First goal! Great Performance! Will he stay?!

This weekend Milan went to Bologna to get their revenge from the Season opener loss. A very convincing 4-1 victory gave Milan the 3 points to keep them 6 points away from the leaders Inter. A goal from Clarence Seedorf, 2 from Ricky Kaka and one from our man David. Of course after the game rumors and reports were flying all over regarding Beckham extending his stay. After proving he can still play and provide for the team. So the big question is, will he stay? Well according to Ancelotti, it’s up to David.

David’s Goal against Bologna. Jan 25, 09. 59th minute, Bologna 1-4 Milan.

Goal.com gave him a 7.5 Rating. “He blasted in his first Serie A goal and was involved in many Milan moves. After Bologna were down to ten men he showed his skill-set with some fine passing and movement.”

Words from Coach Carlo Ancelotti on Becks performance and his contract situation:

“It’s up to him to decide,”

“Our hands are tied, because he has a running contract [with LA Galaxy].”

“As long as Beckham is at my disposal, I don’t see why I shouldn’t field him, since he is performing so well.”

“I am patient and sometimes very good,”

“But even I can’t take a player and get him in the team after just 10 days [of training].

“The merit is all his and his desire to return to play important football. He has done it with intelligence. He is a protagonist for this reason.”

“Will he remain? In football everything is possible,”

“We will not put any pressure on him, the choice is up to him.”

“Sure, he knows our wish is that he stays here. The moment Beckham has to return to America will certainly be a sad one also because of the help he is giving the team, the quality of his play and balance.”

“The position that he has in our midfield is ideal for him,”

Ricky Kaka:

“It was great to see David’s first goal for Milan. He is giving us a hand and I hope that he will stay with us for a very long time.”

From the man himself Becks:

“It was a really special goal, and in the same way it is very special to play here. The most important thing was for us to win and now we have even more belief in ourselves ahead of Wednesday’s game.”

“I feel really good here [at Milan]. I have joined a squad that has wanted me for years and I play for exceptional fans. I will remain here until March and then I will see. For now I am only thinking about playing.”

President Silvio Berlusconi after the game to Sport Media Set, outlining that he wants Beckham to stay with Milan.

“Beckham is a champion,”

“We will try and hold onto him.”

AC Milan lawyer Leandro Cantamessa to Sky Sports Italia.

“After March anything can happen. Beckham must first speak to Los Angeles Galaxy and tell them that he is happy here and only then can we begin a new negotiation which is not based on a loan deal.”

Becks will have to pressure L.A Galaxy to let him stay or do whatever so he can stay. Im sure if both David and Milan push Galaxy, Milan will get their way. Basically big teams with big people behind them and big money win over small clubs. L.A Galaxy in this case. It may not be fair but hey this is how the world goes round.

From a Milanista’s perspective, i will agree to this deal for only this season. Next season? too early to tell now, but for one i wouldn’t want to rely on him as a key player. He can be a bench player and help the team and team-mates. So basically, no big investments towards him and don’t depend on him too much. For now, he’s Okay.

Milan and Beckham will be playing Genoa on Wednesday this week. Another important 3 points that must be picked up on the road. Becks has to make sure he’s on top form, Coach Don Fabio Capello will be at the San Siro on Wednesday.

Just a quick note: Thank god Ricky Kaka will be staying with Milan for longer now. He is literally Priceless. The fans showed the management and the world that Ricky Kaka is ours! [Video]. There are stuff more important than money….well actually to be honest, There are stuff more important than MORE money. you need some money first, then it’s not about money, but with no money everything is about money.

Forza Milan, Forza Ricky Kaka & Forza Beckham!

From The Independent:

David Beckham is a shock contender to be named England captain for tomorrow’s friendly against Trinidad & Tobago. The game has been arranged so that the Football Association can secure the vote of the Caribbean nation’s influential grandee Jack Warner for its 2018 World Cup bid and Beckham making a token return to the captaincy is regarded as a way of winning over Fifa.

Beckham quit the England captaincy after elimination from the 2006 World Cup and made his comeback to the team only when Steve McClaren recalled him against Germany in August. Warner is the president of Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) and is one of only 24 men who will vote on who will host the 2018 World Cup. He has already been pictured meeting Beckham off the team plane in the local press.

Although Fabio Capello is not given to cheap publicity stunts, a one-match captaincy for Beckham would enable Warner, who was involved in a 2006 World Cup ticketing scandal, to be seen glad-handing the most famous footballer on the planet. The England manager is thought to be considering the idea. He has given Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry the chance to prove themselves as potential long-term captains.

Read more here and here.

I can’t leave without linking you to this article on Capello’s response to playing Beckham. It’s from the Mirror, but has been confirmed as true quotes from Capello. (Thanks to Diane for the find.) He makes an interesting point: that playing David is a tactical decision, and sometimes he will be tactically suitable to start against a team, sometimes he will sub on or even not play. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing when playing Beckham. And I know that Beckham is happy to be of use to England in pretty much any capacity.

I’ve also found a great article by Glenn Davis for the Houston Chronicle discussing Beckham’s impact on the MLS and soccer in America. I found that the article echoed my own thoughts on several points, including critics of Beckham’s play. Here in an excerpt below. Oh, and catch the game on ESPN Classic.

“Maybe you were one of the many who believed Beckham’s on-field impact would be limited to his famous free kicks. Many pundits and commentators have made the mistake of calling him one-dimensional. Even more claimed he would not be able to stay interested in MLS and would not adapt to playing with teammates whose names weren’t Zindeine Zidane, Ryan Giggs or Roy Keane.”

I cannot WAIT to watch Beckham and Donovan play against each other — not to mention every other player on both the English and U.S. squads. It should be a good one.

After failing to qualify for Euro 2008, the FA has announced new targets for English football. Steve McClaren has been critical of the FA’s targets, saying they need to implement strategies to reach their goals rather than just being visionaries.

Anyone know when Capello will name his squad for the England v. USA match on May 28th?

More on Capello’s role/reaction HERE.

More on McClaren’s response/concerns HERE.