Ljungberg and Lauren to go? Aliadiere and Arsene to stay? 11 January, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Arsenal News, Transfers.trackback
Arsenal fans have been looking forward to Lauren’s return from injury this season with great anticipation but now it looks more than likely he will be moving clubs. It’s sad news for us and if he was anywhere near as good as he was before the injury then he’d definitely get the first team football, but maybe his decision to leave is more than that. I don’t think it’s about money; Ralphy just doesn’t seem that sort of person. It seems to be to do with the Carling Cup game against Liverpool, apparently Lauren was actually fit and expecting to play but Arsene came out saying ‘he has a small toe injury’ which was a lie. This is what I’ve heard anyway. I was thinking we’d see Lauren as the regular right back soon, possibly on Saturday but now Lauren is having talks at Upton Park.
Wenger was full of praise for Lauren last month but it seems now things have changed. I will be a sad Gooner if Lauren decides to leave but at least we have got some cover. Eboue is good but he’s had some bad games this season and has turned into a bit of a diver and a cheater. I think Wenger’s getting a little fed up with him too and has brought him off a few times. The other option is Hoyte. Better than Eboue? Personally I think no, but he is getting there. Then we’ve got Gilbert currently on loan to Cardiff and doing well. Most fans probably remember his performance at Highbury, setting up a goal brilliantly and then had Thierry Henry congratulating him and presenting him to the crowd. I’ve seen him a few times at Underhill for the reserves and he does look a talented player. I’d say he’s of the same quality as Hoyte but we’ve got 3 upcoming youngsters to replace Lauren if he decides to go. Ralph’s contract expires in the summer and talk is that Gary Lewin patched him up enough to sell on this January to make a bit of cash out of him. Hopefully he decides not to go but at the moment it looks likely.
Freddie Ljungberg is another player who looks set to leave Arsenal this transfer period. He’s been linked with West Ham, Portsmouth and Inter Milan but Arsene still values him as a player saying ‘he has a lot to offer us’. With Hleb, Rosicky and Walcott cementing their places in the team it doesn’t really look like there’s a place in the starting eleven for Freddie. He’s been incredible for us over the years and a fantastic representative for Arsenal but everyone knew one day it’d come to an end and it looks like 2007 could be the end of the Arsenal-Freddie relationship. He was unlucky with injuries at the start of the season and it was then that he lost his place in the team.
There’s been stories in the tabloids saying Arsenal are pushing him out the team after all his good service but I don’t believe we would do that. To be fair we don’t really need him anymore and his talents could help another team elsewhere. He’s definitely not going to see as much football as he did in previous years so maybe it is right for Freddie to move on. Again, it would be sad to see him go but I feel it has to be done. It’ll be a hard moment for Arsenal fans and we will always love Freddie Ljungberg no matter what.
I think Freddie still has a good relationship with Arsenal despite what you might’ve read in the papers, there’s been quotes on arsenal.com about how Wenger would like him to stay etc but nothing about Lauren. I think Ralph and Arsene have had a bit of a fall out and he’s looking to leave because of that but hopefully he stays. Both of the players will always be favourites of mine and I will always be fond of them if they do go. We’ll see how both situations develop.
Before the transfer window it was taken for granted that Jeremie Aliadiere would move on in January. However after a top performance at Anfield he might stay with Arsenal. Arsene has always been on about how Jeremie’s performances in training have earned him starting places but we’ve never seen evidence of that on the pitch, apart from Tuesday night. It was without a doubt the best I’ve seen him play and I’d definitely be one to say keep him. He’s be behind Henry, Van Persie, Adebayor and Baptista but what an option he is. I’m not sure he’d be so happy to be 5th choice, which is why I don’t blame him if he still wants to leave. He’s been at Arsenal for something like 9 years and I’m sure he feels it’s about time he played some regular football. I’ve always wanted to see him do well but when he’s played for us in the past he’s done nothing and looked as if he was just there to complete the numbers but after Tuesday’s performance I think he’s been noticed. I’m not sure now whether he’ll stay or go but we’ll see in the near future.
Arsene Wenger said around his 10th anniversary at Arsenal that he doesn’t think he’ll make his 20th hinting he’ll be leaving in a few years. He’s made us what we are today and it’s no surprise that Arsenal are trying to offer him a long-term deal. I always thought Wenger would stick around and settle us into our new stadium and then move on and that’s what he was saying a few months ago. I can’t think of any Arsenal fan that would want him to go so hopefully he’ll accept this new contract he’s been offered. He’s be on £3m a year if he did sign this new deal and I think it’s money well spent. We won’t find out until the Summer I think about where the manager’s future lies but everyone is hoping it’s with Arsenal Football Club. He’s brought in all these youngsters that are going to be the future and he’s got to be the one to bring that side up to the full level.
The only other real news is about ‘The Beast’. He’s been talking about how he had a little talk with Henry that helped his game. Also he’s said he wants to repay Wenger’s faith in him by becoming an important player at Arsenal. It’s still unsure whether he’ll return to Madrid at the end of his loan or stay at Arsenal but I think at the moment things are swaying our way. Hopefully Arsene realises now that he is a striker after his 4 goals on Tuesday night and he’ll get more games in that position this season. I think he’s only just starting to adapt to the Premiership but it’s still going to take quite a bit of time before he’s fully adjusted to the English game. We’ll get the best out of Baptista if he stays on after his loan because it’ll be at least next season before he’s ready. He’s still getting muscled off the ball and for a player nicknamed ‘The Beast’ that’s not very good; the Premiership is completely different to La Liga so I’m putting it down to that for the moment.
That’s enough for today, build up to the Blackburn game later this week. Bye-bye.
I think we need to keep both Ralph and Freddie until the end of the season at least, then think about moving them on. But then again in Ralphs case his contract runs out then and he can go for nowt, so maybe selling him now is the way to do it.
Aliadiere could perhaps play on the wings. His pace was something to behold against pool and he looks well capable of being a creator of goals. But either way you look at it he is going to start most games on the bench so he might want to move on for a starting role at another club.
I read somewhere that the beast is so called for his hunger for goals and not so much his physique !! heavyweight boxer-like as he is.
I think Aliadiere had a major part in almost all of the goals.
I think the ‘training row’ is a myth. The only talk I’ve seen was on Arsenal-Mania which is not a reputable source of Arsenal news or analysis. It has had to retract several articles in its time for factual inaccuracy and there is not a shred of proof to go with this story. Since when does Wenger go in for clock and dagger? Telling players they’re injured if they’re not just to force them out?! That seems totally and utterly implausible.
A more realistic version might be the ‘small toe inury’ being a cover for all parties concerned while talks are carried out.
The sale, if it is indeed happening, seems good sense. Lauren (don’t ya know he hates being called Ralph?!!) is at the end of a contract with several promising young players behind him, nae, ahead of him. I would imagine if he had any chance of being as good as he was before the injury, then he would be kept. I’m guessing the truly horrendous injury has reduced his capacity at the highest level. A relegation fight maybe. Champions league? Probably not. Anyway seeing as he won’t get a chance to get match-fit, then he’s not an overly useful reserve til season’s end so best to get a million in the bank for him now.
I also think Lauren’s value has been overstated. There has been talk that with him fit we might have won some of those pesky away games. Well he played in the games away to Boro, West Brom, Newcastle, Bolton and Everton last season and we lost all them too so I’m not too sure how good that argument is. That’s not to say it was his fault – certainly not – but to say his presence didn’t affect a team problem.
Looks like Eboue is dropped now over the attitude issue. He’s described as injured but I don’t think much happened to him at Pool. I think he’s been by and large consistent this season but as I said in my first comment yesterday and as everyone knows, he needs to sort the attitude. This enforced absence might work.
Before anyone jumps down my throat for saying Lauren is over-rated, let me clarify again! Some folk now seem to remember him as the best right back going. He was certainly excellent but he wasn’t so good that he could affect the outcomes of entire games on a regular basis. I really don’t think his presence alone would have resolved other problems in the team.
DeiseGooner, there is no point in keeping Lauren until the end of the season as he would be on a free.
I personally think Gilbert will be the answer but Eboue and Gilbert attack much more than Lauren and their defensive skills are not up to Lauren’s standards.
I personally would like to see Djourou play RB in some games where Gallas & Toure are fit. It is clear that he is one of the top CB’s in the prem, however he is the third best at Arsenal.
Freddie has a lot to offer, and I am still not 100 sure about Hleb, I think he prefers to play more centrally as does Rosicky.
Walcott has some width, I believe Van Persie can play wide right as well but that is about it. Talk about Ribery is exciting but if he does not come I dont believe we have enough natural width. Perhaps Aliadiere could play there for a bit, or even Eboue.
All Arsenal fans know Wenger will leave, and that may be soon, all we can do is hope that it is well planned, the date is kept a secret, and the successor will have a very hard job.
John, At Lauren’s peak he was the best right back in th EPL. This is beyond doubt. Remeber we were a mainly left sided attacking team, and so he did not get that much attention.
I think in about 5 years, he was voted by his fellow players as the best right back in the EPL for 3 of those years.
As you say – sad to see Freddie and Ralph go, if that’s what happens. Maybe with Ralph, as he is 30 this month, it comes down to the 1 year deal that he’d be offered in the summer and him looking for 2, but having his experience, given some dodgy performances from Eboue, I think would be ideal – we have shipped too many goals this season. For Freddie, like RP 7 in his last season, he has not been what he was in 2004.
At the end of the day – I’ll trust whatever the gaffer decides. As for his own contract, I can’t see the money making any difference to what he decides to do. Just hope he stays!!!!
Look I’m not questioning how good he was, but his peak is irrelevant now in terms of retaining him. My point is people seem to think he would fix problems we’ve experienced against Fulham, Bolton or Sheffield United… Lauren (like most right backs) was never in a position to distate games and he was also part of the team that lost to similar teams last season. Let’s not kid ourselves that the right back position is the source of our woes, even if people seem to blame Hoyte and Eboue for all defensive errors. The point is with all Arsenal defenders… they are so young. Look at how Toure has improved since getting here. Give Eboue and co. a chance to improve rather than slating him for not being good defensively. That’s the same shit people used to give Cole before they called him the best left-back in the world. Patience people.
Brussels north bank… we have conceded 4 more goals than United yet they are 15 points ahead of us… It’s not conceding too many goals that has been our problem. Not taking our chances has. Stop blaming the defence!
And on the Wenger thing, I can’t see him leaving. Why bring in Theo, Vela, Van Persie, etc. and then leave them to someone else? He’s a man building for the future. I can’t wait!
Lauren is a monster and scares the shit out of the opposition. Hoyte is not. I know who i’d rather have in my team when we play up north.
Fact is it didn’t scare anyone enough not to beat us last season! Check the stats, he was there, started each game. He was not the difference between defeat and victory. He was just part of the defeat… From that I would conclude that who plays at right back is not the big issue at Arsenal! As I just said, the defence is pretty tight when you look at the stats. It’s our attack which has let us down. Creating multiple chances and taking none… it seems harsh to then blame the defence for our league position! Even Rosicky commented on this after the Pool game. In recent weeks (Sheffield United aside when Baptista really should have scored in the opening 10 minutes) the attack has been amazingly clinical. That is what will make the difference.
When I say he started each game, I’m referring to the Boro, Bolton, Everton, West Brom and Newcastle games that I mentioned above.
Re-sign the dickov I say
John – Lauren played injured when he did play last season. I’m not trying to say that he is the best in the world, but to mention that his presence alone did not help AFC in the games you listed isn’t exactly fair either. If he goes he will certainly be missed, for his defensive abilities as well as his character as a team mate.
His nickname “The Beast” is not for his physical attributes, but for his goal scoring greed in his Seville time.. It’s a common mistake though, since he’s a big guy..
My point is not about him as an individual, but with people blaming the defence and thinking he is some sorta cure-all! I don’t think him playing or not playing would have made any great difference because the real trouble is we didn’t score as many goals last year as previously, and this season we have more often than not been wasteful. We tend to lose by the odd goal or draw. Hardly defensive nightmares. The real issue is a lack of conviction in converting chances. This has improved lately and if that continue, I believe irrespective of who is at right back, the results will improve.
Like I said, we are 15 points behind United but have only conceded 4 more goals. The issue is not so much conceding goals but scoring goals. Everton, Boro, Man City, West Ham, Villa, Moscow… the defence can’t be blamed exclusively for those results. So I think it’s a mistake to slam Eboue and say bring back Lauren or that with him it would have been different… There is very little evidence to suggest his presence would have made any difference to the real probelm of using our chances well.
John – I think you are right on regarding the lack of scoring goals. We have only conceded 4 more goals than United but scored 8 fewer. The big difference in the points that I have noticed has been those lost when our defense has a gaffe and our opposition drops 8 or 9 into the penalty area to guard against our attack. It isn’t just a lack of scoring goals, but the combination of defensive mistakes and having to shoot through all but one or two of the other team.
In fairness, it’s been hugely disappointing that we have struggled to overcome negative teams. To be champions we have to do that. And to be champions we should take our chances before they score…
For instance in games like Villa and West Ham, the goals didn’t come until the second half and dying minutes respectively and we should have been well ahead by then. Same for Man City and Sheffield United, we should have already taken the lead by the time they scored in the 41st and 42nd minute respectively. Portsmouth also struck on half-time after Robin had missed a few good chances… Bolton and Fulham I will put down to standard Arsenal November madness. My point is, we should have been winning all those games by the time we fell a goal behind. So to blame the defence and to kinda excuse the attack by saying 9 men sitting deep… well it should never have happened as we should already have won the game inside 20 to 30 minutes, like the very best of Wenger’s teams. I think this team is getting there though as the recent goal rush proves.
Seeing as much of the grief comes on Eboue, the only goal he was very guilty for was against Newcastle. Even Toure has had his nightmares, i.e. Sheffield United and giving away an early penalty against Blackburn. So my point again… leave off on the lad! The defence is not to blame for all of our dropped points, nor are the negative tactics of teams who take the lead after we spurn a host of chances and finally, it’s certainly not all Eboue’s fault.
Spot on. I am not an Eboue hater as some are. I actually think he has been one of the better additions to the club since his arrival. Overall, I think that other clubs have seen that to beat Arsenal they need to hope for a defensive breakdown that happen all too often and then drop into a protective shell. I agree that our scoring has left something to be desired and that the lack of willingness to fire off an on target shot from the edge of the penalty area has allowed other clubs to play this ugly style. I’m not asking for the aerial passes from our back four, just an effort at shooting from a bit of distance, not just trying to walk the ball into the goal. Rosicky’s display at Anfield is an excellent example. I have seen RVP and others do the same before, it just seems that for much of the first half of the season everyone has been attempting to find the perfect shot instead of the good enough one that scores the goal.
My first opinion was just that Lauren will certainly be missed when he does leave and some of his attitude might help Eboue with his antics of late.
Cheers!
This from arsenal.com:
(Ralph) ((They didn’t actually say that, but I did)) Lauren has recovered from his minor toe injury but is unlikely to feature at Ewood Park.
He’s a goner
It would be really sad to see Lauren and Ljungberg go, but they should understand that new boys have developed in the meantime and there is simply no room for so many players, even of there were 100 games in a season.
Amir,
Here’s a question for you,
If you had to sniff Lauren or Freddie Ljungbergs Groin, which Groin would you sniff?
Bear in mind you’d have to do the groin sniffing at half time, in a match aginst Fulham
Freddie is going nowhere…Le Boss says “”It’s quite simple – he’s a player of our squad, that’s as simple as that.”We are not in the market to sell Freddie”
More from Wenger on ins and outs ! Lauren and the young loanees
“The problem is that since Lauren got injured I have Justin Hoyte who got promoted, I have Emmanuel Eboue who got promoted and I have Johan Djourou who can play in there too,” explained Wenger.
“It’s always the same. You make room for young players and then it is difficult to leave them out again. I feel we have too many players in that position now.
“Lauren is free to talk to anyone because it is the end of his contract but frankly I don’t know if he has spoken to West Ham. He doesn’t have to inform me if he wants to speak to anyone.”
Wenger also talked briefly about the three Arsenal youngsters currently on loan at Birmingham. Swedish midfielder Sebastian Larsson might be sold but his fellow loanees Nicklas Bendtner and Fabrice Muamba will not be leaving Arsenal.
nice
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