Jens Lehman in the Arsenal dog house

[jordankhamra]

Jens has been benched by Wegner for the last two games and looks set to stay on the bench for the Champions league game. If this continues I am sure this take him out of the running for the NT post in 2006.

[Der Bomber]

Wenger has just realised what everybody allready knew.

[bastian]

:clap :clap :drinkbeer

[Stone_Monkey]

Lehman was left on the bench tonight and will stay there for the chelsea game even though Alumini made another mistake that cost arsenal a goal tonight

[Mertesacker]

Everything that prevents Lehmann from starting in 2006 is a good thing!

[Eintracht]

Cant see Lehmann on the bench on sunday, except Wenger wants to lose...

[scorpion2a]

Everything that prevents Lehmann from starting in 2006 is a good thing!
:nono
What are U speaking about? It's a loss for the German NT in the end. It doesn't matter how much U hate Lehmann, he's still an important goalkeeper.

[bastian]

:nono
What are U speaking about? It's a loss for the German NT in the end. It doesn't matter how much U hate Lehmann, he's still an important goalkeeper.

i think lehmann sucks , he made so many mistakes, i think a WC would be a lot of presure for him and he would be even worst ...

[ACBerb]

BERLIN, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann is getting increasingly concerned about Jens Lehmann's demotion to the Arsenal bench and will discuss the situation with Arsene Wenger if the keeper does not win back his place.

'If Jens is not in goal for Arsenal's next game I'll call him to find out the reasons why,' Klinsmann told reporters from Pusan, where Germany are preparing for the second match of their Asian tour against South Korea.

'Every coach has the right to leave a player on the bench...but if my players are long-term absentees, with the World Cup in mind I must find out why, and perhaps see if the situation can be changed.'

Lehmann was left out of the squad for the three-match Asian tour because of his club commitments but the 35-year-old lost his place in the Arsenal side to Spaniard Manuel Almunia early in December.

Klinsmann took over as Germany coach following their poor showing at Euro 2004 and one of his first acts was to strip Oliver Kahn of both the captaincy and his position as automatic first choice in goal.

The coach has told Kahn and Lehmann they have an equal chance of playing for the hosts at the 2006 World Cup.

'It was a surprise to the training staff that Jens was suddenly out,' said Klinsmann. 'We hope the situation changes. If this is going on for weeks I'll call Arsene.'

[palmerq]

Lehman shouldn't even be in the german squad, even Kahn is better than him right now.

[ACBerb]

I'm looking forward to a Kahn vs. Lehmann battle in the C.L. so hopefuuly he can get his starting spot back. Hey and maybe Jens can really do something for his country and let in a few soft ones! :laugh

[mujtaba_apa]

I used to be a big fan of Kahn, but he has been far too inconsistent. Perhaps it's time for Klinsmann to take the initiative and give other keepers (e.g. Hildebrand) a chance to show their worth.

[scorpion2a]

Hildebrand isn't as good as people here claim. I've seen him in a series of games in the previous season league. I didn't see all the brilliance U all are speaking about here. Honestly is he picked because he's a Brad Pitt look alike?! Hopefully not!

[Jason Bourne]

You wouldn't seriously take Lehman over Hildebrand tho would you? :unsure: I wouldn't.

[palmerq]

Tim Wiese is the best german goalie anyway.

[jordankhamra]

Hildebrand isn't as good as people here claim. I've seen him in a series of games in the previous season league. I didn't see all the brilliance U all are speaking about here. Honestly is he picked because he's a Brad Pitt look alike?! Hopefully not!

Agreed. I think he is a good keeper that happens to be surrounded by an excellent defense. Plus German keepers need to look tough and scary like Schumacher, Koepke and Kahn. Once we had a pretty boy called Illgner and he was just the worst. We need an intimadating pressense in the back.

[jordankhamra]

Wegner said that Lehman go leave Arsenal is he wants to. That means that Wenger is not planning on giving Lehman the number one spot any time soon. This will be interesting. I guess the next Bayern-Arsenal encounter will not be Kahn vs. Aresenal.

[Stone_Monkey]

Lehman actual has one of the best shot/save ratio in the premiership at the moment

[mood]

No, no.. what Wenger means is that if Lehmann is not happy with being dropped, he can leave.

Wenger did this to test Lehmann's professionalism, and according to what he's said - Lehmann passed and is now more focused in training and is training harder.

It's a good little move there by Wenger.

[Stone_Monkey]

lehman "there are 3 options, either i will be playing soon, in the near future or not at all"

[mood]

Lehman actual has one of the best shot/save ratio in the premiership at the moment

He only made mistakes on 3 games for Arsenal. All in the CL vs Dynamo Kiev, Panathinaikos and Chelsea.. apart from that, especially in the EPL - he's been solid.

He get's alot of unfair criticism sometimes.

[ACBerb]

He get's alot of unfair criticism sometimes.

What a German getting unfair criticism in England! That never happens does it? :ninja

[mood]

What a German getting unfair criticism in England! That never happens does it? :ninja

lol :laugh

Seriously, they can only point out his faults -which have been few, although one was very crucial vs Chelsea in the qtr finals last season, but the guy has saved us on so many occassions. Before the end of October, he never lost us a game in the league.

[ACBerb]

ya just jokin' around, but you make some very solid points mood, I guess it just boils down to a what have you done for me lately attitude at Arsenal! He played well last season but that guaranties nothing for a slip up this season.

[Stone_Monkey]

the point at the moment is more that almunia is an unfair and ineffective replacement though isnt it seen as they both make mistakes, but n average Lehmans havent beeen as consistantly poor

[ACBerb]

If you're right Stone, that's a pretty stupid move for Wenger to try and motivate Jens by putting in a sh!tyer goalie then him. Bad for the team! :nono

[Jason Bourne]

Lehmans biggest problem is that his mistakes DO come in the more important games. Obviously more people notice and he gets criticized more.

[ACBerb]

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's plight at Highbury has alerted a number of clubs back home in Germany with Borussia Monchengladbach reportedly leading the race to offer the former Borussia Dortmund player a get out.

Lehmann has been dropped by manager Arsene Wenger in favour of Manuel Almunia and speculation is mounting the Germany international could be set for a return to the Bundesliga in a bid to keep alive his hopes of playing in the 2006 World Cup his country is hosting - even if that would almost certainly mean a cut in wages.

And with Monchengladbach's new coach Dick Advocaat, formerly of Rangers, looking to build a squad the club are confident the offer of regular first team football will be too attractive for Lehmann to pass up.

"Normally, such a transfer would be difficult to achieve, but if Jens sits on the bench for much longer, then who knows what happens?" said Borussia's director of football Christian Hochstatter.

"When somebody like Lehmann becomes available then you've certainly got to consider it."

[Gerry_BMG]

Lehmann for Gladbach? :nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono :nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono :nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono :nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono :nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono :nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono:nono :nono:nono

[mood]

Almunia's playing very good. Kept 3 clean sheets in the last 4 games. I don't know whats going to happen to Jens now.

[Faram|R]

I think its better for Lehmann to move to Fc St.Pauli.......who know, maybe he can perform better?? :cool

[ACBerb]

Jens Lehmann has responded to a summer deadline from the German national team to regain his Arsenal place by insisting that he deserves a recall ahead of Manuel Almunia.

Lehmann declared: "I am convinced that I will play again soon. While watching matches, I cannot see that Almunia is better than me."

The experienced Germany international was stunned to be dropped by Arsene Wenger last month, having paid the price for the side's lack of defensive solidity as they struggled to recover from their Old Trafford defeat.

However, the problem for Lehmann is that, although Almunia looked shaky at first, the Spaniard has since grown in confidence and has conceded just one goal in his past four games.

There seems little chance of Wenger making another switch in his first-choice goalkeeper just yet and that has put Lehmann's international place in jeopardy.

Having seemingly hauled himself within touching distance of displacing rival Oliver Kahn from the German side, he will not be considered again until he wins back his Arsenal place.

Moreover, Germany goalkeeping coach Andy Kopke warned that the country's first-choice keeper for the 2006 World Cup finals would have to be playing regular club football by the start of next season.

"Whoever wants to play in the 2006 World Cup in Germany has to have a regular place in their team at the start of next season," he told Bild newspaper.

Lehmann must now consider whether to persevere at Highbury or to seek a fresh challenge back in Germany, with a number of Bundesliga clubs said to be interested in him.

He has so far indicated that he is determined to fight for his first-team place at Arsenal, having only been at the club for 18 months following his signing from Borussia Dortmund.

However, Jogi Low, the assistant to German national coach Jurgen Klinsmann, called upon Wenger to clarify Lehmann's long-term position at the club.

"If Jens isn't playing in the longer term, Wenger should be honest to him. He should tell him what he really plans to do. Jens deserves that," declared Low.

[palmerq]

Germany should forget about Lehman for the world cup and play some of the other german goalies.