After rambling for a bit too long about the new and the old, let me spend some time presenting the entire ÖSK squad.
I will first list the 25 players I think should make the final roster and those who should probably be sold or go on loan for a bit. Then, in separate posts, I will give more details om the goalies/defence, midfield and attack.
I think 25 is a good number. If 25 is enough a squad size for a premier league team, it is for us. Thus we have a few too many players right now. If we make a cut at 25 I would like to see the following players make it (sorted by the position where they in my view are most likely to play):
Goalies:
Alvbåge
Nurme
Rosendahl
Defenders:
Anttonen
Almebäck
Wikström
Wowoah
Haginge
P. Johansson
Wirtanen
Lumbana
Midfielders:
Kihlberg
Bedoya
Gerzic
Nilsson
Berger
Nordback
Strikers:
Astvald
Haddad
Rama
Atashkadeh
Lushtaku
Yasin
Staaf
Ibrahim
This is what I think we should do with the rest:
O Johansson - for sure he will find his form with the youngsters in division II (fourth tier in the Swedish system). May well get in to the squad after summer but right now he needs games after a long period of injuries. But we should invest in him, a big talent and a local boy.
Abdulahi - not sure where this guy will end up, but it is clear he is not for the moment close to being a starting player. He could play both in the defence and in the midfield, but many of our players can. Six midfielders in the squad may not sound like a lot but with three defenders that are probably better alternatives than Abdulahi (Haginge, Johansson and Wirtanen) I'm afraid this Finnish U-21 international is superflous in our squad. If that is the case, I think we should look for a new employer for him. First hand a transfer, second hand a loan.
Skoglund - seems clear he has no future in the club. Need to find a new club for him asap. He has been training with Karlstad BK, that shows that this is not a player that matches our ambitions.
Leonidsson - I like the guy. And I was going back and forth between him and Ibrahim before finally suggesting he is left outside the 25-man squad. But I think he needs to play a lot more games - just a bit worried that playing with the youngesters is not a high enough level for him. Best would be to find a Superettan club that he can play with, but the guy is still going to school so that may be tough. And I don't think it would be a good signal to ship him back to BK Forward. Maybe best solution to let him practice with the A squad but play with the youngsters?
Holmberg - now this is a big talent that should hopefully build a bit of muscle and be the player the youngsters build their team around this year. Important to make him ready for the A squad for next season.
Malic - Have no opinon really. Probably best to let him play with the youngsters too, then we will see.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
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.
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.
And the wall came tumbling down
http://svenskfotboll.se/arkiv/landslag/2011/03/herr/
Mikael Almebäck aka Iron Mike is in the 20-man squad named for the Euro 2012 qualifyer against Moldova.
When was the last time an ÖSK outfield player was in the Sweden squad for a competitive game?
I think Dan Sahlin was the last one. Sweden-Lithuania, 6 August 1997.
It took a while. But then again Iron Mike is a man does not let stone walls stand in his way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQnq28-2-bk
Mikael Almebäck aka Iron Mike is in the 20-man squad named for the Euro 2012 qualifyer against Moldova.
When was the last time an ÖSK outfield player was in the Sweden squad for a competitive game?
I think Dan Sahlin was the last one. Sweden-Lithuania, 6 August 1997.
It took a while. But then again Iron Mike is a man does not let stone walls stand in his way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQnq28-2-bk
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Hot like Mexico
You don't have to be a lady to go gaga over Alejandro.
http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=7482
Of course we are going for gold. The question is whether Ale will stay with us or leave at half time.
http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=7482
Of course we are going for gold. The question is whether Ale will stay with us or leave at half time.
Zlatan damns the dammed creek of Dawson
It has always been easy to like a guy like Dawson. A nice guy, loyal to the club, who always gives his everything. But it is not until last season he has actually proved to be a class defender. And last night, he took another step. Dawson held mighty Zlatan for 90 minutes, and the way this game was played, at least in the first half, Milan would be in the quarterfinal if he hadn't. Gallas and Sandro were great too, but it was Dawson that took Spurs to this quarterfinal. I am happy for him and I now hope Spurs gets even further. What are the chances of a semifinal? In my view, 40.1%. This is how I got there:
Assuming there are no "hot and cold balls" involved in the draw, Spurs have 1/7 chance of playing the other teams. 3 other teams are qualified already, and there is thus a 14.3% chance/risk of playing those teams. The liklihood of playing against and winning against those teams I estimate to:
Barcelona: 14.3% x 15%=2.1%
Shaktar: 14.3% x 55%=7.9%
Schalke: 14.3% x 55%=7.9%
Eight other teams may progress to the quarters. There we have to include an estimate of the chance of that happening. I get to the following conclusions:
Chelsea (99% chance of progressing): 14.1% x 40%=5.7%
FC Copenhagen (1% chance of progressing): 0.1% x 80%=0.1%
Man Utd (80% chance of progressing): 11.4% x 30%=3.4%
O Marseille (20% chance of progressing): 2.9% x 60%=1.7%
Real Madrid (85% chance of progressing): 12.1% x 25%=3.0%
Lyon (15% chance of progressing): 2.1% x 60%=1.3%
Bayern (90% chance of progressing): 12.9% x 50%=6.4%
Inter (10% chance of progressing): 1.4% x 45%=0.6%
In total, 40.1%.
Assuming there are no "hot and cold balls" involved in the draw, Spurs have 1/7 chance of playing the other teams. 3 other teams are qualified already, and there is thus a 14.3% chance/risk of playing those teams. The liklihood of playing against and winning against those teams I estimate to:
Barcelona: 14.3% x 15%=2.1%
Shaktar: 14.3% x 55%=7.9%
Schalke: 14.3% x 55%=7.9%
Eight other teams may progress to the quarters. There we have to include an estimate of the chance of that happening. I get to the following conclusions:
Chelsea (99% chance of progressing): 14.1% x 40%=5.7%
FC Copenhagen (1% chance of progressing): 0.1% x 80%=0.1%
Man Utd (80% chance of progressing): 11.4% x 30%=3.4%
O Marseille (20% chance of progressing): 2.9% x 60%=1.7%
Real Madrid (85% chance of progressing): 12.1% x 25%=3.0%
Lyon (15% chance of progressing): 2.1% x 60%=1.3%
Bayern (90% chance of progressing): 12.9% x 50%=6.4%
Inter (10% chance of progressing): 1.4% x 45%=0.6%
In total, 40.1%.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
And what about the game tonight then?
Maybe a word or two on my predictions for tonight.
Whereas the Barca-Arsenal 3-1 game yesterday was predictable, things can go in a few different directions tonight. I think we will know quite well where this is going after 15 minutes of play, but before kick-off it is harder to tell.
Starting with the line-ups, I hope to see Spurs like this: Gomes - Corluka, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto (well I will never hope to see him, but he will play so I can't hope for anything else really) - Lennon, Jenas, Modric, Bale - van der Vaart, Defoe. Very much an attacking line up with very fast players. I think Bale may be rested and Crouch may be picked over Defoe as a target, but Harry may want Defoe's speed so not sure there. Also quite likely that Hutton will play instead of Corluka.
And then Milan: Abbiati - Abate, Nesta, Tiago Silva, Jankulovski - Flamini, Boateng, Seedorf - Robinho, Pato, Ibrahimovic. If Boateng is fit, I cannot see Allegri play in any other way, Jankulovski is perhaps the only question mark.
So what will the game look like? Spurs will go about it with speed and force from the first minute, no doubt. If they score an early goal, that's probably curtains. They will use the wings and make sure Nesta is tested deep as well. Milan will need to show that despite lacking their natural leaders in the midfield, the entire team will play with composure and with an early press.
Are you willing to do that tonight, Clarence? After all, this is your tournament, right?
That's right. When I said it will probably not take long before we know what kind of game this will be, I am very much talking about Clarence Seedorf. If he has an on-night, he can make the difference. The occasions when he does are few and far between, but if there is one game where he will do a Lazarus it is tonight. And he needs to. If Milan's midfield (missing Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini, van Bommel and Emanuelson) does not come out the may they did against Napoli, Milan will not go through. Hoping for Ibracadabra only is futile, and Robinho and Pato are absolutely dependent on good delivery from the midfield as their game is based on gettting the ball with speed. At 9 pm sharp we will be able to tell if they will get it.
Whereas the Barca-Arsenal 3-1 game yesterday was predictable, things can go in a few different directions tonight. I think we will know quite well where this is going after 15 minutes of play, but before kick-off it is harder to tell.
Starting with the line-ups, I hope to see Spurs like this: Gomes - Corluka, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto (well I will never hope to see him, but he will play so I can't hope for anything else really) - Lennon, Jenas, Modric, Bale - van der Vaart, Defoe. Very much an attacking line up with very fast players. I think Bale may be rested and Crouch may be picked over Defoe as a target, but Harry may want Defoe's speed so not sure there. Also quite likely that Hutton will play instead of Corluka.
And then Milan: Abbiati - Abate, Nesta, Tiago Silva, Jankulovski - Flamini, Boateng, Seedorf - Robinho, Pato, Ibrahimovic. If Boateng is fit, I cannot see Allegri play in any other way, Jankulovski is perhaps the only question mark.
So what will the game look like? Spurs will go about it with speed and force from the first minute, no doubt. If they score an early goal, that's probably curtains. They will use the wings and make sure Nesta is tested deep as well. Milan will need to show that despite lacking their natural leaders in the midfield, the entire team will play with composure and with an early press.
Are you willing to do that tonight, Clarence? After all, this is your tournament, right?
That's right. When I said it will probably not take long before we know what kind of game this will be, I am very much talking about Clarence Seedorf. If he has an on-night, he can make the difference. The occasions when he does are few and far between, but if there is one game where he will do a Lazarus it is tonight. And he needs to. If Milan's midfield (missing Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini, van Bommel and Emanuelson) does not come out the may they did against Napoli, Milan will not go through. Hoping for Ibracadabra only is futile, and Robinho and Pato are absolutely dependent on good delivery from the midfield as their game is based on gettting the ball with speed. At 9 pm sharp we will be able to tell if they will get it.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Loyalties sorted
Good moment to re-engage in the blog now when Milan and Spurs are preparing for round two in the worst clash of my long football watching career. A life that may have been full of suffering, disappointment and sorrow, but which was always simple: when Örebro, Milan and Spurs play, I support them.
Until that happened that I have feared would happen ever since Spurs beat City in May last year and qualified for the Champions Leauge qualifyers. Suddenly two of my three planets were in the same orbit. A collision between two worlds seemed inevitable, and it felt more like a confirmation of what was predestined when live from a Maldivian water villa I watched them be drawn together .
I have had the question a few times since: who do you support? The answer is of course both. The harder question is who would you prefer to win? That one I could not really answer until somewhere halfway into the first half of the first leg. Before the game, this was the best reference that I could make:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ9bht5H2p4
I realise now that was borderline distasteful and I think I have found a more suitable analogy. I will come to that soon.
When the game started I initially had a terrible headache and I for a while I think I suffered from an emotional short-circuit. When Gattuso tackled Jenas I wanted to shout "no freekick" and "freekick" at the same time. It was weird.
But as the game progressed, my emotions started to get themselves together. I wanted Milan to win. The logic of it made sense in a backward way. Milan were the favourites and played at home but they played tentatively (no press), uninspired (no creativity in the midfield) and ugly (Gattuso and Flamini had that kind of a day). Spurs were the new kid on the block, happy to be there but determined to give it a go. If I was neutral, it would have been natural to support the Yiddos. But it was then I realised I didn't. And so when Zlatan made a sloppy pass, Lennon started a counterattack, avoided a crazy tackle from Yepes and served Crouch I was sure where my true loyalties were.
And there, somewhere, the right analogy appeared: I have one kid. That's Örebro and I will always stand by my kid no matter what. Spurs and Milan are like to nephews from two different siblings. Spurs is the oldest one (I started supporting them before I started school, I thought they were called Tottingham and I thought it was a cool name), the one I first got in contact with but who did not grow up in my vicinity. From time to time I even had some problems getting along with the parents (the self-righteousness of the Premier League). Milan arrived in my life a bit later, somewhere around 1985, but grew up in much closer contact with me. We therefore have much closer memories. The jury is still out on whether the closeness or the success is really what decided how my symphathies swung, but swung they did so that when my two nephews faced each other I found myself wanting the for the moment less attractive one to go through a bit more.
So, loyalties sorted. Doesn't make next Wednesday a bit less dreadful. Just a bit less confusing.
Until that happened that I have feared would happen ever since Spurs beat City in May last year and qualified for the Champions Leauge qualifyers. Suddenly two of my three planets were in the same orbit. A collision between two worlds seemed inevitable, and it felt more like a confirmation of what was predestined when live from a Maldivian water villa I watched them be drawn together .
I have had the question a few times since: who do you support? The answer is of course both. The harder question is who would you prefer to win? That one I could not really answer until somewhere halfway into the first half of the first leg. Before the game, this was the best reference that I could make:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ9bht5H2p4
I realise now that was borderline distasteful and I think I have found a more suitable analogy. I will come to that soon.
When the game started I initially had a terrible headache and I for a while I think I suffered from an emotional short-circuit. When Gattuso tackled Jenas I wanted to shout "no freekick" and "freekick" at the same time. It was weird.
But as the game progressed, my emotions started to get themselves together. I wanted Milan to win. The logic of it made sense in a backward way. Milan were the favourites and played at home but they played tentatively (no press), uninspired (no creativity in the midfield) and ugly (Gattuso and Flamini had that kind of a day). Spurs were the new kid on the block, happy to be there but determined to give it a go. If I was neutral, it would have been natural to support the Yiddos. But it was then I realised I didn't. And so when Zlatan made a sloppy pass, Lennon started a counterattack, avoided a crazy tackle from Yepes and served Crouch I was sure where my true loyalties were.
And there, somewhere, the right analogy appeared: I have one kid. That's Örebro and I will always stand by my kid no matter what. Spurs and Milan are like to nephews from two different siblings. Spurs is the oldest one (I started supporting them before I started school, I thought they were called Tottingham and I thought it was a cool name), the one I first got in contact with but who did not grow up in my vicinity. From time to time I even had some problems getting along with the parents (the self-righteousness of the Premier League). Milan arrived in my life a bit later, somewhere around 1985, but grew up in much closer contact with me. We therefore have much closer memories. The jury is still out on whether the closeness or the success is really what decided how my symphathies swung, but swung they did so that when my two nephews faced each other I found myself wanting the for the moment less attractive one to go through a bit more.
So, loyalties sorted. Doesn't make next Wednesday a bit less dreadful. Just a bit less confusing.
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