Sorry, a bit more length now, as it's our first apperance ever in the top division.
Akropolis, Swedish Allsvenskan
Board, fans: battle bravely
Media: well, you can battle (14th)
Odds: why bother turning up? 300-1
In: 9 for 275K, including 250K record-signing DM
Out: 8, for 230K
My limited reputation/funds mean that I can either sign 2 key players or a key player + youngsters. I do the latter with the thought in mind that if we drop, I'll rebuild the squad based on 18-21 year olds.
---
Club turns pro, facilities upgraded, scouts off to Scandinavia.
Pre-season starts with Big Fat Greek breaking down with damged cruciate ligaments. Out for 7-9 months. Captain out.
Continues with three wingers and a centre back going down with injuries varying between 2-6 months
Our first ever Allsvenskan game is against Elfsborg at home. They hand us our ass, but after being 2-0 down we find two lucky goals, and equalise. First point! \o/ First win comes two rounds later against Sundsvall.
We kind of random-generate results: thrash Djurgardens 4-0 :eek:, lose to Hammarby 6-3, lose to Norrköping 0-2, demolish Enköpings 4-1. Just a usual month. The problem is (as I realise more than halfway through) that the opposition runs through our midfield. Some tweaks, and defence tightens up a little bit.
As Enköpings and GIF Sundsvall are sitting hopelessly bottom, we are pretty much safe from the direct drop, but are main candidates for playouts. Four matches to go we play an accursed match at Gefle: we play much better, but lose 2-1 thanks to a goal in the last minute.
Gefle is 3 points clear, and our run-in is terrible (we duly lost all matches). Relegation playoff time!
---
The opposition is Kalmar FF. Away we go up early, they come back with a huge goal, and go in front in the last minute of the first half. Second half is terrible: another long range-drive finds the back of the net, and they score their 4th in the 88th minute. 1-4
Home leg: we play like berserkers, do anything but finding the net. My AMR brakes the deadlock after 37 mins. We go 2 up in the 67th, get a penalty, but the Big Fat Greek (who has just returned) misses it! Ten minutes later we get our third, and take the lead on away goals.
They are then awarded a fake penalty (I complained, FA was silent
), and score
In the very last minute after a huge mixup Big Fat Greek finds the net, so it's 4-1 and OT!
They score in the 99th minute, we waste four chances, and that's it
/o\
Down we go.
---
Pos.: 12 (out of 14) P: 28 W: 8 D: 3 L: 15 42-54, 27 pts
Out in the relegation playoffs vs Kalmar FF, 1-4, 4-2 AET
Swedish Cup
Got through the accursed round, but got beaten in the last 16 by IFK Malmö.
---
Top goalscorer, best avg., Fans' POY: young Swedish ST, 14 goals, 7.14 (off to Norway for 500K at the end of the year)
---
No-one gets a contract extension, re-buliding time. We have about 7-8 major talents, I just hope the board will have enough patience.
---
Finances: other expenses shot up in the Allsvenskan, meaning we lost about 100K/month
Well, we might get rid of this in the second tier. Problem is that I'll have to do a sellout once (or get a 2M-deal), because the stadium badly needs extra places (we will always lose money with our tiny ground).
Very enjoyable season, unlucky in the end. The playout home leg was one of the most memorable FM-matches ever for me.
Linear Mode
