Ze French Minks - MAIF ultras

3 points, 3 goals, 1 El Kabir

2011-05-01T20:55:00.003+02:00

Before the away game against Norrköping, "football specialists" and other "football experts" had chosen Norrköping favorit for the game against Mjällby. It was clear. Norrköping had started very well the season while Mjällby had difficulties so it would be easy... Too easy.

Mjällby had played:

home: Helsingborg, bad game without El Kabir 0-1

away: AIK, very bad game with El Kabir some minutes 3-0

home: Kalmar, good game with Kabir 1-0

away: Malmo, not so bad, with Kabir 0-1

home: Gais not bad without Kabir 1-1

Norrköping had played:

home: Gais 2-0

away: Gefle 2-0

away: Trelleborg 1-2

home: Halmstads 2-0

away: Djurgården 1-3

We will see how many points will take Norrköping against AIK, Malmo, Hesingborg...

So it is not a surprise that Mjällby won 3-0 away with 2 goals from El Kabir who has been the best. As he says himself, there is only one El Kabir.

Ivan the terrible or Prins Daniel (Daniel Ivanovski) has been excellent. He is the big surprise of the start if the season. He has not played for 1 year and now he even gave the ball to El Kabir for the 0-1.

Johan Svensson has played his first game and he was good. David Löken Löfqvist is loosing his place. A pity, he is not at the level of last year.

Next game:

home: Trelleborg, they are in a better form and we never manage with them.

away: Halmstads, in crisis

home: Ddjurgården, in crisis

away: Gefle in crisis

We need 30 points to stay in Allsvenskan. 23 points more needed.

6 games, 7 points. 5 time 7 points = 35 points...

MAIF 1 - 1 GAIS

2011-04-24T17:35:00.000+02:00

Fantastic weather today in Strandvallen, drew almost 3600 people. First try of the Extra bench, all the way up behind the panels it was nice and warm, good view of the field but not so much perspective.

With Musse Pigg suspended (three yellows, of which at least one completely unnecessary), Eken was back at the top alongside Gitselov, Bagarn captain though. Ivan out (for the same reason) was replaced by Cederberg.
Early goal at the 5th minute, nice center from Niklasson on the right, Gits alone at the second pole trys the volley, but not so strong and on the GAIS keeper, the ball bounces off him and on Eken's foot who just has to push it in. 1:0 at 5'50 feels good. After that it was a little bit the festival of bad passes. GAIS was holding a very high pressing, were very mobile and stealing lots of balls. For 20 minutes it was all GAIS, although only on their right side, and the trio Wille-Pavel-Robin kept danger at bay. After about 30 minutes the game was more even again. At 40 minutes Eken gets a clear penalty, wants to take it and shoots it on the ground, not very hard, nor very far, so the GAIS keeper can push it out. 2-0 at this stage would have been a game-changer, given Eken's current level of performance somebody else should have taken it.
The second half was more of the same, high pressure and lots of movement from GAIS, and it paid of in the end with a very hard shot from just outside the zone into the roof of the net that Asper couldn't take. 1-1. The last 20 minutes were to Mjällby but GAIS' defense held tight, not leaving much space to our attackers. More than goals I would like to see some shoots, dribbling with the ball is nice but it does not score often. Several occasions towards the very last seconds, but Gits missed a couple of controls and couldn't really push it all the way.

Giant on the field today was Bagarn, so many saves, a few quite critical ones. Not far behind was Cederberg, who also had a lot of balls and did good. Wingers Wille and Vesterberg ok. Pavel got many balls, and drew a lot of attention from GAIS. Eken should have been taken out towards the middle of the 2nd half, to give more time to Berner.

Not so good coaching from Peter Swärd. Pavel out while he was the most active, and replaced by an uninspired for the day Löken, killed the tempo.

1 point of 6 possible this week, it sucks. 2 goals scored only. It doesn't look so promising if you ask me.

Mjällby – Kalmar 1 – 0

2011-04-17T10:02:00.004+02:00

Mjällby are back on track after the two first games without points as well as goals. The Saturday afternoon’s game with Kalmar left a great feeling of relief after the first three points and one goal at a sunny, but rather cold, Strandvallen.

But first, a little summary of the season so far. Ze French Minks apologize for having missed the season starting, even though two games already have been played. We have all been a little busy with the mink breeding and other stuff in life. And to our defense we can state the fact that also Mjällby AIF, or at least some of the players, also had not noticed – until now – that the season actually had started.

A little resume of the two games played: Mjällby started the season with a 0 -1 loss at home with vice champions of last year, Helsingborg. As the seasons first games often are, nor was this one very exiting. Since HIF was the only team who beat Mjällby in both games last year, as well as in the cup, we didn’t expect too much. On the other hand, just the fact that everything can happen in the season’s first game and Mjällby played home gave us some hope. But really. No, the same thing happened again. But I must say I think HIF is really boring to see. They do not play any entertaining football and nor the players nor the supporters can claim to have a winning way. Actually this time it was worse than that since the game was delayed due to a fight where some of the HIF supporters beat up some police. They had also started with destroying MAIFs tifo before the game. What can we say?

The second game was away with AIK. An AIK that surprisingly “lost” two points to the newcomer last year in the opening game. A draw that MAIF probably had been very happy for before the game, while it must had been a big disappointment afterwards. This year Mjällby could not surprise the bigger team even if the guests were dominating the first part of the game. Then something happened. Within one minute AIK scored two goals just before half time and Mjällby was under the ice. They didn’t manage to recover and took yet another goal. Defeat 3 – 0. Well…

Back to today’s game. Historically Mjällby has never won with Kalmar in Allsvenskan. That does not say so much though. Last year they played two draws and before that we have to go 25 years back, to find the team from Lister in Allsvenskan, which makes it difficult to compare.

Coach Peter Swärdh had changed the team since last. Daniel Nilsson was back from injury and took back his place on the inner midfield. That put Pavel Zavadil on the left, while Tobias Grahn and David Löfquist kept their places in the middle and the right. Mattias Asper was obviously at his place in the goal and the wing defenders where the same as usual; William Leandersson on the left and Jesper Westerberg on the right. Robin Cederberg started on the bench after too many individual mistakes in the two first games, especially with AIK. Cederberg has started the season like a player who takes the step up from Superettan to a tougher Allsvenskan, surprised by the tempo. But that was last year. Strange since Cederberg finished the season as one of the rocks of the team. I think though, he will come back and is a great backup for two places in the defense. Instead of Cederberg Daniel Ivanovski made his comeback. Ivanovski who has mostly played right defender during his time in Mjällby got his chance on his true position, in the middle, together with Allsvenskans oldest – and wisest – Patrik Baker Rosengren.And how he made it. Ivan was king today. Very explosive, wise and doing generally a good job together with Baker. Who is always doing great.

That the first half’s most aggressive players should turn out to be Baker and Ivan might tell something of the general level of today’s game and players. They led the team from behind. The new midfield did their job most of the time, without especially shining. Still I had expected more of l´Onion Löfquist. He is another player who has not yet started his season. Maybe time for someone else from the start? L´Onion will probably find his form and be a good substitute. Zavadil on the left does a lot of work and ran really all the time. Also more forwards than lately. It was after one of his terrific corners that the goal was realized. In the front of the home team not much happened. Moestapha El Kabir started ok enough, but didn’t have any big day at work together with Marcus Ekenberg. El Kabir not to blame but rather the latter who has not found his form / does not perform. The question is why. Normally Ekenberg is untouchable and with all right, he use to do a good work in most games. If not scoring himself he keeps more than one of the defenders occupied to let someone else, like Musse do the scoring. Today Swärdh surprised the crowd by changing Ekenberg, with all right. The problem, which should turn out a non problem, was that the black and yellow home team had just smaller and lighter guys to put in towards Kalmar’s giants. But Swärdh has a good eye and swapped l´Onion Löfquist to smaller Daniel Nicklasson (58), and Ekenberg to Peter Gitselov (66). And then the game changed. Gitselov did a really good game and the combination with him and El Kabir was a lot more efficient than with Ekenberg, who he played with in the other games.

In fact the games only goal came in the 73^rd minute after a corner from Zavadil. Gitselov made a try, but the ball flipped here and there before El Kabir could make the ball over the line. Not exactly his most beautiful goal, but a really important one. With the entrance of the light garde, Niklasson and Gitselov and a hardworking Zavadil, a most of the time wellplaying Grahn and a good defence, especially the midwall, and last but not less important, the scoring Kabir - it start to look acceptable again.

Generally the game was not much to see. Not for any of the supporters. And a draw had been all right seen to the performance. But on the other hand Mjällby had some retroactive point to claims after the other two games. Just a pity for Kalmar who is a nice team – both players and public is behaving well.

Something we didn’t see anything of was the, by the media uphaussed, verbal fight between the two biggest mouths of Allsvenskan, Henrik Rydström and Tobias Grahn. It might have been more entertaining in a way, like a hockey fight. Grahn got a yellow for protesting though, but else wise both kept calm. Funny this about “the big mouths”. I have not seen anyone analyse the fact that the big mouths both come from eastern Blekinge, on a distance of about just 25 km from each other. Is that so that people from Blekinge complain more? Talk more? Especially from this little area? Well, they might be rather outspoken. There is another person from this area who is writing an excellent blogg, sometimes about football. Nowadays also connected to Mjällby. I wonder what she thinks about this theory. For those who understands Swedish, her blog – Fotbollsfrun is to be found here.

Well, enough for this time. We hope for another 3 points next week with Malmö, Swedish champions last year. There is hope since Mjällby knows how to beat Malmö. It all depends on the moods of a certain El Kabir. Does he want to beat Malmö this time, or not? In any case, normally an entertaining game to see.

Good things with this game
King Daniel (not to exchange with Prince Daniel) Ivanovski
Peter Gitselov – alert and eager, good with Kabir
Moestapha El Kabir – most important or only (?) scorer of Mjällby, so far in any case
Patrik Baker Rosengren – does not let anything pass him
Pavel Zavadil – hardworking, hardrunning, very important on corners and freekicks
Tobias Grahn – does a lot of work
Daniel Nilsson – and he does a lot more. The guy you miss the most when he is not there

To work with
To understand what is wrong with Ekenberg. Time to start from the bench?´
To make Löfquist see the season has started
To make Grahn “discuss” less with the referees. I don’t say he is wrong, but if HE just opens his mouth, it is sure he will get a yellow.

Congratulations Malmö FF ! MFF 2 - 0 MAIF

2010-11-07T21:11:00.008+01:00

Mjällby has lost the last game of the season against a fantastic team of Malmö 2-0 this sunday afternoon. Malmö is champion. Congratulation Malmö. It´s may be the start of a long serie: fantastic arena 24 000 people, young team, very good public, correct pubic too. Us visitors, we have been well received. We were more than 800 from Blekinge.

In the best case Mjällby could have been 4th and in the worst case it could be 6th place. Trelleborg winning their last game, Mjällby finished the 6th of Allsvenskan.

For the first time of his history, Mjällby stays in Allsvenskan. It´s an amazing peformance. All the football expert where sure to see Mjällby back to superettan.

Mjällby had lost the game last week when the referee of the game Mjällby - Åtvidabergs gave 2 yellow cards to repectively to Patrick Rosengren and to Tobias Grahn. Both yellow card were generous...

For the little story, Rolbledo missed the ball at 20 meters and then it was 1-0 for Malmö at the 17th minute. Then 2-0 just before the half time and everything was done. Mjällby got a goal refused by the referee, a little too much home referee. We understand. It´s important that Malmö get champion, a lot of people etc...

Mjällby has lost points this year beeing the little team against the most etablished team. The referee alaways gave more credit to the big team. El Kabir has been hunted and punished this year in scandalous way like in Trelleborg for example.

The best today: Patrick Osiako, David Löfqvist. El Kabir never entered in the game, may be injured.

Kalmar happy with one point against Mjällby

2010-10-25T21:15:00.002+02:00

Mjällby took one point in Kalmar on Sunday afternoon game. It´s a pity because there was place for a victory.

With 3 games left, Mjällby is at the 5th place.

Helsingborg 61 points
Malmö 58 points
Örebro 49 points
Elsborg 44 points
Mjällby 40 points

Juan Robledo was on the bench one more time.... Difficult for him but Robin Cedeberg is excellent since 4 games.

Adam Berner played some minutes more than usual.

Joahn Svensson is now playing from start since some games. Good for him. He is may be more playing that last year.

Patrick Rosengren was guest start in Kalmar and got a standing ovation. Cool people in Kalmar.

El Kabir scored and is playing his last game with Mjällby.

One more pass for Marcus Ekenberg.

Patrick Osiako was in top form and Tobias Grahn was keeping energy for the cup game of Thursday in Helsingborg.

Wille gave the ball back to Kalmar and we took a goal. It does not happend so often.

Next game Swedish cup on Thursday !

Mjällby - Halmstad 2 - 0 - El Kabir means the Great

2010-10-17T20:30:00.004+02:00

Mjällby won Sundays game towards Halmstad with 2 - 0. The contract is thereby definitively secured after goals by Moestafa El Kabir and David L´Onion Löfquist, who has scored in the both winning games with Halmstad.

On this rather cold October afternoon Mjällby played their second last game home at Strandvallen towards an, on forhand, more motivated Halmstads BK. It was cold, but there was also a strong low autumn sun shining.

Despite some really good chances for both teams and a not too slow play at the beginning of the game, somehow the game developed into a light battle between two teams in the middle of the table. Media talk about El Kabir being too fast for Halmstads aging defence - 34 and 35 year old Jönsson and Zvirgzdauskas. But nobody has anything to say about the ages of Allsvenskans oldest player, Patrik Rosengren, 39, or Mjällbys goalie - more agile than ever - Mattias Asper, 36. Not in the slightest any problems to stop Halmstad.

Despite everything the first half ended without any goals. Yawn.

If Mjällby had had some problems in the first half, they where the clearly better team in the second half. But no goals at all worried a little. Until the 67th minute when El Kabir = the Great (178 cm) scored with the head. He got a delicate ball from Jesper Westerberg passed by Tobias Grahn and put his head. Nice!

Another goal from Mjällby had reassured their supporters, but nothing happened - until three minutes into injury time. L´Onion (Löfquist) had been doing a paler figure than lately the game through, without beeing bad. In his last rush he looked determined to change the judgement of his game. He passed his guy with the ball on his head and finished with a great shot into the elsewise wellplaying Robin Malmkvists right corner. 2 - 0 and game over.

Unfortunatelly L´Onion will miss the next game because of a third yellow card. Also Grahn collected a card of this color.

For the record Ekenberg started well and was involved in some actions especially in the first half. At the end of the game he shot a great shot in the woodwork and cannot be more near to score. Time to score in the next game? Also recent first time father (congratulations Lina and Johan) Johan Svensson made a good game and the home defence was solid. Asper great as mentioned.

Mjällby AIF - Halmstads BK 2-0 (0-0)

1-0 (67) Moestafa El Kabir, 2-0 (93) David Löfquist
Yellow cards, Mjällby: David Löfquist, Tobias Grahn. Halmstad: Tomas Zvirgzdauskas, Joe Sise, Jonas Gudni Saevarsson, Tommy Jönsson.
Referee: Sven–Martin Åkesson, Kode.
Spectators: 2 820.

Mjällby (4–4–2): Mattias Asper – Jesper Westerberg, Patrik Rosengren, Robin Cederberg, William Leandersson – David Löfquist, Daniel Nilsson, Tobias Grahn, Johan Svensson (Peter Gitselov 74) – Moestafa El Kabir (Emanuel Svensson 89), Marcus Ekenberg.

Halmstad (4–2-3–1): Robin Malmkvist – Tomas Zvirgzdauskas, Tommy Jönsson, Ryan Miller, Mikael Rosén – Emil Salomonsson, Jonas Gudni Saevarsson (Kristoffer Thydell 83), Anel Raskaj (Anselmo 75), Michael Görlitz, Marcus Olsson – Joe Sise.

Just four more games to play, three of them of Allsvenskan and one (or maybe two) of the Swedish Cup:

Next game: 24 October Kalmar FF - Mjällby
Semifinals of the Swedish Cup: 28 October Helsingborg - Mjällby
Next and last game at home: 1 November Mjällby - Åtvidaberg
Last game of the year: 7 November Malmö FF - Mjällby

IFK Göteborg 0 - 0 MAIF

2010-10-04T17:58:00.000+02:00

Calm weather with slight rain this sunday in Gothenburg.
The grass of Gamla Ullevi looked like Strandvallen 1st of April 2010: completely crappy and bump.
Mjällby owned the first half, the second was more even. Alert at the 12th minute, Westerberg almost scored *against* with a very nice volley, but Asper was awake.
Good intentions in the middle, but too much inaccuracy in passes, often too long. Ball fault? IFK suffered of the same problem and it's their usual ball. Pitch problem? Rain problem?

Both defenses were very good at neutralizing attackers, and both keepers covered the rest. MAIF attackers lacked precision in front of the box, Hysén likewise (it's pretty much a one-man-show at IFK, which you can expect from their 4-2-3-1).

The veterans Asper and Bagarn were as good as we're used to.
Cederberg in great form like against the Zoo. Wille and Danne good. Osiako good at times but uneven. Johan Svensson OK. Löken in great form too. Westerberg and Eken were disappointing, did not succeed much anything at all, it smells the bench for next game. Gits in good form.

Robledo was not here but it was ok, has he lost his place? Same for Grahn.
Keep rotating Peter Swärd, the players must want be on the pitch.

Finally a victory: Mjällby AIF - Djurgården 3-0

2010-09-27T22:32:00.005+02:00

Mjällby had not won since the 16 of August (MAIF- Örebro 1-0).

It´s only the second victory at home since the 15th of May (MAIF - Malmö FF 4-2)...

Peter Gitselov #9 was in picture for the game publicity in the newspapers this week and also in the program of the game. Good choice: he scored 2 goals: 72 minutes for 2-0 and then a "Gitselov Special" at the end of the game 90 minutes for a 3-0.

Mjällby played without Robledo suspended but Robin Cedeberg was great today. He was the first on the ball all the time, he was fast. The choice between Wille and Robin will be difficult for the next game.

Mjällby played also without Tobias Grahn, suspended. Patrick Osiako is back in top form. D. Nilsson and Osiako couple worked well.

Mjällby has now 35 points and with 35 points the allsvenskan contract for next year is ok.

3528 were in Strandvallen despite a strong north wind.

El Kabir could have had a penalty in first half . But he did not. It was the same against Helsingborg and in Borås against Elfsborg. Not penalty. Instead he got a yellow card. He will miss next game.

Marcus Ekenberg gave the tempo in the first half. Dynamic and postive agressivity.

What is happening to David Löfquist ? Excellent game. Incredible progress done by that guy in one year. He is in the start 11 now.

Mattias Asper got may be a cold today. Nothing to do.

Johan Svensson did may be his best game today.

Patrick Rosengren was one of the best today as susual.

5 games to go:

IFK Göteborg - Maif 3/10 -> 1 point
Maif - Halmstad 17/10 -> 3 points
Kalmar - Maif 24/10 -> 1 point
Maif - Åtvidaberg 31/10 -> 3 points
Malmö - Maif 7/11 -> o point

Total: 43 points !

Elfsborg - Mjällby 2 - 0

2010-09-12T18:18:00.009+02:00

Saturdays game in Borås was settled because of the fact that Mjällby got a red card due to chance on goal and also a penalty which the hometeam took care of easily, already in the first half of the game. Instead of three important points to keep the speed exactly with Elfsborg, Mjällby lost not only the game but possibly also three important players for the next game. One will be defender Jesper Westerberg who got the red card and the possible others are the two who left the pitch after injurys - Daniel Nicklasson already after 35 minutes and Moestapha El Kabir who took a lot of beating during the game and finally left the pitch on a stretcher.

We can sum up the game by stating that:

- Elfsborg won the game.
- Mjällby stood up well with one of the best Swedish teams, we knew already before the game that it would be very difficult to turn back with full points from Borås Arena where Elfsborg has not lost since a very long while. And after how the game developed, it went even more difficult.
- The Elfsborg victory was, if not fair, expected since we could not expect Mjällby to win away with one man less on the pitch.

We can also state that this was not the most beautiful game ever. In no sense. No glam football and rather nasty. As spectators coming from far it went more and more frustrating to see. "Clever" they might have been, the yellow home team, but very nasty with a good help from the referee who tries to be a nice guy (?). Better was the arrangements around the game and the treatment we got from the staff at Borås Arena.

I think Mjällby could bring back something they achieved towards Elfsborg, even if they will have mental as well as fysical marks to cure before next game which is already at Wednesday with Häcken at home. Mjällby, this time in red, was pushing and making life difficult for the yellow and black Elfsborg, who should not at all be happy with their performance (more than for the important points they brought home).

The game was actually not too much to see, in the first half both teams where pending while the second half was more a fight. Not until at the end of the first half things happened, and that was not in a good way for Mjällby.

First misery was when Nicklasson had to leave the pitch already after 35 minutes. He had until then made a very good game and made life hard for his defender. He was replaced by Peter Gitselov, who also came to make a good performance and could have been the hero of the game. His best chance to score came shortly after he came in. But wellplaying Ante Covic in the home cage returned the ball - where Tobias Grahn could manage to get it into the net. What a joy by the awaysupporters! But the assistant referee was of another opinion and on the replay screen we could also admit that Grahn was offside, but really not a lot. A goal at this point should have, of course, changed the game and most probably turn it out differently. Still it looked good for Mjällby and still everything seemed to turn Mjällbys way.

Then the big distaster occured. On the other side of the pitch, yes we where really to far to see anything, a yellow player (James Keane) gets the ball on the wrong side of the last Mjällby defender, Westerberg. Everything went very quickly but I would had voted for offside at this point. The guy fell very easily and the spectacle begun. We did not understand anything, but saw Westerberg leave the pitch and another yellow guy (Martin Ericsson) place the ball at eleven meters.

A red? But if the guy is offside?? And did they at all touch? According to the people we called at home who where in the front of the tv, or others in a better position, there was not contact and a possible offside. This is tought with a double punishment
and the question is still if it where right. I don´t think so even after checking the tv pictures after the game. Still nothing we can do about it afterwards.

On the following penalty Asper, who was good throughout the game (and furious at James Keane who twice kicked him in the softer parts), was chanceless and suddenly there is 1-0 for Elfsborg and one guys less in the field for Mjällby. Not really fair at this point with this goal but normally things can change, but playing more than half a game with one guy less would be tought.

At halftime Peter Swärdh choose to reinforce the defence by putting Robin Cederberg in the game. Instead a midfielder had to leave place. Nicklasson was already out and Swärdh choose Grahn. I don´t agree to this decision since Grahn so far had a good day at work and actually already tasted the scoring.

Obviously Mjällby would have a tough compit during the next 45 minutes and they did. But so did Elfsborg since the guests didn´t give up their game. One man less in a newcomers team should have made a bigger difference for a routinated team like Elfsborg. I cannot say that anyone played a football worth looking at. But Mjällby impressed by their stubborness and their will to attack "the big team", on their artificial grass and in their "castle".

What was more and more annoying and even painful to see how mean the Elfsborg players, many of them, where playing even trying to hurt the opponents. Worst was Jon Jönsson who got a yellow card after five minutes. I realise now afterwards that it was just after five minutes. During the game we waited and waited before the card came and it seemed long before it did. And he should surely had another one. (But you know, then he have had to leave the pitch, and that seems a little hard, doesn´t it?. Or?). One reason for nor liking this guy is because of his brutal treatment of El Kabir, kicking him on the feet during freekicks, or him and Otters treated Juan Robledo. In the opposite way El Kabir of course got a card.

I will not go into discussion here with neither the level of the referees or the fact of beeing consequent in your decisions and judgements or even to keep to the rule book (if the rule book say you should get a warning, you should - every time and not just sometimes depending on I don´t know what. How else could the players know how to behave and keep to the rules. How much of filming or arguing with the referee do you see in handball? Or in rugby - there you immediatelly loose meters every time you protest).

Well, enought about that. Good in Elfsborg? Goalie Ante Covic did a good game and behaved with big authority (which impressed the referee). The two substitutes Stefan Ishizaki (61) and Daniel Nordmark (80) where an injection for the Borås team. Nordmark became the nemesis for Mjällby by scoring at overtime. A very nice goal where Asper had no chance. 2-0 was a fact and Mjällby a beaten team.

Summary:

- Elfsborg was the more "clever" team, doing the "right", but not always fair moves.
- Mjällby had after the double penalty very tought times and couldn´t do more than this. A pity they took a second goal and also a pity it all happened in this important "six points game".
- A very bitter loss for Mjällby with two injurys and a given defender out for the next game.

Next game is already at Wednesday, home towards Häcken.

MAIF 1 - 1 Trelleborg

2010-08-29T20:05:00.000+02:00

Long time no see. Fall is slowly coming but today was still summer. Sunny warm and no wind.

Mjällby started very fast and scored already in the 6th minute through Grahn after a lovely play Musse Pigg - Eken - Grahn.
MAIF had to shots on the poles, 1 Eken, 1 Musse Pigg. At that time it could have been 3-0

Around the 20th minute Robledo was injured in a heading duel and had to go out for some minutes. That was the turning-point of the game: MAIF slowed down waiting for Robledo to take back its place, and never took back the game.
Instead Trelleborg was invited back into the game and did it well. Trelleborg's goal came on a free kick after the ball bounced of Mjällby's defense to a lonely Haynes.
Speaking about free-kicks, I cannot remember MAIF shooting a single good one.

Trelleborg played very physical and ugly at times. 4 yellow cards could have been a couple more, the pajas-team was lenient.

Brommakids-Mjällby 1-0 (0-0)

2010-07-26T08:46:00.010+02:00

We have not written here since Strandvallen got new grass and some other facilities. I can say that the grass looks good and Wille said in a newspaper-article that it was the best grass he has played on. Strandvallen also have a new TV-studio and heating (solar-energy) under the grass.

Last weekend Mjällby and Brommakids played 0-0 at Strandvallen. It was a rainy warm day (after the game it was very sunny and nice). Mjällby played good and had some opportunities but missed or Bromma-keeper Nordfeldt took the shots. I must say that this young keeper have played very good against Mjällby in both games and if they had a more "normal" keeper maybe Mjällby had got 6 points instead of 1. Mjällby was much butter than BP in this game so it was a big dissapointment with just 1 point. If Mjällby had scored just 1 goal all the spectators would had thougt that it was a fantastic game, but now just dissapointment.

But now, little about the last game in Stockholm. BP is not famous for the nice arena with many spectators... This time 1200-1300 persons! It was raining all the game and I think it was cold also.
Mjällby started the game good and had som good shots from Nicklasson and Ekenberg and the keeper couldn´t hold the ball. Ekenberg had a good header but Nordfeldt saved fantastic good. El Kabir, who was playing good, had a very very good opportunity but a defender (Korkmaz) was lucky to save when the ball had passed the keeper and was near to go into the goal.
BUT, after about 30 minutes Mjällby was playing less good and BP was taking over more and more. Asper didn´t look so safe as usually and BP hade a couple of opportunities, but missed.
I minute 62 Imad Chhadeh scored when he got a passing from the player on the left wing. Maybe Westerberg should have stopped the passing and maybe Bagarn should have been nearer his opponent, but now Chhadeh was un-marked and scored easily without a real chance for Asper.
After the goal (I think it was after) El Kabir had a very good shot and the ball licked the post. Nordfeldt had not taken the ball if it had gone the other side of the post.
Mjällby did not play so good the rest of the game and BP could have been scoring one more time but they didn´t. Instead, the referee maybe thought the game was a little boring and wanted to play with cards... He gave a lot of yellow in second half, some of them should not have been yellow with another referee. El Kabirs first yellow was very easy and even BPs keeper said after the game that it was not yellow. Osiako got yellow for putting the ball away 1 second after the referee had blowed the whistle. Asper got yellow for I don´t know what.
El Kabirs second came after he had protested against a correct warning on Grahn and thown the ball in the ground. El Kabir MUST LEARN TO SHUT HIS MOUTH and respect the referee, even when the referee is a BIG PAJAS like todays referee Martin Strömbergsson. I think the referee is maybe too young and he has not enough experience to be referee in Allsvenskan. He just picked up the card too fast when he should have talked with the players some of the times.

I some of the last minutes of the game Mjällby got a freekick just outside the penaltyarea. Löken shot very good but Nordfeldt saved fantastic again. If the ball had went some inches higher I think it had been goal.

Well, well. Mjällby should have got atleast 4 points against the Kids but got 1 point. Now we have to beat AIK at Strandvallen and I think it shall be possible, but maybe we will have some offensive problems now when El Kabir is out (again).

Work in progress at Strandvallen - will there be a Cup game?

2010-05-27T13:36:00.009+02:00

Ze French Minks newest photos of the work at Strandvallen:

Next game which is supposed to be played at Strandvallen is the Cup-game towards Malmö FF. The game will probably be played the 4th of July, which is the last date to play on. An alternative would have been the saturday before, the 3rd of July. But since Juan Robledo will wed his Sofia that day we suppose that is not the choice of Mjällby.

Will there be time to play at Strandvallen?

Mjällby – Åtvidaberg 1-2 – Another 3 points

2010-05-23T12:35:00.004+02:00

Last game of the short ”season” before the strange summer break between the two newcomers of Allsvenskan. Mjällby, who won Superettan 2009 convincingly, has made a splendid season so far, while last year’s Superettan-second, Åtvidaberg has done less good. Both considered freshmen by the so called experts, with nothing to do in the first league, the two teams has done very different in the 2010 Allsvenskan.

Mjällby took another full pot of points at Kopparvallen and goes into the “halftime” at forth place. A really good result for any team and something very special for a team forecasted to go straight down again, which comes from a little fisher village on the peninsula of Listerlandet.

Considered the difficult economical situation of a small club without big sponsors, the board has done if not miracles, very clever casting. The idea has been to find the best guys of the area and bring home local players as well. This year’s Maif consist of a lot of them. Some has their roots in Mjällby AIF and others are next-door boys, like Tobias Grahn (Rödeby) and Jesper Westerberg (Arkelstorp). MAIFs eleven of 2010 consists of 3 players from the club, 2 players from Sölvesborg and another 3 within an area of 90 kilometers. To that is added a Kenyan, a Dutch and a guy from Chile. Seen to the bench we can add another bunch of home boys.

Well, anyway. The last game of the “season” was not the best ever seen. Partly expected since Åtvidaberg – despite a recovery at the end - before the game was second last of the league (where they remained), and this fact could bring down the tempo for Mjällby as well. And initially it did. But still Mjällby dominated the game and didn´t let the home team score one goal. No, actually it was Mjällby themselves who scored all the 3 goals of the 1 - 2 game!

The first goal was made by the head of Marcus Ekenberg. The captain who has not been at his best since he last scored (Örebro the 29nd March) and to that also injured for the first time of his career, seemed to be back in form. And as we know Mr. Ekenberg, that bedded for some more goals from him. But even if he was back in form he scored no more that night.

The second goal was also scored by Mjällby, but a little surprisingly in the wrong cage behind an astonished Mattias Asper. As very often auto goals are very beautiful and so was this one scored by Baker Patrik Rosengren. 1 – 1 was in no way fair and brought Mjällby up hills once more to chase another goal if they wanted to bring home all the 3 points. Which they clearly wanted.

They managed finally when the 1 – 2 stated the games result. An action from the couple Grahn - El Kabir, where El Kabir ice cold put his fifth goal of the season.

As said, not the best game ever. But Mjällby still impressed by keeping their focus after the fantastic win at home with Malmö FF and didn´t got fooled to play the game of a poorer team.

If we talk a little of the opponents, they might be desperate in their chase for points, but that doesn´t allow them to act as brutally as they did. There was a lot of pushing down their players, and even if Ekenberg normally still can play with 3 men hanging on him, if you sidle tackle him in the air, even he can get injured. And yes, Sweden was playing the semifinals in the World Cup of Hockey at the same time, but that should not allow hockey tackling’s on a football field (Moberg). Impress did Åtvidabergs veteran Christian Bergström, but not even his dangerous free kicks did any harm.

Now Mjällby has 24 points at 14 games and goes to the World Cup break on 4th place, after incredible Helsingborg, niceplaying Malmö and Örebro, passing Elfsborg again.

The “autumn season” starts the 17th of July at home with Brommapojkarna (probably without their success loan John Guidetti). Before that Mjällby has another game to play – the Swedish Cup. It will probably take place the 4th of July and Mjällby has got the game home against – Malmö FF, again! Though there is not much hope the game will be played at Strandvallen (where Malmö has never won) since the pitch right now is a big building place.

Åtvidabergs FF–Mjällby AIF 1–2 (0–1)

Goals: 0–1 (44) Marcus Ekenberg, 1–1 (60) auto goal, 1–2 (71) Moestafa El Kabir,
Yellow cards: Åtvidaberg: Jesper Arvidsson, Erik Moberg, Johan Niklasson, Etuwe Prince Eboagwu. Mjällby: Jesper Westerberg (does not play the Newt game).
Referee: Daniel Stålhammar,.
Spectators: 2 416.
Mjällby: Mattias Asper – Jesper Westerberg, Juan Robledo, Patrik Rosengren, Robin Cederberg – Daniel Nilsson (78), Patrick Osiako, Tobias Grahn (88), David Löfquist – Marcus Ekenberg, Moestafa El Kabir (90). Bench: Daniel Nicklasson (78), Emanuel Svensson (88), Johan Svensson (90), Daniel Ivanovski , Adam Berner, William Leandersson, Simon Svensson (gk).
　

Mjällby AIF 4 - 2 Malmö FF

2010-05-15T20:17:00.000+02:00

Malmö FF had not won in Strandvallen against MAIF since a century or so ago, and they could not change that fact today either.
Difficult conditions today, with eastern wind and small rain, soaking grass, players and public (all 7125 of us).

Mjällby started the game with a lot of pressure, keeping Malmö pretty much in their half-pitch for a good half of the period.
The first goal came quickly, a free kick on the left some meters after the central line, towards Robledo at the away pole (his defender couldn't keep up on several occasions, it may have to do with being 20cm shorter), who heads it back to the 1st pole, where Musse Pigg is all alone, and just has to push it in. 1-0 (11').
Malmö pushes, but mostly long balls for Bagarn and Robledo, back to the sender. They loose a ball in the middle to Eken, who instantaneously launches Musse again in depth, no off-side, and wins his one-on-one with the Malmö keeper. 2-0 (22').
Just before the break, Grahn brings the ball to the right side all the way to the back line, turns back and centers, Eken is not in position to shoot but deviates towards the 2nd pole to Löken who is all alone there, almost exactly the same position as El Kabir for the 1st goal. 3-0 (44')

3-0 at the break, Malmö FF is stunned. For a team claiming to be in the fight for gold this season, against a team who's only supposed to stay in Allsvenska, it's borderline humiliating. The shots on goal count is 6-1, a good summary of the 1st half.
I wouldn't have wanted to be in Malmö's changing room at half-time, they came back with a completely different spirit. The higher tempo paid off quickly, while Mjällby's defense was playing a little easy maybe. 1st goal a copy of Musse's second (51'). 2nd goal on a corner kick, some confusion in front of the goal, but the ball ands up in the net.
From that point on Mjällby went back to playing a very safe defense, kept a lot of pressure in the middle, and that was more or less the end of it for Malmö, who went back to shotting long ball to Bagarn and Robledo.

At the end of the game both Löken and Manne had shots in almost the same position, a little left at the entrance of the 11m zone. Manne's shot passed right by the pole, and Löken's was deviated by Malmö keeper. It could have been 5-2, but more importantly it could have killed the game.
At the 92nd minute, Nicklasson got a ball behind the middle line (not offside), brought it all the way up and shot, again from the left side, and he didn't miss. 4-2. Game over.

Malmö's trainer was quite disappointed, quoting his team's performance in the 1st period as their worst period of the year. I would add that the 2nd period was better for about 15 minutes. Good play in the middle, but not much in the front, very stereotyped longballs in the center.
Like Helsingborg, Malmö scored on their 2 dangerous occasions (only one for HIF). The difference this time is that Mjällby had already made 3 goals.

Mr Referee was ok.

I will give a thumbs up to the Malmö FF supporters, who were pushing their team all the way to the end in a good spirit. Put a lot of ambiance in the stadium, and fairly and quietly admitted their team was not the better one today.

I will not go through all Mjällby players one by one, just say this: I liked Mjällby's play-style today. They kept a lot of pressure on Malmö in the middle and front, who had a very hard time bringing up the ball. They played the game that we have had most problem with, and when it's us doing it the other team has problem too. Yes it takes a lot of running, but we intercepted about as many passes as Malmö did, balls that we could then bring up and do something with. We were not just defending 45 minutes to protect the score, but still pushing up to make more goals.
That's the Mjällby I want to see more of. That's the Mjällby that completely deserves their 4th place of the league. Keep that style and we can climb some positions. Who want's to see MAIF in Champions' or Europa League in 2011? Sign me up.

Want some Mjällby-grass at home?

2010-05-12T10:20:00.004+02:00

Yesterday Tuesday, Mjällby AIF announced that after Saturdays match at home with Malmö FF - the last game ever at Strandvallens classic lawn - there will be an opportunity to buy you a bit of lawn home.

After the game Mjällby provide the opportunity to buy your own part of Strandvallens grass for 100 SEK a tuft.

After the break of the summer (see below) Strandvallen will have a new improved pitch.

The pitch, which was strongly criticized by national player Anders Svensson - he called it a swamp and threatened to stop playing football - after Sundays game when Svenssons´ Elfsborg lost to Mjällby with 2 - 0, is in fact in a poor shape. Still this football pitch, located in south Sweden, has always been considered one of the best. But this year’s early start of Allsvenskan together with the longest winter for a very long time has not helped to keep the pitches in a good shape. Still Strandvallen cannot be one of the worst. We have seen the premiere at the national arena of Råsunda´s brownish so called grass - painted with some green color to make it look real! This pitch has though already been replaced. Other big Stockholm team Djurgården and their Olympic stadium was another not-favorite. And probably the worst seen - most south of Sweden - Trelleborg and Vångavallens kind of farming field.

We notice that the federation has swung in the question. Maybe it was not such a good idea to start the season this early. Which also mean we will not see any Allsvenskan football for two months due to the break for the World Cup. Also, between 17th of May and 11th of June, there will be no football at all at high level since the Swedish players has to prepare to watch the World Cup, or something. The finals of the World Cup takes place the 11th of July and Allsvenskan restarts the 18th of July - another week without football. It is good though that the federation has considered to give us matches a bit into November. Or maybe not. November is normally not the nicest month to watch football live in Sweden.

Mjällby club president Jörgen Martinsson says the club appreciates the publicity Anders Svensson has given the pitch and offers to donate him a good patch of pitch to train on.

So take your chance you football supporters who can to bring home an own little piece of Strandvallen!

For the (last) game on Saturday with Malmö FF all Malmö´s tickets as well as the seats are sold out. Mjällby, aiming for a record, hopes to beat the old record of 8438 spectators at Strandvallen. Still today’s stadium maximum is 7000 people after more places has been changed into seats instead of standing areas. Mjällby starts today to build a new provisional stand as a complement and hope to get them approved before the game.

Mjällby AIF - IF Elfsborg 2-0 or Tobias Grahn 2, Anders Svensson 0

2010-05-09T21:54:00.003+02:00

Mjällby can be happy tonight with 3 new points because this game is a copy of Mjällby -Helsingborg lost 0-1 the 26th of April. Mjällby is this time the winner. Mjällby scored just after the start of the second half because Elfsborg players were still eating their orange. The rest of the game is everybody behind during the other 44 minutes. Helsingborg did the same with succes. Then, the second goal came while Elfsborg was pushing.

After 3 poor games, Trelleborg away, IFK Göteborg home, and Djrgården away, Mjällby players have shown mental ressources to win this game. Witout Ekenberg, El Kabir and Gitselov, the attacker were David Löfquist and Adam Berner.

Some game fact:

- Denni Avdic went out after 11 minutes because he had vision problem after a shock with Mattias Asper. Can we consider that substition as a turn of the game ?
Yes. Clearly. With Denni Avdic the game would have not been the same. The twins of Sasa Simonic has scored 9 goals since the Allsvenskan start and is the leader of the top scorer.

- Why the referee did not give a yellow card to Denni Avdic when he shot in the ball while the game was stopped for off side ?
What hapend to El Kabir last week - yellow card for same situation - did not happend this time. It seems that the rules are different depending the man in black. I think the referee this time had the right decision. The time where there was only one ball in the field was in the 80´s .

- Did Robledo get a yellow ?
No, not this time but Rosengren got one, the second of the season. He will be there against Malmö FF.

- Who win the game of the stars, Tobias Grahn or Anders Svensson ?
Tobias Grahn wan without discussion his confrontation with the experienced Anders Svensson. Anders Svensson lost several ball in second half while Tobias Grahn scored a game like Robben could have done. Grahn has been a leader today, motivating his colleagues, fighting always without agressivity. If he continue like that he will not pass the sumer in Sweden.

- Does the referee should have given a penalty for a hand of Elfsborg player on the 18 m ?
Well, difficult to say. Rosengren provoque a penalty against IFK Göteborg with a hand. This time, the referee says no penalty. One more time, different approach...

- An Elfsborg player save a ball on the line ater a Grahn´s head. Was it goal ?
Mjällby did not protest. So probably no goal.

- Why no journalist ask question during the press conference ?
Because .... because.... they go to see in private the coach after the press conference. While in the other country there is a lot of questions, here there is nothing. Strange...

- How many points need Mjällby to stay in Allsvenskan ?
I had seen that 26 points were ok but the 30 points limit will be better. 12 points more to catch.

Trelleborg 2 - 1 Mjällby

2010-05-06T22:31:00.000+02:00

We should never have lost this game against the last of the league.

A header early on by Musse Pigg, on the far pole and out. The Trelleborg keeper had not moved.
The first goal for Trelleborg was probably scored by the wind: the left defender kicks a center after a through in, the ball goes through the defense, a lot of fighting there but nobody actually touches it, and then it rollls against the pole and bumps in.
Equalization on a free-kick by Löken, bent right in the close corner. I think the 3-man wall actually disturbed the keeper (hiding the ball's trajectory) more than it helped.
The 2nd goal on a doubtful action. A Trelleborg player in the middle did not touch the ball, but he was in the middle of everything and from a very obvious offside position. On a center from the right he lets go the ball to Adelstam behind him who's all alone, the defense being busy covering the off-side guy.

A far kick at the end by Trelleborg hit the upper bar and out.

Asper a little passive on the 1st goal.
Westerberg made more mistakes than usually. The 2nd goal starts from him.
Bagarn and Cederberg also more mistakes than usual.
Ivan (central defense instead of Robledo suspended) made an even game.
Our midfield (Osiako, Grahn and Johan Svensson) is too slow, and loosing soo (too) many balls. The recipe has been the same for the past 4 games, opposite middle keeps the pressure, you wait for like the 5th pass and then you get the ball. When the opposite is happening, we let them bring up the ball until right outside the zone and then make a foul giving a free-kick. We are too passive in the middle.
Musse pigg not a great game, but some good occasions. The defenses are not giving him any space. And he's taking a lot of beating (much more than he manages to deal), I believe on purpose to make him kose his nerves.
Löken ok in the first half, then he disappeared (except for the 2 free-kicks of which one became a goal).
Replacers: Berner did not get much space either, and it's not easy to run after a ball when you cannot have a clue where the ball is gonna go next (bumpy field).
Manne made a good entrance chasing.
Nicklasson too short to really show he was there (in at 89').

Mr Referee was average. Yes Musse Pigg is playing tough, but he'd never go away with kicking someone (standing) in the back; apprently it's ok that he gets this treatment, which I disagree with. I also disagree that a guy who's 2m offside from the start and stays there disturbing both defense and keeper, but doesn't touch the ball, is not participating in the action. Disturbing is participating. 2 situations like that.
Most half bad things were ruled against us, while trelleborg did get away with a lot worse (Adelstam could have got at least 3 yellows).

The Trelleborg pitch was also quite a disaster. Not quite as bad as Olympiastadion (Djurgården), which was not even green, but very uneven.

So we continue to go down in the ranking, still 6th but we are not taking many points.
The game schedule is crazy, with a game every 3 days, you can see the players are tired. Trelleborg has almost a whole team injured. Stupid world cup.

Mjällby AIF - IFK Göteborg 0-0: thank you Mr Asper.

2010-05-03T22:26:00.004+02:00

Mjällby got only 1 point this Monday evening against one of the favorit team of Allsvenskan 2010.

Four days after the dispointing game with Djurgården lost 1-0 in the last 10 minutes, Mjällby had a good opportunity to catch the 3 rd place.

Unfortunatly, Marcus Ekenberg went out after only 18 minutes. And without already El Kabir, Gitselov, and Ekenberg, the front attack was naked. David Löfquist tried to do his best with Adam Berner - surprised to play more than 15 minutes.

13th minute: Penalty for Göteborg due to a hand from Patrick Rosengren and a fantastic Asper stopped it. On the following corner, the ball went in but the referee didn´t see it.

During the press conference, Mattias Asper talked about a retroactive point compare to last Thursday game.

So after MAIF - Kalmar 0-0, MAIF-Helsingbrog 0-1 and now MAIF IFK Götebrog, it´s the 3rd game without goal. The ratio price of the place versus the number of goal starts to increase drastically. There was still 5526 people tonight anyway.

Ball %
MAIF 43%
IFK 57 %

Shot total
MAIF 2
IFK 9

Shot on goal
MAIF 0
IFK 5

The next game is on Thursday in Trelleborg who is in very critical situation and then next Sunday, new game home with Elfsborg.

Mjällby is tired, physically and mentaly. Robledo got a new yellow and will not be there Thursday. El Kabir should be back but it´s not confirmed. Gitselov and Ekenberg should not be there.

Tobias Grahn did a better second half showing more speed. It´s may be a good sign that the team will restart to have a better physic condition.

According to the newspaper of the game, 26 points are needed to staty in Allsvenskan. 11 more to catch !

After 10 games

Helsingborg 26 points
Malmö FF 23 points
Örebrog 18 points
Elfsborg 16 points
Mjällby 15 points

Djurgårdens IF-Mjällby AIF 1-0 (0-0)

2010-04-29T21:38:00.003+02:00

It was only during the last fifteen minutes as the match took a little momentum on the Stockholm stadium. Until that the teams had not created a single real scoring opportunity except a couple of halfdangerous shots from Djurgården in the first half.

It was on Djurgårdens-counterattack in the 84th minute they made the winning goal. Kasper Hämäläinen passed the ball from the right edge to Kennedy Igboananike and he got a perfect hit with the head. Mattias Asper in Mjällbys goal was a without chance even thou he was standing near where the ball went past him, he seemed to have his weight on the wrong foot.

It is not so easy to score goal at Mjällby. Our team has taken zero goals five times - out of nine possible. A goal in the back was enough, however, for the loss. The offensive play was far too bad. Marcus Ekenberg with five goals, was this evening very anonymous.

El Kabir was doing some good stuff but had no real good opportunity except a couple of shots from long distance. In the end he got a yellow card when complaining at the referee. After Mjällby had changed him against another player when he was off the field he got the second yellow and red card. I don´t exeactly know if he will get more than one game suspension. He must learn to not complain so much and argue with the referee, otherwise he will get to many yellow and red cards.

Ivanovski was injured at the end at it looked bad, but as allways he recovered and went into the game the last minutes.

Also Gitselov, who was good as long as he played, was injured in the second half, and i hope he will be back on monday.

The best players today were, according to myself.
1. Mattias Asper who made some good saves
2. Jesper Westerberg, didn´t succeed totally but made some good offensive efforts and defensive he is also a good player.
3. Tobias Grahn, not his best performance, too many mistakes, but were better than the rest and had a couple of shooting-opportunities but was aiming to bad.

Next game Robledo will be back.

Stockholm and Djurgarden must feel ashamed about the very bad "grass". I think Mjällby was loosing most of the teams because of the lack of grass. The passes went wrong almost every time.

Now we must focus on beating IFK Göteborg and I think we have a good chance.

Mjällby AIF - Helsingborgs IF 0 - 1 (0 - 1)

2010-04-26T22:42:00.004+02:00

Dominating is not winning - dominer n´est pas gagner

Mjällby had as much as 64% of the ball possession, HIF had 36%. HIF had two shots on goal, one on each side of the half time. The first one of the two went in behind Mattias Asper. Not his fault, but as Peter Swärdh stated: a goal that came from now where. Mjällby made a defensive mistake and that was enough for rutinated Helsingborg. In the 34rd minute the games only goal was a fact through Eric Sundin, who for the rest of the game didn´t impress much. Actually not many did this wonderful evening at Strandvallen where 7000 people - full stadium - had made their pilgrimage .

It looked all good when the game started. Full stadium, nice songs from the HIF supporters, sun, a top meeting in Swedens highest football league and also the first Allsvenskan game ever between the teams. And the start of the game was not so bad either. But then, not more happened. It was a rather boring game with little chances. Helsingborgs Joel Ekstrand didn´t make the game much more exiting - but for the moment - when getting himself a red card while trying to cut the legs of El Kabir. Directly after the expulsion Conny Karlsson, HIF-coach, made a defensive change when putting out Rasmus Jönsson, who didn´t want to leave the pitch, giving place to Hannu Paltronen, and the game went more boring. Not because of Paltronen, but because of Helsingborg playing on the result. Mjällby didn´t managed to answer much and didn´t break through HIF:s rutinated, some might say brutal, defense.

The nearer the end Mjällby seemed to realize they had to equalize and managed better. Actually the referee was not on their side when he turned down two penalties! The first one on a hand from a HIF defender - the "true-penalty-version", when the player stopped the ball with his hand. The second when newly entered Peter Gitselov was brutally pushed down. Both situations can be seen here commented by SVTs Staffan Lindeborg: http://svtplay.se/v/1979650/hif_holl_undan_mot_mjallby

Gitselov, was one of some few Mjällby hightlights.

Comments on the players effort:

Asper
One saving, one goal. He can not do much on the goal. For the rest of the time he didn´t have much to do.

Cederberg
Ok performance meeting a tough guy in Mattias Lindström. No mistakes. Very offensive at the end.

Rosengren
Fantastic again. Especially when he precisely picked the ball from Erik Sundin - to show in all footballschools. Though left a space with Robledo on the goal.

Robledo
Playing performance ok, but his temper not. He got a second yellow card and was sent of the pitch. Might have been right in the cause (that it was corner to Mjällby in an important moment), but cannot be allowed to say anything to the referee whatsoever.

Westerberg
Really good. Better and better, more offensive all the time. Nice blue shoes.

Nicklasson
Started better offensively than before this year. But weighted to light and was less good behind. A lot of wrong passes. Was replaced by Gitselov.

Grahn
Did some great stuff like a fantastic pass with the head. Very good.

Osiako
Mixed good work with bad passes. Not his best day.

Löfquist
Funny, offensive but had tought times. Was replaced by Johan Svensson.

Ekenberg
I know, we have high expectations on the captain. It was really not his day, like the last games as well. But still had some wide shots. Takes a lot of loads on his shoulders.

El Kabir
Started as usual as a Duracell battery. Managed to offense the HIF defense, playingly as well as verbally. Got litterally cut down by Ekstrand after a good 30 minutes. After beeing helped off the pitch (we have seen people got their legs kicked off for less) he came back. But had lost his Duracell effect. Could that guy get affected anyway? Must also mention his new pink shoes.

Gitselov
Came in earlier this time (59), managed to make himself seen. Very positive and is knocking on the start eleven. Should start already next game. Will not go out again.

Svensson
Played 20 minutes but we didn´t see him a lot.

Nilsson
Played about 10 minutes. Did what he had to do.

Now, just forget about this game - or better, learn from it - and pass on to next game away which is already thursday, in Stockholm playing Djurgården.

Häcken 0 - 1 MAIF

2010-04-19T22:42:00.000+02:00

Sunny and weather in Rambergsvallen. 2203 spectators at the stadium, a little embarassing for a half-million inhabitants' town.

A quite balanced 1st half, occasions on both sides. 0-0 was not a steal in any way.
After the pause Häcken came back very agressive and had a couple of very danogerous occasions directly. Asper could not just sit and watch. MAIF was not undangerous though with their counter-attacks.
At the 58th minute Nicklasson on the left side near the central line sent a seemingly anonymous crossing to the center, Grahn lets it pass to Osiako behind, who immediatley made a very accurate pass to El Kabir, perfect control, little shoot feint, moves ahead 2 steps close to the zone line and shoots in the other side of the goal, goal. Nobody expected it at that time I think, it looked very much less dangerous than some other action. The Häcken keeper was very late, many defenders in front of him hiding the ball, and Eken's crossing the area free and with speed in the other direction was probably too much distraction.

I think too many players want to just score and play alone, instead of passing the ball when some colleagues are free. It was very much the case of Musse Pigg before he scored, Eken and Grahn had also a couple of situations. A lot of good balls ending up high in the sky nowhere close to the goal.

Eken missed 2 occasions, 1 with an open goal (although I believe that one was blown off), Gitselov and Nicklasson 1 each. None of the 3 was strong enough, so the keeper picked all 3 easily.

From the 70th minute the team fell back as usual, not holding the pressure up, too much to my taste, especially considering the 2 brasilians Häcken launched in made a lot of mess (one particular one ball landed on the upper side of Asper's net). Then suddenly some midfielders woke up at 85th minute and put a lot of pressure towards the end of the game.

Strong defense, Westerberg gets a lot of balls.
Still too many passing mistakes in the middle.
Eken not in his best day (again), but still draws a lot of defense attention.
Musse Pigg running like a maniac like usual, keeps the opponent team very low. I like that style better than 10-man defense.

Good referee, he didn't fall for any of the players' ugly tricks.

We comforted our 3rd place of the league with 14 points (out of 21 possible).
Next game on monday when we receive the current leader (1 match behind against 2nd Malmö FF).

Game 6: Mjällby 0 - 0 Kalmar

2010-04-15T22:47:00.005+02:00

Tonight Mjällby is on the podium of Allsvenskan.

5000 people in Strandvallen, what a nice picture compare to empty stadium seen on C+ with for example GAIS empty stadium or Trelleborg... Sweden is looking to much Premiere League...

o-o tonight. At half time the French Minks where a little worried and all of us were thinking that a 0-0 would be not so bad. The 20 first minutes where completly dominated by Kalmar. A goal was refused for a off side... Tobias Grahn and Patrick Osiako were blocked by Kalmar players and specialy Daniel Sobralense.

In the second half, the home team was much more agressive and went back in the game.

Freekick: 14 - 14
Corner: 4-4
Off side 3-4
Yellow card 2-1
Red 0-0
Ball possession 56-44
Shot 5-8
Short on goal 1-3
Shot on the box 0-1

Mattias Asper
He saved his team in a double shot at 1 meter and then in a face to face with Abiola Dauda. Very safe on corner and high ball. Top level Asper.

Jesper Westerberg
Very good. It could be interesting to see how many balls he has got.

Patrick Rosengren
"the president". Laurent Blanc, leader of world champion France in 1998 was called like that. Impressing.

Juan Robledo
A little yellow but otherwise excellent.

Robin Cederberg
Not used as much as Westerberg, he was better in second halp and we could have mixed him with "the president" Rosengren.

Patrick Osiako
Top level game one more time. I do not see so far better player than him in the team we have met. If he continue like that he will not stay long in Mjällby.

Tobias Grahn
Back after 3 yellows, more clame, less agressive, very good. Very tired at the end.

Johan Svensson
Not his better game.

Daniel Nicklasson
Badly injured in second half. We have seen him leavging the stadium in a bad shape. Better second half.

Marcus Ekenberg
Not his better game but he had tuff time with Marcus Lindberg, one of the best actor of Sweden.

Moetafa El Kabir
A little too nervous. It´s a pity because he got the referee against him and he was in 2 penalty situation and the referee from France - Ireland (the hand of Henry) did not react... Otherwise, full speeed, the public likes him !

Substitute

David Löfqvist
A lot of energy. Came in the game very good.

Peter Gitselov
Interesting player who is back from injury. To be followed and promesing.

Emanuel Svensson
He came at the end and had difficutlies with the physical impact. Recommendation: more time at "Open Gym".

Peter Swärdh and Nanne Bergstrand: good attitude during the game and at the press conference.

Referee Martin Hansson
He will go to South Africa ? He is the most hated man in Ireand after Thierry Henry. Sometimes it´s better to say nothing...

Next game: MAIF - Kalmar Thursday 19h00

2010-04-13T22:29:00.003+02:00

Game 6:

Maif will play Kalmar on Thursday evening at 19h00. Kalmar has got only 3 points in 5 games... For the 2008 champion, it´s a very bad start. In case of victory, Mjällby will have 13 points, which could put Kalmar at 10 points.

This game will be also a geographic concurrence in the south of Sweden even if the derby for Kalmar is more with Öster.

For our reader from all over the world, they should know that Patrick Rosengren is the link between the 2 teams. He has been playing in Kalmar many years. Kalmar striker Abiola Dauda has started his carreer in the small of Sölvesborg SGIF in 2006.

Some informations before the game:

- Patrick Rosengren should be back from injury.

- Tobias Grahn is back after 3 yellow cards.

- Patrick Osiako seems to be in top form. He did only one game less performing at the last home game.

- Juan Robledo should be happy to have his old friend back in the backline. Juan Robledo has never been so succefully offensive on corner, freequick etc... Impressing.

- Moestafa El Kabir is missing a little more goals to be the top recruitment of Allsvenskan 2010. Everybody is impressed by his fighting.

- Daniel Ivanovski should loose is place because Patrick Rosengren is back.

- Craig Henderson and Peter Gitselov are still injured.

Halmstad 1 - 2 MAIF

2010-04-11T18:36:00.000+02:00

Victory away today in Halmstad. Mjällby did a good first half, but still took the first goal. Free kick on the left side after a foul on Joe Sise, and it's the same guy who ends up all alone in the middle of MAIF's defense and quite simply pushes it in.
Luckily MAIF came back with 2 almost identical goal. They both started with a corner from the left shot by Cederberg.
Shot #1 was a little long but Eken put it back in the middle, it bounced on a bunch of Halmstad players, who disturbed the keeper quite a bit actually, and ended up right in front of Niklasson alone on the left, who shot quite hard and tunneled 2 defenders (#6 and #9) on the way.
Shot #2 was a little shorter and on Robledo's head, it took on 2 Halmstad defenders but went through, Löken was behind and pushed it in.
3 goals in roughly 20 minutes, there was action.

The second half was a disaster from MAIF's side, we were really lucky the Halmstad attackers were not more (lucky), or it could have ended with several goals back. Halmstad was eating us in the middle, our defenders were playing too easy, we were putting ourselves in difficult situations times and times over. Special minus-mention for Ivan that has not come up to speed and created several dangerous situations.

Mr Referee had also a very average 2nd half in my opinion, missing several ugly fouls on MAIF and whistling against us as soon as we only approached an opponent. Hashing the game's rythm.

Asper did a good game. The defense gave him no chance on the goal, only luck could have saved it.
Right defender Westerberg (who has shaved and no longer looks like Mellberg) continues to make a very strong impression.
Ivan must raise his level, too many approximations and passes to the opponent (and fouls).
Robledo average for 2 games now, some very good actions and some quite bad just after. Although admittedly it cannot be easy to bring the confidence and vision of the game that Bagarn usually brings in our defense.
Cederberg OK on his side
Nicklasson and Johan Svensson did an OK game on their sides. Defending more than they used to, which is appreciated.
Osiako ok, did several saves and had more space to play than last time against Gefle.
Löken too slow and cannot handle tight spaces, must raise his level for Allsvenskan.
Eken did an ok game, maybe not as dominant as usual but involved in many actions.
Mostapha "Muss Pigg" El Kabir was running like a maniac after every ball, he's a real pain in the ass for all defenses and draws a lot of people.

The youngsters that entered (Emmanuel Svensson for Daniel Nicklasson, Christofer Nilsson for Johan Svensson) did bring energy but even more approximative shots.

Anyway, 5 games and 10 points, 4th of the league and many big shots behind us. Not many had tipped those position 1 month ago.
By the way I think the triple champions of last year will get a new trainer very soon, the same guy that said he wouldn't want to take any player from MAIF and really thought he'd be champion again this year, just now he's 2nd... from the bottom with only 1 goal made. Ha ha ha I lough...

GEFLAR SKID!

2010-04-07T19:57:00.001+02:00

Mjällby lost the homegame against Gefle on sunday afternoon 1-3 (0-1).

I think Mjällby started the game playing good but there was not so many good opportunities in the beginning, but I thought that we will win this game.
After a while the players in the midfield was loosing moore and moore and Gefle was coming into the game.

In minut 23 Gefle had the ball on their right side and went on forward. Grahn was maybe a little too passive and also Wille so the Gefle-guy was able to pass the ball nice into the middle some meters in front of Asper and there was Lantto, allsvenskans shortest player, heading the ball into the goal. Robledo could not stop Lantto but the problem was in the moment before when the passing was going in from the sideline. The guy on the right wing should not be allowed by Grahn and Wille to pass the ball. Geflar Skid!

Just after the second half begun, Gefle scored again and it was a very easy goal. A passing behind Cederberg and Ivanovski (playing on the left that was not so good for him). The Gefle attacker ran faster than Ivan and just put an easy chip over Asper.

After some minutes Gefle-keeper shot a long ball up inte the air and Cederberg missed to hit the ball and suddenly Gerndt was alone with Asper. Some says that Asper should have taken the shot, but I don´t know. Maybe if Asper had been lucky, but it´s not so much to say about it more than Geflar skid! The problem was that Gerndt shouldn´t got the opportunity at all and Cederberg shall hit the ball - not miss it.

20 minutes later in minute 74 Eken got the ball on the left wing from Grahn ran away from 2-3 Gefle defenders and just put the ball low beside the keeper. A good action from Eken!

After that Robledo scored but the referee blowed the whistle because offside. I don´t know, it was hard to see but if it was offside it was bad from Robledo standing offside on a freekick.

Berner got into the game the last minutes and had a loose shot in the post.

Mjällby was playing better than Gefle and had the ball 65% of the time but Gefle was super-effective at the same time as Mjällby defenders was not playing at their best level. Mjällby had som more opportunities, for example Eken with a freekick almost touching the post and some headers.

I think that El Kabir was Mjällbys best player today. Also Westerberg had a good game. Grahn, Osiako, Ivan and Cederberg have to play better in the future.

There was almost 5000 people watching the game. Because of the other teams in allsvenskan didn´t got so many points, Mjällby is still in fourth position. But now there are some more difficult games, Halmstad away where Mjällby have Grahn, Bagarn and DNilsson not playing because of injuries and too many warnings. After that we will meet Kalmars Red Brothers on Strandvallen on thursday the 15/4 and Häcken away on the following monday. We can just hope Mjällby will take som points.

/Blauminken

Örebro 0 - 2 Maif / 3rd game Monday week 13

2010-03-30T23:10:00.005+02:00

Mjällby won yesterday Monday his first again away. Afer the draw with AIK and the victory at home, the total point is now 7 of 9. For a new comer in Allsvenskan, this is an excellent start.

Mattias Asper:
Zero goal taken in 3 games. At 36 years old, he is at his top form. No mistake, secure on corners and he saved Mjällby with a reflex in first half.

Jesper Westerberg:
New in the team this year, he has taken the place of Daniel Ivanovski. He seems that he has played with Mjällny for years. He looks like Melberg.

Juan Robledo:
The king on the pitch on Monday. No one take the ball to Mr Robledo and he is involved in the second goal. More calme that last year, no yellow card this time. Impressive of maturity.

Robin Cedeberg:
He has replaced Patrick Rosengren injured. He was good Robin. Only a small mistake which could have cost a goal. He gave the goal to Ekenberg for the 0-1.

William Leandersson:
He had a chance to show is value during the absence of Patrick Rosengren and he did it. He had a lot of work, Örebro was playing more on his side.

Daniel Nilsson:
When we do not see Daniel during the game it ´s usually good sign. He is doing a lot of work in the "shadow".

Patrick Osiako:
Is he the same Patrick as last year ? He was good last year but right now he is playing at a higher level. Very good technic, secure pass. Excellent.

Tobias Grahn:
Pavel x 10. One of the best player ever in Mjällby (according to what i have heard). A lot of agressivity in a good way. We hope he will keep this tempo.

Johan Svensson:
5 faults on him in 10 minutes in the first half. He created a lot of problem to Örebro player. Very good start of season.

Marcus Ekenberg:
One more goal. 4 in total now. He is showing that he had allsvenskan level. Thank you for all those years in Mjällby Marcus.

Moestafa El Kabir:
May be not his best first half but he stole many balls in second half and scored a very opportinist goal.

The referee could have given at least one penalty to Örebro for a hand in the surface. This time we were lucky.

First Allsvenskan game in 25 years - Mjällby - GAIS

2010-03-21T20:32:00.007+01:00

It was 25 years since we last saw some highest league-football at Strandvallen. Sunday the 21th of March was the day we had waited for so long.

The premiere of Allsvenskan was already done last week, at the National arena of Råsunda, where the surprised trippel champions AIK took a draw.

Now it was time to see them at home, the new team, after a long winter with no football.

How should the players behave at home? How should the winter pitch be? And how would the improvements of the stadium had taken form?

Well, the pregame preparations was like just another game of Superettan. The pitch was not in the best condition, but still maybe one of the better this early the year. The stadium had a brand new north stand and the south stand also all redone for the away supporters with a giant screen behind.

Without giving any impression of nervousness at the start of the game, the players still left us spectators with Mjällby eyes a little bit nervous. And even if GAIS had big injury problems in the troup (already) they seemed to be able to give Mjällby a match. Still we didn´t stay nevous very long.

It took Marcus Ekenberg exactly 34 minutes to be historical as the first scorer of this Allsvenskan session. Ekenberg, who himself claimed to have played better in last weeks game, didn´t leave anyone disappointed when he scored 3 goals on 3 attempts - a true hattrick in his first game with Mjällby in Allsvenskan. 3 goals that made him scoring leader of Allsvenskan after 2 rounds.

Interesting to notice is how media has blown up the game in the game, between scoring champions of Allsvenskan and Superettan 2009, Wanderson do Carmo from GAIS and Mjällbys Marcus Ekenberg. Well, that part of the game finished 3-0 - to Superettan.

Ekenberg, who was also choosen to be the man of the game, was not the only one to do a good game. After some hesitation the whole team recovered and manage the game very well. Tobias Grahn did not dominate like last week, but seems to have been sick during the week and was not, maybe because of the illness, as intense. His mate in the midfield, Patrick Osiako, did another great game dominating his position. He has really improved since last year and is still just 23 years old.

Another youngster is 21 year old Moestafa El Kabir, the newcomer from Holland. He made a good first game in Stockholm. But his second game in the yellow shirt was just splendid. Even if
El Kabir did not score himself he was an excellent partner to Ekenberg and was the player who got the penalty Ekenberg took care of.

Funny was it also that Peter Gitselov was ready to play and could enter to replace El Kabir on the top with 20 minutes left of the game. Unfortunatelly for him the game died and the Mjällby players did not much more than to finish the game.

Next game is away towards Örebro SK, monday the 29th.

For a lot of great pictures: http://askadaren.blogspot.com/

Summary:

Mjällby AIF - GAIS 3 - 0

Goals: 1-0 Marcus Ekenberg (34), 2-0 Ekenberg (52), 3-0 Ekenberg (71), penalty
Shots: 9 - 13
Shots on goal: 4 -4
Corners: 6 -3
Freekicks: 12 - 15
Ball posession: 58 - 42
Offside: 7 - 3
Yellow cards: 2 - 3
Red cards: 0 - 1

Spectators: 4049

First game of the season: AIK 0 - 0 MAIF

2010-03-14T18:30:00.000+01:00

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.

New year's resolutions 2010

2010-03-07T19:42:00.004+01:00

New year, new season in Allsvenskan. The plan is to restart reporting MAIF's feats this year. Including some matches away, as several fellow teams (Kalmar, Trelleborg, Malmö, Helsingborg, Halmstad) are not so distant.

Some of the other minks have more time at hand to help me in this task, and they have promised to help. We'll see how that resolution holds...

The white page syndrom

2009-05-21T16:04:00.002+02:00

7 league games, no defeat.
Quarter finals of the Swedish cup after having eliminated Malmö FF and Hammarby.

The whole concept of this blog has been to complain about things. Even Mr Pajas himself made a good game during his last visit. Just now you guys are not giving me any material to work with...

\o/

MAIF 0-2 Ängelholm

2008-09-14T18:46:00.002+02:00

Terrible game today at home. Nothing worked really well. Ängelholm's midfield and attack were better than us. They were especially more active and running after every single ball. So of course with players lightning fast like Skoog, they snatched a lot of ball.

All in all, we must have had like 5 shots at the goal, and Ängelholm's keeper caught them all or its defense put out. ÄFF on the other hand had many more opportunities.

In defense both Rehn and Robin have had better days. Robledo took over a lot of work, especially in the second half. Wille was as usual.
Löfqvist was inexistant, was taken out at midtime. His replacer Kacaniklic did not do much more, but at least he tried and ran more.
Erton did not much, and he had to go out early.
In the middle Osiako and Tobbe did both good things and not so good things, had a lot of pressure on them from ÄFF's midfield.
At the top Eken was always covered by ÄFF's defense. Berner was very active both offensively and defensively. I still would like midfielders to use his top speed when launched, but that one was still not for today.
Skoog (entered for Erton) was somewhat more active than usual, it seems his condition is finally coming up (at this pace he'll be fit again just in time to go back to MFF) but that was not enough in front of ÄFF's midfield.
Jörgen Nilsson did not get much play-time. Or maybe I did not see because he was on the other side of the pitch from my seat.

Overall best were Wille and Berner.

The referees have had better day too, especially the line-men. One should go back and read the chapter about off-side (it's the position at the start of the ball that counts, it's ok to arrive ahead of your defender in case you run faster), the other should start all the way back to throw-ins (when a player from team A sends all alone the ball out the long side, you do not give the ball to team A).

So no point today, we're in the middle of the table, a middle that is very competitive this year. 5 points to the last place for Allsvenskan, but with games like today we can forget it.

Mjällby - Åtvidaberg - pictures

2008-09-01T15:54:00.014+02:00

Ze French Minks on the loose...

2008-08-21T12:02:00.020+02:00

Sweden - France 2 - 3

We where there!Ullevi

Legends from the World cup 1958

And more legends. French this time.

Sibel from Kristianstad
She was good!

French funny guys...

Weather was... dark. Rain before the game, but nothing during.

Smallest Mink.

Källström best in field.

French joy!

Mjällby - Bunkeflo 0 - 1...

2008-08-20T09:27:00.002+02:00

... what can one say. MAIF loose 0-1 at home with a team on the way down.

You know the Mjällby that some people already saw in Allsvenskan for the forth time. No, I don´t think they will make it this time. Already if you check the points of what is normally the standard of getting a place direct, or by play off, to get up to the first league, Mjällby will not make it. Even if the Superettan of 2008 is a weird one where the top teams can loose with the bottom (see MAIF yesterday). If they don´t win with a team on the place of Bunkeflo - and they didn´t lack their chances - I am sorry, but we don´t have the level.

The recruiting of Niklas Skoog is not the miracle medicine that makes it. Even if that might have been what the players yesterday where thinking. Because Ekenberg was not to recognize most of the time. He is still a good player. Not bad at all. But not the big striker that only he can be. Speedy Gonzales Berner was also not to be identified in tuesdays game. He still had some chances, but didn´t take them. Whatever you might think of Johan Svenssons greatness, he was not there yesterday as well as Erton Fejzullahu. That had to give new positions for some players which might leave confusion. For example we found Tobias Johansson on the right wing. Nothing wrong with that. He has done, if not miracles before, very well on that position. The problem was that he had / took / got another role as a playmaker and battle general in the midfield. The only one showing the way actually. That though left some space empty on the right side where Daniel Ivanovski came throught. Just that he was always so alone. Which in its turn lead to to much dribbling on his own and he lost the ball.

Who stood out then? Well, Asper did a good enough game, even if not his best. Daniel Nilsson made an enourmous effort on the midfield. And William Leandersson did a great work. Even if I got nervous every time, at the end, when he took it so easy near his own goal. But every time he turned out as the winner and cleared the situation out. That is more than you can say about his collegues Cederberg and Robledo. Cederberg started ok, but the more the situation got critical, the more careless he played. Robledo didn´t have his best day at work and frustration finally lead to two yellow cards and he was out. Except the red for Robledo, MAIF also got yellows on Ivanovski (miss next game?) and Johansson.

What about the game? Well, Mjällby started with good intensions. Continued even better had o so many chances. But didn´t score. State that LB07s goalie Ola Svensson had a great day at work and did some miraculous saving. But still. So the joy of seeing a game with multiple chances for our home team changed into frustration that they couldn´t make it. When then finally Bunkeflo scored in the 71st minute the house of cards fell together. From not beeing able to score that goal (now two had been needed) Mjällby got problems to defend themselves and it was just chaos. The team lacked the skill to score, but mostly it seems, the fighting spirit needed. Hope they have found it back for next game with leeding Örgryte. It might be more inspiring!

Goal: 0–1 (70) Henrik Ewald.
Yellow cards, Mjällby: Juan Robledo, Daniel Ivanovski, Tobias Johansson.
Red card, Mjällby: Juan Robledo.

Mjällby: Mattias Asper – Daniel Ivanovski (74), Juan Robledo, Robin Cederberg, William Leandersson – Adam Berner, Patrick Osiako (81), Daniel Nilsson, Tobias Johansson – Niklas Skoog (70), Marcus Ekenberg. Bench: Rickard Fransson, David Rehn (74), David Löfquist (81), Jörgen Nilsson, Robin Kacaniklic (70).

Referee: Keiji Hyvärinen, Haparanda.

Spectators: 1 904.

Listen to Mjällby - Limhamn-Bunkeflo

2008-08-19T11:56:00.002+02:00

Radio Blekinge broadcasts tuesday evenings game between Mjällby and Limhamn/Bunkeflo IF.

The game starts at 19.00 tueday the 19th of august, but the radio starts their transmission already at 18.45. The telecast will be going on until 21.00. Commentator is Fredrik Persson assisted by Ze French Minks friend and ex-Maif goalie Leif Persson.

http://www.sr.se/webbradio/?id=SR-Extra01

French Minks on the loose

2008-08-19T11:44:00.002+02:00

It is 50 years since Sweden arranged the World Cup in Football. On this historical occasion the Swedish federation invites France for a anniversary international match.

Ze French Minks as well as some other French goes to see the game in Gothenburg.

20 augusti, 21.00Ullevi, Göteborg.

The game is transmitted on TV8 and in the Radiosporten. http://www.sr.se/Radiosporten/

Swedens troup:
http://www.svenskfotboll.se/t2ll.aspx?p=152177&x=1&a=1140937
France troup:
http://www.svenskfotboll.se/t2ll.aspx?p=152177&x=1&a=1141008

Draw 0-0 against Jönköping

2008-08-15T00:56:00.002+02:00

MAIF took 1 point home from the trip to Jönköping tonight. Dominated the first hour without transforming (1 goal refused though) and the last half Jönköping missed its few occasions.
No goals still, Eken and Skoog don't find each other, the latter still too slow and stopping the game and Sasa is only playing with his head. Erton got hurt in a knee, we'll see how long he'll be out.

The only good news is the defense + keeper team is working, 4 games without a goal taken.

Again we failed to take points against a bottom team. We're lucky the other top teams did not do so well in this round, so we still manage to climb to 4th place.

Listen to MAIF - Jönköping

2008-08-14T17:21:00.001+02:00

You can listen to thursdays game between Jönköping Södra and Mjällby AIF on the web.

The game start at 19h and you can find it here:

http://www.sr.se/webbradio/?id=SR-Extra02

Victory home against Sirius 1-0

2008-08-11T01:33:00.000+02:00

A victory today during this 18th game of the season at home, with 1-0 against Sirius. Unfortunately not so very satisfactory.

The game started well and the first goal came rather quickly at the 7th minute. Osiako gets the ball at the entrance of the surface and some room, shoots hard just below the bar, Sirius' keeper has to push it out into a corner kick, that Robin shoots well, re-entering, and Robledo heads it in with at the 1st pole just in front of Sirius' keeper. 1-0.
After that MAIF continue to push, but what was most obvious was the disorganization at the midfield: Sasa was playing very high and centre, leaving the right wing empty. But that was Skoog's place, so they kept tripping on each other. So we were playing some sort of 4-3-3 leaning on the left. If their was someone on the right, it was Ivanoski. In the defensive phases, it was often Osiako or Danne who were defending on the right. Luckily Sirius did not use their left channel so much.

Fortunately in the second half Thomas did put some order and get the players to their place, so their were fewer holes. Sirius were also more lively and created quite many occasions, but really wasted them all. MAIF was pushing as well, but did not manage to create clear cut occasions, except Berner's acceleration in the end that Sirius' keeper saved, or wasted them as well. So the number of shots on the goal is quite equal to both team, but it was more like the number of shots "within 10m of the goal"....

Very good game by Asper again, saved many balls. What a confidence back there.
Ivanovski very offensive, especially in the first when there was noone ahead of him so he had to push the ball all the way.
Good defense by Robin and Robledo, despite a couple of misses, but none that Asper could not cover.
Very good game by Wille, who intercepted many balls and started many offensive actions.
Svensson did not do much, or at least not so much that became something.
Enormous game by Danne, he's run a marathon today. Offensive, defensive, everywhere.
Good game by Osiako, good distribution. When he was not doing other people's job that is.
Very average game by Sasa. He played half of the game not at his place without making sure he had a coverage, while he was up he was inexistant in defensive phases, and he didn't come to anything dangerous. It seems everybody likes him, but I'm sorry I don't see what he brings.
Same comment for Skoog, he definitely can control balls with very few touches, but he's too static, he was playing too low instead of supporting Eken, he's calling many balls but usually lost them shortly after. Not convincing.
Eken still has difficulties at the top, he had more space today but did not create so many dangerous situations. It's been a while since he scored. Caught too many times off-side.

The replacers were Tobbe, Berner and Löfqvist who did ok for the little time they had.

The pajas was ok.

Coach Thomas was not very inspired in his choice of players. Svensson is not in his top condition, leave him on the bench until he is. As I said above I am not a big fan of Sasa, or at least use it in the centre as it's his natural position. Skoog is not very well integrated in the team and could use some physical and mobility training.
We have so many replacers for the midfield, I really don't understand why most never get a chance except a stupid tactical change in the last minute.
If they both want to play center, put Skoog and Sasa there, last time I checked Eken was quite an excellent right winger.
But please use the players in a place that suits them, not wherever there is a hole, just to have them on the pitch. And give a chance to the youngsters, especially when we play against the bottom teams.

So in the end, another game where we were lucky that the opponents lacked the skills or realism to transform all their opportunities into a couple of goals. And where Asper saved our a**es in more than one occasion. But the opponents are at the bottom of the table, we cannot continue with such playing with the top teams, we'll get crushed.

Anyway 18 games played, 5th of the league with 31 points, we are still in contact with the 4 teams above, but there must be some order in the positions and play style if we intend to climb or even keep that position.

Heavy defeat away at Väsby (3-0)

2008-08-05T12:15:00.000+02:00

Yesterday MAIF lost at Väsby with 3-0. Tough conditions as it was very windy, and the pitch was soaked with the heavy rain from the morning.
The first goal was unintentionally deviated in by Robledo after a corner kick. It stood long like that, and the new attacking duo Eken-Skoog did not manage to make space for themselves up front. And Väsby's defense and keeper seem to have had a good day. The last 2 goals were made in extra-time on 2 consecutive actions, when the MAIF-players had abandonned playing.
Not good.

After the 17th round for the season, MAIF is now 5th of the league, Åtvidaberg having climbed to the 4th place after winning away in Jönköping. But only 2 points away from the last place to Allsvenskan, so the top is still within reach.

Chippen to Al Hilal

2008-08-05T06:54:00.002+02:00

Chippen was back in town end of this week while his club Nantes was playing against Rennes in friendly game. It was not a good sign but both Nantes and Chippen had decided since some weeks to stop their collaboration.

FC Nantes web site
http://www.fcnantes.com/articles/20082009/flash-wilhelmsson040808.php

Aftonbaldatet
http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/internationell/article3031627.ab

So from now we will have to follow the Saudi Arabia championship. According to Aftonbladet Chippen is transferred for 18 millions sek. Entering the site of Al Hilal you should be able to see Chippen presented officialy.

http://www.alhilal.com

We can be a little worry for Chippen carrier in the national team. Hoppefully he will be present the mid august for Sweden-France in Göteborg.

Fransson finally

2008-08-04T08:24:00.004+02:00

Mjällbys goalie Rickard Fransson is not out of the picture anymore!

Despite news saying that MAIF and Fransson have choosen different paths and said goodbye to each other (in a friendly way) the club confirmed on the monday that Fransson will continue in the club.

Ze French Minks welcomes you back, Rille!

It doesn´t seem thought that Fransson will be there for tonights game with Väsby United.

3rd of May 2007 - Mjällby under 21 against Helsingborg

Pictures Mjällby-Brommapojkarna

2008-08-03T11:31:00.010+02:00

Public record of the season 3 150.

Number 14 entered at the 60th minute disapointed. Robledo was better.

Sasa SUPERSTAR after his goal.

2 coaches in press conference. One happy, one not so happy.

The MAIF - Malmö connection

2008-08-01T20:15:00.013+02:00

Niklas Skoog is the new MAIFer

Fridays hottest news in Football-Blekinge was that Niklas Skoog, ex scorer of Malmö FF is ready for the black and yellow shirt. After some scoop info in the local papers that Mjällby had signed well known Malmö FF striker Niklas Skoog same papers denied that anything had happened. Even if both clubs agreed to the move Skoog himself rejected the offer.

After some more thinking Skoog changed his mind and the transfer was a fact.

A great recruitment and one of the bigger in MAIFs history.

Highly qualified Niklas Skoog, 34 years, is 178 cm tall, weights 78 kg and is said to have Allsvenskans biggest ass (have not checked that detail). He debutaded in Allsvenskan with Västra Frölunda in 1991. But he is most famous for being a Malmö FF skriker since 2000. He was best scorer in Allsvenskan in 1995 and 2003. He has 8 selections in the national team, won Allsvenskan in 2004 with Malmö - toghether with Mattias Asper and has totally played 195 games of Allsvenskan, scoring 86 goals. He has also been a professional in the german clubs MSV Duisburg (1996-1998) och FC Nürnberg (1998-1999).

Skoog is ready to play for Mjällby with immediate effect, which means that he can do his MAIF debute already monday with Väsby United.

Niklas Skoog is on loan from Malmö FF for the rest of the season.

The other Malmö connection is that ex Mjällby goalkeeper Dusan Melicharek made his Allsvenskan debut saturday. Unfortunatelly after MFFs regular goalie, Jonas Sandqvist, had to leave the field after a bloody story. He collided with IFKs Ragnar Sigurdsson and both players had to leave the field. Sigurdsson came back into the pitch very fast but it took a while to put Sandqvists head together. He did come back though but had to give up and leave his place to Melicharek early in the second half. The game ended 2-0 to IFk Göteborg, both goals made before Melicharek entered. First goal made by 17 year old Robin Söder already in the first minute. Jonas Wallerstedt scored his seventh goal of the season in the sixth minute of the injury time.

By the way, Melicharek saw the good game of Mjällby with Brommapojkarna last Tuesday together with Amel Hrnjic, goal of SGIF (Sölvesborg).

Revenge on the Bromma Kids 1-0

2008-07-29T22:02:00.002+02:00

MAIF took a revenge on ze Bromma Kids today at home (loss last game before the summer-break). Perfect weather, no wind, biggest crowd of the year with more than 3100 people attending.

MAIF owned the most part of the first half. Few occasions, but some very dangerous, like when Eken lobbed the keeper with a head, but the defender saved it on the line. But no transformation.
After the break, BP came back and equalized the level. Then came a corner very well shot by Robin, Zaza somehow gets rid of his defender and puts it in the small net. Nice and clean, by the book.
After that MAIF did not release the pressure, and neither did BP. There was now more spaces in the defenses, with both team trying to increase or reduce the score. Eken was ruled out at least 10 times off-side, wonder if he always was. Anyway, MAIF held the pressure all the way until the 93rd minute and won 1-0.

Good game of the defense. Robin and Wille played well together as usual, Robledo always behind and strong. Asper had nothing to do in the first half, but was decisive on several actions in the second, of which a one-hand parade that few would have pulled out.
Ivanovski made quite many mistakes at the beginning. Zaza as well. Wonder where these 2 have been on vacation... Zaza scored the goal, but not so much more remarkable in my opinion.
Danne and Osiako had a tough time in the middle, they were not given much space, but they did well. Osiako sent 2 shots above, but had one cannonball that BP's keeper had to steer out. Danne missed an opportunity in front of an open goal, his header went way too high.
Eken was very dangerous as usual, but the defense was very tight on him, and put him offside 10 times at least. Some very dangerous actions, but nothing went in today.
Erton did a good game, pulling strong accelerations all the way until the end of the game.
Berner came in but again was under-used as nobody launched him in the depth.
The 2 other replacers were Tobbe and Rehn who did ok.

The BP defense was very effective for at least the first 60 minutes. Their midfield knows how to play ball. Today they only lacked realism in front of the goal, too many balls up in the sky.

The pajas was ok. A couple of misses near the end.

Next game the 4th of august against Väsby away.

Status at half time

2008-07-29T12:47:00.019+02:00

Well, then we all had our little rest and vacation. The French Minks as well as Mjällby AIF who didn´t play a superettan game since the 12th of July when they lost the last battle of the spring season towards tuesday nights opponents Brommapojkarna - le garcons de Bromma.

Mjällby finished the first half of the series with a loss in Stockholm. After what was reported they didn´t do well and the saviour of the day was Matthias Asper. MAIFs goalkeeper who played last year exactly in BP. Asper as well as the rest of the team must be eager to get revenge on the Bromma-Boys as well as take some well needed points.

At the present situation MAIF has fallen one place since before the break due to one game less played. If they keep up the speed and get their three points they will even pass Örgryte and be on a playoff place. At least until tomorrow when ÖIS gets their chance. But if MAIF loose tonights battle they can even be passed by Falkenberg and fall to a 6th place with BP arriving at the same points.

Tonights game can be followed at the webbradio of Radio Blekinge. The game starts at 19h but the radio start to broadcast at 18:45

http://www.sr.se/webbradio/?id=SR-Extra01

What has happen since last then?

Mjällby has lost two players and got one new.

Marcelo Sarvas was sold to Limhamn-Bunkeflo during the "vacation" and will probably play his first game in the new dress wednesday towards Ängelholm.

Mjällbys former goalkeeper Dusan Melichárek who already was on loan to Malmö FF has signed until 2011.

Good luck, guys!

As well as the loss of Melichárek was expected, since he already left in march, it is not frech news that Mjällby has got a new player called Robin Kacaniklic. He has been training with the club since the season started but was not ready to play until the 1st of July. Kacaniklic is 20 years and comes from FC Wrexham in Wales. He has also played in Helsingborgs IF. As did his brother and before them their father Zoran, who also played in Mjällby at the end of the 80´.

A questionmark for Mjällbys former, for the moment clubless, goalie Rickard Fransson. Rille and MAIF is still dealing about the contract.

The last player that could complete the troup before the transfer window closes is yet another Czech player - defensive midfielder Michal Ščasny. Ščasny who has played for clubs like Sparta Prag and belgian KVC Westerlo is much qualified and has some UEFA cup experience in his portfolio. Ščasny comes from a big football family. He followed his father Zdenek Ščasny first to Cyprys and then to other clubs. Ščasny senior is a former player of Sparta Prague and Czech National team, and previously coached Czech clubs Sparta Praha and FK Viktoria Žižkov and Greek clubs OFI Crete and Panatinaikos Athens. Ščasnys sister Pavlína Ščasná plays fotball in LdB FC Malmö. According to the local newspapers it is sure that Ščasny want to play in Mjällby and now it is up to the club to decide in the matter.

Other curiousities linked to MAIF.

Chippen is back in Nantes since he has a contract there. Nantes is back i Ligue 1 after one season un ligue 2. The coach of Nantes wants 30 players maximum and for the moment there are 39. The door is open for Chippen but there is an transfer to pay... If Nantes does not get a good offer, he will have to stay according to french news maxifoot.fr.

Fredrik Olsson has been transferred to Landskrona BOIS and scored BOIS only goal when they lost 2-1 to Qviding. Second loss with that team it will be. Johan Persson got a red card ... again.

Not only ex-Maifer Markus Senften plays Allsvenskan-football with Ljungskile (as captain), but also his old friend and Mjällby captain Peter Hiir-Salakka did a marvelous comeback in Swedens finest football. 35 year old Hiir-Salakka was the oldest player doing allsvenskan premiere.

Patrik "Baker" Rosengren (captain of Kalmar) scored last week when his Kalmar FF (still leading Allsvenskan) lost 3-2 with Malmö FF. Marcus Lindberg, ex MAIF-captain, played from start, and Abiola Dauda entered in the second half.

What is it with ex Mjällby players and the role of captain...?

Well, Forza MAIF!

Mjällby AIF - Enköping SK 3-0. Not as easy as it seems...

2008-07-06T22:31:00.002+02:00

The Mjällby team has not done its best game of the year but at the end it´s 3-0. Thank you to the referee who gave 2 red cards to Enköping players, thank you to the pair Cederberg – Robledo who score 1 goal each and thank you to Adam Berner entered in the 2nd half who brought speed to the team.

After 2 defeats in a row against Qviding away and against Häcken at home it was time to take 3 points. It was done but not as easy as it looks like.

If the back line and midfiled were standard – Wille, Robin, Robledo, Ivan and Osiako – D-Nilsson, Tomas had chosen to put Erton on the right wing, Johan on the left wingt and Tobbe in 9 ½ with Eken alone in the front.

Even if Robledo scored 1-0 in first half quite fast, Enkoping was dominant the 30 last minutes of the first half. At ½ time, coaching from Tomas and Tobbe was replaced by Berner, Erton went on the front with Eken.

Adam Berner came full of speed and intensity and then the game was not the same anymore. The 2nd goal was scored by Robin on the indirect freequick at 5 m of the goal and the 3rd one came one a corner after a good work of Robledo, again him. 3 goals on freequick or corner.

Jesper Blomqvist who played in Milan and Manchester was doing a come back at 34 years. If he was applauded by the public of Strandvallen, he didn´t stay long on the pitch due to 2 yellow cards justified in some minutes…

It was cruel for Enköping who is in the bottom but when everything goes wrong…

The next game against Brommapojkarna is the last game the spring season. Maif is in much better situation compare to the year before. Remember:

After 14 games:
2005: 9 points

2006: 17 points

2007: 19 points

2008: 25 points

But the 3 last years MAIF didn´t manage well the after Killebom period… We will see.

Pictures Mjällby - Landskrona 4-1

2008-06-08T21:25:00.006+02:00

Light in Hällevik

2008-06-07T12:18:00.006+02:00

Helene Björklund had inaugurated the light at the stadium before the game Mjällby-Orgryte.

Martinsson -Björklund.

Lala at half time

Presentation of the team.

Impressive light equipment.

Adam Berner talking to TV4 sport.

Pictures Mjällby-Degerfors

2008-06-07T11:53:00.003+02:00

A little late but here comes some picture from Mjällby- Degerfors.

Mjällby - Degerfors: 1-2

2008-05-25T22:22:00.002+02:00

I thought before the game that the game against Degerfors would be a quite easy win. But, as quite often with "easy" games, the result shows always some surprises. After this game, some questions needed to be taken.

For sure, the red card for Erton is the key event of the game: at the 65th minute, Erton give a stupid kick from behind to the captain of Degerfors Karlsson. For me, the red card is justified, both were running, but not involved in the action, Erton one meter behind. It was a deliberated kick, no comment.
The problem is that there was already 1-0 for Mjällby, goal from Rehn at the 32nd minute. after a free-kick from 20 meters by Marcelo, the goalkeeper could stop the shot, but Rehn, 3 meters from goal and free, had only to push the ball in the goal. An easy goal, but you know the story with the easy stuff...
So, 1-0 for Mjällby, still 30 minutes to play, and the players started to be tired, they had a difficult game on Thursday at Åtvidaberg (victory 1-0) where they played also more than a half with 10 men.

Is the red card justified? is it because the referee was Håkan Jonasson, and it could be a subject of discussion? we still have in mind the "pajas" story. I think that an other referee would have done taken the same discussion, and maybe it wouldn't take some much discussion.
He also gave to the Degerfors trainer the red card. Several times, the fourth referee had to calm the Degerfors bank.
Maybe the federation should also think about to put Jonasson as a referee in a Mjällby game: with all the historics already, it is stupid to continue in that way.

But, even with 10 minutes and the referee, it doesn't explain why Mjällby took 2 goals in the same way. Corner by Degerfors, Mjällby can push away the goal, one player from Degerfors put the ball in the center, where the ball is touched/deviated in the goal.
Can we say it was no luck, or a problem of organization? but at least it has to be taken during trainings in the common week.

Then, Mjällby didn't dominate the game as it should be: in the beginning of the second half, Mjällby had again a free-kick. Ekenberg shots and the ball ended on the post, which arrived in the feet of a Mjällby players (Osiako and Löfqvist) but the goalkeeper could stop the shoot. At 2-0 the game was killed. It was the no luck day.

One point that we can take also, is because of the difficult game againt Åtvidaberg, maybe some players were too tired. Degerfors is not the most terrific team of the superettan, and it was a good opportunity to see players from the beginning, like Berner, Zimonjic or J. Nilsson.

Ekenberg get injured and was replaced by Zimonjic, good game from Robledo and Rehn in the central defense. Löfqvist did a good game in the midfield, with 2 nice shoots in the first half. On one, he tried to lob the goalkeeper from 50 meters, it was on goal.

We can only hope that this defeat is just an accident, the next game at home is against Landskrona, we can expect for a tough game. Mjällby has to show an other face.

Still no defeat....

2008-05-22T22:30:00.002+02:00

After 6 games, MAIF is still unbeaten. The game today in Åtvidaberg was particularly difficult after the expulsion of Tobbe at the end of the first half. Still Johan Svensson managed to make a goal at the beginning of the second half, and the team to keep it this way until the final whistle. Final result Åtvidaberg 0 - 1 MAIF.

MAIF is still 4th of the league, but ex-aequo with the 3 first ones in term of points (14, 4 victory + 2 draws) and goal difference (+8). We're now more or less down to alphabetical order.

Less funny is that Cederberg went out injured.

PSG stays in Ligue 1 !

2008-05-17T23:13:00.002+02:00

Good news after the last day in the french ligue 1. Paris Saint Germain stays in Ligue 1 and Marseille will play in champions league. SuperMink and ValjeMinken are happy.

MAIF out of the Swedish Cup

2008-05-17T16:26:00.003+02:00

MAIF lost 5-1 against Hammarby, a top team of AllSvenskan, the swedish Premiere League. MAIF scored early on through Marcelo, but Hammarby got the scoring machine going in the 2 half.

MAIF 1 - 1 Örgyte

2008-05-13T20:10:00.002+02:00

Not fully satisfactory game. Too many misses in defense, midfielders losing many balls and not finding each other. We were lucky to take only 1 goal. Örgryte's number 22 was extremely dangerous, and ran fast like hell. He created the situation for their goal.

What was satisfactory is the pressure MAIF put the last 30 minutes. The goal is the conclusion of a quite fantastic collective action. Erton steals the ball on the central line, passes to Osiako, then Ekenberg, then Johan Svensson goes to the right of the goal near the line, shoots, Berner steers it above the keeper. Untakeable.

I did not like Löfqvist from start, Osiako brings (and brought) so much more when he is in. Rehn very offensive, but leaving a lot of space behind him, coordination with Cederberg not as good as Wille. First time I see Alexandersson playing, he's good and tall. Erton, Eken, Johan Svensson good game. Erton did almost loose his nerves again, but somehow calmed down before the pajas got nasty. A pajas who did not do a brilliant game either. The tackling from the back on Johan Svensson (when Erton got upset) was 3 times more dangerous than the tackling that Robledo did, but but still it's the latter who got a yellow card.

Anyway, 5 games and still undefeated in league games. 4th of the league. Eken 6/20.

IF Limhamn Bunkeflo 1 - 6 Mjällby AIF !

2008-05-05T20:52:00.002+02:00

Fantastic victory of Mjällby in Limhamn 1-6 with 4 goals from Marcus Ekenberg. 4 games and 10 points.

Pictures Maif-Jönköping Södra 1-0

2008-04-27T23:27:00.006+02:00

Difficult second victory at home (MAIF 1 - 0 Jönköping Södra)

2008-04-27T19:44:00.001+02:00

Difficult victory today. The goal was quite nice. Jönköping lose the ball in the middle, Svensson goes up in the middle, passes to the left to Eken, who chips it above the keeper. Very lucid. 2/20 for Eken.

The rest of the game was less glorious. A lot of lost balls in the middle. Playing ball a lot, but not going all the way. No rythm. The last 30 minutes was only defense. Good luckily.

Very good performance by Robledo, enormous on heads, Ivanovski and Cederberg. Wille made a couple of mistakes, luckily good cooperation with Cederberg.
Svensson very offensive as usual, but like last time inexistent in defensive phases, even when the ball is passing 50 cm away.
Danne had plenty to in defense.
Osiako did a couple of mistakes, but overall good. Good rythm.
Marcelo and Erton kept on not finding each other.
Eken was on every action, defense offense everywhere.

The replacers Löfquist and Nilsson missed big occasions in front of the goal, they must definitely gain confidence, stop playing ball and shoot. Rehn is now officially Mr Tactical, entering not before the 92nd minute.

After last week's draw at Sirius (1-1), Mjällby has now 7 points and holds the 4th place of the league. But this game was not exactly reassuring for the big games.

Eken is shooting high

2008-04-14T14:38:00.000+02:00

Literally so on the second free-fick he took yesterday, but also as the SuperEttan's best scorer.
In the K-stad Bladet last saturday, with a long interview with Eken (swedish), Eken aims for 20 goals this season.

So the count is now 1/20.

Opening game 2008: MAIF 2 -1 Väsby United

2008-04-13T19:43:00.000+02:00

For the opening of the season, the conditions today were quite good. 2175 people, no wind, not too cold, the grass was a little wet but manageable. An addition for this year in Strandvallen is the lights, quite impressive when you stand just at their foot. I have not seen them in action, but I hear they light up the whole of Hällevik.

The game had a high rythm, and the first half was balanced. Mjällby's first goal came after a free-kick, the ball goes to the right to Eken alone, who instantly shoots an enormous shot, the keeper shows talent and deflects it to the other side, Johan Svensson shoots again, the ball is deflected by a Väsby defender and arrives in Erton's feet, who pushes it in a corner of the net. The keeper can't do much, 1-0.
Shortly before the break, the rythm has gone down a bit on MAIF's side, Väsby has a good 15 minutes. Good 1-touch passes in the middle, the ball comes in the feet of their number 10 Mikael Torstensson just at the entrance of the zone, the defense is well lined up, Robledo misses his tackle, leaving a big hole behind him, Torstensson goes in and shoots it in a corner. Asper can't do much, the whole thing took only a couple of seconds. 1-1.

During the second half, MAIF owned the better part of the game. As time went Väsby made more mistakes in the center, people losing their nerves, and Osiako-Svensson-Marcello were quite good at stealing and bringing up the ball. This lead to many shots, and many very close to the goal (7-1 in total). The forwards were provoking a lot, on one occasion Eken is brought down outside the zone, he kicks it himself, very hard and 20cm high à la Eken, and it hits the corner of the net on the other side. There were 20 people in the wall, the keeper didn't see it coming, not early enough anyway. 2-1. There could have been another goal almost the same, but so close to the zone line, Eken put it way too high. I would have let Marcello curve in that one.

The players:
Asper was quite safe on capturing the ball. A little too passive on the goal maybe, but that would have been a tough one for any keeper. On the kicks out he made a couple of "Wendel" too.
Wille was good, a couple of mistakes in the beginning, but he or Cederberg caught them up. Good cooperation on the left side.
Robledo was very safe on the heads, but played a little too easy on the ground. His missed tackle lead to Väsby's goal. He got Mjällby's only yellow on a dangerous action (high foot). Little slow acceleration. Also sucks a lot of defenders on headers, that's good for the others.
Ivanovski and Cederberg safe as usual.
Osiako was I think excellent. Last year any time he got a ball was a worry or he'd kill the rythm in the attack, the football he showed today was on a completely different level. He went and stole many balls, he distributed well, he defended well, and did all this with a good speed. Very good play today. He got plenty of applause when he went out, and rightfully so.
Marcello and Erton showed excellent football at times, but had also difficulties finding each other. I hope that will improve with more play together. Erton did not lose his nerves even when mistreated, that's good.
Johan Svensson was criticized by some people in the public, but I disagree partly. He ran a lot up on his left side, every time sucking 2 or 3 defenders to him, leaving a lot of room in the center for Marcello and Eken. And he missed to pass the ball, but only very few times. I would have wanted to see more defensive work though.
Speaking of defense, Danne worked hard today. Not the most glorious job, but someone's got to take it. Good coverage with the defense. Took some time to get into the game though.
Eken was quite excellent. Took a lot of shit on headers, but did not loose many. He's at the origin of both goals (his strong shot for the 1st; provoking a foul and shooting the 2nd). In the press conference, Väsby's coach thought that Eken is too good to play in MAIF...
Löfqvist who entered in the second half made a good impression. Good in placement, stole many balls, good distribution up even under some pressure, not just sending away. Promising.
Jörgen Berner (or Adam Nilsson, I'm not sure, they look the same) showed some potential, but did not dare enough. Must loosen up in the next games

The pajas was relatively good, but the game was fair too. Missed only a couple of small things. The line-men did their share as well. Maybe they qualify as referees today.

All in all a promising first game. And the first time in 7 years that we take all 3 points on an opening game. Let's hope it is a good sign for the rest of the season. The whole of it.

Season start in pictures Mjällby 2 - 1 Väsby

2008-04-13T19:02:00.006+02:00

Training game MAIF-Öster 2-2

2008-03-30T22:50:00.006+02:00

Mjällby has played this saturday against Öster, division 1 team.

Training game MAIF - Falkenberg 1-1

2008-03-02T14:12:00.008+01:00

Mjällby was back on the grass of the D plan in Hällevik for the training game against Falkenberg.

Public:
250

Climatic conditions:
6-7 degres, a little rain, hard wind from the sea.

Team first half:
Asper
Alexendersson,Cederberg, Robledo, Ivanovski
D Nilsson, Löfqvist
Jonasson, Svensson
Fejzullahu, Ekenberg

General comments
Mjällby has been dominating the game. But not creating enough chances. First goal of the game - the one by Ekenberg - was the state of the art. A fantastic volley.

Not long after his own goal Ekenberg provoke a justified penalty and takes care of it himself. He makes it easy for the goalkeeper who puts his hands on the ball (see picture).

Then Falkenberg scored on a conter attack and scored on one of their only chances. Alexandersson and Robledo was not so inspired on the action. Asper did not save this ball but was not to blame. Just two minutes after Falkenberg could have taken the lead 1-2 but miracolously the ball didn´t enter the goal.

It is still just training games, but the team start to make it together. Robledo is new enough and now he played the second half with Alexandersson who did his very first game for MAIF and it looks promising. We are back in a defence line "Baker-style" (if you remember Rosengren-Westergren). Löfqvist has left all of his division II-manners and is a now a man for superettan.

Pictures and some comments:

Just before the start of the game.
Johan Svensson in action. Good link with Ivanovski who was playing left defender.
Juan Robledo.

Juan Robledo again.
Falkenberg freequick.
Corner for MAIF.
Just after the goal (Ekenberg 37 min assit Ivanovski)
Penalty missed by Ekenberg.
Second half.

Asper

Cederberg, Alexandersson, Robledo, Ivanovski (Olofsson)

Löfqvist, D Nilsson (Osiako)

Jonasson (J Nilsson), Svensson

Fejzullahu, Ekenberg

Ivanovski back on the right. Robin played left. Asper getting the ball. 1-1.
End of the game.
Debreifing.

Always defeated by Värnamo...

2008-02-17T20:31:00.034+01:00

Saturday at noon there was another game at Svarta Led. Mjällby still in red, met Värnamo - and lost. Don´t they always with those big smålands timberjack guys?!

Score 0-1 in a rather boring game.

But the weather was great! (As long as the sun was strong enough to warm us up).

Mjällby played with two different teams, one in each half:

Team First Half:

Asper

Olofsson (Nosaby), Robledo (Chile), Cederberg, Asani (Raufoss)

JöNilsson (Eslöv), Löfqvist, Johansson, J Svensson

Zimonjic, Ekenberg

Team Second Half:

Melicharek

Jonasson, Ivanovski, Asani, Johansson

Lennartsson, DeNilsson, M Svensson, Thörnberg

Fejzullahu, Nwaneri (Nigeria)

Central defense.

Asani from Raufoss.

Some action.

Eslöv-Nilsson on the move.

Collins Nwaneri.

Thörnberg, Nwaneri

Nwaneri, Fejzullahu

It wasn´t that hot... !

Youngsters: Fejzullahu (19), Nwaneri (20), Svensson (18)

Where´s the ball?!

Erton & Collins seen from the other side

DeNilsson

Action in front of the Värnamo goal

More action...

...and even more. Nwaneri goes on Lennartssons kick

Erton on the ground

Erton again, Collins and Jacke

Melicharek

The last action?

And it is over.

Not a good game from MAIF, but more of a test of the players fysic it seemed.

Only players doing 90 minutes where Edmir Asani - in two positions, first half as left defender and in the second as central defender, and Tobbe Johansson who started in the central midfield - probably his best position, and continued as (usual) as left defender.

Next training game:

Svarta Led, Wednesday, 18h

with Karlskrona AIF

followed by a tough game with Halmstad BK next saturday.

Training game MAIF-Ängelholm

2008-02-09T15:56:00.000+01:00

Saturday afternoon Mjällby played this years first home training game at Svarta Led in Sölvesborg. The home team, playing in red, won 3 - 1 over Ängelholms FF.

Mjällby started explosively and scored their three goals within the first 15 minutes. The two first by Sasa Zimonjic and the third by Marcus Ekenberg. Ekenberg was first on the boll which Zimonjic entered already in the second minute played. Assist on the other two goals from an inspired Philip Jonasson.

Mjällbys team was not the same as last in Kalmar since MAIF was testing a trio of players and lacked some own players as well - Erton Fejzullahu was sick, Patrick Osiako in Kenya with his family and some others missing as well.

Mjällbys start eleven:
Dusan Melicharek
Daniel Ivanovski – Emir Asani – Juan Robledo – Robin Cederberg
Philip Jonasson – Pablo Cesar Doffo – Daniel Nilsson – Johan Svensson
Sasa Zimonjic - Marcus Ekenberg

Replacements
Dusan Melicharek - Mattias Asper (45)
Sasa Zimonjic - Jörgen Nilsson (45)
Johan Svensson - Kassoma Mawana (60)

Second game for Juan Robledo from Chile who did a good game.

Ekenberg in the red dress.

Robin Cederberg took a step to the left leaving the mid position to Juan Robledo and Makedonian/Norwegian Emir Asani. Daniel Ivanovski to the right.

Argentinian Pablo Cesar Doffo played in the midfield, here with Daniel Nilsson.

Robledo again, Ivanovski behind.

Mattias Asper entered in the second half. In the first one Dusan Melicharek guarded the goal - and took one on penalty.

Goals
1-0 Sasa Zimonjic (2)
2-0 Sasa Zimonjic (7)
3-0 Marcus Ekenberg (15)
3-1 Mattias Adelstam (penalty17)

Silly season status

2007-12-02T13:28:00.000+01:00

Quickly, a little status of the movements in the team.
The players who will leave MAIF:

Marcus Lindberg to Kalmar.
Simon Sjöfors to Kristianstad
Johan Persson to Landskrona

The players who will not leave MAIF:

Marcus Ekenberg
Tobias Johansson
Adam Berner
Johan Svensson

The new players who have joined MAIF:

Mathias Asper from Bromma Pojkarna
Claes Olofsson from Nosaby
Jörgen Nilsson from Eslöv

Now to the silly part, the rumours:
The players who may leave MAIF:

Rickard Fransson
Alexander malmström
Philip Jonasson

The players who may join MAIF:

Pavel Zavadil from Öster
Fredrik Ahl from Ystad
Marcello Sarvas from Kristianstad

The other current players not mentioned here are under contract with MAIF and will therefore continue to play for MAIF next year.

Mjällby - Öster on the webradio

2007-10-21T13:02:00.000+02:00

Sundays game between Mjällby and Öster at Värendsvallen is broadcasted at the webradio.

The game starts at 13h, and you can find it here:

http://www.sr.se/webbradio/webbradio.asp?type=live&Id=1615&BroadcastDate=&IsBlock=1

Mjällby 0 - 2 Häcken

2007-10-14T17:44:00.000+02:00

Good conditions today, sunny, very little wind, 1308 in the public.

Mjällby started the game well, created quite many occasion in the front, but as too often lately did not manage to put any of them in. After about 30 minutes of that, the pace goes a bit down and Häcken takes possession of the game.
At the 43rd minutes, as usual, a miss in the defense, and Häcken scores juste before half time.

In the 2nd half, the same of the same, we can bring up the ball but get blocked by a very compact central defense from Häcken.

The second goal comes on a big mistake by Danne, when he sends the ball back to Fransson, but too short and the attacker gets it, evades Fransson, and simply puts it in.

Osiako was often late in defensive actions, he should be happy to have got only 1 yellow card. He shows some good skills, but has too often a tendency to break the rythm in offensive phases.
Erton did not do much, some shots but mostly outside. A good point is he seems to have got his nerves under control.
Eken good as usual, but a bit alone.
Danne was good, except for his huge mistake.
Tobbe, Persson, Svensson, Ivanovski were good.
Lindberg was very good.
Phille was not in a good day.

Back in pictures MAIF Enköping 5-1

2007-10-07T19:29:00.000+02:00

Reproduction of the pictures of the French Minks are not allowed without the permission of the authors.

MAIF - Sylvia on the web

2007-10-04T10:11:00.000+02:00

Sveriges Radio broadcasts thursday evenings game, Mjällby - Sylvia, on the web.

The game starts at 19h.

http://www.sr.se/webbradio/webbradio.asp?type=live&Id=webbevent2&BroadcastDate=&IsBlock=1

Mjällby - Enköping 5-1: Like in July

2007-10-02T21:02:00.000+02:00

After the catastrophic last 2 months, especially with the game of last week in Bunkeflo, a reaction of the players was expected, and we had it. We found the same team that plays wonderful football in July.

With this victory, the superettan 2008 is saved.

What to retain from this game?

- The team played with a good tempo, all players did a good job. The defense was a block, with a good game of lindberg; the midfielders Persson and Nilsson like usual, fighters. And the attack was decisive, all 3 strikers scored (3x Sjöförs, 1x Fejzullahu and 1x Berner).

- 3 goals from Sjöfors, with a nice goal from 30 meters.

- 3 assists from Ekenberg.

- We had more or less the same players like in 2005 at the front: Svensson on the left, Ekenberg on the right, Sjöförs as attacker, and Fejzullahu instead of Olsson (if somebody has some news from him, it would be nice to hear what he thinks about the B-team of Helsingborg!!!).

- the referee was good.

- Not so much people, only 936 came to see the game: the bad weather, the fact that there is no really challenge for the end of the season, the results of last 2 months, the hockey game in Olöfström...

You can see hereunder the 5 goals on a drawing:

Next game on Thursday in Sylvia IF, actual last in the superettan, they need points if they want to stay in the superettan.

Under 21 : Mjällby - Halmstad 1-7...

2007-09-20T22:10:00.000+02:00

1-7 is not a ice-hockey score but football score.

Bad time for the under 21 team of Mjällby. Very depressing to play in a team without structure where juniors play with a-team bench players.

This time again Alex Malmstrom was left defender (i would like to see Johan Svensson if he accepts to play i b-team in defense), Berner at his usual place (this guy has lost his football), Löfqvist central defender this time (he played sometimes 9 or 5 !), Osiako played 45 minutes like a diesel.

OK, may be i do not understand football but at the end it´s 1-7.

I am not sure talented players like Adam Larsson will support that...

MAIF game on the web

2007-09-17T09:19:00.001+02:00

Sveriges Radio sends the game between Mjällby AIF and Åtvidaberg on the web.

The game starts at 19h.

You can find the web broadcast here: http://www.sr.se/webbradio/webbradio.asp?type=live&Id=webbevent2&BroadcastDate=&IsBlock=1

http://www.sr.se/blekinge/

4 points out of 21

2007-09-15T23:47:00.000+02:00

Mjällby has taken 4 points of 21 possible (7 games). Two years ago (same day 23 rd) Mr Crazt had to give a new orientation to his career. One year ago Hasse Larsson was back in business as assistant coach, and I don´t talk about Peter Persson.

This year, so far nothing happens. Thomas Andersson is still the coach of Mjällby, thank you to a good start of season and to an excellent round in Swedish cup, or thank you to the Swedish Federation because there are only 2 teams going down this years compare to last years where it were3 teams...

If Mjällby continue, the club will finish with less points then last year. What a pity with the potential seen in June, July.

Mjällby will play in Åtvidaberg on Monday.

Less public is coming at Strandvalen and even the visit on the FrenchMinks are lower in August. The interest for MAIF is going down.

What ever happens, the FrenchMinks will be there. We were in Laholm and Ystad some years ago when we were in division 1.

(Another) Loss at home 0-2 against Ljunskile

2007-09-09T19:15:00.000+02:00

For last game at home against Jönköping Södra, which we lost 1-2, I did not write an article because I was pissed, I did a writing-strike in protest. This time I am still pissed, but I will write, and most of the remarks concerning this game are equally valid for the previous game.

For some reason the Mjällby attack has lost all its efficiency. We manage to bring up the ball, sometimes in a very nice way. Then we enter in the zone, and all attackers try to dribble here, dribble there, jump above someone, step on each other's toes, bla bla bla, and at the end the opponent gets the ball.
Stop thinking you're all Ronaldinho and can evade 12 defenders, and shoot for %#¤& sake!
Ljunskile, and Jönköping Södra last time, have had 2 dangerous occasions, which is good news for our defense, but they put both in the net.
We've had 15 dangerous occasions, but they all ended in crap.
At one point in time, before vacation, MAIF had the 2nd best goal difference (behind aliens Norrköping), now we are barely positive.

Besides the attack, the defense has recovered somewhat. Last time Lindberg was often too far back and doing dangerous things, now the line was much better, and it did work: LSK's players were caught 6 times in off-side (the line-referees were not sleeping like last time).
Only once Ivanovski was not, and the LSK player got the ball, brought it up and above Fransson who could not do much in this situation. Congratulations LSK nr 7, it was a nice one.

Now about the middle. Why were we so efficient at the beginning of the season? Because we did not let go many balls to the opponent. We were playing a maybe more basic football, but it was efficient, it made the opponent run like hell, and we kept the ball. Today we saw a festival of... volley-ball. On the summary sheet for media we do not get the amount of time the ball spends in the air, it's pity because today it must have been up there like 45 minutes. And off course, very seldom a MAIF player at the reception, unless if flying to the front, in which case Eken has to cope with 2-3 defenders to get it, without much support from the others. This has been the same at least in the past 4 years, it's a so stereotyped system, off course all the other teams know it! They look at one MAIF game and they've seen them all!

Also Thomas must find a balance in the center middle: last time it was full attack, this time it's full defense. There has got to be one to recover balls, and one to distribute them upwards again. They are the key link between offense and defense, otherwise there is 2 half teams.
Also and for the n-th time, please do changes before the 85th minute. It's not a present you're giving the players by entering them so late, give them time to do things.

The referee was quite good today, if I was completely honest I should even add he was nice to us.
Best players were Cederberg, Danne and Tobbe, even and stable.

Under 21 Mjällby - Malmö 1-1

2007-09-04T22:04:00.000+02:00

The FrenchMinks were quite for a period of time in August, but we are now back in business - we are back from vacation.

How is the situation for MAIF ?

4 points of 18 taken during the last 6 games. It´s not brillant.

Mjällby - Sundsvall 1-3
Norrköping - Mjällby 5-0
Mjällby - Sirius 3-1
Örgryte - Mjällby 3-1
Mjällby - Jönköping 1-2
Degerfors - Mjällby 0-0

The fantastic victory in Landskrona is far 2-4 the 3oth of July.
With 29 points, MAIF is only at 5 points from a new contract in Superettan 2008.
What a pity ! The season had started very well. A lot of energy has been put in the cup and the list of injured players has always been big. Sasa has not played since end of July !

On Monday the team under 21 was composed of:

Simon and Sasa in the front,
Berner and Kim T. on the wings,
Marcelo and Osiako in the midfield,
Alex M. right defender and Löfquist central defender,
Dusan in the goal,
and you had two young guys which together made up the start 11.

Not bad for a B-team. But the result was 1-1 against a very young team of Malmö.

What to remember of that game ?

Simon didn´t do so much in first half but in the second one he fight like if it was Champion´s league. He is a real competitor and he scored.

Sasa didn´t do much in the first half and not in the scond one either...
Osiako has touched a lot of ball.
Marcelo was a little everywhere.
Berner was nowhere (what´s happened to him, he was so good).
Kim T. run but did not pass.
Alex was ok.
Löfquist was surprised at the begining but did after a very good game.
Dusan was ok.

CZECH DIARY

2007-08-14T14:31:00.000+02:00

Czech expedition finally (after all) in Sölvesborg.

2 years ago, when I heard about MAIF for the first time, I can´t imagine, that I will also stand with supporters at Strandvallen one day.

I knew about Superettan little bit earlier, it was slightly connected with betting. Cause I should say, that is my hobby. I remember first superettans game ever, which I predicted. It was match Assyriska FF against Vastra Frölunda. Kabba Samura, striker of the Assyrians guys is one of the players, which I never forget.

But time goes and I started to know about MAIF and especially about Superettan more and more. My taste grew faster. I bought swedish vocabulary and added svenskafans.se to my bookmarks. Then Pavel, Dusan and Lukás moved to Sweden, I found Ze French Minks blog and started to be in contact with Supermink.

I got first invitation to Sölvesborg in 2005, in the time when MAIF keep Superettan in last round against Bodens. But i was so young to make this trip.

Two years later i decided, that is a perfect time to make the journey. MAIF on the fire, perfect results, strong squad, quaterfinal of svenska cup and nice summer time. I talked to my friend Jan about this trip and we decided to go. We flew from Prague to Copenhagen (air lenght takes only one hour!) and then go by train to Sölvesborg. We made also little tour in Copenhagen before and saw World cup of homeless football. Then we finally came to Sölvesborg, met there Supermink and cie and get to fantastic community and atmosphere.

One day after our arrival, we were at big cup game against IFK Göteborg. Dusan was not in start line up, but never mind, it was great game. MAIF looks better than their allsvenskan opponent, especially in first sixty minutes. Patrick Osiako, Marcus Ekenberg, Marcelo Sarvas and Tobbe Johansson have to be mentioned. They played really good game, as same as whole team. We were stand in front of the supporters. What a great atmosphere! They shouted and sang all the time. Only few minutes missing to great success to advance to semifinal. I bought MAIF jersey after the game to never forget my Strandvallen visit.

We were also at the Sölvesborgs GIF versus FK Almeboda/Linneryds, 2divison match. We met there many guys, which we can saw at the ground on thursday. We also spoke with Dusan and Patrick for quite long time. Blackdressed guys from Sölvesborgs GIF didn´t showed much. Only one player could be praised, Abiola Dauda, who scored two goals for SGIF.

We saw MAIF again in action against GIF Sundsvall on sunday evening. We counted before the game, that guys will be tired, but the reality was poorer than we expected. Defense line of MAIF looks like veterans. Daniel Ivanovski was totally unable to play, he is still injured, so we don´t know, why he played again. Robin Cederberg and Marcus Lindberg, guys which were absolutely great against IFK made terrible mistakes against GIF. Dusan received three goals maybe from the three shots in first halftime, bad day for MAIF. Second half was rather better and we saw enough scoring opportunities for MAIF. Next 45 minutes brought also two red cards for "Giffarna" and Ekenbergs goal from the penalty. It was funny to see Mika Sankala (coach of GIF), his team led 3:0 in HT, but he looks like a devil still. Final score 1:3 for GIF speaks clearly.

By the way, one piquancy from swedish football. We were so surprised, when we saw, that linemans wearing regular trainers, cause in Czech republic referees wearing football boots as well as players. It could be quite dangerous to run in these boots on wet ground, like was on thursday.

On monday we leaved Sölvesborg and went to see Allsvenskan game MFF vs HIF. It was quite interesting to compare differences between Allsvenskan and Supererettan. MFF was better in first half, HIF in the second half. Jimmy Dixon and Razak Omotoyossi were best players on the field. Final result 1:1 is a fair and we have to praise home fans, which created great atmosphere.

In Malmo we saw also IFK stadium and ice hockey stadium, where was a Redhawks training. Our trip finished on wednesday, when we flew from Copenhagen to Prague, "heart" of Europe.

It was fantastic tour, we got to know swedish mentality and lifestyle. Now we can finally say, that we saw stadiums and players, which we knew only from newspapers before.

We must say: thanks a lot especially for Bruno and Maria, which provided accommodation and service for us.

Goodbye Sweden, hopefully not for the last time!

Milan

Mjällby 3 - 1 Sirius

2007-08-13T10:17:00.000+02:00

Mjällby won 3-1 against Sirius Sunday evening in front of 2023 people. The victory has not been easy , but there are some days where everything goes well.

Like the first attack of Marcelo. Shot, the goal let the ball go under him (it´s an Arconada – famous spanish goalkeeper from the 80´s who let a freekick of Michel Platini go under his stomack in the final of the European Cup in Parc des Princes.). 1-0 after 1 min 45 s.

But Sirius came back to 1-1 at the 14 th minute. Then Sirius did the play until half time.

In the second half, Mjällby played much better and profited of the terrible defense mistake of Sirius in the central defense, Hjalmar Bertwig and Gustaf Sergerström. Ekenberg and Berner have passed them several times and the result was 2 goals 53rd minute Berner and 72nd Ekenberg.

At the end it´s a 3-1 victory which could have been 3-2, 3-3, 4-1, 5-1. The coach of Sirius was right to be a little bitter in press conference. His players have missed the game.

After 3 defeats in a row against Göteborg, who won 0-5 in Kalmar yesterday, Sundsvall and Norrköping, Mjällby took 3 points and it´s good for the dynamic of the team. Coach Thomas was very happy at the press conference.

Regarding the players:

Dusan: One goal in where he can not do so much, he has been excellent in one to one against Daniel Hoch.

Lindberg: He is not as his top and he knows it. He is maybe physically tired. He fight with Dusan in second half…

Robin: Good game.

Daniel: Better game for him also.

Tobbe: Ok game.

Osiako: he has given a lot of ball behind…

J. Persson: Big game. He is back in form. He is a the start of the 2nd goal.

Marcelo: Without him, Mjällby is not the same team.

Erton: he played on the right, it is not his favorite place. He has lost balls which could have cost a lot… Not his best game.

Berner: After one month of flat performance, he is back on track. He should have scored at least 2 goals.

Ekenberg: a locomotive, the best player on the pitch. Possitive agressivity, fighting, a goal. He is a true competitor.

Substitute:

Phille: perfect in his role of substitute, enter at 150% for fight. He shows a really good attityde and is fast.

Löfquist: Better than last game where he completetly failed (could have worked out with a weaker team).

J. Svensson: he missed a one –one against the goal at the last minute… good otherwise.

In sirius, I have been impressed by number 25, Andreas Eriksson. What a good player. Daniel Hoch did a good shot. Olle Kullinger was very disapointing and the central defense, good for us, was not in a good day.

Norrköping – Mjällby 5-0: Use your illusion tour II

2007-08-09T22:52:00.000+02:00

Against Sundsvall the players entered on the field with a new song: "Welcome to the jungle" from Guns & Roses. This evening the game with Norrkoping was "Don’t cry"… (Ok I am not sure that everybody will get it but I did it anyway).

Less than 2 weeks ago people were talking about the game against Åtvidaberg as the best game since many years. Today we have seen the worst game of the season and may be the worst game since many years.

This game has to be forgotten.

It’s always difficult to play a team full of confidence. Norrköping manage everything they tried, first attack: goal, freequick: goal, corner: goal etc…. Dusan was not very lucky. Lindberg and Robin, in focus on TV (yes Sweden has seen this game even if Sport Expressen has an audience quite confidential) were somewhere else. Same for Daniel Nilsson, same for Erton …. I stop there.

Tonight the problem is not the defeat but the 5 goals taken. Mjällby is only at 4 points from the 3rd place for ALLSVENSKAN… incredible.

Thomas Andersson has to now to work with his team and to make sure they do not losse confidence after oen goal taken..

MAIF will play an important game on Sunday against Sirius.

With 25 point, Mjällby is only at 10 points for a new contract in Superettan 2008.

6 games at home.
6 games away.

Mjällby - Sündsvall 1-3: the no-game

2007-08-08T23:23:00.000+02:00

3 days after the fantastic, but also difficult and long, game against IFK Göteborg in the swedish cup, an other big game against Sündsvall came. Unfortunatelly, it was to much, the players were tired and not in the game. Lot of mistakes, lack of concentration sometimes, and 0-3 at half time was too much to expect a good result in this game.

First goal for Sündsvall arrived when Persson was out for a long time, but the referee didn't aloud him to enter on the field. He was not on the good side of the field, if I am correct, the players must enter on the side of the 4th referee.

Second goal is also strange; On a duel, Cedeberg kicks the ball with the head, but finish on the field, little bit injured, the referee didn't blow anything, and here we are with 2-0 against us.

Third goal, throw in from Johansson in direction of Lindberg (in the middle of the field in Mjällby's side), lindberg wants to give to Ivanovski on the right side, wrong pass, the ball arrives directly in the foot of Bayat, who scores the third goal.

Second half was a little bit better. Then came this moment against Sündsvall where there is total confusion and aggresivity (like last year). Berner has a one-one situation against the goalkeeper, tries to dribble him, but the goalkkeeper makes a fault, penalty for Mjällby. I didn't understand why the goalkeeper didn't get any card, even not a yellow. he is the last man, it is a red.
Ekenberg scored the penalty, everything could be normal, but the players of Sündsvall started to be aggressive. Marcelo Sarvas wanted to bring the ball quickly at the center, but he his kicked by a high foot. Confusion and discussions started between the players. At the end, 2 players of Sündsvall got a red car.

How can they be so stupid and aggressive? they have the game in their hands, there are still 10 minutes to play. Really a mystery. But during the game, we saw at the Sündsvall's bench a lot of aggressivity, and the team reflects the behaviour of his trainer. The Sündsvall's trainer is really a pitbull, always jumping about decisions of the referee. He just doesn't look stupid, he is also stupid.

In the locker room after the game, a door has been distroyed by a Sündsvall's player. After a victory??? No comment, but it gives you an idea of the mentality of this team.

What to retain from this game?
- Mjällby was tired, and Sündsvall good prepared. It is a game to forget and doesn't reflect the good football proposed by Mjällby in the last weeks. it was a no-game;
- we loose 3 important points.
- 1st defeat at home this season.

Next game on Thursday in Norrköping will not be easy, against the leader of Superettan.
Next game at Strandvallen is against Sirius, this one is also important because Sirius is a direct competitor for the first places.

Mjällby won the game but did not pass

2007-08-04T23:30:00.000+02:00

Two days ago I saw a fantastic game. Already on Monday I saw the same team humiliate BOIS in Landskrona IP.

Thursday night I saw without electrical light the superettan team Mjällby play out IFK Götebrog from Allsvenskan or was it the other way around ? Which team is actually playing in Allsvenskan ?

Total domination of MAIF in first half with an early goal in the 10 first minutes and a struggled to keep that score until the 20 second before full time. Mjällby finally lost 1-2 in the prolongation (now it was really dark).

I did like:

Patrick Osiako work in the midfield. He might have lost one ball at the end of the game. He sees where to play before getting the ball. Exceptional game.

How Mjällby was playing fast in one touch ball and how they turn ridiculous the allsenvskan team.

How Marcelo passed 3 guys by dribbling.

The press conference were journalist asked questions.

The articles in Göteborg Posten and in Expressen about the good game done by the yellow and black.

The blogg of the TV guy, Patrick Ekwall, who was impressed by Erton, Patrick, Marcelo and Robin.

The fantastic 5 500 spectators in Strandvallen.

The Jazz festival cars tour at the beginning of the game.

To see Ekenberg passing the right defender.

To talk to IFK supporters after the game.

I did not like:

Göteborg play with only long ball. If that is Allsvenskan I understand why there is no more swedish team in UEFA and Champion´s league for years.

Göteborg assistant coach over aggressive and provocative toward the public sitting behind him.

The injury of Robin Cederberg due to the aggression of Berg.

The dark in second half.

Bergs play. I did not seem him. There was maybe agents of Marseille and PSG. Good for us he will never go to League 1.

That Göteborg was protected by the referee. 30 freequick for IFK and only 15 for MAIF. Here we speak with data.

The article in Aftonbladet. It´s better to stay at home if it´s only to report that Göteborg won the game. Where they playing better?

IFK complaining like a child that they had played 72 hours before while the opponent, Mjällby, had played 72 hours before and had 7 games in 20 days. IFK are professional and have just that to do.

Number 6 and 19 in IFK full of aggressivity and testosterone. Are they ready for Tour de France ?

The referee scared to give a penalty against Allsvenskan team (seen before from a certain Anders Frisk).

The defeat of Mjällby.

Links:
http://www.gp.se/gp/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=128&a=360905

http://www.fotbollskanalen.se/ekwall/565509.html

Pictures from Landskrona - Mjällby

2007-07-31T21:30:00.000+02:00

As promised here are the pictures from the trip to Skåne !

Reproduction of the pictures of the French Minks are not allowed without the permission of the authors.

Bois 2 - 4 MAIF: Like at home

2007-07-30T23:55:00.000+02:00

FrenchMink should not have taken his vacation now because he has missed the two best games of Mjällby since many years. If the game with Åtvidaberg was excellent, what to say about the first half in Landskrona ? It was fantastic. Marcus Ekenberg was flying: 2 goals and 1 assist.

I had a bad souvenir of Landskrona. It was in 2002. We lost and Mjällby went down at the end of the season and Landskrona went up. We took a goal of 30 meters on a corner. Bad time.

But now it´s different. We won last year and now we won again scoring 4 goals in 45 minutes. 4 800 people something and 700, 800 from Lister. Sorry to say that supporter of Landskrona, but we were at home tonight !

This evening Tomas Andersson had built a very offensive team, the same as last game at home except Ivanovski injured replaced by Lindberg who was back.

Ekenberg in 9 with Sasa in 9 1/2 (what a great idea - it´s remind me Marcus Rindberg time), then right Erton and left Marcelo. 4 offensive players with Patrick Osiako as 10. Only Johan Persson has midfield defender and the 4 from the back, D. Nilsson, Robin, Lindberg and Tobbe.

Each time Erton had the ball, it was fire in the defense. Same for Marcelo, may be a little tired. Tobbe was ultra offensive. Osiako and Sasa are better game after game. Sasa who arrived injured at the beginning of the season was announced a little fast as big fiasko...

After 60 minutes in the game, Landskrona came back and was dominating. Berner, Löfqvist and Phille went in instead of Erton, Sasa and Marcelo to give some fresh blood.

The guys were probably thinking about the game of Thursday. Mjällby was waiting the end of the game.
The first goal of BOIS was on a generous penalty due to Dusan... Dusan did 2 enormous stops in 2nd half.

Best tonight:

1 - Marcus Ekenberg

2 -Tobias Johansson

3 - Sasa Zimonjic

What to say about the referee ? He was good. A generous penalty given but Dusan could have played it a little better. Osiako was near a yellow card but it didn´t get it. 3 yellow justified for BOIS. Many freequick for MAIF in front of the goal: here is something Tomas has to work with.

Some pictures to come !

All the information about the game here:
http://www.svenskafans.com/fotboll/maif/artikel.asp?id=182728

Mjällby - Atvidaberg 2-0: 2 minutes are enough

2007-07-28T00:02:00.000+02:00

The game against Atvidaberg was probably the best one this season in term of control of the game, it was a real pleasure to see Mjällby's playing.

Before the game, we could think that it would be a difficult game against one of the best team of Superettan. But it wasn't: Mjällby is very impressive at home, with no defeat at Standvallen this season.

The game was done in 2 minutes, between 14th and 16th minute, when Mjällby scored twice.

First goal of Sasa Zimonjic, who played in a different position as usual, as attacker with Ekenberg. and he did very well: Free kick (same position as against Landskrona) by Cedeberg, the ball arrives in the foot of Marcelo Sarvas who centered, the ball is pushed by the head of Zimonjic.

We didn't have the time to really celebrate the goal, then came the second. On the left side, the center arrives on Ekenberg who kicked the ball, the goalkeeper of Atvidaberg is too short, the ball touch the post but finally enter in the goal. It was the referee assistent who validated the goal.

Atvidaberg had a good chance on a face to face situation, but Melicharek stopped the shoot. it was the best goal chance for Atvidaberg in the game. Otherwise there was not so much to say.

In the second half, Mjällby played on counter, the score could be 4 or 5-0 for Mjällby.
The hole team was very good yesterday. Dusan did what he had to do.

In the defense, who was a little bit modified with the suspension of Lindberg, we had Nilsson on the right, Johansson on the left, and Ivanovski and Cedeberg as center defenders. Cedeberg has more and more self confidence, the progress he did is very clear to see.

In the middle, Osiako and Persson as defense midfielders. As usual they did a good game. Osiako lose a very low number of balls. Persson finished the game as central defender after that Ivanovski left the field because on injury. On the left side we had Marcello Sarvas, who was in one word excellent. it is strange to think that last year he played in Kristianstad in a lower division. On the right side, Svensson was generous and runned a lot, but he didn't have the same result as Sarvas, and probably because of the left back defender of Atvidaberg, Arvidsson, who was the best for Atvidaberg. He is very impressive. He won probably all duals agaisnt Svensson, and he was also a good support in the offensive situation.

In the front, Ekenberg as usual, scored his 6yh goal of the season. and as second attacker, Zimonjic, who did a very good game.

We can also say that Fejzullahu and Löfqvist were good also.

With this good result:
- Mjällby wins 3 places and is now at place 6 of the championship, is is still undefeated at Stranvallen.
- Mjällby has the best goal difference (+9) after Nörköpping, and the best defense of Superettan, only 10 goals taken.
- We can see that Mjällby has a better bench this season. Löfqvist, fejzullahu, osiako, zimonjic...it gives more opportunity to the trainer. And we have also players who can play at different positions.

Next game at Strandvallen is against IFK Göteborg in the swedish cup (quarter finals) August 2nd. This positive result is very good to prepare this game.
Next superettan game is on Monday July 30th in Landskrona, and next Superettan game at Strandvallen is against Sündsvall on August 5th: it will be an other test and an indication for the the possiblity for Mjällby to reach one the 3 first positions.

15 games and 22 points

2007-07-27T00:29:00.000+02:00

After the victory of today 2-0 against Åtvidabergs FF, Mjällby has now 22 points. It´s 5 points more than last year and 13 points more than 2005.

35 points may be less, will be needed to stay in Superettan.

Mjällby-Trellebrog FF under 21: Thank you for the lessson... 1-5

2007-07-25T14:47:00.000+02:00

The under 21 team was playing yesterday Tuesday at 17h00 against Trelleborg.
0-3 after 30 min
0-4 at the break
1-5 at the end of the game.

Adam Berner, Erton Fejzullahu, Sasa Zimonjic, Patrick Osiako have played 60 min. David Löfquist, David Rehn and Rickard Fransson have played all the game.

Both team had many opportunities to score, specially 2 shots for Mjällby in first half and may shots in second half for Trelleborg. If Fransson could not stop any shot in the first half, he was good in the end of the game.

Mjällby has a heavy program in the coming weeks which could explain that the A team players were not at 100%. The defense was very young and has suffered in front of Juari Cardoso a player from Brazil who could sign for Trelleborg. Juari has been excellent and explosive He should have get a second yellow blocking a freequick for Mjällby. The referee didn´t applied the rule. If it had been Erton...

Next game A TEAM Thursday.

Mjällby - Landskrona 1-1: the game of the wind

2007-07-23T12:39:00.000+02:00

Despite the bad weather at Strandvallen, wind and rain, 2800 persons came to see the game. in this conditions, it was difficult to play normally. Mjällby scored in the first half, and Landskrona in the second. the team playing with the wind in the back had better control of the game.

the first occasion was for Landskrona at the 10th minute, a center from the right, taken directly by the attacker, but the ball finished 4 meters above the goal of dusan.

Then, between the 10th and 20th minute, it was a clear domination of Mjällby. 2 shots, from Ekenberg and Marcello Sarvas, and then 2 good possibilities to score: the first one following a corner, confusion in the 6 meters area, Cedeberg ready to shot, but a BoiS player tackled the ball. the second occasion was a nice combination between Persson and Sarvas, with Sarvas as the relay, but Persson shot above the goal.

Sarvas shot also a nice free kick from 20 meters, but the ball touched the post. He had also a good opportunity: after dribbling 2 defenders, the goalkeeper coming out, he shooted unfortunately above the goalkeeper (and the goal also...), but the goalkeeper finished in the foot of Sarvas, a penalty was demanded by Mjällby's player, especially Lindberg who received a yellow card, and because of 3rd card, will miss next game against Atvidaberg.
For me there is no penalty, even if the goalkeeper touched Sarvas, the ball was already away.

At the 38th minute, Mjällby scored thanks to a nice header from Lindberg. the ball passed between the arm of the goalkeeper, in the middle of the goal, the goalkeeper without any chance. the center came from a free kick on the right side by Cedeberg (if we look BoiS goal).

The second half was dominated by Landskrona, because they were one goal behind and also because they played with the wind in the back.

Landskrona scored at the 66th minute, by Carlsson. An one-on-one with no chance for Dusan.

The last 10 minutes bring a lot of intensity. First, following a corner from Cedeberg, confusion in the area, the ball was saved on the line of Landskrona's goal. Then after a center, the ball is taken by a Mjällby's player with the head, that is stopped with the hand by a Landskrona's player. It was clear penalty, but the referee decided in an other way. The ball arrived in the foot of a Landskrona' player (strange to find him alone in the middle ot the field), a second one-on-one but this time wonderfully stopped by Dusan. In 30 seconds, we went from a clear penalty for Mjällby to a big occasion for Landskrona.

Dusan who will be the player of the last 5 minutes. first, this one-one situation, then a free kick at 20 meters for Landskrona, hard shoot stopped by Dusan, and finally a vicious shoot at 10 meters, but Dusan used all his 1,97m body to push the ball in corner.

The referee was good, only the hand not blown in the penalty area was his only mistake. I don't want to imagine if Landskrona had scored just after on the one-one situation.

The 1-1 is ok for me, each team had occasions, so it is justified.

It would have been better with a win for Mjällby, because it was a good opportunity to win some places in the championship. Next game in on Thursday against Atvidaberg, it will be difficult too.

Back in pictures to Mjällby-Öster 1-1

2007-07-05T20:30:00.001+02:00

Dusan was right to complain...

2007-07-02T20:59:00.000+02:00

Carlsberg from the Mjällby forum has given the link to a picture database from an Öster supporter. Here is the evidence that Dusan has been pushed. The goal was not valid...

Those excellent pictures are coming from http://www.ef-kinshasa.se/.

Well done and fair enough.

MAIF - Öster 1-1 : The "under utbildning" referee

2007-07-01T21:25:00.000+02:00

Today it could have been a nice derby, all conditions were present: nice weather, lot of people, 4122 at Strandvallen, the record of the season, two teams high-motivated and of points. I Say "could", because it was not the game that we have waited for. The name of the of the "killer game": Tobias Mattson, the referee who is a real catastroph.

But, before coming back to the "under utbildning" referee, let's talk about the game.

if we are honest, it was not a game with lot of occasions. Mjällby scored first at the 15th minute, thanks to Marcello Sarvas. Ekenberg win face-to-face on the left side, enter in the 16 meters area, his shoot is contered by a defender, the ball arrive in the foot of Sarvas, a simple dribbling, and with all his calm, scored a nice goal.
After this goal, Mjällby had a defensive mentality, and öster pushed and had some occasions: a header on the post on a corner, a shoot from Zavadil ending very close from the goal and especially the biggest occasion of the first half: again a corner, confusion in the 6 meters area, öster player shoots, that Dusan stopped with his face, tha ball arrives in the foot on another öster player, that put the ball over the goal. Nothing else to say to the first-half, just that the "under utbildning" referee gave 4 yellow cards to Mjällby, and one to öster.

Second period started intensivelly also: Lindberg is pushed by an öster player in the Mjällby side while Mjällby was attacking in öster side. Line referee calls the "under utbildning" referee, who gives only a yellow card. Last week, Erton got a red + 4 games for the same situation.

At the 60th minute, second yellow for öster's player Teever, who is sent off.
Like often, Mjällby didn't take the opportunity to kill the game. it was maybe the 3 games in 8 days, but we could at least have a better control of the game, put more pression on the defender of öster, who change their tactic, playing with 3 defenders. öster didn't have now so much to lose.
Then, second big event of the second period at the 75th minute, where of course our "under utbildning" referee was involved: öster scored in a more that bizarre situation. öster player centered, the ball is coming in the air to Dusan, who tried to release the ball. It was clear for everybody in the stadion that Dusan was pushed by öster player; the result is that Dusan released the ball on the post and the ball entered in the goal. The "under utbildning" referee blow everything today; especially against Mjällby, but this one he didn't see. Very strange!!
The reaction of Mjällby was direct. At the 84th minute, third event on the second-half, Johan Persson was sent off after a second yellow card. He tried to shoot with a volley after a center, the ball was released by the defender. Persson didn't even touched the player, öster player didn't react either. It was only in the move, nothing special to say. but our "under utbildning" referee judged it in a different way. öster's trainer himself said at the press conference that it was a tuff decision.

At the end, 7 yellow card and one red for Mjällby, and 6 yellow cards and one red for Öster. probably also a record this season. It is a shame for a game that was intense, but not aggressive. It is the "under utbildning" referee that had a negative impact on the players, the public and the staff.

It was the return of Zavadil also. he was probably motivated to play against his previous team. He touched a lot of balls in the first-half, but at 50-60 meters from Mjällby's goal. he was dangerous on free-kicks and the shoot near to the post, but otherwise he wasn't special. But we can say that he had also a special treatment from Mjällby.
Alex Malmström get injured on the knee 10 minutes after he entered. He will be out for 4-6 weeks now.

So today,

I ACCUSE...

- the "under utbildning" referee to have killed the game and to have lost the control of the game: this kind of referee has nothing to do in the superettan, he can referee the kids team, it would not be to quick for him. this referee is a joke and give a bad image of this job. Thomas Andersson, trainer of Mjällby, declared at the press conference that this decisions killed the motivation and the effort of the players. He should pay to be referee, he shouldn't get any money. I hope that it was his last game in the superettan. Tobias Mattson is his name, and you are the "pajas of the year". I don't know if I am angry or if I feel pity for your stupidity.

- the federation to let those people be referee in the superettan. Sometimes it is easy to criticize the referees, but now it is twice that the referee killed the game. the referees are part of the game, not against. It should be good also to punish your referees. And please, stop to send us your "under utbildning" referees to Mjällby, those referees that didn't finish their education, he didn't feel the temperature of the game. the level of referees in the superettan is a catastroph. I am surprised that the federation is not able to educate better referees. Or maybe it is maybe thinking so that Mjällby doesn't go up in the allsvenskan. Take your responsibilities and train your referees.

- Mjällby that didn't score a second game that would have made the game easier. Play 30 minutes at 11 against 10 players, not able to keep the score, and worth, take a goal (even on a very bizarre situation) is not acceptable. we have to learn to control better the game in this situations. everybody wins against öster, but not us at home. it could have helped us to consolidate our position, we stay at the 9th position.

Next game is at Falkenberg in 2 weeks, which is one point behind us, a win would be very good.

Häcken 1 - 0 Mjällby

2007-06-30T10:12:00.000+02:00

Mjällby has lost 1-0 in Häcken Thursday evening. With that defeat the dream of allsvenskan that many people has started to nourish is over.

On Sunday the marathon-week continue with the visit of Öster, a 6 points game. 3 games in 7 days.

Erton got 4 games suspension for his red card against Sylvia.

The discipline committee did not remember that the fight of Erton started with the most warned player of superettan this year but did remember that Erton got a red card in training game before the start of the season. And you all know who was the referee and how he can behave in the pitch.

Even if it to flatter Erton to make this comparasion I would like to point out something about beeing suspended for headbutting. As a french I am thinking about a guy called Zinedine Zidane who headbutted a guy called Marco Materazzi during the last world cup. Everybody agreed that Zizou did wrong, but there was also as much talk about how norty Materazzi had been offending Zizou in that grade that he "had to react". Fact remains: Zidane got three games of supension from Fifa, three games seems to be the standard by headbutting. Fejzullahu got four games in Superettan. The opponent Materazzi got two games of suspension. None of the involved Sylvia players got nothing. Just a thought.

Some pictures from Lörbyminken. Mjällby was playing in red. Does somebody has statistic with the red shirt ? It seems that we lost all the time in red.

Some thoughts about the next game then.

Pavel Zavadil is back in Strandvallen. Is that good or bad? Well, the guy made a fantastic session in Mjällby and the fans love him. They will surely show that on sunday. On the other hand we have to hope that he is not doing one of his best games since we would like to keep the points to ourselves. Last time Zavadil entered Strandvallen in a game between MAIF and Öster he wore the other shirt - and he got a red card.

Helgi Danielsson and Mario Vasilj, two of Östers best players, are suspended for the next game with Mjällby.

Öster has surely prepared for yet another important game. Last sunday Peter Wibron and another Österspy - how does Giles Stille look like? - observed Mjällby and took notes. Did they get much wiser?

Referee on sunday is Tobias Mattsson from Karlstad.

Two of a kind

2007-06-29T12:09:00.000+02:00

Same, same but different.

Does Mjällby have two Brazilians?

Foto from Sydöstrans archive.

Pictures from Mjällby - Sylvia

2007-06-26T09:29:00.000+02:00

Better late than ever Ze French Minks give you some pictures from last weeks game at Strandvallen - the 3 points win and 3 guys lost-game with Sylvia.

Dusan Melicharek back in goal. He takes the lead as the best goalkeeper in Superettan. Rille Fransson is not far behind - he comes in on a fourth place.

First Yellow out of total eight in the game - this one for Ivanovski.

A famous TV-personality...

Hot goalie Peter Karlsson.

And happy goalie Rille Fransson - on the bench this time.

First time stretcher in. According to "Sylvias newspaper", NT, is it remarkable that the referee didn´t give Jonas Björkholm a yellow card for going into the challenge studs first leaving Patrick Osiako on the pitch.

Marcelo Sarvas!

Penalty.

Ekenberg makes no mistake. 1-0.

Some hugging.

Hot feelings. Many Sylvia-players and Erton Fejzullahu involved. Something happens between Fredrik Åström (most warned in Superettan) and Erton Fejzullahu. Henric Andersson gets into the fight and the two behaves like two mountaingoats fighting over a female, situation ended with a head butt from Fejzullahu. Sylvias goalie (right in picture) runs around like a raging bull.

Peter Karlsson has to be held back. Also gets a yellow.

Some thinking for the referees.

First Mjällbyplayer out - red card direct for Fejzullahu.

Ekenberg leads the still angry cockerel out of the pitch.

Dramatical first half is over.

Daniel Nilsson was good as usual.

Unluckily Ivanovski has to leave the pitch for the day and will be out for some weeks.

Second time stretcher in. By the way, Sylvia is last in the fair play competition...

He was applauded by the spectators all the way out .

The last minutes will be very long with just 9 players.

And another red. Johan Persson got a second yellow card for pulling the other guys shirt. Correct according to the book. But hard considering he will be sent out and because his opponent started to pull his shirt and didn´t get nothing.

A fallen hero.

Johan Persson back in the field to celebrate with the teammates. Mjällby made it!

"Many teams will loose here at Strandvallen", says Sylvias trainer Mats Olsson.

Review of the troup after 1/3 of the season

2007-06-18T23:12:00.000+02:00

Dusan Melicharek +
Same procedure as last year. Dusan was number 1 but got injured fast after some games. Rickard Fransson took his chance and didn´t do big mistakes. Last year Dusan took his place back after a enormous mistake of Fegler.

Rickard Fransson +++
The big surprise. Who could have imagined that a goal keeper from Division 1 could play at that level ? He is the favorit of the newspapers because he is from Karlskrona but he has shown on the playground that he is talented.

William Leandersson (no notation)
He has startd the season as left back defender but got injured for the rest of the season. Bad luck.

Marcus Lindberg ++
7 games top level and the 2 last a little less performant. Maybe tired. In progress compare to 2005 and 2006.

Robin Cederberg +++
Finaly he is playing at a level we were waiting for. Serious, no mistake, huge progress since Simon Sjöfors is not there…

Daniel Ivanovski +++
Some game fantastic, some game not so fantastic. He wants a lot, is very offensive, defends well. He feels better in the team. He will score before the end of the season.

Tobias Johansson ++
Interesting player, he can defend, he can attack and he feels the goal like not many players.

David Rehn (no notation)
Injured, he is training at 100%. With a Robin, Tobbe and Daniel performant, it will be difficult for him to take a place.

Johan Persson +
A little disappoitment. Contract problem, big head, physical problem? I don´t know but he is not at the level of last year and it´s a pity.

Daniel Nilsson +++
One of his best season start. He can play everywhere and seems to accept it for the team. He is a base player of the coach.

Sasa Zimonjic +
Arrived injured, he is still not ready to play 90 minutes. He should take the place of Daniel Nilsson or Johan Persson. Difficult choice for the Thomas. Sasa is a leader and he is performant with the head. He will play more and take a place in the 11 start.

Marcelo Sarvas++++
Top level player, technical. He is not able yet to be constant all the 90 minutes but what a show to see this creative player.

Philip Jonasson ++
Without noise Phile took a place in the 11 start with a defensive role. A surprise but a good new for the kid of Mjällby.

Patrick Osiako ++
Excellent game against Elfsborg. Very good 30 minutes against Enköping. He will surprise us.

Alexander Malmstrom ++
Best players in Ljungkile but he was back on the bench for the game against Elfsborg and Enköping. He should have get more playing time.

Marcus Ekenberg ++
Marcus Ekenberg is in form in august and september but not so much at the begining of the season. For his defense we can say that he has always 2 guys on the back which give place to the other forward.

Adam Berner ++
Some good thing, even excellent but also some game without nothing, like the last one.

David Löfquist +
Difficult time for the ex- player of Sölvesborg. He learns a lot, he has scored and played 9 with the B-team, a new role form him.

Kim Thörnberg +
An excellent game in cup.

Erton Fejzullahu + + + +
The Zlatan of Blekinge is only 19 years old but he shows a maturity of a guy of 25 years. After a difficult start he scored 4 goal in 3 games. We will remember him.

Johan Svensson (no notation)
Injured, he is now playing at 100%. It will be interesting to see how the coach will deal with him.

Simon Sjöfors (no notation).
He has been seen in Strandvallen the Wednesday of the Sweden rock festival. The oldest guy of the troup is not sure to play again football after a knee injury.

Thomas Andersson, coach ++
With 7 players injured at the begining of the seaon it has not been always a piece of cake to built a competitive team. But it´s may be when all the players start to be back for fight that the problem will start. The two previous years Mjällby had a flat passage during the 2nd third of the season which cost the place of Soren Cratz and Peter Persson. Thomas can not failed with such players.

Worrying defeat against Enköping 2-1

2007-06-14T22:06:00.000+02:00

This evening Mjällby has lost for the second time of the season against a poor team of Enköping even if they have put 2 fantastic goals (the game was on TV).

After 9 games the results are as follow:

2 victories

5 draws

2 defeats

We used to beleive that the start of the season had been good but in 2 games the black and yellow have lost everything. Tonight MAIF has played 30 min real football starting from the 60th minute to the 90th minute when Sasa, Alex and Patrick went in.

The majority of the players have played under their level. With 11 points, it´s only one point more than last year…

A year in the merde 3 ?

Pictures from the Bunkeflo battle

2007-06-11T16:33:00.001+02:00

An extremely hot day at Strandvallen.

The men in black - in red.

Marcelo Sarvas.

The 2-2 scorer Darko Marasovic.

Not easy to win a ball in the air with the tall Bunkeflo players.
Many white players...

Erton Fejzullahu had a good day at work!

The ball should go that way!

Cederberg again.

Gooooal!

Hot in the sun.

The south curve.

What a stile!

Ekenberg was knocked by the Bunkeflo goalie.

And you are out of here!

Some french minks in the crowd.

A fresh Adam Berner.

Chippen didn´t see Mjällbys splendid game towards Elfsborg since he was playing himself for the qualification to the Euro 2008.

Less nice game this time...

Draw against Bunkeflo 2 - 2

2007-06-11T00:35:00.000+02:00

Mjällby was this close of getting 3 points today. But a badly negociated free-kick at the very last minute made it a draw.

Bunkeflo started the game way better than we did. They actually owned more or less the whole 1st half. At the 20th minute, the attackers on the right were left unchallenged, which resulted in a good rounded shot at the second pole, which got in. 0-1. Fransson finally gets a goal at home, but the defense was not quite working at that moment.
For the whole period Bunkeflo was doing the game, and Mjällby, who had difficulties to play their own game, fell back into their old bad habit of throwing away long balls to nowhere.
Just before the break, a little out of nowhere, the ball is moved up, crossed to the left side, destination Erton, who has seen the keeper is a little out, and he does not think twice and controls, but sends it directly above the keeper. 1-1.

The second half starts with Mjällby a lot more present, now putting the pressure and driving the game more, but still loosing too many balls in the middle.
The second goal signed Erton again, a long run on the left side, he stops just before the keeper and fixes him, turns around a puts the ball in his back, while the defense is trying to come back but does not position itself right. 2-1.
The game seemed under control, until near the end the pajas showed all the extent of his talent, blew a couple of imaginary free-kicks against Mjällby, and the last one gets on the head of a tall Bunkeflo player (one of the many, they are all very tall in this team), who manages to take it down and push it in just near the second pole. 2-2. Some people may argue that this free-kick was not well managed by Mjällby, most of the tall MAIF players were in the wall, and the not so tall trying to defend. Considering we had lost most of the header duels during the game, that was poor planning.

The man of the game was Erton, his 2 goals were really nice, especially the 1st one needed a lot a control.
A little disappointment from Berner who could have killed the game in a 1-on-1 but tripped on the ball after having fixed the keeper.
The defense was disappointing as well, especially the sides. Tobbe made too many mistakes. Ivanovski was too often too high, and taking his time to get back. Phille was quite low, leaving the midfield empty. Danne and Persson took a long time to get into the game. Marcello was ok, but obviously tired near the end.
Disappointment from Eken as well, who did not get very clear occasions, although he was most often the first of the front men to be back in defense, often before the midfielders and defenders themselves...

The pajas today was a real pajas, completely biased against Mjällby. The Bunkeflo players got away with a lot of nasty moves (Berner taken down by the last defender who did not hit the ball = nothing, Berner getting a voluntary punch in the breast = nothing, Marcello held in the shirt in the zone = nothing, etc etc... the list is too long), we got free-kicks against us by getting in the vincinity of a Bunkeflo player. And I can't understand how he found 4 minutes of extra time in the 2nd half, when there was only 1 interruption 30 seconds when Eken got slightly injured. Worse than the pajas was one of his line-men, who was down-right incompetent. He missed 2 obvious off-sides, of which one where 2 players where 4 m off-side, and once even flagged an offside when a Bunkeflo player sent the ball. A real winner-team today.

The final score is probably not illogical, considering the amount of pressure Bunkeflo has put on us, but it's disappointing to loose 2 points with only seconds left to play.
Next game is on thursday away against Enköping, and will be shown on TV on SPORT-Expressen for those of you who have this channel.

Yellow and black versus black and yellow

2007-06-06T21:05:00.000+02:00

Back in pictures to the game of wednesday against Elfsborg. 100% good time.

MAIF beat swedish champions Elfsborg in the Swedish Cup

2007-06-06T19:58:00.000+02:00

The game started quite fast, Elfsborg probably trying to kill the game. MAIF's defense stood well, and instead MAIF had a first occasion at the 8th minute through Kim Thörnberg: in half a second he left his defender standing and kicked a very strong kick, but on the goal keeper. After that, MAIF had many occasions and kicks at the goal, but did not manage to transform them. Erton had a kick on the pole and out again. Marcello chipped the ball above the defense, Thörnberg went around the defender and was in a 1-on-1 with the keeper, but Elfsborg managed to push that one away again. Thörnberg was the best player of the 1st half, followed quite closely by Marcello and Erton. Although the rest of the team was no bad in any respect. But Elfsborg defense was also quite tight, and their offensive midfield knows how to play ball as well. MAIF's defense was holding as we've seen it this far in the championship, quite tight as well, despite a couple of misses here and there. Ivanovski was a little too offensive to my taste, often leaving his position empty, and Elfsborg left aisle was the better one, so we ended up in several challenging situations because of that.

At mid time Johan Persson, who had made a good 1st half was replaced by Phille who played left defender, and Danne went up to the middle. Again Elfsborg tried to raise the rythm and kill the game, again the defense stood well and MAIF had new offensive occasions. Thörnberg was much less active in the 2nd, probably tired. But Marcello, Osiako and Erton were making up for him, by serving assault after assault on Elfsborg's defense, but it didn't go through the keeper.

End of the standard time: 0-0. Elfsborg has had about 3 shots on the goal, MAIF more than the double, but neither teams have been more successful than the other at hitting the net. The inside of it anyway.

During the 1st extra period, nothing notable happened. Same old tight defenses on both sides.

Elfsborg opened the score through ex-GAIS:are Keane at the 113th minute (8 minutes into the 2nd extra period). A missed up-play in the center from MAIF, Keane is borderline off-side (many complained but I personally think it was really close, Cederberg was a little low), evades Cederberg, and pushes the ball between the legs of Fransson. 0-1. Typical end of game goal, lack of concentration in the middle.
Elfsborg probably thought they were home, so they played a little easy now. Then at the 117th minute, free kick for MAIF, the defense focuses on Eken and his dangerous head, in the mean-time Marcello and Erton run freely in front of the keeper, the ball comes down, bounces on the keeper a couple of times, and finally comes to Erton who has an open goal, and pushes it in. 1-1. Another typical end of game goal, 2 MAIF players, and 2 that have been very offensive and dangerous this far, running around freely without a defender on their heels.

End of the standard + extended time: 1-1. Elfsborg can thank their goal-keeper, he was their best player, without him MAIF would have won there.

Then starts the lottery of the penalty kicks. First time I see it in Strandvallen, but it's about as stressing as when watching it on TV.
From Mjällby's side, Eken scored, Marcello's was pushed back, Cederberg scored, Alex's was pushed back, and Lindberg scored.
From Elfsborg, 2 scored, 1 was pushed back, and 1 shot on the pole and 1 outside! Double penalty practice session tomorrow!

Final score: MAIF 4 - 3 Elfsborg. The ruling swedish champions, and at the top of the Allsvenskan this far this year, are taken out of the Swedish Cup by little Mjällby AIF from Superettan. I read this week in the newspaper that Elfsborg's Daniel Mobäck was coming to take a revenge from the only other time he visited Strandvallen, when MAIF was the team in the higher league and beat Elfsborg with 3-0, he must be disappointed.

A score that, although being played in the penalties, mirrors quite well the balance in the game. Technically the both team were pretty much on par, the real level difference was probably in the rythm of the game, Elfsborg remained very constant, while MAIF had more difficulties near the end.
Elfsborg had today a very special tactique, it's the 5-0-5. In our offensive phases we could very often bring up the ball quite unchallenged in the middle. Luckily their defenders are quite skilled, because that's a dangerous tactique.

Tha pajas was a bit un-even today, especially between the 70 and the 100th minutes, where he let go quite nasty actions, but whistled of gave yellows for nothing.

Finally, ze Strubbarna were definitely the 12th player today, pushing the team all the way to the end, singing and cheering.
On their corner, the disappointingly few (all 12 of them) Elfsborg supporters could not really compete. Today, they were not in the same league.

Next Cup game, the 8th final, is at a yet undefined date away against Örgryte, which we dominated last time at home, so I do hope we will go forth into 1/4 final. But if we've learned anything today, and Elfsborg surely did, it's that you shall never be too confident.
Next championship game is this sunday at home against Bunkeflo, and a very important one since Bunkeflo are just 1 point behind us on the table. Let's hope today's victory will help the players recover from today's very long and tiring game.

Pictures from training Sunday 17h00

2007-06-03T22:38:00.000+02:00

Training under the sun of Blekinge.
No Simon and Wille for long injury.
Still small training for Johan Svensson, Tobbe Johansson and Adam Berner.
Dusan, Sasa, Rehn have trained with the troup, real training.
No Phille due to tooth problem.
The list of injured players is decreasing.