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.
Use contact page to get in touch if your club wants scouting reports on any players in Scandinavia. All material can be translated into your required language.
Utilisez la page de contact pour entrer en contact si votre club souhaite aux rapports de dépisteurs sur tous les joueurs en Scandinavie. Tout le matériel peut être traduit dans votre langue souhaitée.
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The list was last updated on 16.05.2012.
- DAME N`DOYE – FC COPENHAGEN
– “The Senegalese striker has got the abilities of playing against the best defenders in the world – week in and week out”. The phrase is written by me a few weeks ago and I stand by it. Most players leaving Scandinavia needs to play in leagues where they can keep improving as players before moving to bigger clubs. It is not the case with Dame N`Doye. Since the winter break he has been in sensational form and again proven to everyone that you can rely on his abilities. When he`s not playing for his side, like a week ago when he were suspended, you could clearly see that his side were struggling. Just his presence on the pitch seems to give his teammates more confidence – and likewise when he`s not around. You`ve got to remember that the first place in the Danish league this season give the club an automatic spot for the Champion league group stage next season. Taken that into account you know that Dame `N Doye won`t be leaving FC Copenhagen for cheap – and quite rightly so. With N`Doye keep scoring goals bigger clubs in Europe will keep a close eye on him over the summer. Even clubs outside Europe should, but I`ve got serious doubts that they will got what it takes to convince the player that his future lays outside Europe.
Read my scouting report on Dame N`Doye at: http://www.scan-scout.com/2012/03/06/dame-ndoye-fc-copenhagen/.
- OSCAR HILJEMARK – ELFSBORG
– Elfsborg is leading the Swedish league by a great margin. All over the line they have looked solid this year and as always Hiljemark is playing alongside Anders Svensson in the middle of the park. Together they are forming the best midfield duo in Sweden – taking over the throne from the fierce duo, May Mahlangu/Gashi, at Helsingborg. In my mind Hiljemark is the main architect behind his team success. Still he`s only 19 years old, but you wouldn’t believe that when you see him play. While Svensson is the one who balance the midfield, Hiljemark is free to storm forward when he gets the chance. His passing is of a standard that you don`t see often in Sweden. Combined with his vision and calmness you get the picture of how is able to take full advantage of his unique skill. When he`s picking up the ball in defense he isn’t afraid of keeping the ball in his feet even when opponents are trying to tackle him. Often he just pass it straight back to his teammate before he makes a run and demands the ball back. His teammates must be on their toes in defense as Hiljemark will pass the ball to players even when the opponent are pressing high in the field. That gives you a picture of the standard the young Swede sets for himself and his teammates regarding passing accuracy. His crossings for his wingers are of a quality that needs to be singled out. He knows exactly where they are and the understanding between them makes them take full advantage of it (timing, run, pass). Still he is capable of scoring more for his team, but when performing like he is at the moment, making assists on a regular basis, no one is expecting much more from him.
It’s not often you can say that a player has got captain material, especially when a player is that young, but it’s the case with the young Swede. He`s demanding full concentration from his teammates and tells them where he wants them to be placed when he`s got the ball. Often you see captains who cannot control their anger towards teammates when they make mistakes, but I feel that Hiljemark is more the player who spreads vocal enthusiasm around him and it seems to have a positive effect on his teammates. His mentor Anders Svensson surely has played some part in developing Oscar Hiljemark as a player – both on and off the pitch.
Written about Hiljemark in January 2012: The young midfielder stands out as one of the brightest talent in Sweden at the moment – and has been for quite some time actually. His 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 Qatar as a worthy container to judge his potential on. I agree with the fact that Qatar isn’t near the standard of for instance Mexico. 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 unpredictable for defenders. When given the room in front of the opponents 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.
- JORES OKORE – FC NORDSJÆLLAND
– Haven`t we all heard descreptions of players such as “the beast” or “the hulk”? If you were to label Okore in any specific category you would immedieatly be intitmated by his strength. He`s a powerful central defender who reads the game brilliantly. When required he storms into every challenge with great amount of power and accuracy. Denmark keep producing central defenders of the highest standard. 19 year old Okore is probably the player with the highest potential that we have seen for while. In his first full season for Nordsjælland he hasn`t disappointed anyone. He has adapted quickly to his team passing style of play. In fact this gives him an advantage and, if possible, makes him even more attractive for bigger clubs outside Scandinavia. In January he got his debut for his national team and he didn’t let anyone down. I was impressed by his calmness in defense. He wasn’t afraid of taking his time in finding the best solution. It`s the same when he`s playing for his club. I don’t hide the fact that central defenders who is confident on the ball is of my likening. The player himself is eager to prove himself in England and that is something that is bound to happen. But the lad turned 19 recently and wisely he committed himself to Nordsjælland until 2016. Their football style fits him perfectly and if he can stay in Denmark a bit more it will benefit him a lot – both on and off the pitch. However, time and pressure to act fast is a key factor in modern football. If the smaller clubs wait too long they are bound to miss out on Okore. The race is on, but Nordsjælland are in a good position when negotiation a fair prize for his services. Will they offload the player during the summer? It`s a cliché saying “only if the money is right”, but in this case it is. I believe only silly money will tempt them to sell and I don`t think Okore is in any rush of leaving Denmark. With European cup already secured there is exciting times ahead for both Nordsjælland-supporters and players.
- JOHAN WILAND – FC COPENHAGEN
– Wiland has been solid the whole season. Even if his teammates have shown signs of nervousness during the end of the campaign, at least Wiland has shown character and led the way. FC Copenhagen is still in the position where they can clinch the title themselves and the solid goalkeeper will play a big part in achieving just that. With the EURO 2012 coming up soon, Wiland might just need a few more solid performances before becoming Sweden’s number one this summer. Nothing would please me more if that is to happen.
Written about Wiland in May 2012 and earlier: After publishing Wiland in TOP 5 list a weeks back I got critics from a couple of football fans. They didn’t agree with me that a goalkeeper should be in the frame as one of the top recommendations from Scandinavia. Obviously I got a bit offended, but in a professional and funny way. Instead of defending my opinions I told them; “Let’s see over the next weeks and judge him over his performances on the pitch”. Weeks have gone and Johan Wiland has played seven matches and kept a clean sheet five times. In total he has only let in two goals.
Sweden national football team coach Erik Hamren has stated that it`s a close race for the goalkeeper position. Andreas Isaksson currently is Sweden’s number one choice, but Johan Wiland is just waiting for his chance. I agree with Hamren who has a difficult choice when choosing from such good goalkeepers, but I believe that Wiland will do equally as good if he`s given the chance. When Johan Wiland got his breakthrough for FC Copenhagen it was because of an injury on their first goalkeeper. Since then he hasn`t looked backed. Without a shadow of a doubt he is the best goalkeeper in Scandinavia. In January he turned 31 years old and he is, in my view, in his prime age as a goalkeeper. He`s an excellent shot stopper with great reflexes. He has developed a calmness and concentration which enables him to deliver top performances at the highest level. Johan Wiland has won everything that is to be won in the Swedish and Danish league. Last season he gave in some solid performances in the Champions League. At times he frustrated both Chelsea and Barcelona with some excellent match winning saves. He defiantly got the qualities to win more trophies elsewhere, but at the moment he seems to be enjoying life in Denmark.
- BJØRN BERGMANN SIGURDARSON – LILLESTRØM
– Sigurdarson has played in the Norwegian league for 4 years now and have gone the grades from being a talented young boy to be a proven forward. Just recently Iceland gave Sigurdarson his well-deserved debut for the national team. His technique combined with his strength and pace is what stands out as his major qualities. Although his goal scoring record isn`t the greatest it is fair to say that he has improved in this area the last year. He`s the sort of forward who creates lots of chances on his own, but at the same time he hasn`t been able to put them into the back of the net. He gets into scoring positions and he isn`t afraid of trying his luck. I think that is a unique skill for offensive players. Often you see that lack in confidence will prevent the player of having a go the next time, but it`s not the case with the Icelandic.
This season we`ve seen Sigurdarson improved as a player, and most important in front of goal. His three goals on 14.04.2012 indicate that the player has taken the responsibility the club has laid on his shoulders. It will be interesting to follow the Icelandic over the summer. This is a player who is capable of playing at a much higher level than he is at the moment. But I am tempted to say that he would benefit, as a player, to keep on playing in Scandinavia for a while – for one of the big clubs of course.
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