retired_yolander

6/8 -02 Djurgården, currently second in the Swedish Premier Division (Allsvenskan), keep winning and now the media seems convinced nothing can stop them in their bid for a successful season. Falkenberg meanwhile, in the Second Division South Götaland, have also started well and given their supporters real hope of promotion this season. Forward are not doing as well in the West Svealand group (only 8th) and have now brought in Peter Madsen as their new manager, (maybe he can take the club forward? ).

9/8 -02 Sirius Reserves played 1-1 with Valsta/Syrianska Reserves. Antouman Jallow was now back from his physiotherapy and played in the game. Unfortunately we got Karl Abbas put up on the injury list for three weeks after he suffered a twisted knee. Petter Granberg and Kjell Johansson returned the same evening from previous injuries.
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Sunday 11/8 -02:

Despite last weeks heavy defeat to Topkapi I won’t change my team for this game. The only change is Simon Ung being banned for the next three games. In his place Bylund will step in. I will put Staffan Wiklund to man-mark Kenneth Andersson, as he’s very tall and should have a decent chance of matching Kenneth in the air. Valsta/Syrianska is a very good team, just behind us in the league in third place, so this is a very important and difficult game.

Sirius vs. Valsta/Syrianska

Attendance: 1492 (Studenternas IP, Uppsala).
Weather: Wet, 28°C.

Sirius (3-4-3): Bylund – Wiklund, Karlsson, Åberg (c) – M.Johansson, Claesson, B.Eriksson, Ahlström –Thorsell, H.Eriksson, Pongrugthai.

Match Notes: Wiklund may be a tall young lad, but already in the 7th minute he‘s out-matched by Andersson, who heads in the lead goal for Valsta/Syrianska. Ten minutes later Andersson looses Wiklund again and sends the ball skimming the bar. Valsta now dominate the game completely and create chance after chance - we‘re on our knees. Bylund makes one qualified save after another, keeping us in the game. After only half an hour played, I feel I must do something and change the tactics to a 5-3-2 style. The tactical change has immediate effect. Wiklund start to get better control over Andersson, who in frustration gets a yellow card for eye balling Wiklund. Upfront we create a corner, whipped in by Johan Karlsson - finding the head of Wiklund, 1-all! Valsta/Syrianska now press men forward in search of another goal and we‘re once again lucky not to concede any more goals before half time. In the beginning of the second half it‘s once again Kenneth Andersson who has two very qualified chances to score, but misses. Around the hour mark Pongrugthai gets injured and I must make a couple of changes. Just minutes later Valsta/Syrianska finally score on one of their many chances. Bylund makes a great save from Jakob Hadda‘s initial shot, but Hadda can put the rebound into the net. Valsta/Syrianska continue to press on, but are fortunately unable to score. Despite being a goal down we are outplayed and can‘t even get over the midfield circle. Valsta/Syrianska out-performed us in every position except between the posts - Bylund was bloody marvellous making nine high quality saves, but in the end - for what good?

Subs: Pettersson (On for Pongrugthai (inj.), 60), Hansson (On for Karlsson, 60), Fällström (On for Ahlström, 77).

I knew Valsta/Syrianska to be a good team, but are they really this good - or is it that we are simply that bad…(?) Big changes are however needed if aren’t to loose out on our promotion hopes, that’s one thing that is for sure… :o

End Result: Sirius - Valsta/Syrianska 1-2 (1-1).
Sirius Goal scorers: Wiklund (38).
Man of Match: Andreas Kofoed, Valsta/Syrianska (10).

East Svealand Results: Essinge vs. Spårvägen 0-2, Sandvikens IF vs. Topkapi 1-1, Sirius vs. Valsta/Syrianska 1-2, Skiljebo vs. Visby 1-0, Slätta vs. Lidingö 0-3, Väsby vs. Forssa 5-1.
Current League Table:
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Lidingö 11 3 1 1 8 4 4 2 0 15 6 24 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd *** Sirius *** 11 4 1 1 10 5 2 2 1 3 4 21 3rd Valsta/Syrianska 11 4 1 0 11 6 2 1 3 13 14 20 4th Väsby 11 4 1 1 15 7 0 4 1 8 10 17 5th Topkapi 11 2 3 0 11 7 2 1 3 15 12 16 6th Sandvikens IF 11 2 4 0 9 6 1 2 2 6 5 15 7th Visby 11 4 1 0 11 6 0 1 5 5 11 14 8th Spårvägen 11 2 2 1 9 8 1 2 3 8 10 13 9th Essinge 11 2 0 4 7 12 1 3 1 7 7 12 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10th Slätta 11 2 2 2 8 12 1 1 3 5 9 12 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11th Skiljebo 11 1 4 1 7 8 1 1 3 3 8 11 12th Forssa 11 1 0 4 5 12 0 0 6 5 15 3 </pre>

retired_yolander

12/8 -02 Interview on the local radio sports broadcast:

After yesterdays game against Valsta/Syrianska the league has come halfway and Sirius currently sit in second place. What is your view on the half season played and the half yet to come. Will Sirius press for honours this season?

Well, if I start with the first half of the season I must say it has surpassed my expectations. Slightly worrying however, is the last couple of games played. We performed badly against Topkapi and especially yesterday against Valsta/Syrianska. However, yesterdays game was also a question of the opposition making us look bad. I believed from the very start of the season that Valsta/Syrianska had the best team available, and after a rather poor start they have now started to perform well and look like potential winner of our group in the Second Division. Lidingö‘s performance this season is more surprising. I don‘t feel they have such a good team available, but still they perform very well week in and week out - I certainly did not expect that our win against them in the first round would be their only loss so far. Lidingö and Valsta/Syrianska might prove difficult to budge, but I feel we should probably be content if we finish top 5. We have a very young team and a strained economy - facts that must be taken into account.

You seem surprisingly pessimistic, despite the teams good start to the season. Shouldn‘t Sirius have higher goals than a top 5 position?

Yes, I agree in theory - but reality is more complex at the moment. The last couple of games have shown that the team is probably not mature enough yet - for a serious promotion campaign. Of course it‘s our goal, but we must also be realistic. It might still be a seasons or two before we are strong enough to push for promotion.

What about the next game on Sunday? You‘ll entertain Lidingö at Studenternas - what are your thoughts about that game?

Well, I feel we need to win that game to get back on track again - and not to risk loosing sight of Lidingö in the top. Either way we can‘t afford to loose, I believe a loss might just close any promotion hopes. It will undoubtedly be a tough and close game - hopefully we can come out on top!

I wish you good luck on Sundays game and in the league as a hole. I hope you are wrong in your predictions however, as Uppsala needs and deserves to have a club playing in the top divisions!

Thank you! I too hope we can surpass our expectations this season.


Much of the following week was spent preparing my squad for the weekend home game against leaders IFK Lidingö. Although only half of the season has been played, I feel this to be a crucial game to win if we are to push for promotion. I do have a nagging bad feeling however - that just won’t go away. We are in a down period at the moment and this game comes at the wrong time. Without key players such as Pongrugthai (injured in the last game) and Ung (banned for yet two matches), it’ll be a struggle for sure. We lack depth in the squad and can’t replace quality first team players with other back-up players of equal skills. There are no players to my knowledge available either - on loan or on free transfers - that would enhance our current squad selection and be willing to join us. I have already robbed our youth set-up of all their promising youngsters - so with our poor finances there’s unfortunately not much I can do about the situation either... :o

It’s going to be a tough second half of the season for sure!

retired_hdub

Ah... Sirius... Uppsala... My home town.

Excellent story.

retired_yolander

Thank you Viking!
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16/8 -02 Sirius Reserves beat Lidingö Reserves with 4-1 today. Also Andreas Eroglu returned from his month long loan spell with Smögen after playing two games there.
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Sunday 18/8 -02:

A crucial game! After two straight losses we’ve lost the top position to Lidingö. Being three points behind, in poor form and playing at home - we probably must win this game to compete for honours. It won’t be easy though as Lidingö are in impressive form, while our form on the other hand is rock bottom. Key player Sittichai Pongrugthai has just returned from injury and has appeared in one training session - he will start on the bench. This while Simon Ung sits off another game amongst the audience due to suspension. Bylund will continue in goal, while Arnesson steps in to take Pongrugthai’s place in the starting XI.

Sirius vs. IFK Lidingö

Attendance: 838 (Studenternas IP, Uppsala).
Weather: Dry, 28°C.

Sirius (3-4-3): Bylund – Åberg (c), Wiklund, Karlsson – M.Johansson, Claesson, B.Eriksson, Ahlström – Arnesson, H.Eriksson, Thorsell.

Match Notes: We apply immediately pressure and Thorsell hit’s the bar in the opening minute, after an excellent Bengt Eriksson knock down. Lidingö’s reply comes swiftly as they hit the post minutes later. It‘s an open contest between two attacking sides. The game’s very thrilling and both teams really should have scored plenty of goals on their multitude of chances. In the end (the dying seconds of the first half) Lidingö take the lead. We make the contest level again in the second half, as a long ball finds the head of Thorsell - who beats the Lidingö keeper to the ball and scores the all important equaliser. Lidingö get back into the game and Roger Nilsson scores what he believes to be his second goal for the day. Fortunately the linesman has observed that Nilsson was offside and the goal is ruled out. The introduction of Andreas Eroglu to the field saw us take command of the game again and in the last quarter we create several qualified chances, with most moves finished off by Thorsell and saved by the Lidingö keeper, Lars Augustsson. The game ends in a disappointing draw. Looking at the game’s entire 90 minutes, I feel we should have won with 3-2 or something simular - instead it ends 1-all. Are our hopes of promotion slowly withering away?

Subs: Andreas Eroglu (On for H.Eriksson, 65), Pettersson (On for Arnesson, 74), Pongrugthai (On for Wiklund) .

Not only am I disappointed with the result, but also with the attendance figure. Only some 800 people turned up to cheer us on in this all important game - dreadful! Although we didn’t play well through the entire game, we did end it well, which I think shows the players stamina levels are improving. As the results continue to go against us I now decide to change my tactics - from 3-4-3 to a more normal 4-4-2 tactic. My hopes are that we’ll better be able to use the wings offensively and close down the opponents wingers - who keep on throwing in crosses for my central defenders to try and cope with.

End Result: Sirius - IFK Lidingö 1-1 (0-1).
Sirius Goal scorers: Matthias Thorsell (53).
Man of Match: Lars Augustsson (IFK Lidingö, 9).

East Svealand Results: Essinge vs. Slätta 4-0, Sandvikens IF vs. Valsta/Syrianska 2-3, Sirius vs. IFK Lidingö 1-1, Skiljebo vs. Topkapi 1-2, Spårvägen vs. Forssa 0-1, Väsby vs. Visby 3-1.
Current League Position =3rd.

retired_yolander

During the evening GIF Sundsvall contacted me to tell me that they'd decided to reject a renewed loan bid I had made for their out of favour striker Jon Ericsson. Another Allsvenskan side, Hammarby, also contacted me with the same reply to my loan bid for their out of favour defender Max von Schlebrügge. It’s a shame as I would desperately have needed either of their services.

I desperately need to bolster my squad if I am to have any chance of promotion at all. For this reason it was once again disappointing when a third Premier side, Örgryte IS, contacted me just before I was going to bed - just to inform me that they had (of course) rejected my loan bid for their out of favour (and loan listed) midfield winger Martin Ulander. I tried to persuade them the following morning, but they simply weren't interested. (Why do they list him for loan, if they aren’t interested in loaning him out anyway? Strange behaviour indeed!)

20/8 -02: Henrik Eriksson will miss the up-coming game as he’ll be out for a few days with a bruised rib. Michael Owen of Liverpool, on the other hand, will miss more than one game - as he’s sidelined for the next 5 months with torn ankle ligaments.

21/8 -02: In the mini-state of Monaco Milan beat fellow Italian team Juventus in the European Super Cup Final. As often the case between two big Italian clubs, the game ended goalless. In the penalty shoot-out Juventus missed their three opening penalties and Milan could comfortably win the shoot-out 3-0 and become European Super Cup winners!

Meanwhile our vows continue as influential central defender Martin Åberg will be sidelined for three weeks with a damaged shoulder. Sittichai Pongrugthai will also be sidelined a few days, while Karl Abbas on the other hand returns to slight training again after injury.

24/8 -02: Sirius Reserves play out a goalless draw with Slätta Reserves. After watching the game I travel north to my old hometown of Borlänge for tomorrows game against Slätta, in the neighbouring town of Falun - a day ahead of the rest of the squad.

My bad fortunes on the pitch with my Sirius squad were drowned the same evening with many pints of beer in the company of old friends. We talked of high school memories and who done what. Such as the time when my friend Tony and I had a tequila contest with the end result of him cycling into a bench and then falling into a three meter deep ditch - just to bounce back up as if nothing ever happened (tequila is a painkiller ). Or when I went a little crazy with a bottle of gin and found myself crawling home… or did I manage it back on my own? Can’t quite remember…

Ah, those were the days anyway… No responsibilities or thoughts about tomorrow. Now are different times however and I must think about tomorrow as it’s an important game to prepare for, so I made it a relatively early night and turned in when I reached my proven limit for liquor. Crashed at a friends apartment and was up bright and early the next morning - ready to take on Slätta!
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[This message was edited by McRob on 30 November 2003 at 2:19.]

retired_yolander

Sunday 25/8 -02:

The recent results have seen us tumble down to third place in the league. We can’t afford to loose any more points now - if we are to take up the chase against Lidingö and Valsta/Syrianska. To add to our predicaments we must be without key players such as Simon Ung (suspension), Martin Åberg, Sittichai Pongrugthai and Henrik Eriksson (all injured), for this tricky away game against Slätta. Due to the lack of first team players available I must restructure the team and give some previously untested players, such as Poskiparta and Eroglu, the chance from start. I also have to change the tactics to better suite the type of players available. I had anyway planned to try implementing a 4-4-2 attacking style of play, with direct passing, hard tackling and exploiting the use of counter attacks more frequently. Now I have the opportunity to see if this style of play might suite us or not...

Slätta vs. Sirius

Attendance: Dalavallen, Falun (1264).
Weather: Dry, 28°C.

Sirius (4-4-2): Bylund – M.Johansson, Karlsson, Poskiparta, Wiklund – Eroglu, Claesson, B.Eriksson (c), Ahlström – Arnesson, Thorsell.

Match Notes: I had expected a difficult game from go, but instead Arnesson pulls off a magnificent solo raid in the opening minutes and gives us the lead. We continue to push forward and create some half chances, but the next goal was Slätta’s. They scored just before half time on their first shot on goal(!), courtesy of a Elvir Hodzic strike. Slätta came forward more in the second half and both teams exchanged changes, but it’s we that took the lead again. Andreas Fällström touched the ball for the first time when he swung in a corner that Claesson headed into the net, 2-1. Bylund later made a good save to keep us in the lead. I then instructed the team to play more defensively the last 15 minutes of the game. Ahlström almost wrapped up the game with a good header from Eroglu’s free kick minutes later, but unfortunately it didn't find the net. After this we could hold on to the ball and keep it away from danger - during the dying minutes of the game - taking three points with us home!

Subs: Fällström (On for M.Johansson, 63), Pettersson (On for Arnesson, 79), Hansson (On for Ahlström, 87).

Finally! We could end our fall downward with a hard fought away victory against Slätta. Still, I felt we were the better team and deserved our points today. All things considered it’s really a quite good feat by us. Difficult to say if the 4-4-2 tactic was successful or not, need a few more games with the original line-up to evaluate it’s effects.

End Result: Slätta - Sirius 1-2 (1-1).
Sirius Goal scorers: Arnesson (4), Claesson (67).
Man of Match: Elvir Hodzic, Slätta (8).

East Svealand Results: Forssa vs. Essinge 3-2, Lidingö vs. Sandvikens IF 2-0, Slätta vs. Sirius 1-2, Topkapi vs. Väsby 3-1, Valsta/Syrianska vs. Skiljebo 4-0, Visby vs. Spårvägen 1-1.
Current League Position = 3rd.
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27/8 -02: The Inter-Toto Cup Finals were decided today; with Leverkusen (beat D. Bakirspor 3-0 aggregate), Tavria (beat Slaven Belupo 5-5 on away goal rule) and Valencia (beat Lens 6-2 agg.), progressing to the UEFA Cup.

Erik Johansson returns from his loan spell at Sandared after starting in 3 games for that side.

retired_yolander

Wednesday 28/8 -02:

Playing in the Swedish Cup we were drawn against Allsvenskan (Swedish Premiership) giants AIK from Solna, Stockholm. Although playing at home I have no greater hopes of even rocking them the slightest. I play almost the same team as in the last game, but with two changes. Simon Ung is back from suspension and reclaims his place in goal. Wiklund is exchanged for Hansson, who takes the right midfield position, while Ahlström moves down into the right back position. The tactic is a defensive 4-4-2 type of style and our only hope is to beat them on a counter attack whilst keeping a clean sheet, I reckon.

Sirius vs. AIK
Swedish Cup Group 7 Second Round

Attendance: 4963 (Studenternas IP, Uppsala).
Weather: Drizzle, 15°C.

Sirius (4-4-2): Ung (c) – M.Johansson, Karlsson, Poskiparta, Ahlström – Eroglu, Claesson, B.Eriksson, Hansson – Arnesson, Thorsell.

Match Notes: Ung was put to the test from the very start, making several good saves. On the header from Daniel Hoch he had to capitulate however. AIK now seemed happy with their lead and not much happened before Svante Samuelsson of AIK climbed above Simon Ung to head home a free kick, 0-2. At the end of the half we had two great chances to score (a free kick from Eroglu and a header from Hansson after a corner), but Daniel Andersson in the AIK goal saved both superbly. Felt I had nothing to loose so I instructed my team to press forward in the second half. As AIK were content with the result we could create some chances, the best a furious strike by Thorsell saved by Andersson around the hour mark. However, the game ended without us scoring any goals, but all in all we did perform well against superior opponents and should not need to feel ashamed of this loss.

Subs: Wiklund (On for Ahlström, 68), Pongrugthai (On for Hansson, 68), H.Eriksson (On for Arnesson, 68).

Playing AIK almost 5000 turned up, despite dreary weather. That should do our strained economy some good! The game? Well, we never had a chance, but we did create some chances and only lost with two goals - that’s always something I guess…

End Result: Sirius - AIK 0-2 (0-2).
Man of Match: Benjamin Kibebe, AIK (8).
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30/8 -02: Johan Claesson rejects a contract offer, negotiations continue. Erik Johansson joins Lomma on a one month long loan deal.

31/8 -02: The road to the European Championship 2004 in Portugal has now started. The future hosts followed up their World Cup victory by travelling to Liechtenstein and hammering the hosts, 7-0 in a friendly game. Trevor Francis first day at work as England manager ended in a 3-1 home humiliation to Russia. Sweden meanwhile looked like beating Holland, but a late van Nistelrooy strike earned the guests a point.

retired_yolander

1/9 -02: Antouman Jallow sold to Landskrona for £ 40,000. I could finally sell my out of favour and transfer listed central defender Jallow, and received a very good price too!
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Sunday 1/9 -02:
After ending our Cup adventures, it was now time to play an important and difficult away game against Essinge. As we are tracing behind the top duo Lidingö and Valsta/Syrianska, we must go out and try and win this game by playing offensively, despite away field disadvantage. Pongrugthai is back again after injury and can start this game - which in turn means Hansson will start on the bench. Otherwise no changes.

Essinge vs. Sirius

Attendance: 1819 (Kristineberg, Stockholm).
Weather: Dry, 10°C.

Sirius (4-4-2): Ung (c) – M.Johansson, Karlsson, Poskiparta, Ahlström – Eroglu, Claesson, B.Eriksson, Pongrugthai – Arnesson, Thorsell.

Match Notes: We started the game best and created quality chances. Around the half hour Eroglu first tried to float the ball over the onrushing keeper, but saw the effort deflected wide, minutes later he had a good header on goal saved. Mattias Thorsell also had good chances, but failed to score. Instead it was Essinge that took the lead just before the half time interval, against the flow of the play, courtesy of a Martin Keos header. We didn’t create much in the second half and in the last ten minutes I tried an extremely offensive 3-4-3 tactic. It almost resulted immediately, but Henrik Eriksson’s effort hit the post. It turned out to be the last chance of the game as Essinge skilfully held on to the ball for the remainder of time.

Subs: H.Eriksson (On for Thorsell, 67), Wiklund (On for M.Johansson, 82).

We dominated the game, but still lost - sore, sore… This might just be the decisive loss that will rob us of any hopes of promotion. Six points behind Lidingö with only 8 rounds left to be played - it doesn’t look good, that’s for sure!

End Result: Essinge - Sirius 1-0 (1-0).
Man of Match: Martin Keos, Essinge (8).

East Svealand Results: Essinge vs. Sirius 1-0, Forssa vs. Visby 1-3, Sandvikens IF vs. Slätta 3-1, Skiljebo vs. Lidingö 0-3, Spårvägen vs. Topkapi 2-0, Väsby vs. Valsta/Syrianska 4-4.
Current League Position = 3rd.
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4/9 -02: Kelvin Kerali joins Frändefors on a month long loan deal.

retired_yolander

Sunday 8/9 -02:

Tweak my 4-4-2 tactical formation slightly to make it more offensive. The attacking wingers both pushing forward, while attacking, so that they function as forward wingers. Changes from the last game is Mats Johansson’s deportation to the bench, while Ahlström covers the left back slot. Mats has been playing very poorly of late and although I know he can do better I simply can’t afford any under performing players on the pitch. Wiklund in turn fills Ahlström’s original right back position. Thomas Arnesson is another under performing player that has been dropped for this game. Henrik Eriksson reclaims his forward position.

Sirius vs. Sandvikens IF

Attendance: 947 (Studenternas IP, Uppsala).
Weather: Dry 1°C.

Sirius (4-4-2): Ung (c) – Ahlström, Karlsson, Poskiparta, Wiklund – Eroglu, Claesson, B.Eriksson, Pongrugthai – H.Eriksson, Thorsell.

Match Notes: The game starts in a slow pace. Henrik Eriksson has a couple of shots sent wide, but not much else of interest happens - until all of a sudden - Sandviken midfielder Andreas Rinnström explodes forward and drives mercilessly the ball into the net, 0-1. I try and get my team forward, but it’s Sandviken that create the best chances of scoring, before the whistle announces half time. At the start of the second half it’s obvious that Sandviken decided to try and defend their lead with every means available. To my enormous disappointment however, we continued to create absolutely nothing. Fact is that it was only several brilliant saves by Ung later on, that kept us in the game at all. Rather than us creating any late goal scoring opportunities, it’s Sandviken once again that come close - Rinnström hitting the bar in the dying minutes. Through the entire game we had not even a single shot on goal. Dreadful!

Subs: Fällström (On for Claesson, 63), Hansson (On for Ahlström, 80), Arnesson (On for H.Eriksson, 80).

Embarrassing performance by the entire team except for my assistant manager in goal, Simon Ung, who deservedly was voted man of match for his many exceptional saves. Unfortunately this fact only underlines Sandviken‘s dominance over the game. Sandviken out-played and out-performed my side in every aspect, this time around. Will have to try yet another tactic for the next game - judging from this performance the current tactic is definitely not working. Starting to loose some faith in my players, we are looking worse for every game played. Any hopes of promotion are now gone for sure…

End Result: Sirius - Sandvikens IF 0-1 (0-1).
Man of Match: Simon Ung (9).

East Svealand Results: Lidingö vs. Väsby 3-2, Sirius vs. Sandvikens IF 0-1, Slätta vs. Skiljebo 3-0, Topkapi vs. Forssa 4-2, Valsta/Syrianska vs. Spårvägen 2-4, Visby vs. Essinge 3-1.
Current League Position = 4th.
-----------------------------------

retired_yolander

Needed a drink after the game. Feeling rather depressed with results of late. Don’t even want to think of when we actually scored a goal last - so many match minutes that I can’t even count them. Big changes are necessary! But how can I change things with the meagre means available to me? Brooding on my options available and the future ahead I never noticed that my wallet had disappeared. Pick-pocketed! Arrg, just what I needed… This led to a slightly embarrassing episode when I was to pay for the glasses of whiskey I had been engulfing, whilst pondering on matters ahead. Although not a regular at this particular bar, the bartender was fortunately a football fan and aware of who I was. He started a tab for me and not before long I was to become a regular. Nice atmosphere to relax in after a days work. A shot or two of whiskey and suddenly I make some of my best reflections.

This particular week I had a lot to reflect about. Drew out a new tactical formation on the lines of a 5-3-2 attacking tactic. I also made a critical evaluation of the squad available. As it no longer seems likely that we’ll be promoted, I must look at the future instead. It is still necessary to try and get the economy in check, which means selling players, but at the same time the squad needs strengthening. Without any money available I’ve instead gone with the tactic of having my two scouts off looking for fresh new talents in Northern Europe. Finding promising youngsters, that won’t cost anything to add to my ranks and that won’t be a big burden on the wage bill, has now become a priority. Will also try and use what is left of this season to hand some of the youngsters at the club some valuable first team experience. We are currently 10 points from the relegation zone with 7 rounds to be played, so I don’t think we’ll be risking anything in that respect. With youngsters at the club gaining some on the pitch experience this season - I’m hoping they’ll be able to take steps forward in their development and perhaps help us achieve promotion next season instead. This season seems a lost cause, with Lidingö running away in the top (9 points ahead at the moment) and us dropping down to fourth position.