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Johansson signs deal to join Hibs in January

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Published Date: 14 November 2008
By Mike Aitken
JONATAN Johansson, the former Rangers forward, will join Hibernian in January after signing a pre-contract agreement.
Johansson, 33, currently with Malmo in Sweden, has been a regular goalscorer throughout his career and will fortify an aspect of Hibs' play which many already regard as their strongest suit thanks to the efforts of Derek Riordan, Colin Nish and Steve
n Fletcher.

The experienced Finn, who scored 24 goals in 37 first-team starts with Rangers before joining Charlton for a fee of £3.35million eight years ago, said he was looking forward to a second spell in Scottish football.

"I'm looking forward to the new challenge and to be working with Mixu Paatelainen again," said Johansson. "I recently visited the (club's] training centre and was blown away, it really is a fantastic facility. I look forward to training there to get up to speed on my match fitness."

With 91 appearances for his country, it is little wonder Johansson is held in such high regard by Paatelainen, who enthused: "I'm confident that Hibernian supporters will quickly appreciate that we have obtained an experienced international striker who has scored goals wherever he has played."

If Johansson performs to the same standard as he did at Malmo, where he scored 20 goals in 46 appearances, as well as during his first season in the Premiership, when he scored 14 times for Charlton, then Hibs will feel they have made a shrewd acquisition.








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  • Last Updated: 13 November 2008 9:52 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Rangers FC , Hibernian FC
 
1

Bzzzz,

Edinburgh 14/11/2008 00:30:31
Seeing as Hibs defense is absolutely shocking this obviously the buy of the season! 1st div fitba next season!!!
2

KingKenny,

14/11/2008 00:56:58
Horrible!!!

Hibernian have Steven Fletcher, Colin Nish, Ross Campbell, Steve Pinau, Abdessalam Benjelloun, Damon Gray

If Pinau leave January and Benji return..No Problem Benju.. and some people talk Fletcher leave..I don't like this..

If he leave 7M-10M, and sign High defender(ex-Russell Anderson, Christian Kalvenes, Kevin McNaughton, John Kennedy) and midfielder(ex-Alan Gow, Stephen Pearson, Michael McIndoe, Ivan Sproule, Gavin Rae,Gareth Williams) ..

I will love Steven Fletcher move big money and Sign 6-7 Decent Players.


and welcome Johansson
3

GeorgeCowieOrWalterKidd?,

14/11/2008 07:48:52
That'll be Fletcher off to Glasgow then. Of course Hibs would never replace young flair-filled Scots not long off the conveyor belt with foreigners from second rate football nations though... oh.
4

Big Red,

Aberdeen 14/11/2008 08:10:56
I'll have an injection of what #2 is on.

7-10 Million for Fletcher ? Get a grip.

Darren Mackie's scored more goals than him in the last 11 months.

1 million tops, and only then because you're paying more for some kind of potential than reality.

5

petegeneva,

geneva 14/11/2008 08:12:52
#3 it's probably as replacement for Benji who is still a Hibs player but is unlikely to return.
The guy IS a proven goalscorer surely you won't deny that, although I would have thought there are other parts of the team that need shoring up first.
Finland a second-rate football nation? I haven't looked recently but I'm sure they're way below Lithuania and Uganda.
And by the way did you notice we SIGNED him, didn't take him on loan. DO you remember how to sign players way down in Gorgie?
6

Johnny Jambo,

14/11/2008 08:37:35
Johansson was a good striker at Charlton and at 33 is a good signing for Hibs, I would have liked to see someone like that at Hearts. A goalscores who can hold the ball up and give the rest a breather.
7

GeorgeCowieOrWalterKidd?,

14/11/2008 08:41:24
#6 I was being facetious but is this a good time to tell you that Finland (and Morocco) are below Lithuania in the rankings? As for loan signings - an excellent strategy in the current financial climate. Try before your buy and all that.
8

,

14/11/2008 08:46:22
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
9

Johnny Jambo,

14/11/2008 08:49:13
#6&8 It really does not matter where a country is in the ranking of world football when we are discussing an individual player. Where were Norther Ireland in the rankings, (if we had had them in those days) when George Best played for them and there are many more examples.
And regarding loan signings I agree that in the current financial climate there is nothing wrong with signing a player on loan, all clubs do it and it is within the rules so no problem. I wish Hearts had signed Johansson, permanent or on loan as he is the type of player we need.
10

GeorgeCowieOrWalterKidd?,

14/11/2008 08:57:07
#10 I'm simply debunking another Hibee myth (team packed with young Scots) to add to the "flair", "conveyor belt of talent", "no debt", "rightful third force" and "poet warrior" ones, as well as pointing out the hypocrisy of our friends from the east, and the media for that matter, in loudly condemning Hearts for replacing good home grown players with average foreigners from, in their eyes, footballing backwaters while they go on to do exactly the same thing. I don't really have a reason for doing it - just felt like it. Something to do with putting up with gloating, rumour-mongering and overinflated claims from Hibs fans for several seasons now. When are we going into administration again?
11

Johnny Jambo,

14/11/2008 08:59:56
#11 - Yes may I understand - no problem.
I still think we could do with a striker of this type, experienced, can score at all levels, and can hold the ball up, we need someone like that.
12

Johnny Jambo,

14/11/2008 09:00:46
#10 "may" should be mate.
13

John H,

edinburgh 14/11/2008 09:10:24
Hope he can defend as well. At a different time this might have turned out to be a good signing and to be fair it could be but the obvious problem is in defence and the organisation thereof. I would have thought that a good experienced central defender and a ball winner who can also play a bit was priority. We have lost the flair and playing the ball in the air so much is not our way. Lets get the ball down and pass teams to death like we used to and keep these jambo idiots off our threads.
14

Johnny Jambo,

14/11/2008 09:13:48
#14 I agree with you, the team are playing poor so if this does not work he will be seen as a bad payer by the fickle fans. He is a good player and I think that you may be right and that better signings might be a central defender and a strong midfielder to shore up, Mixu may of course bring those in as well.
15

scorchio,

West of the Pecos 14/11/2008 09:48:17
As a Hearts supporter, I have to say this is a great bit of business by Hibs.
I predict this guy will score more goals than Fletcher this season....Say ten!
Seriously though, he is a good signing.
16

Conran,

Husref Musemic's twin brother 14/11/2008 10:22:05
As a Jambo, although I don't like to say it, fair play this has the potential to be a good signing. Always though JJ was a decent player and a decent professional to boot.

Don't really believe a striker is what you need, and I imagine he has lost some pace, but I wouldn't be surprised if he bags a few goals.

Do Hubs just acquire strikers like we do midfielders?

maybe we could trade one or two and keep the Glasgow mob away from any decent players in the future).
17

Gordon Smiths 364,

Edinburgh 14/11/2008 10:25:54
If we keep hold of Fletch does that mean we will be playing with 4 up front and 2 attacking midfielders? Agree we need a goal keeper and at least a defender of quality and rid of Jones the bomb scare. Hopefully Mixu can turn the team around and start winning games again before the window opens or we may be looking for a manager as well!
18

hibbyspurs,

14/11/2008 10:29:15
#11 you really are bitter and twisted at times mate. However as you usually make some decent comments I'll let you off!!!

The good news: JJ is a very experienced player who will add exactly that to the Hibs team and cant fail to help the likes of Riordan, Fletcher(If he's still around come Jan31 ehich I doubt) develop.

Therefore a good signing I would have to admit.

The Bad News: Apart from his experience we dont need another striker right now, we need a half way decent goalie, a solid defender and most importantly a good quality central midfield player. Now if the signing is a precursor to SF heading for the door lets hope that 1, its along the M8 but only on route to the M74 and then the M6 to an English club. 2, the transfer fee recieved (i expect £2-£3M tops) is then immediately ploughed into signing the above types of player to strengthen the team.

Another point to note here for all of us now seriously contemplating Mixu's future as manager. This signing (IMO) is a clear statement from the board that Mixu is going nowhere fast and will be here for the forseable future.
19

Rambo.the.Jambo,

4-0 at Hampden 14/11/2008 11:09:14
# 11 GeorgeCowieOrWalterKidd?,

Every January, annually, apparently. It's part of the celebrations the Hobos have every year, you know, like normal folks have such as Xmas, Guy Fox night etc.

20

Will1875,

14/11/2008 11:32:47
#5

Go crawl back under your lump of granite.

Mackie is rubbish, tends to miss from 3 yards.

Fletcher is one of the best young prospects in sctland at the moment. It that diddy Alan Hutton and Craig Gordon are worth £9 m then so is Fletcher.

If he goes to the OF they will want a bargain and offer 500K. Tell them to GTF
21

Glasgow_Hibs,

14/11/2008 11:52:12
While I think it is a good signing. I'm getting fed reading about our strong forward line, because they are producing goals. Teams have very quickly worked out how to play against us and Mixu has no answers. No midfield = no service = no goals.
22

All Laugh Son,

Edinburgh 14/11/2008 18:10:38
His first game will be a doing at Tynie then?

Great way to start your career at a club.
23

Greens,

14/11/2008 20:15:06
Not a clever move to promise yourself to a manager who will be sacked before you arrive.

 

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