BRAMWELL SPEAKS OUT I BET you thought I was going to write about David Beckham, didn't you? Well, you were wrong.

But, before I move onto this week's topic, was it just me or did he con the football pundits yet again in the game against Argentina last night?

To wake up this morning and find the national papers praising his every move was just astounding.

I fully admit that I only used half the bottle of arsenic bought to dip my pen into during the match.

And, yes, I am obsessed, because I can never remember so much confusion between ability and celebrity.

George Best had it spot on.

Beckham is, probably without doubt, the best crosser of a ball in world football.

Is that enough to make earn him the status of runner-up in FIFA's player of the year award?

Of course not. Best highlighted the fact that he does not score enough goals, he cannot head the ball, his temperament is as fragile as a Northern Ireland peace agreement, his workrate is poor and his tackling is, at best, suspect.

Even Newcastle boss Bobby Robson admitted he would prefer to have a Division One journeyman with a long throw in his side.

In my books, that is not the description of a great footballer.

But, he must be more intelligent than people give him credit for.

For yet again the whole country appears to have been deceived by a 20 minute spurt at the start of the game.

When he came up against Diego Simeone, for the first time since the World Cup red card in St Etienne, during last year's Champions' League campaign, Beckham was magnificent.

He showed exactly what he could be capable of, if just half his brain was focused on football.

There were signs that Simeone's presence was going to inspire a similar display last night.

Then Beckham's alter ego kicked in. He had done enough to impress in the early stages, and picked up the bonus of a booking, which would serve to sustain his image of dangerous loose cannon for another few days.

His remaining energy would be better conserved for the next nappy changing session - though Alex Ferguson might soon tire of this daily chore.

For the rest of the game he meandered aimlessly, copying Dennis Wise in always opting for the mundane sideways pass.

It was no coincidence that England soon ran out of ideas.

These opinions are backed up by the Carling Opta stats for the game.

An overall contribution of two shots off target, 21 passes completed in the opponents' half - exactly the same as Simeone - and four tackles won, does not add up to the display of a world class player.

Anyway, I have been sidetracked. Back to this week's topic.

Michael Atherton should be applauded for his intuitive comments about cricket's county championship.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.