Truth & Rumors > Soccer

Ljungberg may leave Seattle after playoffs

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Former Arsenal midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg has revealed he could leave Seattle Sounders at the end of the season. The 32-year-old joined the MLS side in October 2008 and is hoping to take the Sounders to the league title at the end of the campaign, with Seattle preparing for a run in the league playoffs. But the former Sweden international said that although he is happy in America, he will discuss his future at the end of the season. "After the playoff here, I will sit down with my agent and discuss how I shall continue," he told Sportbladet.

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Freddie Ljungberg, AP Freddie Ljungberg, AP
October 26, 2009  12:43 PM ET

Ah come on you Sueco! It's not like you have anywhere else to go!

October 26, 2009  01:05 PM ET

MLS and the Sounders could do well to sell his contract (and Montero's) to open up another DP slot along with some cash for another player.

I think the more movement of players from MLS to Europe is good for the league. Hopefully MLS can figure out more ways for the clubs who hold these players' contracts to be compensated better. The development of young talent that can eventually be sold off should hopefully be the near future of this league (until the league can sustain the salaries of what these players are worth, and pick up other talent over seas as teams see fit).

I'd like to see him stay, and think he probably will, but everyone has a price. Let everyone get paid!

October 26, 2009  01:05 PM ET

ive never liked it when players did this... they take the focus off the team and add possible drama when the team should focus primarily on winning the next 4 games....seriously, what difference would it had made if he had waited til December to say this??

October 26, 2009  01:08 PM ET
QUOTE(#2):

MLS and the Sounders could do well to sell his contract (and Montero's) to open up another DP slot along with some cash for another player.I think the more movement of players from MLS to Europe is good for the league. Hopefully MLS can figure out more ways for the clubs who hold these players' contracts to be compensated better. The development of young talent that can eventually be sold off should hopefully be the near future of this league (until the league can sustain the salaries of what these players are worth, and pick up other talent over seas as teams see fit).I'd like to see him stay, and think he probably will, but everyone has a price. Let everyone get paid!

i agree

id like to see MLS hold onto their talent, but the more players we have feeding through our league the more players are willing to come over here. I wish Baky didnt leave on such terms, but im glad we got something for him. Toja was a solid player we pushed through and profited (however little it might have been). There are tons of players out there, and if you have chance to notch 1-2M for a player transfer you should take it, as these are the backbone on how we'll remain making a profit once we are done with the expansions

now i am NOT saying we should hold a fire sale, but holding onto players until their contract ends and losing them is beyond pointless. If MLS had their reserves league this wouldnt be an issue as you are always prepping players to prepare to start playing at a minutes notice...

October 26, 2009  01:09 PM ET
QUOTE(#3):

ive never liked it when players did this... they take the focus off the team and add possible drama when the team should focus primarily on winning the next 4 games....seriously, what difference would it had made if he had waited til December to say this??

In a way it puts the pressure and attention on him to perform well in the playoffs. Best way to ensure he could have a chance at going back to Europe would be to play well in the next 2-4 matches.

I don't see Seattle doing it this year (winning MLS Cup) though.

October 26, 2009  01:14 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

i agreeid like to see MLS hold onto their talent, but the more players we have feeding through our league the more players are willing to come over here. I wish Baky didnt leave on such terms, but im glad we got something for him. Toja was a solid player we pushed through and profited (however little it might have been). There are tons of players out there, and if you have chance to notch 1-2M for a player transfer you should take it, as these are the backbone on how we'll remain making a profit once we are done with the expansionsnow i am NOT saying we should hold a fire sale, but holding onto players until their contract ends and losing them is beyond pointless. If MLS had their reserves league this wouldnt be an issue as you are always prepping players to prepare to start playing at a minutes notice...

When does CBA and some other potential changes take place with MLS? I have a feeling that there will be some changes to the developmental players/allocations as well as a potential restructuring to try to bring back MLS's developmental league. I think MLS might try to wait out a USL failure/buyout for this to happen, but I am always interested in what Garber has set up.

As much crap as he gets from us, I think he does a decent job planning things out for long term growth and stability.

While on the subject, how soon before the big clubs start to follow Arsenal's model- solid team with great development players, always competing for titles (though not coming close to winning for a while simply because there are bigger spenders out there), and yet very profitable.

I think more and more owners will start to make changes to be more like the Gunners.

October 26, 2009  01:29 PM ET
QUOTE(#6):

When does CBA and some other potential changes take place with MLS? I have a feeling that there will be some changes to the developmental players/allocations as well as a potential restructuring to try to bring back MLS's developmental league. I think MLS might try to wait out a USL failure/buyout for this to happen, but I am always interested in what Garber has set up.

CBA changes take place in the 2010 season.... so after MLS cup 2009 (this november) we'll be hearing what the new CBA entitles... but its MLS, which means someone will leak it early to the blogosphere

the dev. league wont come back until they've found out what TOA is going to do.... USL will probably last for some time... but TOA hold alot of power... attempt to start yet another league, or work with MLS as a MLS.2... who knows what'll happen, but hopefully we get a 2nd division that works with the 1st in attempts to develop the game in the US, as oppose to the relationship between USL and MLS

October 26, 2009  01:39 PM ET

Kenny Cooper loses his starting position on 1860 Munich.

Dempsey is the hero in Fulham.

And Michael Bradley plays his second really good game in a row--with no yellow cards!!!

More here:

http://onelovesoccer.webs.com/apps/blog/show/2005587-americans-abroad-rati ngs-october-26-2009

October 26, 2009  01:50 PM ET

Sounders have some deep pockets. I don't see them letting Freddie leave the club outright, but a loan arrangement has been talked about for some time. I think he comes back and signs an extension that keeps him at Qwest Field for at least another season, if not longer. He's been Sounders best player this season by a mile. The way he sees the field and hits his passes has probably won Sounders five games easily.

October 26, 2009  02:56 PM ET
QUOTE(#9):

Sounders have some deep pockets. I don't see them letting Freddie leave the club outright, but a loan arrangement has been talked about for some time. I think he comes back and signs an extension that keeps him at Qwest Field for at least another season, if not longer. He's been Sounders best player this season by a mile. The way he sees the field and hits his passes has probably won Sounders five games easily.

I'm surprised he would even have an option of leaving in his contract....

October 26, 2009  03:17 PM ET
QUOTE(#10):

I'm surprised he would even have an option of leaving in his contract....

I'm not sure there exists any such option. Sounders kept the details of the contract pretty quiet. My guess is Hanauer is smart enough to see the benefits of Freddie doing a loan deal in England and coming back for the start of the MLS season. Remember that loan deal Henrik Larsson did with United a few years back? Something to that effect.

October 26, 2009  03:28 PM ET

He has been saying this all year long. This is old, old news!

October 26, 2009  03:58 PM ET
QUOTE(#11):

I'm not sure there exists any such option. Sounders kept the details of the contract pretty quiet. My guess is Hanauer is smart enough to see the benefits of Freddie doing a loan deal in England and coming back for the start of the MLS season. Remember that loan deal Henrik Larsson did with United a few years back? Something to that effect.

Seattle should go get Larsson to play up front with Fredy M....

Some of the quotes I've seen make it sound like he's (Freddy L) not sure he's coming back at all...

October 26, 2009  04:05 PM ET
QUOTE(#13):

Seattle should go get Larsson to play up front with Fredy M....

That would be awesome. I loved Larsson for the ten weeks he was at United. Fantastic player. Great heart. An absolute killer in front of goal. A gentleman on and off the pitch. The definition of professional.

October 26, 2009  04:11 PM ET

U17's just played their first game... i wont ruin the game in case other are going to watch it later

but Gil's hype of being scouted by Arsenal, a couple spanish teams and a few german sides are justified... kid impressed me

October 26, 2009  04:14 PM ET
QUOTE(#15):

U17's just played their first game... i wont ruin the game in case other are going to watch it laterbut Gil's hype of being scouted by Arsenal, a couple spanish teams and a few german sides are justified... kid impressed me

Will it be played again today?

October 26, 2009  04:58 PM ET

he's just posturing for more money..he ain't going no-where....

October 26, 2009  05:02 PM ET
QUOTE(#15):

U17's just played their first game... i wont ruin the game in case other are going to watch it laterbut Gil's hype of being scouted by Arsenal, a couple spanish teams and a few german sides are justified... kid impressed me

I have to agree with you. It was nice seeing a US team with holding mid fielders actually holding the ball in traffic. Of course the 89 minutes of 11v10 had a lot to do with that but at least it wasn't US Bunkerball verses a European giant.

October 26, 2009  07:06 PM ET

It sounds like he likes it in Seattle so what's the big deal--loan him out then come back in the summer like Beckham did. I still don't understand why Galaxy fans gave Becks such a hard time--they just loaned him out for God's sake--he didn't leave.

 
October 26, 2009  07:08 PM ET

why not loan fredy out and then call him back? lots of european clubs here will be thin during the africa cup and he stays sharp and match fit during the MLS offseason. sounds like a win-win to me.

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