IFK 2:1 Djurgården - BaraBens analysis, in english!

ANALYS/ENGELSKA. Sedan ett tag bloggar en engelsman i Göteborg om Blåvitt, fenomen kring Allsvenskan och matchtaktik på ifktaktik.wordpress.com. Från och med i dag kommer han även att posta en del av sina bloggposter - och en del specialskrivna för BaraBen - även här på Blåvittbloggen. Först ut blir ett matchsammandrag av DIF borta, ett annorlunda inslag på BaraBen och välkommen breddning av vårt utbud för internationella besökare som är nyfikna på IFK Göteborg...

After the news of IFK's new manager had been announced, digested, debated and dicussed, it was time to get back to the important part of football-the match! IFK travelled up to play struggling Djurgarden on a rainy Monday evening and although much of the pre-match talk was about whether or not next season's new manager Mikael Stahre would be in the stadium to watch the match, the only things that really mattered were 3 points and a good performance. Much to the delight of the travelling Angels, IFK travelled back to Gothenburg with b0th of these things in the bag after a well-deserved 2-1 victory.

LINE-UP
The big conundrum for Jonas Olsson before the match was how to set his midfield up due to the absence of Haglund(suspension) and Allansson and Johansson(injuries); this left him with only one recognised central midfielder in Elmar Bjarnasson(although it's not necessarily his best position). His answer was to start with the experienced but out-of-form(and favour) Andres Drugge alongside Bjarnasson, who was moved inside from the left wing. Drugge had played centrally a few times previously for Trelleborg and had also been used there numerous times for IFK's B-team. Stefan Selakovic was looking to add to his 2 goals in the previous match from the right with the streaky Tobias Sana given a chance to impress on the left after a number of games on the bench.

Emil Salomonsson failed a fitness-test so his right-back position was given to returning captain Adam Johansson, who played his 200th game for the club. The right-footed Erik Lund continued at left-back with the usual pairing of Dyrestam and Jonsson in the middle. Erik Dahlin continued in goal. Tobias Hysen was looking to end his scoring drought whilst Hannes Stiller was looking to continue his good recent goal-scoring form. The team would line up in a 4-4-2 formation although slightly more 4-5-1 in defence with Stiller dropping a little deeper. The midfield diamond formation was also in action with Drugge playing slightly higher than the deeper Bjarnasson.

FIRST HALF
The first half started with a thunderbolt from the right-boot of the home team's Jonna Toivio. After 3 minutes, Djurgarden won a free-kick 30 yards from goal. Surprisingly, it was the 30 year-old Finnish defender who stepped up to take a swerving, moving, powerful shot which bounced off the underside of the crossbar and in. Erik Dahlin could only watch on in both shock and horror. From that moment on though it would be the blue and white striped away team that would dominate the match.

IFK would go into the half-time break a goal down but as the team very much on top and creating the most danger. They had 2 real chances and were only a lick of paint away from levelling the score on both occasions. Firstly, Hannes Stiller flicked a header against the post and then Hysen also hit the post after a lovely pass from Sana. 1-0 down at the break but much to build on.

THE LEFT BACK CONUNDRUM
In contrast to the stability and consistency of Adam Johansson and Stefan Selakovic on the right, IFK's left side has been a weak part of the team for a couple of seasons. The team has particularly struggled to find a left-back to offer defensive stability and attacking help which has meant a number of different players used in that position over the past couple of seasons, causing changes and unrest in the backline.

Many supporters hoped the solution had been found in the young, promising Islandic international, Logi Valgardsson, who was signed at the start of the summer after impressing whilst on trial at the club. His early performances promised much; fine left foot, willing to help in attack and decent defensive work at the back post. Unfortunately, his performances since pre-season have not quite been of the same level and he has been in and out of the team whilst other players where tried in the problem position. Firstly, we saw the young Mikael Dyrestam return from injury to take the position, a position in which we saw him during his breakthrough position but not the central position he is most comfortable in. Dyrestam did ok in that position but with Tobias Sana playing ahead of him, the team missed the balance offered from having a left footed player on the left and this showed during the away game at Trelleborg. After a number of games, Valgardsson was back in and Dyrestam was back to fighting for a centre-back position. More recently we have seen another right-footed player used at left-back in the competitive shape of Erik Lund, who is behind Johansson and Salomonsson in the right-back position. The thought is that Lund will offer stability and a competitive edge to the left-sided position; is it a long term solution though?

So who will 2012's left-back be? Valgardsson? He is still young and has the basis of a decent left-back and his left-footedness offers balance but can IFK win the league with him as left back? Dyrestam? I sincerely hope not. He can play that position but we potentially have an international class centre-back on our hands so he needs to be nurtured in that position. Lund? Not for me as he doesn't offer enough balance or attacking help and is a right-back. Youth player? If Niklas Anderssen can put his injuries behind him he will be a decent left back but probably only as back-up next season so he is given time to blossom. IFK also have a young left back by the name of Billy Nordstrom who will be an Allsvenkan class full-back in the next few years but not next season. So, the answer? That's up to Mikael Stahre to decide!

SECOND HALF
Gothenburg started the second half like a team wanting to win the match and a team who believed they could win the match. After only 5 second-half minutes, their endeavor was rewarded as Tobias Hysen received a long pass through on goal before being tugged back by Djurgarden's goalscorer Toivio in the penalty area as he tried to finish. Penalty to IFK and red card to Toivio. Stefan Selakovic tucked away the penalty and within 5 second half minutes, the game had been turned on it's head.

IFK continued to dominate the game and loked to use their man advantage to press for a winner. When the winner came, it was not only expected but also well-crafted. Andres Drugge received the ball on the right-hand side of the penalty box before back-heeling to the overlapping Adam Johansson; Johannson sent in a deep, first time cross which eluded Djurgarden's goalkeeper and found the head of the on-rushing killer-Stiller. A lovely goal made on the training pitch. IFK were able to play the match out without much difficulty and take home a professional and rewarding 2-1 victory.

A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
With around 5 minutes of play remaining, IFK's travelling fans were treated to a glimpse of the future when 17 year-old forward David Moberg-Karlsson was introduced for his first team debut. A quick, dynamic, willing runner with a sweet left foot and decent finishing skills, Moberg-Karlsson is a lot like Tobias Hysen in his playing style and has impressed immensely in his 2 seasons with the youth team. Moberg-Karlsson seems to be at the start of the queue of youth team players looking to force their way into Stahre's plans for next season-who else is in the queue and worth keeping a closer eye on?

August Stromberg is a tall, commanding goalkeeper who spends most of his training time with the first team and is currently the 3rd choice goalkeeper. Niklas Anderssen is a quick, technical left back who has made a handful of first-team appearances before injuries halted his progress. Jonathan Azulay is a ball-playing centre-back who has been in and around the first team squad this season. Efe Yildrim is an all-round defender/midfielder with a calm playing style and good aerial ability. Muhammed Didzar is a powerful box-to-box midfielder not afraid to put his foot in where needed. Bragi Bergsson is a mature central midfielder with a good passing game. Andres Peterson is a small, technically gifted ball player capable of creating. Chris Mbama is strong, quick, powerful, versatile attacker. Sam Larsson is another technically talented 'point player' able to unlock defences. Lawal Ismail is a quick, slippery forward who likes a dribble.

As well as the above, there are a number of players who are just starting to make there mark on the youth team and push themselves into the B team such as Tobias Bratt, Fredrik Alnas, Malek Islander, Nicola Zivanovic, Sebastian Hedlund and Billy Nordstrom. If you ever get chance, Eijlert Bjorkman's youth team are well worth a watch-the future of IFK looks bright!

NEXT UP
Only three games remain of the season, with the first of those seeing Mjallby visit the Gamla Ullevi on Saturday. IFK require 3 points from each remaining game to have any chance whatsoever of grabbing a European place. The team will be looking to build on the past few good performances which sees them unbeaten in the last six league games.

I would expect the back four to remain the same with Emil Salomonsson having to make do with a place on the bench. Jonas Olsson will have Haglund back after suspension and hopefully Allansson and Johannson back after injury. If so, I would expect him to revert to a midfield four of Selakovic-Haglund-Allansson-Bjarnasson. This might not be the case though and a lot depends on the fitness of Allansson and Johansson and the thinking of Jonas Olsson. Up top, it is almost a dead cert that Stiller and Hysen will continue. Let's hope for another good performance and 3 points before the season's big match-the derby against GAIS.

HEJA IFK!