Top A-Ha moments - Week 5 Round Up

Crisis, what crisis?

The collective sigh of relief was registered as far away as Stavanger (see below) and Jan Jönsson had to be held down by his coaching staff to stop him from drifting away into the Trondheim night, such was the weight on his shoulders just lifted. Jönsson would have settled for a terrible performance and a lucky 1-0 win after an injury time own goal before the game. No wins and three defeats after four games should have been against the laws of Rosenborg physics, as unthinkable as a 2nd place under Nils Arne Eggen. But when Rosenborg finally turned it up against Vålerenga, they came dangerously close to 11.

After having their nerves settled after only 82 seconds, Michael Jamtfall racing through to score from a glorious Rade Prica flick, this was as convincing as anything they produced in their unbeaten season last year. Rosenborg out-ran, out-played and out-thought a Vålerenga team that were expected to be their toughest challenger for the title. One explanation is that Jönsson seems to have found the optimal formation and first XI for his Rosenborg team. Teenage striker Mushaga Bakenga has already got two goals this season, but it was the right time to sacrifice him together with Jönsson’s preferred 4-4-2 formation. With one quick winger – Jamtfall – and a more languid, skilful player – Daniel Fredheim Holm – on the other side, Prica relished the lone striker role he was born to play. With constant running, strength and clever positioning he bullied the Vålerenga defence both on the ground and in the air.

But it's in central midfield where the answer to Jönsson formation riddle lies. Winsnes, Henriksen and Skjelbreid have the collective experience, youthfulness, stamina, technique and passing ability to be a formidable central three this season. They still need to fin-tune the positional combinations that will optimise their own strengths, the fluidity and attacking creativity between them is very encouraging, while defensive solidity can be achieved through interception and energy rather than tough tackling.

Five points and 12th place is still unacceptable in Trondheim, but such a therapeutic experience will bring a rush of confidence before facing another team who’s improving after a slow start, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Molde™

Åge Hareide is the new Jan Jönsson

Any manager will feel sympathy for a colleague going through difficult times, but Åge Hareide must have realised that Jan Jönsson’s terrible start at Rosenborg was taking focus away from the underperformances of his Viking team.  The former Norway coach had seen them caught on the break by Vålerenga as they lost their first home game, but a solid away win against Fredrikstad and decent draw against Molde had pundits speculating that Viking were now ready to put in another gear and confirm their creditability as genuine title contenders.

Unfortunately for Hareide, his team found the reverse gear.  They absolutely collapsed in a heap of defending mistakes against Start, a 4-0 thumping making their critical fans grumble even more before the home game against Strømsgodset this week. It turned out to be another highly frustrating game for Hareide, his attack again misfiring throughout the match. As the minutes crept towards full time, Sod’s Law inevitably made a stop in Stavanger when substitute Fredrik Nordkvelle’s deflected shot trickled past Rune Jarstein in the 90th minute, giving Strømsgodset the win and putting Hareide firmly in the firing line.  He might be wise to emulate some of Jönsson’s tactical choices in the next game against bottom placed Sogndal. The veteran target man Bengt Sætherens deserves a start in the middle of the attack, and Erik Nevland could be given more freedom to wander and drop into spaces from out wide, after getting only one goal so far this season as a lone striker. Together with the encouraging, though inconsistent, performances from teenager Valon Berisha on the opposite side, there should hopefully be enough energy, trickery and speed on the flanks to provide Sætherenes with the ammunition he needs to get Hareide out of his new, Jönsson shaped hole.

Why be boring?

7-0, 1-4, 4-4, 1-1, 5-0. Lillestrøm has certainly been great entertainment value for the hard earned and highly taxed money paid  to see their games this season. If predicting which team most likely to have scored 3.6 goals per game after five rounds,  Lillestrøm would have had few takers. Having Henning Berg as a manager inevitably causes such attacking pessimism, but the former Blackburn and Man United defender is due a large amount of credit, having settled on a team and formation that has made Lillestrøm such a fascinating team this season. It’s been common sense tactics, with the club stalwart Espen Søgard now partnering another veteran, Stefán Gíslason, to create an unfussy and solid central midfield, although one that is still comfortable on the ball. They have a right side to rival any in the league, with the Tunisian winger-cum- fullback Karim Essediri and wide player Erling Knudtzon tormenting the Haugesund defence in the 2^nd half, delivering a great cross each for Anthony Ujah’s two goals.

Nosa Igiebor has been moved out wide on the left where he has been a revelation with his wonderful combination of great technique and directness. After just two goals from 26 starts last season, he now has 5 in as many games this year. His fellow Nigerian Ujah had an impressive campaign last season with 14 goals, but the striker is already halfway to overtake that tally this year and leads the goal-scoring charts. An even more encouraging sign is the partnership he’s building up with the more deep-lying forward Björn Sigurdarson. The Icelander got his first goal of the season with a fine header, but has already got five assists – with his clever movement and passing ability he is the ideal player to feed Ujah and Igiebor. The fact that these three players were all born in 1990 underlines the potential in this Lillestrøm team and why there’ll be plenty of agents  filling up the few corporate seats at Åråsen Stadium this season.  While those players will never emulate Sørgård’s 14 years at the club, the fans will just be happy to hang on for the ride as long as it last, with Lillestrøm’s rollercoaster of a season speeding up.

You first. No, you first. No, really - you first!

I’ve spoken plenty about the Expected Top Four of Molde, Vålerenga, Rosenborg , Viking and their collective poor start to the season in previous weeks (current league positions: 8th,10th,12^th and 15th respectively). Further evidence of the complete unpredictability of Tippeligaen this season came this week with Strømsgodset becoming the 4th team to hold top spot so far. Needless to say, none of the teams are a member of the disappointing four, but rather Lillestrøm, Start (only team to hold the lead twice), Tromsø and now Strømsgodset.

With none of the teams yet to occupy top spot for more than a week running, is there a serious challenger among them? Very much so. Tromsø and Lillestrøm would normally look the most likely candidates for a title push but this is very much a season where - almost - any team is only one great run away from challenging. We’ll get some indication of who that might be in the next round when we will be treated to the first real top-of-the table clash of the season; Strømsgodset hosting 2^nd placed Tromsø in Drammen.

Results

Lillestrøm            5-0          Haugesund

Sigurdarson 26

Ujah 56, 60

Igiebor 79, 86

Attn: 6 612

Brann    1-3          Molde

Mjelde 67            Diouf 10, 21

                                 Chukwu 90

Attn:  12 537

Sarpsborg 08      2-0          Start

Juhl Røn 4

Hoås 89

Attn:  4 693

Stabæk                                 3-1          Fredrikstad

Gunnarsson 25 (pen)                      Ruud Tveter 56

Ollé Ollé 29

Ondo 61

Attn: 7 459

Tromsø                2-1          Odd Grenland

Fevang 65 (OG)                 Andersson 78

Johansen 68

Attn: 4 276

Viking                    0-1          Strømsgodset

                                                   Nordkvelle 90

Attn: 10 075

Aalesund             1-0          Sogndal

Ulvestad 89

Attn: 9 705

Rosenborg          2-0          Vålerenga

Jamtfall 2

Prica 30

Attn: 15 364

Player of the week: Björn Sigurdarson, Lillestrøm

Top Scorers

7 goals: Anthony Ujah, Lillestrøm

5 goals: Rade Prica, Rosenborg

                 Nosa Igiebor, Lllestrøm               

4 goals: Pape Patè Diouf, Molde

                Davy Claude Angan, Molde

                Ola Kamara, Strømsgodset

          
League Table at the excellent Guardian.co.uk Stats Centre

Top A-ha moments - Week 4 Round up

What a Start

It was not supposed to be a very good season for Start. In 2005 they came agonisely close to become the team to topple Rosenborg after their 13 consecutive league titles, a controversially disallowed goal ten minutes from time in the last game of the season denying them that historic feat. Two years later they were relegated and while bouncing straight back up the year after, a 8th and 9th place the last two seasons were a fair indication of their current standard. They were also seemingly blessed with a common occurrence in the Norwegian game; an incompetent board. Before this season started, the Start management thought it be appropriate to send out a press release confirming that they had no plans to extend coach Knut Tørum’s contact when it expired at the end of the year. Add to that a squad with no significant improvements, and quite a few observers (ahem) predicted that the southern-most club in Norway might have a relegation fight on their hands.

Four games into their supposedly difficult season, Start is top of the league (goal difference 11-3), selling out their new stadium while still playing the quick and attractive football they have always aspired to. The most impressive display came this week with a 4-0 demolition of one of the pre-season favourites, Viking. While there will still be questions around the depth and quality of the squad, there are aspects to the team that have come together spectacularly.

Espen Hoff used to be an above-average wide attacker, but in his role behind the veteran striker Ole Martin Årst he has excelled, with his clever runs, good technique and accomplished passing creating a lethal partnership with the big, strong and direct Årst. The results are obvious, with each player getting three goals in the first four games.

Kenneth Høie has, at the age of 31, finally grown into the reliable and commanding goalkeeper his talent demanded he’d become. Having played every league game for Start the last two seasons, he now has had the continuity, experience and confidence required to be one of the best keepers in the league. Fredrik Strømstad was an integral part of the 2005 team that finished in 2nd place, but has had a torrid time at Le Mans in France over the last couple of seasons. He’s back on loan with Start until August and in his first start of the season against Viking the busy midfielder showed very encouraging signs that he’s getting back to the level of sharpness and effectiveness that has previously gained him 18 caps for Norway.

A trip away to another team that prefers attack over defence, newly promoted Sarpsborg 08, awaits Start in the next round. With no clear contenders for the title yet to emerge this season, it might not be long before there is talk down south about claiming the title they felt should have been theirs 6 years ago.

Top 4, Where Art Thou?

Start is followed in the league table by newly promoted Fredrikstad and another team that was expected to be comfortably mid-table at best this season, Strømsgodset. Tippeligaen looked a very unpredictable league before the season, the only real consensus among the pundits was that the top four places would be a real dogfight between Vålerenga, Molde, Viking and Rosenborg. While we are still only four weeks into the season, those same four teams are currently occupying 6th, 10th, 14th and 15th place respectively. Even Vålerenga has been overly reliant on a solid defence to get them their seven points so far, their obviously problem being the lack of a proven goal-scorer. Molde seem to have found that player in Davy Claude Angan who has got four goals so far, but with nine conceded it is clear where Ole Gunnar Solskjær most concentrate his efforts, even after he got his first ever win as a senior manager this week. Former national coach Åge Hareide is struggling to find the right formation and balance for his Viking team, although they have the quality and dept to climb the table rapidly if he can crack the tactical code. They surely want to rectify their embarrassing 4-0 loss to Start this weekend, but do face another tricky challenge against Strømsgodset this weekend. Then there is Rosenborg....

Jönsson’s lifeline

It is becoming increasingly difficult to not mention Rosenborg for all the wrong reasons after each round. Following their unbeaten season last year and only one league defeat in the last two seasons, they now have three losses in four games. With Vålerenga awaiting them in the next round it is not implausible that a fourth defeat could follow. The inevitable rumblings about Jan Jönsson’s work and job security have begun, especially as Rosenborg will always have a safety net ready; their legendary coach Nils Arne Eggen, who in a caretaker role steered them to the league championship last season. At the respectable age of 69, it was his 14th league championship in charge of Rosenborg, in addition to the two he won as a player.

But panic sackings are just not Rosenborg’s style, and plenty of the blame has also been divided up and given to sporting director Erik Hoftun, especially for not recruiting players of high enough quality to replace the likes of Anthony Annan, Vadim Demidov and Steffen Iversen. Jönsson is a good, attack-minded coach who will need time to shape the team in his image, and ironically it might be Rosenborg’s almost permanent status as league champions that gives him a life-line. Must Rosenborg fans would gladly trade a 16th league title since 1992 for another entry into the Champions League group stage, which they haven’t achieved since 2007. That qualification don’t start before July, and with another three months work with what is still arguably the best squad in the league, Jönsson’s Rosenborg might then finally have emerged as a the team that are at least the sum of its parts. Norwegian clubs would certainly welcome a good run for Rosenborg in Europe; Norway is currently 22nd in the UEFA co-efficient ranking, behind both Cyprus and Israel.

Defence looks like the best attack

It took 28 games until the first goalless draw of a season that has been characterised by offensive football and at times very suspect defending. 3.4 goals per game in the first 4 rounds indicates value for money for the paying supporters, especially Lillestrøm fans who so far this season has witnessed an average of 5.3 goals per game. But for all the entertainment it seems that, as usual, it is still defensive prowess that will lead to success. Of the pre-season contenders who are actually performing to a reasonable standard, it is Tromsø and Vålerenga – with 2 and 1.8 goals per game respectively – who are looking like the most credible challengers at this early stage. After the four expected contenders (see above), another solid season was expected from Tromsø after their 3rd place last season. That they were involved in that first 0-0 game of the season against newly promoted Sogndal was no surprise, and their disciplined defence should take them far this season. With offensive players that has the quality and experience to get a decent return of goals as well, they are still looking like a very credible candidate for the title.

Big crowds and loyal fans

Vålerenga – Lillestrøm at Ullevaal is always guaranteed to be one of the highest attended games of any season. The derby between the so-called ‘urbanities’ of Vålerenga and ‘country bumpkins’ of Lillestrøm (the latter a small commuting town that can be reached in 15 minutes on the express train from Oslo Central Station, the former famously filled with supporters from outside Oslo) is perhaps the biggest grudge match in Norwegian football. But 20 003 was the highest league attendance of the season by nearly 4000, and had not a large part of the population already set of for their cabins for Easter week, it would have been even more emphatic season record. We will probably not see such a big crowd until Rosenborg visit Ullevaal in late September, especially if the title is still a realistic prospect for Vålerenga.

But if Vålerenga can bring in the big crowds on big occasions, the title of the most loyal fans are currently claimed (loudly, as always) in Bergen. Rosenborg only drew 11 717 supporters to their game against Lillestrøm in round three, stopping at 116 home games in a row with an attendance over 12 000, a streak going back to 2002. Brann, who has had far less success in that period – except for their long awaited title in 2007- currently stand on 85 games home games in a row with a +12 000 crowd. They would love surpass their intense rivals in Trondheim, and can now do that in the early stages of the 2013 season. Vålerenga fans has to cast their eyes a lot further into the future. They currently only have 7 games in a row with an attendance above 12 000....

 
Week 4 – Stats


Results:

Haugesund   3-3   Brann
Sørum 8,9               Mjelde 1
Mæland 26             Ojo 35 (pen)
Guastavino 39

Attn: 5 000


Start    4-0    Viking
Hoff 3
Årst 33, 39
Kleiven 78

Attn: 11 419


Molde    3-2    Stabæk
Angan 32        Gunnarsson 70, 75
Diouf 45
Thioune 71

Attn: 9 112


Odd Grenland    2-2    Aalesund
Johnsen 58, 88            Phillips 25
                                            Orry Larsen 81

Attn: 5 577


Sogndal    0–0    Tromsø

Attn: 2 806


Strømsgodset    5-2    Sarpsborg 08
Aas 26, 30                      Hoås 53
Konradsen 40               Matland 56
Kamara 78, 89

Attn: 5 900


Vålerenga    1-1    Lillestrøm
Boakye 81               Kundtzon 53

Attn: 20 003


Fredrikstad    2-0    Rosenborg
Elyounoussi 21
Jabbie 62

Attn: 11 872


Player of the week: Tarik Elyounoussi, Fredrikstad


Top Scorers

5 goals: Anthony Ujah, Lillestrøm
4 goals: Rade Prica, Rosenborg
                Ola Kamara, Strømsgodset
                Davy Claude Angan
3 goals: Sigurd Rushfeldt, Tromsø
                 Nosa Igiebor, Lillestrøm
                 Espen Hoff, Start
                 Kim Ojo, Brann
                 Jo Nymo Matland, Sarpsborg 08
                 Demar Phillips, Aalesund
                Ole Martin Årst, Start
                Thomas Sørum, Haugesund
                Frode Johnsen, Odd Grenland
                Alexander Aas, Strømsgodset
          

League Table at the excellent Guardian.co.uk Stats Centre

Top A-Ha moments from Week 2 and 3

Something is rotten in the state of Trondheim

Last season Rosenborg made history as the first ever team to go through a domestic season without losing, while they had one single defeat in the 2009 season (after the league title had already been won). 1 defeat in 63 games – with two league championships - seemed to signal that the club was about to embark on another long and complete domination of Norwegian football. Instead, they are second from bottom after 3 games, their first point at home against last Lillestrøm being a mixture of the absolutely ridiculous and sublime. While their fixtures has not been the easiest, there is something more fundamentally wrong with Jan Jönsson; an defensive backbone that has been ripped out through departures and replaced with lesser quality, a loss of literally decades of experience in Roar Strand and Steffen Iversen, and a midfield that is struggling to find the right balance both in formation and personnel.

Rade Prica almost bailed them out after scoring all 4 goals in the game against Lillestrøm, after being 3-1 down with 30 minutes to go. But Rosenborg shot themselves in the foot in injury time, allowing a late equaliser from Frode Kippe. Maybe more worryingly, it was the first time since June 2002 they had a home attendance of less than 12 000. They still have a squad and first XI good enough to challenge for the title, but an away game to a very confident Fredrikstad team has suddenly become more significant than anybody would have thought before the season.

The beatable league

As if wanting to make sure that Rosenborg’s unbeaten season last year would not be repeated, Norwegian teams have gone out of their way to be inconsistent this season. With Vålerenga losing on the Friday and Brann the following day, the last two unbeaten teams faced each other last Sunday. Tromsø lived up to their stereotype – solid – and dispatched Start 2-0, leaving them top of the league and the only team still unbeaten. After 3 rounds. A trip to what is probably the weakest team in the league this season, Sogndal, awaits them this weekend. In any normal season, the expectation would be for their unbeaten run to be extended, but you won’t find me putting any money against a home win. Nothing is what it seems so far this season, and there would be no major surprise if the last unbeaten team in Tippeligaen 2011 falls this Sunday.


Boring, boring Lillestrøm

Solid defensively. Lacks creativity going forward. Relies on set-pieces to score chances. Henning Berg as a manager. All the indications from the last few seasons pointed to another underwhelming, slightly boring season from Lillestrøm. Instead they are on one of the most ridiculous runs in you’ll ever see. A 7-0 away win to Stabæk was followed by an equally head-scratching 4-1 loss at home to Bergen.

Not content with that swing in performance between matches, they decided to again defiantly laugh in face of consistency away to a wounded Rosenborg side. After taking both a 1-0 and 3-1 lead, they collapsed in the last 30 minutes and let Rade Prica put the home side in front with under a minute to go. There were always going to be one last twist with Lillestrøm, with the captain Frode Kippe securing a 4-4 draw in injury time after a corner. Typical. Next up is an away game to their fiercest rivals Vålerenga, maybe the most hateful game in the whole of Norwegian football. After 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss, with a 12-8 goal difference, Henning Berg would surely be happy with a simple, boring 1-0.

The old guys still have it

The first round of Tippeligaen was symbolised by youth, most noticeable by the four teenage players who all got on the score-sheet. Obviously annoyed by these pesky kids, a much older generation of Norwegian strikers showed that they will be just as important for their respective teams this season. Erik Nevland has somehow become 33 years old and opened his account off the season against the team managed by his (very briefly) former strike partner at Manchester United, a certain Mr. Solskjær. Ole Martin Årst is now a respectable 36 years but is still very much the leading man at Start, slotting home the opening goal from the spot in their 5-1 demolition of Strømsgodset. Frode Johnsen is a year older and marked his return from the J-league with one of Odd Grenland’s four goals away to Sogndal.

However, the Godfather of Norwegian strikers is undoubtedly Sigurd Rushfeldt. At an very impressive 38 years, he has had his eye on Harald Brattbakk’s all-time league scoring record for the last couple of seasons. A goal in each of the last two games against Molde and Start has taken the Tromsø striker to 165 goals, one behind Brattbakk. In 277 games that is a very impressive achievement, Brattbakk’s 166 in 256 showing what an incredible effective and ultimately underrated striker the former Celtic player actually was. Rushfeldt will surely overtake him this season, but was is less certain is when Rushfeldt will call it a day, especially with his Tromsø side having a generation of players that is now more than capable to win the club’s first ever league title.

Week 2 results: (please excuse the formatting isssues)

Vålerenga                    2-0                   Ålesund

Fegor Ogude 28

Bojan Zajic 61

Attn: 13 476

Fredrikstad                  0-1                  Viking

                                                            Tomasz Sokolowski 79

Attn: 9 005

Molde                          2-2                  Tromsø

Papa Pate Diouf 17                             Sigurd Rushfeldt 3

Davy Claude Angan 56                       Kara 59

Attn: 8782

Haugesund                                  4-2                  Sarpsborg 08

Jacob Vittrup Sørensen 19                                 Ole Christoffer Heieren 78

Thomas Braathen Sørum 48                               Joachim Jørgensen 81

Erik Lundanes Josvik 60 (OG)

Nicola Djurdjic 67 (pen)

Attn: 4727

Sogndal                       1-4                  Odd Grenland

Eirik Bakke 43                                   Torgier Børven 3

                                                           Jone Samuelsen 60

                                                           Frode Johnsen 71

                                                           Erik Midtgaarden 84

Attn: 3042

Start                                         5-1                  Strømsgodset

Ole Martin Årst 10 (pen)                                 Alexander Aas 90

Espen Fjone Børufsen 53

Espen Hoff 55

Kim Andre Madsen 62 (OG)

Rolf Daniel Vikstøl 82

Attn: 7507

Rosenborg                   1-2                  Stabæk

Mushaga Bakenga 6                           Jørgen Paulov Hammer 2

                                                            Gilles Ondo 75

Attn: 12 125

Lillestrøm                    1-4                   Brann

Anthony Ujah 29                                Kim Ojo 7

                                                            Diego Guastavino 10

                                                            Zsolt Korcsmar 43

                                                             Birkir Mar Sævarsson 69

Attn: 7416

Player of the Week: Diego Guastavino, Brann

Week 3 results:

Stabæk                                    1-0                  Vålerenga

Stefan Strandberg 38 (OG)

Attn: 11 053

Brann                          0-1                  Fredrikstad

                                                          Celso Borges 5

Attn: 15 501

Strømsgodset              2-0                  Odd Grenland

Ola Kamara 37

Jo Inge Berget 71

Attn: 5109

Sarpsborg 08               1-0                  Sogndal

Jo Nymo Matland 2

Attn: 4084

Tromsø                        2-0                  Start

Mostafa Abdellaoue 72

Sigurd Rushfeldt 78

Attn: 4 328

Aalesund                     1-0                  Haugesund

Demar Phillips 19

Attn: 8963

Rosenborg                   4-4                  Lillestrøm

Rade Prica 27, 62 (pen),                   Erling Knudtzon 16

70, 89                                                 Trond Olsen 46 (OG)

                                                            Nosa Igiebor 50

                                                            Frode Kippe 90

Attn: 11717

Viking                         2-2                  Molde

Erik Nevland 30                               Davy Claude Angan 4, 78

Valon Berisha 36

Attn: 10 105

Player of the week: Rade Prica, Rosenborg

Top Scorers:

5 goals: Anthony Ujah, Lillestrøm

4 goals: Rade Prica, Rosenborg

3 goals: Sigurd Rushfeldt, Tromsø

 Nosa Igiebor, Lillestrøm

2 goals: Bojan Zajic, Vålerenga

 Espen Hoff, Start

 Mushaga Bakenga, Rosenborg

 Kim Ojo, Brann

 Celso Borges, Fredrikstad

 Jo Nymo Matland, Sarpsborg 08

Demar Phillips, Aalesund

Ola Kamara, Strømsgodset