Could Beckham really play right back?

January 5, 2010

David Beckham has returned for his second loan spell at AC Milan where he has an outside chance of playing right back.

Massimo Oddo is injured while left back Marek Jankulovski has been hit by fitness and form problems so Gianluca Zambrotta has been operating on the left of the defence rather than the right.

Ignazio Abate is a midfielder who has been filling in at the back but has not convinced the Rossoneri faithful.

Could all this prompt Leonardo to put Becks in defence?

The 34-year-old, likely to be on the bench against Genoa on Wednesday, has said he is happy to play anywhere and midfielders like Gennaro Gattuso will be seething if Beckham comes back into the side for just five months and steals their place.

Right back suddenly looks an ideal spot, even if Leonardo almost laughed off the idea late last year.

Beckham has never had great pace but is decent at defending while playing right back would allow him to swing in his famous crosses, which would not be so easy to produce in a narrow three-man midfield.

Of course the main reason Beckham is back at Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy is to try to safeguard his England World Cup squad place.

But what about a starting spot for Fabio Capello’s men in South Africa come June? That seemed unlikely with pacy duo Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott among those who looked ahead of Beckham in the pecking order for a start on the right wing.

England’s right back position is a different kettle of fish, however. Liverpool’s Glen Johnson is injured and pundits question his defensive ability.

Injury-prone Wes Brown would probably be next in line but he has been playing centre back for Manchester United instead this season and has been exposed of late, especially in the shock home FA Cup defeat to third tier Leeds United on Sunday.

Luke Young has retired from international football, Gary Neville hardly plays anymore. Who else is there?

If Beckham does play right back for Milan and is decent, Capello may have an answer.

PHOTO: AC Milan’s David Beckham arrives at the Milanello training center in Carnago, northern Italy, Dec 28, 2009. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito

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Tags: Aaron Lennon, ac milan, Brown, David Beckham, defensive ability, England, england world cup, england world cup squad, fabio capello, gary neville, gennaro gattuso, genoa, glen johnson, Ignazio Abate, kettle of fish, LEEDS, leeds united, leonardo, Liverpool, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, luke young, Manchester, marek, Milan, northern italy, pecking order, South Africa, theo walcott, wes brown, world cup squad, zambrotta

The title is Inter´s to lose, says Ranieri

February 21, 2009

ROME (AFP) – Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri admitted on Friday that the Serie A title was now Inter’s to lose rather than theirs to win.

Juve dropped to nine points behind the reigning champions last weekend after a 1-1 home draw against Sampdoria while Inter beat AC Milan 2-1 in their city derby.

And it has left Ranieri admitting that his team could well be forced to focus on the Champions League – they face Chelsea in the second round in London next week.

"Only Inter can lose it (the title), we have to keep the faith and play a great match against Palermo," he said.

"It will be an important gauge for us ahead of the Champions League. The team is in good shape and we need a good boost ahead of the next seven days, and that means a victory.

"We’re at a key stage of the season and the fact that the treatment room is empty is a good sign."

That means that important players such as former France striker David Trezeguet and Italy internationals Mauro Camoranesi and Giorgio Chiellini are all back in first team contention.

All three will play on Saturday with Trezeguet making his first start of the season.

"Trezeguet will play from the first minute against Palermo in attack with Camoranesi in midfield and Chiellini in defence," said Ranieri.

"I just hope we’re not thinking about Chelsea."

With the title seemingly out of their grasp, the Champions League may provide their best hope of silverware this season.

Ranieri is hoping that his team can go all the way in Europe but admits that the knock-out format is not the true test of a team’s capabilities.

"The league is where the true strength of a team is exposed. The Champions League is a different kettle of fish, it’s not always the best team that wins it," he said.

"In front of us are four or five European battleship destroyers but upsets can happen and we have faith.

"Valencia twice reached the final despite being a little known team. (Italy coach Marcello) Lippi may think it will be a Barcelona-Manchester United final and maybe he has a point but I don’t want to agree with him, I’ll do everything to guide Juventus to the final."

Written by: AFP