shiloh23

aah.. the Saxemara bubble has burst

shannon2007

As Clemente lined his cardboard box with clingfilm to keep out the rain, so he wished he could do the same to some of his players. It was becoming obvious that keeper Bengtsson had totally lost it, assuming he ever had it in the first place and that the defence was just a total shambles. The inability of most of the defenders to do even the simple things like pass the bal;l to a team mate was causing serious problems, because although the midfield and attack were reasonable for this level, they were getting less and less chances due the inability of the defence. And if proof were needed that change was in order with the utmost urgency, the match away to Laholm was about to give up that proof.

From start to finish Saxemara were woeful, although it took till just after the half hour before Laholm finally took a deserved lead. By the hour mark they were three up, when Magnus Eriksson - who seemed to have lost another yard of pace, meaning his effectiveness was certainly much less than last season - rattled the ball home. Any hopes of a miraculous come back though were soon put to bed as Laholm fired in three more goals and Clemente and his boys were sent home with their tails between their legs and terrible six one thrashing.

Something had to be done, and Clemente set about doing it. Even though a narrow 1-0 win was achieved at home to Robertsfor thanks to Magnus Eriksson strike, it was not enough to save those players who were failing far too badly. Eight players - Viktor Hasselgren, Christoffer Strom, Nicklas Christiansen, Henrik Eklund, Anders Edman, Mattias Lindahl, Andreas Lund and Jonas Blomqvist all had their contracts terminated by the end of July whilst Alexander Pihl would leave to join Nybro on a Bosman.

With the whole of the defense given their marching orders, a new one was needed and by the time of the next match with MABI, Clemente had most of his new faces in place. The goalkeeping situation had been a nightmare and it was quite clear that none of the three keepers on the books could be trusted and so in came 25 year old Klas Christensen from Motala. As with all the signings, the keeper cost nothing because basically there is no money. Christiansen is far from outstanding but he surely had to be better than the crap already at the club.

At right back, 37 year old Mikael Martensson came in - hardly the future but needs must and all that - and at left back 29 year old Peter Larsson was persuaded to sign - or be badly mutilated. The central defense was revamped with the arrival of 29 year old [b]Eric Skordaker[/b} and 22 year old M'Barek Ouladib, and 20 year old Robert Karlsson also came in as back up. Thirty nine year old Krister Nordin came in to bolster the squad, a player who can play midfield or defence but who has decided to retire at the end of the season. He'll do for now as a quick fix. And finally promising eighteen year old utility player Pontus Hansson comes in to further boost the squad.

With a totally brand new defence, MABI were taken out by 2-1 and bottom club on their way back down Leikin were overcome 1-0. It wasn't hair raising, scintillating football but it was effective and that was the whole point. The name of the game was survival and that could be seen in the whole nervous shape of the side. A 1-0 loss at home to VMA was a setback, but these things had to be expected before a decent enough 2-2 draw with Lund followed by 3-0 and 3-1 triumphs over Karlskrona and Helsingborg Sodra left Saxemara needing just one point from their final three matches to stay up.

With Champions elect IFK Malmo at home, little was expected from this match and sure enough it took only 13 minutes for the visitors to go ahead. To their credit though, the Saxemara players for once didn't buckle and right on half time Jacob Johansson levelled the match. A tight battle ensued but in the end Clemente's side hung on fiercly to claim the point that saved their fourth tier status and now they could start looking forward to the new season.

If this season was to be summed up though, the last two games did that nicely. The Jekyll and Hyde nature of the team shone through as they travelled to Ystads IF and were well and truly humped by five goals to nil. Keeper Christensen just had one of those days and eventually found himself taken off after an hour to preserve his sanity. It seemed as if nothing at all had been learned throughout a tough season as the side collapsed back to oblivion, and then in the final game of the season at home to Limhamn, the total reverse. Goals from Ouladib, Thomasson, Fridjonsson and a brace from Eriksson in what might well be the 33 year olds last game for the club, wrapped up a splended last day five nil win and in football you're only as good as your last game - and this was sheer magic.

In the end, a sixth place finish was decent enough, only seven points adrift in the end of last seasons tally, and amazingly only nine points away from league winners IFK Malmo. Perhaps if Clemente can find one or two semi decent players for next season, things can get a whole lot better.

More likely, it will be more of the same.

shannon2007

Swedish Second Division - South Gotaland
Final League Positions 2007

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | C | IFK Malmö | | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 43 | 16 | +27 | 41 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Karlskrona | | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 44 | 23 | +21 | 40 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Laholm | | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 42 | 29 | +13 | 40 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | MABI | | 22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 46 | 41 | +5 | 39 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Lund | | 22 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 38 | 25 | +13 | 36 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Saxemara | | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 35 | 37 | -2 | 32 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Ystads IF | | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 44 | 29 | +15 | 31 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Limhamn | | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 33 | 31 | +2 | 29 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Robertsfors | | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 33 | 39 | -6 | 29 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | Pl | Helsingborg Södra | | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 24 | -2 | 26 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | R | VMA IK | | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 57 | -38 | 20 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | R | Leikin | | 22 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 57 | -48 | 6 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_brittni10

Congratulations on staying up

Sweden is hideous at that level. I spent a couple of seasons with Svenljunga with variable success.

shannon2007

Thanks Wag

Have to be honest though, it is still quite a lot of fun, even though this is possibly the worst team I've ever managed. My Faroes team would murder this lot

retired_brittni10

Yeah I found it fairly entertaining myself. Svenljunga start the game without any players too, it's crazy scrambling to sign players before the transfer window shuts for the first time.

KUTGW!

shannon2007

Clemente Marito was feeling rather sad. With the cardboard box he had been living in for nearly a year starting to disintigrate, and still no sign of the promised new accomodation from President Olaf Larsson, Clemente had decided that it was time to pack his bags and head back to Portugal. He sat down on the grass and started to write his letter of resignation.


'Dear Mr Larson

First of all, I would like to thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to manage your football club. I have very much enjoyed being here these last two years, and I hope you feel I have contributed something to the club. However, it is with regret that I am writing to tell you that I will no longer be able to act as Manager of Saxemare. This is due to the intolerable situation whereby, despite your many promises, I am still living in a disintigrating cardboard box on the grounds surrounding the stadium. This state of affairs cannot go on, and therefore I reluctantly have to pack up my belongings and head back to Portugal.

Yours sincerely,


Clemente Marito'




With a tear in his eye, Clemente sealed the envelope, stuck on the postage stamp and placed the letter into the post box. He went back to his box to collect his belongings only to find it had gone, and as he started to panic Olaf Larson came round the corner beaming brightly, as he handed Clemente a set of keys.

'I have finally found you a nice flat' Olaf continued to beam, 'Come, I'll take you there in my car.'

Sure enough, the one bedroomed flat was in excellent condition and Clemente was in his element. It was only as he fell asleep that night in comfortable new bed, that he suddenly woke up with a start.

'The letter!' he exclaimed. 'I must get it back!'

And that was how Clemente Marito, manager of Swedish Second Division side Saxemara, ended up in court......

retired_steffani

DO DO DO....The drama, are we heading for pisoner Cell Block H? or Shawshank

shannon2007

The new season was fast approaching, and with fourteen new signings, there was an air of excitement and trepidation amongst the Saxemara fans. Would this be the season they gained promotion, would they have to endure another relegation struggle, had Marito signed some decent players or had he signed total fuds? Only time would tell, that was the great thing about football. Nothing could quite beat the thrill of anticipation of another new season.....

Saxemara Squad 2008

Goalkeepers

Klas Christensson (25) Signed from Motala in July, Christensson made nine first team appearances towards the end of last season, conceding eleven goals and keeping three clean sheets. A decent enough keeper, his kicking and throwing are his main weaknessess, and he does lack authority in the area. As shown in his performance in the 5-0 thrashing from Ystads, when he has an off he can be appalling. Should still nevertheless be number one choice. Its not as if there are that many options.

Robert Beach (21) New signing from Bollstanas, where he managed only 2 starts last season. Beach has a similiar authority problem as Christensson, but is better at kicking, although his throwing his almost non existant. As a keeper though, he is at least on a par with his rival, and may well be pushing to make the No 1 jersey his own.

Defence

Andre Birgersson (22) Although the new signing can play as a central defender, that position is, hopefully, well covered and Birgersson will operate as a right back. Has semi decent pace, is a good tackler and very good header of the ball, but his glaring weakness for a full back is his total lack of any idea of how to pass the ball.

Marcus Jonsson (36) Signed basically to add depth to the squad, Jonsson is a decent enough rightbut lack the pace these days that could well be exploited by a younger, faster player. Should make a decent enough back up though.

Peter Larsson (29) Arrived in July, and performed fairly well in his nine games. Can sometimes be pushed off the ball too easily and certainly isn't the best passer, but a decent enough left back.

Jan Jonsson (28) A new arrival at left back, who can also play on the right. A reasonable player, but does have some glaring weaknessess and he will be back up at best in the season ahead.

M'Barek Ouladib (23) Another of the new defence that arrived in July, M'Barek had a really good nine games and even managed a goal. A good solid, without being brilliant, defensive player who made a huge difference to the fortunes of a team who looked doomed before his arrival.

Eric Sordaker (29) Paired up well with Ouladib, has excellent defensive know how, although does lack the technical ability and talent needed to be a top player. Nevertheless seems to be a sold, reliable player.

Fredrik Aliris (32) Despite being the wrong side of thirty, Aliris is a very good defender who should more than be able to hold his own in this division. Will have to oust the players in possesion first though to get into the team!

Robert Badang (21) Signed in July, Badang seems to be a decent enough defender, but has yet to make an appearance in a Saxemara shirt.

Lars Magnusson (18) The teenager looks as if he might be decent enough at this level, but will have a hard time making an impact in the team this season if all goes to plan. Which it probably wont.

Midfield

Pontus Hansson (19) Came in to add a bit of bite to the midfield, but if truth be told he didn't really add all that much. May well struggle to hold down his place in the season ahead.

Johan Bengtsson (23) Arrives having not exactly had a spectacular past two years at Oddevold, but Marito clearly feels he can get something out of the kid that no-one else has been able to.

Astrit Ajdarevic (17) Despite his youth, Ajdarevic looks to have the talent to become a really good player and may even be the best signing Marito has made to date. Then again, he might well be a total flop.

Elias Elio (21) Another solid looking midfielder who should be able to hold down a place on the left side of the park.

Michael Grims (20) Despite having a woeful season, where he totally failed to impress in his six starts, Grims remains at the club for now as Marito clearly feels he can still contribute something.

Niklas Thor (20) Had a good solid season, making seventeen appearances and bagging four goals in the process. One of the best performers of the season and will be looking for more of the same in the season ahead.

Forwards

Mikael Thomasson (31) Made nineteen appearance on the right side of the midfield or right wing, but was largely very poor, although he did manage two goals.

Fredrik Sjostedt (20) A fairly poor player, yet to make a start and seems unlikely to, although the right wing position is rather weak so he might get a game after all.

Asgeir Fridjonsson (28) The undoubted star of the team, Fridjonsson is currently being tracked by First Division Elite side Orgryte. Has made 36 appearance for the club over two seasons, scoring 18 times and providing 14 assists. He would be a hard player to replace.

Simon Pahlander (22) The left winger will have a tough time displacing fans favourite Fridjonsson from the side, but he certainly does look a decent player and if Fridjonsson does move on, perhaps Pahlander can take his place.

Magnus Eriksson (34) Has made 41 appearances in his two seasons with the club, scoring 29 goals, and providing 8 assists. After a spectaculer first season, his return last season wasn't quite so good with only eleven goals from twenty games and it looks like this may well be his last playing season.

Jacob Johansson (19) Flitted between the right wing and the central striking role, Johansson is a decent player who has played 28 times for the club over the past two seasons, and scored 15 goals.

Rashid Elmahi (23) Has played well with Gullringen and could be the replacement for Eriksson. Will need to up his goals per game ratio though as it's not really that good for a striker. In other words, its rubbish.

Jimmy Nunez (21) Has only made one start for a first team in his career to date and is therefore untested at a competitive level.

BarryLFC

Me \o/

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