The failed Swedish experiment | Goodbye Gustav

Two summers ago, when Posh’s purse strings were pulled tighter, meaning we were struggling to compete financially in the domestic market, Darragh MacAnthony tried a new approach. 

For the first time in his time at the club, DMAC began to scour the continent for players with skillsets that would translate well to League One. 

His search landed him in Sweden, where he decided to take a chance on Oscar Wallin and Gustav Lindgren.

Photo Credit : Joe Dent / Peterborough United

Between them, the pair cost Posh a significant amount of money, money, money, most of which has now slipped through MacAnthony’s fingers. 

In the end, Darragh had to sound the SOS, and send Wallin and Lindgren back to Sweden, so I say thank you for the football to them both, however I also want to reflect on what we have learned from this. 

Why didn’t it work? 

To be up to the level in League One, you have to be good enough technically, physically and mentally. 

Unfortunately for the Swedes, they lacked massively in the latter two. Wallin was decent technically, often carrying the ball out from defence and beating players while doing it. 

We had proof that Gustav had potential, as when he did score, he took his goals well, however he was unable to produce that regularly, meaning that he cannot have the title of a ‘good finisher’.

Physically, the Swedes struggled massively. Oscar Wallin would get frequently rag-dolled by the stronger strikers at League One level, and although he was quick, he won nowhere near enough physical duels, which resulted in him being a constant point of weakness at the back. 

Fotmob statistics show that Wallin was weak in the air and struggled to win his duels.

Gustav Lindgren supposedly had Premier League level vision when it came to making runs, however he was so easily rough-housed by English defenders that he very rarely managed to peel off and make the runs. 

He also could not hold up the ball, something that often led to Posh attacks breaking down, particularly under Darren Ferguson. 

Mentally, Wallin obviously really struggled, and that is why he has now announced his retirement from football. 

Gustav was mentally strong off the pitch - he was a hard worker with a great attitude which made him popular amongst teammates and staff alike. 

However, on the pitch, he often overthought things, missing chances that should really be instinctive for professional strikers. 

Photo Credit : Joe Dent / Peterborough United

My verdict 

The Swedish experiment categorically was a failure. We signed two young players with the hopes that they would kick on and have a major positive impact in our first team, neither of them did that. 

Gustav Lindgren has had somewhat of a resurgence of late, but that should not blind Posh fans to the immensely frustrating period that preceded that. (I also think Luke Williams is a genius that could even get a couple of goals out of me!). 

We made a loss on Wallin, we paid his salary when he wasn’t playing, and paid a transfer fee that we were not able to recoup. 

I am not sure the fee received for Lindgren, although we spent £500,000 on him so I can’t imagine it is a hugely profitable one. 

I liked both of the Swedish players’ personalities, I thought they were hard-working, good professionals and so wish them both well in life.

However, we have to label the Swedish experiment a waste of time and money. 

Hey, at least we answered that age old question: “Does the Swedish second division translate well to the third tier of English football?” 

No, Darragh. No it does not.