Note to the Galaxy: Say no to Beckham move

That has to be the message that Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp receives from MLS headquarters and the Los Angeles Galaxy front office in regards to David Beckham’s request to be loaned out… again.

Twice, the man who was supposed to be the face of MLS’ Designated Player program was loaned out to AC Milan. The first time, he remained till the end of the Serie A season, which had him miss a large chunk of the 2009 MLS season. While on loan last season, he tore his Achilles playing for the Rossoneri, and missed all but the last month of the 2010 MLS season.

In wake of the injury, he promised not to ask for a loan again.

That was, until today — when his handlers went to MLS looking for permission for Becks to go off on a short-term deal to Europe. The likely destination? Tottenham.

The physical and moral reasons to not allow Becks to go out on loan are many. The benefits to MLS and the Galaxy of a Tottenham loan? None. (Well… Beckham would get two months to bring his brand back to London, and it would give Spurs a chance to grab some spotlight usually reserved for their two more glamourous neighbours, Chelsea and Arsenal.)

Beckham is 35. Playing in MLS, you can argue, puts more wear and tear on a player than a Premiership schedule. MLS has longer road trips and games in the summer —where the Texas heat can see you play in 35 C conditions. There are games at altitude. Plus, there’s the added wear of CONCACAF Champions League — and a road trip to El Salvador or Panama is far more taxing than anything the UEFA Champions League can muster. (OK, maybe Russia in the winter). If Becks plays through January and February, will he have enough in the tank in September?

And, well, he got a serious injury last time out. Fool L.A. once, shame on you. Fool L.A. twice, shame on the Galaxy.

Loans are a part of the soccer business, but if Beckham goes to Spurs, despite promises last year that he wouldn’t ask to be loaned out again, despite an insistence from the Galaxy’s front office that all players report to training camp on time, the perception will be that MLS can be pushed around.

So, if Tottenham want Becks, MLS and the Galaxy should ask for something back. In the summer, when Spurs are in their off-season, they should be willing to give the Galaxy a player — on loan. And not a bench guy. It would be just so satisfying for MLS fans who are continually mocked by the Eurosnobs to know that Galaxy coach Bruce Arena picked up the phone and said “Hey, Harry? You want Becks? Great. Tell Gareth Bale not to make any plans for the summer. We’ll need him on our wing.”

It wouldn’t happen. But it would be nice to see MLS ask for that — just to show that it’s not willing to be the nice guy who always does the favour for the bigger, cooler friends. MLS has to stop being the nerdy kid who drives to the party to ensure the other guys can all drink and then get rides home.

MLS commissioner Don Garber has said that he wants to see MLS climb to the heights of the Premiership, the Bundesliga and La Liga. To do that, this league must know when to draw the line.