David Beckham took the route not many have in the past—he went from explosive winger to withdrawn deep-lying playmaker.

Other notable occurrences of this are Ryan Giggs (to an extent) and Bastian Schweinsteiger, but the list remains incredibly short, as it's an odd transition to make.

Let's break down his evolution as a player.

As a pup

Beckham entered the English football scene amid a class of high-hopers.

Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Keith Gillespie, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt are just some of the top-tier names he graduated with from Manchester United's academy, making his debut a little later than some at 20 years of age.

He excelled in a traditional winger's role—fully in vogue during the mid-to-late '90s—and made a name for himself rather quickly thanks to his tendency to put ferocious bend on the ball.

His ability to beat his man and whip in an excellent cross made him a natural fit on the right wing for Sir Alex Ferguson, but it was change of pace and flat deliveries that allowed him to become an elite option for club and country.

He won his only UEFA Champions League title with the Red Devils as a pure right winger.

Los Galacticos!

£25 million was the figure Real Madrid parted with to steal Becks from under Barcelona's noses.

While his time with los Merengues was far from settled, he made his first move toward a central midfield role in late 2004 under Carlos Queiroz.

The Portuguese boss utilised a 3-5-2 to unlock the rampant potential in Roberto Carlos and Michel Salgado, meaning Beckham was partnered by Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo in a central midfield trio—not bad company to be keeping, eh?

He flitted between roles freely as los Blancos cycled through six different managers during his stay at the club, and it was only upon his free transfer to LA Galaxy that he acquired some semblance of stability.

Quarterback role

Fitting, it was, to see David Beckham take up a deep role in front of his back four and dictate proceedings from within a 10-15-yard radius in the United States of America.

He, like Schweinsteiger had, became a hugely influential figure despite a lack of mobility and vertical running. He became the Galaxy's quarterback in a sport when that position didn't exist.

His legs were worn, but his ability to spot the pass never disappeared. His pinpoint crosses became pinpoint through-balls and his agility transformed into spacial awareness.

At this point in time, his future remains unclear, but his playing style is still relevant to modern football and could slot into a number of top-tier sides.

His loan spells with AC Milan were enough to suggest he can mix it with the best, so where should he head next?

Follow @stighefootball

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AEG conspiracy theorists of the world unite, for the 2012 MLS Cup will once again feature two of the more prominent franchises in league history.

For the LA Galaxy, this is their eighth appearance in the MLS Cup. Considered by many to be the preeminent franchise in MLS, LA is in search of its fourth title—much to the chagrin of DC United president Kevin Payne. (Update: Kevin Payne has decided to step down as president, per the Washington Post). 

Standing in the way are the disregarded Houston Dynamo—a playoff-savvy bunch that have taken on the identity of cerebral head coach Dom Kinnear. 

Unlike the vast majority of pundits and expert analysts, I do not believe Saturday's match is a foregone conclusion.

That sentiment is not out of sheer enjoyment from being a contrarian, or due to a belief in a standard team-of-destiny cliché. No, it is for more substantial and tactical reasons than that. 

Here are the five reasons why the Houston Dynamo deserve to win the 2012 MLS Cup.

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What ever happened to customer service?

Terry Gibbs, one of the top players in the United Soccer League and an MLS hopeful, is just looking for a fair shake from Best Buy, and now his story is blowing up on Facebook and Twitter.

The story is simple and should have a very easy solution. However, Best Buy's unwillingness to rectify the situation fairly has made things much more complicated.

On Black Friday, Gibbs stood in a Best Buy line for 12 hours in the hopes of scoring a television at an incredible Black Friday price. His patience paid off as he was able to secure a $500 television for $179.  

However, when he took the television out of the box, the screen was cracked in pieces. He then took the television back to Best Buy, where he was told he would be refunded his original purchase price of $179 and then could pay the difference himself to purchase the television at the full price.

Gibbs is in America chasing his dream of playing professional soccer. A native of London, England, Gibbs was an All-American at NCAA Division II Bloomfield College and has garnered tryouts with multiple MLS teams.

Gibbs has developed into one of the top players of the PDL and serves as the captain for the Ocean City Nor'easters.  

But whether Gibbs is a professional soccer player or a local librarian, it shouldn't matter when trying to seek what's right in the consumer world.

After initially seeking answers at the store, Gibbs took to Best Buy's Facebook page and Twitter account to seek answers. His case has sparked an ongoing debate on the site's pages.

Gibbs has received responses from Best Buy on social media, but all that did was create an avalanche of backlash directed toward the electronics conglomerate.

It seems the major sticking point here is that Best Buy refuses to take into account the human element in all of this.  

From a business perspective, Best Buy is seeing things in black and white. They sold an item at a price and now no longer have that item at that price, so they are saying there is nothing they can do.

What they fail to take into consideration is the fact that of all the places Gibbs could have brought his business and all the other things he could have been doing with his 12 hours, he chose to wait in line and purchase at Best Buy.

Gibbs is not trying to get over here, he is just trying to get a television at the great price that was promised to him.

He's a person who chose to come to America because it gave him the best path toward an education and reach his soccer goals. Gibbs graduated from Bloomfield College as an Academic All-American and has continued to thrive is the soccer world.  

Whatever happened to businesses keeping their word and standing behind their product?

Gibbs is learning a hard lesson that when it comes to American capitalism of big businesses, there is no human side. It's all about the bottom line, even during the holiday season. Even when a customer reaches out through the proper channels and keeps his cool when being given the run-around, the bottom line is what rules.

Best Buy can make this situation right very easily.

They can end the firestorm that is going to blow up on social media before it gets out of hand. A number of customers who have read about Gibbs' plight have vowed to spread the word.

In the meantime, this budding soccer star will continue to chase his dream...and the Black Friday television deal that was promised to him.

11/27 UPDATE: After nearly a week-long battle with Best Buy that took on a life of its own on Facebook, Twitter and ultimately Bleacher/Report, Best Buy finally took responsibility for the broken television they sold.  

The store that had told Gibbs they no longer had them in stock, actually did have them and he was able to secure the television at the advertised price that was promised to him.

@bestbuy u have lost my business forever! It's amazing how when you go to corporate levels that stores all of a sudden have TVs in stock!!!!

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After finishing a trade show in Las Vegas, I booked myself to stay in Sin City through the weekend of November 3rd to watch both Oregon-USC and Alabama-LSU. Seeing as how those games weren't until late Saturday night, I decided to sit down and place a bet on the MLS Cup action that Friday night. 

Seattle was playing Real Salt Lake, and after placing a bet I truly tried to sit down and watch a non-World Cup soccer match from start to finish. This experience mirrored listening to Ben Stein give a two-hour powerpoint presentation on the history of banking. 

The game finished in a 0-0 tie, meaning I have absolutely no idea what to report on the game's "action." 

I tried, America, I really did. Instead of complaining about how strange I felt the experience was, I decided to take the high road and serve my country as best I can. Here are five hilarious ways to better sell the game of soccer in America...enjoy.  

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Despite December's MLS Cup Final being his last match in a LA Galaxy shirt, David Beckham isn't ready to retire just yet.

The Englishman's future isn't clear, however, Beckham will have the opportunity to leave MLS in style. The 37-year-old has already won a MLS title in 2011, and if the Galaxy can retain the trophy this year, it will put a true Hollywood ending on his time at the Home Depot Center. 

Beckham's time in Southern California may not have started as hoped, but there's no denying he has not only increased the league's appeal to players and fans alike, but he has also been a major part of the Galaxy on and off the field. 

Now with the Englishman's days numbered, here are five of Beckham's most memorable moments as a member of the LA Galaxy. 

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David Beckham is set to bring his six-year stay in Los Angeles to an end. With just days to go until his final match with the Galaxy, speculation is growing as to what the former England captain's next move will be.

Beckham, 37, announced last week that the MLS Cup final on Dec. 1 will be his last match with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Since joining the club in 2007, he has helped the Galaxy win one MLS Cup, with the chance for another title upcoming.

So, where will he go next? Beckham has been linked with clubs literally across the world, but only he knows where he might end up.

Keep reading for some of Beckham's potential options, then vote in the poll below.

New MLS club

Beckham's announcement last week included a tidbit that led some to believe he might work with a future Major League Soccer expansion club.

Here is the comment (via MLSSoccer.com): "I don't see this as the end of my relationship with the league as my ambition is to be part of the ownership structure in the future."

ESPN FC cites a report in Irish newspaper the Sunday World that said Beckham has been offered to join the newly reformed New York Cosmos as a player and joint owner.

The Cosmos are set to play in the North American Soccer League in 2013, but reportedly anticipate joining MLS in the near future (per New York Times).

Joining the Cosmos would allow Beckham to reunite with former Manchester United teammate Eric Cantona, who now serves as the Cosmos' director of soccer.

Paris Saint-Germain

Free-spending French club Paris Saint-Germain reportedly came close to signing David Beckham last winter when Beckham's previous contract with the Galaxy expired. But Beckham re-signed with Los Angeles citing family reasons (via Daily Telegraph).

BBC Sport linked PSG with a move for Beckham soon after his announcement last week. PSG manager Carlo Ancelotti, however, ruled out a deal (via The Guardian).

PSG have the money to lure Beckham back to Europe, but it's unclear whether or not he would uproot his family.

Return to Premier League

As with most of the reporting around Beckham at the moment, the stories linking him with a return to the Premier League are at times contradictory.

At once, English newspaper Metro is reporting that Beckham could return to the Premier League and also that he won't. If he does return, Metro reckons that Newcastle, Sunderland, West Ham and Everton are interested.

Most of the buzz, however, currently surrounds Queens Park Rangers. QPR recently sacked manager Mark Hughes and hired Harry Redknapp, who has declined to rule out a move for Beckham (via BBC Sport).

It's important to remember that Beckham turned down the Premier League last year before re-signing with the Galaxy (per The Guardian). Now a year older, a 37-year-old Beckham might struggle to cope with the fast, physical nature of the Premier League.

Australia and other options

The Associated Press (via The Australian) reports that five Australian clubs have confirmed interest in Beckham. Those five clubs were not specified in the report.

The Herald Sun reports that Melbourne Heart have made a $1.7 million move for Beckham. And Perth Glory are also interested, according to Sky Sports.

In recent months, Australia has lured former Italy international forward Alessandro Del Piero (Sydney FC) and former England international forward Emile Heskey (Newcastle Jets).

Meanwhile, The Daily Mail has listed unnamed clubs from Brazil, China and South Africa as more possible options. Chinese clubs have lured big names like Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in recent months, and a move to Brazil would be seen as a way to raise the country's profile ahead of hosting the 2014 World Cup.

Follow @MikeCummings37

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Just a day removed from being able to celebrate his 20th birthday, Chivas USA forward Juan Agudelo may have one more thing to celebrate by week’s end.

After reportedly impressing Celtic FC boss Neil Lennon in his brief training stint with the club, a potential permanent move to the Scottish Premier League is in the works for Agudelo (via STV Sport), bringing a momentous end to his roller-coaster year.

In recent years, it has become almost commonplace for Americans to take their talents to Scotland. 

U.S. men’s national team players Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu and Alejandro Bedoya have all recently played in the SPL—however, none are currently with bankrupt Rangers FC.

The question is: Is a permanent transfer to Glasgow ideal for the American youngster?

Agudelo’s potential move poses one minor issue. Simply put, the SPL is not regarded as one of the top-tier competitions in Europe.

The UEFA country coefficient—which accurately ranks the prestige of football associations across Europe—currently ranks Scotland 26th.

True, Agudelo would be playing against European opposition, but it would be inferior when compared to that of the MLS. As a whole, the moderate competition MLS provides is better suited to polish the skills of the 20-year-old striker. 

That said, a move to Celtic FC would still greatly benefit Agudelo.

Not only would he no longer be subjected to the ineptitude that personifies Chivas USA, but he would also have the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Champions League—widely considered the most prestigious competition in the world of soccer.

My apologies to the fans, but Chivas USA is a franchise in shambles.

After finishing last in the Western Conference with just seven wins and 30 points, Chivas is still an organization in search of a coach, a roster and an identity.

It is to the detriment of Agudelo to play for a franchise that has no direction and can only manage to score a total of 24 goals all season. His flashes of brilliance on the international level are proof that he deserves more than that.

After a monumental upset against Spanish super-club Barcelona, Celtic has captured the attention of many (including Snoop Dogg) and is in a prime position to advance to the round of 16 in the Champions League (currently tied for second in Group G).

There is no denying the invaluable experience playing in a tournament against renowned competition the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United would provide Agudelo.

I recently asked ESPN analyst and American soccer legend Alexi Lalas on Twitter about Agudelo’s potential move. He and I shared the same sentiment.

It may not be ideal, but if Agudelo is able to consistently find his way on the pitch for Celtic, then there is no reason he should not embrace a permanent move to Glasgow.

That, however, is the key for Agudelo’s success. He must consistently show the flashes of brilliance that led to Lennon’s praise in order to avoid the similar fate bestowed upon Philadelphia Union striker Freddy Adu.

Like Adu, Agudelo is another prominent, young American talent looking to develop overseas after failing to make an impact in MLS.

It is incumbent upon Agudelo to avoid the lethargic effort Adu exhibited that led to a profusion of failed loans and tenures across Europe.

If he does not, then the story of Juan Agudelo will be nothing more than the prototypical, disappointing remake Hollywood studios are obsessively producing these days. 

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

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Just a day removed from being able to celebrate his 20th birthday, Chivas USA forward Juan Agudelo may have one more thing to celebrate by week’s end.

After reportedly impressing Celtic FC boss Neil Lennon in his brief training stint with the club, a potential permanent move to the Scottish Premier League is in the works for Agudelo (via STV Sport), bringing a momentous end to his roller-coaster year.

In recent years, it has become almost commonplace for Americans to take their talents to Scotland. 

U.S. men’s national team players Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu and Alejandro Bedoya have all recently played in the SPL—however, none are currently with bankrupt Rangers FC.

The question is: Is a permanent transfer to Glasgow ideal for the American youngster?

Agudelo’s potential move poses one minor issue. Simply put, the SPL is not regarded as one of the top-tier competitions in Europe.

The UEFA country coefficient—which accurately ranks the prestige of football associations across Europe—currently ranks Scotland 26th.

True, Agudelo would be playing against European opposition, but it would be inferior when compared to that of the MLS. As a whole, the moderate competition MLS provides is better suited to polish the skills of the 20-year-old striker. 

That said, a move to Celtic FC would still greatly benefit Agudelo.

Not only would he no longer be subjected to the ineptitude that personifies Chivas USA, but he would also have the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Champions League—widely considered the most prestigious competition in the world of soccer.

My apologies to the fans, but Chivas USA is a franchise in shambles.

After finishing last in the Western Conference with just seven wins and 30 points, Chivas is still an organization in search of a coach, a roster and an identity.

It is to the detriment of Agudelo to play for a franchise that has no direction and can only manage to score a total of 24 goals all season. His flashes of brilliance on the international level are proof that he deserves more than that.

After a monumental upset against Spanish super-club Barcelona, Celtic has captured the attention of many (including Snoop Dogg) and is in a prime position to advance to the round of 16 in the Champions League (currently tied for second in Group G).

There is no denying the invaluable experience playing in a tournament against renowned competition the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United would provide Agudelo.

I recently asked ESPN analyst and American soccer legend Alexi Lalas on Twitter about Agudelo’s potential move. He and I shared the same sentiment.

It may not be ideal, but if Agudelo is able to consistently find his way on the pitch for Celtic, then there is no reason he should not embrace a permanent move to Glasgow.

That, however, is the key for Agudelo’s success. He must consistently show the flashes of brilliance that led to Lennon’s praise in order to avoid the similar fate bestowed upon Philadelphia Union striker Freddy Adu.

Like Adu, Agudelo is another prominent, young American talent looking to develop overseas after failing to make an impact in MLS.

It is incumbent upon Agudelo to avoid the lethargic effort Adu exhibited that led to a profusion of failed loans and tenures across Europe.

If he does not, then the story of Juan Agudelo will be nothing more than the prototypical, disappointing remake Hollywood studios are obsessively producing these days. 

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

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When David Beckham agreed to leave Real Madrid for the Los Angeles Galaxy in January of 2007, the MLS hoped to bring a new level of excitement and awareness to soccer in the United States.

Ever since its first season in 1996, attendance had been in a steady decline for two main reasons: The failure of the national team to inspire in a big way, and perhaps most significantly, the lack of truly world-renowned players on offer.

Adjusting the salary cap rules by introducing the 'Beckham Rule' to enable the signing of international stars in 2007 gave Major League Soccer a chance to address this major issue. Teams now had money to throw at household football names and the L.A. Galaxy were first to step up to the plate.

While Beckham was never the best player in the world, his marketability and sex appeal made him a perfect match for a league in desperate need of hype. All of a sudden, the L.A. Galaxy existed to international fans of the game.

More importantly, the MLS existed worldwide.

The league saw this as a major step forward, and it was. Six new franchises have entered the MLS since his arrival, and while he cannot take the lion's share of credit for that, he can take major credit for other players that have followed suit.

Thierry Henry, Alessandro Nesta, Robbie Keane, Marco Di Vaio and Tim Cahill all call the MLS home now. It's hard to picture that reality if Beckham didn't take that first step.

There is something that links all these international stars that have given the MLS a shot, and it is exactly this link that will never allow the MLS to become a world-class league.The MLS will only be considered an option by world-class players once they are at the tail-end of their careers.

Or, if you will, it will only be open to consideration once players realize their skills are better suited for a league that isn't world class. This is because at the club level, a player's ultimate is to play in Europe and win the Champions League. As a result, as long as a world-class player is in his prime, European leagues will have something to offer that the MLS never can.

It makes the development of American players something that can be to the league's own detriment as well. Take Clint Dempsey, for example. He was recently voted US Soccer Male Athlete of the Year for the second year running. He is very much a homegrown talent. Has he chosen to make the MLS a better league?

Of course he hasn't. He's doing what's best for his career and American soccer, but not the MLS. He knows he cannot chase soccer's biggest prizes in the MLS. He knows that the better he becomes, the better his country becomes. He knows his level of play will probably stagnate, or perhaps even regress playing in the MLS.

Herein lies another problem for the MLS.

While English players playing in the English Premier League and Spanish players playing in La Liga are great for both the league and the country's competitiveness, American stars playing in the MLS is only to the benefit of the MLS. United States' soccer will only improve if they have more people playing in the best leagues, which the MLS is not.

Athletes looking to be the best, need to be competing against the best. It is a vital part of player development. It's why players like Tony Parker and Pau Gasol left Europe for the NBA, why Ichiro Suzuki and Yu Darvish left Japanese Baseball for the MLB.

While the NBA and NFL may harbor hopes of one day having a team in London, the MLS will never be a part of UEFA. There is no possible way for them to address this void. Try as it might, at best, the MLS will always be a launching pad for Americans looking to make a mark in world soccer.

For foreign stars, it will be a nice final stop before their careers fade off into the sunset. While David Beckham was definitely successful in at establishing the MLS as an option, he's also made it abundantly clear that it can never be anything more.

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Thanksgiving is a time where millions of Americans consume an average of 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat in one serving.

Families across a multitude of cultures gather around the table with close and distant family members, reminding each other of the invaluable things in life they are thankful for.

Now maybe it is because of the inferiority complex we share as a fanbase, but the MLS community is a small family of its own. No matter where your allegiance lies, we all share one common mission. 

In short, it is a feasible big-picture aspiration: Propelling an American soccer league to the forefront of a crowded sports market.

So before we give thanks for the obvious things in life—family, friends and health—let us look at the five things MLS fans should be thankful for on Thanksgiving.

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