At Assyriska, anything can happen [aka the fallout]

By: Luka | September 24th, 2009

With 5 games to go, the Assyriska board has taken a desperate and drastic measure in an attempt to somehow rescue the season from meandering insipidly into oblivion. Out goes the timid and tactically feeble Roberth Johansson, and in comes the wily and astute Conny Karlsson (pictured, no doubt practicing his concerned look ahead of the derby), a familiar face to all connected with Assyriska.

His name instantly conjures up the wonderful memory of Assyriska sensationally (but damn well improbably) reaching the Swedish Cup final in 2003, and in particular this:

That’s Assyriska taking apart Swedish powerhouses and Allsvenskan champions Djurgårdens IF in the semi final, showing them how to joga bonito (away from home as well). Under coach Conny Karlsson and before him, Assyriska was known for playing fast, technical passing football, able to beat any team on any given day. In the quarter final, Assyriska similarly handed another giant of Swedish football, IFK Göteborg, a 4-1 thrashing at their humble homeground Bårsta IP in Sodertalje. Yes, it is these for these moments Assyriska followers remember Conny Karlsson.

After he left Assyriska in 2003, Conny Karlsson managed Trellborgs in the Allsvenskan from 2004 to 2007, and after that had one and a half years in Sparta Sarpsborg in Norway. His contract with Assyriska lasts until the end of the season, so I am assuming the minimum objective is to reach the playoffs, given the fixtures coming up.

The fallout:
Now formerly of Assyriska, coach Robbo claims his sacking was without merit:

The goal was top six, and where we are. We are three points behind the Premier Division places.
There is no justification to replace me. It was under these conditions they hired me, I’ve done a good job. This decision is surprising. We are well [placed] on the table and have also begun to build for next year.

However, he points out that only sporting reasons were behind his sacking:

There is absolutely no conflict within the association. So this is football.

Taking a look at the table instantly voids coach Robbo’s argument, as we currently lie in 7th (tied with 6th, but we have a pathetic goal difference of ZERO – the result of two ignominious defeats to feebly average teams at the bottom of the table [10-2 if you aggregate them]).

Captain fantastic General Marklund weighs into the issue and provides some (wise) insights, suggesting the blame should be placed elsewhere, in an interview with fotbollskanalen.se:

How do you rate his work?
He has done most things right since he came to the club.

Do you think it was wrong to sack him?
It’s hard to say. It may be advised to see what happens. If it can give an injection in the group.
But it’s not a long-term decision to sack the coach when it is five rounds remaining……..I have not received any explanation. But it is a short-term decision. One hopes for a quick change.

How about your season?
It has well been woeful. Especially the last part of it. We have not played really well throughout the year, but last spring we won anyway. We should have had more points and have missed too many chances.

How will this affect the derby on Sunday? Does it create anxiety or give you something extra?
For me personally it does not affect how I play. For we can only hope that this will have an injection for some players. That is probably why they take the decision now. But the derby is a derby. It has not played a role….

Coach Conny Karlsson communicates to us commoners:

I got the call today (Tuesday) and said yes pretty quickly. There are only five weeks left in the season, maybe slightly longer if there are qualifiers.

I’ve seen a bit of Assyriska [this season]. But I know many of the players. Pierre (Bengtsson), Dennis (Östlundh), Stefan (Batan), Eddie (Moussa), they were all there when I was in Assyriska before.

It is an advantage that I have been in the club earlier. I know what I’m going to have to go to, how the club works. So I can go straight in and try to get to this change. It will be very exciting.

I can see that there is potential in the squad, now you have to find the right buttons to press.

Karlsson’s first match in charge is the white hot derby against the confused Assyrians (Syrianska FC). Leading their lines is former Trellborgs forward Michael Mensah. “He has apparently done quite well. I hope it will be a nice reunion”, says Conny Karlsson. I don’t.
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Apologies for the seemingly incoherent quotes, google translate doesn’t exactly provide a seamless translation from Swedish to English.