That is why I criticize the management of IFK Gothenburg

I do not want to give the sponsor’s name. All informants have the right to remain anonymous. I can tell the email is from a man.

Like most things in this football city, it’s all about IFK Gothenburg. More accurate or more precise: How the management of the Blåvitt club is represented by GPs”a barn” to a football columnist. That is, me.

The patron writes with a keystroke of a solo pianist performing Chopin’s second Nocturne in E flat major – meaningfully:

“Considering recent achievements, that’s fine. But to always say that the long term view won’t work, week in and week out, even if positive things happen in the short term. It can’t be right. And don’t describe the positive either, but only mention the negative aspects. Are you going on a witch hunt in modern day Sweden? It will be something of a Carthage warning“.

But there are broken chords in the piece too – a slightly softer reverse:

“That he is against first complaining that there is too much turnover of people within the club, pointing out how long other clubs have been, then asking those who have been here to retire for a while, doesn’t that make him more credible. . But as I said, the matter can be debated endlessly. But to, in your position of power as a newspaper, always point out the same thing, when nothing new is happening, it just feels disrespectful.”.

Laul: Always ready for a discussion

Updating. I like this kind of response. For the simple reason that – unlike Senator Cato the elder – I never express opinions in GP without 1) justifying it with arguments, or 2) putting up for discussion under real forms or talking to interested parties afterwards.

I never took an interview. Let him ask questions or answer them.

I wrote back to the IFK supporter that the debate over the role of the reporter versus the columnist is relevant. I mean that there must be a difference, and that the difference is important. The reporter’s articles must be based on facts – the columnist’s opinions are based on arguments.

My overall argument is that IFK Göteborg is in a historically specific period of weak sporting results. The five seasons from 2020 to 2024 – with a battle at the bottom most of the years, especially the last two – is a situation that Blåvitt has not experienced since the 1970s when the association spent six seasons in the second division.

What is happening now is something that has not happened in 50 years – that season after season of IFK is about to happen, as the chairman of the association himself said.

I think it needs to be noted in the local newspaper report. I have no problem talking about how, but that context should go through each column as an obvious starting point for me. Otherwise, there will be no difference from one year to the next. Then all statements look pretty much the same regardless of whether the team is third or third last. Does anyone really want it that way?

Arguably the worst blue and white in the series

I believe that the tone and choice of questions should be very different depending on where a club is on the table. The core of my criticism is that IFK Göteborg have significantly more financial resources than the other bottom teams – Blåvitt thus outperforms most teams in the entire Allsvenskan. IFK Göteborg are the worst in the series in the last two years. As Olof Palme once said: One should call things by their proper names (otherwise without comparison).

However, I have never asked anyone in the current administration to resign. It is a fabrication. I have asked the question what will be better if the same people continue with the same strategy. Maybe, what do I know. I think the question is worth raising. Especially since IFK are once again in danger of dropping out of the Allsvenskan with two games left. If the power is not questioned for it – when will the power be questioned?

Furthermore, I believe – but this is my personal opinion – that it is more honest to criticize the power than to see the performances of individual players. Directing the criticism at sometimes very young footballers who have much less of a role in the overall results is close to dishonest. Which I never do. The blame cannot be placed on individual players, even on a coach, that the same association does not perform so long. As a journalist, you must always examine power and those who are ultimately responsible. Those who create the environment, build the squad, own the financial priorities and choose the direction. Those who make the decisions and are able to change.

That is, club management, board and ultimately members who have a mandate are responsible for everything. Therefore, the sharpest criticism must be directed there. I always aim to bounce back when I criticize.

If IFK Göteborg fail to take the required points against Kalmar FF, it will not be the fault of Jacob Karlstrøm, August Erlingmark, Adam Carlén or Laurs Skjellerup. At least not nearly as much as he is responsible for the president Richard Berkling, the manager of the club Håkan Milds, the technical director Ola Larsson or, to some extent, the head coach Stefan Billborn.

On the other hand, if Blåvitt solves the urgent task – which I am sure IFK will do – the players deserve praise. But my criticism of the blue-white power remains regardless of the result against KFF. The recent seasons are still an underachievement by historical standards, if not yet equal to the final destruction of Carthage.

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