Donovan: Blasts Becks
All that we care about at a minimum is that he committed himself to us. As time has gone on, that has not proven to be the case in many ways - on the field, off the field.
Donovan on Beckham
Quotes of the week
David Beckham can expect a frosty welcome when he returns to the MLS this month after having his commitment to the cause questioned by Landon Donovan.
USA star Donovan states, in a new book due out later this month, that former Real Madrid man Beckham has demonstrated little commitment to the LA Galaxy cause following his big-money move across the Atlantic.
After enduring a disappointing debut campaign in MLS the 34-year-old joined AC Milan on loan in January, a move that was extended forcing him to miss half of the 2009 MLS season.
Donovan, who is the United States captain and wore the Galaxy armband in Beckham's absence, has questioned Beckham's leadership skills and says he has been a negative influence on the team since the ousting of former coach Ruud Gullit.
"All that we care about at a minimum is that he committed himself to us," he says in The Beckham Experiment. "As time has gone on, that has not proven to be the case in many ways - on the field, off the field.
"Does the fact that he earns that much more money come into it? Yeah. If someone's paying you more than anybody in the league, more than double anybody in the league, the least we expect is that you show up to every game, whether you are suspended or not. Show up and train hard, show up and play hard.
"Maybe he's not a leader, maybe he's not a captain. Fair enough. But at a minimum, you should bust your a** every day. That hasn't happened. And I don't think that's too much for us to expect. Especially when he's brought all this on us.
"When David first came, I believed he was committed to what he was doing. He cared. He wanted to do well. He wanted the team and the league to do well.
"Somewhere along the way - and in my mind it coincides with Ruud being let go - he just flipped a switch and said, 'Uh-huh, I'm not doing it anymore'."

Latest Sky Sports News Report
Tottenham v Sunderland - 2nd Half
Blackburn v Portsmouth - 1st Half
Man City v Burnley - 1st Half
Blackburn v Portsmouth - 2nd Half
Aston Villa v Bolton - 2nd Half
Tottenham v Sunderland - 1st Half
Aston Villa v Bolton - 1st Half
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Hull vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Everton |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Chelsea vs Man Utd |
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Man City 2 - 2 Fulham | |
| Liverpool 2 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Bolton 3 - 2 Everton | |
Inter Milan were held on the opening weekend of Serie A while Bordeaux lead the way in Ligue 1.
Schalke and Wolfsburg maintained their perfect starts this weekend, while Nancy set the pace in France.
Benfica ace Javi Garcia is playing down speculation he could be destined for a Premier League switch.
Angel Di Maria has distanced himself from reports claiming he could be set for an imminent move to England.
North Queensland Fury owner Don Matheson has insisted Robbie Fowler will not be leaving the club.
Anderlecht starlet Romelu Lukaku has shunned reported interest from Chelsea and insists he is staying put.
Roman Pavlyuchenko's agent has admitted that his client is set to hold talks with Zenit St Petersburg.