Jens Lehmann thread

[Trim]

Originally Posted by Buddha14

Are you kidding Rensing, Hildebrand, Neuer the list can go on

All talented, that's true.

But, they can't match Kahn.
None of them is as brave, as strong, as great as Kahn.

As I said, they're all talented.
But, they're not giving signs of being the new Kahn, yet.

Rensing has been solid for Bayern desputising Kahn.
Neuer does a good job at Schalke, and so does Adler at Leverkusen.

Hildebrand is starting at Valencia recently, but everyone is criticising him.
And it's true, the veteran Canizares does much better.
Hildebrand had a very poor performance against Czechs aswell.

There is Tim Wiese, another good keeper. But, just good, that's it.
He's on a poor form aswell, he's conceding too much.

[Hans]

Originally Posted by __-SNAKE-__

Yea true but overall, hes a 3rd class keeper, on the media he makes himself look like hes the best but in reality everyone knows what a flop of a keeper he really is, I guess the standard of Germany's keepers have really gone down since Oliver Kahn's retirement.

I wouldn't go as far as saying that Lehmann is a 3rd class goalkeeper, but he is definately very unstable, you just never know if you can trust him.

In many matches, in Germany for BVB, he was doing some fantastic saves, then lets in a blunder out of nowhere.

When he is completely focused though, he can be an amazing goalkeeper, the thing is though, you just never know when he is focused.

Originally Posted by Trim17

All talented, that's true.

But, they can't match Kahn.
None of them is as brave, as strong, as great as Kahn.

Well if you put it that way...

But there are a lot of great goalkeepers in Germany, not just Kahn & Lehmann, there is Robert Enke who seems to have reached his prime last season, he was flawless. Amazing performances for Hannover and deserves to be given some credit. I do agree that he isn't as good as Kahn was in the past, but he is still very solid and the best German goalkeeper right now.

Originally Posted by Trim17

Rensing has been solid for Bayern desputising Kahn.
Neuer does a good job at Schalke, and so does Adler at Leverkusen.

About 2 years ago, Michael Rensing was the best young goalkeeper in Germany, but he hasn't progressed since then, so both Manuel Neuer and Rene Alder are ahead of him at this moment.

Now, Manuel Neuer has a style very similar to Jens Lehmann, both very good on the line and have a great comand in the area, but both are prone to make mistakes, though Lehmann is worse than Neuer.

While Rene Adler is doing brilliantly for Bayer and is currently the most promising goalkeeper in Germany. He has a very good height, amazing reflexes and agility, he reminds me of Timo Hildebrand in his glory days for VfB, but I can see Adler becoming better than Hildebrand and even getting very close to Kahn.

Originally Posted by Trim17

Hildebrand is starting at Valencia recently, but everyone is criticising him.
And it's true, the veteran Canizares does much better.
Hildebrand had a very poor performance against Czechs aswell.

That is a very harsh analyses on Timo.

It's not true that he is being criticised, he is actually being hailed by Quique Flores, who benched a very prone to mistakes Canizares and started Timo on these last few weeks and he is proving why this happened. Valencia haven't conceeded as many goals as before.

Against Czech Rep., I don't think Timo was to blame on the goals. Metzelder was the one responsible for the first 2 goals and the 3rd was just a very good play.

On the first goal, Metzelder was slow and couldn't get the Czech forward offside and on the second goal, he completely missed the tackle, allowing the Czech to be one on one with Timo.

Originally Posted by Trim17

There is Tim Wiese, another good keeper. But, just good, that's it.
He's on a poor form aswell, he's conceding too much.

Tim Wiese has a very similar style to Kahn, I honestly think that Wiese should indeed be called for Germany. On the line, Wiese is phenomenal, as good as Kahn was in his prime, but when Wiese gets off the line, the mistakes happen. Unfortunately for him and for Werder, these mistakes happen way too often and he usually isn't focused on the match. If he can correct that, he will be execelent.


All in all, I'd say that Robert Enke is currently the best goalkeeper, followed by Timo Hildebrand, very closely by Rene Adler and very closely by Tim Wiese, then Manuel Neuer and finally Jens Lehmann.

Future looks bright for Germany in terms of goalkeepers.

[Vargas_4]

Originally Posted by Hans

I wouldn't go as far as saying that Lehmann is a 3rd class goalkeeper, but he is definately very unstable, you just never know if you can trust him.

In many matches, in Germany for BVB, he was doing some fantastic saves, then lets in a blunder out of nowhere.

When he is completely focused though, he can be an amazing goalkeeper, the thing is though, you just never know when he is focused.

-------

About 2 years ago, Michael Rensing was the best young goalkeeper in Germany, but he hasn't progressed since then, so both Manuel Neuer and Rene Alder are ahead of him at this moment.

------

Against Czech Rep., I don't think Timo was to blame on the goals. Metzelder was the one responsible for the first 2 goals and the 3rd was just a very good play.

True. Lehmaan can be awesome sometimes. He did quite well in the CL season when Arsenal reached the final. But fucked up in the final. LOL. So, his unstability is what kills him.

Yeah. You are true about Rensing. But you gotta give the thought that he has rarely plays for the 1st team because of Kahn. Kahn is a legend and even if he ain't doing so well, will still goal keep. 'cause of what he has done for Bayern Munich. Unlike Adler & Neuer, he hasn't had the opportunity till now to play frequently first team games in a row. NOTE. Rensing has goalkeeped twice in the CL against AC Milan. And have given good performances. Both a draw, yes, but not a loss. Many people criticize him for Pirlo's goal. But he was coming out when they did their play and came in & headed, catching him off guard. NOTE. 2/3 of the goals he has conceded against Milan have been "penalties". One must consider that too. This upcoming season, i'm confident Rensing will give everything he has.

Timo did fuck up against Czech Republic. First goal, yeah. Metzelder fucked up. I reckon that. But in the 2nd, he came out wrong. No goalkeeper goes for the guys right leg when the striker has the ball on his left leg. Did quite badly there. Yeah. Metz & Frings couldn't handle the dude but he could have done more. The last goal, he just streched out his hand and let his body fall. If he had actually bloody dived, would have increase by a greater & larger percentage to actually block/capture the ball.

[Hans]

Originally Posted by Vargas_4

Yeah. You are true about Rensing. But you gotta give the thought that he has rarely plays for the 1st team because of Kahn.

That is FC Bayern's fault, for not loaning Rensing to a smaller team where he could play often.

Originally Posted by Vargas_4

Kahn is a legend and even if he ain't doing so well, will still goal keep. 'cause of what he has done for Bayern Munich.

I will be honest with you, I'm not a huge fan of Oliver Kahn, but I would rather have him in goal than Rensing, just based on his leadership and experience.

Originally Posted by Vargas_4

Unlike Adler & Neuer, he hasn't had the opportunity till now to play frequently first team games in a row. NOTE. Rensing has goalkeeped twice in the CL against AC Milan. And have given good performances. Both a draw, yes, but not a loss. Many people criticize him for Pirlo's goal. But he was coming out when they did their play and came in & headed, catching him off guard. NOTE. 2/3 of the goals he has conceded against Milan have been "penalties". One must consider that too. This upcoming season, i'm confident Rensing will give everything he has.

I conceed that Rensing wasn't given enough chances, but now he is a fair bit behind Adler and he is already 24 years old, how much more can he progress?

Originally Posted by Vargas_4

But in the 2nd, he came out wrong. No goalkeeper goes for the guys right leg when the striker has the ball on his left leg. Did quite badly there. Yeah. Metz & Frings couldn't handle the dude but he could have done more.

That happened because the striker is right-footed. Imagine you are a goalkeeper and you are up against Lukas Podolski. If Podolski had the ball on his right foot, would you go for his right or left leg?

Originally Posted by Vargas_4

The last goal, he just streched out his hand and let his body fall. If he had actually bloody dived, would have increase by a greater & larger percentage to actually block/capture the ball.

Maybe, but even so, he was alone with the striker, he covered the near post, the striker shot to the far post. I highly doubt any goalkeeper would have saved that.

[Trim]

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has received backing from an unlikely source, with Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness singing his praises at the weekend.

It was Hoeness who bitterly fought with the German Football Association (DFB) to get Oliver Kahn picked as Germany's number one for the last World Cup - a battle he eventually lost as Lehmann got the nod from Jurgen Klinsmann.

However, now Kahn is off the scene, Hoeness seems to be throwing his weight behind Lehmann in the race for the number one jersey at next year's European Championships.

"Lehmann has got to play at Euro 2008, even if he does not play one more game for Arsenal until then," Hoeness told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

"It is unfair and inappropriate to doubt Lehmann - he is an excellent goalkeeper."

Hoeness' backing is surprising since he has a player in his Bayern Munich squad who he is pushing to become the new Germany number one.

Michael Rensing, 23, has already been designated the successor of Kahn at club level and is currently playing while the elder statesman recovers from an elbow injury.

While Rensing is getting regular match practice, Lehmann was not even on the Arsenal bench for Saturday's 2-0 win over Bolton.

But the 37-year-old insisted: "It is only up from here and I will force my way through."

SportingLife

[__-SNAKE-__]

Originally Posted by Trim17

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has received backing from an unlikely source, with Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness singing his praises at the weekend.

It was Hoeness who bitterly fought with the German Football Association (DFB) to get Oliver Kahn picked as Germany's number one for the last World Cup - a battle he eventually lost as Lehmann got the nod from Jurgen Klinsmann.

However, now Kahn is off the scene, Hoeness seems to be throwing his weight behind Lehmann in the race for the number one jersey at next year's European Championships.

"Lehmann has got to play at Euro 2008, even if he does not play one more game for Arsenal until then," Hoeness told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

"It is unfair and inappropriate to doubt Lehmann - he is an excellent goalkeeper."

Hoeness' backing is surprising since he has a player in his Bayern Munich squad who he is pushing to become the new Germany number one.

Michael Rensing, 23, has already been designated the successor of Kahn at club level and is currently playing while the elder statesman recovers from an elbow injury.

While Rensing is getting regular match practice, Lehmann was not even on the Arsenal bench for Saturday's 2-0 win over Bolton.

But the 37-year-old insisted: "It is only up from here and I will force my way through."

SportingLife

I beleive its a false rumor, theres no way Uli would back Lehmann, especially having fought for Kahn and has Rensing lined up for the National team.

__-SNAKE-__

[Trim]

Originally Posted by __-SNAKE-__

I beleive its a false rumor, theres no way Uli would back Lehmann, especially having fought for Kahn and has Rensing lined up for the National team.

__-SNAKE-__

Lol, it's not a rumor my friend.

It's a news article with quotes.
Words that come out from Hoeness mouth.

[Trim]

Germany goalkeeping coach Andreas Kopke has backed Jens Lehmann to return to the Arsenal first team and keep his place as the country's number one for Euro 2008.

Lehmann suffered a shaky start to the season and was replaced with Manuel Almunia by boss Arsene Wenger after making several errors.

The German stopper has voiced his discontent a number of times and, while Kopke is confident in Lehmann, he admits the former Borussia Dortmund man may have to seek a move if he is not playing first-team football when the transfer window reopens.

Kopke said: "We will sit together in January and have to choose the best situation for us.

"If I was his coach, I would play him and I am sure that sooner or later, he will play again for Arsenal since he is the better goalkeeper."

Lehmann recently revealed he would even consider transferring to a club in the German second division this winter if he fails to break back into the Arsenal first team, but he is confident that will not be necessary.

He said: "With all the cup games and the season continuing over the winter in England, I think I should have the chance to play around seven or eight games in December and January.

"Add the three or four more international games to that and I will have still played around 20 games this season, which I don't think is all that bad."

Lehmann remains puzzled as to why he is being exiled, saying: "If there is a world-class player forcing me to sit on the bench, then I would accept that, but I am not in that situation.

"The only question that I raise is this: is the goalkeeper better than me? If not, why an I not playing?

"That is up for your own interpretation, but the question really is: is he better than me?"

Although a January move might be a welcome option, it would also be fraught with difficulties off the pitch.

Lehmann added: "I have also got a responsibility to my family and it would not be good to take my children out of school for a few months.

"My absolute aim is to play for Arsenal, at least until the summer."

SportingLife

[Trim]

Arsenal’s Jens Lehmann has denied making an insulting gesture to fans, during Germany’s 4-0 win over Cyprus.

Lehmann insists that he was merely scratching his head with his index finger, but the home fans have reacted angrily to his supposed itch.

The veteran keeper has been quick to leap to his own defence.

"I've never done anything like that in my life," Lehmann told Fox Sports.

The contentious issue has also seen Germany's football officials defending their keeper, amid the accusations that he made an obscene gesture.

"I really have to stand up for Jens Lehmann here," German football federation president Theo Zwanziger said. "He knows there is no reason to make gestures that hurt fans. He would never want that."

The incident overshadowed an important game for Lehmann, as his position is under threat since to his demotion to second choice keeper at Arsenal.

Such is the controversy over the incident that the Germany coach Joachim Loew is expected meet with Lehmann to discuss the issue ahead of Euro 2008.

"Jens knows that it isn't so simple to start someone at a tournament who hasn't played for eight or nine months," Loew said.

Goal.com - Germany - Lehmann Denies Fan Insult

[Vargas_4]

Out of favour Arsenal keeper Jens Lehman has been backed by Germany captain Michael Ballack to maintain the national team number one jersey ahead of Euro 2008.

Manuel Almunia has replaced the 38 year old keeper between the posts at the Emirates this season.

Lehman’s lack of first-team experience has caused concern in Germany, who are amongst the favourites to win the tournament.

Despite this Ballack feels that the experienced keeper is still the best in the land.

"For me, there is simply no discussion about who should be Germany's goalkeeper," Ballack told German tabloid Bild.

"Jens is the best we have by some distance.

"I am convinced of his mental strength and his physical fitness. I don't believe it is a problem for the team, even if he doesn't play regularly with Arsenal.

"Jens is a 38-year-old, he has collected enough playing time in his career.

"I always hear we have strength in depth in the goalkeeper position in the German team.

"But out of those players, who has unreservedly proven to be the number one goalkeeper? To be able to withstand the pressure in the long-term?

"Who has player on an internationals stage for many years and has the necessary experience?

"We are talking here about a European Championships.

"There are plenty of goalkeepers behind Lehmann, like Robert Enke or Timo Hildebrand, but who is the undisputed first choice if Lehmann is injured? No one."

German head coach Joachim Loew has also offered his support to Lehman.

"Jens has great qualities. He is of course a leader in the team and he has shown in the past that he deals well with pressure," Loew told Saturday's Berliner Zeitung newspaper.

"Against England (in a friendly in August) and Ireland (in a Euro 2008 qualifier in October), he was impressive. We couldn't have asked any more of him even though he wasn't starting for his club.

"We're counting on Jens Lehmann, he's our number one goalkeeper and he showed that during the international matches."

Lehman faces stiff competition for the number one jersey with Valencia 'keeper Timo Hildebrand and Hanover's Robert Enke.

Lehman has vowed to stay at Arsenal and fight for his place for the sake of his family, but he has been linked with Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.

[Vargas_4]

It's good that a Captain backs up his players. But i don't agree that Lehmaan should be picked over Hilderbrand or Enke if he isn't playing. That's stupid. No matter how fit you are, no matter how many games you have played... From here till June, Lehmaan would be rusty as hell. No way he can start if he doesn't get any matches.

[Trim]

Actually Vargas, I'd rather have an unplaying Lehmann on goal rather than Hildebrand.

Hildebrand one day starts-and one day doesn't at Valencia (yes, now his situation changed for better). What I'm trying to say is he on a bad form, is letting in some easy goals, I've been following him at Valencia, we also remember the Germany v Czech's game, very poor goalkeeping.

Hildebrand is just a shadow of himself now, I think.

Enke is a good goalie, but he lacks experience, clearly.

[Vargas_4]

Hilderbrand is going to have a handfull of match practice. He should get back in form. Just like Ballack, he has 6 months to do this.

Now, an unplaying Lehmaan is out of the question. I understand your point of view but no one in the German NT board would allow such a thing. I know Lehmaan has experience but it won't matter if he hasn't played in such a long time. I would be saying the exact same thing if it were Kahn.

[Vargas_4]

Former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has questioned current national team keeper Jens Lehmann over his decision to turn down the chance to rejoin Borussia Dortmund in light of his current predicament at Arsenal.

Lehmann has hardly got a match in since Arsene Wenger decided to drop him in favour of Manuel Almunia just a few games into the season, and he suprised almost everybody when he pulled the plug on a proposed move back to the Westfalen last week due to "personal reasons".

Now his age-old goalkeeper rival Kahn, of all people, has publicly questioned his judgement, saying that having a first-choice keeper short of match-practice does not bode well for the 'Nationalmannschaft' ahead of Euro 2008.

"It's a problem, Jens knows that as well. It's a dangerous thing, a dangerous path," opined Kahn from Bayern Munich's training camp in Marbella, Spain.

"It surprises me that he is not seeking every opportunity to get match practice," added the 38-year-old, who famously lost his number one shirt in the national team to Lehmann just ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Kahn then spared a few words for his personal decision to hang up his gloves at the end of the season.

"I have had a lot of success, a lot of failures, a lot of emotional experiences. You try once again to give everything in the next few months - and then it will be enough," he said.

Kahn has enjoyed a glittering career, having won seven Bundesliga titles, five German Cups, a Champions League and a UEFA Cup trophy, as well as the Intercontinental Cup and European Championship.