So Beckham is to get his 100 caps

[loz]

Quite remarkable really that a player who has probably split opinion more than just about any in recent times is about to become only the 5th Englishman in history to win 100 caps. That puts him in the same company as Billy Wright, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and Peter Shilton.

I am very much in the pro Beckham camp (at least in terms of his England career) and I still think he has more to offer us than any of the other alternatives who are far too far behind international standard however obviously the problem is that Beckham's future is now very much short lived which raises the question 'why bother playing him'

Won't be popular with some I know but I him for his achievement. He has been selected by 5 consecutive England managers and has played at the very highest level for practically the entirety of his career. With the exception of the incident in the Argentina game he has been pretty much the antithesis of the average moronic behaviour you see week in week out in the Premiership today (I realise people will be able to point out a few other incidents however all in all I would say he has behaved very well throughout his career). In fact I personally feel that a lot of the negativity that has come his way has been far more because of his off the field lifestyle than his on the field one. Personally I don't really care about all that - as long as a player isn't behaving in the way the likes of Barton and Bowyer (and a number of others) have off the field then why should we really be bothered about what they do - after all they live in practically a different universe from us. Whatever their little quirks are is there business, as long as they are not trampelling all over the lives of others I don't really see any great reason to dislike them.

[Tim]

Agree completely Loz, young kids could certainly do much worse than to use Becks as a role model (despite his much reported and criticised celebrity lifestyle) and he has done a great job for the team on a number of occassions, with the Greece game perhaps being the best example.

He is obviously not the future of this team, but he has always given his all when selected and never whinged when not, so i wish him all the best.

Shame no one else has really made a big claim as his replacement. SWP and Lennon are not the answer at present, so I guess Bentley is the best choice, but I am yet to be convinced he will cut it at the highest level. Who knows though.

[g3.7]

for me the best thing about this is that cap sees it as possible that he will be around in 2010- personally I think it's realistic- even if he isn't a starter then it's hard to see him not being one of the best 23 in the country.

IMO he's the best right sided player we have quite comfortably (and I think he's the perfect player for johnno to play with). would be good to see bentley maintain his form and make a sustained challenge for the position.

100 caps- great achievement, but it will be good to hear the media find something else to talk about.

[Guest]

I still think Beckham is a pratt and dumbass, but I do beleive him to be a good footballer. I beleive he still has something to offer England.

[Barn]

In football terms he should not be playing as he doesn't play competitive football any more, that said I think it's a good gesture and one that should have been made at Wembley rather than away from home.

[Liam]

In football terms he should not be playing as he doesn't play competitive football any more

I agree with this and it begs the question - why has he been included?

It looks as if Capello has bowed to the pressure applied by a combination of Beckham's brilliant PR machine, the FA forever looking for marketing opportunities, and the media.

A pity, because when he was appointed, it looked as if England finally had a manager who was strong enough to resist such pressure.

[JT26CFC]

or because it's a friendly, just give beckham his 100th cap and maybe he'll be on the bench one day

[Barn]

I think he's given us enough blood sweat and tears down the years to have earned a cap by way of thanks, my only gripe is that it should have come in Capello's first game and then he could have been sent on his way and thanked by all, rather than making a big statement by not picking him in the first game then bringing him back.

[Gem]

For a "winger" (i.e. wide player) he's slow, can't get past a defender and rarely tracks back. However, he has the best right foot I've ever seen. Not a fan of his image, but usually comes across a fairly decent bloke when asked football related questions. He's always stayed loyal to England (in football terms), regardless if he's playing, on the bench or out thr squad altogether.

Well done Mr. Beckham. Would be a nice touch if he scores tonight. No Ashley, I mean on the football pitch.

Just for the love of God (literally) don't follow your mate Tom Cruise's religious path to try and fit in in Hollywood, go Kabbalah if you must.

[Liam]

I think he's given us enough blood sweat and tears down the years to have earned a cap by way of thanks, my only gripe is that it should have come in Capello's first game and then he could have been sent on his way and thanked by all, rather than making a big statement by not picking him in the first game then bringing him back.

Exactly. I have no problem with him being thanked. I have no problem with beckham at all. But the time to do that was in the first game. He left him out that time apparently for football reasons. What has changed in the meantime to change his mind? Those reasons should have remained the same in the interim.