[FM24] Stuniverse's FM24 Adventure - Norway adventure

[warlock]

If it was me, I'd just sign the new deal. But I'm easily pleased 

If you're not bothered about leaving Norway, who else in the league would you take on? I can't see anyone else you might want to manage at this stage.

[Carambau]

You made Viking a great team. I´d continue trying to win some european silverware 

OR

maybe try to get a fresh start with a lower league norwegian team and establish it among the 1st division teams.

 

[BML]

If you have no desire to manage outside the country, I see no reason not to stay at Viking.

- After all these seasons in charge it's now very much 'your' squad.

- You are on an upward trajectory, especially with the Champs League money this season (and potentially next).

- Everything else within the league would be a side-step, at best, seeing as you are currently the team to beat.

- Plus, sticking with the narrative, dropping down the divisions to build up another team doesn't feel realistic for a not so fresh faced 29 year old. Even a change to your favoured club doesn't feel realistic at this point.

[Punch]

Nothing wrong with taking on a new contract. You can still explore any opportunities that come your way down the track if that happens too.

[Stuniverse]

16 hours ago, warlock said:

If it was me, I'd just sign the new deal. But I'm easily pleased 

If you're not bothered about leaving Norway, who else in the league would you take on? I can't see anyone else you might want to manage at this stage.

Thanks, @warlock. I must admit my initial reaction was to sign a new deal with Viking but I didn't want to just do it without thinking it through. I'm contracted until the end of next season (2031) so any new deal is likely to be longer term , which is great for security but I'm in my third season at Viking now, next season will be my fourth (I was at Loddefjord three seasons - well two and a half when they sacked me - and Hødd for three seasons) and I'm not sure if I'll go stale and get bored.

That said, we're competing at the top in Norway but it's not like we're dominating and doing the Eliteserien and Cupen double every season. Whatever we win with Viking this season, if we win anything because we're already out of Cupen and Bodø/Glimt still have things in their own hands, as do we, as we play each other on the last day of the season.

I'm also conscious that traditionally, Viking haven't won much in recent history (before this save) and there's football clubs with higher salary bills than us (our salary bill is the 8th highest)  and higher attendances (Rosenborg and Brann and, potentially, Vålerenga).

16 hours ago, Carambau said:

You made Viking a great team. I´d continue trying to win some european silverware 

OR

maybe try to get a fresh start with a lower league norwegian team and establish it among the 1st division teams.

Thank you, @Carambau that's very nice of you to say. Yes, we have been very successful at Viking and, hopefully, we can clinch back-to-back Eliteserien titles this season but it won't be easy as we had a seven point lead a few matches ago and the gap is now down to one point.

I do like this Viking squad, and I'm enjoying being here, but will I still feel the same in another season or two's time? It's hard work building a squad, and I don't particularly want to start again, but every season the two transfer windows are disruptive because my best players get their heads turned by rumoured interest and bids received and it's hard keeping them here and keeping them happy.

I'm definitely not wanting to drop back down the divisions and start again building up a football club. Not yet, anyways.

15 hours ago, BML said:

If you have no desire to manage outside the country, I see no reason not to stay at Viking.

- After all these seasons in charge it's now very much 'your' squad.

- You are on an upward trajectory, especially with the Champs League money this season (and potentially next).

- Everything else within the league would be a side-step, at best, seeing as you are currently the team to beat.

- Plus, sticking with the narrative, dropping down the divisions to build up another team doesn't feel realistic for a not so fresh faced 29 year old. Even a change to your favoured club doesn't feel realistic at this point.

Thanks, @BML. I do want to see my contract out at Viking but how will I feel this time next season? If I commit myself now, to a longer term contract, then it probably rules out other football clubs coming in for me because of the compensation they'd have to pay Viking.

You make a very good point about it being my squad and it is, I really like this group of players, and I'm really pleased that I only have five non-home grown players and one of them, Martin Palumbo, is Norwegian but he played his entire career in Italy before signing for Viking. But it's also an aging squad that isn't getting any younger and will need rebuilding at some point.

As I mentioned earlier, we are doing very well at Viking and things are very successful... in fact, we're over-achieving I'd say, and we haven't reached the point where we are dominating domestically, it's still hard work with Bodø/Glimt pushing us all the way and Molde and Brann not far behind.

I certainly wouldn't want to drop down from Eliteserien at this stage of my career; I've worked so hard to get here and establish myself as a credible Eliteserien manager.

10 hours ago, Punch said:

Nothing wrong with taking on a new contract. You can still explore any opportunities that come your way down the track if that happens too.

Cheers, @Punch. I hear what you're saying, and I agree with you, but if I sign a longer-term contract I'd probably have to quit if I wanted to go anywhere else (with no guarantee of getting a job) as I think the compensation owed to Viking would put off other football clubs approaching me and, right now, it would be disrespectful to my employers to apply for other jobs while still working as manager of Viking.

--

Thanks everybody for your input.

Edited April 12 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Episode 102 - Two-Horse Race | 21st September 2030

"Catching up with my agent"

--

Hedda Berg: Hi ya, Stuni, lovely to hear from you. How are you do doing?

Stuni Stuniverse: I'm great thanks. Loving life here in Stavanger, just wish we could shake Bodø/Glimt off our backs.

Hedda Berg: I thought you'd done that a few matches ago.

Stuni Stuniverse: Yeah, but football's unpredictable. It's not as easy as people think. And now Bodø/Glimt have the momentum and we need to regroup and rally the players.

Hedda Berg: Only six games to go, it's tight, you may have to beat Bodø/Glimt in the last match of the season.

Stuni Stuniverse: I know. And if it does go all the way to the wire, what a match that's going to be away in Aspmyra with the Bodø/Glimt  supporters cheering them on.

Hedda Berg: So what are your thoughts on extending your contract at Viking? Jarle Bech-Eriksen (chairperson) is very, very, very keen to extend your contract.

Stuni Stuniverse: It's early, isn't it? My contract doesn't run out until the end of next season.

Hedda Berg: Viking are desperate to keep you, Stuni and they want to get you signed up to a longer contract as soon as possible so that they don't lose you to another football club.

Stuni Stuniverse: I was surprised. Flattered. Very flattered. But surprised none the less.

Hedda Berg: You are doing an amazing job, Stuni. You've overachieved every season you've been at Viking and you're going to overachieve again this season. And you're doing it on a shoe-string budget compared to the likes of Bodø/Glimt, Brann and Molde. Take my club, Vålerenga, they have a bigger budget than you do and even with Ole Gunnar Solskjær in charge they can't get close to you.

Stuni Stuniverse: But what if I wanted to manage a football club with a bigger budget, or in a larger stadium with bigger attendances, or somewhere with better facilities?

Hedda Berg: Do you?

Stuni Stuniverse: No. Not now, not right this minute. But I might. A year is a long time in football, I may feel different this time next season. And if I sign up to a longer-term deal then the compensation would become an issue for other football clubs.

Hedda Berg: True... but... and I'm not saying it will happen, in fact I'm sure it won't... but... if you have a below par season next season, Viking may not offer you a new contract at all...

Stuni Stuniverse: Good point. I hadn't thought of that.

Hedda Berg: The question is: do you want to leave Viking?

Stuni Stuniverse: No.

Hedda Berg: Are you happy to stay?

Stuni Stuniverse: Yes. Right now. Yes.

Hedda Berg: And would you like to stay beyond the end of next season?

Stuni Stuniverse: I don't know. I think so. But a season is a long time in football, you can never tell.

Hedda Berg: So would you like to manage Vålerenga one day?

Stuni Stuniverse: No offense, Hedda, but no.

Hedda Berg: None taken. Bodø/Glimt?

Stuni Stuniverse: Not now but... possibly, one day.

Hedda Berg: Rosenborg?

Stuni Stuniverse: Possibly.

Hedda Berg: Brann? Molde?

Stuni Stuniverse: Maybe.

Hedda Berg: And would you be interested if those jobs were available now?

Stuni Stuniverse: No.

Hedda Berg: None of them are available in any case, although Ole Gunnar Solskjær may be on borrowed time at Vålerenga. What about the club you support, what about Odds Ballklubb?

Stuni Stuniverse: Yes. Definitely. At some point, but not right now.

Hedda Berg: And what about managing abroad?

Stuni Stuniverse: No. That's not something that appeals to me,

Hedda Berg: So, from what you're saying, you're happy at Viking, you're enjoying life at Viking, there's nowhere you'd rather be working this season, and it's doubtful there's anywhere you'd rather be working next season... by which point you'll be out-of-contract unless you sign a new deal. If you're thinking you'll extend your contract at the end of next season in any case then why not extend it now?

Stuni Stuniverse: Strike while the iron's hot you mean?

Hedda Berg: Exactly. You may not get such a good deal this time next season. They may have changed their mind by this time next season... and if Jarle Bech-Eriksen loses next season's election, or doesn't stand for re-election, who knows what the next chairperson might think.

Stuni Stuniverse: OK. Let's talk with Jarle Bech-Eriksen.

Hedda Berg: Great. Leave it with me.

--

[warlock]

13 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Hedda Berg: None taken. Bodø/Glimt?

Stuni Stuniverse: Not now but... possibly, one day.

Hedda Berg: Rosenborg?

Stuni Stuniverse: Possibly.

Hedda Berg: Brann? Molde?

Stuni Stuniverse: Maybe.

Don't be so dogmatic, Stu 

[Stuniverse]

2 minutes ago, warlock said:

Don't be so dogmatic, Stu 

Hehehehehe 

I’ve learnt a new word, @warlock. I had to look up what that meant 

[Stuniverse]

Episode 102 - Two-Horse Race | 22nd September 2030

"Follow-up call with my agent"

--

Hedda Berg: Hi ya, Stuni. How are you doing?

Stuniverse: Great thanks. How are you?

Hedda Berg: I'm good. So Viking want to offer you a four-year deal on £5,250 a week, £950 more than you're earning now.

Stuniverse: Four years. Wow! And budgets?

Hedda Berg: Well no transfer funds and £105K per week for wages.

Stuniverse: So no change on budgets from this season.

Hedda Berg: No, but you know what budgets are like, they won't decide for definite until this season is finished and they know where Viking have finished and how much money is in the bank.

Stuniverse: And the other stuff?

Hedda Berg: Pretty much what you'd expect.

Stuniverse: Yeah, there's no real changes in that and they're not ramping up winning Eliteserien until 2034, everything else is work towards winning Eliteserien.

Hedda Berg: You may need to focus a bit more on youth development though.

Stuniverse: I have asked  Jarle Bech-Eriksen (chairperson) to improve youth recruitment.

Hedda Berg: What did he say?

Stuniverse: He said he'd get back to me.

Hedda Berg: You do realise to develop young players you actually need to play them, don't you?

Stuniverse: Are you telling me how to do my job?

Hedda Berg: Not at all. I wouldn't dream of it. So what do you think about the contract offer?

Stuniverse: Four years is a long time, shall we ask for three?

Hedda Berg: Look, Stuni, I don't think three or four years makes much difference. If they're not happy with you they'll sack you any way. If you're not happy you can quit but, more realistically, you can apply for other jobs.

Stuniverse: I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that.

Hedda Berg: You did it at Loddefjord and Hødd.

Stuniverse: Ok. Ok. You got me there.

Hedda Berg: So?

Stuniverse: OK, let's sign the new contract.

--

Edited April 12 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Episode 102 - Two-Horse Race | 23rd September 2030

"Stuniverse signs long-term Viking deal"

--

--

[Stuniverse]

Episode 102 - Two-Horse Race | 26th September 2030

"Viking U19s Relegated"

--

--

Improve Youth Recruitment

Edited April 12 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Episode 102 - Two-Horse Race | 1st October 2030

"Viking First Team Squad"

--

New Contracts

Spoiler

-

Spoiler

-

Spoiler

-

Spoiler

--

Player Appearances

--

Player Reports

------

Players Out on Loan

[Hootieleece]

Congratulations on your new contract. I think the biggest thing you can do now is fulfill your objective of developing players using the youth system. That might keep you interested in the Viking job a little longer.

[Stuniverse]

Episode 102 - Two-Horse Race | 1st October 2030

"Monthly Review"

--

Results

--

Board Confidence

--

Supporter Confidence

--

Finances

--

Dynamics

[Stuniverse]

Wednesday 2nd October 2030

Until Next Time...

... when we have three more Eliteserien matches, and...

... play Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League.

--

NextMonth's Fixtures

--

Thoughts, comments, general feedback appreciated.

Any questions, just ask and I'll answer them if I can.

Thank you for reading and following.

Until next time...

[Stuniverse]

6 minutes ago, Hootieleece said:

Congratulations on your new contract. I think the biggest thing you can do now is fulfill your objective of developing players using the youth system. That might keep you interested in the Viking job a little longer.

Thank you, @Hootieleece. I'm pleased with the new four-year contract as I am (despite the dramatics in earlier posts) very happy at Viking right now but four years is a long time in football.

That developing players using the youth system could be quite interesting and quite a challenge given that I'm not a big fan of newgens 

Edited April 12 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Saturday 12th October 2030

Eliteserien

--

Aalesund Appoint Andersen

--

Result

[Stuniverse]

Preview

--

--

--

Unfortunately we picked up some injuries in training this week.

Our next match against Molde isn't until Saturday so we don't have to worry too much about the players being fatigued for that match.

Otto Rosengren is suspended and misses today's game.

David Møller Wolfe, David Breckalo and Lasse Berg Johnsen are all one yellow card away from suspension so they will all be on the bench and will only play if we absolutely need them. I'd rather have them available for the next match against Molde than play them against Skeid and risk a yellow card and suspension.

--

Expected Line-up

[Stuniverse]

Sunday 13th October 2030

Skeid (15th) v Viking (2nd)

Eliteserien

--

Today's Results

--

--

--

The whole starting 11 and substitutes played very well today, and we're pleased with them, but Preslav Borukov will rightly take the plaudits for his two goals and his overall performance.

Preslav's second goal, a low cannon of a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area 'D' was a sensational goal

Unfortunately, we had to sub Preslav off when he felt his hamstring but, hopefully, he should be ok for our next match.

Yeah, I left David Møller Wolfe, David Breckalo and Lasse Berg Johnsen out today as they were all one yellow card away from suspension. Fortunately none of them were needed off the bench so we will have them available for the Molde game.

It did mean we had quite a young team out for the last half hour, once we'd made substitutions, and it got a bit nervy as our comfortable 3-0 lead became a narrow 3-2 lead but the likes of Brage Kvithyld, Eivind Helland and Steinar Braathen will have learnt a lot from that experience.

We're now at the point in the season where it's more important that the players rest, rather than than train, so we'll give them a couple of days off and then prepare to host Molde at the SR-Bank Arena.

--

[Stuniverse]

Thursday 17th October 2030

Eliteserien Title Race

--

[Stuniverse]

Preview

--

This is a big game today, Viking against Molde, first against third.

Jon Dahl Tomasson can compare and contrast our playing style with Molde's as much as he likes but we're seven points clear of Molde with five matches to play.

We'll be doing everything we can to get the win, cheered on by our supporters inside the SR-Bank Arena, and if we can get the three points then that will pretty much end Molde's title challenge as they'd be 10  points behind us with only four left to play.

It won't be easy, Molde are a very capable team, but we go into this match with confidence.

Oscar Bobb is ruled out and Valeriy Bondar is a doubt, but Preslav Borukov has recovered from his tight hamstring he picked up last time out against Skeid. We'll start Preslav and keep an eye on him fitness wise.

--

Expected Line-up

[Stuniverse]

Saturday 19th October 2030

Viking (1st) v Molde (3rd)

Eliteserien

--

--

--

--

We're absolutely delighted with the win today because it was a very hard fought match, between two very competitive teams, with not much between us.

We won though and that, effectively, ends Molde's title chase meaning it really is a two horse race between Bodø/Glimt and ourselves now.

We're playing well and getting results and that's all we can ask for at this stage of the season when results are more important than performances.

The flags were out again and I love to see that. There were just under 15,500 Viking supporters in a SR-Bank Arena crowd of 15,709 and boy did they make themselves heard. The atmosphere was incredible and it really lifted the players, particularly in the first 20 minutes when Molde were on top.

We defended very well but our goalkeeper, Jasper Torkildsen, was in scintillating form. He simply refused to be beaten today.

Preslav Borukov scored a cracking goal on the counter-attack on 52 minutes and that seemed to rock Molde and give us a massive lift.

Isak Amundsen then doubled our lead on the hour, seizing on a Molde mistake inside their penalty area to hook a bouncing ball into the net.

With all our substitutes used, Jakob Napoleon Romsaas tore his hamstring which is a terrible blow for him... and for us.

It meant we had to play through added-on time with only 10-men.

We went Defensive, changed our shape, and managed the game out for a massive win and three points.

--

 

[Stuniverse]

Sunday 20th October 2030

Eliteserien

--

[Stuniverse]

Preview

--

--

This really is going to be an incredibly difficult match for us against Chelsea but we'll see how we get on.

Hopefully, we'll give a good account of ourselves in front of our own supporters.

Oscar Bobb and Jakob Napoleon Romsaas will be big misses for us.

We have a few fitness issues but our next match isn't until Saturday so there's no need to worry too much about resting players, although there will be some changes ahead of the Chelsea tie.

--

Expected Line-up

[Stuniverse]

Tuesday 22nd October 2030

Viking (Norway) v Chelsea (England)

UEFA Champions League

--

--

--

There's no doubting the quality Chelsea possess and we saw that close-up tonight.

I'm immensely proud of the players, they worked tremendously hard and gave it their all.

We knew we were up against it and went with our normal shape but switched to a Cautious mentality and played at a lower tempo than normal.

We were always on the back-foot but we defended magnificently and it took a wonder goal on 64 minutes to break us down.

In the last 15 minutes we went back to our normal shape and mentality and created a couple of chances.

I'm disappointed for Steinar Braathen rather than disappointed with him. Both yellow cards were soft, in Eliteserien I'm sure they would've just been free-kicks with no card issued.

After the first one, we told Steinar to ease off tackles and I really thought the referee would use his common sense for the second one on 90+3 minutes but no, instead of just telling him to calm down which would've been the common sense thing to do, out came a second yellow card.

The young lad is devastated, but he'll learn from this and be stronger for it.

We do need our strikers to start scoring goals again though.

--

Edited April 12 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Preview

--

--

I'm sorry, Egil, but I don't agree. We have four matches to play, and bigger fish to fry than UEFA Europa League Qualification to play for, so let's not turn this match against Rosenborg into anything other than a normal Eliteserien match.

--

Rosenborg beat us 4-2 in the reverse fixture at Lerkendal so we know this will be a difficult match for us.

Hopefully, at our SR-Bank Arena, with our fans behind us, we can get the win we believe we're capable of.

It's great to have Oscar Bobb back but we'll need to be careful with him.

--

Expected Line-up

[Stuniverse]

Sunday 27th October 2030

Viking (1st) v Rosenborg (5th)

Eliteserien

--

Yesterday's Results

--

--

--

The pressure was on today against a Rosenborg team who completely outplayed us at their place earlier in the season when they won 4-2 at Lerkendal.

But today, in our own SR-Bank Arena, we outplayed them, defensively restricting them to only one shot on target which Jasper Torkildsen saved.

For once we didn't have to be overly patient as Otto Rosengren gave us the lead on 26 minutes and David Møller Wolfe settled our nerves when he doubled our lead on 65 minutes.

It was, but it was a great team goal, a good attack down the right wing, the ball was played to Martin Palumbo in the 'D' of the penalty area, Martin back-heeled the ball into the penalty area, where Otto Rosengren hit the ball first time, with the outside of his right foot, and curled it into the far corner.

--

Edited April 12 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Episode 103 - Title Run-in | 1st November 2030

"Viking First Team Squad"

--

Appearances

--

Reports

--

Players Out on Loan

Edited April 12 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Episode 103 - Title Run-in | 1st November 2030

"Monthly Awards"

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Manedens Trener

--

Manedens Spiller

[Stuniverse]

Episode 103 - Title Run-in | 1st November 2030

"Monthly Review"

--

Results

--

Board Confidence

--

Supporter Confidence

--

Finances

--

Dynamics

[Stuniverse]

Friday 1st November 2030

Until Next Time...

... when the 2030 Eliteserien season concludes, and...

... we play two more UEFA Champions League matches.

--

November's Fixtures

--

Thoughts, comments, general feedback appreciated.

Any questions, just ask and I'll answer them if I can.

Thank you for reading and following.

Until next time...

[Muttley84]

Massive last game of the season at Bodo/Glimt it seems. Fingers crossed.

[Stuniverse]

32 minutes ago, Muttley84 said:

Massive last game of the season at Bodo/Glimt it seems.

Yes indeed. With three games left, I can see Bodo/Glimt winning both their games before the last match of the season showdown at Bodo/Glimt’s Aspmyra Stadium.

That means we’ll have to win both our games to go into that last game of the season still ahead by one point.

34 minutes ago, Muttley84 said:

Fingers crossed.

Thank you, @Muttley84

[samboing]

Congratulations on the new long term deal, I think realistically it was the only option to sign, seeing how close the league is I don’t see your interest fading. League dominance for several seasons are to come I can see it now! Personally I love bringing Newgens into my teams whatever league I’m playing at! Keep up the good work (and get those strikers scoring)

[Stuniverse]

21 hours ago, samboing said:

Congratulations on the new long term deal,

Thank you, @samboing

21 hours ago, samboing said:

I think realistically it was the only option to sign

I agree... hence why I signed 

21 hours ago, samboing said:

seeing how close the league is I don’t see your interest fading.

At the moment, I feel like Viking is my club... although I blame @I have nothing to say for bringing me back a Viking cap and scarf from his recent visit to Stavanger.

21 hours ago, samboing said:

League dominance for several seasons are to come I can see it now!

You do? I think Domestic Dominance is still a big ask for Viking...

21 hours ago, samboing said:

I love bringing Newgens into my teams whatever league I’m playing at!

I wish I felt the same. Getting used to newgens is going to be a challenge for me.

21 hours ago, samboing said:

Keep up the good work (and get those strikers scoring)

I'm trying, honestly I'm trying... suggestions on a post card please...

[Stuniverse]

Preview

--

--

Jakob Napoleon Romsaas will be out for a while and Steinar Braathen is suspended after his two yellow cards equals a red in our last UEFA Champions League match against Chelsea.

We don't play Sandefjord in Eliteserien until Sunday so we don't have to worry too much about match fitness, although we will be making a few changes.

We've included 15 years old goalkeeper Roger Vestgøte on the bench, although he's unlikely to play as we have three goalkeepers on the bench..

Spoiler

--

Expected Line-up

Edited April 13 by Stuniverse

[JaytheGreat]

Respectable loss to Chelsea, glad to see you are sticking with the Vikings for now.

[Stuniverse]

14 minutes ago, JaytheGreat said:

Respectable loss to Chelsea

Thanks, @JaytheGreat. I'll be honest, I was expecting Chelsea to smash us.

15 minutes ago, JaytheGreat said:

glad to see you are sticking with the Vikings for now.

I can honestly say, in all my years playing FM, I've never felt so at home at a football club as I do at Viking.

[Stuniverse]

Tuesday 5th November 2030

RB Salzburg (Austria) v Viking (Norway)

UEFA Champions League

--

--

--

I'd hoped we'd be able to put Lasse Nordås on the bench and not need him so that he'd be well rested to face Sandefjord in our next Eliteserien match... but we did need Lasse, as it turned out,  and he put in a big performance for us.

All of us were up off the bench, me, my coaching staff, the substitutes. It was an incredible, euphoric moment.

No. Not at all. RB Salzburg made life very difficult for us, as we expected, and they had the better of the first half, though I thought we were competitive and gave them a run for their money.

Our captain, David Breckalo, conceded a penalty. I didn't agree with the decision but VAR upheld the referee's decision. Then up stepped Jasper Torkildsen, throwing himself full length to save the penalty.

Only Salzburg did score, five minutes before the break.

We made four substitutions at half-time, sending on four of the big names we'd rested. Then a fifth on 62 minutes.

Preslav Borukov hit the post and you do begin to think it isn't going to be your day.

Then Lasse Nordås equalised on 74 minutes and put us 2-1 up six minutes later.

We then weren't sure whether to go defensive or stay as we were.

Salzburg thought they'd equalised on 84 minutes but the goal was ruled out for offside.

And then we did decide to go defensive and we managed the game out for a less-than-comfortable 2-1 away win.

This group of players are always surprising me. I'm so proud of them.

--

[Stuniverse]

Saturday 9th November 2030

Eliteserien

--

 

[Stuniverse]

Preview

--

--

We have a few injury concerns.

Brice Wembangomo is suspended for our visit to Sandefjord.

We gave the players two days well-deserved rest after the Salzburg match and we have no fitness concerns.

--

Expected Line-up

[Stuniverse]

Sunday 10th November 2030

Sandefjord (12th) v Viking (1st)

Eliteserien

--

--

--

There's a lot of pressure on the players when they're chasing an Eliteserien title with not many matches left to play.

It's a real credit to them, their spirit and character, that they were able to produce such a fantastic performance under that intense pressure.

Once again, I find myself swelling with pride for this group of players.

--

[Stuniverse]

Sunday 10th November 2030

Eliteserien

Evening Result

--

[Stuniverse]

Preview

--

--

I know you think we need a team meeting, Egil, but Lasse Nordås has already rallied the troops so let's try and treat the Brann match as much like a normal Eliteserien game as we can, shall we?

--

We'll be doing everything we can to win the Best i vest derby  for our wonderful supporters, not to mention maintaining our Eliteserien top spot.

It's disappointing though that for such a big game against 4th placed Brann that we're missing Preslav Borukov, and Jasper Torkildsen because of international duty.

With Jasper Torkildsen away with Norway, and Roger Vestgøte injured, we've had to call up Martin Børsheim from the 2nd Team and register him so that Martin can go on the bench today.

Spoiler

Fortunately we don't have any other fitness issues.

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Expected Line-up

[Stuniverse]

Sunday 17th November 2030

Viking (1st) v Brann (4th)

Eliteserien

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It's disappointing, of course it is, to lose the Best i vest derby at home to Brann but, in the overall scheme of things, it doesn't change too much.

We've lost the top spot and dropped to 2nd in Eliteserien but we go to Aspmyra next Saturday and if we can beat Tite's Bodø/Glimt we'll be crowned Eliteserien Champions.

Any other result and Tite's Bodø/Glimt will be crowned Champions.

It promises to be quite a job.

I don't like it, but Brann came into our SR-Bank Arena and won the Best i vest derby. Emre Belözoğlu and his Brann team, and their supporters, are entitled to enjoy it.

David Brekalo will be a big miss when we go to play Bodø/Glimt.

We've appealed the red card because even if their's only a slim chance of having it overturned, it's worth the risk as having our captain, David Brekalo, on the pitch improves our chances of winning.

We had to change our shape after the sending off.

We were so close to getting a nil-nil draw but Brann's late goal was a real kick in the teeth.

We went Attacking and changed our shape for the final few minutes but it was difficult with 10-men and time ran out on us.

We'll also be without David Møller Wolfe for the title showdown away at Bodø/Glimt after he picked up another yellow card.

At least we'll have our internationals Preslav Borukov, and Jasper Torkildsen back.

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[warlock]

1 hour ago, Stuniverse said:

We've lost the top spot

Aargh! That's unfortunate timing. But you're right - it changes nothing; you were always going to have to win on the final day.

Fingers crossed!

[Stuniverse]

4 hours ago, warlock said:

Aargh! That's unfortunate timing.

It sure is, @warlock. 

Would it have made any difference if my two internationals Preslav Borukov, and Jasper Torkildsen had played? I dunno.

The red mist of our captain, David Brekalo, certainly didn't help but, in truth, Brann played very well and were probably the better side, slightly better... even when it was 11 v 11 but we had more chance of knicking something then.

4 hours ago, warlock said:

But you're right - it changes nothing; you were always going to have to win on the final day.

Yeah, I don't believe in playing for a draw - that tactic has jeopardy written all over it - but we have given the draw advantage to Bodø/Glimt.

Looks like I might have to go with my assistant Egil Ulfstein and do the team meeting this time.

4 hours ago, warlock said:

Fingers crossed!

Thank you.

As the home team, Bodø/Glimt will go into this Title Showdown as clear favourites to lift the Eliteserien crown.

[Stuniverse]

Preview

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Bodø/Glimt have some very good players... but we have very good players as well.

This is as big a game as you get in Eliteserien.

It truly is winner takes all. Win and we're Eliteserien Champions, lose and they are.

And if it's a draw, well then Bodø/Glimt are Champions... but that's ok, I don't believe in playing for a draw in any case.

Jasper Torkildsen is looking the part now in goal for us. We definitely missed him against Brann last time out when he was away with Norway.

Look the Brann game is gone now. We can't change the result.

We gave the players a few days off, told them to sulk if they needed to but, basically, enjoy their day's off, get the Brann game out of their system, and come back raring to give it one last shot against Bodø/Glimt for the Eliteserien Title.

I'm nervous, yes, but confident in my players and their abilities.

Win, lose or draw, this group of players are all winners for me.

Bodø/Glimt will start as favourites because they are top of Eliteserien and at home.

We've played them twice already this season, in consecutive games end of June beginning of July.

At Aspmyra they smashed us 4-1 in Cupen but back at our SR-Bank Arena we scraped a 3-2 Eliteserien victory.

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Our appeal against David Brekalo's red card wasn't successful, as we expected to be fair, so we'll be without David and David Møller Wolfe due to suspension.

Julian Faye Lund came down with a virus, and schoolboy Roger Vestgøte is out with a neck injury, so Martin Børsheim will again be our back-up goalkeeper on the bench.

Other than longer-term injury Jakob Napoleon Romsaas, everybody else is fit and available.

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Expected Line-up

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You know Egil, this time you might be right. Let's hold a Team Meeting.

[Stuniverse]

Saturday 23rd November 2030

Team Meeting

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Aside: How does everybody else get on with Team Meetings? I must admit, I don't have a great track record of getting results after team meetings.

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Jakob Napoleon Romsaas was the only player who didn't appear motivated. As Jakob is ruled out any way with a torn hamstring, I'm not going to worry about that.

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[Stuniverse]

Saturday 23rd November 2030

Bodø/Glimt (1st) v Viking (2nd)

Eliteserien

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