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Xmas Special 2024: Reviewing the first half of the 2024-25 Superliga season w/ Casper De Linde
347 Plays2 months ago
Danish Dyna-Mic is back for a Xmas special edition as Casper De Linde & I look back on 17 rounds of Superliga action and discuss every team's performance on and off the pitch.
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Transcript
Return of Danish Dynamite Podcast
00:00:16
Speaker
Hello and welcome to Danish Dynamite, the SuperLiga podcast. And we're back. It's been over a year. I finally found time to record another episode. And given the SuperLiga is now on pretty long winter break, two and a half months. I think it's the longest in Europe.
Exploring Danish Football Culture
00:00:31
Speaker
Felt like a good time to sit down and take stock of the 17 games that we've had so far.
00:00:36
Speaker
Now, I've just come back from a trip from Denmark where I went to three games and a training session, in fact, in four days. I ticked off two new stadiums. That was Bronbe and Weiler. Really, really brilliant time. And on the Friday night, the Bronbe Albert game, what a cool stadium. I mean, the stands, if you haven't been there, the stands are really tight to the pitch. It's really noisy, even though it was essentially only half full because the the ultra section had been banned due to what happened in the game against Copenhagen.
00:01:06
Speaker
There was a very kind of busy fan bar. One of the players came to the fan bar beforehand to sort of give a bit of a talk. So it was a really great atmosphere Friday night game, which doesn't happen particularly often there and really enjoyed myself there. It was great to encounter a couple of Brits there as well. Jack Cassidy, who's one of the um assistant coaches at Al Borg and Jabril Adedeji, who's playing in the hallowed number seven shirt for foulberg He's actually spent his entire pro career in in Denmark. So really fascinating story. I spoke to both of them after the game. I also spoke to Jesper Sorensen afterwards, the now ex Gromby
Coaching and Player Interactions in Denmark
00:01:44
Speaker
manager. He's been relieved of his post in the last week. And so, I mean, we're going to get into all of that in the episode, but yeah, Gromby won that one one nil. Noah Nati with ah ah a lovely finish. And yeah, it was a pretty tight game. Truth be told. Very enjoyable.
00:01:59
Speaker
On the Saturday, I went up to Faram, which is where FC Nordsland are based. I went to watch your training session there. Fascinating to see all the routines they practice and how the training session unfolds. There's an enormous number of coaches there. I think many more than you would typically get in a training session, just it shows how much importance they they place on these sessions. And had ah had a chat afterwards with Michael Essien. I spoke to Marcus Ingvitson, who was about to play his last game for FC Nordsland before heading over to
Stadium Visits and Scenic Travel
00:02:28
Speaker
MLS. And I spoke to Lucas Hoisberg, who's ah
00:02:31
Speaker
fantastic young player who's really making his name this season and is turning heads with his performances and he's just such a versatile player. And again, we'll get into that. On the Sunday, I headed over to Viola. So I took the train from Copenhagen to to Uland and it always amazes me that you can go from one side of the country to the other in about two hours.
00:02:51
Speaker
But that was another new stadium for me. Beautiful surroundings. He's got these really tall trees surrounding it. You walk up a big hill to get there. And it's just a really picturesque stadium. Great vibe and just really feels like a ah authentic football experience. I was sat in the stands with a ah bunch of mates and in the seats behind just the regular just the regular stands. Dario Osorio and Frank
Casual Fan Interactions with Players
00:03:16
Speaker
Olino. So two two of the best ah FC Michelin players just sat there in the stands signing things, eating hot dogs, you know, just ah enjoying the game. And I think that it's that very kind of unpretentious, down to earth vibe that I really like about the Superleaguer that you can get a a top player just sitting in the, in the home stand, minding their own business and, and, and not, um, not being bothered too much.
Rivalries and Key Matches in SuperLiga
00:03:41
Speaker
Then on the Monday went to park and for a really, really big game, FC Copenhagen against FC Nordsland.
00:03:47
Speaker
It's, ah I guess it's a ah local rivalry of sorts, but but so still, yeah I guess it's a local rivalry of sorts without any and um animosity, but the two teams are quite closely located. ah It was a really brilliant game, finished 3-1 to FC Copenhagen. I think that the scoreline maybe flattered them slightly. I think FC Nordsland more than held their own, but um some really, some really um tidy finishing, Mohamed El Yunusi,
00:04:16
Speaker
probably with the the pick of FC Copenhagen's
Travel Tips for Football Enthusiasts
00:04:19
Speaker
goals. And Peter Ankerson's goal for for FC Nordsland, you know, against his old team, he didn't celebrate, but absolute cracker of a goal. He scored. So yeah all in all, it was a brilliant trip. And, you know, as ever, if anyone's thinking about making a trip over to Denmark to to take in some football,
00:04:35
Speaker
Just drop me a message on socials, happy to happy to help in terms of advice or or
SuperLiga Insights with Casper de Linde
00:04:40
Speaker
logistics. It's a ah a really brilliant place to go watch football, so I couldn't recommend it enough. So let's get into the episode. I'm i'm going to be joined by a longtime friend of the pod Casper de Linde to unpack what's been going on in the Danish Super League this past few months. So but without further ado, let's do it.
00:05:01
Speaker
All right, I'm here with the main man, Kasper Delinde, who stood me up on my recent trip to Denmark. What's going on, Kasper? Yeah, all good. Just arrived home safely from Thailand. So I'm ah i'm happy to have been away and now it's ah super cold once again. So long winter ahead, I must say. It's only the players that are meant to get a winter break. What are you doing? Yeah, I mean, it's ah it's the privilege of of living in Denmark, right? A lot of the vacation time and so on. So no, I'm super sad that I had to to stand you up on your trip to Denmark. but
00:05:34
Speaker
Yeah, it'll be another time. Indeed, it will. What we're going to do, we're going to we're going to go through the league from first to last and just have a bit of a talk around expectations, performances, players. And disappointingly for you, we're not going to talk about FC Neuschlin until we get to seventh place, but more more about that later. If we start with FC Copenhagen in first place with 33 points, I think selling Oskarsson, you know, just before the the end of the transfer window,
00:06:01
Speaker
That sort of told me that this was a season that they might struggle in, but they, you know, they go into the winter break in first place. Elia Noose is playing really well. This new signing Robert looks to be performing. What would you make of their season so far? I think it's a bit of a ah challenging team to assess because, uh, the context to have to cope is that they did a massive change as you alluded to, uh, in your intro here, they sold off so many players, they brought in so many new players, uh, that had to.
00:06:30
Speaker
get in, get the full understanding of how Nisa plays, how Ipsico taking place. And I think when you look at it from a average point perspective, I mean, it's not too bad, right? They're number one in the league type with Epson Mitchell and I think where there's a bit of room to improve is on the pitch. So how do they play? How do they build up? Are they dominating enough when you look at how much they pay per player? But I think all in all, I think with the very big changes that has happened. I think it's fair enough that to say it's been a pretty decent season so far, because they're still in Europe, Cup, and they're number one in the Super League, so it's really, really hard to complain, right? But I think if I just ah talked to another podcast, and when I talked to them, they said, and they are actually making fans, I could hear their own frustration in some of this. So they weren't completely satisfied with their build up.
00:07:30
Speaker
And of course, ah it would have been a different team with Uri Oskarsson. And I fully understand that you have to sell a player like that when when someone comes by. But you can also see the consequences of that. Kanidu is or was a great player. I think he's been fairly mediocre, to be honest. So if you're lacking a number nine, then it's tough to navigate.
00:07:50
Speaker
Yeah, I think with corner, they're just trying to get what they can out of the remainder of his contract, right? I think if they could have gone back in time and pulled the plug on that deal, they definitely would have done, given how it panned out. I mean, looking at the stats, if I was someone who hadn't watched the game this season, was just looking at the stats, you know, the highest scoring team, the goals are pretty well distributed across the team.
00:08:10
Speaker
they've only lost twice, 32 goals 4 and that's sort of tracking with their XG of 33 so it's looking pretty good but then you see their second top scorer is still Oskarsson who left months ago and they are sort of I mean he's got seven, but then I think it's Kevin Dick's next on four goals. You know, that they are struggling to get a regular goal scorer there. And it was supposed to be on Yuka, right? From, uh, from Viola. And he came in, I think the first interview he gave, he said, I'm going to score in the first game, you know, in December, the guys not scored a goal. I mean,
00:08:45
Speaker
i don't know I don't know what's happening there, but I think that if they want to continue to to challenge this season, they've got to try and find some solution, whether it's someone they already have, just getting a tune out of one of those players or bringing in ah a proven goal scorer in January. But surely that's got to be the that's going to be the objective. Yeah, I mean, when I looked at the data, and in average, they they produce 1.9 XG and they score 1.9 goal. And when it comes to letting in goals, they had 1.1 XG against and lead in 1.1, which means that they have a difference of 0.8 per game, which isn't too bad, right? Of course, when you look at the season now, then when we get past the 22 game back, then the competition toughens. But I mean, if they can keep this average, I actually think they will have a very, very fine chance of winning. So yes, they could definitely get a a stronger attacker in.
00:09:42
Speaker
But on the other hand, I mean they have one of the most interesting young talents at the number nine position standing and waiting for his chance. And I think Emi and Shaka has has done a great job when he's come in. So I hope that Nisa grows up here and starts bringing him a bit more, to be honest.
00:09:59
Speaker
Yeah, and actually looking at their their signings over the summer, you know, on paper, I think it looked pretty good, right? You you bring in one of the top scorers from the Super League last season in on Nuka, you bring in arguably the best goalkeeper last season in Nathan Trot, and both of them have been disappointing. I mean, Trot's kind of lost his place in the past few games. I know he's come back for the Cup, but, you know, throwing Theo Sander in there,
00:10:22
Speaker
I think was just a sign that Nistrup was trying to change something up from the goalkeeper position. And that was really the only option he had, because it seems like Runasen isn't trusted whatsoever. Yeah, I mean, I think, again, Onuka was not their first choice. It wasn't their second choice. It was a Hail Mary at the end. They gave a shot. He looked good on paper, and he's been on grass, right? So I think it's been tough. And Trud, I also thought he would much stronger, but it's just not been as good as as as they hoped. But I must say I am a little bit surprised. I thought i thought they would have, yeah, of course Unuka would have scored a few. And Trapp was just so solid last season. So maybe the difference between playing from ah for a top team and playing from a bottom team is just ah too big too for him to fathom.
00:11:11
Speaker
Yeah, quite possibly, quite possibly. and Another couple of players who came in over the summer, these figures are according to transfer market. So don't know how much they can be trusted, but Pereira for 5 million and Garinaga for 4 million. Those are big signings for from a super league of perspective. And again, neither of those have really set the world on fire, have they? No, no. I mean, I think Pereira has been pretty decent and had to the archives that they brought in on the loan has also been I think it's also tough when you need to put a full team together. And again, I think it's important to compare against last season. So last season, they also conceded 1.1 gold in average. And that's the same as they are now. So you could say a change in personnel.
00:11:53
Speaker
and they are still in the same position when it comes to defending. I think that all in all is actually not too bad, to be honest. That's true. That is true. And some news came out just yesterday, actually, that Kevin Dix wasn't going to be having his ah contract renewed in the summer. And that's ah that's a big surprise for me because he's he's sort of slowly become perhaps their most important player over the past sort of year or so. And that the idea that that he wouldn't be having his contract extended. And I think what was reported is that that was a decision from from FCCo, not from not from Kevin. So a strange one, really, because you'd have thought they'd want to try and get some money for him. I know there was a there was talk about an offer from Como over the summer, quite big money as well. So no idea what's going on there. I think it's due to the taxation regulation in Denmark. So when you've been here for seven years,
00:12:41
Speaker
then you go on, you could say, the Danish normal tech scheme. Besides that, I think they're on 27%, which is pretty decent. So in order for him to prolong his contract, if the Copenhagen would need to pay the difference, you would expect. And he's around like 26, 27, 28. He's in the career now where the next big contract is going to be important for his time after football. So for me, it makes a bit of sense that it's tough to to get the yeah ties together on this one, but I mean, I think he's been a super player for Ipsyco-Higgins for many years and that will for sure be a loss. And before we move off Ipsyco, Nistrup obviously got a contract extension until I think it was 2029 back in October. Do you think that was deserved? Do you think he's the man to lead them forward over the next few years? I think it's a tough one. I think a lot of Ipsyco-Higgins fans, they would probably like a more firm look on the field.
00:13:38
Speaker
So it's hard to complain when you're still in Europe, when you're still in the cup, and you're number one in the Super League. But I honestly think that most difficult making fans are still a little bit frustrated with what it looks like on the pitch. So last year, when Xico making really needed the wins, they went back, played a bit more defensively. And now again, there's a compromise in the playing style with Delaney next to Leia. So it becomes very it's say rough in the middle. And I don't think really that's who FCCO wants to be or the fans at least but that's who they are right now and I wouldn't I mean as long as he wins he's good right but I think there's a bit a bit about the bigger picture where it's still a bit up in the air if he's really turning FCCO making into the top dominant team I mean FCCO making has an average ball percentage of 53.8 three point eight you look at Celtic which I think is a fair enough equivalent they're around like 73-74% in the Scottish league
00:14:37
Speaker
So I think you could expect a bit more from Epsi-K, or Epsi-Kutmig, if you're a fan that is. Yeah, absolutely. And of course in the past, you know, that central midfield has been, it's been a source of creativity, right? Foul, zerka, and it is definitely more industrious now, whether that's, ah whether that's the the root cause of the problem or not, I don't know. But yeah, you're you're definitely right to flag that area. Maybe that's an an area we'll see, um see some quality come in. I mean, Mattson, for example, he's not even in the starting 11 anymore. He can play that position pretty well. So yeah, ah strange situation there.
00:15:11
Speaker
Imagine that instead of players on Leia and Delaney, it would have been Madsen, Valk and Delaney, right? Then you're looking at completely different ball distribution. You're looking at players who can twist and turn. I mean, it's just a different expression all in all. But again, they've been unlucky with Valk and Madsen has for some reason not been up to par this season. So again, I understand the pragmatism here.
00:15:37
Speaker
So you go back to what works and it still works for them, right? They are not one. Yeah, absolutely. So moving into second place, actually tied on points is FC Michelin. And ah yeah, this this is a ah team as well who spent big in the summer on some players who perhaps haven't haven't delivered. They've also been struggling with some injuries. Aral Sims here is so important for them. ah He's got three goals, three assists this season, but he's been missing for quite a few weeks. Franco Lino is out injured at the moment. Osorio has been injured.
00:16:07
Speaker
show had this operation in the summer that I think was supposed to be a sort of reasonably quick routine operation. He's been out for the whole season. It doesn doesn't seem to be a return imminent there.
00:16:18
Speaker
It's, uh, you know, all change, obviously the very sad situation with Christopher Olsen, who, who now looks like he's he's sort of getting towards a return, which would be unbelievable. But looking at what' what's happening on the pitch, FC Mitchell and, uh, you know, 10th out of 12 teams for accurate passes per match, uh, only lung B and Viola lower, there's the same kind of position for crosses. I feel like they're turned into a bit of a long ball team. Yeah. Yeah. I think.
00:16:45
Speaker
probably even been on the way for a while, or you could say before Kapeyas, they definitely went a bit in this route with Kapeyas. They wanted a bit more short passing, but ah yeah, Michelin is a bit of a weird team here because again, they've been missing their best players, as you say, and they still get the points. But if you look at expected points, for example, it should have been quite a bit lower. I think there's six in the league when it comes to expected points. So I think they've done okay.
00:17:09
Speaker
for the circumstances that they've been in, but it's never easy to replace, as you say, it's four brilliant players, four of the best players in the league. And I mean, they're still tied. Number one, the rumor or not the rumor, but when you listen to what, um, Epsy Mitchell fancy on X and blue sky and et cetera, then it's very clear that they are not satisfied with the way the football is is running at the moment. But again, a little bit like Epsy Copenhagen, they still managed to get a point. So, uh, it's, it's hard to really complain, but I felt like FCE Midgeland really missed the chance on the Sloban Paths each day by game. It could have been such an interesting perspective to see them in and the Champions League. But yeah, now instead they're off to a smaller competition. So I think they'll be super frustrated. I think I've never seen so big expectations before the season started, and I fully bought into them myself, to be honest. But yeah, it just ah it's a tough one when your best five players, or let's say five out of seven players, they go out into it. and
00:18:07
Speaker
did for a long time. So it also makes sense that they're not delivering up to power. But I also think it tells a lot. We've now talked a little bit about FCK and FC Michelin. And you have a little bit the same feeling here that the two best team teams have so much more to give than they've actually given. But they're still number one and two, and they still have a margin down to number three. So it also says something about the the relation between money spent and the expectations because there's no doubt that the expectations for these two teams are just very high.
00:18:42
Speaker
Yeah. And that the fact of signing, like Kuchter, who's been so disappointing, the fact that they've got, you know, other big money signings who can step in and, and, and take the slack off him helps. Whereas it, you know, a smaller team, once they blow their budget on on their players, that there's not really much else to to cook with. And this is a team like FCCO, who've had to rotate, like you say, playing, playing, you know, Europe mid-weeks and stuff. And so that strength in depth is, is pretty evident. I mean, just look at left back, for example, Paulinho back.
00:19:12
Speaker
Sorensen, they've got, you know, three, three left backs who would probably get into most teams starting 11 in the Super League. ah Yeah, I mean, the some teams would only even have three left backs, right? So in that sense, it's it's a very big difference. And I think the ah Kucha point is important. ah International player for Czech Republic, Kucha in international player for ah Poland, both were at the European Championships. I think Kucha's efforts has been okay. I think Kucha has been horrible. But again, came in a bit late.
00:19:41
Speaker
If you come in, I actually don't know exactly when he came in, but I remember it like last week of August. And then seven games already yeah ah have already been played in the Super League. And so it's also tough for these late signings to really deliver. But yeah, it's not been good enough, to be honest.
00:19:59
Speaker
If you haven't read the piece, there's um there's an an interview I did on the website that I've written up ah with the head of set pieces and the set piece analyst at FC Michelin, really worth a listen. And of course at the at the game that I attended in Viola,
00:20:15
Speaker
ah where where FCM were playing, two of their three goals come came from set pieces. So ah the the the set piece team were delighted afterwards with that but that result. But you know it does it it does ah stand out that they consistently every season seemed to be top of the the set piece league and and this season no different. Such an important tool to have in the locker, particularly when your strikers aren't coming up with the goods. Yeah, I know. i It's such a nice read the article. it's ah And it's so interesting to see how they are making
00:20:46
Speaker
are perfecting set pieces in FC Michelin. There's a good reason why ah a lot of international teams look towards Michelin when it comes to this. They're just ah ah really a tough team. And then I think the expectations on the ball in the game, open play should be bigger. But that's also my FC Michelin heart talking here. But I think one of the players who has really made a difference when it comes to on the ball in game is Mikkel Gogolsa, who's come in, a young kid came from the Epsico Peking Academy yeah way back, and it's been such a nice revelation to the league. He's he's got a ah great foot and a nice quick feet, and so I think we'll see a lot more of him in the future. Yeah, I think particularly if if one of Sims here or Osorio are sold in January, I think they've got a ready-made replacement there, which is which will probably help their decision.
00:21:38
Speaker
Yeah. And I think it's also about winning the game sometimes in the plus 60 of minutes. So even if they stay, then you can bring in someone who has a, uh, even, even more to give to the game than, uh, uh, than a lot of the others that they have. So, uh, yeah, I think they are super privileged by having him. If we talked a little bit before about, uh, Christopher Olsen, he's back in training and I think he said that he's targeting a, you know, a return to the pitch at some point this season, which would be a remarkable story.
00:22:07
Speaker
Yeah, and that would be crazy. And I think it's exactly what they need in the central midfield. He's got such a nice passing foot, nice distribution, a great player. They really miss him at the moment. I think they brought in Castillo, a Colombian midfielder, who's been, at best, average, I would even say a little bit below. And they so love Roma, who's done a great job at Rana's. We'll probably get back to that later. But they definitely need a few players in there in the central midfield if I had to.
00:22:35
Speaker
ah If Christopher Olsen is not ready to play anytime soon, I would bring in a central midfielder with ah but a better foot than what they have at this point. Yeah, Castillo was 4 million euros. So, you know, not ah not a small transfer by any means. And yeah, he's he's been, um I mean, they there might be an adaptation period, right? But yeah, i think ah I think they will be a bit disappointed with how that one's panned out. Yeah, I think if they could.
00:22:59
Speaker
If they could go back, they would probably have kept the warm-up on. And you can say they brought in also this Norwegian midfielder, Kristoffer Eskelsen, who's been one big free kick. I mean, it's not beautiful to look at. And I think this is where, again, my mission for Epsimigilant is. It's great to play with intensity. It's great to play with a ah pressing play. But I think a team like Epsimigilant needs to be able to open the game more. And I think just passing out or wide is it's a bit too simple.
00:23:29
Speaker
yeah One situation that might end up becoming ah becoming quite relevant when the with the league restarts is that Olufsen has just broken his hand. and From my understanding, that's an injury. that That's not a quick heal if you're a goalkeeper. you know Maybe if you're an outfielder, you strap it up after a month and and try not to land on it, but you know your hands are the tools of your trade.
00:23:52
Speaker
Jonas Loesel obviously won the league last season as the starting goalkeeper. So my my guess is that he'll come in, but he's he's no spring chicken. And this could be an area to watch in the in the new year. Yeah, it could definitely. ah Personally, I like Loesel more than I like Ulofsson. So I would admit, I don't know, it's sometimes also about it if you can sell the player again. But I think Loesel is, again, back to having squad depth.
00:24:20
Speaker
I think he would start in maybe eight teams in the Super League or nine teams. So I think it's a super solid replacement. So if he's better or worse, I don't even really know, but it's a pretty even competition. I would say it's probably more about style than anything else so who plays.
00:24:39
Speaker
So in third place, we've got Ranas and this is this is ah a team who've really surprised everyone, I think. I don't think, I wouldn't have believed anyone if they'd told me, yeah, they're going to be in the bronze position come ah come the winter break. But, you know, they got 30 points and knocking on the door for for a title challenge, only lost three times, the goal difference of plus 12 and just kind of looking back at at their results on the season.
00:25:04
Speaker
the the The problem is they can't beat the big teams, right? So they've drawn with AGF, drawn with FCM, drawn with Gromby, drawn with FCCo, but they beat everyone else. And that front four is just electric. So you got cmen orderly eleven goals six assist ah you've got You've got Bani, Graver, Toure, and they're all performing. And so, you know, if you double mark someone, you've got another player in form ready to pop up and they've just been a real breath of fresh air this season. Yeah, it's it's ah I think it's the best story of the season, I think.
00:25:34
Speaker
They've also been pretty exotic in bringing in players. I think Norman Campbell started the season brilliantly. And then for some reason they took him out and put him on the bench and it was like, what's going on? And then they brought in Tamar Pani, who then was even better. So it's just in it's been very a very, very good story. I think everyone that watches the Super League was a bit concerned after they lost Lasso Coulibili and Fusayini at the beginning of the season. But i mean I mean, it's very seldom that you see replacements on such a high level. so a slight overperformance on XG and stuff like that but I think and no reason not to applaud what they've been through and I think they're playing so they're not so much on the ball but they play a very interesting direct play but they're also very good at finding players in half positions which makes them pretty tough to mark all in all so I think it's been a very vibrant offensive style when they've been attacking and I think they've been
00:26:33
Speaker
Extremely solid with the two central defenders and and the two central midfielders. It's such a nice team to watch at this point. Yeah, and we talked a bit about him just before, but but Andre Roma, who's kind of sitting in that double pivot with Bjorkren, he was a player who was sort of, you know, he'd start some games, he'd bench others, he wasn't ah he wasn't a regular starter for for FCM, and yet he's taken this role on and ah looks like, ah just he's just been a standout performer for them in a role that is typically quite thankless, right? You're you're doing that you're doing the grunt work in midfield and letting the front four get all the glory.
00:27:10
Speaker
Yeah, he's such an intelligent player. I think actually his underlying data from last season was also extremely strong, and that's just continued. And I think he keeps on making the defensive gap smaller. And I think, again, he's got a very good foot when it comes to the passing game. It's just a good player. And I think sometimes you can collect this great goal from bigger clubs. And I think this was just maybe even one of the best transfers of the season.
00:27:39
Speaker
And what what do you think has been behind what Berthelsen has been able to achieve this season? Because last season, they were in the relegation group. I think they finished quite strongly, right? they They ended up in the top spot in the relegation group. But I think there was a feeling that, you know, with a goal difference of minus eight, that there was perhaps a change to be made there. I think the <unk> atmosphere in Denmark has been pretty good from the beginning around Rasmus Berthelsen, least when you hear the pundits.
00:28:07
Speaker
and There was a lot of people talking about him as a smart guy, great for the dressing room. So I think the the sentiment has been pretty good. And in January, they brought in Fusay Niv. So from there on, I felt like they got better when they got speed in the front line. And I think it's this ah aspect around getting speed that they really have worked on this season as well.
00:28:32
Speaker
So I think it's sometimes it's a bit slow and steady he wins the race. So you saw a bit of the change already in Jan. They had, if I recall correctly, a bad ball to the year before. But I think it's been a slow change. And I think one of the revelations is that it's a bit more ambitious on the ball than Thomas Bell was before. And that takes a bit more time to to get into the team. Sometimes the team is here just to practice the defensive aspects of the game. and get the arrangements ready. So I think it's it's this thing coming in. And then I have ah one more panel of runners, which I think is interesting because you say that you say they've not been too good about against the best teams. When the season restarts again, they have five games to play and four of them is against the best team. So they might also have a bit more positive decision right now than where they are in five games, because they, it is, if I recall correctly, it's Eptico Megan, it's Vigilant, it's Pointview and it's AGF. So it's,
00:29:28
Speaker
I mean, it's tough, tough teams that will play it. So my expectation is they will drop a little bit. And I'm not sure that they will even make the top six cut. That's a bit cool. Yeah, it is. But it's because when you look at Egev, Bonbry, Silkebo, and Evsenoshita, they all have a much, much easier program ahead. And it's still only four points that needs to be catched up from 26 to 30.
00:29:53
Speaker
But on the other hand, you can also argue it's also four teams that needs to surpass them. So so let's see. That is true. And one of the kind of downsides of this winter break is that any momentum you've built is well and truly taken away with ah with two and a half months sitting on the sofa. We're not sitting on the sofa. It's still still training and doing warm weather stuff. But you know that that that sort of week-to-week momentum that that becomes so important does go out the window. Yeah, for sure. And I mean, transfers can also happen, right? you can both get in players and your competition can get in players or you can have players sold. So, I think quite a few players or people have their eyes on Nuadri that you also praised early on. and So, what would Ranus look like without him? I think they did very well with replacing Lasso and Fusayini, so it looks like the pipeline is great. But, yeah, you just never know. You can hit a dull one, right?
00:30:51
Speaker
Yeah, and they are a team that seems to sort of bring through ah interesting attacking talents, right? the what The ones you've mentioned and, you know, previously, guys like Vito, guys like Boongard, they do have them. Yeah, I mean, it's I think, again, they need to have a big round of applause from everyone. I think they've done better than you could expect. I think they have ah shown that they are have hit quite a few wonders on the transfer market and and they still also bring their own talent. I think it's important also to note the back, so the back pair, so Oliver Wolxin and the Garcia, super solid players. So all in all, it's just a very good team.
00:31:35
Speaker
So going into fourth place, we've got AGF. And this is a team that's been been a bit up and down this season. Seven wins, seven draws, three losses. Great defensive performance. Only 17 goals conceded. And they're actually scoring goals at decent clip, 30 goals this season. But interestingly, 21 of those have come at home. So it's away from home that they're really struggling. But kind of what surprised me In previous years, AGF have been a bit more of a long ball team. And this season, they're third in possession. They're looking very, very dangerous attacking wise that, you know, they lead the league for big chances missed, lead the league for crosses, and combine that with the fact that they've got the best defense.
00:32:15
Speaker
It's ah and seem to have sorted out also their disciplinary issues. I think they're ninth out of 12 for yellow cards. So they seem to be disciplined, ah potent attacking. It just seems to be consistency that's lacking. Yeah, you could say a bit on the context here. So in our position to FC Copenhagen, they also kept basically their full team ah coming into the season. So I think the expectations were high.
00:32:42
Speaker
And I think a lot of the excuses that was made by Uber Reusler last year was that I've had so many injuries, let's see when the squad is back. And I think in some elements, I think he's been right. It's, it's as you say, it's a more possession. I'm still a little bit underworld than I might be super biased by watching the Cup game yesterday. I was on the stadium ah behind 4-0, basically just a setback, didn't attack.
00:33:08
Speaker
um Yeah, I think they have a big problem with their number nine. I think Modensen is getting older. I think the alternatives is is not that strong. um So when he doesn't have a good game, for me, they they very much lack depth to solve the offensive equation. But I think if they get Batji in and rolling, or if they get jumpy yeah in the spot as well,
00:33:39
Speaker
it might look very different because they have more pace. ah Yesterday, they basically couldn't press on because Moden's no look like a pensionist when he was tracking around chasing Alvis and Jakob Rasmussen. So my expectations towards AGF was extremely high for this season. And for me, they are actually under delivering a little bit ah because they didn't sell anyone. And yeah, I just thought it would really be this year that they would.
00:34:09
Speaker
yeah ah be let loose and ah for me it's still a little bit disappointing and it might also again be the recency bias because they're going worse and worse in performance they started extremely strong they had a massive overperformance when it came came to xg now the overperformance is gone and now they just for me actually look a bit more average than they should at this point with a clean full squad the oldest squad in the super league uh yeah so i i i don't uh My football hat doesn't cheer for what AGF has done so far this year. I mean, that that sort of inability to have a a viable alternative to Mortensen, that's been a problem for maybe three or four seasons, right? And he's still the top scorer this season with nine goals. He's still, you know, from the penalty spot, there's probably no one that I'd rather have in the league than than him.
00:34:58
Speaker
but yeah that they've they've tried so many options over the years ah to to find someone who can sort of take the take some of the load off him and it's just yeah they just haven't haven't landed on a solution yet. Yeah and it's also hard to complain as you say when you have a striker who's made nine goals I just think when you watch him on the pitch I think it is a problem because I think a game is best when they go high when they go in pressure when they actually want to dominate and I think it's a little bit of a And then she would say him score. It's like is it's a little bit of a problem here for them at least. I think two of the kind of supporting attacking players in ah gift links and Tobias Beck, they've been impressive in this in this first half of the season at least. Absolutely. yeah And I think for me, yeah they have the best central midfield in the league. I think Messi with Messi is it' brilliant. I think the links again, as she mentioned, it's been really, really strong. and
00:35:51
Speaker
I've still not fully made up my verdict on pick, but I think the two others are absolutely excellent. So yeah, they're definitely ones to watch in the second half of the season. Let's see what they can, let's see what they can do. They're sort of on the cusp. but They could go, they could go either way, right? I know you could probably say that of most teams, but it wouldn't surprise me if they put together a title challenge. It also wouldn't surprise me if they, uh, if they faded a bit. So I'm going to be very interested to see what goes on there, particularly as they they're building the stadium at the moment, right? So they're going to be, they're moving going to be moving in January to a temporary accommodation. Yeah. And I think it's pretty small and pretty rogue. So it's going to be interesting all to see how the dynamics they,
00:36:28
Speaker
if the dynamics actually change when it comes to AGIF. I think there's such a nice story around AGIF. They've also brought in quite a few goalkeepers over the year. And, yes, by Hansen just continues to to stay on top. And I i think it's a superb story. He's pushing forward soon, right? So, yeah, it's ah it's a nice, nice ah little story around professionalism and and being able to stay on top. And I think it's a good season as well. So you can be old and great.
00:37:00
Speaker
Yeah, I think that the last podcast I actually did before this one was the interview with the Bailey Peacock Farrell way yeah back when last season. I remember he had lots of positives to say about Jesper Hansen, you know, given he'd been signed to basically take his position, you'd have thought ah that, you know, there could be some animosity, but none at all. He said he made him feel super welcome. He helped him a lot in training. And, you know, I think that, yeah, that's testament to his professionalism, isn't it?
00:37:26
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. He's won back his spot. Right, in in fifth place, we got a team who were in a state of flux at the moment in Brumbi. 27 points, 1-7, drawn 6, lost 4. But a situation where sporting director, Carsten V Jenson, was relieved of his duties a month or two back. And then just this week, Jesper Sorensen has also got the sack. And so, you know, they're without a sporting director or a manager.
00:37:54
Speaker
It's obviously been the unsavory scenes in the stands that have resulted in large sections of the fans being banned for certain matches. And it feels like this is a this is kind of a really crucial winter break for for one B to get right. You know, the right appointments, the right signings and and get things back on track because, you know, we're 27 points that they're not a million miles away from ah doing something significant this season. But it does feel like crunch time. Yeah, yeah really. And then.
00:38:23
Speaker
I think they're also extremely hard to assess here because I think they would like to be a little bit closer to the goal candidates. And I think one of the things here is that similar to AGIF, they also, they managed to keep their full squad together. So this was the, this season is the attempt to get the the title. I think in Mathias Fiskoten, they had such a brilliant striker. He's just really matured well in the game and, and, uh,
00:38:49
Speaker
I sense there's a bit of frustration with the amount of points they got, but it's also hard to really complain when you're within six points of a championship. And I know it comes very relative, because it's also about how do the others deliver. But all in all, they're not ah certain that they will stay in top six, and they're not gone for the title, and they're still in the cup. So and not not great, not horrible.
00:39:16
Speaker
um but Yeah, you're right. It's going to be so decisive when it comes to the appointments. I'm very interested to see if GfH, the ownership group, they will bring in someone from the outside off they're going to trust, ah if like, be a who's the interim coach right now to to bring it forward. But yeah yeah, they make a huge deficit every year. So they need to sell off some players soon. So they're going to be very hard to assess right now.
00:39:48
Speaker
Because depending on if they keep the squad together, I think they can still make a very decent attempt for the title. I trust a lot more in Bondi, to be honest, for title attempts than I trust in Egev. But I think it Interesting. Yeah. I think hanging on to Chris Garden in, in January is going to be crucial, right? Because he's really stepped up this season, 10 goals for assists. And I think that there's been a falloff in production from, from valleys and Oh, he's become a kind of perma sub now, but you've had Suzuki off the back of a season last season that people were wondering, could he keep this up? He's continuing to produce. You've got young players coming in like B Shof and a naughty who've really performed. And so.
00:40:33
Speaker
It is helping take the to you know take up the slack that's created when that when some of the more senior players aren't producing. Yeah, and I think B-Shop and NAAT is such a great story. It's their own talent coming through the pipeline here, and and they've been super good when they've been playing. You can discuss if new NAAT has played in enough. I think he had a brilliant game last night against the AKF. I think he's got a real talent on the ball. B-Shop has been Yeah, probably one of the strongest teenagers in the league. and Yeah, it's just so nice to see these young guys coming through. And and it is also, you can say, they when they play, they play because someone else hasn't delivered, but I think they honestly earned this part.
00:41:19
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Well, watch this space for them, because I ah feel like trying to analyze how they've played, how they've set up tactically, it's all going to go out the window for the for the second half of the season, potentially, depending on and who the new gaffer is. Yeah, there was also a slight formation change yesterday. You already saw it with like Bjerg, they played in a 4-3 formation, which they haven't been practicing a lot on the Jesper Sampson.
00:41:44
Speaker
at least the the way he articulates how we want Pompy to play is very different than what Jesper Sartan is saying. Jesper Sartan wants a bit more control, and if it becomes so flaky, it's going to be a bit more a hectic. It's my ah interpretation. Got it.
00:41:59
Speaker
All right, I'll be watching that eagerly. Biting at their heels, only one point behind with 26 points is Silkeborg. And this is another team where, you know, the the headlines will probably be taken from the the front line. Certainly one of the most exciting front lines I can remember in recent years was the Silkeborg one when they had ah Valleys, Jorgensen, Hellenius. And they they've they've sort of got a similar formula now. Bakis and Adamson are really like powering that front line. But then you've got,
00:42:27
Speaker
um Oliver Sonnet right back who's who's popped up with some really important goals, really important assists. You've got Pelle Mattson pulling the strings in midfield and ah what was what was really interesting to me is that along with FC Nordsland, Silkeborg the whole time I've been watching the Super League have really been one of the one of the kind of top possession teams and this season they're below 50% possession. I think they're the fifth highest in in the league. So a kind of drop off from what we what we expected in terms of possession. How have you kind of assessed their their first half of the season? Is sick sixth fair?
00:43:00
Speaker
um I think silkyball is delivering as expected or a little bit above, to be honest. I think it's have a tactical mastermind. I think you're right when you say that the ball position has been dropping.
00:43:17
Speaker
And you can see that this is what Kent does. He's very quick at it. I think the philosophy is still the same, but he's tactically adjusting it to make sure that he gets room for Eunice Pakeez to run in, and Tony Adamson to run in. So I think he's very quick at adapting the style, but keeping the the philosophy. I think they've had some really great games, and I also think they have a lot of great players coming through. So so yeah, I think they're a solid solid team.
00:43:46
Speaker
and I think if you look at, again, the stats behind everything, you see a slight overperformance on the amount of points that they do have. But I think all in all, I think it's pretty fair there around where they are now. And yeah, I mean, it's one of the, as you say, it's one of the teams that I love to see the most and and they have great ambitions on how how to play football. And I also always think that it's nice to look at the teams that just set back.
00:44:15
Speaker
Yeah, and it seems like Kent Nielsen is really the master of of ah renewing these renewing these teams, you know, regardless of when he loses key players. I mean, I remember interviewing him ah a a year or two back and he was saying how important Mark Brink is to their system, you know, he's the kind of... the pivot through which everything goes in midfield. He obviously lost him to to FC Neuzhlen and yet continues to find new options to keep plugging away and it's ah it's a already it's a really strong testament to to how good a manager he is that regardless of the personnel he can keep getting performances out of these squads. Yeah yeah and he's just so nice to look at in the interviews and I mean he always has a fair perspective and as you say the
00:44:58
Speaker
the entire way he he sets up the team. is just It's impressive every time you watch them. Their budget is low and top six is going to be a fight, but it's it's one of the teams that I would like to see up there.
00:45:15
Speaker
to the way of football. Awesome. So having discussed the top six, we had a question from Torben Nordenhof who said, is the overall quality of the league in decline? Is the fact there are not one or two teams pulling away a good thing or a bad thing for the league? what you What's your take on this one, Kasper? I think this half season has been a little bit weird because as you can also hear, I'm not super positive around ah four out of the top six teams.
00:45:43
Speaker
And I feel like the level is going a little bit down ah in general. And I don't feel like it's because the, there's a bit around the circumstances. So if some Michelin music players, it's competing, changing their squad, but I also think that you should have expected more from one. So but in general, I would probably point towards a little bit of a client in the top six. And I, for me, it's been one of the less interesting seasons to watch because there's been less start stand out performances.
00:46:13
Speaker
And of course this could have been the only Oscars in the Nipsey Kobe meeting or the Kamala Hara in Nipsey, Northland. Or the Sims here in Midland, or also EO in Midland. So there's just been a lot of these super talented players who's either been injured or been sold. So for me, a little bit of ah ah not a boring season because it's never boring, but just not as great as it's been before.
00:46:37
Speaker
For me, and this might be oversimplifying, but I feel like the speed at which talented players are now sold and that you know the speed that big clubs act on uncovering talent has meant that you don't get ah you don't get the chance to see players at the at the very top level kind of play a full season even, let alone two seasons. And you know in the past,
00:46:58
Speaker
I think that's been one of the real pleasures of the league is seeing like the season that where Campbell Dean really broke through the season before he was sold. A player like that who's so clearly. much better than than the majority of the league. It is nice or, you know, the season that Pep BL had for for FC Koga, he was sort of on fire. And now when a young player comes through, in the case of Conrad Harder, for example, or Ory Oskisin, who probably didn't even have a full season of being ah being a starter, they're already gone. And it does, for me, impact the level of the league a bit. I i completely agree. And that's all. And that's I think it's so much the head on the needle here. I think it's ah
00:47:37
Speaker
such a such a shame that they that they have to go, but on the other hand, you fully understand it, right? And that's also why I think the Andrei Rohitma case is so nice, because he's a senior player. He's been around the league for forever. Ranas brings him in, the and they make a quality, quality player. So you don't need to be 18, but of course, Andrei Rohitma would be less interesting to watch than Manda Kudus, let's just say it like it is.
00:48:05
Speaker
Exactly. Yeah, well, I mean, we we touched on ah we touched on FC Neuzhlen there and it would be a good place to start giving their seventh. and Again, 26 points, so, you know, tied on points with Silkeborg and not far off the European spots even. But this has been a season where Obviously you mentioned Conrad Harder left a bunch of other players also left this summer and with Ingvärtsen and Tversko off in January, there's there's big work to be done in terms of bolstering the squad, isn't there? I mean, I feel like certain players like Wale Igele have really stepped up, Niegrin stepped up, but the squad does look quite light. Yeah, I think that's fair enough, to be honest. I think, I think
00:48:49
Speaker
When you look at it, they've sold off like it's making so many players. It's hard to really complain about the point average. They're still within reach of top six, but it's they don't have the same individualist at this point. So I think some of the young players that maybe for taking a step up as a some of them has delivered likely to expire and center Valley equally, but a few of the others, they're still a bit in ah in the waiting. So, so,
00:49:18
Speaker
On their best, they've been really, really interesting to watch. You saw them live against the tickled making. I didn't see it, unfortunately. But I think on their best, or against one, be at home, brilliant game. But on their worst, ah you could just see it's such a new squad still getting together. And and that's ah that's a not a major problem. But of course, they need to figure out what they're going to do, because now it's fast going in, but as you say, that's leaving. And that means changes once again.
00:49:48
Speaker
So yeah, I'm excited about what's coming, but i'm I'm not sure how we're going to end. For me, it's still pretty lukewarm all in all. You can say, as I said, on the worst, it's not been great. But I think, actually, Unkasten has come in and and been super solid. And I think he has been helping the team. And you pointed towards him as Hansen, who haven't been great, to say the least. But it's also how much is attributed to ah him.
00:50:17
Speaker
and how much is attributed to a completely new defense. When you looked at the lineup, last year it was Fraser on the left, it was Nagalo and it was Kian, and then we listened on the right, now three out of four are new. So yeah it's just, and then Kian was injured at some point, right? So it's it's a massive change, like it was a massive change in obstacle making. and My fan heart is saying we've hidden a bit of a bad beat. When you look at the expected points, we are second in the league, but we are only yeah ah seven in in the real league.
00:50:47
Speaker
which we we win right at the end. So, yeah, it it's, I think it's, if you ask Epstein-Norschner, I think they would say to be at pair, to go into top six, it's okay for the season where you rebuild. But that's also why the expectations now are so big to what's coming in and how they tackle this, because as you say, it is, it's a thin squad. And maybe they can solve it from under 19, so right to dream in Ghana.
00:51:16
Speaker
But if they're not completely ready yet, they probably need to go on the market because again, the top six is the ambition and that's how they should be measured. And the program is looking good on the other side of Christmas. But if they're not in the top six, it is a failure. And that's as simple as it is.
00:51:34
Speaker
Yeah, I'm feeling quite glass half full about ah about FC Neuzhlen, to be honest. I think given the given how that the summer window panned out and you know harder leaving, et cetera, I feel like being on 26 points, only seven points off top is a good position to be in. And I feel like there's been enough ah positive signs on the pitch that that, you know, this is a team that can still ah ah easily make top six, given the right additions in January. So I do feel pretty positive about them. I just wanted to to ask about um Benjamin Newgren, who's obviously, he's sort of gone between playing in the front line and playing in in midfield. Where do you kind of see him for the remainder of the season on the pitch? I fear that he will be playing the number nine
00:52:18
Speaker
um as the primary striker. But I think he's been so good when he's been playing behind the number nine in the central. I think it's a great spot for him to receive the ball. I think he has a great dynamic style of play. I think he really opens the pitch for so many players. And I he's done five or six goals. So I think he's had a stellar season. I'm super concerned that he would like to leave as well with a button and it's basketball because he doesn't have too long time left on his contract. And I saw it the other day on Instagram that he changed the agent. So He's one of the players where I'm not sure he will stay and the rumors continuously come in on Svensson as well. So it's just, I mean, one thing is if you're losing Watson and Tversko, but if you would then also lose Neusgräin and Svensson, you look at a different reality. I think in some elements it's been watching or the season's been like going back to the human days, probably before you followed Danish football. But was this a thousand passes a game kind of style? Of course, I never reached a thousand.
00:53:19
Speaker
just passing and passing to tire the opponents. And I think the only thing that they're missing is they're missing one or two dribbles. You can really set it up. And then I think we'll see a revolution again in that scenario.
00:53:31
Speaker
yeah I think the average passes per but match is somewhere in the 600s and it's like 200 more than the next team. It is ah not quite death by a thousand passes, but death by 600 passes. But it's you know particularly on that artificial surface, it's such an effective tactic that if you've if you've got the kind of technical level that the yeah that the FCN squad has, then why not do that? Yeah. And I think think and the best game of away game of the season they were close to a thousand passes actually against Sunyushka and that game was pretty magic to watch as a fan because no matter what Sunyushka did it just didn't come close to the ball at all right and of course if you dominate like that then it gives a resemblance to matches the city when they're best or Barcelona when they're best and and then I think it's fantastic to watch but I think it's also pretty clear now that
00:54:23
Speaker
that if you need 600 passes to score ah two goals, then then maybe you miss an individualist or two along the way. Well, a bit like Bronby, we'll see what happens in in January there. Lots to lots to ah to to keep an eye on in the market, particularly. But I think here, if I may just ah jump in, I think this is the spot now where it's super interesting, because Ranas is four points clear of Silkebo and Ipsenorcheland with a tough, tough a fixture ahead, a fixture ahead. You have Bronbu and us, who are just behind, like 28 points, 27 points, and then Silkebauer and Ix and Rushland. And I think it's going to be, it's going to be three out of these four teams who's going to make it. And for me, it's such a tough call to say who's it's going to be. Who do you think it's going to be? That's not going to make top six. That's a good question. I think it might be, it might be Bronbe.
00:55:22
Speaker
Really? Okay. Yeah. I mean, just just looking at the, the, the fixtures for f FCN when, uh, when the league resumes, it's ah a way to Albor, home to Suna Yiska, a way to Michelin and then home to Viola, a way to Loongby. So, you know, lots of teams there from the, from from the bottom half. And I think, you know, you could reasonably expect say 10 plus points from that. And I think that that's going to be plenty to get in the top six. Yeah. Yeah.
00:55:49
Speaker
I think, I'm not sure, but I think one huge program is similarly easy, actually. and But I'm so torn, to be honest. It's depending on the day I wake up. yeah I have a different team. I think you'll be silly about who misses it, to be honest.
00:56:06
Speaker
I think what is clear to me though, is that the the top six is going to come from the top seven. If I look at, ah look in eighth place, we've got V-ball who are on 21 points. They've benefited from having a head violin goal, who I think we both agree has been the best goalkeeper in the league, but they've they've had their fair share of of problems. You know, Saeed, a player who was so important for them, you know, he's not really doing it this season. They brought in.
00:56:32
Speaker
Justin Lomweik, and we all remember how good he was in his first spell at the club. He's not been able to nail down a starting spot that strike a position between, you know, a mentor and junior. I think neither of them have scored more than but two or three goals this season. And so they're really struggling to get wins, right? Only five wins of the 17 games and only one win away from home. Yeah. Yeah. I think yeah that's also how I see it. It's a bit, they have pretty big problems in pretty important positions. And if you don't have a number nine that can score a goal, then yeah then you're in in deep, to say the least. They're also a bit tough because they're probably putting in points around what was expected, maybe theyre a little bit lower. But I thought before the season ah that they would be seventh, eighth, and that's approximately where they are. so
00:57:26
Speaker
and So I think it's around, they deliver to around expectation levels, but but yeah, it's ah if theyve had ah if they had had a like a coach when he was on fire, they could also be in the top six team. So I think Isaac Jenssen playing on the net has been phenomenal to watch, Serginho in the beginning of the season. But I'm also super puzzled about Lundberg being a shadow of himself here in in the season. They're super tough to assess.
00:58:00
Speaker
And I think for a team in their position where there's no real risk of relegation, but also ah top six looks looks perhaps a bridge too far, I think that the when the league split happens, it does give them a kind of renewed focus right to try and get that that European playoff. They've obviously won that game previously ah to get into Europe. So that there is ah there is a carrot there. And I think that if they can they can add a centre forward in January, I think there's every chance they can finish quite strong.
00:58:26
Speaker
yeah Yeah, but I also think pretty good things are going on. I just think it's it's the last piece of magic that they're missing. I think the central midfield is super solid. I think they have brilliant young Danish players on the way forward. So so I could also see them develop together, which could bring them even further forward. But I think there are too many points behind to really make an an impact this this year. But I should say the Danish league system is just so crazy.
00:58:56
Speaker
that yeah you can still go into Europe. so And they're still in the cup. So in that sense, it's not too bad a position to be in. Have time to develop the young players, as you say, free of relegation, and potentially still a spot in Europe next year. So I don't think they're too disappointed, but I think they would still like a proper nine at some point.
00:59:20
Speaker
Yeah. Well, ah another team who's found themselves in that European playoff previously, sit in ninth place just behind them. Alborg obviously came up this season after ah a relegation that was ah a real disaster for the club. But they've they've pulled themselves back up. And they've I think they've they've done pretty well this season. Four wins, five draws from the 17 games. And they've they've got a ah couple of really tidy players in ah in Jorgensen and in Melco Widow.
00:59:48
Speaker
who ranks 97 percentile for chances created this season. So he's been a real threat threat for them. But you know, they find themselves seven points clear of the relegation zone. And importantly, they beat in Loongbi, they beat in Sunnayeska, they beat in V-ball. So they're taking points in the games that really matter in that relegation battle. And as a result, I think that while they're not safe, 17 points from the first half of the season is a decent return.
01:00:13
Speaker
Yeah, I think they must be extremely happy, yeah especially when you look at the new table, because as you say, the bottom has been pretty poor. So 17 points could have been a bit on the not, I mean, now they are pretty safe, because Olympic and violin has been bad. But, but I think they're super happy with how it's going on. I think they've again showed off ah really good young talent, they can probably see the first next.
01:00:42
Speaker
a few million euros coming in for Vidal and Janssen. So, for a team who's promoted, I think it's definitely well above expectation. And then I think it's also a little bit interesting to see that and they brought in this energetic coach from Bonbu, who's the under-19 coach, Minho van Dam. And he started with a very, yeah like, youthful style of play, pressing extremely high, leaving pick rooms to cover, but I think he's also changed a little bit to adapt to the Super League of Standouts. So you see, I think the first few games were a bit more ah tactically interesting to see, but they are scrapping together the points that they need. So yeah, big kudos to how ah where how well Obe has been doing. And then I don't know if you saw it, but they brought in Isaac Aaron Hansen from so the former are like massive, massive talent, probably the best
01:01:40
Speaker
a six year yeah-year-old in Norway when he was there. He went to Manchester United. He was then so let go and ended up in that appointment. Hasn't really ah shown his full talent yet, but it's going to be you one very exciting player to watch. At some point, everyone in the world wanted this guy in, and now he's playing in OB next season, so our next half season. so Yeah, that's going to be super interesting to watch. And I think with, if you can get everything running, and Mirka Vidal, I should say, producing chances and chances, and Jansen is just a great striker, then I think they can have an extremely potent offensive style ah in the second half.
01:02:24
Speaker
Absolutely. And you know I think they play with a they play with a confidence that isn't usual for a promoted team, right? Sometimes you see you see teams come up and you know you can tell they're the underdog for every game. But I think, well, perhaps consequence of the fact that OB are a historically very big team, but they they they play with ah they play with a confidence that that's quite refreshing to watch.
01:02:45
Speaker
So below them in 10th place on 16 points is Sunayuska. And for them, yeah, so they're six points clear of relegation at the moment. They've they've ah they've been powered to where they are by Lirim Kwamili and Madzaga with a seven goals and four goals respectively. They also brought in Jakob Busk over the summer who um went a long time without playing football. but He was at uni in Berlin before and he's come in and although they've only kept one clean sheet or season, I think that Buskers look pretty good. When you look at their underlying metrics, goals, big chances, shots, they they all kind of track where they are in the league. So I think it's probably a fair reflection of of their season so far. But and what what do you make of them? Do you think they're going to do you think they're going to um be able to so sort of pick up a similar points, Tally, in the second half of the season? Yeah, um I'm also pretty impressed with Sunuska. I think it's they've
01:03:39
Speaker
definitely also in most games been showing a pretty attractive style of play for a team that's just been promoted. And I think, again, if you are a team that's gone up, then just the fact that you've left two teams behind you, six points is not a lot, but it's still a pretty nice buffer. um So i think I think they should be super happy. As you mentioned, Camellia has been a brilliant signing, really showing their sense of style of play.
01:04:02
Speaker
and they They were a bit unlucky. They had Ingers on the front, who started really, really strong, but got injured and he's out for a long time. But they managed to replace him as well. So so yeah, it's it's been interesting to watch. And I think the yeah the coach, Thomas Nagel, was an interesting character. And I think he's very likeable on TV. So I actually really do enjoy watching some news as well.
01:04:26
Speaker
I think whether or not they stay up is, is ah it might even be sort of ah out of their hands because it kind of depends on whether the the two teams below them can find any semblance of form. And if we if we look at Loombi in 11th place, only one win all season, only 10 points. I mean, if I'm looking for positives, they've got the best defense in the bottom six.
01:04:47
Speaker
but they've only scored 12 goals in 17 games and I think when that happens it's a recipe for disaster. You've also got the goalkeeper situation there so they they brought in David Jenson who didn't perform, they brought in a yeah young guy Krumri who was injured and you know that they've the I think Storsch has done perfectly decently since he's come in, but just that lack of goals is really killing them at the moment. And I think that you know to to hit the winter with only one win, it looks pretty bleak for them. Yeah, I think you're very right. I think a lot about how senior school will be doing depends on what Loompi does, because they had a Lamborghini of a forward in Andrei Gudjoonsson.
01:05:32
Speaker
And he was such a great striker. And then they replaced him with Malik Abubakari. So it's such a, I wouldn't even say average. I think he's super poor striker for the super leaguer. And that's just ah taking its toll now that they didn't manage to find the right replacement. And I think when we earlier on talked about Rana's and their transfer strategy and how they really succeeded, Linpus had a disaster of a trenching window and they really needed players in touch leaving, Gugontan leaving,
01:06:00
Speaker
and the replacements have come. So that's not too bad, right? Come from within, I think Lao-Kissenkrau has been really good, but it's just ah you need to have a little bit of luck on the transfer market when you're in scrambling at the bottom or scrambling at the bottom. So ah it's been very underwhelming to watch, share link ah both in the expression and the amount of points they've gotten. So I think you can say the upside is that They have the biggest opportunity to bring in a striker that's better than Abu Bakri because, yeah, probably shouldn't be super legal level at this point. But but yeah, you were you just never know how much money they really have to to make a move. But if they bring in a decent striker, I'm also a little bit on the central defense. Is there potential there to improve? As you say, stalk has been really good. It's not on him that they're in the bottom, for sure. Yeah, a central defender and number nine, then it might be different
01:06:55
Speaker
and it's only the six points, so they can still make it. Yeah, I mean, we all remember the great escape of a couple of seasons ago where I think ah think they only had one win at Christmas as well and and still managed to get out of the hole. But I think then you know there was ah ah certainly a manager who ah had ah a lot of energy, a lot of a lot of confidence, and a squad that still had some quality players there. And it does feel like ah it does feel like a different situation. i guess ah I guess we have to wait and see.
01:07:24
Speaker
Yeah, yeah my my prediction is that they will be going down. But I also said that on the Great Escape and that didn't happen, right? So just never know. Well, below them, also with one win is Viola in 12th place. And um yeah, only one win, only six points, 13 losses, only scored 16 goals and conceded a whopping 40. And I think, again, when you look at the stats that that sort of back it up, lowest possession, lowest accurate passes, highest XG conceded, most fouls, it doesn't look good.
01:07:56
Speaker
and You know, i've I've watched them, I've watched them play a full 90 a few times this season. And actually I do feel like, ah you know, but the the game that I went to watch the other week against the FC Midgland, they held their own, they created chances, but they just lacked a, they lacked a goal scorer and, and lacked a bit of luck. I think that just the, yeah, that the lack of quality throughout the squad is, is kind of costing them. And I don't feel that they're so bad that six points is is a fair reflection. I think they probably should have picked up a few more along the way, but it does feel like this season, it's going to be, it's going to be too much to ah to try and stay up. Yeah. I think there's a period before the new Romanian coach, tetcha and after, and I think actually the game you watch was with the new coach. And I think after that they've been.
01:08:40
Speaker
It's a pretty yeah positive to look at, but not really getting the full amount of points that they needed. um But maybe they changed their coach a little bit too late. Viola was also the team that was nearly sold to this Turkish fraud back in January last year, and not a lot of money was put into to the squad. And I think you can use the car analogy again. I wouldn't call Unuka Lampertini, but he was very, very good for violin. And they replaced him with the Tony, you know. Yeah, what's his name? Yeboah. Emmanuel Yeboah.
01:09:09
Speaker
from 1B and it's just not been good enough. And again, if you don't have the right number nine, then just you're in a tough spot. It's an ongoing theme for this but this ah episode, you can say, and but you can really, really see that what the bill is when you don't have the the right person to put in the goals. For me, it's actually interesting that even though I didn't expect that much from Violet or they're still for me the two biggest underperformance of of this season. I think it's having two promoted teams going ahead of them, not being able to stand their ground better. You can always find a few positives to say about them, but all in all it's been super disappointing to watch. Yeah, absolutely.
01:09:53
Speaker
Um, well, that, that covers the, that covers the, the, the super leaguer, all 12 teams. lot one It was a one, One hour and some minutes. It was, I mean, hopefully we, did hopefully we did it justice. We, um, we had the question from, uh, Pablo Bresciani as well, who was also asking about why there wasn't a standout team. Hopefully we've answered that. There was another question that came through from, um, but maybe actually the was a standout team, but it's just, it's just a standout team.
01:10:22
Speaker
that has a fairly low budget. So for me, Rana is a stand out team this season. And I think Obi has also done a great job. And I think Sinus could also be happy. And I think Silkebo can be happy. But I still feel like, actually, the rest, at best, they would put it in as ah that a mediocre performance. And maybe it's because you see the best performances in the middle of the table that you don't really recognize that it's been a stand out performance for them. But I think it really yeah really yeah yeah it's worth really mentioning that ban that has had a phenomenal half season.
01:10:56
Speaker
Yeah, no, i think that's I think that's completely fair. I think that's completely fair. that There was a ah a question from ah Sean Militscher who actually wanted to ask about Danish teams in Europe. So ah he said, thoughts on Danish teams in Europe so far this season? Only two out of four to make it through to the league phase. Michelin 20th in the Europa League, FCCo 19th in the conference league. What's the floor seat or ceiling for the remainder of the European season?
01:11:26
Speaker
I still think FC Copenhagen can turn it around and really come strong in again in the conference league. As they are now, they're still qualifying to the next the stage. They just need to be in the top 24. And when you look at who's in the competition, I could still see if everything hits in the right way, I could see them going to the final of the conference league. Of course, Michelin's journey is going to be a little bit tougher because the teams are so much better.
01:11:51
Speaker
But my expectation is actually that both teams will qualify for the next round. You can see the two big disasters for me this season was the slow and the liberage game for FC Michelin and then Pompy not being able to put it away against the Ligia Vosheva. Huge disappointment, but I actually think Pompy was best in both games against Ligia, so they were also very much hit by a bad beat there, so that's also for Pompy. I really do think that there is a chance here to have a ah strong season in in the second half.
01:12:23
Speaker
Yeah. And I also think I might be wrong here, but this new, this new format, you don't get teams moving from one competition to another, right? So the the conference league teams are the conference league teams. And actually, if I think back to, you know, some of the best knee strip performances in the past few years, they've all been in Europe um or most of them have been in Europe. So I think that, you know, if the, if the, the, the the cards fall nicely for for FC Copenhagen, I fancy them to, uh, to, to, yeah, to go far in this competition for sure.
01:12:52
Speaker
Yeah, I think obstacle making are always good when they play against a better team, because then the team structure, they can go counter attacks where they're still very decent. So I could also fit it. I think the biggest problem for obstacle making is that if they have to play against a team that is ah somewhat at the same level, but doesn't want to attack, then I could see them have problems. ah i But yeah, I'm with you. And I also think Mitchell has had a few decent performances this season. so So of course, they've both had a bomber game, Sipsicle King at the beginning, and this clown goal that was scored against them.
Post-Christmas Tournament Activity
01:13:31
Speaker
I don't even remember who it was against, but very funny to watch. um but But yeah, I think they're still in it, and we'll see them on the other side of of Christmas progressing in the tournament. Cool.
Summer Signings: Hits and Misses
01:13:44
Speaker
Well, before we wrap up this very festive special edition episode, I wanted to ask, ah
01:13:51
Speaker
taking everything into account, fee, performances, et cetera. Who's been your best signing ah from the summer, and who's been the most disappointing? I would say Oscar Headval from Wiebau was my best player, very close to Li Ring community from Sunniuske. I came in, I don't think anyone expected a role for Oscar Headval. He was you only played when Lucas Leuen, the Wiebau goalkeeper, apparently had been out too late according to the guidelines of the club and then Hittberg got the chance and he's been absolutely phenomenal since that and he had been in Midgeland where he didn't show anything and he didn't think about where he didn't show the level either and now he's just changed the game completely for Vivo and I think it's also a big reason why they are still in 8th position
01:14:45
Speaker
Those sliding doors moments are always interesting, aren't they? and In a career, you know something innocuous like ah missing a curfew can have big ramifications down the line. Oh, yeah, really, right. And I don't know if you remember the Big Tucker-Shenson story as well, when he got his chance in the squad, or the Daniel Spencer story for that sake, it was an injury on the day, and they got a chance, and they just took it. So I'm not even sure that we'll ever see and Lucas Lauren again in goal, because as he's playing right now, it's just ah he's He's been doing really well. Great shortstop this season. Absolutely. Who would you say has been the most disappointing? It's always tough because you could say the Danish players, you know really well how I do it. And therefore the expectations are based on what you've seen. But when it comes to the international players, it's more about the curriculum than anything else. And I thought that Kucher would be a fantastic sign. I really thought if you've been
01:15:43
Speaker
play for Czech Republic in the European Championship, a team that is equivalent to the level of Denmark, then you must be really really good. And yeah, it's just not been good enough. And he's already been talking in the media and yeah it's it's an unlucky situation where Michelin has really been missing strikers due to injuries and offensive players and then you bring in someone super expensive and then he's just not delivering. I think that will probably be my biggest failure of the season so far. Yeah and I think it probably doesn't help his cause that Michelin are such a dynamic and fast-paced team that you you have someone who who does look quite sort of slow in comparison and maybe he just needs to get up to to speed but he just that doesn't strike me as as the
01:16:32
Speaker
the kind of player who fits with that system, which is why I was sort of a bit surprised about the signing. And when you think about how how explosive Cho was last season, bursting in behind the the last defender and arriving late in the box and doing all that stuff, it just, yeah, it's quite a contrast. Yeah, absolutely. And I think it was Midiano I listened to the other day, where they said that it's still the team that has the most crosses to the box. And as I understood it, he was like, a ah Fox in the box, good on his head, type of guy. So that type of change should be good for him. I buy into the element around the dynamic style of Cho versus him. It's definitely not in his favor, but I just thought that this would be where he would be excelling. I think this is where it's just really good when the crosses have been brought in and he's been able to finish first time.
Team Performance and Future Plans
01:17:23
Speaker
But yeah, even in these positions where he should be good, it just doesn't seem like he really
01:17:30
Speaker
delivers and it might be again coming in late in the window, but yeah, it's, it's never nice when you bring in an expensive striker and he doesn't deliver. I mean, the stats that I've got, I, I thought that they were one of the lower teams for crosses. So Mitchell and actually 10th out of 12 for accurate crosses per match, but maybe they're putting in a load of inaccurate ones cross success 21.6%. Okay. So that might be, yeah. Yeah. Okay.
01:17:58
Speaker
yeah Cool. Well, Kasper, thank you for taking time out of your busy calendar to ah to come and talk to me about Super League of Football. It's great to do this again after ah more than a year out of the game. And I'm very much looking forward to hopefully having the time to do some more of these. And I've got something particularly special planned for the new year that I hope I can pull off, but I'm not going to talk about it until I've actually done it. It's been such a pleasure once again. And we're definitely no matter what going to have a season closure episode. So I definitely look forward to that.
01:18:29
Speaker
I just have ah one final question for you.
Season Highlights and Farewell
01:18:32
Speaker
Who, for you, have been the best player of this fall season? So for me, I think it's, I think it's been Mohammed El Yannousi. I think that he's, when he plays at his best and hes he's, he's found a real consistency this season, but when he plays at his best, you can just see he's a level above most players in terms of his, his technical a ability, his speed of thought, uh, is finishing. He's been such an important player for FCCO. So I would say him, and I think the.
01:19:00
Speaker
I remember there being some some rumors in the summer that he might leave and they must feel so glad that that hasn't happened because I think his release clause has now expired and yeah for me he's been the top performing player this season. Yeah I can dive into that. It's been awesome. I mean as you say you can see it and I think it's one of these things again you don't necessarily need a 18 year old team if you just get in the the ride all the players then they can also do it for you and And he's just, I would say he's in tough competition with him in what he was also really had a strong season, but but yeah, they are definitely, yeah, tough, tough players both of them. Absolutely. Brilliant. Well, thanks everyone for listening and do feedback. Let me know, let me know what you think. Have have me and Kasper still got it after all this time? But no, have ah have ah an amazing festive period and look forward to catching you next time on Danish Dynamike.