New TOP 5 – Senior recommendations in Scandinavia

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.

Top 5-list last updated on 27.05.2013.

1. Claudemir de Souza, FC Copenhagen – Central midfielder

Scandinavian scouting agency comments on the player:

It was Claudemir sensational pass to Dame N`Doye which put FC Copenhagen through to the Champions League back in 2010. It was the Brazilian himself who scored the great equalizer against the team who ended up winning the tournement; FC Barcelona. The Brazilian midfielder played some stunning football that year. Having previously played, and done well, for Vitesse in Netherland, it came as no surprise to the Danish supporters that he was capable of cementing a starting role so soon after his arrival to Denmark.

Last season we saw FC Copenhagen missing out in the title race, and while Claudemir gave in some impressive performances every now and then, he still wasn`t playing as good as he did back in 2010. The whole team in general lacked that extra spark. Player sales have got to take some of the blame for the failure, but this season the team has been rock solid and consistent the whole year.

Claudemir has looked more settled and more like the player we got to know in 2010. His vision, passing skills and his running capacity is some of the key ingredients in his game. In the Champions League we got to see his qualities to the fully. The way he is able of taking advantage of his running capacity, in defense and offensive play,  is some of the most impressive things when I watch him. He gets awarded sometimes, like he did when he scored the winning goal against OB Odense a week ago.

Consistent performances will lead to his departure to a bigger league. I feel that he is capable of playing for the top teams in Netherland, but the club that will win the race for his signature will have to match his ambition as a player. After playing, and winning titles, for the Scandinavian giant the player is craving after adding more silverware to his collection. His winning mentality is second to none – therefore it`s important that his new club share his same ambitions.

2. Kasper Kusk, Aalborg -Offensive Midfielder/winger

Scandinavian scouting agency comments on the player:

The young Dane played some excellent football this season and ended up scoring 8 goals/7 assist in 33 appearances for Aalborg. His performance hasn’t gone unnoticed as he has been selected, deservingly I must say, for the national team this year. More will come in the future as we are dealing with a gifted player who has got abilities to play in various positions at a high European level.

Kusk enjoys receiving the ball in any position and is good getting himself into positions where he is a passing alternative. His teammates are aware of his ability so they seem to be confident with always looking for Kusk whenever he signals that he wants the ball. When receiving the ball he looks comfortable. It doesn’t seem to matter if it is in defense or high up field. If he isn’t allowed much space his doesn’t stress unnecessary as his ball control are second to none. He is well orientated mostly all the time which allows him to use his offensive qualities to the fully. He is blessed with great pace and technique and is the type of player who is always capable of creating things on his own. Kusk is always looking for a goal with a shot or he uses his passing skills to pass to his teammates in better positions.

He scored some excellent goals with his left-foot this year which gave evidence of what he is capable of. Still, his right foot is also very useful so the defenders will always have trouble in reading Kasper Kusk next move.

I think the next season will be his last in Denmark. But I have to say that I wouldn’t be surprised if someone decided to bring him in already this summer. It would be a good time to act as the race for his signature is fairly low at the moment.

3. David Accam, Helsingborg – Striker

Scandinavian scouting agency comments on the player:

Those who follow Swedish football aren’t surprised that David Accam has got off to a great start this season and contributed with scoring 5 league goals so far. The whole team deserves praise for their offensive football, a style of play which suits Accam perfectly. Helsingborg struggled last season, but the Ghanaian proved already then that he was capable of causing danger upfront on his own. He`s got pace and finishing skills to play at a higher level. He`s clever in the way he uses his passing skills in order to time his run forward just waiting for that decisive pass.

His goals this season is of a high quality and if you have a look at then you see that many goals are scored after his own ability to create something on his own. Last season he scored some easy tap in goals and if he can combine those with sensational goals, such as his last goal against Elfsborg, he might end up as top scorer in Sweden. We all know what happened to last season top scorer in Sweden, don’t we? Waris Majeed ended up with 23 goals and left for Spartak Moskva not long ago.

The question needs to be asked; why were there only Helsingborg and Malmö chasing the player a few months back? For a transfer bargain of 200.000 Euros there surely should have been foreign clubs competing with the swedes. Some would say that it is hard judging a player potential at third tier, but if you are paid to scout for a club one should, and quite rightly so, expect information such as: “no need to hesitate, sign him up as soon as possible – the boy is going places”.

4. Petter Andersson, FC Midtjylland – Central midfielder

Scandinavian scouting agency comments on the player:

When refusing to sign a new contract for Groningen in 2012 FC Midtjylland signed him up, four years after missing out in the race when Petter Andersson left Hammarby. Before the season it was expected that FC Midjylland would be a serious title container and the signing of Andersson indicated that they mean serious business. After a slow start to the season they continoue to struggle until the break in the middle of the season. Since then they haven’t looked back and one of the biggest reasons is down to Petter Andersson. A player who needed to find his place in the team, but once he did, both him and the team looked like a solid unit all over the line.

Andersson is capable of dominating the central midfield with his passing skills combined with his ability to read game well. He is comfortable using both feet when either passing or shooting from distance. His run forward and the way he is able to find gap inside the opponent goal area has seen him score 9 league goals this season.  Impressive tally and already bigger clubs are monitoring the situation on the player. When fit he is capable of playing at a very high level and I will be surprised if none of the top clubs in the bigger leagues outside Scandinavia puts in an offer. With FC Copenhagen ready to offer him Champions League football next year it has to be a club capable of matching the giant in Denmark football – both financially and with ambition on the field.

5. Marvin Pouriè, Silkeborg – Striker

Scandinavian scouting agency comments on the player:

According to himself he`s the best striker in the Danish league. He could just as well have declared himself as the best in Scandinavia.  He is a firm believer in himself. It says a bit about his ego, but in fact he isn’t far away from the truth.

His qualities as striker is something every team in Scandinavia would have wanted in their team, but his price tag makes it impossible for most clubs. Those (only one club?) who can afford him will be put off by his controversial style – both on and off the pitch. Ideally a top club in Scandinavia would have been his perfect next destination. His qualities on the pitch are however of a standard that will be appreciated also in the bigger leagues. Which team is capable of taming the German striker?

For those who don`t know him an explanation is needed. Remember yesterday when Arjen Robben stormed forward in attack vs Arsenal in stoppage time? He could have secured the victory for Bayern Munchen if he had gone to the corner flag in order to let the clock ticking. Getting the clock going when you desperately need it is crucial nowadays. Arjen Robben decided to follow his natural instinct and had a go himself at goal. He missed and Arsenal could, with a bit of luck, have won the game seconds later. It was a rooky mistake by Robben.
A similar situation occurred when Silkeborg were leading last year against AGF Århus. They badly needed the three points. Leading 2-3 and with only seconds left from the added time it all looked secured. When Marvin Pouriè got a chance up front – similar to Arjen Robben – he did just the same as the former Real Madrid and Chelsea player. Only difference was that the outcome was different than yesterday. His teammates and coach were furious. It was a rooky mistake by Pouriè.

His goal scoring record in Denmark is great. When you realize he`s playing for a side fighting for relegation it’s even more impressive.

Pouriè has got good pace to threaten many defenders. His ability to combine his pace with his physical attributes makes him capable of taking fully advantage of his finishing skills. Playing for a better team Scandinavia will help him to be more prepared for the big leagues.  He`s obviously got areas he needs to improve, but even if he is an unfinished/unpolished product he still is one of the best strikers in Scandinavia.

I believe the young German will move straight to a bigger league, maybe as soon as this upcoming summer. You never know what you will get with him on board – maybe one of the biggest reason why I am such an admirer of him.