Submitted by Bella, Jun 12, 2007 09:23

Beckham's a mid-fielder, not a striker. There's no one more precise in delivery, from set pieces or even on the run, but there have to be players on the other end who are able to maintain possession, and attackers in the box who can put a ball, even one dropped on their head or foot, into the goal.
Beckham is also a famously generous teammate, particularly supportive of younger players, he has the experience and poise to influence the tempo of the game, and his spirit on the pitch has ignited more demoralized teams than the Galaxy are at the moment.
Can Beckham conjure an immediate turnaround? I'm not sure the Galaxy squad's skill are developed enough to take the leap with or without Beckham. But the Galaxy has been clear that its rebuilding, and if accelerating that is what's meant by "saving," and if it doesn't have to happen on the afternoon of his arrival, then sure he can. Obviously his impact on the pitch will be felt immediately, but his positive influence on the team and its fortunes (in sporting terms) will probably take a little more time. He may be known for the amount of ground he can cover in a game, but he's still only one player.

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