Swedish season - the run-in..

with only 4 games left before the end of the Swedish season (and the onset of winter weather).. the Allsvenskan (thats the Swedish Prem.) has been a two-horse race since the resumption of games after the World Cup. Two southern sides Malmö and Helsingborg are literally tied on points /GD and are at least 10 points clear of the following pack which includes the revived Örebro and the evergreen Elfsborg (for whom 34 year old Anders Svensson is still turning in star performances.)

Mid table is a mish-mash of teams who have drawn far too many games, but includes top Stockholm side Djurgården and Gothenburg who recovered some form after a disasterous start. The shock of the season iis that AIK (now managed by Scot Alex Miller) are still struggling to stay clear of the relegation play-offs after having won the League and Cup double last year, they are in a poor state. It may be goodbye to Brommapojkarna this season. The Academy-based side who dramatically won promotion two years ago, are still providing talent (which often goes to bigger clubs..or even abroad) but have had a long list of unlucky results and an even longer list of injuries to their already depleted squad.

The next three weeks will settle all these issues

..............but it is encouraging also for the new Swedish team manager (Hamrén) who has some good talent to call upon in his preparation for 2012 and 2014 international comps. They may not be good enough to get a medal in the Euro.comp, but could be back as a force to be reckoned with in the World Cup 2014.

Lets all hope AIK get relegated....the whole country would be satisfied.

Otherwise a pretty awfull season that no one has really dominated with the top two teams scraping through most games.

Just look at the results in europe to show you what level they are at!

any players who have stood out or suprising performances?

Are there any English players playing overthere in the Swedish League(s)?

Are there any English players playing overthere in the Swedish League(s)?

Ex bmth and skate james keene plays for Elfsborg and a londoner called kenny pavey plays for AIK Stockholm.

Ex bmth and skate james keene plays for Elfsborg and a londoner called kenny pavey plays for AIK Stockholm.

James Keene is 24 and the better of the two. Ex Pompey youth, he had loan periods at Kidderminster ?..Bournemouth and Boston without distinguishing himself, but went on loan in 2006 to GAIS (one of the lesser known Gothenburg sides) and.... (not surprisingly) was a hit with 10 goals from 27 starts.

A year later he moved to the more fashionable Elfsborg club (alongside Anders Svensson) and has scored 16 times from 61 starts.

He's fairly tough and had some skill but should really score more considering the service he gets from his midfielders.

Kenny Pavey is 31 and was a youth player at Millwall but didn't kmake the grade and moved onto Sittingbourne ? before making a move to Swedish side Ljungskile. He netted 22 times in 117 games (not bad for a winger) and later moved to AIK in Stockholm in 2006 and has got 12 goals in his 97 games.

I'm not over-impressed and as someone who recalls the Milwall of older times, I'd say he was a typical sort from that era.