FC Rocky: Soccer blog George Tanner and Angel Hernandez write about soccer for RockyMountainNews.com.

The Galaxy announced Thursday that David Beckham will rejoin the MLS team following Wednesday's England friendly in Paris against France.

Does this mean he will play three days later against the Rapids in the season opener? It's not clear. Does that mean he will even make the trip to Colorado? Again, not clear.

There are so many variables here that it's difficult to say whether Beckham will play March 29 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Will he play against France? Maybe. I've been reading that he probably won't start but could enter the game as a sub in the second half. That would relieve the pressure on England coach Fabio Capello to get Beckham his 100th cap.

So if Beckham comes on as a sub on Wednesday, how much playing time will the Galaxy give him on Saturday? Los Angeles learned last season that the playing time, training and travel time can take their toll on the league's superstar attraction. Team officials have got to understand how much his long-term health will mean to the league this season and beyond. My guess is that they will err on the side of caution and play him sparingly, if at all.

I wonder if the Galaxy's institutional memory is sharp enough to put 2 and 2 together. Does the team remember that Beckham didn't play here last year? Does the team consider that this is L.A.'s only appearance in Colorado this season?

Here's my best guess: Beckham will play as a sub on Wednesday for Capello, then he will play as a sub for the Galaxy in Commerce City. It is the season opener. And it will be on television. If the Galaxy can't put 2 and 2 together in regard to Denver-area fans, it will understand the siren call of the TV audience.

So, go to the game, expect to see some Beckham, just not 90 minutes of Beckham. That seems reasonable.

READER COMMENTS

POST A COMMENT