Gefle are probably one of the better sides to go down in the last few seasons but after a dramatic final few weeks of the season. Thomas Andersson’s side ended the season with three wins and went seven games unbeaten including draws against IFK and Elfsborg but all that was not enough to save them. What really cost Gefle this season were firstly their awful start to the campaign and secondly the number of draws they picked up, which was ultimately the joint second highest in the league. At the start of the season nothing really suggested that Gefle would have such significant problems staying up as they managed to retain most of the squad which comfortably survived last season. But after collecting just a single win by the time the league took a break for the European Championships, Roger Sandberg was sacked as the coach and replaced by Andersson. Not much changed immediately as, by the end of July, they had collected just four points from a total of 14 matches and relegation looked inevitable. But in the final 14 games of the season Andersson’s side only lost three times and that meant they were able to push Helsingborg until the final match of the season to stay up. Ultimately therefore Gefle simply got going far too late, but there are some very talented players in the team. Simon Skrabb impressed in his year on loan with the club and in midfield Jonas Lantto and Robin Nilsson played well throughout the year and only missed a single game each. In defence Joshua Nadeau and Martin Rauschenberg needed time to gel together but ultimately formed a very strong partnership. But the real star of the side was Johan Bertilsson who played every week and ended the year as their joint top scorer, even from left midfield. He scored some fine goals and will very likely stay in the Allsvenskan next season with teams known to be interested. Andersson will hope that he can keep the majority of the team together, but there will certainly be a very players who will be tempted by better offers either in Sweden or elsewhere in Scandinavia. Gefle will rue the many times in the latter third of the season that they gave up points from a winning position and that really cost them in the end. Few sides have been able to bounce immediately back into the Allsvenskan, but if they recruit well then there is a core squad in Gefle which has the potential to do so.
