Martin Laursen Retires!

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | A | Aston Villa | Villa's Laursen forced to retire

Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen has announced his retirement after admitting defeat in a battle against persistent knee problems.

The former Denmark international, 31, suffered his latest injury against West Ham in December and has since made just one appearance this season.

After an unsuccessful return to light training in March, he has now called a close to his career.

Laursen made 91 appearances and scored 11 goals in his time at Villa Park.

It's a real shame for the guy just as he was beginning the really establish himself as one of the EPL's top defenders. He was awesome last season for them as I recall. Who knows what difference he would have made to Villa this season as he stayed fit.

Read about that. Villa's defence hasn't the been same since

Very good player. Why couldn't this happen to people like Joey Barton?

Stimulus Package wrote:Very good player. Why couldn't this happen to people like Joey Barton?

Or Lee Cattermole.

It's been coming, unfortunately. He just couldn't take another 1-2 year rehabilitation - particularly when there's no guarantee it wouldn't happen again. Can't blame him at all for that.

Obviously it is a massive loss to Villa's team. He was one of the best CBs in the Prem, and of the three CBs that remain, none have his leadership or organisation skills - this much has been made obvious by the shambles the defence has mostly been since his injury.

I really hope (like probably several other teams) that we go for Hangeland, who seems to do for Fulham what Laursen did for us. He will be tough to replace though, whoever we go for. I think only his injury problems prevented Laursen from being at a top European side - I realise he didn't play much at Milan, but that was a very strong defence.

Anyways, really feel for the guy, who seems top person off the pitch and can only praise him for what he did whilst playing for Villa. Hopefully he makes a success of coaching or whatever he does next.

This is a great shame you'd hope that at 31 he might have a t least three years or so left, but if he doesn't want to go through the rehab...

Very unfortunate for himself & Villa, what were his training schedules like Debaser?

Makes me ever more fearful for Ledley

Kimbo wrote:

Stimulus Package wrote:Very good player. Why couldn't this happen to people like Joey Barton?

Or Lee Cattermole.

I think most people would rather it happened to the scum rather than the dumb

borocooper wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Stimulus Package wrote:Very good player. Why couldn't this happen to people like Joey Barton?

Or Lee Cattermole.

I think most people would rather it happened to the scum rather than the dumb

Not those in the know. Who injures more players, Barton or Cattermole? Case closed.

Case re-opened..Who has been jail the most? Case closed again

borocooper wrote:Case re-opened..Who has been jail the most? Case closed again

Was that for on the pitch offences? No more questions yr'honour.

Lets be honest..if there was a poll done..

"Who would fans most like to see retired through a bad injury
Cattermole
Barton"

Barton would get at the very least 80% of that vote.

borocooper wrote:Lets be honest..if there was a poll done..

"Who would fans most like to see retired through a bad injury
Cattermole
Barton"

Barton would get at the very least 80% of that vote.

People are stupid.

Personally i would like to see Habib Beye snap the little c**ts ankle.

People probably want to see lots of players snap Alan Shearers elbow. Its not going to happen though..sometimes you just have to get over it

At least Cattermole is liked within his own team.

Barton deserves to be put down.

Cattermole is just fucking stupid. Barton's a complete twat. He put a fucking cigarette out in a kids eye!!

borocooper wrote:People probably want to see lots of players snap Alan Shearers elbow. Its not going to happen though..sometimes you just have to get over it

Who has missed games because of a Shearer elbow? Beye was out for over 3 months. He's not the only one Cattermole has injured either. Vicious little c**t.

What a shame this is. One of my favourite players in not just the Villa squad but also the prem. Just established himself in the PL and this happens. I just hope the best for Villa now in finding a replacement which will be hard enough.

debaser wrote:

It's been coming, unfortunately. He just couldn't take another 1-2 year rehabilitation - particularly when there's no guarantee it wouldn't happen again. Can't blame him at all for that.

Obviously it is a massive loss to Villa's team. He was one of the best CBs in the Prem, and of the three CBs that remain, none have his leadership or organisation skills - this much has been made obvious by the shambles the defence has mostly been since his injury.

I really hope (like probably several other teams) that we go for Hangeland, who seems to do for Fulham what Laursen did for us. He will be tough to replace though, whoever we go for. I think only his injury problems prevented Laursen from being at a top European side - I realise he didn't play much at Milan, but that was a very strong defence.

Anyways, really feel for the guy, who seems top person off the pitch and can only praise him for what he did whilst playing for Villa. Hopefully he makes a success of coaching or whatever he does next.

At Milan he didn't do too well apart from his start where he got some goals and became joint topscorer in the league in the first 2-3 months. But he wasn't happy there and he didn't like the italian mentallity in the dressing room. It was too much about showing off and he much prefered the english way.

I have to hold out hope that Cuellar will step up next season. This year he has been inconsistent, but he has picked up lots of little injuries, and spent time playing out of position, so never had much of a run at CB. On top of this, players coming from Scotland rarely seem to adapt quickly to the Prem (look at how long it's taken S.Petrov. While people like Ferguson, Maloney never did - perhaps through not being given enough time).

Him and Davies certainly should (most definitely, when considering money spent) be a good enough partnership, but I just fear they both need an organiser like Laursen alongside them to thrive.

Knight is not as bad as reputation, but should only be back-up.

Kimbo wrote:

borocooper wrote:People probably want to see lots of players snap Alan Shearers elbow. Its not going to happen though..sometimes you just have to get over it

Who has missed games because of a Shearer elbow? Beye was out for over 3 months. He's not the only one Cattermole has injured either. Vicious little c**t.

Case re-opened. Both Barton and Cattermole should be retired with immediate effect. Thuggery is indefensible (Barton) and ignorance - appalling tackles plus stupidity, is no excuse (Cattermole). Move to sentencing. Minimum of life ban without possibility of parole. Appeal lodged and dismissed - sentence upheld. Same at Law Lords and ECHR, which commented that other players' human rights had been grievously abused by having to share a pitch with them. Case closed.

EMP wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

borocooper wrote:People probably want to see lots of players snap Alan Shearers elbow. Its not going to happen though..sometimes you just have to get over it

Who has missed games because of a Shearer elbow? Beye was out for over 3 months. He's not the only one Cattermole has injured either. Vicious little c**t.

Case re-opened. Both Barton and Cattermole should be retired with immediate effect. Thuggery is indefensible (Barton) and ignorance - appalling tackles plus stupidity, is no excuse (Cattermole). Move to sentencing. Minimum of life ban without possibility of parole. Appeal lodged and dismissed - sentence upheld. Same at Law Lords and ECHR, which commented that other players' human rights had been grievously abused by having to share a pitch with them. Case closed.

From F365 Losers section:

There's scant reason for optimism at Villa Park at present. Their golden opportunity to disturb the Big Four's domination has been blown and there's a growing list of reasons to foresee it not being presented again next season from Martin Laursen's retirement and Gareth Barry's expected departure, to the likelihood of both Tottenham and Manchester City usurping Villa in the challenger stakes.

In particular, Laursen's retirement should not be under-estimated. Since 2007, Villa have won 47% of the matches he has played in; without him, that number falls to 29%.

Will MON be come a genuine DISGRACE next season

Yes, tis' a great shame. Excellent defender and pro.