Mar 18
Pennant’s name is still occasionally mentioned and we’ve seen Moritz Volz slot in nicely at Fulham, but our Danish defender, Sebastian Svard hasn’t been heard from much.
He went on loan to FC Copenhagen and it didn’t work out. Now he’s at First Division Stoke City and getting significant playing time. In fact, he grabbed a goal in their recent 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
Ackowledging that I know nothing, I think this kid has some talent and may well play for Arsenal yet. Only time will tell. Of course he’ll have to play on the outside since Senderos will be teaming with Simek in a couple of years!
13 Responses to “Sebastian Svard - Forgotten Gunner”
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March 18th, 2004 at 5:54 pm
some said Svard models his game to Vieira, was quite highly rated a year ago, also quite surprised he seems has fall out of scene…
March 18th, 2004 at 6:05 pm
When Svard has had his chance in the Worthington cup matches he has been played in midfield. That is where he is playing at Stoke.
Having seen him play a few times he is very similar to Gilberto in style, no coincidence as both of them are converted centre backs.
Stoke were getting drawn into a relegation battle before christmas and now they are pushing for a play-off place. This turn around in form may be linked to Svards arrival.
As prospects for the future go he looks very good The future of the Arsenal midfield looks bright with Cesc alongside him.
March 18th, 2004 at 6:50 pm
I said this sometime ago and all I heard was that crap words “Wenger knows Best” True that is why he the boss. Otherwise we might have C.R the old totts boss in charge.
As much as everyone loves Wenger, football fans, the media and I mean people with a clue abouts the game will tell you his youth policy is a bit of a shame. Arsenal have the worse turnover of kids for the past 3 years. We buy more kids and kill their dreams.
With kids as soon as they lose their confidence that is it. I have watch lots of reserves games and will tell you each year we lost almost half of the kids. Arsenal have the best U 19 and 17 side in the country but end up in the bin.
I know someone is going to say What is wrong about that. Please I dont need to explain that to you if you understand the game and development of the youth.
Glory hunters will not care as much as their team is winning. Football is not only about winning.
March 18th, 2004 at 6:55 pm
I can bet 100 pounds that we might not see him in Arsenal colors again. Yes he has help stoke move out of the bottom 3 into playoff.
March 18th, 2004 at 11:23 pm
I hope to see Simek but dont bet on it. Steve Sidwell, Liam Chilvers and Ben Chorley etc were all set to be the next Tony Adams and where are they now.
I don?t think Svard is leaving but will be sad to see him go. The guy has the talent and potential to be part of the first. He has strength and pace as a defender and 2.2 million percent better than Cygan.
Am waiting for some rules with regards to youth development. The big clubs are destroying their talent, hope and dreams.
March 18th, 2004 at 11:36 pm
The kids is a good defender and from the “horses” mouth as good as Tony Adams when we signed him. Turn into a midfielder which is not helping the lad.
March 18th, 2004 at 11:43 pm
barnetFCGunner,
i agree with ur post on we should give the young guns more chances, but there is also another view i would like to add here.
true, i would also love to see more home grown talents emerge as well, but let’s also take into consideration what do we want? To win more trophies? or to develop more home grown talents into first team? We can’t have it all.
Some may suggest Ferguson did the same with the Beckham generation and still got success. But let’s don’t forget back then there wasn’t any serious challnger to Man U. Keegan’s Newcastle was good to watch, but lousy defence never won anything. AW had just arrived at Highbury, while Liverpool still been underachieving, Chelsea hadn’t has their sugar dady arrived yet… So Beckham, Scholes and co, in a sense, was lucky to have more playing opportunity for them to develop their game, while wouldn’t affect their team’s result (they still had Schmeichel, Cantona and Keane to carry them).
U look at today, do anyone believe Ferguson dare to try the same again? And in fact, after the Beckham generation, how many quality United youngsters really emerged from the scene? Yes, there are a Wes Brown, O’Shea and Fletcher. But they are NOT as good as the players people said they are, otherwise why would Man U been struggling so badly lately just because missing a central defender Rio?
Our youth teams have been doing very well in recent seasons, and clearly AW understands the important to have a quality youth system. But the problem is our first team are GREAT. They have set a high standard which the younger players found it difficult to live up to. Say, if we are a club with a status like Charlton or West Ham, we could afford to give the youngsters more chance. But when we are challenging European’s big guns these days, we can’t really afford to.
March 19th, 2004 at 12:12 am
I agree with both of you but I have to say you cant tell me Cygan is better than Svard. No way .
Yes, during the days of Catona and co United had some big stars but still push the youth through. I remember on game of the days Des was going on about how them kids were learning fast alone side the old pros.
The problem with Arsenal is that we buy lots of kids and end up on loan and not to be seen. Give the ones we have a chance first. What piss me off Wenger claims they are all good and true they are but without games.
look at cygan and Svard and tell me who should play.
March 19th, 2004 at 12:28 am
How can you just put players in the team for the heck of it?
In fact even the young players probably know it, and may fancy Arsenal as a great place to learn the trade. There are so many of them that not all, in fact most of them are not going to make it. They could hang around to wait for their chance, injury or suspension to give them a break, but which young player really wants to do so these days? Just see how long it has taken Edu to get a run in the first team.
And it?s like job hunting; sometimes even though you may not be the best you may show up when there is an urgent need. That?s where Bentley may have a chance because Bergkamp is moving slowly towards retirement. It?s up to him to prove he is up to replacing him. It can?t be given him on a platter. Pennant for example could return and wait for Ljunberg to get injured to show what he can do, which would probably not be a long wait.
Ashley got his chance that way, with Silvinho, and so did Kolo, making the most of his chance with Martin Keown ageing and the doubts over Cygan. That?s the way it should be to maintain standards.
Aliaderie has gotten so many games partly because of Wiltord?s injury, Kanu?s form and Bergkamp?s niggles. He?d even have had more if he could only stay healthy.
Arsenal?s first team is just so good that even most players from Real Madrid would not be able to make it. Henry, Viera, Campbell, Kolo, Ljunberg, Pires can?t be touched at the moment. It would be hard in present form to displace Lauren, Cole, Edu or Bergkamp.
I hear what you are saying about the youngsters, but this team is not in transition, like ManU, but very much at the peak of its powers. Anyone who wants a place is going to have to bulldoze their way in, like Kolo did.
March 19th, 2004 at 1:27 am
love_gunners, ideally i would love to see our young guns to get more chance too, especially Bentley, he got game! but he really needs to beef up a bit, too light weight at the moment. Also i’m looking forward to see the highly rated Swiss young central back Senderos to make his debut. heard that he has recovered from his long term injury lately.
March 19th, 2004 at 12:22 pm
It’s always good to see young talent come through however times have changed and a club of Arsenal’s size has the influence to sign as many youngsters as they can afford with the hope that one of them will be the next Heny, Bergkamp etc.
But as we all know this is not always the case. However, if you look at the players we have released, sold, loaned etc. the club seems to get a good return on their investment. There are many players out there at Nationwide league clubs who would not be the players they are had they not started at The Arsenal. A couple of seasons back we sold Boothroyd to Coventry for ?1m. I think he only played league cup football at the most. He now plays for Perugia in Italy.
If you look at Scottish league football you will find Diawara and Caballero.
There may not be as many coming through now, but how many have gone on to greater success at other clubs? Nuff said.
March 19th, 2004 at 2:56 pm
Rubbish….we have one of the best youth systems in the country. Any kid who spends time at our club will benefit from the training and culture they are exposed to. If they haven’t got that extra that makes them champions they won’t progress. Most of the rejects have gone on to do respectably at lesser clubs and I doubt any of them would regret time spent at arsenal.
March 19th, 2004 at 4:02 pm
Woow, Rejects now that is what we called them. Free speech and with fans like look football in general have a bright future. Just buy the best and maybe play the rejects. That is not what a real football fan called the beautiful game.
As I just read you the same lad and I “Without Wenger we will be rooting for Charton.” No sir 38 yrs as a gunner and will be a gunner till I die.
True football fans talk about facts but hey you have the right to your views without personal attack. That makes you wick. From some of your comments.