After going so close to the title last year, 2016 would prove to be another season of ‘what if’s’ for IFK as they once again failed to add to their collection of silverware. In Jorgen Lennartsson’s second season in charge of the club he made few signings, trusting that the side that went so close in 2015 would be able to make the necessary improvements. It also transpired throughout the course of the season that the club may well have over extended somewhat and needed to get some wages of the payroll. One loss that would never be compensated for was Gustav Svensson and the club certainly missed his physical presence in the centre of the pitch. Although IFK had few periods in which their football was significantly below par, they also never really got into top gear at any time and put a solid run together. Their performances against other top six sides was very poor as their only win against any other top six team came late in the season against AIK. With a record like that the title was never going to be an option. But Lennartsson’s side were also caught trying to prioritise between the league and Europa League where the two time winners of the Uefa Cup almost made it into the group stage of its successor competition. After their defeat to Azerbaijani side Qarabag the club were unable to get going again. There was a definite sense that their confidence had been knocked and they simply could not make up the points they dropped in the league while they were focusing on their Europa League ties. Fortunately for Lennartsson the poor form of other sides around them allowed the blue-whites to take fourth spot which may qualify them for the Europa League next season. Over the winter the squad could change massively from what it is now a few players will likely leave the club through retirement or their contracts not being extended. But their better players such as Soren Rieks, Jakob Ankersen and Emil Salomonsson could also get poached by bigger teams. Those three were probably the pick of their players this year with Rieks the top performer of those. In the close season the club will need to find a more consistent source of goals as that has been the area that has let them down most this year. Nevertheless if they can keep the core team and add some quality in attack IFK could well have a squad capable of challenging for the title again next year.
