Malmo FF - Page 2 - FMFormation.net - Football Manager

**PompeyLibertine** · 05-12-06, 04:00 PM

Monday 20th March

After the team’s fantastic performance earlier in the week, I was overflowing with confidence for our final pre-season friendly before the real action started. I felt like my team had a solid base for success, Sandqvist in goal has looked steady and commanding, while Olof Persson has been completely solid playing at centre-back. This coupled with the midfield partnership of Daniel Andersson and Joakim Nilsson, the work-horses of the team, this could be a very successful season. Finishing champions of Allsvenska would result in us qualifying for the Champions League, which is every manager’s dream. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, priority is to be competing with the best in Sweden once again.

We’d got an early flight to arrive at Sparta Sparsborg a good few hours before kick off. We relaxed in the Norwegian surroundings, this area was very peaceful and by the sea, it was a beautiful sight, the stadium was a mission to get to though. I liked the small houses and cabins which were littered around the town and it made me want to move out of my hotel suite even more. Fredrikstad FK were the opponents today and they had been unable to gain permission from local government to move stadiums, they had their wish granted and are set to move to the Nye Fredrikstad Stadion next year. They are determined to see out this season in good stead as they have been playing in their current stadium for over 100 years. Nonetheless, we’d came here for a win and it was a great experience for me travelling with the team once again. There seems to be a buoyant atmosphere growing at Malmo FF and I am determined for this to continue expanding for the sake of the clubs fans.

Fredrikstad

I decided to play the team that destroyed Eskilstuna City, hoping for a similar performance would be very optimistic as Fredrikstad are a different kettle of fish. I told the players before the game that the result was unimportant, but to express themselves on the pitch, performance is everything to me. They looked confident enough and I knew they’d be fighting for the result as much as the performance.

The game kicked off, the tempo was slow and considered. Vinzents had a long range effort curl just wide, before Pode curled a magnificent 30 yard shot in to the top right of the goal, it was just the inspiration the team needed. Johansson forced a save from Shaaban, while Daniel Andersson broke everything up in midfield. We went in at half-time Fredrikstad 0 Malmo 1, we were looking comfortable and I urged the players to get forward. Diouf had the chance to make it 2-0 when a delightful cross came in from Junior and he obliged, Diouf is certainly looking as value for money so far. The game petered out bar some late pressure from Fredrikstad. It finished Fredrikstad 0 Malmo 2, our final friendly and a great performance from back to front. Hacken were our first opponents in the Allsvenska, the plan to undo them would begin from now.

Tanel · 05-12-06, 04:20 PM

The updates are too frequent imo, I mean it took me 30 minutes to read them through and the story has been running for one day. That scares me off as people usually don't want to spend more than 10 minutes reading other people stories per day.

Nontheless it's great and I hope you keep it up. A great breakaway from the other stories I read around the scene, that are almost 100% British teams or something close to it.

**PompeyLibertine** · 05-12-06, 04:25 PM

Cheers Tanel, that's good advice. I'm going to be without a computer from Thursday - Sunday so hopefully everyone will of caught up with the story by then.

I'll decide on an easier way to add updates, so it's not too overwhelming.

PUM!

**PompeyLibertine** · 05-12-06, 07:40 PM

Thursday 23rd March

So, the preseason was over and now the business really began, I was pleased with the response I got from the team after a pretty slow start to the campaign and now looked onwards to the away game with Hacken, which was 17 days away. I couldn’t wait to test my skills against Stefan Lundin (Hacken coach), I knew my team could do well this season and was raring and ready to go. I turned my attentions to improving the current squad and met up with Max Shala, I asked him to take a team of scouts to watch the match between Tollnes and IFK Goteborg, I was keen on having the skills of young Swedish defender Mattias Bjarsmyr assessed. He had recently been attracting the attention of FC Kobenhavn but knew it’d be hard to lure him to Malmo. After watching FC Trollhattan Vs Helsingborg my eyes were drawn to a young Kenyan player called McDonald Mariga, he was technically brilliant and possessed a great ability when on the ball. I contacted Bengt Madsen in order to get the go-ahead to approach the Helsingborg staff, he granted me permission to make an offer and I did so, offering £650,000. I felt he would be an influential player to have in the squad as my central midfield, although sturdy lacked the creativity of some of the other top teams in Sweden.

McDonald Mariga

**PompeyLibertine** · 06-12-06, 09:34 AM

Monday 27th March

I had been busy all weekend working on new approaches with Anders, we decided to stick to the formation we successfully manufactured during the tail end of our pre-season. Anders pointed out to me that the signing of Mariga would be very worthwhile and we should do everything we can to sign him, just then our meeting was interrupted by Bengt Madsen who had McDonald Mariga’s agent on the phone, our offer had been accepted and they wanted to arrange a meeting in Helsingborg. We scheduled the appointment for just after 6pm and decided to travel together to the meeting.

Madsen was driving and talking about his long term plans with Malmo and how he expected big things from me. I agreed to most of what he said, I mean he was right in everything he was saying, we both wanted the same things. It wasn’t as if I’d disagree with him anyway, Bengt was a very persuasive man and knew what he wanted from me and everyone else at the club. Hence, us travelling up together to try and tie up a deal for Mariga, he’d back me all the way as long as I was giving 100%. We met Perez Eko in a restaurant just outside of Helsingborg, he had everything laid out on the table and had a list of requirements his player needed, we discussed the bonuses and clauses in his contract and made an offer which Mr. Eko would take back to McDonald. He made us both aware that Mariga is attracting a lot of attention recently, from clubs as big as Ajax, we made it clear that our offer was final and we can’t wait to see what he decides to do with his future.

Helsingborg Restaurant

Bengt was furious on the journey home that we could lose one of the best prospects currently playing in Sweden to Ajax, he went on by saying “How do you compete with giants like Ajax?” I looked at him and smiled “By being better than Ajax”, he laughed and said “One day, maybe…” We arrived back in Malmo and I trudged back to my hotel-suite, I had a message from Max Shala on my answer phone informing me that any ideas to sign Mattias Bjarsmyr were pointless as he gathered Mattias would have no interest in joining us, after the disappointing news I went straight to bed to prepare for another day.

scholesy18 · 06-12-06, 11:45 AM

nice work, i've started 1 too =P

**PompeyLibertine** · 06-12-06, 11:51 AM

Play Up Napoli, PUN doesn't have the same effect! PUMFF!

**PompeyLibertine** · 06-12-06, 12:03 PM

Thursday 30th March

As I was preparing my training session with Anders, Bengt approached me and asked for a word, we’d clinched McDonald Mariga’s signature! I was delighted, I looked at him and laughed “You can ring Ajax and send the warning to them” he said. Mariga would join up with the team on Friday, I returned to the session and announced the news to the players. Anders Andersson expressed his delight and told me he saw a bright future for Mariga at Malmo and was delighted at the pedigree of players I’ve lured in. I was also delighted with the capture and I couldn’t wait for him to join up with the team, that was about to change…

Later that afternoon I received an e-mail from Lisa Runstrom my PA, I couldn’t believe it, Mariga had apparently told the press “Malmo is a good club but I see them as a stepping stone to greater things. I’m looking to continue my football education and will do my best to attract the interest of the worlds biggest clubs.” I started to worry about the fans response to this, Mr. Sofia who had e-mailed me earlier congratulating me on securing the signature of the young Kenyan, sent me another e-mail expressing his disgust in Mariga’s attitude, he went on by saying “If a player doesn’t want to progress with Malmo, then they would prefer the player not to be part of the team.” I was furious at the comments and was just hoping something was lost in translation and everything wasn’t as bad as it first seemed. With 10 days until the start of the season, I didn’t want anything to corrupt the dressing rooms harmony.

**PompeyLibertine** · 06-12-06, 02:55 PM

Saturday 1st April

I had my first months board review today and arrived in Malmo early to look for an apartment to move in to, the hotel-suite had outstayed its welcome now and it was time for a change. I had found a fairly modest apartment in Malmo’s city centre, it wasn’t over-sized and it was a perfect location for me. I approached the landlord who obviously recognised me, his name was Niklas Andersson and was a Malmo fan. He was delighted for me to be staying in one of his apartments and gave me the keys immediately. The apartment wasn’t the best looking from the outside view, but inside it was neatly furnished and had a king-size bed which I couldn’t wait to sleep on.

My Apartment

I caught a taxi to the stadium where I met up with Bengt Madsen & Hasse Borg, they welcomed me in to the board room and I sat down and discussed how I was settling in to the new area and how I was finding the players and staff. I had nothing but praise for everyone who helped me to settle in so well and just couldn’t wait for the season to begin. They informed me they had full faith and were still sure that my appointment was a positive step forward, the meeting ended quite quickly as it was only my first month in charge and not much had changed since I first joined. Hasse Borg reminded me of the importance to get off to a good start this season and to focus on the Hacken game in the coming week. I left and returned back in to town to buy a few things for my new apartment, as I walked through the door I was greeted by Niklas Andersson who was watching me with big open eyes, he was a friendly fellow but wasn’t sure it was the best idea to have a fan as a landlord…Beggars can’t be choosers I said to myself as I walked up the stairs and entered my room.

Tanel · 06-12-06, 04:15 PM

Bunch of great updates. Hope for the season to finally start soon. :)

**PompeyLibertine** · 06-12-06, 04:46 PM

Thanks everyone for their responses, I will be releasing two big updates later tonight as I am going to be computer-less for the rest of the week.

**PompeyLibertine** · 06-12-06, 07:06 PM

Saturday 8th April

The Allsvenskan season had arrived, this was the weekend everyone at Malmo had been waiting for. This is now the time to put all the hard training and pre-season tactics in to practice for the big prize – the championship and a place in the Champions League. I couldn’t wait for the big match against Hacken and had my scout Max Shala judge them. “Hacken will attack down the wings and try and use their target man Robert Mambo Mumba, he possess a great deal of aerial presence and should be marked out of the game if possible. Their formation is similar to ours but I feel if we shut off the supply to the strikers we should be able to limit their chances. Good luck!”

Allsvenskan

Earlier that week, I was dealt a massive blow, Rickard Dahan has informed me Anders Andersson broke down during training suffering from a hip injury, he advised me to send him to a specialist as our physiotherapists wouldn’t be able to give him the therapy to help him regain fitness. “Anders will be a big miss to our squad not only as a player but as an enthusiastic member of our side, he will be out for around 2-3 months and everyone at Malmo wish him a speedy recovery” I told local press. The second round draw was completed yesterday for the Svenska Cupen 2nd Round, I was delighted to be drawn against Eskilstuna City, a team we had met in pre-season and beaten comprehensively, I warned the team about complacency as many of them see this game as a ticket to the 3rd Round.

**PompeyLibertine** · 06-12-06, 07:07 PM

Sunday 9th April

The day had arrived and I met the players at our stadium and prepped them before we got on the coach to get to Hacken. As one of the favourites to win the league this season, this is where the pressure really began. The coach departed at 10am and we were all anxious to get the first game underway, more importantly in my eyes was not to lose the opening game. I spoke to Anders at the front of the coach about a possible team to beat Hacken and we decided it would be best to use McDonald Mariga and Daniel Andersson in centre-midfield. Are assumption was that one holding midfielder would allow the other to push on and create chances for our front players. We arrived at Rambersvallen, the home of Hacken, and settled in to the dressing room. The tension was building as the time edged ever closer to kick-off, I wished the team luck for the game, before naming my starting eleven. Bengt Madsen came down to see the players and talked to each one individually, giving them words of advice and having a joke along the way. The players left the dressing room and I took my place in the dugout, Stefan Lundin (Hacken coach) greeted me but didn’t stick around for a chat as he went straight back to his dugout.

Courtesy of SVT2 Sports – The April Month In Brief

Allsvenskan Matchday 1: Hacken 1 (Robert Mambo Mumba '3) Malmo 1 (Pape Pate Diouf '71)

“After a dire start to the game we managed to enforce our domination on the match and I think we could of won it today. The season is long and if we can pick up points on the road and win our home games then we’ll be just fine.” I said after the game to STV2’s journalist Daniel Jackobsson. Deep down I was disappointed, I told the players at half-time to go more attacking and play with a higher, more direct tempo. Nonetheless, a point away from home was a good result and I was pleased with the players efforts in the game. We returned back to Malmo late that night as I discussed tactics with Anders for the next game, which was in 4 days against Elfsborg at home, a must win…

Allsvenskan Matchday 2: Malmo 2 (Marcus Pode '20, Pape Pate Diouf '59) Elfsborg 1 (Mathias Svensson '85)

Malmo Stadion

So our first home game, after the point against Hacken it was vital we won this match. I was delighted with the early goal from Pode and we never really looked like losing our lead apart from the anxious last five minutes of the match when Svensson smashed home from 8 yards. It was a one-sided game and the result was kind on Elfsborg who never really not going.

Allsvenskan Matchday 3: IFK Goteborg 2 (Stefan Selakovic '23, Jonas Wallerstedt '66) Malmo 2 (Marcus Pode '4, '76)

Marcus Pode

This game had been eagerly awaited as one of Malmo’s fiercest rivals in Sweden, I was determined not to let the supporters down and told the players to do it for the fans before kick off. I was delighted when Pode, a home-grown player of Malmo, slammed the ball home. Stefan Selakovic caused problems for us all games, so at half-time I made sure Daniel Andersson stuck closely to him in order to prevent is effect on the game, it seemed to work. I sensed my first defeat as coach when Wallerstedt nodded it past Sandqvist, but I was wrong to…Marcus Pode showed great anticipation to latch on to a cross from Osmanovski as he knocked it past the keeper, I was delighted with the result.

Svenska Cupen 2nd Round: Eskilstuna 0 Malmo 7 (Pape Pate Diouf '7,'45,'62, McDonald Mariga '36, Daniel Andersson '79,'90, Yskel Osmanovski '82)

Bengt Madsen was the first to offer his congratulations on this emphatic performance, he went on by saying “Beating Eskilstuna so comprehensively would be a big boost to the club and would of sent our travelling fans home happy”. I was delighted in the manner of the performance although I felt sympathy for Mikael Danielsson who was in charge of Eskilstuna, as he wished me luck for the rest of the campaign.

Allsvenskan Matchday 4: Malmo 2 (McDonald Mariga '16, Marcus Pode '85) AIK 1 (Kenny Pavey '21)

Marcus Pode continued his rich vein of form by striking home a late winner. A poor back pass was latched on to by Pode who audaciously shot from 45 yards, the advancing keeper had no chance as he stood stranded! I felt we’d done enough to win the game although Rikard Norling thought otherwise, after the game he issued an inflammatory informing me morale was high at AIK and he wouldn’t be giving up on the title just yet.

Allsvenskan Matchday 5: Malmo 1 (Marcus Pode '77) Oster 0

In a fairly drab match, Marcus Pode was once again the difference between the two sides, if he carried on this form I could see Bengt and myself having a tough battle keeping him at Malmo. Nobody had came knocking for him as yet, but I felt it was only a matter of time. My first month had past by and I hadn’t suffered a defeat, what a start I thought to myself, but I’d be ensuring the team keeps it’s feet firmly grounded.

Allsvenskan League Table

lukeharmz · 06-12-06, 07:29 PM

really good story mate look forward to then next bit

**PompeyLibertine** · 29-01-07, 09:45 PM

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

nilsen2k3 · 01-02-07, 04:17 PM

Great story mate!

KUTGW!

My Favourite team, Djurgårdens IF isn't doing so well I see :'(.

nilsen2k3 · 22-02-07, 07:14 PM

What happend to this story? It's really good!

**PompeyLibertine** · 22-02-07, 08:39 PM

June 4th

After the win against Halmstad I was determined to carry on the form against Kalmar FF, it was a tricky away game but I was sure my players could perform well and give us a good position before the break in the season. I arrived at Fredriksskans anxiously awaiting the game, I walked in to the dressing room and wished the players luck before the game. I’d adopted an attacking formation and looked to mark their wingers out of the game, hoping we’d get a much needed win.

Fredriksskans

Courtesy of SVT2 Sports

Allsvenskan Matchday 12: Kalmar FF 2 (Ari ’62, Lasse Johansson ’78) Malmo 0

A devastating blow for us as Kalmar FF dominated the game from start to finish and there were poor performances from key players all over the team. We'd conceded too soft goals late on in the game, the longer the game went on the more I thought we'd counter-attack and score on the break. But the game was never in our control and although I was obviously disappointed with the defeat I remained upbeat about the rest of the season. I approached Bengt after the game and let him know I wanted to look for a couple of youngsters for the team to keep competition ripe, he agreed it was a good idea and told me to speak to Max Shala about possible acquisitions over the coming month.

**PompeyLibertine** · 22-02-07, 08:44 PM

June 11th

I arrived at Max Shala’s house late in the evening, it was a large old-fashioned house just outside of town and I was welcomed in with open arms. We discussed possible options on youth players who had unprotected contracts, Max let me know of two young Romanian players who had been playing well for the U21s and asked me of my opinion on them. We sat down and watched a few clips of the players, one was Gabriel Torje who played for FC Politehnica Timisoara.

Gabriel Torje

Also, Razvan Ochirosii who had been playing consistently well for Steaua Reserves. They were both attacking players and I was impressed at the accuracy of crosses from Ochirosii and Torje’s pace and agility while running at defenders. I contacted Bengt and asked him to start negotiations with the club, he said he’d be in contact with Director of Football Hasse Borg in order to get contract talks underway. I left Max’s in full confidence of his ability to judge player ability and hoped the players I saw tonight would have the potential to push in to the side.

Razvan Orchirosii (Centre)

**PompeyLibertine** · 22-02-07, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nilsen2k3

What happend to this story? It's really good!

Sorry about the delay in the story had a break and started another game but going to carry this on now. =)