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 2nd 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,12th 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 2nd 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
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
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