Harder, better, faster, stronger

I see more and more predictions of the Swedish league in the press these days.  I see some sort of consensus that Örebro will end up 5th, a little worse then last year because they have "lost a lot of players".  Interesting how myths can spread like that.  Since the end of last year, we have lost the following players compared to players that started last year:

Porokara, 25 starts
Paulinho, 21
Ajdarevic, 3
Bertin Ze, 2
Basssombeng, 1

Ok, Ajdarevic was a useful sub, but I think these numbers speak for themselves.  Then let's have a look at old vs. new players, position by position.

Goal
Out: Westman. In: Rosendahl.  Westman was injured all last year, Rosendahl comes in as third keeper.

Central defenders
Out: Ze. In: Haginge. This is the position as first reserve after Almebäck/Wikström. Bertin Ze was a likeable guy but a shaky defender.  Haginge was instrumental for us before he left for Djurgården.  Good to have him back.

Fullbacks
No change, but with Haginge we have a stronger back-up alternative than last year.

Midfield
Out: Ajdarevic. In: Erik Berger.  The area where it is arguable we have become weaker.  Astrit was very effective last year, and we thank him for the crucial goals against Elfsborg.  But he was not fit to play for 90 mins and he only started three games.  With Berger we might just have the successor of Kihlberg, which in the long run is far more important.  With him and Nilsson and Johansson, we have a bunch of young players ready to step in.

Right winger
Out: Bassombeng. In: Yasin, Malic.  Eric had talent but obviously it was wasted in Örebro.  Eric's trouble-making attitude did not impress Sixten.  He was not going to have an impact and so any replacement is better. Yasin has showed potential, he may well get a few chances to come on as a sub this season.  Malic is for the future, if at all.  Not so sure this was a player we needed.  Maybe we can sell him for some money to Västerås.

Left winger
Out: Porokara, Belle. In: Rama, Lushtaku, Ibrahim. Now we're coming on to the big changes.  Roni Porokara may have had the best track record in the 2010 squad, being a regular for Finland. But how uninspired was the man? Was a shame we could not sell him to Maccabi Haifa, 2010 was a year wasted and Porokara should have been on the bench last autumn.  The need for fresh blood was obvious.  And did we get it! Valdet Rama may well prove the best signing in the history of the club.  My expectations are enormous, here is a player whom many think should have been a regular starter for Hannover 96.  And he plays in the position of Ribery, who is playing for a club just below Hannover in the Bundesliga.  Only problem.  15 games for 96, no goals.  Mostly though, he played as a winger on the midfield, not as a winger striker.  My 96-supporting friend Silvio is convinced the role Rama will get in Örebro is perfect for him.

On top of that, Lushtaku.  A fast and skillful player who seems like the obvious supersub this season.

And on top of that, Ibrahim.  Very good feet, but maybe he is a bit too far from the starting 11 to really get a chance this year.  Maybe a loan? Degerfors? Back to BK Forward? Or will be play with the youngsters.

Striker
Out: Paulinho, Jidsjö, Flood. In: Haddad, Atashkadeh, Holmberg.  We have traded one nice charming Brazilian who did not fit perfectly into our system (and two useless guys one of which was also a trouble-maker) for two big, strong strikers, one of which is an established goal scorer with exactly the characteristics Boström wants.  The other is a major talent, fast, strong, but unfortunately prone to injuries.

But overall, for sure we are harder, better, faster and stronger.

I wanna see the following squad go to Gothenburg for the premiere against IFK:

Alvbåge
Anttonen, Almebäck, Wikström, Wowoah
Kihlberg, Bedoya, Gerzic
Astvald, Haddad, Rama

Bench:
Nurme
Haginge, P. Johansson
Berger, Nilsson
Lushtaku, Atashkadeh

More about the squad later.