Pros

Beckham a No-Go By Nick Williams
English star sits out against Revs
August 13, 2007
FOXBOROUGH, MASS. – With a near-record crowd packing Gillette Stadium and a media contingent much larger than usual on hand, the man everybody came to see – David Beckham – did not play a minute in the Revolution's 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy Sunday.

Beckham didn't even dress for the game. The English midfielder wasn't listed on coach Frank Yallop's lineup card before the match, not even as a substitution.

David Beckham did not play in Sunday's match against the Revolution.

Beckham has been nursing a sore left ankle, an injury he suffered while playing for Real Madrid. He missed Sunday's scoreless draw with Toronto and all three of LA's SuperLiga games since making a brief cameo in his much-anticipated American debut in a friendly against Chelsea. Beckham finally made his MLS debut Thursday, playing the last 21 minutes of the Galaxy's 1-0 loss to D.C. United.

Playing in that game, according to his coach, may have been a mistake.

“The 20 minutes Thursday may have set him back,” Yallop said. “[His ankle] was swollen after the plane ride yesterday. It just didn't feel right and he didn't want to risk it.”

Beckham, who didn't address the media after the match and left wearing rolled-up warm ups and an LA Dodgers caps, did not participate in pregame warm-ups. When he finally came on to the field just before the match, he signed autographs for a few lucky fans in the first row behind the benches.

Most of the fans were here just for Beckham. The contest was sold out long ago, with the 35,402 fans in attendance – many of whom had to buy a four-game package in order to get a ticket to the game – filling the entire lower bowl and various club suites at Gillette Stadium. The attendance figure is the third largest single game number in Revolution history and second largest at Gillette after the 2002 MLS Cup, also against the Galaxy.

“We have a good atmosphere anyway,” said Revolution coach Steve Nicol. “With more people, it's even better.

“Did it help us? Absolutely.”

Many in the pro-Revs crowd donned “Beckham 23” jerseys and when the big screen flashed a shot of Beckham on the bench as time was running down in the game, many voiced their displeasure, showering the international sensation with boos.

“I feel bad for the fans,” Yallop said. “David wants to be on the field. I think he feels really bad. It is a disappointment, but it's a reality. We can't send him out there for 20 minutes because it could set him back.”

Earlier this week, Beckham expressed his distaste for the artificial FieldTurf surface used at Gillette Stadium, saying the less-forgiving pitch might be enough to keep him from testing his tender left ankle. Yallop said that did not affect the decision to rest his star.

“I spoke to him this morning and he said it was sore,” Yallop said. “I think he would have said the same thing if it was on grass.”

When Yallop was asked if he thought the outcome of the game would have been different had Beckham played, the coach responded in good humor.

“I don't know,” he cracked. “I haven't seen him play for us yet.

“I think we're missing a good player,” he continued, this time more seriously. “We're excited to have him with us, we just want to get him on the field. He makes a big difference and I think we're missing that.”

The Galaxy next play Wednesday in a SuperLiga tilt with D.C. United. Beckham's status for that game is uncertain.

“We hope the day off today will make it better for Wednesday,” Yallop said. “Hopefully by Tuesday morning it will feel a lot better.”