Keep the faith, Assyriska

By: Luka | August 25th, 2009

This is epilogue is not an obituary to our season and ambitions for promotion, in contrast to the sentiment of a growing number of supporters. Instead, I wish to reiterate the strong position we still command in the league, and how a winning run of one or two games can spark a chain reaction of further victories. Now, if there is one thing I have learned from the last two months, it’s that performances are at times weakly correlated (at best) with results. A lot is down to luck and merely random happenings on the day which cannot reasonably be explained. An example of this was in our previous game against Angelholms, where we were totally outclassed, yet almost won the match, only to concede an equaliser in the 90th minute.

Furthermore, had it not been for the return of Andreas Haddad and the circus of emotions accompanying it and the fact that he was ironically being spurred on by some (if not all) Zelge supporters to prove Assyriska’s management wrong and send a message to the board for their perceived failings by scoring against us, then we probably would have won that game as well.

Perhaps what has exasperated our supporters so much has been the form of Aziz Corr Nyang – a subject discussed so fervently that writing thesis would not be such an outrageous idea. Aziz has 6 goals in 5 games since his transfer earlier this season. His replacement, Kristoffer Nafver meanwhile has one goal to show for himself from 8 appearances, mostly from the bench. Aziz’s absence has resulted in Assyriska having to alter a winning formula. Nahir Besara, a right footed central midfielder, has been forced to (unnaturally) fill this left wing position. Now, if we were playing a more narrow and balanced midfield, this wouldn’t represent much of a problem. However Assyriska bases its game on effective wing play, in part due to the impotent central midfield partnership of Ostlundh and Toompuu. Anyway, that is just my attempt to try to sound technical and tactically knowledgeable (hopefully I fooled you).

Back to the epilogue.

I emphasise that we are still (yes, still) only two wins away from automatic promotion despite going on a horror run of form (curiously correlated with the inception of this blog…..) of 1 win in 6 matches. Also, to put things simply, just look at the table in conjunction with our next 2 matches:

- Away to Sirius (3rd from bottom)
- Home to Vaslunds (who are dead last and look complete fodder in the league)

The situation painted over the past month and a half is precarious, but certainly not impossible or particularly damning. Assyriska is creating chances and not really conceding that many goals. Sure, it’s a sign of a good team when you win games you’ve played poorly in – but what about the antithesis – a team which is playing good but not winning? Assyriska generally finds itself with that mantle and in my opinion, it’s better than just being crap. So, heed this message o ye faithful:

Postpone the riot act, obituaries and calls for a boycott until AFTER these two matches.

If we fail to gain 6 points, then by all means prepare your eulogies, head to the nearest florist and pick out the blackest shirt in your wardrobe, because it will certainly be time to mourn the passing of our chances of promotion for yet another season.

But, in the meantime (and after we thrash these two teams) all Assyrians following Assyriska must stay proud, vigilant and optimistic (if not cautiously) and vanquish this fallacy of fatalism – we are not destined for promotion to the Allsvenskan – it takes unceasing support (’boycott’ has been uttered impulsively), constructive criticism and patience. Consolidation and unity is key in these times.