“Offensive midfielder with lightning pace and great technique”

Even if the lad is only 20 years old (birthday today); he has gained so much experience in such short time. Still the management, in my view, is still unsure of what role they should play Thomas Drage in. He`s played much as a left winger, but does he fit that bill? Does the club take full advantage of the amount of ability he possesses? With 11 assist and 3 goals last season one could be tempted to say yes. However, I disagree. The club still don`t seem to play him in an ideal position; offensive midfielder with a more dedicated approach in the middle.  His right foot is exceptionally good and with his delivering from set pieces it is a deadly weapon on every occasion. In the middle of the park he would be an even more handful for opponents to deal with. He will get more space and create more chances for his teammates and for himself. He would still be the obvious choice for all the set pieces allowing him to take full advantage of his right or left foot. A player like Thomas Drage is capable of scoring 8 goals per season, I am tempted to say 10, and by moving him more in the middle would increase his chances of achieving such tally. The case with talented players, such as Thomas Drage, they tend to adapt into the role as they are given. That`s the case with Drage – he`s adapted into the role as a winger and does the best out of the role. Still he could be played more in the middle to take full advantage of his talent.

This is the third scouting report published on the website. It might be strange for some people that another player from Tromsø IL is published on the website. But nevertheless I will back it up with numerous reasons of why he`s privileged to be on our site. Having that said, Tromsø IL has been one of the most consistent teams in Norway recent years, so it might be justice for them that their talent work gets some appraisal.

In 2010 Thomas Drage made his first appearances on the pitch for a side who`s got ambition too field many players from their northern region. Not anything like Bilbao in Spain, but nevertheless an interesting project. With Drage fitting those criteria it was an easy choice for him when getting the opportunity to play for the club. He could have chosen to play for Rosenborg at the time, but Tromsø IL ambition, together with their youth and region policy, proved to be the decisive factor for him. All in all this was an example of how hard work, together with a solid portion of self-discipline, eventually paid off when he signed for Tromsø IL.

Thomas Drage played his youth football for his local club, Mosjøen IL. He made his debut aged 15 and then became their youngest player ever to play for their first team. Even then he wasn’t the player that stood out as the youngster with the most talent. In his region there were other players who were rated as much bigger talents than himself. His father became more and more a bigger resource for Thomas Drage`s development – being his mentor and leading him through the different stages of the game. He became an influential part in his son’s football career by helping him getting the right amount of matches of an high enough level to improve his game at all time. For Thomas Drage it also meant he must train harder, and do much training on his own, in able to achieve the progress that his father knew were required at a higher level.

The supporters in Tromsø were curious about this rare talent and when he got the chance in 2010 he wasn’t going to do play it safe. His game approach was the same as it always have been – playing his own set of game. You could at an early stage see that he was some sort of an unshaped diamond who only needed polishing. He came on as a substitute on a few occasions in the first season and he gave some glimpses of his talent whenever getting the opportunity. He spoke quite frequently to the media at the time and when asked about former Tromsø IL start, Morten Gamst Pedersen, he made it clear that he intended to achieve greater things than Pedersen had done in his career. Some people didn’t like his comments and were saying that he was arrogant. I saw people saying like; Does he really think that he`s that good? What has he proven? I saw the interview on the television several times and I laughed. He gave the impression like saying “Who is Morten Gamst Pedersen?”.  What an arrogant thing to say, but then again what an ambitious thing to say. Players who can back up such attitude with performances, of the same caliber, on the pitch – you defiantly get my attention as a scout.

When falling out of the pecking order, in his first season, he just got on with improving the areas that he needed to fulfill his potential. When the 2011-season kicked off no one actually thought he would be in the frame for a regular starting position; except himself. And he delivered from the start.

What struck me the most when seeing him enter the pitch in the start of his career was the amount of pace he possessed. In the start he was a bit overenthusiastic in his approach to the game, making him not able to take full advantage of this strength. During his career start for Tromsø IL I have seen a quite remarkable improvement in this area. His pace, timing of the run and cleverness to find gaps in the opponents side have seen he become a handful for every team in the league.

I picked up something last year when watching Drage in action. At first it seemed funny, but the more I studied his movement the more I understood it. Often when Drage receives the ball from his teammate he seems to get into a “frozen-condition” with his body leaned a bit over the ball. This maneuver makes him so unpredictable. When defenders sees this movement one could bet on that Thomas Drage intends to have a go at him. It might seem like an easy read for the defender, but with the amount of pace he possesses, a strength he now use more cleverly, he goes either on the inside or on the outside. For Drage this doesn’t make a difference as he is a two footed player. His gearshift from standing in this “frozen-condition” is enormous as he drives forward looking for opportunities to deliver in crosses in the box. Having that said, when he receives the ball he could sometimes pass the ball to a team mate and then immediately go on a deep run. It means that opponents must be on top of their game to keep track of his often unexpected maneuvers.

This is an example on a situation that happened several occasions last season when Thomas Drage were facing a defender; He makes a few oversteps maneuvers over the ball, defender is reluctant to make a challenge as he knows he might find himself outpaced, Drage then decides to deliver an early and unexpected cross in to create another goal. So even if the defender are more aware of his capabilities of dribbling past opponents, he has progressed during the 2011-season to be more unpredictable when facing the defender 1 on 1. He has matured and adapted himself as an offensive midfielder who can create trouble for defender on his own.

Thomas Drage tendency to disappear in matches was shown on several occasions last season – but only in away matches. At home he was brilliant for nearly the entire season, but his away performances showed signs of a player who struggled to find his place on the pitch. I believe this is just a confidence problem that he will find the secret code too in the very near future. The player himself is quite aware of this problem in his game and is working to improve it. In the beginning of the season he got substituted in one match after only 30 minutes, but it was never the case later in the season. It indicates to me that he has improved in this area, but he still has a way to go before he`s ready for bigger challenges.

Due to his lack of strength and heading ability he isn’t the kind of a player you would keep inside the box when defending. In my view every side fielding such players must use them up front when the side is defending. Often his current team plays Thomas Drage this way, allowing him to take on defenders when getting the chance up front. He`s so unbelievable hard for defenders to handle in those situations. Defenders know, at least by now, that he will take them on even when receiving the ball alone up front. One got to love such a unique skill of any attacker!

With his excellent season last year the club was more than willing to tie him up on a better and a longer contract. Thomas Drage showed character and signed the contract. He`s ambitious and with an appetite of challenges beyond any of the leagues in Scandinavia can offer. Having that said he knows that he has got things to learn in the Norwegian league still, but his time in a big league will come. No question about that. That is the reason why he gets his name on our website. This is a player to keep a close eye on. I would just love to see Thomas Drage in the Portuguese, Italian or Spanish league. The question is more whether other clubs, in different leagues, will bring him on board before these three nations starts to show desire to bring him in.  However, their interest is bond to come during the next years. Tick tack – let the race begin!

Scouting report on Thomas Drage written on 20.02.2012

Øyvind Christoffer Johansen
Chief scout, Scandinavian Scouting Agency

This category will keep your club up to date on who are the best youth players in Scandinavia. The players will be judged on several criteria’s such as; talent, potential, how they perform etc. The list of players will be updated on a monthly basis. This means that if a player is in the list one week it’s no guarantee that he will stay in it forever. The team at Scandinavian scouting agency will only publish a short version on the website. For clubs who wants the extended version of the full list could get in touch with us through the contact page. All the players who are published on our list are less than 18 years old.

Chelsea and Bayern Munchen this week secured the services of Andreas Christensen (number 1 on the list) and Pierre Emile Højberg (number 2 on the list). When someone leaves Scandinavia – other players take their places on our prestigious list. We were a bit surprised that they got picked up so soon, but nevertheless grateful for the clubs ability to see the talent we have seen for quite some time. The same thing applies Kenneth Zohore who will try his luck for Fiorentina after agreeing terms with the Italians last week. We wish them all the best for the future.

This list was last updated on 12.02.2012.

1. LUCAS ANDERSEN – Aalborg BK

Age: 17

Position: Midfielder

Nationality: Danish

Date of Birth: 13 September 1994

2. PATRICK OLSON – Brøndby IF

Age: 17

Position: Midfielder

Nationality: Danish

Date of Birth: 23 April 1994

3. LUKMAN MURAD – Ørebro SK

Age: 15

Position: Striker/offensive midfielder

Nationality: Swedish

Date of Birth: 05 June 1996

This category will keep your club up to date on the best players in Scandinavia. The players will be judged on several criteria’s such as; talent, potential, how they perform, transfer value, contract status etc. The list of players will be updated on a monthly basis. This means that if a player is in the list one week it’s no guarantee that he will stay in it the next.

The list was last updated on 03.02.2012.

1. JILOAN HAMAD – MALMØ FF
   - The captain of the Sweden under-21 team has played some of his best football these last two seasons. I`ve had the pleasure to see him closely when I visited Malmø during their qualification match to reach Champions League  match against Glasgow Rangers on 03.08.2011. It was Hamad who sent Malmø FF through to the next round with a stunner from distance. It wasn’t any surprise to me that he would be the deciding factor as he isn`t afraid of testing the opponents goalkeeper. These last three seasons he`s played regularly and gained experience at the highest level – in the Swedish league, Europe and for his national team. Because of this you could see that he has risen as a player taken huge steps into developing as a player who perform week in and week out. The gifted midfielder is soon ready for bigger challenges in of the bigger leagues abroad. His pace and technical skills is of a top European standard already and with Hamad now proving himself as a midfielder who can score goals – he is bond to attracts interest from abroad. Still he is only 21 years old, but it will be great to see him play in one of the leagues that so highly appreciate such technical players.
   Hamad got the chance of playing for the senior squad when Sweden played several friendlies in Quatar in January. Still early for the players in their preparations for the upcoming season, I still felt he gave evidence of his ability to rise to bigger occasions – something I predict he will have to do more in the near future. Will bigger clubs dare not to pick him up this summer?
   
2.  SYLVESTER IGBOUN – FC MIDTJYLLAND
   - He had a great season last year with FC Midtjylland so I was curious about how he would cope with new and bigger expectations this season. 7 goals so far in this season, in a partnership with Tim Janssen, it clearly shows that he mean some serious business. With natural skill such as pace, he also possesses cleverness in his movement on the pitch, which enables him to take full advantage of it. He`s scoring rate for his club indicates that we are dealing with a potential treat for any opponents. And they are rightly so to fear the powerful Nigerian as he can score goals with both feet and with headers. He`s desire to move forward with great pace and with no fear to take on any defenders – makes him hard to handle. Defenders will find him hard to read, especially one on one, because of his ability to finish with both feet or to unleash long shots when given the chance. Great things are expected from the athletic striker who for now is gaining tremendous and much needed experience in Denmark.  But one must wonder for how long his current club can obtain his services. If he keeps putting in stabil performances – it surely won`t go unnoticed by bigger clubs abroad.
   
3. IVO PEKALSKI – MALMØ FF
   - “Ivo Ivo Ivo”. The chant still rings in my ear after watching Malmø FF on numerous occasions these last two seasons. The very popular player gives it all on every occasion. He runs throughout every the match –  doesn`t matter if it`s a friendly, at training or in a league match. The hard tackling midfielder played out in Europe last season when Malmø FF nearly got through to the group stages in the Champions League.  He defiantly gained much needed experience at this level. I am sure that he during this forthcoming season will show evidence of this in his overall game plan. He possesses skills which is so important for players in his central midfield role- running up and down the field with an engine which never seems to run out of fuel. He`s got the same winner-attitude as his club and he brings that attitude onto the pitch with him. His passing and movement on the pitch is probably amongst the best in Scandinavia at the moment. The player has got a bright future and I predict him, like Hiljemark ( mention below), to be one of his team top performers this season.
   
   
   
4. OSCAR HILJEMARK – IF ELFSBORG
   - The young midfielder stands out as one of the brightest talent in Sweden at the moment – has been for quite some time actually. His debut for his national team got a few headlines recently regarding his goal and fine performance. Many “so called” experts wouldn’t give him too much appraisal because they didn’t consider Sweden’s opponent, Quatar, as a worthy container to judge his potential on. I agree with the fact that Quatar isn’t near the standard of Mexico for example. Nevertheless that isn’t the point. It is the way you stand out in general, even if it`s a friendly or a more important match, which catches the eye of a scout. Even the players training approach needs to be taken into consideration. That`s what in my view stands out for Oscar Hiljemark. He wasn’t travelling with the squad just to go on a holiday. He made it clear that he felt mature enough to contribute, both on and of the pitch. His willingness to storm forward from his midfield position is a much appreciated skill. He is always likely to use his right foot from distance which makes him unpredictiabel. When given the room in front of the oponents defenders he`s always likely to have a go himself or feed his strikers if they are in a better scoring positions. I was glad to see him stay on at IF Elfsborg in Sweden as they have got some really talented players in their squad at the moment. I expect Oscar Hiljemark to keep producing and deliver fine performances week in and week out. That is what you can expect of the player who has an offensive attitude, but still don`t rush to land the first and best offer given to him. I expect him to take more steps as a player during 2012-season which will, inevitable, see the club losing his services next summer.
   
5. RODOLPH AUSTIN – SK BRANN
   - The Jamaican has had his best season by far in the Norwegian league. Although he`s always been a good player in Norway he has now proven to us that he`s got the skills to play at a higher level. His ideal position is in the middle of the park – where he can boss the midfield as he does better than anyone in the league. He isn’t afraid of any opponents and that might be a good thing to bring along to one of the big leagues.
   We had some questions by  scouts if we could be able to help out with video material one the fixture between Rosenborg-Brann on 30^th October 2011. We have got dvd-material on the game, but here is a short summary with all the goals. You get to see a few people that has already been mention on our webpage; Lustig, Bakenga and Ojo. But the man of the match award goes to Rodolph Austin. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeC1EInwzhI
   

This list was last updated on 31.01.2012.
With Kenneth Zohorè departure to Italian football, it gave norwegian Herman Stengel a chance to get back into the list. Stengel will feature a lot for the first team this upcoming season which will justify his place amongst the best youngsters playing in Scandinavia.  

1. ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN -BRØNDBY IF
   
2. PIERRE EMILE HØJBJERG – BRØNDBY IF
3. HERMAN STENGEL – STABÆK

With a height of 192 centimeters and 92 kilos of strength, it is by no surprise that opponents fear this central defender. Pontus Jansson’s preferred role at the academy a few years back were as a striker, but not anymore. When he got the chance for the first team he grabbed his chance and adapted into the central defender role as if he were born into it.

In 2008 he got the prestigious award of being voted as Malmø FF academy player of the year. Since then he’s quickly established himself as a first team regular alongside their team captain, Daniel Andersson. With such amount of experience one couldn’t really ask for a better mentor for Jansson, a mentor that could lead you through the early paths at a club with high expectations.

So were did Pontus Jansson career kick off? Well, he signed his first professional contract in 2009 for Malmø FF and made his debut for them 14^th September the same year, in a tricky encounter away against Djurgården. The first time I saw him in action was against their arch rival Helsingborg on 20^th April 2010. This was also the day when he got his full debut. And what a place to be thrown into the spotlight. I remember watching him preparing for the match, he seemed very nervous. In all fairness, we all would have been in such contest. But his nervousness didn’t affect his game, as many youngsters would have experienced, as he gave in a solid performance even if they lost the match 2-1. His performance proved to me that we were dealing with a player with a rare talent. A talent who had just patiently waited for his chance to shine, and when his turn came he wasn’t going to disappoint anyone.

In his game he is rarely dragged out of position, as he is constantly organizing and communicating with his back-four colleagues. Maybe this is one of the areas he’s taken massive steps into the right direction this year. He’s a commanding presence at the back four and he isn’t afraid to let his teammates known of his presence. During the last matches of this season his mentor, Daniel Andersson, was missing due to injury. Jansson has learned the necessary commanding skills that are needed at this level – meaning that Malmø FF didn’t miss their team captain as much as you would assume at first. Again, I must give Andersson credit. If it weren’t for him I don’t believe Jansson would have picked up on these things so early in his career.

I would describe Pontus Jansson as a playing central defender. He keeps everything simple which is nice for his team-mates. He’s calm in most situations and doesn’t seem to be affected by who the opponents are. When being put under pressure he is not one of those defenders who goes to ground too early.  He is able to use his muscles and outmaneuver opponents just simply by standing his ground. In all fairness his reading of the game is getting better and better. In those areas were improvement has been needed he is one of those few who learn immediately and improve in the next match.

He is not afraid of receiving or having the ball in his feet. He doesn’t look at the first opportunity of getting rid of ball as soon as he gets it. He bides his time and looks for the best solution, and after passing you could rely on him wanting the ball back. His positioning is also good and when he is caught out of position he could rely on his pace, which is good, for a guy his size. His height and timing makes him able to handle any threat he faces in air. Likewise the same could be said about the threat he provides when going forward – a much used weapon this season when Malmø FF desperately has needed extra fire power up front. Obviously, he’s going forward at corners and set pieces, but his team can also easily switch from four at the back till three, allowing Jansson to play as a striker. The signs of the former striker have still got the extra finishing touch as you don’t expect of too many defenders. The well-known scenario when supporters get a nervous breakdown when it’s their defender who ends up getting the big chance instead of the striker would not be the case with Jansson. You can rely on him. He’s proven that on many occasions already and he nearly sent Malmø FF to Champions League this season. Dinamo Zagreb was lucky to go through to the group stage 2011-2012, while Jansson and co had to settle for Europa League.

When writing this scouting report I feel it’s a bit strange that we’re talking about a young lad who still is only 20 years old. One would assume that he’s been in the game for quite some time due to his maturity. The steps he’s taken is just remarkable since his full debut last season. Not only has he been Malmø FF’s top performer this season, in my view, he has also gained so much important experience at the highest level in Europe. I honestly felt Sweden were unlucky not having a team in this year’s Champions League. Nevertheless his team qualified for the Europa League where Jansson still can compete with some of the best players in Europe.

I had the chance of watching a friendly between Malmø FF and AC Milan on 14^th of August 2011. It was the return of the greatest export of all time from Scandinavia; Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I knew Pontus Jansson would be playing the first 30 minutes of the friendly so I was eager to see how he would cope playing against such an opponent. Would he show sign of nervousness? Would he handle the pace and ball possession football played by the Italians? Would he respect Zlatan Ibrahimovic too much and give him an easy ride? Many questions and it didn’t take a long time before I had my answers. He gave the mega strong Ibrahimovic a hell of a fight. Jansson went into challenges like it was the most important match of the season. You could at times see the frustration from the AC Milan-star as he seemed a bit surprised by the amount of power Pontus Jansson put in every challenges. In my mind that is a quality sign and shows a commitment I highly appreciate. It doesn’t matter who the opponents are or what kind of game it is, just give a 110 % and fight until the end. It may be difficult for players to not let it impact your game play, but that might be one factor which in the end can separate good and excellent players from each other. Pontus Jansson belongs in the last category. After the match he got the match shirt from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and deservingly praise from his idol.

Pontus Jansson has got what it takes to play at the highest level in modern football. You still need to remember that the young lad is still only 20 years old. If he can keep on getting the experience as he is at the moment, his confidence as a player will rise and lead up to bigger challenges in the future. The Swedish answer of a Norwegian Brede Hangeland? I don’t see why not. Keep in mind that Brede Hangeland didn’t get his breakthrough as player until he got to play for FC Copenhagen at the age of 25. At the age of 20, Pontus Jansson, is getting the experience of competing with the some of the best players in Europe. He still has things to learn at Malmø FF, and probably would benefit of staying there for a while, but his quality and performances he puts in every week will soon catch the eye of bigger clubs.

Scouting report on Pontus Jansson written on 04.11.2011

Øyvind Christoffer Johansen
Chief scout, Scandinavian Scouting Agency

The young Norwegian, born and bred in Tromsø, has gone through the ranks for his local club. Now he is his team most consistent performer and one of the main reasons why the club have done so well these last seasons.

He made his debut at the age of 17 and he were patient waiting for his chance to shine on a regular basis. It also took some time before his manager realized that they were dealing with a talented central midfielder – not a winger. In 2008 he established himself as first team regular and since then his career has flourished and he hasn’t really looked back since then.

Being a central midfielder his biggest talent is his passing ability. His vision and orientation of the game – combined with an outstanding left-foot- are some qualities that really stands out when comparing him to other players in Norway. If you add the fact that we`re dealing with a player with a hunger and desire to receive the ball at all times, one might realize that we`re dealing with an unorthodox player compared to other Norwegians. One could actually wonder if this is one of the reasons why he hasn’t featured on a more regularly basis for his national team – he simply doesn’t fit the typical Norwegian description of a central midfielder. I remember Mohammed Abdellaoue was not a regular for Norway not long time ago and I never understood why. The same thing applies to Ruben Yttergård Jenssen – he should be more involved on a regular basis.

So it’s fair to say that he`s taking huge steps as a footballer this last two seasons. What have he done so rightly? First of all I have to point out that we are dealing with a player as professional as they come. Having watched him in training on a regularly basis and watched him play matches often, I feel that I am entitled to say so. In modern football you can`t nowadays take such a quality for granted.

Having gone the grades at Tromsø IL and worked with different managers he`s picked up tips in areas of his game that needed improvement. And all credit to the managers – allowing him to play on and not changing him as a player. Same could be said about the consistency of the squad and the fact that he has learned a great deal from the more experience players at the club. And let`s not forget the well-organized formation at Tromsø IL, a system where the players trust everyone around them at all times. This is just a few factors, but the most essential ones that in my opinion made the player that we see today.

His passing has always been good, but at times he used to give the ball to easily away – especially when opponents tried to close him down early and high up in the field. With an aggressive pressure on him he at times way to easy lost the ball to opponents. At times he could be a bit too arrogant and slow with the ball in his feet, which eventually would see him loose the ball and often in dangerous areas. Now I feel that he has improved a lot in this area. It know seems that he has a plan before he receives the ball and he`s not stressed at all when opponents tries to close him down early. At times this could be heartbreaking for the supporters as they aren’t/weren’t used to such calmness in tight situations. This aggressive pressure doesn’t seem to affect his game plan as it used to. He`s got a plan B for it and he doesn’t hesitate those few seconds anymore- those seconds that are so crucial at such high level.

When receiving the ball he`s in no rush to pass the ball forward immediately. He takes his time in the buildup play, finding the right solutions when he`s sees them. But when he sees a gap in the opposition side then his strikers/midfielder can rely on his passing skills. When his passing options are limited he isn’t afraid to dribble past the opponent – creating space on his own. You could say that his confidence and orientation skills have improved during these last years.
One of the reason why he weren’t suitable for a role as wing-player was due to his lack of pace. But even in this area I`ve seen some improvement lately. He looks fitter and sharper than before, but what he still lacks in pace he makes up for with skills in those areas mention above. You see the same scenario with other midfielders, playing for top European clubs, that their lack of pace doesn’t affect their game.

Some of his progression should be credited to his central midfield partner, Serigne Modou Kara Mbodj. The partnership they have formed these last two seasons has seen them forming, undoubtedly the best central midfield duo in the Norwegian league. The understanding between them has been essential in both players progress into their developing as players. In those areas where he struggles in his defensive play, Kara makes up for with muscles and power. And it’s the same vice versa. Having that said Ruben Yttergård Jenssen is quick of seeing danger and reorganizing his midfield whenever needed. Such is the brilliance with which he reads the game-both in defense and attack.

Ruben Yttergård Jenssen is only 23 years old and a regular call up for the national team of Norway. He`s captain material for his team and one of the most popular players on and off the field. Surely one of the prime examples nowadays of a player who is a fully professional and one who gives he`s best at all times. His performances haven’t gone unnoticed during this last transfer window. Dutch club, Vitesse, showed some real interest in him just before the window closed. There has also been interest from other clubs so it’s fair to say that all the work he has laid down had earned a deservingly attention from bigger clubs.

Where do I see his future, will he continue to play in Scandinavia or is it time to move on? His team would obviously do a lot to hang onto the services of Ruben Yttergård Jenssen. But it is inevitably that the player will have to leave the club to fulfill his potential as a player.  He would benefit of playing in a ball possession league where he can use his passing skills. The more space he gets the more you will see of his brilliance. I would also like to point out that we`re dealing with a player who easily settles in in new environments – meaning that he will adapt to his new team quicker that one might expect, both on and off the field. With a price tag in the region of € 1.000.000 it isn’t much of a gamble for clubs who needs to add some more quality in midfield. Ball possession clubs in leagues such as Netherland, or even Spain, is therefore advised not to hesitate to long. The interest in the Norwegian-Xavi is growing while I am writing this scouting report.

Scouting report on Ruben Yttergård Jenssen written on 12.10.2011

Øyvind Christoffer Johansen
Chief scout, Scandinavian Scouting Agency

Scandinavian scouting agency chief scout Øyvind Johansen together with Patrick Vieira. Having played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe and obviously won the world cup with his national team – it`s fair to say that Patrick Vieira is a legend and a role model for younger players nowadays.

My intention of meeting up with Patrick was to discuss the players his football academy in Senegal, Diambars, has produced these last couple of seasons. The main talking point was Serigne Modou Kara Mbodj who currently holds a 5^th place on our recommendation list in Scandinavia (26.09.2011). We share the same opinion regarding the player’s quality and potential. However, Vieira is hoping that Kara can achieve greater things than he did. That might be too much to ask for the young African, but there is much truth about the potential he’s got. A lot will depend on the club who decides to bring him in and play him regularly.

Scandinavian scouting agency chief scout Øyvind Johansen together with Mohammed Abdellaoue. The Norwegian striker has played some of his best football in his career for Hannover  96 this season (2011/2012). His performance hasn’t gone unnoticed thought. During the transfer window in august several champions leauge clubs monitored his situation closely.

The team at Scandianavian scouting agency wrote scouting reports and recommended the player to a few clubs before his departure. For a bargain fee of 1.000.000 EURO Hannover 96 ended up securing his services in 2010. This is a great example of which quality players our team recommend to clubs.