Looks like it was a communication issue with Freddie under the impression that he and Hanauer agreeing he didn't need to show up until Feb 1. Anyway you look at it. Freddie's playing in Seattle this year. http://freddie.speaksup.com/2010/01/26/from-feb-1st-i-will-be-with-my-team-in-seattle/
Good. Sorry if I don't believe a word of his reasons, but what matters is that he'll be here a lot earlier than he was last season. Hopefully that will make a difference on the pitch. He's got something to prove.
I don't get the animosity. It's not uncommon for the best players on a team not to show up the first day/week of camp. Walter Jones missed every pre-season for awhile there due to "contract issues" and no one questioned his dedication to the team. I don't see why Ljungberg is any different here. It's apparent the coaches and FO were aware that he wasn't going to be in camp immediately, they really shouldn't have made it seem like he wasn't interested in coming back to Seattle when they apparently knew that he was. Anywho, I'm sure there is more than enough blame to go around here with what happened. Just glad he's back in the fold.
great. and we all got a few newstories out of it. I bet it was all staged by hanauer who reads SSFC fans boards and noticed that the offseason was truly taking its toll.
I just wish they had spread it out over a few more months instead of cramming all the excitement into the first day of training camp. Sounders need to fire up a rumor mongering department.
Apparently Ljungberg's agent was trying to communicate "in the same way all Americans do, via the Balloon Boy."
Well, if he's their rumor department, he sucks. The other teams were leaking like sieves about every player they were even remotely interested in, the Sounders leaked nothing. It was horrifying! From a fan perspective, of course. From a team perspective I see that as being a good thing.
Excellent: http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110...sings-european-dalliance-could-impact-freddie The real examination of Ljungberg's narrative will occur behind closed doors once he joins his teammates. Only then will he discover how his desire to keep his short-term European options open will impact the short- and long-term future with the best choice he possessed all along.
I think Seattle fans are just a little worried considering what Beckham did last year. They are worried that Ljungberg might do the same thing.
To me this "crisis" last week was internally generated at SSFC to press the talkers on both sides of the CBA. One of the more popular clubs in the league - about to lose their "absentee" DP to an Italian suitor of an unknown quantity? Makes a case for the Sounders that a lockout may not be in the best interest of the league.
Still, pretty douchey to skip a week of training camp just because you're Freddie-********ing-Ljungberg
If you buy his story of a "miscommunication" then I have to ask if you're in the market for bridges. I have a nice one for sale. Perhaps you would like it.
Rumor has it that there is no cell phone service or internet in all of Sweden. Don't blame ol' Fred for not knowing when practice started. Snail mail failed him.