Football Season Guide

Orebro

In


Martin Broberg (mid) - Odd, Jake Larsson (mid) - Hammarby, Viktor Prodell (att) - Elfsborg, Daniel Björkman (def) - BK Forward, Dennis Collander (mid) - Skiljebo, Johan Bertilsson (mid) - Dalkurd

Out


Brendan Hines-Ike (def) - KV Kortrijk, Sebastian Ring (def) - Grimsby, Nahir Besara (mid) - Al-Feiha FC, Victor Sköld (att) - Orgryte, Kennedy Igboananike (att) - Al Hazm,

Orebro completed a decent 2018 campaign in the Swedish top tier, and there's no doubt the ninth place was a fair reflection of the work Axel Kjall did in his first full season in charge at Behrn Arena. The question is whether Orebro can make the step up to the to half of the table, as there was a gigantic nine point gap between themselves and GIF Sundsvall in eighth. But that must surely be the next step to take for a club that have fair to limited resources, but will fancy their chances against at least half of the teams in the Allsvenskan this year. The big loss is Kennedy Igboananike up front, with the player tempted by a new possibly more lucrative adventure in Saudi Arabian football. His lethal presence up front will be missed, but his ill discipline might not be. Viktor Prodell has been drafted in as the new number nine, and he is an experienced Allsvenskan performer who might have stagnated at Elfsborg. A new challenge might inspire him to become one of the signings of the season.

Target


The target this year must be to keep improving and not become complacent. It would be too easy to dismiss Orebro as a mid-table Allsvenskan filler but the club have more to them than that. Kjall has freshened up the squad on the budget made available to him, and the club look steady and well organised from the outside looking in. If they can produce solid and steady performances on the pitch, then they should be the pick of the mid-table teams this season. Prediction: 9th