Prophecy Lite? [2027]

With 5 games to go the title seemed unlikely, although not impossible. We were in the fight for automatic promotion or a playoff just like last season though. So in a way we seemed to be potentially fulfilling a 'lite' version of the prophecy - 3rd place finishes leading to some sort of success the season after.

Our form at the end wasn't anything special but we held onto 3rd place to grab a playoff spot for the 2nd season running. At this point I should be pleased. We had performed above expectations, well above, two seasons running considering we had one of the lowest reps and smallest budgets in the league. All this alongside having to sell our two best players. But honestly I was just nervous. Losing in the playoffs would crush me.

This season we had Brage, who had gone up last year. Probably the best opponents we could get from our point of view.

Playoffs

Two goals and a clean sheet put us in a commanding position against a team that looked ordinary. We then followed it up with a 1-1 draw away. They went ahead and we didn't equalise until the 89th minute through Broberg, again, so it looked a little dodgy at times.

But that was it we had been promoted to the Swedish top flight!

In the process I managed to get the Manager of the Year award too. Not bad, not bad at all.

End of Season Review

We had definitely punched above our weight. The team pulled together well though despite the loss of key players. The new players in didn't quite fill the gap but it was enough.

I'll be honest I don't have a great deal of confidence for next year. We've done well against top flight sides in the cup, or even relegated sides but the squad is small, young and doesn't have very many players that I would consider top flight. They are all very replaceable players (Sorry Wallinder!) but the problem for me (not for them) is I doubt I can bring many decent replacements in. Our rep is lagging behind us, we're not very rich and the players that are interested have inflated prices.

I'll do what I can and see how we performed. But I think relegation straight back down is on the cards, and I'm not attached enough to the club for that. I'll be keeping an eye out for opportunities elsewhere.

Steady as she goes: Consistency for Vasteras [2027]

I had been a bit doom and gloom before with the sale of Wallgren but it seemed a little premature. Despite losing his goals the rest of the team stepped up. I don't think anyone took over directly but the extra goals got spread around. We weren't quite making up for the loss but our goal difference improved as the defence tightened up a little - so overall there was an improvement.

4th wasn't bad at this stage.

A potential hiccup arose though. Posing the same question as before. Would we push for promotion or become a selling club? Bids came in from all over for Alexandersson. I was hoping we could sell and still push for promotion.

I managed to offload him for £250k and another 30% sell on. The money got reinvested fast. First of all the board agreed to improve the youth facilities for £350k and then I brought in three players.

Jijdso and Niscosia for the AMC and ST role - young and promising but pricey. Holmberg was proven at the leve below, and whilst not cheap would hopefully shore things up front whilsts we got on without Alexandersson.

The sale demonstrated something a little worrying as well. Qviding had £250k to waste on a single player. They were in the same division and much lower. Mid-table Elite mediocrity was their standard at the moment yet they had much more financial muscle then we could hope to have at this stage. We were very much minnows.

Promotion Push or Selling Club? [2027]

We had just missed out on promotion the season before so now we had to build and push on. Automatic promotion would have been nice but still a bit of an ask with the players available. That said we had 'the prophecy' behind us. Finishing 3rd normally resulted in the title the season after. Admittedly at the level below but maybe it would apply here?

I had hoped that the high finish would boost our rep, and it had, but not to the point of attracting better players. As a club despite the rise our rep was still lower than some teams in the divisions below. It would be a case of recruiting naive youth I think.

My worries from the end of the season were further confirmed when bids for Wallgren and Alexandersson came in. I managed to dodge the Alexandersson ones for the moment as they were too low but when a £250k bid came in for Wallgren I started to cave. I managed to negotiate it up to £300k with a 30% sell on but it was still a big loss.

The money helped though and the club accountant seemed happier. Even after I got the board to improve youth recruitment to excellent. I reinvested a little in some young players as well (though only around 20k total).





Draskic came in as a long term replacement on the left. Hopefully he'd fit in well.

Rubarth was there to compete with Broberg and now Alexandersson for the ST role.

Bjorklund gave us a bit more cover in midfield and looked very promising.

So...on with the season. How well we do depends on if we can replace the goals of Wallgren I think.