The King

The quest for world domination continues

This week we have managed to infiltrate IFK Göteborg's arguably best blog, Baraben.com, where we make snide comments about their lack of class players. Seriously, the blog is really good in a bitter sort of way and I think I am making a point by pointing out the lack of a coherent vision and strategy at IFK. The comments section should be interesting and full of love.
Check it out.

AIK trounce Sirius and Zlatan is still not playing for Sweden

AIK put what might be called a reserve team on the pitch for today's friendly against Division two side Sirius. 4-0 was the final score, Bernt Hulsker, Alexander Gerndt got one each while our own Inzaghi, Daniel Mendes, got a brace. This looks like it will the best preseason since ... uh, forever with almost every player in the squad getting significant playing time and everyone looking fit. A normal preseason often has consisted of AIK borrowing players from left and right just to get a starting XI. Kudos to both the fitness staff of Thomas Lindholm and Oskar Skatt as well as our other staff.

The papers are going nuts after The Brand Zlatan declared he wasn't coming back to the national team in an interview yesterday. The same old stories, "Zlatan is so weird" and "Zlatan hates Lagerbäck", are reitirated everywhere while this blogs faithful readers, all two of you, already are in the know. This doesn't stop the media from sharing such nuggets as Mr Raiola, The Brand's Guiding Light, talking to Swedish journalists:

- I'm sorry, I am not Mino.
- Look Mino, I've talked to you hundreds of times, I know your voice!
- I am not Mino, sorry.

Fantastic. It's like watching kids running around creating havoc. And making millions of dollars doing it.

Zlatan played really well for an hour in today's game against Cagliari. A fantastic football sequence: Figo backheels the ball to Zlatan who, with a deft outside touch, crosses the ball perfectly for Burdisso to head into the net.

Dulee man of the match as GIF Sundsvall were run over, 3-0

Didn't get to see the game as I'm down with the flu at the moment. And 500 km away from Skytteholm too, now that I think about it. Listened to AIK:s excellent web radio broadcast though. Sundsvall played a 4-6-0 formation for the whole game and managed one shot at goal while AIK played ball the way you should. Goals from Mendez, NiCklas Carlsson and Dulee Johnson and all players in the match squad got some playing time, except for an on-loan goalie.

It also seems we have a new left back with the beginnings of an Argentina-hairdo, which I wager will prove absolutely crucial this season. He's really good too. So there you are.

Remember, remember, the fifth of November

Just saw this. With great trepidation beforehand I might add. Moore The Magic Man had his name removed from it after reading the script, it was produced by Joel Silver and The Wachowski Brothers who I do not love or trust and the trailer gave the impression that it was mainly about slo-mo action scenes and explosions. Which certainly wasn't what the graphic novel was all about. Add to that the horrid track record of making films from Moore stories (From Hell and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), you understand I had decided to stay away from this one. Glad I didn't.

It turned out beautifully. Great acting performances all around with some wonderful lines thrown about the place as well. Very emotional, even surprisingly so and very very talky.

Evey Hammond: Who are you?

V: Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.

Evey Hammond: Well I can see that.

V: Of course you can. I'm not questioning your powers of observation I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.

Riquelme to Boca Juniors

Oh crap. It doesn't seem like the issues can be solved right now. Riquelme will go on loan for the rest of the season to his old club Boca. Thanks to the net we who love him should be able to watch him quite a few times anyway. I'm already looking forward to Boca vs Estudiantes, aka Riquelme vs Veron.

Should be an alright matchup, dontcha think?

Ayala signed for Villareal

Beautiful. My favorite centre back will play for my favorite Argen... I mean Spanish team next season. Now we only need to sort this Riquelme business and start prodding some buttock in La Liga again.

In other news, Sweden lost to a good Egypt side with 2-0. More on that later.

Starting XI

Isaksson

Nilsson-Mellberg-Hansson-Edman
Linderoth
Svensson-Källström-Wilhelmson
Prica-Allbäck

Planned subs at halftime are: Shabaan for Isaksson and von Schleebrügge for Edman.

What does this tell us?
One, Svensson gets his chance to get into a starting XI that includes Källström. It would be great if this works out, and I have a feeling it just might. Alexandersson is easily the weakest regular these days, possibly along with Nilsson.
Two, Rosenberg is not considered match fit, which sounds like a reasonable conclusion.
Three, Andy Johansson is not a serious contender for a regular squad. When everyone including the kitchen sink is either unfit, injured or having brain scans (Ibrahimovic) and Rade Prica gets the nod ahead of you, you know you are on borrowed time.

My guess is that Wilhelmson will play a bit as a forward winger while Svensson moves a bit inside, leaving the flank open for the offensive runs of Nilsson. This should strengthen us up centrally and leave space for Prica and Nilsson to run into. Svensson, Linderoth and Källström sound like and excellent central midfield trio to me. We'll see.

There's been a small change in tonight's program ...

... the part of Robin Williams will be played by The Temptations.

Hrm.

Anyway, after leaving you all scratching your heads over that one, it seems that it is more likely that Anders Svensson will replace Alexandersson to the right, which leaves Mikael Nilsson back at right back and Markus "Mr 100%" Jonsson on the bench. Ah'm devastated sah! Not really. Hopefully we'll get to see a bit of Mr Jonsson tomorrow, sprained ankle and all.

In other news, AIK played their first game of the season, beating Syrianska FC 2-1. Only they didn't, not really. This was instead "a practise in match-like conditions" which, of course, is something else entirely. This weekend we take on GIF Sundsvall in a friendly - where we won't feature two Väsby players (I think) like we did today. I await confirmation on the scorers, the first goal was either headed in by Nicklas Carlsson or Jimmy Tamandi, opinions differ, while Kali Ongala (on loan from Väsby for the day) seems to be scorer of the second goal in extra time.

P.S Anyone know where I can get hold of "Robin Williams - Live at the Met" from mid-eighties sometime, please post linkies in the comment section. The above header is from the announcer of that show.

Egypt and the spectre of Zlatan

OK, here we go. Time for the last friendly before the qualifier against Northern Ireland. A year ago we were trusting in the Holy Trinity of Ljungberg, Zlatan and the Holy Henrik. None of them are available anymore. Sadly, insanely in-form Elmander is also out after a minor injury but hey, let's think positive here and start with a possible lineup for tomorrows game, away against Egypt.

Goal: Shabaan will probably get the nod to start while Isaksson might be given some desperately needed match practice after the break. Isaksson simply isn't Man City's no1 right now.

Defenders: Ollie Mellberg and Petter Hansson should start in central defense. My guess is Markus Jonsson (of AIK, baby) will start at right back and Erik Edman at left back. von Schleebrügge will definately play, he can go central or left, depending on what Lagerbäck wants to do.

Linderoth will play in the Linderoth position.

Midfield: I'm guessing Mikael Nilsson will replace Alexandersson at right midfield, Wilhelmsson will replace Ljungberg over on the left and then it is time for the usual ten thousand franc question, Källström or Svensson. Please let it be Källström and please order the outside midfielders to defend accordingly.

Strikers: Rosenberg and Allbäck. Just leave Rade Prica out of the equation. Please.