Hammarby - a short guide to how we play

Traditionally, Hammarby is a team that rather liked to back-heel a ball than to drive it into the stands. We like a football that is attractive, fun to watch but not always very successful. Historically, the supporters have tended to be more wish-washy social democrats than wish-washy conservative right wing. Off course, as society changes, so are the demography of the supporters.

Only one time have Hammarby managed to win the league. And that was quite recently, in 2001. Before that, a classical year in Hammarby is 1982 when we played against IFK Göteborg (Gothenburg) in the finals. We won the first game away but lost at home, and so we were runners-up. Actually, the year 2001 is a historically very important year. In the end of 2000 and early 2001, Hammarby was close to bankruptcy, but via a stormy annual meeting a new board was voted and since then much have changed. We are now economically more solid than before, and have battled in the top of the league more years than not since 2001.

Even today there is still a debate between supporters that remember the old days with nostalgia and supporters that are more in favor of (what is supposed to be) a more modern winning-kind-of-culture. Personally, I think there are more positive upsides with the new organization than negative, but who knows what the future have in its store?

I got a bit off-topic there, but bare with me.

In 2007 this is the starting lineup that, statistically, player by player, started most frequently during the season:

Richard Kingson
-David Johansson-Christian Traoré-Suleyman Sleyman-Gunnar Gunnarsson-
Louay Chanko
-Erkan Zengin-Sebastian Eguren-Haris Laitinen-
-Paulinho Guará-Charlie Davies-

As you can see, the tactics is based on the classical 4-4-2 formation, with a slight adjustment on the central midfield, where Chanko is slightly withdrawn behind Sebastian Eguren. The two central midfielders are the engine on which the team relies on. During 2007, Chanko was extremely successful in his defensive position, by many considered the best in Allsvenskan. The two wingers, Laitinen and Zengin, have been given more freedom offensively, even though none of them can avoid taking defensive responsibility. In the offensive, Guará is the most reliable scorer, and defensively Traoré or Sleyman must be considered to be the most valuable individual.

When playing at home, Hammarby traditionally have been very offensive, at least during the first 15 or 20 minutes. During the last season, however, Hammarby have been using a bit more conservative tactic initially, trying to lure the usually defensive opponents to attack, thereby trying to exploit weaknesses when the opponents loose the ball. That was a long sentence, but I think you know what I mean.

Until next season, Hammarby needs to improve two things dramatically, in my opinion. First, we need to be more decisive when in the offensive part of the field. Far too many opportunities to score have rendered into nothing. Secondly, the away games must be handled more tactically correct, cool if you will. Far too many times the last season we have been punished when being too naive and, again, ineffective.

The current contracted players are, in average, more technical than not. What we have lacked in physical abilities like length, weight and such, we have managed in most games to balance that with a higher technical level than the opponents. Perhaps we need to add some physical players until next season.

Now, if we can sign new players that fit well into the current team (I'm thinking an experienced keeper. At least.) and if we continue to evolve our tactical skills and technical superiority, chances are that we will come out as champions next autumn.