During the first half of the Allsvenskan, Scotsman Robbie Ure played every match as a central striker - or nine as the role is also called - for IK Sirius. He scored 15 goals in 15 games before being sold to Spanish side Sevilla in the summer.
When Ure left, Sirius led the Allsvenskan with a 14-point margin to runner-up Hammarby. They had 13 wins and 2 draws, but not a single loss.
After Ure's move, the spring sovereigns have five losses, two draws and four wins in the Allsvenskan. The lack of an experienced central striker has been one of the experts' main explanatory models.
The team from Uppsala replaced Ure with the Dutchman Jesper Uneken, but he was injured and has not been able to play in more than five games, three of which from the start. They also signed Finn Otso Liimatta, but he too has had injury problems and hasn't played more than a total of 74 minutes. On Monday, Liimatta told UNT he will miss the rest of the season.
- We felt when we sold Robbie that Jesper and Otso were his replacements. But we also wanted the possibility to use Otso in other positions. Then we felt that we wanted to bring in another nine who gets to practice it and above all gets to build for next year, says Jonathan Ederström, who is manager of the Sirius men's team.
That's why on 1 September the club signed a 19-year-old from IFK Norrköping, who spent the first half of the season as a sporadic substitute in the second division, without scoring any goals.
In the press release where the new acquisition Åke Andersson was presented, Jonathan Ederström said that the autumn would serve as an adaptation period to the Allsvenskan pace, but that the club saw untapped potential in the striker.
- I was happy, of course. It is a big club and I know that many players have come here and developed a lot, says Andersson.
He didn't get a long adjustment period before Uneken's and Liimatta's injuries put him in a tight spot. Since the beginning of October, when the Allsvenskan's final phase began after a three-week national team break, Andersson has started as the lone striker in three of Sirius' four games.
- I believe in myself a lot and I know what I'm going for, but it wasn't something I imagined when I signed: that I would start immediately, Andersson says.
During that period, the team's lead was reduced from eight points to three, and the experts on the television broadcasts have not been shy about what they think.
- It's not Åke Andersson's fault, but he doesn't keep up at this level as ninth in a team that will win SM gold. It is noticeable. I'm sorry to say it, but it's noticeable, said Alexander Axén, for example, in TV4's broadcast before Thursday's match between Hammarby and Sirius.
How does it feel to hear those kinds of statements?
- You might hear a little, but I don't know. It is clear that it will be easy to compare with Robbie (Ure). But I just try to practice and develop every day. I believe in myself, says Åke Andersson.
He is not completely satisfied with his performance, but he takes the situation in stride.
- It has been pretty calm anyway. It has been tough matches, but I feel in shape. The practices have been good, so it's just fun.
Sirius has been successful in developing central strikers in recent years. The latest was Robbie Ure, but previously it has been Yousef Salech and Wessam Abou Ali. The future will tell how Åke Andersson's development at the club will turn out.
- I think you can see what he can offer the times he has succeeded in the Allsvenskan matches. It is reminiscent of how we have used our nines in recent years, especially in the attacking game. He is also a loyal defensive player, which is important to us, says Jonathan Ederström and continues:
- It is clear that as much playing time as there has been in a short time, we were perhaps not quite prepared for. But that was part of our backup plan.
On Sunday, Hammarby won away from home against Malmö and took the league lead from Sirius, who has played one less game, however. On Tuesday evening, Sirius meets bottom team Halmstad at home. Then at least a draw is required for the Uppsala team to take back their league lead and maintain command in the fight for the SM gold.
Maybe Sirius coach Andreas Engelmark chooses to use a winger as a central striker, as he did in Sirius' last match. Maybe Åke Andersson will get another chance. At the same time, the men's team manager Jonathan Ederström tells us that Jesper Uneken is close to a return, which statistically increases the team's gold chances. With him in the starting eleven, Sirius has only won.
- I am so fucking proud of this group of players and leaders. Regardless of what happens at the end, we will sum up the season as a huge overachievement, says Jonathan Ederström.
