Football Season Guide

Trelleborgs are back in the big time after a six year hiatus, and it has been far from plain sailing in the time they've been away. Having had many good memories of previous Allsvenskan stays, they have recently tasted third division football before their Allsvenskan return has been secured by back to back promotions. Few expected them to have enough to beat Jonkopings Sodra over two legs in the relegation play off matches, but they sailed through and have been rewarded with an Allsvenskan spot. It will take a lot of good fortune and good team spirit if they are to have any chance of keeping their place though. Head coach Patrick Winqvist definitely has a job on his hands this season, with the Trelleborg squad looking among the thinnest in the Swedish top flight. He will have a plan where his side will be targeting points in specific games, and while there will be some important clashes with the sides in and around them at the foot of the league, there will be plenty of fixtures where Trelleborgs simply have nothing to lose. Nothing whatsoever will be expected of them against the likes of Malmo, AIK and Djurgarden, and the newly promoted side should just relish the prospect of coming up against the biggest clubs in the division and just have a right good go at it. They have been quite rightly tipped to struggle this season, with many pre-season forecasts sending them straight down again. And with injuries to key players like Mattias Hakansson and Salif Camara-Jonsson, both expected to miss the entire season, few would argue about the glum forecasts. It really is a terrible shame that two of the first names on Trelleborgs team sheet will play little or no part in their return to the top flight, but Winqvist will know it gives a chance for other players to step up. They will need someone to fill in, that's for sure.