League club won't be in a hurry to sign him up now.

Without tattoos, image awaiting overlay.


It's left to clubs looking for an injection of showbiz that'll attract Beckham, particularly a London one like the R's.

Spurs were keen, but they've progressed too far under Harry Redknapp - and interest cooled after that Achilles tendon snap just before last summer's World Cup which more or less ended Beckham's top-level career.

Rangers looked surefire fodder for the drop after the opening day 4-nil drubbing at home to Bolton, but the arrivals of Luke Young, Joey Barton, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jay Bothroyd and Anton Ferdinand give them craft, number, depth and experience. Beckham would add a stupendous round of applause when he was subbed too! 23 Beckham in hoops? lovely for the Rangers faithful.

I hope this transfer happens. It's perfect timing, a perfect setting and frankly, time is being called on the multi-haircutted one's illustrious career. 

Because the Ravens will have left Beckingham Palace this time next year.

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Why should football be about cheating and gamesmanship?

Two telly pundits endorsed cheating in two separate shows on Sunday. In both cases, the reaction of Adrian Chiles and Richard Keys was a rather feeble "fair enough", even though it seemed to offend their sit-on-the-fence sensitivities.

They happened during Andy Gray's Final Word, then MOTD2.

Gray, whose view of the Premier League is now quasireligious, suggested Wayne Rooney's calmish discussion with the ref while walking off at halftime against Fulham, would encourage the man in black to think twice before ruling against him after the break. Another instalment in Manchester United's chipping away at the referee. Sledging, now endorsed by Gray.

Then Neil Warnock explained that Adam Johnson's brilliant equaliser in injury time for Manchester City at Sunderland should've been denied by deliberate handball. 

"The defender would've taken one for the team with a red card and missed a game", but according to Warnock, preferable for Sunderland to test the nerve of a City player taking a last minute penalty then accept a brilliant piece of skill.

That is cheating!

Johnson's winner has put him in Fabio Capello's thoughts on the day David Beckham's England career finished. His exceptional piece of skill would've been buried in that last-minute penalty rather than being enjoyed for a long, long time.

Rooney needed less than two minutes to score the opener for United as the second half resumed. He's got more than enough in his locker not to rely on hounding officials.

If you think I'm being namby pamby - and it should be accepted as "just gamesmanship" it is for me, the slippery slope. Football can't just be about abusing a position of strength over the weak - football matches must be won on merit and brilliance.

Football no longer teaches youngsters about integrity. People like Andy Gray have as much of a responsibility for the game's image as the players out there.

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