Just to provide some summary of season 66.
Unfortunately, the consolation tournament format is quite dull, and there is not much at stake for smaller teams like us. Out quality gets us to a point, where we have nice chances to make it into playoffs, but every further step is extremely difficult to achieve.
This was also the case in the just-finished season. We managed to win what was required from us, and didn't win games, where we were an underdog. The most difficult win was achieved just in at the start of the season against Argentina
(76732), but even that was a game with the home court advantage, so I silently expected the game to be easier than it actually was.
We had some problems with injuries and bad game shapes, especially from our big men. Dallius and Börjesson, who are our leaders among high players, were absent for many of the later games, which resulted in somewhat lesser resistance against stronger teams. The most important game of the season was played against Estonia in the playoffs
(77288). Unfortunately, also here we couldn't count on the aforementioned veterans, which probably cost us a victory.
Overall, the past season was average for us result-wise. Although we finished at the 4th place in the S65 european championships, we still didn't improve our rating enough to be seeded 4th for the upcoming EC. But our group, which consists of Lithuania, Italy, Estonia, Ukraine, Denmark, Armenia, Azerbaijan and us, still allows us to aim for higher places, althouth top 2 are probably out of reach.
I must emphasize, that although results of each and every season are important to me, I see my involvement as a long term project. I have monitored and coordinated the progress of younger players, and currently we can be very optimistic about the progress of 18-23 year olds. This generation will most likely get one or more levels above the quality of the current generation. However, even players, who are currently in the NT, are still young and will play together for a long time. We have now lost
Tommy Fyhrhult, who managed to get on the very top of all time appearance and points list, and will loose
Peter Borjesson after the following season. But afterwards, the core will be very young and the quality of the NT will be decent enough to be competitive.
As you may see, I am again enrolled at the NT elections, and I hope you will again elect me for the role of Sweden NT manager.