Freddie Ljungberg showed flashes of being the impact player the Chicago Fire needed after arriving from the Seattle Sounders last season, but he may not get a chance to build on that half season with the Fire.
Ljungberg is in talks with Scottish club Celtic, and could sign a deal this week. Even if Ljungberg doesn't reach an agreement with Celtic, it is looking increasingly unlikely that he will be returning to the Fire in 2011.
Ljungberg registered two goals and seven assists in 15 matches for the Chicago Fire after being acquired from Seattle in mid-season.
If Chicago does lose Ljungberg, it means the Sounders would receive the Fire's second round draft pick in the 2011 MLS Draft, No. 27 overall. If the Fire had signed Ljungberg before the draft, Chicago would have lost the No. 9 overall pick.
What do you think of this development? Disappointed to see Ljungberg go? Worried Chicago is doomed to have another down year?
Share your thoughts below.
I never really noticed much of an impact by Freddie. Blanco made an impact, Freddie barely made an impression.
Yeah, something is really failing to compute here imo.
He consistantly complained about being fouled out of the play, so now he’s going to try the SPL?
Maybe the overall balance of their roster as opposed to an MLS side will mean he has to do less himself, but otherwise this seems like a dumb move.
De Rosario is going on trial at Celtic as well.
atta boy ljungberg, when the going gets tough the tough go to the SPL.
I keep getting logged out,
so let me sum it up quickly.
Ljungberg was completely outclassed in MLS. To give him praise now because of past accomplishments is just plain wrong.
Anyone who has seen him play over the years knows that Freddie is pure class as a player. I think he just really hated being in MLS. As much as I love MLS, let’s face it, coming from the PL with West Ham and Arsenal to turf and sparse crowds during some games would be quite a downer. It’s like any job, if you aren’t happy you aren’t going to reach your potential.
I wish him the best but the league could use his talents.
I want to start a new rumor.
Miroslav Klose is going to the Chicago Fire.
His days at Bayern are numbered (can’t really see him being an Inzaghi type long term impact sub), and I think the Polish community in Chicago would thoroughly embrace him. (Yes, I know he plays for Germany.)
With the right wingers providing good service he could be a goal scoring machine in MLS.
SBI Mafia– Make this happen.
Praise baby Jesus.
You roll around and cry to refs like MLS is physical Freddie? Have a great time in the roller derby they call SPL.
Ljungberg is a good player. I found him quick and skillful on the ball. However, MLS has a number of quick and skillful players coming up right now. For DP money in the midfield I want creativity. That player that sets up plays and makes that fantastic last pass. I don’t think Ljungberg is one of those players.
I agree more like 2 years + without playing, at least at the club level yeah he played vs the US in August of 09 at Azteca as a sub and for a bit vs Honduras but that guy has been basically playing less than 10 games total a season.
He should be okay, I think the Collins dude was a flop, let him go.
I think Papa will continue his great form, Ljungberg did well for Chicago, just not in the clutch vs Toronto or in games when they needed points about 3/4 of the way in MLS.
I do remember a play in which Nery set him up beautifully and Freddi missed point blank I was like WTH?
I wonder how much time he will spend carping to the refs about rough treatment in Scotland if he spent 80 minutes of every game doing that in MLS. The other 10 minutes was usually spent dribbling into 2 and 3 defenders.
Or to borrow from the high-jump: the Lfosbury Lflop.
he still is a quality player
MLS teams figured out his tactics. He wasn’t the same last season. A change of leagues will do him well.
And he thought MLS was rough? Can’t wait to see him injured on the bench for Celtic real soon.
Please spell his name correctly: F-L-J-O-P-B-E-R-G
Nery Castillo is gonna be fine. I mean what the hell did you expect from a guy who hadn’t played competitive football in a year?
Ljungberg is a moron. He’s seems desperate to retire in europe and celtic’s desperate to attract players of value by their face or game, so i’d say it’s a fine fit.
The only thing i don’t get, is that if Ljungberg’s chief complaint about MLS was the persistent fouling and the physical nature, then why the hell would he go to league where he’s likely to get legs chopped off?
Tough to say. He might be able to contribute more than he did in 2010, but his departure would fix the logistical nightmare of having two highly-paid underachievers at the exact same position with the pressure to start both of them, which then goes on to completely neuter the Chicago offense.
Speaking of which, can we hide Nery Castillo in Ljungberg’s suitcase?
Not worried about Chicago.. like SSFC’s position here.
Apparently not. I guess being ok with Chicago after doing nothing with Seattle constitutes an improvement or something.
…. derp?
so… um… positives….
The MLS didn’t kill his value?
As someone who hates the Sounders (aka Support you Evermore FC United of Manchester) I’m happy to see him go
…hating the Sounders had nothing to do with this post.
As a Sounders fan, I would have to say that Ljungberg is a good player. I think the Fire need him more than Celtic need him.