Peter Taylor: Becks is no cap-collector
442 Staff - Wednesday 03 December 2008, 13:42
Former England caretaker manager Peter Taylor has defended David Beckham against accusations of cap-chasing.
Beckham currently stands one behind Bobby Moore's outfield record of 108 England appearances (goalkeeper Peter Shilton represented his country 125 times). Several pundits have said his recent caps – which have tended to be brief cameos from the bench – are devaluing the record.
But Taylor, who made Beckham England captain for the first time in November 2000 during the interregnum between Kevin Keegan and Sven-Göran Eriksson, has defended the value of the caps – and the player himself.
"I know some of the older generation aren't happy to see him closing in on Bobby Moore and Peter Shilton's records if he's only playing for a few minutes as a sub," said Taylor, now managing League Two table-toppers Wycombe. "But if he clears a shot off the line, or sets up a goal, is the cap less worthy?"
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview in the new issue of FourFourTwo – out today – Taylor admits he didn't expect Beckham to have won quite so many caps. "But I'm delighted," says Taylor, "because he's emerged as a bloody good captain and an ambassador for his sport and his country."
The new issue of FourFourTwo is out now.
If you're going to quote this story (and you're welcome to), please be considerate and say where you got it.
Discuss this story, and much else, in the FFT.com forums
ENGLAND FANS! Check FourFourTwo.com’s ever-expanding interviews section for more stuff to read:
One on One Kevin Keegan, Sven-Göran Eriksson, David Beckham, Michael Owen, Paul Gascoigne, Ian Wright
Web Exclusives Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne, Glenn Hoddle, Wayne Rooney,
Q&A Fabio Capello, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott
Perfect XI Ian Wright
Boy's A Bit Special Theo Walcott, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Michael Mancienne, David Wheater
Ask A Silly Question Sir Geoff Hurst, Alan Ball, Bryan Robson, Peter Crouch, John Barnes, Peter Reid,
My Secret Vice Jimmy Bullard
What Happened Next? Carlton Palmer
Perfect XI Sir Bobby Charlton, Graham Taylor, Bryan Robson