Umeå wins again, says experts
50 % of those present at the big annual Damallsvenskan kick-off event last Tuesday expected Umeå IK to retain their Swedish championship with Linköping (17 %) and LDB FC Malmö (12 %) as closest competitors. I would say that the most surprising here is that only 50 % voted for Umeå.
The voters, Damallsvenskan coaches, players, managers, journalists and assorted hangers-on, also voted for most likely to end up last . Another Umeå, Umeå Södra FF, is destined for relegation if you want to believe the figures, winning 39 % of the votes. Runners-up Kristianstad (31 %) and Bälinge (19 %).
And if you want to wager any money on who wins the championship, bet365.com has these odds:
| Umeå IK | 1.60 | |
| Linköpings FC | 4.00 | |
| LdB FC Malmö | 6.00 | |
| Djurgården | 13.00 | |
| Kopparbergs/Göteborg | 19.00 | |
| AIK | 23.00 | |
| KIF Örebro DFF | 51.00 | |
| Bälinge | 201.00 | |
| Sunnanå SK | 201.00 | |
| Hammarby IF DFF | 201.00 | |
| Kristianstads DFF | 501.00 | |
| Umeå Södra FF | 1001.00 |
Svensk Fotboll: Tipsen till UIK igen
Swedish FA decides that Brazilian matches can be moved
The Swedish Football Association today decided that the matches, that will be affected by Brazilian players in Swedish clubs being called up for the Olympic Qualifier on April 19, can be moved to other dates. The matches concerned are Linköping's away match at Malmö April 17 and Umeå's at Göteborg April 16 and at home against Malmö April 20.
The decision that the matches can be moved doesn't mean they will be. It's a very tight match program in the league, says Umeå's manager Roland Arnqvist and he can see problems finding suitable dates, even if he of course wants to move the matches. Linköping's has the same view - they will see what they can do, but it will be difficult finding a date. And I guess that LDB FC Malmö being involved in two of the three matches doesn't make it any easier. The club's sport director Kenny Jönsson comments that this comes very late, all the travel arrangements are already made.
Dagens Nyheter: Marta kan spela alla matcher för Umeå
Damfotboll.com: Problemen hopar sig för Umeå IK
The decision that the matches can be moved doesn't mean they will be. It's a very tight match program in the league, says Umeå's manager Roland Arnqvist and he can see problems finding suitable dates, even if he of course wants to move the matches. Linköping's has the same view - they will see what they can do, but it will be difficult finding a date. And I guess that LDB FC Malmö being involved in two of the three matches doesn't make it any easier. The club's sport director Kenny Jönsson comments that this comes very late, all the travel arrangements are already made.
Dagens Nyheter: Marta kan spela alla matcher för Umeå
Damfotboll.com: Problemen hopar sig för Umeå IK
Umeå travels to Lyon without Ljungberg
Umeå IK goes to Lyon for the UEFA Women's Cup semifinal on Sunday with their entire team, except Hanna Ljungberg. Not, as you would think, because of an injury, but due to a cold. And, explains coach Andrée Jeglertz, not because that she is that ill, but he doesn't want to risk her passing on the infection to any other players. Otherwise has Hanna, except for a minor thing in her thigh, had her best pre-season for a very long time. The prescription has been, says Hanna, to train less and rest more.
Umeå IK has never played Olympique Lyon before, but they are not taking anything for granted. Assistant coach Steve Galloway went to Lyon to watch OL play Montpellier a few weeks ago and came back impressed. Even if the surroundings around the match wasn't the best - it was played on a training field without any stands, so he really didn't get the best view of the game, and there wasn't any match program or even a line-up - Galloway saw enough not to underestimate the French side: "It was a long time since I saw a team where everyone were that comfortable with the ball". In particular Camilla Abily caught his eye, but "everyone was good, technical and comfortable with the ball". Lyon plays an offensive 4-3-3, quite a bit like Umeå, and Galloway predicted that the Umeå audience will love to watch them.
Västerbottenskuriren: Hanna Ljungberg stannar hemma
Västerbottens Folkblad: Lyon blir ingen lätt match
Umeå IK has never played Olympique Lyon before, but they are not taking anything for granted. Assistant coach Steve Galloway went to Lyon to watch OL play Montpellier a few weeks ago and came back impressed. Even if the surroundings around the match wasn't the best - it was played on a training field without any stands, so he really didn't get the best view of the game, and there wasn't any match program or even a line-up - Galloway saw enough not to underestimate the French side: "It was a long time since I saw a team where everyone were that comfortable with the ball". In particular Camilla Abily caught his eye, but "everyone was good, technical and comfortable with the ball". Lyon plays an offensive 4-3-3, quite a bit like Umeå, and Galloway predicted that the Umeå audience will love to watch them.
Västerbottenskuriren: Hanna Ljungberg stannar hemma
Västerbottens Folkblad: Lyon blir ingen lätt match
Umeå forced to release Marta
Umeå IK has no choice but to release Marta for Brazil's Olympic qualifier against Ghana on April 19. The governing body of world football, FIFA, revealed in a message to the Swedish FA that April 19 now is a protected match date in the FIFA calender. The decision to amend the international calender was made as late as March 14, which sort of defeats the purpose of having a coordinated international match calender. Umeå's Roland Arnqvist is of course upset, and now wants his team's affected Damallsvenskan matches (Göteborg the 16th and Malmö the 20th) moved to other dates.
This doesn't really speak well for FIFA's dedication to the women's game and a similar decision on the men's side is of course unthinkable. "This is the bigshots playing around with the grassroots", said Umeå's manager, claiming that FIFA set the date for the Brazil-Ghana match just to get some entertainment to go with the final drawing of the groups in the Olympic games, that is set to take place the day after the match. I don't doubt that that affected the decision, but they might also have wanted to know which teams will compete in the Olympics before making the draw.
Västerbottenskuriren: Chockbesked: Fifa tvingar UIK släppa Marta
Linköping will release Brazilian players for Olympic qualifier
Linköping's general manager Anders Mäki today told broadcaster SVT, that the club will release Cristiane and Daniela for Brazil's Olympic qualifying match against Ghana on April 19: "The girls really wants to go, so we're letting them leave on the 14th", the day after Linköping's home opener. This means that they will miss Linköping's important away match against fellow top side LDB FC Malmö on April 17, but might be able to participate in the home match against Bälinge the 21st.
Umeå's manager Roland Arnqvist says that the club still hasn't decided whether to release Marta for the match or not. He wants to be able to play with his best team (Umeå are facing Hammarby, Göteborg and Malmö between the 13 and 20 April), but at the same time he wants to keep the good relations Umeå has with the Brazilian national team.
"This shouldn't be allowed to happen and would never have happened in men's football", commented Roland Arnqvist the conflicting schedules. He might be right about the short notice, but during the African Championships earlier this year, you didn't see any Drogba or Essien playing club football. The more the women's game grows, the more of this we will see.
SVT: Linköping svänger om brasilianskor
Umeå's manager Roland Arnqvist says that the club still hasn't decided whether to release Marta for the match or not. He wants to be able to play with his best team (Umeå are facing Hammarby, Göteborg and Malmö between the 13 and 20 April), but at the same time he wants to keep the good relations Umeå has with the Brazilian national team.
"This shouldn't be allowed to happen and would never have happened in men's football", commented Roland Arnqvist the conflicting schedules. He might be right about the short notice, but during the African Championships earlier this year, you didn't see any Drogba or Essien playing club football. The more the women's game grows, the more of this we will see.
SVT: Linköping svänger om brasilianskor
Club and country controversy for Brazilian players
Brazil, who finished second in the South American qualifiers last year, faces a play-off against Africa's second, Ghana to decide which team goes to the Olympic games. The match will be played in China on April 19. Brazil's national team are now gathering for their pre-match camp in Brazil and plans to pick up the European based players April 13 on route to China. Between the 13th and 21st there are three match-days in Damallsvenskan, so this will concern both Umeå (Marta) and Linköping (Cristiane and Daniela).
This has prompted strong reactions from Linköping's sport director Bengt Ekholm: "I can't imagine we're letting our two new Brazilian players leave the same day they should be playing our home opener in Damallsvenskan". And he could have a strong position here. The match date is not protected in FIFA women's coordinated international calendar for 2008. National team's can still call up players for additional dates, but that is "provided that the association concerned gives at least 30 days' notice". No such notice seems to have been given. Bengt Ekholm says that he has to talk this over with his players, "they have of course mixed loyalties here", but adds that Linköping will take the matter to FIFA for a conclusion.
There was a similar conflict a couple of years ago, when Qbik, backed up by a FIFA decision, refused to release three Nigerian players. The players went AWOL and were later fired by the club. Umeå has also at one instance refused to release Marta (for the 2006 U20 World Championship).
Damfotboll.com: Svenska brassetrion kan missa tre matcher, Cristiane och Daniela missar OS-planet till Kina
This has prompted strong reactions from Linköping's sport director Bengt Ekholm: "I can't imagine we're letting our two new Brazilian players leave the same day they should be playing our home opener in Damallsvenskan". And he could have a strong position here. The match date is not protected in FIFA women's coordinated international calendar for 2008. National team's can still call up players for additional dates, but that is "provided that the association concerned gives at least 30 days' notice". No such notice seems to have been given. Bengt Ekholm says that he has to talk this over with his players, "they have of course mixed loyalties here", but adds that Linköping will take the matter to FIFA for a conclusion.
There was a similar conflict a couple of years ago, when Qbik, backed up by a FIFA decision, refused to release three Nigerian players. The players went AWOL and were later fired by the club. Umeå has also at one instance refused to release Marta (for the 2006 U20 World Championship).
Damfotboll.com: Svenska brassetrion kan missa tre matcher, Cristiane och Daniela missar OS-planet till Kina
The ACL review
Kif Örebro's Emilia Erixon, who was her team's top goalscorer with 11 goals when she tore her ACL in the 16th damallsvenskan match last season, has suffered a severe setback. The 20 year old hurt her knee during rehab training and it has been established that she has once again torn her ACL.
Nerikes Allehanda: Emelias korsband avslitet - igen
Annica Svensson, influental fullback with Hammarby, and Umeå's Brazilian Elaine, who both got injured in January, have now started the first part of their rehab training.
Hammarby: Kryckorna har åkt ut genom fönstret
Västerbottens Folkblad: Inställd på en snabb återkomst
Malmö's Pavlina Scasna and Caroline Jönsson, both injured late last summer, are getting close to match fitness. Scasna is in full training and Jönsson doesn't seem to be far from, even if she experienced a minor set-back during the team's winter camp in South Africa.
Nerikes Allehanda: Emelias korsband avslitet - igen
Annica Svensson, influental fullback with Hammarby, and Umeå's Brazilian Elaine, who both got injured in January, have now started the first part of their rehab training.
Hammarby: Kryckorna har åkt ut genom fönstret
Västerbottens Folkblad: Inställd på en snabb återkomst
Malmö's Pavlina Scasna and Caroline Jönsson, both injured late last summer, are getting close to match fitness. Scasna is in full training and Jönsson doesn't seem to be far from, even if she experienced a minor set-back during the team's winter camp in South Africa.
Scouting at Algarve
The new American professional league has begun to emerge. Just before the World Cup last year the name, Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), seven clubs and plans to start in April 2009 was revealed. And in January this sort of idea of a league was materialised a bit, with a logo, a website and clubs beginning to announce the hirings of managers and coaches.
And at Algarve Cup there were actual coaches from the league, scouting real life players. The New York/New Jersey franchise Sky Blue Soccer were present in Algarve with both their newly signed head coach Ian Sawyers and the coach for their W-League team Denise Reddy. Sawyers told Swedish media that he tried to keep a low profile "it's just good that they [the players] don't know who I am", but he was there to find players to his WPS team. But just watching: "When the right time comes, we will contact the clubs to get permission to talk to the players". And he does of course not mention any names, but says that there are half a dozen Swedish players that are interesting.
This is mostly speculation from my part, but if you piece together snippets from articles, interviews, blogs and forum discussions I think you can get a picture of what recruiting potential the new league has.
The ambition is "to be the premier women's soccer league in the world, and the global standard by which women's professional sports are measured" and anything else would be selling themselves short. But we are not talking about WUSA expenditures here.
Team budgets should according to reliable information be between USD 1,5 to 2,5 millions. In the lower end that is slightly less than the budget Umeå has (at the present exchange rate, if the free fall of the dollar continues it will soon be Linköping's budget).
We shouldn't expect any outrageous wage bids. Typical player salaries should be between USD 25,000 and 50,000 per season, which isn't out of reach for Swedish clubs either. The league commissioner Tonya Antonucci has, primarily with regards to Marta, said that "we're going to have to be competitive and creative to bring them over". Marta's present salary, which should translate to something like USD 150,000, might not be over-bid by any WPS club, but there are other ways for a player like Marta to make money in a market like the USA.
It also seems like there will be a cap on foreign players, possibly 4 per team. That would be 28 foreign players with 7 teams. It's not like the WPS will drain the European market, but on the other hand picking a few really big names (say Marta, Schelin and Ljungberg) could be enough to affect the popularity of the Swedish league.
And how interested are the Swedish players? Mildly interested would be the answer if you judge from what national team players in Algarve told the press. Older players like Victoria Svensson and Therese Sjögran declared they will stay with their present clubs while younger ones like Lotta Schelin and Caroline Seger are interested but in no hurry. One of the problems are the European Championships next summer, that might not be possible to combine with playing in the WPS.
By the way, Ian Sawyers didn't talk to any players, but his travel partner Denise Reddy certainly did. But she has a bunch of former team mates and house mates on the Swedish national team since her Malmö days, so it comes more natural for her. You can find her travel report at Sky Blue's website.
Dagens Nyheter: På jakt efter spelare till damernas proffsliga i USA
Aftonbladet: Svenska spelarna nobbar proffsligan
And at Algarve Cup there were actual coaches from the league, scouting real life players. The New York/New Jersey franchise Sky Blue Soccer were present in Algarve with both their newly signed head coach Ian Sawyers and the coach for their W-League team Denise Reddy. Sawyers told Swedish media that he tried to keep a low profile "it's just good that they [the players] don't know who I am", but he was there to find players to his WPS team. But just watching: "When the right time comes, we will contact the clubs to get permission to talk to the players". And he does of course not mention any names, but says that there are half a dozen Swedish players that are interesting.
This is mostly speculation from my part, but if you piece together snippets from articles, interviews, blogs and forum discussions I think you can get a picture of what recruiting potential the new league has.
The ambition is "to be the premier women's soccer league in the world, and the global standard by which women's professional sports are measured" and anything else would be selling themselves short. But we are not talking about WUSA expenditures here.
Team budgets should according to reliable information be between USD 1,5 to 2,5 millions. In the lower end that is slightly less than the budget Umeå has (at the present exchange rate, if the free fall of the dollar continues it will soon be Linköping's budget).
We shouldn't expect any outrageous wage bids. Typical player salaries should be between USD 25,000 and 50,000 per season, which isn't out of reach for Swedish clubs either. The league commissioner Tonya Antonucci has, primarily with regards to Marta, said that "we're going to have to be competitive and creative to bring them over". Marta's present salary, which should translate to something like USD 150,000, might not be over-bid by any WPS club, but there are other ways for a player like Marta to make money in a market like the USA.
It also seems like there will be a cap on foreign players, possibly 4 per team. That would be 28 foreign players with 7 teams. It's not like the WPS will drain the European market, but on the other hand picking a few really big names (say Marta, Schelin and Ljungberg) could be enough to affect the popularity of the Swedish league.
And how interested are the Swedish players? Mildly interested would be the answer if you judge from what national team players in Algarve told the press. Older players like Victoria Svensson and Therese Sjögran declared they will stay with their present clubs while younger ones like Lotta Schelin and Caroline Seger are interested but in no hurry. One of the problems are the European Championships next summer, that might not be possible to combine with playing in the WPS.
By the way, Ian Sawyers didn't talk to any players, but his travel partner Denise Reddy certainly did. But she has a bunch of former team mates and house mates on the Swedish national team since her Malmö days, so it comes more natural for her. You can find her travel report at Sky Blue's website.
Dagens Nyheter: På jakt efter spelare till damernas proffsliga i USA
Aftonbladet: Svenska spelarna nobbar proffsligan
Training camps
We are in the middle of march, just a few weeks from the league kick-off, and this is the time when most of the Damallsvenskan teams goes on camp. Sub-zero temperatures are still not uncommon in Sweden, particulary for the northern teams, and very few places in Sweden can sport a playable grass field. So the teams take a trip south.
First club to go south was LDB FC Malmö, who had their camp in South Africa in February. But that wasn't enough, so this weekend, they have travelled to Denmark for a short match camp, playing against Fortuna Hjørring and Skovlunde.
Djurgården had, for the second time, their spring camp in Algarve, just the week before the Algarve Cup. This year they were joined by Sunnanå. The place and time for the camp is convenient for the national team players, who only have to change hotels (or in some cases just change rooms) to join their respective national teams for the Cup. It can also give some interesting training match partners. Last year Djurgården defeated China during their Algarve camp and this year Sunnanå was invited by USA to play a friendly the weekend before the Algarve Cup started. Sunnanå were thrilled by the opportunity, but had to turn down the invite, as they had already committed to a match against Djurgården on the same day.
Umeå IK and Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC goes to Turkey this weekend for a week at Umeå's, I think we can call it traditional now, spring camp near Antalya on the south coast. The area is well frequented by teams that have winter breaks in their football seasons and Umeå has also agreed with Russian Rossiyanka to play a friendly.
AIK doesn't travel quite that far, but will spend time in Germany and has scheduled a match with German runners-up FCR 2001 Duisburg on the 27th. Kif Örebro is in Norway this weekend, playing Team Strømmen and Asker, two of Norway's top sides, and goes to Scotland the last weekend in March for a short camp and a match against Glasgow City.
First club to go south was LDB FC Malmö, who had their camp in South Africa in February. But that wasn't enough, so this weekend, they have travelled to Denmark for a short match camp, playing against Fortuna Hjørring and Skovlunde.
Djurgården had, for the second time, their spring camp in Algarve, just the week before the Algarve Cup. This year they were joined by Sunnanå. The place and time for the camp is convenient for the national team players, who only have to change hotels (or in some cases just change rooms) to join their respective national teams for the Cup. It can also give some interesting training match partners. Last year Djurgården defeated China during their Algarve camp and this year Sunnanå was invited by USA to play a friendly the weekend before the Algarve Cup started. Sunnanå were thrilled by the opportunity, but had to turn down the invite, as they had already committed to a match against Djurgården on the same day.
Umeå IK and Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC goes to Turkey this weekend for a week at Umeå's, I think we can call it traditional now, spring camp near Antalya on the south coast. The area is well frequented by teams that have winter breaks in their football seasons and Umeå has also agreed with Russian Rossiyanka to play a friendly.
AIK doesn't travel quite that far, but will spend time in Germany and has scheduled a match with German runners-up FCR 2001 Duisburg on the 27th. Kif Örebro is in Norway this weekend, playing Team Strømmen and Asker, two of Norway's top sides, and goes to Scotland the last weekend in March for a short camp and a match against Glasgow City.
Knee injuries, Lyon scouting, some transfers and a bit of gossip
Hammarby's influental defender Annica Svensson, who injured her knee in one of the first January training sessions, has had surgery for her torn ACL. Surgery went well and the way too well-known rehabilitation process has begun.
Linköping and Sweden attacker Josefine Öqvist is at the other end of rehab training. She is ready to make her come-back on the pitch after her June knee injury, playing in a friendly next week-end.
Hammarby: Annica Svensson knäopererad
Corren: Öqvist redo för comeback
Umeå IK's assistant coach Steve Galloway will take the trip to Lyon to watch as his team's UEFA Cup semifinal opponents Olympique takes on Montpellier in the French league on Sunday. Umeå are always thorough in their preparations, Galloway also went to Belgium last fall to watch Rapide Wezemaal before the quarter-finals, which might have been over-cautious. But Galloway admits that they have a lot of respect for Lyon and says that there will be a lot to watch.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Galloway ska åka på scoutresa till Lyon
Ragna Lestander, 23 years old defender, has decided to re-sign with Umeå Södra after having spent last year playing college ball with Yuba in California. Lestander played Damallsvenskan football with Sunnanå 2003 and Umeå Södra might be able to sign another ex-Sunnanå player, young defender Linnea Gjersvold, last year at 1st division side Piteå.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Lestander spelar med Södra
Ex-Damallsvenskan side Qbik, relegated after last season, has lost 19 players following their drop from the premier division. The last was their Greek-American goalkeeper Maria Yatrakis, who turned down an offer to stay with the club and instead accepted a bid from ambitious promotion contender Jitex in the 1st division. Yatrakis was considered one of the better keepers in Damallsvenskan last year and Jitex' manager Ronny Törnqvist expressed his surprise that none of the premier division sides had tried to sign her.
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Qbik förlorar även Yatrakis
Retired Umeå and Sweden midfielder Malin Moström gave birth to a daughter last Sunday. Unlike e.g. several players on the USA national team, it seems like Swedish players retire before they decide to start a family. Hanna Marklund and, if the rumour I've heard is to be trusted, Anna Sjöström are two other mothers to be. Finland's Laura Kalmari, also due sometime in February, is on the other hand still listed on AIK's roster, with the remark "on maternity leave", so it might be different for Finns.
Linköping and Sweden attacker Josefine Öqvist is at the other end of rehab training. She is ready to make her come-back on the pitch after her June knee injury, playing in a friendly next week-end.
Hammarby: Annica Svensson knäopererad
Corren: Öqvist redo för comeback
Umeå IK's assistant coach Steve Galloway will take the trip to Lyon to watch as his team's UEFA Cup semifinal opponents Olympique takes on Montpellier in the French league on Sunday. Umeå are always thorough in their preparations, Galloway also went to Belgium last fall to watch Rapide Wezemaal before the quarter-finals, which might have been over-cautious. But Galloway admits that they have a lot of respect for Lyon and says that there will be a lot to watch.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Galloway ska åka på scoutresa till Lyon
Ragna Lestander, 23 years old defender, has decided to re-sign with Umeå Södra after having spent last year playing college ball with Yuba in California. Lestander played Damallsvenskan football with Sunnanå 2003 and Umeå Södra might be able to sign another ex-Sunnanå player, young defender Linnea Gjersvold, last year at 1st division side Piteå.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Lestander spelar med Södra
Ex-Damallsvenskan side Qbik, relegated after last season, has lost 19 players following their drop from the premier division. The last was their Greek-American goalkeeper Maria Yatrakis, who turned down an offer to stay with the club and instead accepted a bid from ambitious promotion contender Jitex in the 1st division. Yatrakis was considered one of the better keepers in Damallsvenskan last year and Jitex' manager Ronny Törnqvist expressed his surprise that none of the premier division sides had tried to sign her.
Nya Wermlandstidningen: Qbik förlorar även Yatrakis
Retired Umeå and Sweden midfielder Malin Moström gave birth to a daughter last Sunday. Unlike e.g. several players on the USA national team, it seems like Swedish players retire before they decide to start a family. Hanna Marklund and, if the rumour I've heard is to be trusted, Anna Sjöström are two other mothers to be. Finland's Laura Kalmari, also due sometime in February, is on the other hand still listed on AIK's roster, with the remark "on maternity leave", so it might be different for Finns.
Bälinge's White gets national team call-up
The attacking midfielder Kacey White, who I thought was supposed to report at her club Bälinge in February, has been called up by USA's national team. She will participate in a one week long training camp between February 9-17 in Carson, California. The 26 players in camp will then be cut down to the 20 player, that will go to the Algarve Cup in March.
During her 2006 season with Bälinge, White had written in her contract that she could leave the club if and when she recieved a call-up from the national team. I presume it's the same this season, even if I think it has been possible to notice a change in attitude from several Swedish clubs, now being unwilling to release players to their national teams other than at official FIFA dates.
Ussoccer: U.S. Women's National Team Training Camp Notes
During her 2006 season with Bälinge, White had written in her contract that she could leave the club if and when she recieved a call-up from the national team. I presume it's the same this season, even if I think it has been possible to notice a change in attitude from several Swedish clubs, now being unwilling to release players to their national teams other than at official FIFA dates.
Ussoccer: U.S. Women's National Team Training Camp Notes
Elaine still hoping for Olympics
Elaine had her knee surgery last Wednesday, much sooner than first anticipated. The local ice-hockey team Björklöven's physician, who performed the operation, said it was a fairly difficult procedure and there were large damage in the knee. But the operation was very successful and full recovery is anticipated, even if it will be a long recovery process.
Elaine is eager to start her rehab programme as soon as possible and says she will do everything she can to be fit again in time for the Olympics. Club manager Roland Arnqvist reiterates, in view of the recent speculations, that there are at the present no plans to hire a replacement for Elaine.
Västerbottenskuriren: "Jag hoppas fortfarande på spel i OS"
LDB Malmö goes to Africa
LDB FC Malmö's players left Malmö for their two week long camp in South Africa today. The camp is in Thanda in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where the team will be able to train and also play a match against the South African national team on February 13. The camp has been possible thanks to the support from local businessman Dan Olofsson, who owns a private game reserve in Thanda. The team will also do work in support of Olofsson's Star School project, an AIDS awareness and prevention program, while in South Africa.
The club will publish a travel diary at it's website, a diary which they have put Manon Melis, Aylin Yaren and Pavlina Scasna in charge of. They must be the three players least proficient in Swedish in the entire team, so chances are updates will be published in some other language. I'll keep you posted, even if their first entry is more post-a-picture-from-your-cellphone than an actual diary entry.
Sydsvenskan: LDB laddar i Sydafrika
The club will publish a travel diary at it's website, a diary which they have put Manon Melis, Aylin Yaren and Pavlina Scasna in charge of. They must be the three players least proficient in Swedish in the entire team, so chances are updates will be published in some other language. I'll keep you posted, even if their first entry is more post-a-picture-from-your-cellphone than an actual diary entry.
Sydsvenskan: LDB laddar i Sydafrika
Umeå looking for replacement for Elaine?
Umeå's head coach Andrée Jeglertz tells local press that he wants the club to recruit a replacement for Elaine, who will spend the most of the coming season in rehab. Club manager Arnqvist says he understands Jeglertz wish, "but there is a financial side to it too". He sees two alternatives, either trying to find a player that is available on the market and is good enough to take a place as a starter in Umeå's eleven. Or bringing in a younger player from Umeå's development team.
"I get proposals from agents every week", Arnqvist says, "mostly about players from Ghana and Nigeria. And then there is Brazil and USA. If we want to, we'll probably find someone". But they do need to make a fairly quick decision, ideally a new player should be with the team no later than the middle of February.
Västerbottenskuriren: Jeglertz vill ha en ersättare
The two other recent ACL victims in Umeå, Hanna Ljungberg and Johanna Frisk, says that they will do everything they can to help and support Elaine through the injury period. Elaine reveals in an interview with the local TV station that she plans to stay in Sweden during her rehabilitation period, "Umeå is not only a team, it's family to me". She will use the time to study Swedish and English. And, if what the interviewer is implying is correct, spend more time with her love, even if Elaine laughs away the question.
Västerbottenskuriren: Marta om Elaine: "Jättetråkigt"
Västerbottensnytt: video interview
"I get proposals from agents every week", Arnqvist says, "mostly about players from Ghana and Nigeria. And then there is Brazil and USA. If we want to, we'll probably find someone". But they do need to make a fairly quick decision, ideally a new player should be with the team no later than the middle of February.
Västerbottenskuriren: Jeglertz vill ha en ersättare
The two other recent ACL victims in Umeå, Hanna Ljungberg and Johanna Frisk, says that they will do everything they can to help and support Elaine through the injury period. Elaine reveals in an interview with the local TV station that she plans to stay in Sweden during her rehabilitation period, "Umeå is not only a team, it's family to me". She will use the time to study Swedish and English. And, if what the interviewer is implying is correct, spend more time with her love, even if Elaine laughs away the question.
Västerbottenskuriren: Marta om Elaine: "Jättetråkigt"
Västerbottensnytt: video interview
Elaine out for 6 months with knee injury
Umeå's Brazilian national team player Elaine will probably miss the Olympics in August. The knee injury she suffered in the match against LDB FC Malmö last weekend was examined today and team physician Anders Eriksson revealed that the anterior cruciate ligament was torn. There are also additional damage to other ligaments in the knee.
"Injuries like this demands at least 6 months rehabilitation", said Eriksson, who added that Elaine will undergo surgery as soon as the swelling has gone down.
Västerbottenskuriren: Korsbandet av på Elaine
Umeå manager Roland Arnqvist quits
Roland Arnqvist, the man behind Umeå IK's long march from obscurity to world domination, has decided to leave his position as club manager.
"It's time", he says, "I've been working 25 years for the club and you have to leave some time". He calls the job "a suicide mission, it takes all your time". Taking up a position in another women's football club is not an option. It would be like starting over where he was ten years ago and he also wants to point out that he is not leaving the club: "I will always be a UIKer". He will stay on as club manager until the end of May 2008 and be part of the group that works out Umeå's new organisation.
Roland Arnqvist is Umeå IK's women's football, much more important than any Marta or Malin Moström. He started coaching the team when UIK decided to field a women's team 1984 and has since excelled in the position as club manager. His eye for talent, his tenacity and inventiveness has made the club to what it is. I can fully understand that he feels worn out, and maybe not always as appreciated as he deserves, but I also think that he has chosen a good time to leave. The club is now a model organisation for women's football and one of the strongest brand names in the sport. It shouldn't be impossible for the club to continue finding success without him.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Arnqvist slutar i Umeå IK
"It's time", he says, "I've been working 25 years for the club and you have to leave some time". He calls the job "a suicide mission, it takes all your time". Taking up a position in another women's football club is not an option. It would be like starting over where he was ten years ago and he also wants to point out that he is not leaving the club: "I will always be a UIKer". He will stay on as club manager until the end of May 2008 and be part of the group that works out Umeå's new organisation.
Roland Arnqvist is Umeå IK's women's football, much more important than any Marta or Malin Moström. He started coaching the team when UIK decided to field a women's team 1984 and has since excelled in the position as club manager. His eye for talent, his tenacity and inventiveness has made the club to what it is. I can fully understand that he feels worn out, and maybe not always as appreciated as he deserves, but I also think that he has chosen a good time to leave. The club is now a model organisation for women's football and one of the strongest brand names in the sport. It shouldn't be impossible for the club to continue finding success without him.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Arnqvist slutar i Umeå IK
Törnqvist sees new start to her career
Jane Törnqvist tells local daily Göteborgsposten that she had already decided to end her career when the offer from Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC came. "I was a bit taken by that" she says and adds that it took her a couple of weeks to decide. The fact that Göteborg's offer was for a full-time professional position made the difference:
"Finally being able to play football without having anything on the side made the deal", Jane says, "But it is also exciting to change towns, I was a bit fed up with Stockholm".
Getting truly professional for the first time in her life, at 32 and after 14 years on the highest level, has changed Jane's plans for the future somewhat. Her contract with Göteborg has an option for second year and Jane doesn't even eliminate the possibility of playing for the national team:
"That's not something I'm thinking about now, but you should never say never", she says and continues "The performance has to decide, there is a lot of good defenders in Sweden."
Göteborgsposten: Jane nysatsar i Kopparbergs
Jane Törnqvist's new coach, Torbjörn Nilsson, reveals in another interview that he was offered the Göteborg job already three years ago, but turned it down: "It wasn't at the level I wanted, since I have been working at a very high level". But things have changed since: "Now there is a great environment around the club and they have their own stadium."
Nilsson predicts that more established coaches from the men's side will step over to women's football in the future. "It is easy to see it as a step down, but when I started to think about it I didn't see it that way. [...] Being a leader in Damallsvenskan might even demand more of you".
Dagens Nyheter: Ny utmaning för Torbjörn Nilsson
"Finally being able to play football without having anything on the side made the deal", Jane says, "But it is also exciting to change towns, I was a bit fed up with Stockholm".
Getting truly professional for the first time in her life, at 32 and after 14 years on the highest level, has changed Jane's plans for the future somewhat. Her contract with Göteborg has an option for second year and Jane doesn't even eliminate the possibility of playing for the national team:
"That's not something I'm thinking about now, but you should never say never", she says and continues "The performance has to decide, there is a lot of good defenders in Sweden."
Göteborgsposten: Jane nysatsar i Kopparbergs
Jane Törnqvist's new coach, Torbjörn Nilsson, reveals in another interview that he was offered the Göteborg job already three years ago, but turned it down: "It wasn't at the level I wanted, since I have been working at a very high level". But things have changed since: "Now there is a great environment around the club and they have their own stadium."
Nilsson predicts that more established coaches from the men's side will step over to women's football in the future. "It is easy to see it as a step down, but when I started to think about it I didn't see it that way. [...] Being a leader in Damallsvenskan might even demand more of you".
Dagens Nyheter: Ny utmaning för Torbjörn Nilsson
2008 schedule
The schedules for both Damallsvenskan and the national team are now set. There might be minor changes in the league schedule, it is still called preliminary, but probably not that much.
Preseason training started in all clubs this last week after being on a break for one or two months - the shorter break for the national team players, who played Denmark in November. The rest will look like this:
In February there is a national team camp 10-17 at Cyprus with matches against England and Norway. This is followed by the Algarve Cup in March. Before the league starts, Umeå will play UEFA Women's Cup semifinals, the 30th March away and 5th April at home.
The day after Umeå's Women's Cup semifinal, Damallsvenskan kicks off and plays the first 4 rounds of matches before a May break in the league for the two national team Euro qualifiers against Hungary and Italy, the 3rd and 7th. The 10th the league is on it's way again with three match days in May. In May there is also a possible UEFA Women's Cup final in two legs between May 17-24.
The league continues in June with 5 more rounds and the Swedish Cup plays two rounds until a break for another Euro qualifier, against Ireland on the 25th, followed by the Swedish Cup quarter-finals the 29th. The there are two more match-days in July before Damallsvenskan goes on the long break for the Olympics.
The national team starts with a domestic preparation camp the 19th July, including a friendly against Norway and possibly one against USA. They move camp to Japan for further preparations before going on to China and the Olympic tournament.
Damallsvenskan resumes activity 30th August and plays 5 more Damallsvenskan rounds plus Swedish Cup semifinals and final before there is another break for national team activities, the two final qualification matches for the 2009 European championships on 27th September and 1st October.
The final three Damallsvenskan rounds are then played with the final matches 19th October. I presume that the second qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Cup also will be played in October, although I haven't seen any schedule set yet and the season hopefully ends with UEFA Women's Cup Quarter-finals in November.
National team 2008 schedule
Damallsvenskan 2008 schedule
Preseason training started in all clubs this last week after being on a break for one or two months - the shorter break for the national team players, who played Denmark in November. The rest will look like this:
In February there is a national team camp 10-17 at Cyprus with matches against England and Norway. This is followed by the Algarve Cup in March. Before the league starts, Umeå will play UEFA Women's Cup semifinals, the 30th March away and 5th April at home.
The day after Umeå's Women's Cup semifinal, Damallsvenskan kicks off and plays the first 4 rounds of matches before a May break in the league for the two national team Euro qualifiers against Hungary and Italy, the 3rd and 7th. The 10th the league is on it's way again with three match days in May. In May there is also a possible UEFA Women's Cup final in two legs between May 17-24.
The league continues in June with 5 more rounds and the Swedish Cup plays two rounds until a break for another Euro qualifier, against Ireland on the 25th, followed by the Swedish Cup quarter-finals the 29th. The there are two more match-days in July before Damallsvenskan goes on the long break for the Olympics.
The national team starts with a domestic preparation camp the 19th July, including a friendly against Norway and possibly one against USA. They move camp to Japan for further preparations before going on to China and the Olympic tournament.
Damallsvenskan resumes activity 30th August and plays 5 more Damallsvenskan rounds plus Swedish Cup semifinals and final before there is another break for national team activities, the two final qualification matches for the 2009 European championships on 27th September and 1st October.
The final three Damallsvenskan rounds are then played with the final matches 19th October. I presume that the second qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Cup also will be played in October, although I haven't seen any schedule set yet and the season hopefully ends with UEFA Women's Cup Quarter-finals in November.
National team 2008 schedule
Damallsvenskan 2008 schedule
LDB FC Malmö takes one step at the time
The local daily Sydsvenskan has done an interesting interview with Kent Widding Persson, LDB FC Malmö's main financer and, I'm just guessing here, most influental boardmember. He is not shy about the club's ambitions, they want to challenge for the Swedish and European championships. But it is important to take one step at the time.
"We need to build from the foundation", Widding Persson states. The first step was to sort out the club's financial problems. Widding Persson's company Hardford's 8 years long SEK 3 million a year sponsor deal was a conrnerstone.
The second step was to secure a stable and homogenous core squad. This was done already this last summer, when 12 of the most important players were signed on long-term contracts. Once that was done, the club went looking for good players to spice the squad with. So far we have seen Pavlina Scasna and Maria Aronsson.
Kent Widding Persson reveals that the club is still interested in the Brazilian national team players Cristiane and Daniela, but not with their current wage demands. "It's not just the money, we could afford that. But we can't sign a player that will earn two or three times more than anyone else does". He understands that some fans are getting impatient and wants to see a big signing, but says that it is important for the club to hold on to it's identity and long-term strategy.
Other important steps for the future includes putting artificial turf on Malmö's home ground. The idea is to get all LDB's teams, from the eight year olds to the seniors, together in one arena. A grass surface can't sustain that kind of daily usage. Widding Persson also wants to double Malmö's today 1,000 heads per game audience. "We need both good results and a good match environment to achieve that".
Widding Persson's involvment in the club has also opened new contacts. Last fall the club signed a deal with another local businessman, IT millionaire Dan Olofsson. The deal includes a pre-season training camp in South Africa including a match against the South African national team in February. In return the team will help develop and promote Olofsson's "Star School" programme, a SEK 12 million anti-HIV initiative where football will play a big part.
Sydsvenskan: LDB-sponsor vill ha konstgräs, IT-miljonär sponsrar LDB FC Malmö
Preseason training starts
It's the first week after the holidays and for most teams that means the start of the new season. The league kick-off is still three months away, but there will be "a couple of months of training 'til you puke", which Linköping's new signing Jessica Landström says she has been looking forward to.
Kopparbergs/Göteborgs FC attracted a lot of publicity, since new coach Torbjörn Nilsson had his first session with the team. He admitted being a bit tense, "it's really embarrassing when you get a player's name wrong", but most of all it feels really fun to be back working with a team again. Nilsson says he will focus on individual development and use his players strong sides to form his playing strategy.
Göteborgsposten: Nervös stjärntränare (video interview)
SVT: Torbjörn Nilsson tränar igen
With much less media attention, Djurgården's new coach Anders Johansson started the season. He is pleased with the way his players has worked with their training schedules during the break and will focus on technical training during the first weeks.
Djurgården: Träningen igång
Linköping signed a new assistant coach, Mikael Samuelsson, before the restart. Star forward Josefine Öqvist is almost back in shape after her ACL injury last year and is hoping for an injury-free 2008.
Corren: Öqvist siktar på bättre 2008, Samuelsson ny tränare i LFC, "Aldrig fel med några spymånader"
Bälinge started easy with passing exercises and attacking/defending one-on-one. The full squad is not yet in place and "real" pre-season training will not start until next week. Among those that won't show up until later are American Kacey White and Finnish Katri Nokso-Koivisto.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Traditionella övningar på första träningen
In Umeå Frida Östberg is back and she reveals that she was a lot more nervous the first time she went to a training session with Umeå, about a decade ago. Half of the team is gone since Östberg left for Linköping in 2005, "but that's ok as long as the group is motivated and good and wants to progress".
And defender Johanna Frisk, one of Damallsvenskan's many ACL victims last year, is right on schedule and back in training. "It feels great to play again".
Västerbottens Folkblad: Östberg sugen på att vinna igen, Johanna frisk efter ett långt halvår
Kopparbergs/Göteborgs FC attracted a lot of publicity, since new coach Torbjörn Nilsson had his first session with the team. He admitted being a bit tense, "it's really embarrassing when you get a player's name wrong", but most of all it feels really fun to be back working with a team again. Nilsson says he will focus on individual development and use his players strong sides to form his playing strategy.
Göteborgsposten: Nervös stjärntränare (video interview)
SVT: Torbjörn Nilsson tränar igen
With much less media attention, Djurgården's new coach Anders Johansson started the season. He is pleased with the way his players has worked with their training schedules during the break and will focus on technical training during the first weeks.
Djurgården: Träningen igång
Linköping signed a new assistant coach, Mikael Samuelsson, before the restart. Star forward Josefine Öqvist is almost back in shape after her ACL injury last year and is hoping for an injury-free 2008.
Corren: Öqvist siktar på bättre 2008, Samuelsson ny tränare i LFC, "Aldrig fel med några spymånader"
Bälinge started easy with passing exercises and attacking/defending one-on-one. The full squad is not yet in place and "real" pre-season training will not start until next week. Among those that won't show up until later are American Kacey White and Finnish Katri Nokso-Koivisto.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Traditionella övningar på första träningen
In Umeå Frida Östberg is back and she reveals that she was a lot more nervous the first time she went to a training session with Umeå, about a decade ago. Half of the team is gone since Östberg left for Linköping in 2005, "but that's ok as long as the group is motivated and good and wants to progress".
And defender Johanna Frisk, one of Damallsvenskan's many ACL victims last year, is right on schedule and back in training. "It feels great to play again".
Västerbottens Folkblad: Östberg sugen på att vinna igen, Johanna frisk efter ett långt halvår