Fredrik Ljungberg Zone

Euro 2008 Sweden Fixtures

2008-05-17T22:59:00.004+01:00

10 June 2008
GREECE v SWEDEN
EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim - Salzburg
Kick Off: 20:45 CET

14 June 2008
SWEDEN v SPAIN
Tivoli Neu - Innsbruck
Kick Off: 18:00 CET

18 June 2008
RUSSIA v SWEDEN
Tivoli Neu - Innsbruck
Kick Off: 20:45 CET

Euro 2008: Only 20 Days to go !!!!

Ljungberg boosts club and country

2008-05-17T22:48:00.001+01:00

Freddie Ljungberg is confident he can justify his place in Sweden’s 23-man squad for Euro 2008 by fighting his way back to full fitness in time for the start of the tournament on June 7.

Ljungberg has endured a truncated debut season for West Ham, the latest blow coming when he suffered a broken rib in last month’s game against Newcastle.

The injury ruled out the former Arsenal midfielder for the remainder of the domestic campaign, but he now has his sights firmly set on resuming international duty as soon as possible.

"The pain has been quite extreme," he told The Hammers’ official website. "It's been difficult taking deep breaths and it hurts even when I just turn my body. I have been on painkillers however, and I'm getting better and better.

"I have slowly started to try to jog and have even cycled a little. The healing process so far has been all according to the prognosis by our medical staff which is encouraging. I am very much looking forward to being fit for the tournament."

Sweden have been drawn in Group D alongside Russia, Greece and Spain, and although Ljungberg is keen to adopt the old adage of taking one game at a time, he sees no reason why he and his countrymen should not aim for the stars.

"First our goal is to advance from the group,” he added. “That itself will be a challenge and then if we succeed we can set new goals.

“That will all depend on how the draw works out. But I don't think it is unrealistic to say we have a chance of winning the whole tournament. Greece showed in 2004 that anything can happen."

Source: Setanta Sports

FA Premiership Table

2008-05-14T22:51:00.001+01:00

Final Standings
Premiership Champions 2007-2008 - Manchester United

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
1	Manchester United	38	27	6	5	58	87
2	Chelsea	38	25	10	3	39	85
3	Arsenal	38	24	11	3	43	83
4	Liverpool	38	21	13	4	39	76
5	Everton	38	19	8	11	22	65
6	Aston Villa	38	16	12	10	20	60
7	Blackburn Rovers	38	15	13	10	2	58
8	Portsmouth	38	16	9	13	8	57
9	Manchester City	38	15	10	13	-8	55
10	West Ham United	38	13	10	15	-8	49
11	Tottenham Hotspur	38	11	13	14	5	46
12	Newcastle United	38	11	10	17	-20	43
13	Middlesbrough	38	10	12	16	-10	42
14	Wigan Athletic	38	10	10	18	-17	40
15	Sunderland	38	11	6	21	-23	39
16	Bolton Wanderers	38	9	10	19	-18	37
17	Fulham	38	8	12	18	-22	36
18	Reading	38	10	6	22	-25	36
19	Birmingham City	38	8	11	19	-16	35
20	Derby County	38	1	8	29	-69	11
Table standings correct as of 14 May 2008

Euro 2008 - Sweden Squad

2008-05-14T22:04:00.002+01:00

Swedish coach Lars Lagerback has named his provisional squad for the Euro 2008 championships in Austria/Switzerland. Ibrahimovich and Ljungberg have been named along with the suprise return of Henrik Larsson!!!

Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (Manchester City), Rami Shaaban (Hammarby), Johan Wiland (Elfsborg);

Defenders: Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa), Petter Hansson (Stade Rennais), Fredrik Stoor (Rosenborg), Daniel Majstorovic (Basel), Andreas Granqvist (Wigan Athletic), Mikael Dorsin (CFR Cluj);

Midfielders: Niclas Alexandersson (IFK Goteborg), Daniel Andersson (Malmo FF), Kim Kallstrom (Olympique Lyonnais), Tobias Linderoth (Galatasaray), Fredrik Ljungberg (West Ham), Anders Svensson (Elfsborg), Christian Wilhelmsson (Deportivo de la Coruna), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City).

Forwards: Marcus Allback (FC Copenhagen), Johan Elmander (Toulouse), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan), Henrik Larsson (Helsingborg), Markus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen).

Ljungberg rumours rejected

2008-05-10T13:19:00.000+01:00

Freddie Ljungberg's agent has rejected reports suggesting West Ham were planning to pay-off the player to let him to leave the club.

Reports earlier this week claimed West Ham were ready to cut their losses on Ljungberg by paying him up the remainder of his three-year contract as they look to trim their wage bill.

Ljungberg, who joined West Ham from Arsenal last summer, has seen his progress at the club hampered by a series of injuries this season.

The 31-year-old, who is currently recovering from a broken rib injury, has made 25 league appearances for West Ham this season - scoring two goals.

Ljunberg's agent Claes Elefalk has rejected the rumours and says he is committed to West Ham.

"This story is complete nonsense, there is no truth in it," Elefalk told skysports.com.

"Freddie is not thinking of leaving West Ham.

"Scott Duxbury [West Ham chief executive] called myself yesterday and said he was sorry such nonsense appeared in the paper.

"Contrary to what has been said Freddie is enjoying his football as much as he has ever done.

"He feels at home at Upton Park, with the team and with the fans.

"Freddie is already thinking of next season and helping to bring West Ham to Europe."

Source: Sky Sports

Desktop Wallpaper

2008-05-08T20:57:00.002+01:00

Fingers are crossed for Euro 2008!!

West Ham offer Fredrik Ljungberg £3m to tear up contract

2008-05-08T18:24:00.002+01:00

Club want to make economies by cutting ties with Sweden midfield player who has three years left on his contract at £75,000 a week

West Ham United have offered Fredrik Ljungberg £3million to leave Upton Park after one season. The Barclays Premier League club decided to rein in their transfer spending earlier in the season and are keen to reduce their wage bill. The Sweden midfield player has three years remaining on the four-year contract he signed when he joined the club from Arsenal last summer. The compensation package is less than his salary of about £3.9million a year - £75,000 a week.

Ljungberg, 31, has made 25 league appearances this season but has not been able to recapture the goalscoring knack he had several seasons ago. The loss of some of his pace, the lack of a creative midfield player and West Ham's regimented style have contributed to him scoring only twice this season. He suffered a cracked rib in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle United two weeks ago.

West Ham could make similar compensation offers to Lucas Neill and Luís Boa Morte, the forward, who are among the higher-earning players. The club have been looking for a new right back to replace Neill, the Australia player who earns about £65,000 a week and has a year left on his contract. West Ham released Roy Carroll, the goalkeeper, in similar fashion last summer.

The offer of payoffs to players is not unusual, but it is extraordinary after only one year. Players are not obliged to accept the proposal, but if they do so they can move as a free agent to another club. Winston Bogarde sat out his four-year contract at Chelsea, where he earned £40,000 a week, and refused to accept compensation to leave. The former Holland defender made 12 appearances, only four of them starts, effectively earning £693,000 per appearance. He spent much of his time training with the youth team.

Source: The Times

Desktop Wallpaper

2008-04-28T20:39:00.001+01:00

Get rid of those Freddie injury blues! Put a bit of Freddie on your desktop!

Ljungberg injury puts Euros in doubt

2008-04-26T20:07:00.002+01:00

West Ham midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is a doubt for the Euro 2008 finals after suffering a cracked rib in his side's 2-2 draw with Newcastle.

The Sweden international was stretchered off at Upton Park in a first-half clash with Steven Taylor and manager Alan Curbishley revealed the player had been injured.

The former Arsenal man therefore becomes the latest player to join West Ham's lengthy absentee list.

Curbishley said: "I think Taylor has tried to leapfrog him and landed on him. He has been raked all down the side and front of his face and cracked a rib.

"That's another one out for us but we are hoping he will be okay for the Euros."

Source: Sporting Life

Match Report: West Ham 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd

2008-04-26T19:51:00.006+01:00

West Ham United 2 - 2 Newcastle United
Barclays Premiership

West Ham: Green, Pantsil , Tomkins, Neill, McCartney, Faubert (Solano 90), Parker, Noble, Ljungberg (Boa Morte 21), Zamora (Cole 68), Ashton.
Subs Not Used: Walker, Mullins.

Booked: Faubert, Pantsil.
Goals: Noble 10, Ashton 23.

Newcastle: Harper, Beye , Edgar (Diatta 90), Taylor, Jose Enrique, Geremi, Butt , Barton, Owen, Viduka (Smith 82), Martins .
Subs Not Used: Forster, Duff, Carroll.

Booked: Beye, Butt, Martins.
Goals: Martins 42, Geremi 45.

Attendance: 34,980

Referee: Uriah Rennie

Read the full match report on the BBCi website

Big Picture: UHQ Birthday Edition

2008-04-23T01:12:00.007+01:00

As a belated present to celebrate Freddie's recent birthday here's some BIG ultra high-resolution pictures from his days at Arsenal and one at West Ham, for a limited time only!!

Download them, print them, desktop them to your hearts content!!

WARNING: This post is not dial-up friendly

FA Premiership Table

2008-04-21T17:44:00.000+01:00

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
1	Manchester United	35	25	6	4	54	84
2	Chelsea	35	23	9	3	36	78
3	Arsenal	35	21	11	3	37	74
4	Liverpool	35	19	12	4	36	69
5	Everton	35	18	7	10	21	61
6	Aston Villa	35	16	10	9	22	58
7	Portsmouth	35	16	9	10	12	57
8	Manchester City	35	15	10	10	1	55
9	Blackburn Rovers	35	13	13	9	2	52
10	West Ham United	35	13	8	14	-5	47
11	Tottenham Hotspur	35	10	12	13	6	42
12	Newcastle United	35	11	9	15	-16	42
13	Wigan Athletic	35	9	9	17	-17	36
14	Middlesbrough	35	8	12	15	-18	36
15	Sunderland	35	10	6	19	-21	36
16	Bolton Wanderers	35	8	8	19	-20	32
17	Reading	35	9	5	21	-28	32
18	Birmingham City	35	7	10	18	-17	31
19	Fulham	35	5	12	18	-26	27
20	Derby County	35	1	8	26	-59	11
Table standings correct as of 21 April 2008

Hammers rule out Ljungberg exit

2008-04-21T16:57:00.001+01:00

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury has dismissed reports that Freddie Ljungberg will be ushered out of Upton Park in the summer.

The Swede has often struggled to impose himself since moving from Arsenal, with injury preventing him from staking a regular starting berth under Alan Curbishley.

A summer clear-out could be on the cards if Curbishley wishes to take The Hammers to the next level, but Duxbury is adamant that Ljungberg will not be one of those to be shown the door.

"Rumours that Freddie is leaving are nonsense," he told the Echo. "Freddie, with his international experience, is an important player for West Ham in reaching our goal, to play in Europe.

"His pedigree stands for itself. He is an important part of this club’s future. I mean, he's playing the Euros this summer for Sweden and is going to be one of the tournament's big stars. He still has his best years ahead of him."

While Ljungberg looks likely to be spared the axe, Duxbury did confirm that a number of players would be forced to move on in order to make space for new arrivals.

"Our squad is too big, but we only plan to sell players that are not close of getting into the team," added Duxbury.

"We have a very young talented team and experienced star players like Freddie, Craig Bellamy and Lucas Neill, are very important in helping those talents develop."

Source: Setanta Sport

Pepsi Youniverse Advert

2008-04-20T21:46:00.007+01:00

Scoured the net for this for ages but finally found it. The new Pepsi ad featuring Freddie instead of Cesc Fabregas!!

Wallpaper

The original video is now on Beckham blog!

Match Report: West Ham 2 - 1 Derby

2008-04-19T19:04:00.003+01:00

West Ham United 2 - 1 Derby County
Barclays Premiership

West Ham: Green, Pantsil, Tomkins, Neill, McCartney, Faubert (Solano 78), Noble , Parker , Ljungberg (Boa Morte 90), Sears (Cole 74), Zamora.
Subs Not Used: Walker, Mullins.

Booked: Noble, Parker.
Goals: Zamora 20, Cole 77.

Derby: Carroll, Todd (McEveley 83), Leacock, Stubbs, Lewis, Mears, Ghaly, Savage, Jones (Villa 75), Sterjovski, Miller.
Subs Not Used: Price, Feilhaber, Moore.

Goals: Mears 65.

Attendance: 34,612

Referee: Steve Tanner

Read the full match report on the BBCi website

Ljungberg set to depart as Curbs is told to cut wage bill

2008-04-17T19:54:00.002+01:00

Alan Curbishley has been told to cut the West Ham wage bill this summer - which puts high-earners Freddie Ljungberg, Kieron Dyer and Lucas Neill in line for an Upton Park departure.

Billionaire business tycoon Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is determined to reign in the club's massive spending since heading an £85million Icelandic takeover of the club 15 months ago.

Gudmundsson is determined to balance the books and get some of the club's biggest earners off their wage bill to put West Ham in better financial shape.

Curbs will be told to shake-up the squad, reports the Daily Mirror, and that will leave £80,000- a-week-plus men Ljungberg, Neill and Dyer at risk.

Former Arsenal midfielder Ljungberg has struggled with injuries, Neill is on £90,000-a-week and Dyer is currently recovering from a broken leg but they were all signed on huge contracts by exchairman Eggert Magnusson.

Gudmundsson wants to reduce the wage bill as well as trimming the squad. That could mean West Ham may be ready to sell some of their other top players, with several clubs looking at keeper Robert Green and striker Dean Ashton.

Gudmundsson is now taking a more realistic financial outlook, especially as West Ham have failed to qualify for Europe.

Ironically, Curbishley's own position could be strengthened because Gudmundsson wants to steady the ship rather than carry on spending big and possibly bringing in an expensive new manager.

Croatia boss Slaven Bilic, a West Ham hero, is regarded highly at Upton Park but Curbs has already been given a vote of confidence and if he can keep on the right side of Gudmundsson then his position will be more secure.

Source: Daily Mail

Happy Birthday Freddie!!

2008-04-16T23:57:00.001+01:00

Grattis på födelsedagen Freddie!!

Hope you had a great day!! ;o)

Ljungberg's injury relief

2008-04-15T22:30:00.002+01:00

West Ham have been handed a boost with the news that Freddie Ljungberg is close to a return to action.

The Swede has been missing since suffering a hamstring problem in the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland last month.

It was feared that the injury could sideline Ljungberg for the rest of the season and even force him to miss this summer's Euro 2008 finals.

However, Ljungberg is close to full fitness and could feature against Derby this weekend.

The former Arsenal man admitted the Hammers' medical team found it difficult to get to the bottom of the injury.

"The injury was a little weird, especially since it was quite painful," Ljungberg told The Times.

"It was quite hard for the medical team to diagnose, but I've been told it was an inflamed nerve. Luckily, the hamstring is not injured, which is great.

"The extra work I put in this winter, in the gym, is the reason I am in good shape. Despite being in some pain due to a nerve-root inflammation, the hamstring itself is fine and there is no sign of a pull or strain."

Source: Sky Sports

Ljungberg on the mend for Hammers

2008-04-07T19:37:00.000+01:00

West Ham's Freddie Ljungberg is likely to return to training this week after receiving treatment on a hamstring injury.

The Sweden midfielder picked up the problem in his side's defeat at Sunderland last weekend and initial reports suggested he could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Tuesday's home match against Portsmouth is too soon for the former Arsenal star but he could play a part at Bolton on Saturday.

Source: Daily Mail

Ljungberg's injury only minor

2008-04-05T12:21:00.003+01:00

Fredrik Ljungberg learnt late Friday night that he does not have a rupture of his thigh muscle.

The Swedish national team captain was carried off on a stretcher in the Premiership match against Sunderland last weekend and it had been speculated that he had suffered a rupture in his thigh muscle and would be unable to play football for at least six weeks.

On Friday, however, came good news that the injury was only minor and not what had been feared earlier.

Ljungberg has been undergoing physicals this week along with an x-ray by the West Ham medical team, in order to diagnose and treat the injury. Freddie's results showed that fortunately he did not have a rupture or strain in his thigh muscle.

"The muscle is entirely normal" said agent Claes Elefalk in a press statement.

"However he still has some pain in the thigh but it is subsiding. The doctors have found some inflammation in a nerve root. He is having daily treatment and the injury is being monitored day by day."

Source: Sportal (Translated)

Ljungberg in Euro 2008 fitness race

2008-04-03T21:14:00.002+01:00

West Ham's Freddie Ljungberg is in a race against time to be fit for Sweden's participation in this summer's Euro 2008.

The Irons midfielder is suffering from a hamstring injury and had to be carried off during last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Sunderland.

The former Arsenal star, 30, has been warned he could face up to six weeks out and that would leave him with a tight deadline to be fit for the European Championships.

Ljungberg is already facing up to the prospect of missing several games for West Ham, including next Tuesday's clash with Portsmouth, adding to Alan Curbishley's injury woes.

It is not yet known how serious the injury is, but in any event West Ham will definitely have to plan their next two to three matches without the Swede's services.

Source: Goal.com/Mirror

Freddie Injured ..... again!!

2008-03-29T20:53:00.004Z

Freddie got injured again in the match against Sunderland.

He went down in pain, grabbing his hamstring, in the 86th minute and had to be carried off on a stretcher. This left West Ham with only 10 men for the final minutes of the game, as they had already made their three substitutions.

Match Report: Sunderland 2 - 1 West ham

2008-03-29T20:23:00.004Z

Sunderland 2 - 1 West Ham United
Barclays Premiership

Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins, Murphy (O'Donovan 81), Whitehead, Reid , Richardson (Edwards 70), Chopra (Leadbitter 71), Jones.
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Yorke.

Booked: Reid, O'Donovan.
Goals: Jones 29, Reid 90.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Spector, McCartney (Pantsil 46), Ljungberg*, Parker, Mullins, Noble, Cole (Solano 65), Ashton, Pantsil (Tomkins 74).
Subs Not Used: Walker, Boa Morte.

(* Ljungberg was stretchered off with a hamstring injury in the 86th minute)

Booked: Cole.
Goals: Ljungberg 18.

Attendance: 45,690

Referee: Andre Marriner

Read the full match report on the BBCi website

Ljungberg laughs off Hammers exit talk

2008-03-27T19:54:00.002Z

Speaking to setantasports.com, Freddie Ljungberg has laughed off suggestions that he is poised to be the victim of a summer cull at West Ham, with the Sweden star instead stating he is looking forward to an exciting future at the club.

It has been claimed in the national press that Hammers manager Alan Curbishley is actively seeking buyers for the former Arsenal star in a bid to lower the club's substantial wage bill and to help bring through younger players in a nod to the East London club's fine tradition of developing stars of the future.

Whilst conceding that changes may be afoot in the summer if West Ham are to continue on an upwards trajectory, Ljungberg seems assured of his own future given his recent impressive form in the claret and blue.

"That was nice of them!" said Ljungberg to setantasports.com when told of the speculation surrounding his future.

"No not really, we have worked really well and I think I was voted the best player last month so I can't really complain about that.

"Maybe there will be [people leaving], we have a very big squad and maybe they will if they are going to bring in some players.

"But I think whatever the manager does to make the squad better or the team better, that is a good thing."

Ljungberg was a high-profile component of a substantial transfer outlay by Curbishley last summer as the London club, bankrolled by owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, sought to build a side capable of challenging for European football.

That may remain a distant possibility if the Intertoto Cup is taken into account - given West Ham are currently six points behind sixth-placed Portsmouth - but Ljungberg has hinted that the club are ready to continue their investment off the pitch in order to keep progressing.

"I am looking forward to it [next season]. When I joined they said they wanted to build a new team and maybe a little bit like Chelsea did, they are willing to spend the money to make a great side, and that is probably the same thing we will do this summer - spend a bit and go a bit further on.

"But I hope we will still reach Europe [this season] to be honest and that would be great because it is fantastic for the club to get good experience playing in Europe."

After a shocking run of three 4-0 defeats in a row at the start of March, West Ham's season looked to be on the brink of collapse but they responded well by beating Blackburn 2-1 and then drawing 1-1 with Everton at the weekend.

That brief yet damaging blip was enough for manager Alan Curbishley to endure speculation over his future and Ljungberg has rued the speed at which his boss was targeted for criticism.

"He did [get criticism] which was maybe a bit sad," said Ljungberg. "Of course it is never good to concede, three games in a row, 4-0, but that was for one week and before that we played quite well and after we played quite well, so maybe it was a bit too fast with the sledgehammer or the axe!

"To be honest I am disappointed about the Everton game, I think we played quite well and maybe we should have won the game and then definitely we would have been back on track so to speak, but after three four-nils of course it is better.

"But I think we have to look forward, and if we can play like that against Everton and they are fourth or fifth, we should have won the game away, I think we can look forward and look to better things to be honest."

Source: Setanta Sports

Ljungberg pleased despite loss

2008-03-27T03:55:00.003Z

Sweden held till half time with Brazil.

"From time to time we played good football, until they got a lucky goal", said Ljungberg.

Sweden's team captain was not too dejected, despite the defeat when he was interviewed by TV3 after the game.

"We began a bit cautious minded in the first 15-20 minutes, but then we started to play quite well. We also played good in the second half but lost a bit of control. They got a lucky goal" he said.

"From time to time we played good football. Against a team like Brazil though it's not always possible to create many clear opportunities as they keep the ball fairly good. But we had some proper, really good opportunities in the first half of the game.. Had we only been a little harder we might have more of the ball.

Source: Sportbladet (Translated)