“He is a player with a great potential, which is beginning to be released. He is has great skills with the ball and a fine view for the game and where to play the ball and he has the potential to become both goal scorer and assist, but still lacks a little behind when it comes to win balls and become a bit more power in his duels if he is going to make it on the central midfield.” 

“It was not the best year. First I had an ankle injury, then I pulled a muscle, and it was limited how much I played while we were down in 1. Division. I am just happy that we were promoted for the season after.”

Last week's football list featured the five most influential Danish players in the Premier League. This week it is all about the five least influential Danish players.

1.    Per Krøldrup
      Everton: 1 Premier League match, 1 FA Cup match

The Danish defender joined Everton from Udinese in 2005, but got injured before playing his first match for the team. He had his debut and only match in the Premier League, in the 4-0 to Aston Villa, as well as a FA Cup match against Millwall as a substitute. After a failing season in Everton, Krøldrup signed a contract with Italian Fiorentina, where he still plays. Per Krøldrup was ranked as the fifth worst player to have ever played for one of the Merseyside clubs, By Liverpool Echo in 2007.

2.    Martin Johansen

      Coventry City: 2 Premier League matches, 1 League Cup match
 
Martin Johanssen joined Coventry City from FC Copenhagen in 1997. After a successful period in Copenhagen, Coventry bought Johansen from the Danish club while Bolton bought his twin brother Michael. While Michael Johansen had a successful stay in Bolton, Martin spend two seasons on the bench and only made three appearances for Coventry before transferring to Lyngby BK in 1999.

3.    Mikkel Bischoff 
      Manchester City: 1 Premier League match,
      1 UEFA Cup match

      Wolverhampton Wanderes: 11 Championship matches

      Sheffield Wednesday: 4 Championship match

      Coventry City: 3 Championship matches

Manchester City signed Mikkel Bischoff from Akademisk Boldklub in a try to strengthen the team for the future. However, Bischoff’s stay in Manchester was far from successful. After his first match for the club, he had to go through surgery due to a hernia injury. When he was back for the club, he injured his foot during a Danish U21 match. The season after he appeared in his second and last match for City, in the UEFA Cup match against TNS from Wales.  Bischoff went on a successful one month loan in Wolverhampton Wanderers, followed up by a loan in Coventry City. In 2007, the Dane was joined the Danish club Brøndby on a free transfer. Today, Bischoff is on a free agent.

4.    Carsten Fredgaard 
      Sunderland: 1 Premier League matches,
      4 League Cup matches

      West Bromwich Albion: 5 Division One matches

      Bolton Wanderers:  5 Division One matches

Carsten Fredgaard started his unsuccessful stay in Sunderland in 1999. Even though, she scored two goals on the League Cup (Worthington Cup) Fredgaard never worked himself into the first team squad, and he is most known for his nickname, Chocolate Fireguard, during his Sunderland era. Carsten Fredgaard won on a loan in both West Bromwich and Bolton Wanderers before joining FC Copenhagen in 2001, where he had more success. Fredgaard today plays in the Danish 2. Division for HIK.

5.    Christian Poulsen

      Liverpool: 12 Premier League matches, 9 Europa League matches

When Liverpool signed Christian Poulsen in August 2010, they signed a player with a great C.V. With over hundred matches for Schalke 04 in the German Bundesliga, as well as a great reputation in Spain and Italy after his seasons in Sevilla and Juventus. However, Christian Poulsen never got the success in Liverpool as he could have hoped for. He was one of Roy Hodgsons purchases that never had an impact on the squad, and the fans often found his performances lacking in skill. After Kenny Dalglish took over in the club, time ran out for Poulsen, who transferred to Evian.

Follow up: Alexander Juel Andersen - five shot shootout

Who is your idol?

Steven Gerrard, without a doubt. He has had an influence on the world of football the last ten years with his unique play. I see him as a complete player, and he has always been one of the players that I have been following. Especially, when I was younger and positioned as a midfielder. I always looked at his play and tried to interpret some of the things I saw with him in the television. I will presumably never reach his level, but it is good to have someone to look up to.

What is the height of your career so far?

To be Captain in Viborg, is probably my greatest experience.


Where is Alexander Juel Andersen in 10 years?

In ten years, I will be… thirty one. Well, hopefully I have played a couple of years in Premier League and have a great success with what I am doing. I hope to be playing football till I am forty, but it is the fewest who is capable of it. In ten years, I have played some of my best years in the Premier League and will still be playing there.

Who from AC Horsens should the European football clubs keep an eye on?

Martin Spelmann and Martin Retov

When you look for players, you look for players for the future. A player like Martin Spelmann, who is a hot name in Denmark, is playing really well for us and has done so for a while. Another player could be Martin Retov, who has played abroad before. However, you might not see him abroad in the future.

Who is going to win the English Premier League this season?

United [Manchester] is going to take the title. They have tried this before. The table doesn’t lie, and I believe that it is impressing that they can keep playing this good, year after year. I am not a Manchester United fan at all. However, compared to City [Manchester] they don’t have star team, but they keep playing so well together, and off course it is also because of Alex Ferguson.

The Danish FA (DBU) was all over the Danish Media yesterday, after they banned the players from using Social Medias during the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

The reason for banning Twitter and Facebook during the Euro 2012 is to keep the communication with the media within the planned press conferences and to keep the players focus on the tournament.

Lars Berendt, Chief of Communication in DBU, said to sporten.tv2.dk that:

However, it does not sound like there is an agreement between the FA and the players, as Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen, last night said to the same website, that he did not agree with DBU. The decision was also met with wonder from the press and the Danish Minister of Culture Uffe Elbæk, who demanded an explanation from DBU.

To make things even worse for the Danish FA, Lars Berendt yesterday told that the Twitter-ban had existed for a while, and “the players have never used their private Twitter-accounts or Facebook, when they have been gathered with the national team”. However, this was proved wrong by a Danish newspaper today, when they found old tweets from Thomas Sørensen and Evian midfielder Christian Poulsen, posted before and after a match against Norway.

The ban, now known as “Twitter-gate” in Denmark, has been met by skepticism from Danish fans on the Social Media.  Danish Sports commentator Andreas Kraul, from Danish Radio tweeted:

The answer was partly answered this morning, when Berendt on national television told that the players would be able to live chat through an DBU app and that the players would earn money on this. It sounds like the Danish FA has made some commercial deals and is afraid of losing them, if the players use their private twitter.

What's worth watching this week? 

Week 17

Barcelona - Chelsea FC

UEFA Champions League Semifinals 2. leg

Camp Nou

24-04-2012 at 19.45 BST

Head-to-head (last 10 matches):

 Barcelona: 3 victories / 15 goals

     Draws: 4 

Chelsea FC: 3 victories / 13 goals

After last week’s Chelsea victory in the first leg, some would say that the pressure is on Barcelona. However, I would still put pressure on Chelsea. It is going to be interesting to see, if the Londoners can keep Barcelona away from the goal in ninety minutes. It is going to be David against Goliat, and this time, the giant is going to win. I am looking forward to see a goal show from the Catalan offensive. Worth watching!

Real Madrid - Bayern Munich

UEFA Champions League Semifinals 2. leg

Santiago Bernabéu

25-04-2012 at 19.45 BST  

Head-to-head (last 10 matches):

Real Madrid: 3 victories / 11 goals

      Draws: 2

Bayern Munich: 5 victories / 12 goals

Bayern won the first leg with a late goal by Mario Gomez and goes into this match with a 2-1 victory. Munich has played well in the UEFA Champions League the last couple of years and might surprise at Bernabéu on Wednesday night. However, Real Madrid will do anything to be in the final and Bayern Munich will have to fight with everything they got. This could turn out to be an entertaining and hard played match! If Munich is able to close down for Ronaldo, it might lead to a win. Looking forward to this one!

Wigan Athletic - Newcastle United

English Premier League Round 36

JJB Stadium

28-04-2012 at 15.00 BST

Head-to-head (last 10 matches):

  Wigan Athletic: 3 victories / 10 goals

           Draws: 2

Newcastle United: 5 victories / 13 goals

Even though, Wigan is positioned in the lower part of the English Premier League, they have shown the selves as ‘top team killers’. Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have all lost to the Latics this season, and Newcastle could be the next. Wigan needs three points to get further away from relegation, and in the other end of the table, Newcastle can move in on Arsenal and thereby the third position on the league. The interesting about this match is to see if Newcastle can beat Wigan or if it is going to be another surprising Wigan win. 

Celtic FC - Glasgow Rangers

Scottish Premier League Round 35

Celtic Park

29-04-2012 at 12.45 BST

Head-to-head (last 10 matches):

      Celtic FC: 4 victories / 15 goals

          Draws: 3

Glasgow Rangers: 3 victories / 13 goals

Even though, Celtic is way ahead of Rangers in the league, the Old Firm is always worth watching. The tension between the two clubs is displayed in the stands, every time they meet, and there is a special atmosphere around the match. Last meeting ended with a 3-2 victory to Rangers and was some kind of a match with a red card and two goals in the last minutes. Hopefully, this watch will present some of that excitement. Defiantly worth watching!

Udinese - Lazio

Serie A Round 35

Friuli

29-04-2012 at 19.45 BST

Head-to-head (last 10 matches):

Udinese: 3 victories / 19 goals

  Draws: 4

  Lazio: 3 victories / 20 goals

Udinese and Lazio are currently positioned as number three and four in the league, with two points separating the two teams. However, this may change doing the midweek round. Udinese and Lazio are known for their close matches, and this one might be just another one. Both teams have some deadly strikers in and Antonio Di Natale and Miroslav Klose, both able to be decisive in this match.  It is hard to say if this will end as a boring draw or a goal show. However, you have to watch to find out!

 

 

Keep an eye on: Alexander Juel Andersen

               Age: 21 (29-01-1991)  

          Position: Central Defender

              Club: AC Horsens,

                    Danish Superliga 
             Debut: 24-06-2011
                    against
                    FC Nordsjælland
                    (1-1)

International caps: Denmark U20: 1 match(es)
                                 0 goal(s)
                    Denmark U19: 6 match(es)
                                 0 goal(s)
                    Denmark U18: 3 match(es)
                                 0 goal(s)
                    Denmark U17: 16 match(es)
                                  2 goal(s)

The twenty year old defender describes himself as a:

However, Alexander Juel Andersen is aware of his weaknesses, as he wants to be “even better in the offensive play, and maybe get some extra kilos on his body”.

He started playing football in Brunshåb Tapdrup IF as a child before moving on to Viborg Søndermarken IK and later Viborg F.F’s youth department, FK Viborg. Here, he got a two year contract in 2006, aged 15. The footballer’s talent was not to be missed as he went into 2007 with a trial in the French club AS Monaco, and later that year had his debut for Viborg F.F in the Danish Superliga, aged 16. The sixth youngest debutant throughout the history of the Danish Superliga.

Juel Andersen said about his stay in Monaco, that:

However, the defender does not exclude an adventure abroad as “it is something else, when you’re an adult player and a senior player, and have had your breakthrough in your home country.”

In 2007, Alexander Juel Andersen had his debut for the Danish U17 national team in the Internordic match between Denmark and Belgium and was a regular part of the team throughout the tournament. His first goal in the national shirt came against Finland in the Syrenka Cup, same year, when Juel Andersen scored in the first minute of the match.

Alexander Juel Andersen continued his Denmark career on the Danish U18 national team, where he in his second match, was announced as Captain for the team. The year after, aged 19, Andersen also became Captain in Viborg. The modest defender was glad for the experience and said:

After sixty eight matches for Viborg, Juel Andersen, announced that he would continue his career in the Danish Superliga club AC Horsens, on a free transfer. During the last six months of his Viborg contract, the defender was on a loan in Randers FC.

After recovering from his injuries, the new Horsens player announced that he was looking to be a regular part of the team which he, since his debut against FC Nordsjælland in 2011, more or less has been. While the player is aiming to be a profile in the club, he is not expecting to be captain:

“It can be a couple of years before I am going to be a captain in Horsens. There are a lot of experienced players before me.”

The next target for the young talent is to be a part of the Danish U21 national team.

Great Dane Football Blog – UK Edition will every week give four suggestions on where to place your bets in the weekend. This week takes us around the English Premier League, German 1. Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A and El Clásico in Spain!