If the loan period does go well, lets just say in that case, I won't be against an extended stay.
....Lets leave it at that!

Found this article today not a bad read enjoy !! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The Beckham effect

By Greg Duke
For CNN


LONDON, England (CNN) -- It is easy to see what attracted David Beckham to the San Siro, but it is a lot harder to determine exactly what the veteran England midfielder will bring to the AC Milan line-up.

Beckham stands to benefit hugely from his two-month move to Milan, but what does the club get?

For Beckham's part, his loan move from parent club LA Galaxy in January, albeit only until the MLS season kicks off again in March, is a complete no-brainer.

The advantages for Beckham are endless. He gets to play for a top European side, keeps himself match-fit while the MLS is in hibernation, and remains on the radar of England coach Fabio Capello who, as a former Milan coach, will be able to keep a vigilant eye on developments in Italy.

There is also the added advantage of Milano's high standing within the world of fashion to keep Mrs Beckham satisfied during the winter season.

The key for Beckham is that he loves playing for his country and would do anything to extend his international career. He currently possesses 107 caps, just one away from the English record for an outfield player, held by the legendary World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore.

Therefore a short stint in Serie A, the one league he hasn't chanced his arm in yet, was always going to be an attractive proposition for Beckham.

But where will he fit in at top-of-the-table Milan, who are starting to have a "Galaticos" look about them once again.

Last season was a complete disaster for the Rossoneri, finishing outside the Champions League places and humiliated by Arsenal in Europe, a result that highlighted how old and wooden-legged the squad had become.

Despite these failures, the pressure on coach Carlo Ancelotti was almost non-existent. The longest-serving coach in Serie A, Ancelotti is granted hero-like status at the San Siro, after achieving two Champions Leagues and one Scudetto during his seven-year tenure.

Yet, more than anybody, Ancelotti knew some of the veterans in his creaking squad had to go. And they did...

Brazilian defenders Cafu (38) and Serginho (37), reserve goalkeeper Valerio Fiori (39), Croatian defender Dario Simic (32), midfielders Cristian Brocchi (32) and Ibrahim Ba (34) and injury-plagued striker Ronaldo (32) were all shipped out along with under-performing, if a lot younger, striker Alberto Gilardino.

In their place arrived the much-younger Arsenal pair Mathieu Flamini and Philippe Senderos, Italy right-back Gianluca Zambrotta and the returning hero Andrei Shevchenko from Chelsea.

But perhaps, more significantly, Ancelotti gave a home to the wayward talent of Ronaldinho. The Brazilian maestro may have lost his way at the Nou Camp, but he is still only 28, and his incisive link-up play with compatriot Kaka has worked a treat for Milan. In fact, it was Ronaldinho's free-kick against Napoli that was deflected in for an own goal to send Milan back to the top of the table for the first time in four years.

The Ronaldinho-Kaka axis will be integral to Milan's hopes this season and Beckham's arrival will not change that, but all along the midfield and attack, Milan look to be top-heavy with players.

Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini, Clarence Seedorf, Flamini, Emerson and Alexandre Pato are all vying for three places, if you assume that the Brazilian pair will be joined in attack by either Shevchenko, Marco Borriello or Pippo Inzaghi. Throw Beckham into the mix, and it becomes even more confusing.

Despite the summer clear-out of seven 30-somethings, there are still plenty of old-timers in the Milan squad -- and the imminent arrival of 33-year-old Beckham further proves that Ancelloti has a soft spot for the more mature footballer.

Yet even the wily Ancelotti will be aware that he has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal and that Beckham is by no means guaranteed a regular starting place, especially if Milan continue to lead the way come January.

Beckham's stay will be for just two months and it could be a major gamble for Ancelotti to change a winning team just to accommodate a player for eight weeks -- even if he still remains one of the best dead-ball experts in world football.

Beckham certainly needs Milan, but do Milan need Beckham?

Link: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football...f=intlOnlyonCNN

This post has been edited by rhy_A4: Nov 4 2008, 02:56 PM

Thanks for posting that, rhy! Interesting read.

Warchant may know more about this than I because I tend to mostly ignore the MLS stuff, but I think I recall reading that the LA Galaxy fans are in no way happy about the transfer and have been calling Beckham out for being a 'traitor'.

What's so strange about that? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) Things aren't meant to be understood as long as Carlo is our coach, he does makes some very strange choices, and Pato being demoted to a forward role (as opposed to being a bonafide striker should be the least of our worries, really). But as long as we're winning, I won't complain. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Much.

Why doesn't the MLS run normally from September to May anyway!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

It would interfere with pointy-ball football, dst. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks for clearing that up - I myself was wondering why for the odd season time.

'pointy-football' - LOL

I would have killed the guy who officially gave this as an excuse...

I actually like to call that, um, soccer, Tennie. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) There's also a thingy called Rugby.

They have fans?
And how can Beckham be a traitor? He needs to play at the top level to make sure he still has his chances with England. As far as I know he still wants to play the next WC...

Yeah, not sure how he's a traitor in this either.

Anyways, Tennie, could you translate this, or at least just the general picture of what he's saying. I know he says Milan and Beckham, but that's pretty much all I got. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

LOL! Probably the few who didn't suddenly become supporters upon Becks' arrival.

The MLS doesn't need pointy football to draw away viewers; they've been doing that by themselves for quite some time now.

'I'm not surprised he's going to Milan because Milan is a great team and David Beckham is a great name and a great player because he still plays with the English national team so it's not a big surprise for me. Ronaldinho's there, Ronaldo was there, when I played there Rivaldo was there. Milan likes to have big name players. I'm sure he'll do well because he's a great player who still has a great desire to play and according to me, he'll do well.'

(More or less direct translation of what he said. He speaks lovely, unaccented Italian, btw).

Beckham was a great player. I haven't followed him since he moved to Galaxy, but I still think he'll be a valuable player for us after the winter break. He never really relied on his pace so I'm not buying the 'he's too old' line.