Elmander to be offered new contract?

[William the White]

Just to say, Alzheimer, that I'm enjoying your contributions emormously: cool, intelligent, analytic, informed and offering a perspective we would otherwise not have.

Stick around.

[CAPSLOCK]

Agree with that

Alzheimer; Elmander was actually given a relatively easy ride by the boo boys

They had their hands full, you see with abusing the manager - but there were pockets of cretins coming up with 'witty' little songs to ridicule him

However, I agree completely when you identify the 'reason' for his improvement going beyond the Coyle factor

The support from the terraces helps all the players to perform to their maximum and Elmander seems to need that backing

Add to that he's probably confident in his body for the first time in ages, he's been able to add a chunk of pace to his bag of tricks


Thinking back to Coyles first games, he bawled at Elmander cos he didn't work hard enough, a fact confirmed by Coyle at the first of the two recent fans forums

If Elmander moves on, I'd fear for his ability to handle the mental side of the game if he doesn't hit the ground running

[Alzheimer]

an anybody recall a specific time when this happened? I've seen this idea out there that the fans "turned on Elmander" but I just don't think it happened. There was chanting for Klasnic but liking Klasnic better than Elmander is not the same thing as turning on Elmander. Sometimes substitutions were booed but that booing was, as far as I could tell, directed at Megson, not the players.

I'm glad you didn't turn against Elmander and that you just put the good words in for the player you liked better.

I disagree that Elmander would be a good partner for Klasnic though, because Elmander simply isn't a very good player, in any way, shape, or form.

And if you start with Elmander, you know you'll have to sub him off after 60 minutes, because he's SHIT

Better than taking "only" an 8 million punt on Björn Shänkaballsson from Sweden.

No, he meant Conference . . . after yet another awful performance from Elmander I once drunkenly ranted that he was a "Conference player" . . .

Well once I posted my reasoned analysis of Elmander's inability to compete at this level, you still had no response, so I may as well have saved time and stuck to the picture.

Elmander possesses NONE of the qualities you'd expect from a top-flight striker

Elmander is a class act and when hes playing without the stump you'll see that

Whatever he is, it ain't Premier League.

Elmander would be lucky to get a game in the Conference. Fu.cking donkey

You don't need statistics to prove Megson put us in this mess. All you need are four words.

Johan Elmander eight million.

[CAPSLOCK]

Game

Set

Match

[Alzheimer]

Just to say, Alzheimer, that I'm enjoying your contributions emormously: cool, intelligent, analytic, informed and offering a perspective we would otherwise not have.

Stick around.

I'm not sure if you're sincere or if you're pulling my leg. So my response is either thanks or f*** off.

[H. Pedersen]

Glad he's proving me wrong this season.

Because he was awful the previous two.

[H. Pedersen]

Alzheimer; Elmander was actually given a relatively easy ride by the boo boys

They had their hands full, you see with abusing the manager

Why do you think that was?

[Worthy4England]

Alzheimer; Elmander was actually given a relatively easy ride by the boo boys

They had their hands full, you see with abusing the manager

Why do you think that was?

Either way it's not the whole truth - they didn't just have their hands full with abusing the manager, they had Nolan and after a while Taylor to give vent at too.

After the Manager and Nolan had packed their bags, they were able to switch to Taylor, and they've managed to determine this year, in the absence of Taylor early on, that maybe Steinsson fits the bill.

So where Elmander has been slightly lucky is in the fact that the "gotta have someone who's shit" brigade have usually had someone way out in front of Elmander.

[Alzheimer]

Glad he's proving me wrong this season.

Because he was awful the previous two.

We have different opinions about that also. I can agree labelling him as a flop those two seasons since a forward costing that much money can't get away scoring so few goals.It isn't acceptable.
But in many games he didn't play bad and there were quite a few people in the forum who observed the fact that he did create chances and had a decent linkup play.
You can't say that a forward not making goals hasn't failed but imo it is equally wrong to say that a forward is absolutely shite when he does everything else OK.The truth is as almost always in between.People just have a tendency to see everything in black and white.
The fact is that Elmander this year has had some games which he played worse than last season but now nobody cares since he has been scoring an acceptable amount of goals.

[Lord Kangana]

The crowd didn't turn on Elmander.

Thats just utter bollox, the kind of excuse that The Gardener would use.

I remember there was one notright in the North Stand who used to berate Elmander constantly. But then he used to talk to the pies and yell at the empty seats, so I don't see him as indicative of the average fan there.

Perhaps you sit in the East?

[Montreal Wanderer]

The crowd didn't turn on Elmander.

Thats just utter bollox, the kind of excuse that The Gardener would use.

I remember there was one notright in the North Stand who used to berate Elmander constantly. But then he used to talk to the pies and yell at the empty seats, so I don't see him as indicative of the average fan there.

Perhaps you sit in the East?

Notright is a new word for me, but a great addition to my vocabulary, LK.

[Wandering Willy]

The fact is that Elmander this year has had some games which he played worse than last season but now nobody cares since he has been scoring an acceptable amount of goals.

It's all about how you judge his peformance. If it's goals you want then you're getting them at the moment. I think he worked as hard last year as he has this year - he's probably just that bit fitter now. In any one season you can always pick games that were better/worse than some in the season before but as you say goals keep the critics away.

Elmander has always had a touch of class about him but it's taken a while to get it on a more consistent basis. I don't know if it's Coyle, the fans, lack of injury or a combination of the three but I am damn sure the whole Megson situation didn't help.

I, for one, am very happy for him that he is playing so well.

I wish he'd buried the winner against United though.

[William the White]

Just to say, Alzheimer, that I'm enjoying your contributions emormously: cool, intelligent, analytic, informed and offering a perspective we would otherwise not have.

Stick around.

I'm not sure if you're sincere or if you're pulling my leg. So my response is either thanks or f*** off.

I'll accept your thanks, then. Seriously, stick around - good to get a Swedish take and an inside view of what is said in the swedish media.

[Jakerbeef]

I remember Meggo in an interview alluding to Elmander being the most skillful player in the team. Probably never would have believed it until this season. One of these days when he's running up the park with three defenders chasing him he's going to go all the way. (Like Chungy nearly did against 'Pool.)

I would rather we took the Ben Haim stance than anything else, and let his contract run down.

I think we should do the Len Ganley stance... everybody's doing it y'know...

As far as obscure gags go, this is one of the better ones.

[Odelay]

Alzheimer is actually Elmander getting his revenge on all the doomsayers.

[FaninOz]

I don't like players who play these contract games with Clubs. Coyle and BWFC have done well by Elmander and he should show his gratitude and sign a new contract now. If he doesn't want to continue to play for us then I'd get rid of him in January window to who ever will pay most. I'd rather have a Klasnic playing than Elmander if he wants to leave.

He can then join the list of players who have failed after they have left us. And Elmander is likely to do that as his self confidence always seemed low when he first came and that is likely to happen again when /if he joins a new club. Ricketts anybody!

[Bruce Rioja]

I don't like players who play these contract games with Clubs. Coyle and BWFC have done well by Elmander and he should show his gratitude and sign a new contract now. If he doesn't want to continue to play for us then I'd get rid of him in January window to who ever will pay most. I'd rather have a Klasnic playing than Elmander if he wants to leave.

Where are people getting this idea from that he wants to leave? Have I missed something? It just strikes me that we're going through the same brinksmanship that every club go through with every desirable player.

[bobo the clown]

Glad he's proving me wrong this season.

Because he was awful the previous two.

I think you've got a staler HP. In fact, I think he lurves you. xxxxxx

[Worthy4England]

I don't like players who play these contract games with Clubs. Coyle and BWFC have done well by Elmander and he should show his gratitude and sign a new contract now. If he doesn't want to continue to play for us then I'd get rid of him in January window to who ever will pay most. I'd rather have a Klasnic playing than Elmander if he wants to leave.
He can then join the list of players who have failed after they have left us. And Elmander is likely to do that as his self confidence always seemed low when he first came and that is likely to happen again when /if he joins a new club. Ricketts anybody!

Aye because Klasnic didn't play any contract games with us either now did he?

This "show his gratitude" bit, not just from youself has me rather bemused. Ignoring how much footballers get paid - as that's entirely down to what people are willing to pay them, Clubs hardly say to players "sign this it keeps you here until you're 32" when people are 20, so that's just the way it works.

It's all a bit "part and parcel" to me at the moment.

[Alzheimer]

He can then join the list of players who have failed after they have left us. And Elmander is likely to do that as his self confidence always seemed low when he first came and that is likely to happen again when /if he joins a new club. Ricketts anybody!

I don't think Elmander is gods gift to football or anything. But your post is almost ignorant. It is like he came to Bolton like a nobody. There was a reason for why Bolton had to pay the money they did.

He came to Bolton after being extremely praised after contributing to Toulouses sensational CL qualification.And he also had a place in L'equipes team of the year.The Franch ligue is not of PL standard but it is a good league and the players are very strong individually as you can see looking at the team of the year 2007.

Grégory Coupet (Lyon) - Bacary Sagna (Auxerre/Arsenal), Cris (Lyon), Sébastien Puygrenier (Nany), Eric Abidal (Lyon/Barcelona) - Sydney Govou (Lyon), Juninho (Lyon), Jérémy Toulalan (Lyon), Florent Malouda (Lyon/Chelsea) - Johan Elmander (Toulouse), Karim Benzema (Lyon).

He also scored 4 goals in 6 games against the top 3 opponents in Swedens Euro 2008 qualification group. He hit the woodwork twice and scored one goal against Spain that later won Euro 2008.He was Puyols worst nightmare in that game.

And Elmander didn't even start superbadly in Bolton.I think his 5 goals in his first 13 games 2008 was OK given the team you had and the defensive style you played.
His troubles in Bolton began when he couldn't bounce back after his injury problems started.
Every player faces a risk failing in a new club but Elmander is not more proned to do so than any other player.It is a bit naive to think Elmanders recent success just could have been had in Bolton and that he will fail in another club.
He did fail in Feynoord also but then he was only 18.In his other clubs he has been praised for his first years despite the fact he isn't exactly a goalscorer. .