Allsvenskan, transfers news.

[G:G]

Ok, I'm going to give you some info before Allsvenskan starts, but I don't have time for long reasonings, so feel free to add and/or comment, please! (Source for Probable line ups and key players is Svenska Fans, except for AIK, where source is me.)




A.I.K

Last season: 2

New signings:
Khari Stephenson, midf, GAIS;
Per Verner Vågan Rønning, def, Kongsvinger IL;
Niklas Westberg, gk, Väsby United;
Alexander Gerndt, a, Visby Gute;
Patrik Karlsson, def, Gefle.

Out: Dennis Östlundh, Mattias Moström,Marcio Saraiva, Markus Karlsson

Injuries: Stephenson.

Key players: Sandberg, Tjernström, Figureido

Probable line up: Daniel Örlund - Jimmy Tamandi, Niklas Sandberg, Nicklas Carlsson, Markus Johnsson - Kenny Pavey, Dulee Johnson, Daniel Tjernström, Mats Rubarth - Wilton Figueiredo, Miran Burgic

My Comment: AIK have not lost any players they would have wanted to keep, Stephenson should add power to the midfield, but got injured in a friendly vs TPS and will not be available for at least 8 weeks. Preseason results look good, I think AIK will be a serious contender for places 1-3 this season also.




Brommapojkarna IF

Last season: 3 in Superettan (2nd div.)

New signings:
Tommy Lycén,
Arash Talebinejad,
Imad Zatara,
Imad Chadeeh,
Albin Ekdal (Junior team)
Axel Johansson (Junior team)

Injuries: Bergtoft

Key players: Björklund, Lagerlöf, Guterstam

Probable line up: Kristoffer Björklund - Persson, Malmström, Asp, Henriksson- Ekström, Lagerlöf, Ekdal, Lycén - Guterstam, Runnemo

My comment: Brommapojkarna are newcomers without enough money to sign "names", no homeground until July and almost no fans. Things look very good in other words! I was very surprised when they qualified for Allsvenskan, and I think they will have a difficult time while in it. Their line up does not look good enough, simple as that. What Brommapojkarna do have is spirit, but I don't think this will be enough, they allowed many goals last season, haven't signed any defender's or midfielders who could change that, so despite that their attacking line up looks ok, it won't be enough to stay in Allsvenskan.





Djurgårdens IF FF

Last season: 6

New signings:
Jan Tauer, def, Braunschweig (Bundesliga 2).
Mikael Dahlberg, a, GIF Sundsvall
Per Johansson,def/midf. Karlslunds IF
Christoffer Karlsson, midf, Åtvidaberg
Kebba Ceesay, def, Brage

Out: Kári Árnason, Abgar Barsom, Elias Storm, Niclas Rasck

Injuries:?

Key players: Tourray, Johannesson, Arneng

Probable line up: Tourray, - Concha, Johannesson, Koivastu, Tauer - Arneng- Davids, Sjölund, Enrico/Komac – Jonson, Kusi-Asare/Dahlberg


My Comment: New manager Siggi Jonsson, who have introduced a 4-1-3-2 system, is a well known player but his manager skills are yet to be proved. I have a hard time predicting Djurgården’s season, they can get all the pieces together and have a good season in front of them, but it’s also possible that the changes need more time to work. When I look at their line up I find that it looks decent, and I think that Arneng will be perfect in his position, he needs to be a lot better than last season, that’s a key factor for Djurgården this season imo. Their preseason results have not been very impressing, but according to reports they played ok last match vs TPS, and got a 1-0 win.




Elfsborg IF

Last season: 1

New signings:
Mathias Florén, def. Groningen
James Keene, a. Portsmouth, played for Gais last season

Out: Magnus Samuelsson, Jesper Arvidsson

Injuries: Florén

Key players: Jönsson, Holmén, Svensson

Probable line up: Johan Wiland – Daniel Mobaeck, Andreas Augustsson, Jon Jönsson, Johan Karlsson (Florén) – Samuel Holmén, Jari Ilola – Stefan Ishizaki, Anders Svensson, Daniel Alexandersson – James Keene/Svensson.


My Comment: Elfsborg have kept all they key players from last season, and added class with Florén and Keene. The way I see it they should be favourites this season, they are champions and have a slightly stronger line up this season. One thing that might be a problem is their system with one attacker, meaning that 2 out of Sjöhage, Svensson and Keene won’t play, and that could lead to problems, as all three are good enough to be in a starting line up in Allsvenskan imo. Elfsborg’s midfield will be another key factor, but from what I predict in a very positive way, it has a very high class with Allsvenskans’s standard as measure point. Defence look solid, Florén should be back soon, and he is a good left winger.

[G:G]

GAIS

Last season: 10

New signings:
David Durmaz, Assyriska,
Anatyoli Ponomarev, a/midf, FC Vaduz,
Sheriff Suma, Åtvidaberg,
Henrik Dahl,Lyn,
Tobias Holmqvist, a, Helsingborg ,
Axel Wibrån, gk Örgryte IS

Out:Khari Stephenson, Daniel Blomgren, James Keene, Conny Månsson, Jonathan Berg, Edier Frejd, Mattias Gravem

Injuries: ?

Key players: Jankulovski, Ekunde, Lundgren

Probable line up: Jankulovski –Gustavsson, Ekunde, Östberg, Lundén – Gudmundsson, Lundgren - Hédinsson, Ponomarev, Friberg Da Cruz – Holmqvist/ Memelli


My Comment: Gais have lost two important players: attacker Keene, who scored 10 out of Gais 25 goals last season, and central midfielder Stephenson. These two are not easy to replace for a club without economic muscles, and I’m not at all convinced that they have succeeded. Goalscoring was a problem last season, and with Keene out it may look even worse. Gais played a simple play well adjusted to their capacity last season, based on fighting spirit and a never give up attitude. It might be enough to avoid relegation this season too, but the new signings have to step up and prove their capacity right away.




Gefle IF

Last season: 9

New signings:
Tomasz Stolpa, a
André Grim,
Andreas Dahlén, def
Jonas Lantto,
Johan Oremo, a
Joel Stillmark,
Marcus Hansson,
Tomas Fernandez-Gonzales.

Out:Patrik Karlsson, Magnus Wikström, Kristen Viikmäe, Antou Jallow, Patric Junerud, Joakim Karlsson.


Injuries: ?

Key players: Hedlund, Woxlin, Makondele,

Probable line up: Hugosson – Bernhardsson, Hedlund, Ericsson, Dahlén - Bapupa ,Woxlin, Claesson, Makondele – Oremo, Stolpa


My Comment: Gefle were, as always considered one of the teams most likely to be relegated before last season, but they surprised most people and finished at 9^th place, really good if you consider their line up and small resources. This seasons most important signing is that Makondele, their best player last season, will stay. This is very good news for Gefle, as I doubt they would have been able replace him. They have signed two new attackers, with Stolpa from Poland expected to do a better job than Viikmäe did last season. My guess is that Gefle will avoid relegation again, if their key players don’t leave or get injured. I think there’s at least three teams who Gefle should be ahead of in the table.




IFK Göteborg

Last season: 8

New signings:
Ragnar Sigurðsson, def, Fylkir (Iceland)
Mathias Ranégie, a, Lärje/Angered
Eldin Karisik, midf, Helsingborgs IF

Out:Martin Ulander, Martin Smedberg, Alejandro Lago, Dennis Jonsson, Magnus Kihlberg, Tommy Lycén, Richard Richardsson


Injuries: ?

Key players: Andersson, Alexandersson, Selakovic

Probable line up: Andersson-Johansson, Sigurdsson, Bjärsmyr, Jonsson -
Berg, Wernbloom, Alexandersson, Karisik – Berg, Selakovic


My Comment: IFK Göteborg did not make their fans happy last season, oddly enough they fired their manager when the held 3d place and ended up at 9^th place. This season former players Olsson and Rehn will be managers, Olsson have manager experience from div.2 and Rehn from being assistant in Djurgården. I’m not very impressed when I look at their roster, and new signings, although Karisik may prove me wrong. Important factors imo will be that the relatively new and unexperienced defending line works, that the midfield this season will be able to provide the attackers with useful balls. Veteran and international Alexandersson is very important in that aspect. He will probably be placed in centre midfield this season, to add the creativity that was missing last season. I’m not sure what to make of IFK this season, I don’t think they will be in top 4, but they won’t be at the bottom either.




Halmstad BK

Last season: 11

New signings:
Hjalmar Öhagen, Sandvikens IF
Magnus Bahne, FC Inter Åbo
Tim Sparv, FC Southampton
Emir Kujovic, Landskrona BoIS
(on loan to Falkenbergs FF during 2007)

Out: Eduardo Delani Santos Leite, Clube Regatas Brasil, Joel Borgstrand, BK Astrio, Magnus Svensson, Vinbergs IF, Kristoffer Fagercrantz, Falkenbergs FF (on loan), Patrik Ingelsten, Kalmar FF, Magnus Andersson, Trelleborgs FF

Injuries: ?

Key players: Zvirgzdauskas, Ajsel Kujovic, Arvidsson, Djuric

Probable line up: Magnus Bahne - Mikael Rosén, Tomas Zvirgzdauskas, Peter Larsson,Tommy Jönsson - Andreas Johansson,Hasse Mattisson, Dusan Djuric, Martin Fribrock - Magnus Arvidsson, Ajsel Kujovic

My Comment: Halmstad had problems scoring last season, only 22 goals in 26 matches, also their first seven matches wihout one goal scored. I don't entirely blame the attackers for that, also midfield were dissapointing, were Djuric did not look like the star to be he's been made up to. This season they will have Arvidsson in their line up from thebeginning, also Kujovic, both came efter the WC break last season, and this is a strong + factor for Halmstad I think. If they also get their midfield to work attackingwize, and especially Djuric can feed the attackers with passes, I think Halmstad will reach a better position than 11th, but top team? No.

[Gitarra]

Great job G:G thanks

[G:G]

Hammarby IF FF

Last season: 3

New signings:
Richard Kingson, gk, Ankaraspor
Emil Johansson, def, Degerfors
Christian Traoré, def/midf, FC Midtjylland
Heidar Geir Juliusson, a, FRAM (Iceland),
Charlie Davies, a, Boston College (USA),
Erland Hellström, gk, Assyriska FF
Haris Laitinen, midf, back from IFK Norrköping


Out: Max von Schlebrügge, Pétur Hafliði Marteinsson, Ante Covic, Petter F Olsen, Fredrik Stoor, Pablo Piñones-Arce, Eric Fischbein, Erik Johansson


Injuries: Sleyman, Hellström

Key players: Kingson/Hellström, Jensen, Paulinnho

Probable line up: Kingson -Johansson, Jensen , Monteiro, Johansson – Chanko/Andersson , Eguren , Jensen, Zengin - Davies, Paulinho


My Comment: Hammarby have lost some very important players from last season: Goalkeeper Covic, central defenders von Schleebrugge and Marteinson and winger Stoor. Imo new gk Hellström is a step down from Covic, but maybe newly signed Kingson, a Ghana international can replace Covic in a good way. Kingson only with a 3 months contract, I don’t know if Hammarby can prolong it. I don’t think they have replaced von Schleebrugge, Marteinson and Stoor at all, so Hammarby’s defending line that looked very solid last season looks more like a questionmark before this season. The midfield still looks strong though, even with F Olsen out, they have good alternatives and a nice mix between creative players and powerful players with other skills. Maybe Petter Andersson will get his definite break this season, that would add even more power to the midfield. Up front they have Paulinho, a very reliable goalgetter, and Davies, a 20 year old Hammarby have high hopes for. I have no doubts that Paulinho will score many goals this season, but Davies, however, maybe needs more time to adjust to both Hammarby and Sweden. Hammarby was on many occasions the best team in Sweden last season, but I doubt they will be as strong this season, 4-7 my prediction.





Helsingborgs IF

Last season: 4

New signings:
Fredrik Olsson, a, Mjällby
Olafur Skulason, midf, Brentford
Razak Omotoyossi, a, FC Sheriff Tiraspol
Samir Beloufa, def, Westerlo
Isaac Chansa, midf, Orlando Pirates

Out: Andreas Granqvist (loan)Jakob Augustsson, Eldin Karisik, Fahrudin Karisik, Luton Shelton


Injuries: Stefanidis

Key players: Andersson, Mariga, Larsson

Probable line up: Daniel Andersson – Erik Wahlstedt, Samir Beloufa, Fredrik Björck, Franco Miranda – Olivier Karekezi/Stefanidis, Andreas Jakobsson, McDonald Mariga, Fredrik Svanbäck - Henrik Larsson, Razak Omotoyossi

My Comment: Almost everything you read about Helsingborg involves Henrik Larsson…and of course, he is a very important player and a definite key to Helsingborg’s season, but one player can’t do it all. Helsingborg lost central defender Granqvist to Wigan and attacker Shelton to Sheffield U, two players that are very hard to replace. Shelton and Larsson were an excellent attacking weapon last season, so one big question is if Helsingborg have managed to sign enough quality to put up front next to Larsson, also Beloufa must prove that he can replace Granqvist as central defender. The fact that Larsson will play the entire season is of course very good news, also that manager Baxter now have had time to really make an impact on Helsingborg’s play and attitude. Baxter imo one of the best manager’s in Allsvenskan, if not the best. Helsingborg can, if the new players fit in, surely be a contender for top 4.

[Bamse81]

Great job mate, will give it a read-through later on

[G:G]

I was a bit too optimistic when I started this thread, I have not had time to take this all the way, sorry all.

[Goe]

G:G, do you know what kind of player is Niklas Sandberg from AIK? He has just signed a 4-year contract (according to Romanian media) to the Liga 1's 3rd place CFR Cluj. The owners of this club have great ambitions for the coming season, and want to get into the UEFA Cup's groups stage, and to fight for the title with the big clubs from Bucharest.

[G:G]

Originally Posted by Goe

G:G, do you know what kind of player is Niklas Sandberg from AIK? He has just signed a 4-year contract (according to Romanian media) to the Liga 1's 3rd place CFR Cluj. The owners of this club have great ambitions for the coming season, and want to get into the UEFA Cup's groups stage, and to fight for the title with the big clubs from Bucharest.

He is a central defender, have done a good job for AIK, always reliable, makes few mistakes and seems to have a great attitude. Weak spot: He is a bit slow, but he very often manage to "hide" that with his good understanding of whats going on, and usually he's at the right place at the right time.

As a supporter I'm a bit sad that he leaves, but AIK recently signed Nils-Eric Johansson from Leicester, so the bad news may turn to good news.

[Goe]

Thank you very much; if I'm not wrong, he is the first scandinavian player to play in Romanian Liga 1.

[G:G]

Originally Posted by Goe

Thank you very much; if I'm not wrong, he is the first scandinavian player to play in Romanian Liga 1.

Probably, he is the first Swede anyway, that much I know.

[Garpe]

IFK Gothenburg wants to buy Järdler from MFF. Not to likely.

[G:G]

Djurgården signed Finnish international, midfielder Aki Riihilahti today, he will be available vs Gefle July 2nd.

http://www.dif.se/sidor/nyheter/nyhe...&id=7888&typ=1

[G:G]

Brommapojkarna have signed former Djurgården defender Markus Karlsson, last club Stabaek, Norway. They sure need a better defence, I'm not sure if he's the right guy though.

http://brommapojkarna.se/

[rurfors]

Can't see it mentioned above so...

Helsingborg have signed former national team defender Christoffer Andersson, who will be available in the game against Hammarby 4th of July. There's no doubt he will play as left defender, a position where Helsingborg have had big problems this season.

Last club Christoffer Anderssons played for was german Hannover 96.

[G:G]

AIK have signed two attackers from Argentina, both from the club Arsenal de Sarandi, Mauro Ivan Obolo and Lucas Valdemarin. Effective July 1st.

[G:G]

Hammarby's goalkeeper Kingson has left for Birmingham CFC. May lead to problems for Hammarby imo, Kingson was very solid, Hellström has a lot to prove.

Elfsborg's defender Jönsson has left for Toulouse. Bad news for Elfsborg, Jönsson and Augustsson was, maybe, Allsvenskan's best centre defence, replacement Andersson not very experienced, I won't be surprised if Elfsborg signs a defender in the next couple of weeks.

Brommapojkarna have signed former AIK - keeper Mattias Asper, latest club Viking Stavanger. Asper was great in AIK, but thats a long time ago now, he's career never became the success story me and many others predicted.

[Goe]

Rumours in Romanian papers about Steaua's interest for Brazilian striker Junior from Malmo FF.

[G:G]

Originally Posted by Goe

Rumours in Romanian papers about Steaua's interest for Brazilian striker Junior from Malmo FF.

That's interesting, there has been rumours about him not being to pleased with Malmö's coach Åkeby. MFF would have a hard time replacing him.

[G:G]

A bit late, but anyway:

Kalmar FF's attacker Ari Da Silva has left for AZ Alkmaar, furthermore fellow Brazilian Fabio Augusto went home to Brazil, Kalmar have cancelled his contract.

Elfsborg have signed Helsingborg's defender Fredrik Björck to replace Jon Jönsson.

[Sprut]

Fredrik Björck Yesterday played?
As events in a match developed A.I.K - Elfsborg ?