Måned: januar 2019

Another Swede is believed to having agreed for Grimsby Town. Brommapojkarna and Grimsby have settled over a fee for Ludvig Öhman reports Aftonbladet.

The lanky 27 year old defender played under Town manager Michael Jolley at AFC Eskilstuna, but then went on to sign a three year deal with Brommapojkarna (BP) due to the relegation. However another relegation followed this season as AFC and Brommapojkarna ironically again switched their places after a dramatic Play Off between the two Stockholm area clubs.

The former Nagoya Grampus tower defense was in 2013 linked with Chelsea and will be a massive signing for Grimsby Town by all meanings. The 191 cm tall Swede got in total 16 caps for Sweden at U17 and U19 level.

Earlier this transfer window Grimsby signed another Swede in Sebastian Ring. As  Öhman he used the same agent, Jonathan Chalkias. Grimsbynorge.com suggested Öhman as a likely link back in December and the rumour was picked up in England a few days ago, however Michael Jolley refused to comment the rumour telling that he now almost had been linked to the whole of Sweden.

Well Saturday evening the news broke in Sweden while Grimsby supports worldwide followed the dramatical loss to Crystal Palace in the FA cup. Aftonbladet’s headline writes «Leaves BP for England», but could in fact been «Leaves BP for BP»…

For our English readers have we translated the story we found in Aftonbladet.

~

Leaves BP for England

Grimsby Town starts to become a Swedish club

Sebastian Ring has already joined the club.

According to our sources has the English club now also agreed terms with Brommapojkarna on Ludvig Öhman, 27.

Brommapojkarna went down from the Allsvenskan in 2018. Ludvig Öhman will not follow them down in Superettan. The centre back will continue his career in England.

According to sources to Sportbladet (Aftonbladet’s sports section) have brittish Grimsby agreed with BP on Öhman, that had two years left on his contract with the Superettan club. The central defender is expected to become ready for the League Two club, that plays at level four, next week.

Had Jolley as manager at AFC
Öhman will be reunited with Michael Jolley that he had as a coach in AFC Eskilstuna when they played in Allsvenskan back in 2017.

He will therefor be the second Swede in Grimsby Town. Earlier this winter did Sebastian Ring, which contract with Örebro SK ended after 2018, sign on for the club.

Öhman has earlier also played for Kalmar FF and Nagoya Grampus in Japan.

~

Factfile

Full name: Carl Ludvig Öhman Silwerfeldt
Born: October 9.th 1991 in Umeå, Sweden

Bio: Started his career at Sandåkerns SK, before he joined Kalmar’s youth team set up. He broke through there as a teenager in 2010 and got in total 61 games for them in all competitions.
As a 22 year old was he seen on as one of the most promising Swedish defenders out there and he was linked with Chelsea. Instead he made a surprise move to Japan in 2016 where he signed for Nagoya Grampus.
After only 9 games and relegation in Japan, he returned to Sweden and Eskilstuna ahead of the 2017 season. Here he played the half season under Michael Jolley and together with Andrew Fox.
After Eskilstuna relegation to Superettan (Swedish Championship) he signed a three year deal with Stockholm club Brommapokarna. The deal lasted until 2020, but according to Swedish press did Grimsby made an offer BP has agreed on.

During his time in Japan «Ludde» became a big hero with his own song and Swedish flags waving.

 

For the first time since Swedish media became aware of Sebastian Ring goings to Grimsby Town has he spoken to the press.

Nerikes Allehanda got in touch with Sebastian after Grimsby’s last shift at West Ham’s training ground on Friday afternoon.

«I got a three years offer from Örebro that I choosed not to take. I would might had stayed on had I got a clearer directive. But I had been there in several years and made a decent impression… So I choosed to move on,» he told NA.

Sebastian Ring only started 18 of 30 games last season, but was involved in 25. The newspaper asked whether the reason he left was due to lack of playing time. «A bit like that. As I have said earlier I think this season was my best, also ÖSK have said so. But still was I the one easiest to take out of the team, I was never the given player choice.»

But why did it became Grimsby Town? They are not the most famous team…
«After the season I spoke a bit with several clubs. Then this became such interesting that the agent (Jonathan Chalkias) and me travelled over and visited the club. I had a great chat with Michael (Jolley), the manager, and I got a great impression by the whole club. How they looked at me and how I should fit in both as a player and a person. It felt right, and I was ready to try something new.»

«I want to test meself a bit as well. I don’t look at this as an end station, more like the start on something new. I want to develop as a footballer and as a human. I look on this both as an adventure and as a good step in my career.»

Which doors do you think will open up if you do well?
«First of all in England. Maybe also something else in Europe as well, but most as the start of an adventure in England. I guess the League One and Championship clubs have a good overview over clubs in League Two, you can build a name here.»

Now a big match awaits as Grimsby will play Crystal Palace in the 3.rd round of the FA cup. «A really cool match, the FA cup is the biggest thing here. But I’m not sure whether I will be allowed to start or sit on the bench. They will tell the starting eleven tomorrow, so I don’t know meself.»

Ring has trained three times with the team and three times at his own since travelling over. He celebrated New Years Eve in Grimsby together with his girlfriend Amanda. On Saturday will also his family from Sweden take the trip over.

«After the season in Allsvenskan I had some days of not doing much, later on I went on vacation. Since have I trained by meself, but then it’s hard to get in the right football stuff. But I’m in good shape, I just need to get more into it and get going.»

Grimsby plan to use him as a left back. «They want me to come up along the side, combine with the winger and make crosses with my left foot. It will be more as when I was wingback in ÖSK, I think I will get to use my offensive qualities in a good way.»

How do you look at League Two?
«I think the level is good. Many will probably think: «Division four, that is not good standard…» But the tempo is very good and it’s tough play. I have been surprised by the two games I have seen so far.»

Do you think it will suit you well?
«I think so. I believe they will use my strengths, and that I even will get to use my tough play, and even though I’m not that tall I’m good on my head.»

Sebastian Ring ble fredag bekreftet spilleklar for Grimsby. Han vil få draktnummer 3 og er med på bussen til lørdagens cupkamp mot Crystal Palace. Skadesituasjonen er så prekær i Grimsby at svensken kan bli involvert i kampplanen allerede nå.

Sebbe har hatt minimalt med fotballøkter siden Allsvenskan endte i medio november. Manager Michael Jolley har tidligere ment at venstrebacken trenger en mini-preseason for å komme i form. «Vi må vurdere hvor fit han er,» fortalte trener Michael Jolley til BBC. «Han har nettopp kommet inn døra og har gått seks uker uten fotball. Så vi må bestemme oss om vi skal kaste han rett inn, eller bygge han gradvis opp for å få han i bedre form.»

Skadesituasjonen i Grimsby tilsier at Sebastian kan bli kastet inn til løvene allerede på lørdag når Premier League-klubben Crystal Palace venter i tredje runde av FA cupen.

Alle seniorstopperne er borte
Hos Grimsby er det mye hodebry for manager Michael Jolley, som skal sette i sammen en forsvarsfirer som kan demme opp mot stjerner som Wilfried Zaha og Andros Townsend.

Kapteinen Danny Collins på 38 år, med erfaring fra Premier League for Sunderland og Stoke, sliter med hamstringen. Hans faste makker Harry Davis var bevisstløs noen sekunder etter en kraftig smell mot Port Vale på Boxing Day og er pålagt to ukers karantene for hjernerystelse. Deres stand-in, Alex Whitmore, fikk tre kampers karantene for en voldsom takling mot Exeter og må stå over sesongens største kamp. Samtidig har det unge stoppertalentet Akin Famewo, som er på lån fra Luton, vært ute med lårskade siden november.

Dermed står klubben kun igjen med en stopper i 17-åringen Mattie Pollock, som er sønn av den tidligere Premier League-profilen Jamie Pollock, men han har kun har en halvtime med førstelagsfotball i bagasjen.

I Grimsbys forrige kamp, som var på tirsdag, startet dem med to backer som stoppere da Luke Hendrie og Reece Hall-Johnson tok seg av jobben. På høyrebacken måtte man dermed bruke midtbanespilleren Mitch Rose, som forøvrig er broren til Tottenham og Englands Danny Rose.
På venstrebacken sist startet man med den tidligere AFC Eskilstuna-spilleren Andrew Fox. Han måtte derimot bli byttet ut for nok en midtbanespiller i pausen grunnet brystbetennelse.

Massiv støtte i ryggen
Til lørdag vil østkystklubben bringe med seg utrolige 5 500 bortesupportere som drømmer om at Grimsby vil bli rundens «Giant Killer». Kampen sendes på TV i Danmark og Norge. Se den internasjonale TV-oversikten her!

Dette er hva grimsbynorge.com tror laget blir mot Crystal Palace
Grimsby (4-5-1): James McKeown – Luke Hendrie, Reece Hall-Johnson, Sebastian Ring, Andrew Fox – Harry Cardwell, Harry Clifton, Jake Hessenthaler, Elliot Embleton, Charles Vernam – Wes Thomas. Innbyttere: John Welsh, Mattie Pollock, Brandon Buckley, Ben Pringle, Mitch Rose, Jordan Cook, Sam Russell.

Gode nyheter for Grimsby-fansen da Elliot Embleton har bestemt seg for å bli værende i Grimsby ut sesongen.

Midtbanespilleren har vært på lån fra Sunderland siden slutten av august og har vært en nøkkelbrikke i Grimsbys forvandling de siste månedene.

19-åringen regnes som et stort talent og hadde tilbudet om å komme tilbake til League One-klubben, men uten garantier om spilletid ble valget enkelt.

Embleton har nemlig stortrivdes i Grimsby og vet at spilletid er viktig om han skal beholde plassen på England U20.

Samtidig går Durham-guttens kontrakt med Sunderland ut i sommer. Skulle Grimsby rykke opp kan vi jo håpe at spilleren blir med videre på Blundell Park?

Grimsbyfansen håper på flere gode nyheter denne uken. Det ryktes om at man også vil få til en ny avtale med Luke Hendrie, samtidig venter vi også på en bekreftelse angående Sebastian Rings internasjonale klarering.

Et nytt rykte om nok en svenske til Grimsby har spredd om seg som ild i tørt gress det siste døgnet. Såpass at BBC’ John Tondeur tok det opp på tirsdagens pressekonferanse med Michael Jolley.

Du har blitt linket til en ny svensk spiller, Ludvig Öhman, kjenner du til han – spurte John Tondeur.
«Det ser ut som om jeg blir linket til hver eneste svenske spiller som eksisterer. Det ser ut for at om du har spilt i Sverige så er Michael Jolley interessert i deg. Vi får bare vente og se når det kommer til det,» svarte Jolley til BBC-reporteren.

Så det er verken et ja eller et nei – fulgte Tondeur opp.
» Det er ikke et nei, det er ikke et ja.»

Hva er det i ryktet?
Ludvig Öhman er en 27 år gammel stopper som spilte under Jolley i Eskilstuna i 2017. Etter nedrykket til Superettan signerte han en treårskontrakt med Brommapojkarna, men også her ble det nedrykk.

👍 At han har spilt under Jolley tidligere og at han muligens kan ha en nedrykksklausul, er ting som kan tale for at det er noe i ryktet. At Öhman står listet opp på transfermarkt med samme agent som Sebastian Ring og Johan Hammar – de to spillerne Jolley la til som twittervenner i høst fyrer opp under ryktet. Grimsby trenger muligens en stoppererstatter for Danny Collins (38) som drar på årene og er på utgående kontrakt.

👎 Sebastian Ring brukte ikke Jonathan Chalkias som agent, men Siyamand Peroti som synes å være en stråmann for  Michael Kallbäck som igjen representerer Neverland Management. Ludvig har to år igjen av kontrakten med Brommapojkarna og ingen klausul har noengang blitt nevnt i media. Er kanskje «for god» da han tidligere har spilt i Japan for Nagoya Grampus og var i 2013 linket til Chelsea som svensk U-landslagsspiller. Jolley virket ganske avfeiende i sine kommentarer.

Konklusjon: Selv om vi vet Jolley har en del følere ute etter svensker dette vinduet så virker dette som en ren spekulasjon. I forumet til The Fishy mener man at Grimsby snart vil ha en «flat pack four».