Avoiding promotion is bs. In my first season, I was almost last, but hey, it was my first season and I begun playing in mid season, took me time to get the ropes and stuff, in the second season I was 3rd and (obviously) entered CL which was disaster but still, 3rd place in the group. And in 3rd season I finished 3rd altough, I fu**ed up when I put a ML without an MR, which gave me like 2-3 defeats after us 3 (top 3 teams) being undefeated and having some chances for the title. As I said, that ML gave me bad results but at least I finished in top 4.
Right now, I've had some really bad and weird defeats. For a week or so, I'm undefeated, still second, won against the first placed team 3-1 at home, he won 2-0 in the first part of season. The difference is 5 points and he has like 2 next matches against teams under 9th place just like me, except I have to face a guy who wants promotion and is 7th. Still, I hope I can win the league finally!