Timm spots the difference
Sunday, 11 April 2004
by Jostein Jensen
Viking Stavanger forward Mads Timm admits he is noticing the big differences between English and Norwegian football during his loan spell from Manchester United.
The Denmark Under-21 international is spending a few months with Viking to accrue first-team experience.
He is highly rated by The Red Devils and is due to return to Old Trafford in July, with the aim of impressing Sir Alex Ferguson.
Analysing the contrasting styles between England and Norway, the youngster admits the discipline of The Premiership is not matched in Scandinavia.
" Viking have got a good team and I need some more time to learn the playing style and my team-mates," Timm told Stavanger Aftenblad.
" But there is no doubt that the play is faster and the tackles are harder in England. The mentality in Viking is very friendly - that can be positive and negative.
" It´s more free in Scandinavian clubs and that is pleasant. But the hard discipline in England has got its advantages.
" At United they give us much less choice. We have only got the football to concentrate on and that suits me well.
" Perhaps the football leaders in England are too hard while in Norway they are too kind!"
Timm also compared the merits of United boss Ferguson and Viking coach Kjell Inge Olsen.
He added: " He ( Ferguson) is strict but fair. We must always call him the boss.
" There is always a point in what he says and does even if I don´t understand it at first.
" Kjell is serious and doesn´t tolerate any mess in training but he allows humour in the locker room. That is the way it should be."