link. They were humiliated at home and booed by their fans.
This was really embarrassing, Linkoping.
If Klaas Ostmann does not arrange his team in the upcoming matches, I think his time is numbered.
Payday didn’t help much to get the masses to the plaza located in an urban area.
The audience was a modest 4,408 to say the least, many of whom had gone home when the third period began.
And those who did not get there did not miss anything at all.
At least not if they have sympathy for the home team.
After 5.21 the score was 0-2 and coach Klaas Ostmann took a time-out.
A little later 0-3 and at the start of the middle period Tobias Ekberg played undisturbed right in the arms of Patrick Westerholm, and so the score was 1-4.
“Wake up, LHC” and “Show your heart, LHC” are the two most frequent chants from the stands and I understand one hundred percent supporters.
Finally, the standing room raised a sign they had clearly prepared: “Show the heart, LHC.”
A sign if there is anything to suggest fans have been a little prepared for what it might be like.
Because absolutely nothing worked tonight.
Halfway through the match, Marcus Silvigaard scored 5-1 for the visitors and the result was not the worst. It was the collective performance of the home team.
Malmo was allowed to play tic-tac-toe
I can’t tell which team Linkoping wants to be and how he wants to play.
It is very passive, very hollow and very soft.
Same as in Target 0-2 where I’m set up to play center zone control but so hollow that the herd of elephants on roller skates manage to slalom through.
Of course, Malmö took advantage of that.
Or the tic-tac-toe that Malmö was allowed to play until the first goal where Oliver Lorissen (!) finished second after the ball.
I may have had the misfortune to see Linköping when they are at their worst. Like the home match with Skellefteå, the first leg match against Brynäs and then this one…
Which has to be the worst season.
I wouldn’t move in Malmö, who treated this match with the respect, commitment and tactical cooperation that the moment required.
A fourth series with steelman Forsberg showed the way, and a third series with twins Westerholm and Lucas Wernblom.
The damage is not justified looking the way he does
Sometimes there was such a class difference that it became almost absurd.
Then we’re talking about Malmo not taking one out of three and only two points in total in the last six games.
The two unfortunate injuries to Linkoping’s two most important players, Marcus Leung and Oscar Vantenberg, of course didn’t improve things.
But this is far from the whole truth.
A team that sticks together can handle injuries to key players.
Linköping is now a team that is not together and seems to lack confidence in what they do and how to act.
If we look in terms of play, Linköping is the team that looked the worst in terms of play during the first quarter. The big plays of Marcus Högberg more or less felt necessary for Linköping to stay in the games.
Now some real destiny matches await
It’s bad not to collect points even if the game looks good.
Not getting points and playing as Linköping often does is not sustainable.
And now good advice is expensive. The host team came to this match with four consecutive losses and only six goals scored forward. Now the streak of loss has extended even further.
Next is a double encounter with Leksand and then three encounters against the expected last-place competitors, Timrå, Malmö and Oskarshamn, before the SHL takes a break for the team.
You don’t need to be particularly knowledgeable about how the industry works to understand that the next 10 days will be very crucial for Klas Ostmann’s future.
Östman is a very likable guy and never overlooks a question, but everyone knows it doesn’t mean much when he looks like he’s on the ice.
The former junior national team captain, Thomas Montaigne, has already resigned to the booth. Of course Montaigne will have to take matters into his own hands if the game does not improve and the club’s management decides to make a change.
I’m not saying this is the right way, and here’s where Linköping’s problems lie, but that’s what usually happens.
We may not be there yet, but one thing everyone knows: It can’t go on like this for much longer.