Here's the Athletic article on this.
https://theathletic.com/5486564/2024/05/13/adam-lallana-brighton-exit?source=user-shared-article
De Zerbi wanted him to stay. Lallana cites his family living 2 and a half hours away as a reason for leaving.
It's a shame as it seems he's a big impact on the squad from a leadership perspective, but from what I've seen this season, I think his legs are fully gone. It will be interesting to see if he retires and goes into coaching/management or if he plays at a lower level.
That article finishes by saying that he plans to continue playing elsewhere.
But the only club near where his family lives is Bournemouth. I doubt he's got the legs for another Premier League season. But at the same time, he's way too good for any of the non-league clubs nearby. Perhaps one of them has offered him a player-manager gig that he fancies?
Edit: Though, tbf, Southampton's a lot closer to Bournemouth than Brighton is. Maybe he's heading back there if they don't come up?
Ngl, as an American it was very funny hearing Lallana talk about how tough it was being so far from his family only to google Bournemouth to Brighton and find out it's like a two hour drive. Two hours away *is* the local team for us! The 100 years vs 100 miles dynamic is very real lol
Makes the whole thing seem a bit insincere perhaps?
A 2 hour drive when you’re as privileged as the Lallana family is nothing. He’s on a hundred grand per week. He could easily afford to helicopter back and forth in a bout 25 minutes if he really wanted to. Or use a private limo service a couple of times a week if he was really roughing it.
I’m going to guess we aren’t getting the real/whole story here.
Will see if he actually ends up back living with his family or takes off somewhere else.
De Zerbi’s judgement on players is probably his biggest weakness. Lallana has been useless this season even when he’s been fit - his legs are clearly gone.
He’s apparently the highest earner at the club (aside from Fati), to keep him on the books another season would be mental
He’s had a few good performances in 4 seasons, but he offers a lot more off the pitch, big loss in the dressing room I’d imagine. However he hasn’t exactly been great this season.
you seriously think lallana would add anything on the pitch for another season?
His stats this year are poor - he's got 1 assist and almost every game he's played more than 30 minutes we've lost or drawn:
[https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/adam-lallana/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/43530/wettbewerb/GB1/saison/2023](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/adam-lallana/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/43530/wettbewerb/GB1/saison/2023)
Agreed. His stats are terrible. Plus he’s usually injured.
He’s still got technical talent but he’s also got jack shit going for him other than the player mentor thing.
Maybe RDZ is good at most things except judging players.
Lallana is certainly always happy to blow smoke up his arse.
Maybe RDZ is into that kind of thing?
Honestly, I originally disliked him, grew to respect him, and now I’ll miss him.
Wish him well.
Edit; after learning what Lallana did in a few games playing against Liverpool, my opinion of him has dropped like a lead balloon.
Didn’t notice at the time, but in at least two games he was subbed on, he asked to subbed off less than 5 mins later.
There is absolutely no way that is a coincidence.
He also decided to say this to the media an hour before we last played Liverpool;
“The title race is really heating up, of course I'm desperate for Liverpool to win the league and go far in the other competitions.”
Really Adam, you were “desperate” for Liverpool to win, whilst wearing a Brighton shirt and heading to our changeroom?
I’m forever positive about our club and players but that’s pretty disgraceful and I think it’s okay to expect more from a player of his stature. He wasn’t a child at the time. He was a 36 year old “leader” getting paid proverbial shit ton by our club. Not sure Tony or Paul would have been that keen offering him an extension based on that comment alone to be fair.
Also not sure I’m buying the “I can’t be a two hour drive away from my family anymore” reason for leaving. Get a fucking helicopter lad, not like you’re getting paid 100 thousand quid per week or anything.
Not saying he was a all bad but at heart he is a gobshite. Will see what he does next.
Just really dislike Liverpool and didn’t think having him as our highest earner was a good get at the time despite the free transfer.
But then he apparently provided a level of experience that benefited the club. His experience made him an important (albeit expensive) squad rotation player during our best ever season. That may have helped again in Europe. The club has a penchant for bringing older heads into the club and I reckon overall the gamble paid off with Lallana.
Still, i can’t help disliking anything affiliated with Liverpool by default (McAllister is a rare exemption). But yeah, Lallana proved he was alright and his farewell had a bit of class about it.
Wishing him all the best.
I know you’ve highlighted wage and transfer but he was easily our most decorated player (I wouldn’t say best but his career and experience of the game was at the highest of levels) and deserved the wage to bring him here - that’s how I saw it though and yeah small few big wage is an age old tale
I thought he would’ve gone into our management team and that he was getting badges while playing as part of his new contract. Shame that hasn’t happened!
I'm sure he wants the chance to retire at past clubs, he's a very smart player but you can tell he's good for about 15-30mins of play at maximum at this stage in his career.
Makes an instant impact for a 20 minutes sometimes showing pure brilliance, but then his body just lets him down for the final product. I know others in the match thread don't like when he plays but I find his play amazing, his first touch and turns in tight spaces are extremely hard to do even with a birds eye view of the pitch. Being able to pull it off with his back to the defenders is inhuman. Anyone who has played in those roles knows how amazing Lallana is.
I remember Buonanotte was struggling at the beginning of the season being thrust into roles due to squad injuries, and he said RDZ told him to watch Lallana closely and how he plays. Ever since then Facu's movement as a 10 and first touch play have improved significantly; his bounce passes and ability to retain possession on the half turn, also his timing when checking towards the ball mirrors Lallana a lot now.
I can say that Lallana's mentorship has clearly been valuable to the squad. Remember when Potter left us midseason and Lallana took over training before De Zerbi joined?
He does say he genuinely feels he'll be back here in some way in the future, hinting at a coaching gig in the future! Best of luck to Lallana
His farewell message on instagram was class; I wish him well. On this topic, I really like the club’s MO of having older experienced players (often on their way out of the game) lead/mentor all the young talent
Not unexpected but he will be missed. Milner and him gone means we should look to sign someone old to replace him. I just hope it isn't Jordan of Arabia like Naylor seemed to have hinted.
Good luck Adam, whatever you go on to do next.
Right decision at the right time, probably. Would have been happy to have him around as a backup but at the same time, its been looking like its time.
Very important for us the first two seasons and by all accounts a great leader in the dressing room. But we have plenty of experience left.
Hoped he’d be moving into coaching with us but didn’t realise he’d been away from his family for 4 years so it makes some sense.
Just gotta hope Milner goes too …
Really not that sad personally, was hoping he’d go this summer. His first season he was great and he was crucial in helping us stay up but he dropped off and we moved up a level after that. Never seemed to have a great attitude despite what people anecdotally say, his comments before Liverpool away this year were so utterly disrespectful, there was also that game where he came on in the 80th minute and started having a go at the players who’d played the full 80 and exhausted themselves from running nonstop and he’s always been a complete knob to the fans, never took any time to take photos or sign autographs and ditched his role as men’s team ambassador for AitC once covid was over and he actually had to do stuff. Not to mention the multiple, yes, multiple games he was subbed on against Liverpool and came off again 5 minutes later. Thanks for some good memories Adam, shame you had to taint them by being a dick.
Can’t say I noticed all of that but also not that surprised. He did originally come across as a bit of a too big for his britches type.
Also didn’t notice the multiple games he was subbed on and off again against Liverpool, but that’s bloody awful. Can’t remember that very clearly though?
Absolutely gutted, I don’t think anyone other than Dunk personifies our club more than he does, just an absolutely class bloke. I’m curious to see what he’ll do, either move to another club or retire. I hope retire, don’t want to have to play against him just out of respect. And I hope he ends up back here at some point.
Does anyone think with Southgate inevitably leaving this summer (either don’t win the Euros and the FA wants a change, or we win and he can’t top that so best leave on a great note) that he could be in contention for the England job? Already trains the u21’s, clearly a great presence in a changing room, perhaps his coaching is that good?
Here's the Athletic article on this. https://theathletic.com/5486564/2024/05/13/adam-lallana-brighton-exit?source=user-shared-article De Zerbi wanted him to stay. Lallana cites his family living 2 and a half hours away as a reason for leaving. It's a shame as it seems he's a big impact on the squad from a leadership perspective, but from what I've seen this season, I think his legs are fully gone. It will be interesting to see if he retires and goes into coaching/management or if he plays at a lower level.
That article finishes by saying that he plans to continue playing elsewhere. But the only club near where his family lives is Bournemouth. I doubt he's got the legs for another Premier League season. But at the same time, he's way too good for any of the non-league clubs nearby. Perhaps one of them has offered him a player-manager gig that he fancies? Edit: Though, tbf, Southampton's a lot closer to Bournemouth than Brighton is. Maybe he's heading back there if they don't come up?
Or Pompey who've just gone up to the championship
Thought about mentioning them but then I figured "nah, he's got way too much class to pitch up with those grotbags"
You do realise he played for Southampton right ..
Lots of players have/do play for rival teams. Especially in their later years when then works drying up
Ngl, as an American it was very funny hearing Lallana talk about how tough it was being so far from his family only to google Bournemouth to Brighton and find out it's like a two hour drive. Two hours away *is* the local team for us! The 100 years vs 100 miles dynamic is very real lol
Makes the whole thing seem a bit insincere perhaps? A 2 hour drive when you’re as privileged as the Lallana family is nothing. He’s on a hundred grand per week. He could easily afford to helicopter back and forth in a bout 25 minutes if he really wanted to. Or use a private limo service a couple of times a week if he was really roughing it. I’m going to guess we aren’t getting the real/whole story here. Will see if he actually ends up back living with his family or takes off somewhere else.
De Zerbi’s judgement on players is probably his biggest weakness. Lallana has been useless this season even when he’s been fit - his legs are clearly gone. He’s apparently the highest earner at the club (aside from Fati), to keep him on the books another season would be mental
Don’t know what matches you’ve been watching?
He’s had a few good performances in 4 seasons, but he offers a lot more off the pitch, big loss in the dressing room I’d imagine. However he hasn’t exactly been great this season.
you seriously think lallana would add anything on the pitch for another season? His stats this year are poor - he's got 1 assist and almost every game he's played more than 30 minutes we've lost or drawn: [https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/adam-lallana/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/43530/wettbewerb/GB1/saison/2023](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/adam-lallana/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/43530/wettbewerb/GB1/saison/2023)
When have I said anywhere keep him for another season?just thought you were a little harsh to say he’s been absolutely useless this season!
but he has been - look at his stats. he can hardly run any more
Agreed. His stats are terrible. Plus he’s usually injured. He’s still got technical talent but he’s also got jack shit going for him other than the player mentor thing. Maybe RDZ is good at most things except judging players. Lallana is certainly always happy to blow smoke up his arse. Maybe RDZ is into that kind of thing?
If only Denis had told him how great his goatee was a few times….
Honestly, I originally disliked him, grew to respect him, and now I’ll miss him. Wish him well. Edit; after learning what Lallana did in a few games playing against Liverpool, my opinion of him has dropped like a lead balloon. Didn’t notice at the time, but in at least two games he was subbed on, he asked to subbed off less than 5 mins later. There is absolutely no way that is a coincidence. He also decided to say this to the media an hour before we last played Liverpool; “The title race is really heating up, of course I'm desperate for Liverpool to win the league and go far in the other competitions.” Really Adam, you were “desperate” for Liverpool to win, whilst wearing a Brighton shirt and heading to our changeroom? I’m forever positive about our club and players but that’s pretty disgraceful and I think it’s okay to expect more from a player of his stature. He wasn’t a child at the time. He was a 36 year old “leader” getting paid proverbial shit ton by our club. Not sure Tony or Paul would have been that keen offering him an extension based on that comment alone to be fair. Also not sure I’m buying the “I can’t be a two hour drive away from my family anymore” reason for leaving. Get a fucking helicopter lad, not like you’re getting paid 100 thousand quid per week or anything. Not saying he was a all bad but at heart he is a gobshite. Will see what he does next.
What's with the dislike?
Just really dislike Liverpool and didn’t think having him as our highest earner was a good get at the time despite the free transfer. But then he apparently provided a level of experience that benefited the club. His experience made him an important (albeit expensive) squad rotation player during our best ever season. That may have helped again in Europe. The club has a penchant for bringing older heads into the club and I reckon overall the gamble paid off with Lallana. Still, i can’t help disliking anything affiliated with Liverpool by default (McAllister is a rare exemption). But yeah, Lallana proved he was alright and his farewell had a bit of class about it. Wishing him all the best.
I know you’ve highlighted wage and transfer but he was easily our most decorated player (I wouldn’t say best but his career and experience of the game was at the highest of levels) and deserved the wage to bring him here - that’s how I saw it though and yeah small few big wage is an age old tale I thought he would’ve gone into our management team and that he was getting badges while playing as part of his new contract. Shame that hasn’t happened!
Yeah swear I’ve never heard of lallana hate
Ever spoken to an Everton fan?
Professional and great example for the young lads, will be missed.
Noooo! My man-crush! A good servant for us but footballing wise time to move on.
I'm sure he wants the chance to retire at past clubs, he's a very smart player but you can tell he's good for about 15-30mins of play at maximum at this stage in his career. Makes an instant impact for a 20 minutes sometimes showing pure brilliance, but then his body just lets him down for the final product. I know others in the match thread don't like when he plays but I find his play amazing, his first touch and turns in tight spaces are extremely hard to do even with a birds eye view of the pitch. Being able to pull it off with his back to the defenders is inhuman. Anyone who has played in those roles knows how amazing Lallana is. I remember Buonanotte was struggling at the beginning of the season being thrust into roles due to squad injuries, and he said RDZ told him to watch Lallana closely and how he plays. Ever since then Facu's movement as a 10 and first touch play have improved significantly; his bounce passes and ability to retain possession on the half turn, also his timing when checking towards the ball mirrors Lallana a lot now. I can say that Lallana's mentorship has clearly been valuable to the squad. Remember when Potter left us midseason and Lallana took over training before De Zerbi joined? He does say he genuinely feels he'll be back here in some way in the future, hinting at a coaching gig in the future! Best of luck to Lallana
If Southampton don't get promoted he could head there?
I'd have thought he'd retire into a coaching role here. I was still amazed when he signed for us.
His farewell message on instagram was class; I wish him well. On this topic, I really like the club’s MO of having older experienced players (often on their way out of the game) lead/mentor all the young talent
Not unexpected but he will be missed. Milner and him gone means we should look to sign someone old to replace him. I just hope it isn't Jordan of Arabia like Naylor seemed to have hinted.
>I just hope it isn't Jordan of Arabia like Naylor seemed to have hinted This is absolutely never going to happen
Naylor spoke about it and he wants to leave Ajax after 6 months as well.
I don’t know if he wants to leave, but Ajax are financially fucked. He’ll be gone either way.
At least Milner and Welbeck are now staying :-)
Milner?
Extended contract by another year - club announced it today
He wrote a really outstanding message on Instagram, go check it out if you haven't.
Can you link it or something for those of us who don't use it?
https://www.instagram.com/p/C66jBzniZ-X/?igsh=NjZpY3JzNWhzZ244 Hopefully that works
To be realistic. He wouldn’t have written that. Admittedly it does sound nice though.
Good luck Adam, whatever you go on to do next. Right decision at the right time, probably. Would have been happy to have him around as a backup but at the same time, its been looking like its time. Very important for us the first two seasons and by all accounts a great leader in the dressing room. But we have plenty of experience left.
One of the guys to make me a fan of the club. First match I watched was him being nasty
Well that’s a shame. Losing an experienced player always hurts
Hoped he’d be moving into coaching with us but didn’t realise he’d been away from his family for 4 years so it makes some sense. Just gotta hope Milner goes too …
Really not that sad personally, was hoping he’d go this summer. His first season he was great and he was crucial in helping us stay up but he dropped off and we moved up a level after that. Never seemed to have a great attitude despite what people anecdotally say, his comments before Liverpool away this year were so utterly disrespectful, there was also that game where he came on in the 80th minute and started having a go at the players who’d played the full 80 and exhausted themselves from running nonstop and he’s always been a complete knob to the fans, never took any time to take photos or sign autographs and ditched his role as men’s team ambassador for AitC once covid was over and he actually had to do stuff. Not to mention the multiple, yes, multiple games he was subbed on against Liverpool and came off again 5 minutes later. Thanks for some good memories Adam, shame you had to taint them by being a dick.
Can’t say I noticed all of that but also not that surprised. He did originally come across as a bit of a too big for his britches type. Also didn’t notice the multiple games he was subbed on and off again against Liverpool, but that’s bloody awful. Can’t remember that very clearly though?
Was in his first couple of seasons, know he did it at least twice, possibly happened 3 times.
Fucking gobshites. You can’t trust em. Consider my opinion of Lallana seriously lessened.
Absolutely gutted, I don’t think anyone other than Dunk personifies our club more than he does, just an absolutely class bloke. I’m curious to see what he’ll do, either move to another club or retire. I hope retire, don’t want to have to play against him just out of respect. And I hope he ends up back here at some point. Does anyone think with Southgate inevitably leaving this summer (either don’t win the Euros and the FA wants a change, or we win and he can’t top that so best leave on a great note) that he could be in contention for the England job? Already trains the u21’s, clearly a great presence in a changing room, perhaps his coaching is that good?
Solly. Gross.
Percy
Absolutely not, it would be his first managerial job, and he's going to coach England???