April Review After a fantastic start to the season I couldn’t help but be delighted, I knew there was a long way to go and not to get too carried away. I looked at the league table proudly as the first month of Allsvenskan had passed. The board were encouraged by the start we’d made and I couldn’t wait until we played our next game against Gefle. The rampant display against Eskilstuna was by far the highlight of the month and I was delighted at the positive acknowledgement I received from Bengt. Marcus Pode had been outstanding and I would be keeping a close eye on his progress as I’m sure would Lars Lagerback, the Swedish national coach.
Niklas Andersson was delighted to see me at the end of the month and urged me to keep to the same winning tactics, I appreciated his opinions but would prefer him to not tell me how to run the team, we all want the same things here in Malmo and this will take time and dedication I explained to him, he agreed and let me finally settle down in to my room. There was a buzz around the town and the clubs fans were encouraged by the successful start I’d made, I was also delighted and couldn’t wait until May.
May 3rd So another month of important games approached and I was quietly confident my team could carry on their rich vein of form and climb to the top of the league. I was happy with the tactics that’d seen us remain unbeaten in 5 league games and decided to stick by them. We started the month with the trip to Stromvallen the home of Gefle, I saw this game as a great chance for three points and couldn’t wait for the kick-off, I took my place in the dugout alongside Anders who was anticipating another good result and solid performance.
Courtesy of SVT2 Sports – The May Month In Brief
Allsvenskan Matchday 6:
Gefle 1 (Daniel Ytterbom ’88) Malmo 1 (Pape Pate Diouf ’45) Disaster struck as after 4 minutes Marcus Pode signalled over to the bench that he’d taken a heavy knock, Rickard Dahan confirmed he’d took a nasty knock to his thigh and would be out for around two weeks. The game started off sluggishly and I was nervous as Bapupa the Gefle striker thumped the ball against the post. Diouf coolly finished a neat move just before the break and I was confident we’d go on to win, but once again, disaster, a long ball which should have been easily cleared by Hoiland found it’s way through to Ytterbom who knocked it past the advancing keeper. The Gefle boss was furious at the goal that led to us going in the lead and was adamant that Diouf was offside when he placed it in the net, I suggested that Per Olsson was just bitter and should concentrate on the future.
Stromvallen
Allsvenskan Matchday 7:
Malmo 2 (Pape Pate Diouf ’18, ’39) Helsingborg 0 After the disappointment of the away draw against Gefle I told the players I expected them to bounce back and win the match today. A disgraceful tackle from Helsingborgs Stefanidis after 16 minutes resulted in a red card for the player and I was confident we’d go on to punish the 10 men. Diouf carried on his brilliant form and headed home after just 18 minutes and then rounded the keeper for his second 21 minutes later. An easy win in a game we dominated from start to finish.
Allsvenskan Matchday 8:
Malmo 1 (Yskel Osmanovski ’11) Goteborg AIS 1 (Johan Friberg ’90) More late woe for Malmo as Friberg tapped home from a cross we should of defended better, the ball bounced freely in the area and the Goteborg striker was the quickest to react to condemn us to a point in a game we dominated from the first minute. A lack of goals was making me anxious but I knew Pode was due back in a week and that hopefully that would spark a new leash of life in our team’s fortunes upfront.
Svenska Cupen 3rd Round:
Vasteras SK 0 Malmo 5 (Marcus Pode ’35, 39, 46, Yskel Osmanovski ’61, Andre Grabowski ’73) I couldn’t of asked for more from the team in response to the previous result and the difference between the two teams was one of my new signings, McDonald Mariga, he didn’t put a foot wrong all game and was always composed on the ball. I felt for Vasteras as they weren’t much of a team and never competed with the pace of our attackers. Yskel Osmanovski looked particularly impressive also and carried on his goal scoring, two goals in two games was a great record from a wide player. An easy win and a win we needed, much needed confidence was running through the team once again after two late goals had cost us 4 points in the league.
Yskel Osmanovski
Allsvenskan Matchday 9:
Hammarby IF 0 Malmo 1 (Daniel Andersson ‘19) An early penalty decided this one as we gained an important victory in our quest for the title, the ball was rifled home by Andersson and I was surprised by the lack of response from Hammarby IF, although I wasn’t complaining. The penalty resulted in Max von Schlebrugge being dismissed, it was a professional foul and I thought a red card was a just decision by the ref after being asked by a journalist after the match.
Allsvenskan Matchday 10:
Djurgarden 1 (Mattias Jonson ’61) Malmo 0 The holders of the Allsvenskan turned up and outplayed us today I explained to Bengt Madesen and I confirmed I needed to strengthen the current squad if we were to win the title and gain Champions League qualification. My first loss in charge and I was furious but knew I couldn’t be undefeated all season, I took it on the chin and decided to focus on the next match and the where the next three points were going to come from. We needed goals and we needed them soon.
Allsvenskan Matchday 11:
Malmo 1 (McDonald Mariga ’69) Halmstad 0 I was intent on getting the tactics right for the visit of Halmstad and get the three points we desperately needed. After an edgy first half I was nervous at half-time but encouraged the players and told them to adopt a more attacking formation. McDonald Mariga curled in a brilliant free-kick with around 20 minutes to go, but there was little time to relax as 5 minutes later as Halmstad forced Sandqvist in to a fine double save. The full-time whistle went and I was delighted and rather relieved to be coming away with the three points we so desperately needed.
Allsvenskan League Table
