Football Season Guide

GIF Sundsvall survived the prospect of relegation last season by a thread, finishing 13th in the league. And there is not much optimism that they will be able to better that ahead of the 2017 season either. The main target for GIF Sundsvall seems to be survival and keeping at least three teams behind them in the Allsvenskan table. There lie the ambitions of the club at present. Head coach Joel Cedergren has been at the club since 2013, and he knows exactly what the club is about, their prospects and aspirations. He knows the framework within he has to implement the belief that GIF Sundsvall can remain a top flight club, and complete faith in his methods will be vital as the club face another tough Allsvenskan campaign. If they are to stand any chance, goalkeeper Tommy Naurin has to have the same incredible campaign he had in 2016. In many ways Naurin's performances was the difference between GIF Sundsvall sinking or floating last season, and he was rightly named one of the best Allsvenskan goalkeepers of last season. If Marcus Danielsson can keep himself injury free his experience in the back four will be incredibly vital for the team's chances in tight games. David Myrestam's knee injury looks to be keeping him out for the first couple of weeks of the season at least, and that is a huge defensive blow for the club. They need as much experience and routine as they can muster at the back, and injuries to key players is the very last GIF Sundsvall need. There are not many internationals at GIF Sundsvall, but the one they do have, Luxembourg's midfielder Lars Krogh Gerson, plays an important part in the middle of the park for "Giffarna." Linius Hallenius is the forward that has been tasked with firing GIF Sundsvall out of trouble, but he has not had any sort of prolific goalscoring season since leaving the club back in 2009. Maybe a return to familiar roots will inspire him? It just all looks a little bit thin on the ground for GIF Sundsvall this campaign. Will Tommy Naurin have the career defining season he had last year in goal? Do they have enough bite in midfield? And where are the goals going to come from? There are too many questions and the squad looks a little bit too thin. It will be tough keeping three teams behind them this season. Teams like Sirius and AFC Eskilstuna operate on the same kind of shoestring budget, but those two teams will be buoyed by competing in Allsvenskan for the first time in their history. They have nothing to lose, while GIF Sundsvall already know what's at stake. That can put them on the defensive very quickly.