Beckham turns on Butcher in spat of captains
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-07 09:36

BELFAST, Sept 6 (Reuters) - David Beckham has issued a rebuke to criticism from former England captain Terry Butcher, saying it was sad the Motherwell manager had descended to that level.

In a Sunday newspaper story headlined "Becks is a liability, his legs have gone", Butcher said Beckham lacked the pace and energy for wide midfield and was "completely vulnerable" in the centre where he played in Saturday's 1-0 win over Wales.

Beckham began his retaliation on Tuesday by saying he would never sit in judgement on his successors as England captain.

"I respect all former England players who have worn the shirt and captained their country," he told reporters as he prepared for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland.

"You'll never see me come out and criticise any captain in the future or in the past because I respect them.

"At the end of the day everyone has their opinion.

"But I do find it a little bit sad that people drop to that level sometimes to criticise players, and I'm not just talking about myself, but some of the other players in the team.

"I respect Terry Butcher as a footballer and an England captain...he's got his right to his opinion. There's no point in me questioning him about it because he's put it on a double-page spread.

"I'd rather he said it to my face, personally, but that's the way it is these days."

As for the doubts over his physical shape, Beckham retorted: "My fitness level is the same as it was five years ago."

Though Beckham has an almost guaranteed starting place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's team, popular support for the Real Madrid midfielder has been ebbing since he fired England to the 2002 World Cup finals.

Hampered by injury, he was below par at the finals and was solid rather than outstanding two years later at Euro 2004 where England bowed out at the quarter-final stage.

HANSEN DOUBTS

Former Liverpool and Scotland defender Alan Hansen expressed doubts about Beckham's standing and scepticism over his new position in an article on Monday headlined "English love affair with Beckham nears its end".

"Never in a million years is David Beckham going to evolve into a holding midfielder," Hansen wrote, a comment which drew a laconic response from the England skipper.

"I'm glad he's not the England manager because I wouldn't be in the team," said Beckham, who remains convinced of his abilities in any position but aware of the sceptics.

"Some people think I'm better on the right, some people think I'm better in the middle and some people think I would be better on the bench," he said.

"But that's people's opinions...and that doesn't matter. It's the manager who picks the team."

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