Frölunda hardly had a sparkling start to the season, at least not in terms of production. The goal average was the worst during Roger Rönnberg’s time and after 11 rounds they had lined up 2-1 victories, as well as being held to zero away against Växjö.
Roger Rönnberg stated that the team was in a drought.
One solution, as GP columnist Johan Rylander saw it, was for Frölunda to make a call to the other side of the Atlantic.
“Frölunda is moshing the series leader Luleå – that’s good. But Frölunda still lacks some edge, lacks more wow, lacks a bigger audience.
That’s when it’s time to call Los Angeles – and lure home a poked Samuel Fagemo”he wrote in a column after the 5-2 victory against Luleå.
After that, Frölunda won two matches, in four days, against reigning champion Skellefteå – and scored four goals in both matches.
Which led to coach Roger Rönnberg choosing to poke the GP’s columnist in TV4 after the victory.
– It has nothing to do with that, it’s that our local reporter Rylander went out and said that we have to start recruiting a goal scorer or something like that. Then it usually drops. The classic reporter jinx, he says.
Rönnberg: “Still not satisfied”
At the press conference after the match, he again chose to poke a little – before he also developed his reasoning regarding the offensive.
– We thank Rylander after this giant jinx. We appreciate that, but we are still not completely satisfied with our offensive game. We think our passing game is a bit choppy, we have things to work on, says Rönnberg
He continues:
– But the most important thing remains and that is the competition culture. So while we are working on and developing our game, it is good that we are winning matches. So we don’t end up in a losing trend.
Do you feel you have the player material required to take it all the way?
– Absolutely, absolutely.
Rylander’s response: “Should be grateful”
GP’s columnist was not present during Tuesday’s match, but answered Rönnberg’s call.
– There is a reason why I am in my thirteenth game-free year. Whatever I guessed, it turned out the other way around, says Rylander.
He points out that there was justification for the criticism in the column.
– In this case it was about statistics and Frölunda had never before scored so few goals per game under Roger Rönnberg. Since the article, Frölunda’s goal average has increased from 2.54 goals per game to 4.33 per game! So Roger Rönnberg should be grateful.
READ MORE:The defensive players decided when Frölunda beat Skellefteå
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Frölunda’s Journey from Dull to Dazzling: A Comedy of Errors
Ah, Frölunda! The team that decided to play tag with the bottom of the league instead of those shiny trophy cabinets. You’d expect them to leap into the season, but no, they opted for a gentle stroll—and my, what a trudge it has been!
Starting the season with a goal production worse than a toddler’s finger painting? Now that’s talent! With a record of 2-1 victories and a jaw-dropping away game that ended in a big fat zero against Växjö, it seems our lads forgot how to find the score sheet. Roger Rönnberg, the coach, stepped onto the mic to declare the team “in a drought,” which is rather ironic coming from a man who’s supposed to be the waterboy in this summer of hockey despair.
The Call of the Atlantic
Enter Johan Rylander, GP’s columnist and a man who believes in rescue missions like he’s auditioning for a superhero gig. He suggests Frölunda should make a transatlantic call, probably asking for a player who’s poked in Los Angeles. I mean, if it’s working for Netflix, why not for hockey? After all, who wouldn’t want to star on ‘Frölunda’s Got Talent’ instead of ‘Poke the Bear’?
The spark seemed to reignite briefly when Frölunda decided to do a little jig against series leader Luleå, celebrating with a 5-2 win that left fans thinking, “Wait, was that real?” But let’s not get ahead of ourselves—the ‘wow factor’ needed some serious upgrades. Rylander clearly had a point—Frölunda was more “meh” than “wow!”
Rönnberg’s Jinx Theory
In a surprising twist worthy of *The Twilight Zone*, after beating Skellefteå twice in four days—a feat that apparently includes scoring a whopping four goals in each match—Rönnberg took a jab at Rylander’s “classic reporter jinx.” This man knows how to deflect praise better than a goalie deflects a puck! It’s like he’s saying, “Yes, we scored, but let’s not get carried away. It’s not like we called in the Avengers or anything.”
But don’t let his chuckling fool you; deep down, this coach is hunting for perfection. “We’re still not completely satisfied,” he quips, proving that perhaps, just perhaps, he’s aiming for something higher than “more than two goals.” Isn’t that just the sweetest way to say, “We still suck, but hey, we’re winning!”?
Rylander’s Retort
And what about Rylander? The columnist, bless his soul—perhaps in a parallel universe where he’s a hockey player—is still trying to make sense of his jinxed predictions. “After thirteen seasons avoiding the ice, every guess I make turns out wrong,” he muses. That’s some self-awareness, folks! He’s throwing facts like ninja stars, pointing out how Frölunda scored less under Rönnberg than an amateur pub team.
But credit where it’s due! Since his predictions (or as some might say, *curses*), Frölunda’s scoring average jumped from 2.54 to 4.33 goals per game. Rylander’s saying, “You’re welcome, coach!” while Rönnberg’s probably wondering how he can put the jinx on his morning lattes. It’s enough to make you believe in magic—or at least in caffeine!
Is Frölunda a Playoff Contender?
So here we are! Will Frölunda take it all the way? Rönnberg’s absolutely certain of it. You can hear him rallying the troops, “Absolutely, absolutely!” like he’s confirming the existence of a mythical creature. And let’s face it, any team that can flip from a drought to a deluge in a single season has got to be riding some sort of cosmic wave—far beyond mere statistics!
If nothing else, this season has proven Frölunda can entertain—whether it’s through questionable scoring strategies or the delightful banter between coach and columnist. Who knew that hockey could be as thrilling as a stand-up routine? But let’s hope they keep the momentum going—no one wants to see them back to their ‘meh’ ways!
“And if you think hockey isn’t a comedy, you just haven’t been watching close enough!”
Frölunda’s season commenced with significant struggles, particularly regarding their offensive output. The team recorded its lowest goal average during Roger Rönnberg’s tenure, showcasing an alarming trend after 11 matches, including narrow 2-1 victories and a discouraging goalless defeat away against Växjö.
In reflecting on the team’s performance, Roger Rönnberg openly acknowledged that they were experiencing a scoring drought, which had raised concerns among fans and analysts alike.
An intriguing suggestion emerged from GP columnist Johan Rylander, who proposed that Frölunda take a bold step and seek talent from North America to revitalize their game.
“Frölunda is defeating the series leader Luleå – that’s a positive sign. However, the team still lacks the necessary edge, excitement, and broader appeal to draw in a larger audience,” he noted in a column following the 5-2 triumph over Luleå.
“That’s when it’s time to call Los Angeles – and lure home a poked Samuel Fagemo,” he added, providing a spicy angle to his analysis.
In the days that followed, Frölunda capitalized on their momentum, clinching two consecutive victories against the defending champions, Skellefteå, impressively scoring four goals in each match.
This newfound success prompted coach Roger Rönnberg to take a playful jab at Rylander during a TV4 interview after the victory. He quipped, “It has nothing to do with that; it’s just that our local reporter Rylander suggested we recruit a goal scorer. Then it usually happens. The classic reporter jinx, he says.”
Rönnberg: “Still not satisfied”
During the post-match press conference, Rönnberg was candid in his remarks and reiterated his vision for the team’s offensive strategy, stating, “We thank Rylander for this giant jinx. While we appreciate the luck, we are still not completely satisfied with our offensive game. We find our passing game a bit inconsistent, which is an area that requires further attention.”
He went on to stress the ongoing necessity of cultivating a competitive culture within the team: “While we continue to refine our approach, it’s reassuring that we are winning matches. This helps us avoid falling into a losing streak.”
Do you feel you have the player material required to take it all the way?
– Absolutely, absolutely.
Rylander’s response: “Should be grateful”
Although GP’s columnist was absent during Tuesday’s match, he promptly addressed Rönnberg’s comments, remarking, “There is a reason why I am in my thirteenth year without a game. Whatever I speculated, it turned out the other way around.”
He emphasized that his earlier criticism was justified, pointing to statistical evidence: “In this case, it was about statistics, and Frölunda had never before averaged so few goals per game under Roger Rönnberg. Since the article, Frölunda’s goal average has increased from 2.54 goals per game to an impressive 4.33 per game! So Roger Rönnberg should be grateful.”
READ MORE:The defensive players decided when Frölunda beat Skellefteå
READ MORE:Follow Frölunda HC – GP gives you the latest news
