20 Aug 2007(Mon)

August 17, 2007: When he's playing he's big news.

When he's injured he's big news.

When he's scoring free kicks he's even bigger news.

There is no end to the David Beckham story -- and no end to the amusing list of headlines which have followed him to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

They are all, naturally, based on the hit movie "Bend it like Beckham" and have included the following:

On the subject of Beckham missing another match because of his ankle injury: Bench it like Beckham.

On the amount of Beckham merchandise being sold in Los Angeles and beyond: Vend it like Beckham.

On Beckham's recovery from the ankle injury: Mend it like Beckham.

The headlines are an interesting sideshow to the events on and off the field, and you have to wonder how long the editors can sustain their output.

Here's a few more to be going on with:

David wins an award for his gardening skills at his Beverley Hills mansion: Tend it like Beckham.

David joins another club on loan/rental: Lend it like Beckham.

David finishes his England career by scoring a hat trick of free kicks: End it like Beckham.

David changes position from right wing to right back: Defend it like Beckham.

So you see, Japanese readers, there are many opportunities out there to expand your vocabulary through football, especially with corny Beckham headlines.

See if you can come up with any more...

On the subject of Beckham and England, I cannot understand why Steve McClaren is talking about bringing him back to England to play a friendly against Germany when he knows he is far from fully fit.

Don't you think the Osim approach would have been better? Leave him alone, let him recover fully, select only 12 players including two goalkeepers...

Funny isn't it, how McClaren now needs Beckham for a friendly when he wouldn't have touched him with a barge pole a few months ago for European Championship qualifiers.

ends