First game of the season: AIK 0 - 0 MAIF

For the first game of MAIF's 4th season in Allsvenskan, we met the 2009 champions at home in Råsunda, which is also the Swedish national arena. 17111 spectators, maybe 200 of which MAIF-are. I for one looked at the game on TV.
The weather was sunny and quiet. And cold. The pitch was more like a sandbox with a little green paint on, there was not grass to speak about. I.e. quite heavy and difficult to play ball on.
Anyhow, the pressure was on AIK who had to show who was the boss.

The first half was rather equal, with maybe 2 occasions for each team. Most everything happened in the middle, went up in more or less organized forms and then either water-tight defense put a nice end to it.
In the second half AIK pushed for like 5 minutes and then MAIF owned the game. AIK where uninspired on the sides, and in the center they tried with high balls. We know what happens with those: the ball ends up on either Robledo's or Bagarn's forehead and back into the central circle. Same player shoot again.
Most dangerous where a 1 on 1 situation of Eken who shot wide, and then Eken again in a free position at 92' where he lost time changing foot (should have pushed it in immediately with the left).
After the game AIK's trainer was very honest: they were ok defensively, but did not create anything offensively, while MAIF was the better team allround.

I would have wanted to see more shots, especially from 75' minutes or so: when the pitch is of that quality, and it doesn't get better with more play-time, don't try playing ball like we're in june and take a chance instead. AIK's keeper was like the rest of the team not in his best day. In the worst case it's good show.

Even though no team is fully up to speed, MAIF did at least earn 1 point and some level of respect. From AIK obviously, and the other teams as well.

The players:
Asper did what he had to when he needed to, ie not so very often.
Bagarn did his job. He got a very ugly (and completely voluntary) elbow in the face from AIK's Mutumba right in front of the referee who didn't move. Deserved at least a yellow (I'd sent the guy to cool down somewhere off the pitch, such behaviors have nothing to do in football).
Robledo did his job. The central lock with Bagarn worked fine like last year.
Cederberg and Westerberg did a good job on their sides.
Osiako did a good game, despite the pitch's quality.
Grahn got a lot of balls and showed some good things, but also lost many, played backwards at times, forgot to run sometimes and played alone when he had options. Needs to get in the team and up to speed. Has a lot of pressure from the press. Sucks in a lot of defense, which creates space for the others.
Johan Svensson was very active both offensively and defensively. Good game.
El Kabir did a lot of running and chasing, and had some occasions. A good surprise. He does deserve the title of Musse Pigg, even though he doesn't have the speed of a Berner (maybe it was the sandbox that made it difficult).
Danne did what he does: ran and ran and ran some more, keeping a constant pressure. Good corner kicks.
Eken had several very dangerous occasions and a very square foot who didn't shoot even close.

The replacers did not have much time to show what they went for:
Löken (for El Kabir) the same as last year (with shorter hair), runs a little too little fo my taste, but had a nice pass at 92' to Eken.
Wille (for Johan) helped defend the last minutes, and offense is not his strongest side.
Manne (for Grahn) tactical switch at 90', I'm not sure he even touched the ball.

I was very unimpressed by the AIK players, except maybe their defense (they have a good lock like ours). The big stars were mostly complaining about everything and life in general, but didn't demonstrate. They won't win another championship this way.

The referee: as I said, I would have pulled a card on the elbow on Bagarn, but other than that he was ok.

Last week I tipped a colleague the game would end at 0-0. I should have put money on that.

Next game at home in Strandvallen 21st of march when we'll receive GAIS.