Per Bohman’s five points from Hammarby-Brommapojkarna at Tele2 Arena.
1. First clear audience decline in many years
In 2022, Hammarby had a home average of a magnificent 26,372. Of course, these are numbers that even Bajen cannot count on in match after match at Tele2 Arena. But it is still worth noting the audience decline during the spring. In the last matches against Värnamo and Mjällby, roughly 19,000 came to see the green and whites. Dizzying crowds of supporters from a historical Allsvenskan perspective, of course, but still ominous for a Hammarby that got used to almost self-generating audience growth. Internally in the club, of course, they talk about the bad results as the most important reason, but also the fact that for the first time in many years, Bajen played unusually… poor football? The previously so fast, spectacular and offensive Hammarby has often stood for a lack of spirit, lack of tempo and passive football.
2. No Catalan control
In the first ten minutes, the home crowd got to see a team that really left its mark on the match. Unfortunately wrong team, seen with green-white eyes. BP were completely self-evident in their tactical plan. The successful newcomer showed zero respect for Bajen. After five minutes I had lost count of the number of melees won by the away team. Time and time again, they took the ball back, either via duels or thanks to a successful press that forced Hammarby into rushed lyres against isolated teammates. Baj rarely managed to keep the ball within the team for more than four-five seconds, completely lacking the Catalan control Martí Cifuentes stands for.
3. BP worked better as a team – Bajen had sharper players
My view was indeed that Olof Mellberg initially outmaneuvered Cifuentes. Nevertheless, it was Hammarby who – from the first to the last minute – created basically everything of value. How can it be so? Well, sometimes individual quality can trump a temporarily more functioning collective. Hammarby has failed this spring, but basically of course has clearly better material than the Brommapojkarna.
Because Mellberg’s gang also played an offensive, daring and forward-leaning football, it gave Bajen tasty opportunities and surfaces to punish the away team. The courage and legitimate ambitions became a double-edged sword as it led to an open, generous match picture that actually suited Bajen even if many of the chances came via long shots. Simon Strand broke through with a good finish. The tea fold Tekie shot in the gable of the house. Adi Nalic and Montader Madjed hit the post. And then 18-year-old goalkeeper Filip Sidklev, who had been so good in the lead-up to the season, dropped in a wobbling but completely harmless long shot from Nahir Besara. The chances and the goal gave oxygen – and the longer the half dragged on, the more Bajen took over.
4. Fritzson alone better than Nalic, Boudah, Mikkelsen and Madjed together
After the break, substitute strategist Samuel Leach Holm (why didn’t he start?) ensured that the Brommapojkarna looked for even more possession. At its most dangerous, however, was BP when the specialist, and former Bajen player, Tim Waker had to adjust and slide past the opponents with his powerful step. For a long time, I still thought that Edvin Kurtulus and his defensive comrades defended their box in a sensible way. It didn’t help, however, when Nikola Vasic got hold of the ball in the penalty area, turned and – via an involuntary Ludvig Fritzson touch – fortunately scored the equaliser. The hard-working midfielder Fritzson is now credited with four goals, which is two more than the likes of Adi Nalic, Abdelrahman Boudah, August Mikkelsen and Montader Madjed put together.
5. Avoided a super crisis – but Bajen cannot take the record crowd for granted
Martí Cifuentes has been looking for a functioning striker all spring. Many have had the chance, no one has delivered. The only really natural center in the squad, Jusef Erabi, has played the least of the offensive options.
Against the Brommapojkarna, the powerhouse got a quarter on the field. It was enough to save Hammarby and – in the last minute of the match – avoid a potential super crisis in Bajenland. Nahir Besara was, of course, the one who found Erabi with a clever, well-kept pass in stoppage time. The 20-year-old didn’t get control of the ball at first, but was still able to make it 2-1 with a quick-thinking outside shot towards the far post. A class finish and probably completely decisive for Bajen’s season after a match that was overall… decent, but certainly no more.
This Friday evening, when Stockholm was characterized by school graduations and student times, 19,243 spectators came to Tele2 Arena. Third home game in a row under 20,000. Finally, the players gave the green and white masses a reason to actually keep showing up. A point loss against BP would probably have meant that the people to an even greater extent started voting with their feet and simply stayed at home. And who could blame them? The club management can no longer take the record crowd for granted.
2023-06-09 21:12:33
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