After several teams looked sluggish and tired at the weekend, this midweek round could see some very random results even by the Tippeliga’s standards..
Wednesday
Fredrikstad (14th) – Lyn (16th)
One rather peculiar quirk of the current standings is that bottom of the table Lyn actually have a better goal difference than Aalesund, who are eighth. Lyn’s eight draws in fourteen games also tells a story about a team unable to catch a break.
Draw
Odd Grenland (3rd) – Strømsgodset (13th)
You may ask, why does NFN have such a soft-spot for Ronny Deila’s plucky darlings Strømsgodset? It could be the club’s decision to put their faith in youth rather than overspending on random journeymen, it could be their genuinely likable manager, it could be the presence of a sympathetic guy like Fredrik Winsnes in their midfield. Also, it could be because they seem like a nice bunch of lads, as evidenced by the fact that they haven’t had a player sent off in two years. That’s 57 games in the Tippeliga since their last red card. Bless ‘em.
Home win
Vålerenga (4th) – Bodø/Glimt (15th)
The ascent of Mad Martin’s Vålerenga to the fashionable end of the table is causing some considerable hissing, snarling, wailing and indeed gnashing of teeth behind the scenes in the Norwegian media. After all, pretty much everyone (NFN included) had declared that it was only a matter of time before the bridge enthusiast and occasional manager would have to pack his bags and go away. So far most commentators have stuck one finger in each ear and gone “LALALALALALALALALALACANTHEARYOULALALALACANTHEARYOU”, which is the only sensible thing to do really.
Home win
Start (5th) – Sandefjord (10th)
After two rather poor results (the cup-exit to Løv-Ham and the 5-0 thrashing at Stabæk) in quick succession Start-manager Knut Tørum has been forced to have a little sit-down with his players and ask them just what it is that they’re playing at. “We’re not completely off course, but we’ve hit a few rocks in the last two games,” he told TV2, no doubt delighting the locals down in Kristiansand by using such a nautical metaphor. Sandefjord most definitely are off course – after their bright start to the season they now haven’t won a game since May 6th..
Home win
Tromsø (12th) – Viking (9th)
A fluke goal from left back Trond Erik Bertelsen saved Viking-manager Uwe Rösler’s bacon against Brann at the weekend, but a 1-1 draw in the west coast derby in no way hides the fact that it’s all been a bit miserable for Viking so far this season. Still, there’s light in the end of the tunnel: This week Ragnvald Soma and Peter Ijeh are free to enter contract-discussions with other clubs under the Bosman-ruling. Tears will not be shed in Stavanger should the duo decide to depart.
Draw
Rosenborg (1st) – Stabæk (6th)
RBK-manager Erik Hamrén is getting a bit tired of all this talk about his team winning the title. “You guys in the media have been saying that we’ll win the league since we beat Vålerenga in the opening fixture, and now our opponents are starting to say the same, but these are tactical statements,” he told TV2, referring to the fact that Stabæk’s Daniel Nannskog recently told the press that he thinks RBK win it. All true Erik, except for the fact that most of us have in fact been saying that you’ll win the league since way before the season started, not just since the Vålerenga-game.
Home win
Thursday
Lillestrøm (11th) – Molde (2nd)
“We looked really tired and sluggish today”, Molde-manager Kjell Jonevret complained after their win against Fredrikstad this Sunday. No doubt he’ll be thrilled with the prospect of having to go away to a tough, physical team like Lillestrøm just a couple of days later.
Draw
Brann (7th) – Aalesund (8th)
Last week Kjetil Rekdal bemoaned (among other things) the poor standard of Tippeliga players when it comes to defensive one-on-one’s, only for his team Aalesund to go and prove his point against Rosenborg with some ridiculously slack defending. In the good city of Bergen, the local media have sussed out that in every game Brann have won this season Gambian midfieler Tijan Jaiteh has been in the starting lineup, concluding that “Jaiteh must start for Brann to win”. Perhaps the announcement of Brann’s starting 11 this afternoon should be followed by a quick trip to the bookies?
Draw
June 24th, 2009 at 4:21 am
I think Start wins inspite of their manager not because of him. He was fortunate to get off to a good beginning but now that adjustments have to be made and the squad managed to get the most out of each match he’s clueless. I’m hearing the boys can’t stand the guy so they may have already played their best football. With Goodson leaving for the USA after this match things can only get worse.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Hey, since you’ve got those awesome powers of dissing players who then turn out to play better than ever, isn’t it time you dissed Svindal Larsen some in your previews?
I mean, half the time, he’s out for the kind of injuries you keep getting on amount of being old, he also had a contract far too good for him (like Nannskog), and so on. Start piling it up on him before Odd’s next away match (one he’ll be playing in, preferably), and watch Odd take their first away win!