DAVID Beckham or 'Golden Nads' as he's known to his missus played his way into the nation's hearts with his stunning injury time free kick for England against Greece.

His infectious enthusiasm and industry throughout 90 minutes of play illuminated the Theatre of Dreams.

And it was fortunate that Captain Becks did because his highly rated sidekicks -- the Vodka Kid, Ginger Ninja and Scouse Scally (namely Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and Robbie Fowler) -- played like chumps and had what is commonly referred to in the game as a 'mare'.

While Beckham reached the heights, Gerrard and co. plumbed the depths, scraped the barrel and to be frank the fact England escaped with a point had diddly-squat to do with them.

Now, we can forgive them one bad game but for continued success one man does not make a team - not even if his name is David Beckham and his tackle gives off a golden hue.

Short term -- like Beckham -- it can get you out of a hole but to achieve anything you need everybody to be on the ball consistently.

Slightly lower down the footballing food chain at St George's Lane there is a similar problem that raises its Martin Keown (ugly head) -- not enough players contributing.

Mark Owen has weighed in with 17 goals (incredibly nine of them from penalties) while Darren Middleton has looked sharp in most of the games, but too many players in John Barton's team are not producing the goods week in, week out.

City managed to pull off a quite miraculous escape against Ilkeston Town on Friday night for a share of the points but boy were they lucky.

They certainly displayed gusto and battling qualities to salvage a point and Jon Holloway driving forward to win two penalties embodied that spirit but for too much of that match there were too many passengers.

City cannot rely on one or two players turning up - they need everyone to pitch in and not just in commitment but in skill.

For 35 minutes against Moor Green, Barton's team were brilliant -- they passed, moved, dribbled, shot and tackled -- but alas the foot came off the pedal and they lost.

Barton says he doesn't know what team is going to show up from match to match but it is up to the players to buck up their ideas and make sure the skilled performers we know they can be, arrive pumped up and ready for action come three o'clock.

If they don't it could be a long, fruitless season ahead in the Dr Martens League Premier Division with nothing to look forward to but Golden Nads playing at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea.