Stuniverse Posted June 23 Author Share Posted June 23 (edited) Thursday 19th May 2033 Skjervøy (Tier 4) v Viking (Tier 1) Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) First Round -- -- -- Even in my wildest dreams I didn't expect that. Twelve goals, from seven different goalscorers. 8-0 up by the break. 4-0 up after just seven minutes. Absolutely crazy and amazing. I was able to send 18 year old Per Andreas Haugerud Hagen on at half-time to play left-back so we had two under 21 full-backs playing in the second half. There were 375 Viking supporters in a crowd of 737 inside Lerøy Stadion and I hope our de mørkeblå fans enjoyed this one. The only disappointing thing is that we conceded two goals late on. Oh, and Anders Hartveit Ryste had a goal disallowed for offside as well. But let's not get carried away. Skjervøy are Tier 4 and part-time and Eliteserien is a whole different level and then some as next up, away from home, are Eliteserien leaders Vålerenga. -- Edited June 23 by Stuniverse 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 (edited) Preview - Vålerenga (away) -- -- -- -- Hans Jørgen Solberg played ok against Skjervøy, although he had very little to do as we ran out 12-2 winners, but he did concede two goals from long-range shots. I see Hans Jørgen Solberg as the younger, challenger to Jasper Torkildsen who, at least for now, remains my number one goalkeeper. Hans Jørgen Solberg will get playing time this season, but won't start against Vålerenga, and it's up to him to work hard and earn the gloves. Thomas Pereira is a good friend of mine so I was surprised by his comments. He's entitled to his opinions, although I wish he hadn't gone public with them although it's difficult sometimes when you guys shove a microphone in front of someone's face. I certainly won't be falling out with him over it. I think rivalries that are borne out of competition, particular when winning trophies are at stake, can be even more intense than local rivalries. There's something special about them. In my five seasons at Viking, the highest Vålerenga have finished is third. This season they are top of Eliteserien, seven points ahead of us, and have won six and lost two. We go to the Intility Arena today knowing that Vålerenga have a 100% winning record at home this season. Vålerenga have a very good team and a very good manager in Ole Gunnar Solskjær. During my time at Viking we've had the better of this rivalry overall but, recently, two draws and a defeat show that Vålerenga are a team we have to take very seriously. We're desperate to get one over on them and win this fixture but Vålerenga will make it very, very, very difficult for us as they always do. Our Eliteserien form has been stuttering of late with two defeats and two draws in our last four league matches. Overall though, we've been playing very well, we just haven't had our shooting boots on. Away at Skjervøy last time out in Cupen we found our shooting boots at scored 12. We need to make sure we wear our shooting boots again against Vålerenga, otherwise we could be cast well adrift in the Eliteserien title race by the final whistle. Jesper Robertsen (knee) will come straight back into the starting line-up. Lasse Nordås (ankle) and David Moller Wolfe (calf) are back training and will both be on the bench today. If we need David, he should be ok, but Lasse we'll be more circumspect with as we don't want to rush him back too soon and aggravate his injury. -- Expected Line-up Edited June 24 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 (edited) Monday 23rd May 2033 Vålerenga (1st) v Viking (8th) Eliteserien -- -- -- Vålerenga are a very good team so to come here to the Intility Arena and leave with a point is a very good result in the overall scheme of things. In what was Vålerenga's fifth home game of the season, we're the first team that Vålerenga have dropped home points to. We have to take confidence from that. But, granted, that now means in our last five Eliteserien matches we've drawn three and lost two and those results aren't good enough for Viking. We know we have to improve and I'm confident we will. Yes, we would have liked to win, obviously, but Vålerenga are a very good team with a very good manager in Ole Gunnar Solskjær and the most important thing was that we didn't lose, which we didn't. I couldn't fault the effort of the players, Anders Hartveit Ryste won the ball from their kick-off with a crunching tackle in the centre circle and also had the first shot on goal. There wasn't much in it first half, Vålerenga maybe shaded it, if I'm honest, but I didn't think either team had done enough so it was gutting to concede a goal, from a deflected shot, a minute before half-time. Neither striker was having much influence on the game so I made changes up top during the break and also sent Hugo Vetlesen on instead of Oscar Bobb to try and get more creativity into midfield. Niklas Ødegård hit the bar from distance on 57 minutes. We were better, created more chances, but couldn't score past Adrian Grama. On 61 minutes we asked the full-backs to play as wing-backs. With time starting to run out, we changed our shape to go Attacking with a 4-2-2-2 set-up on 75 minutes. We got our reward three minutes later when Otto Rosengren rifled in our equaliser. I had a real dilemma then, stick with the more Attacking shape, try to win it, and risk losing it as we'd be open at the back, or scale things back a bit. If we were in better form, I may have stayed as we were but we went back to Positive and asked the wing-backs to support rather than attack. Vålerenga threw players forward and it became somewhat of a basketball game. Jasper Torkildsen kept us in it with a couple of fine saves. We also warmed Adrian Grama's gloves two or three times. Lasse Nordås had the best chance in added-on time but he placed his shot a yard wide of goal. If Lasse hadn't missed so many games with injury, I think he'd have scored, but he's still ring-rusty and not fully match fit. -- Edited June 24 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Preview - Strømmen (away) -- -- PostNord-ligaen Avdeling 1 -- Newly promoted Strømmen are third in PostNord-ligaen Avdeling 1 (Tier 3) so we know we're going to be in for a tough game at the Strømmen Stadion. We will be rotating quite a bit today, given our heavy schedule, but I have full confidence in the players we select to get the job done and progress to the Third Round of Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen). Lasse Nordås (ankle) still isn't fully fit so we'll need to be careful with him but he's likely to start, alongside Anders Hartveit Ryste as we continue to try and build confidence into our strikers. Per Joar Hægstad Johnsen (ankle) remains sidelined which is a shame as I planned to start him in Cupen ties this season against lower league opposition like Strømmen. -- Expected Line-up With this Cupen tie coming just three days after a tough away game in Eliteserien against Vålerenga, and with another Eliteserien match at home to Sogndal on Sunday, we're making quite a few changes to the starting 11 today, mainly in goal, defence and midfield. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 (edited) Thursday 26th May 2033 Strømmen (Tier 3) v Viking (Tier 1) Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) Second Round -- -- -- And not for the first time this season either. Jonas Therkelsen hit the post on 32 minutes. From a very tight angle, Henrik Skogvold, hit the outside of the post on 72 minutes. Anders Hartveit Ryste was then denied a hat-trick by the woodwork. Fortunately, apart from the opening five minutes, Strømmen didn't really trouble us. A first-half brace from Anders Hartveit Ryste gave us a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break. We then made the game more difficult than it needed to be when Hans Jørgen Solberg misjudged the flight of the cross, fumbled the ball, allowing Strømmen to pull one back with a tap-in. But Henrik Skogvold eased any lingering nerves when he made it 3-1. We got 90 minutes of first team football into the legs of our two young full-backs Tor Helge Vatten (DR) and Øyvind Bekkevold (DL). But we did have to take Otto Rosengren off with a knee injury but we don't think it's that bad. -- Edited June 24 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Saturday 28th May 2033 Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) Third Round Draw -- -- Eliteserien Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Saturday 28th May 2033 Eliteserien Stats -- League Table -- Form (last five matches) -- xG -- Job Security Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 (edited) Preview - Sogndal (home) -- -- Tore André Flo is a very good manager but we do have a very good record against Sogndal That said, I don't think we've ever gone into a game against Sogndal in such poor form before, although Sogndal aren't in the best of form themselves with two defeats and a draw in their last three. We're at home, I know the Viking supporters will make themselves heard in our SR-Bank Arena and we're going to need them to get behind the players and stick with them as this won't be an easy game. Tore André Flo certainly has Sogndal playing a different style to most teams in Eliteserien. It offers a different challenge, one we've normally been able to deal with. Hopefully we can cope with Sogndal's style again today. Lasse Nordås still isn't fully fit but there's only one way to get him back to match fitness and that's to play him. -- Expected Line-up Edited June 24 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 (edited) Sunday 29th May 2033 Viking (10th) v Sogndal (9th) Eliteserien -- -- -- This game just summed up our season. Our wonderful fans will be fed up with me saying this but I thought we played well, we had 66% possession, we created more chances than Sogndal, we worked the goalkeeper more than Sogndal worked Jasper Torkildsen, we had a better xG than Sogndal, but we didn't convert enough chances and ended up losing a game we should've won 1-2. I still maintain we are playing well but it's results that matter and our results since the end of April have been nowhere good enough for Viking Fotballklubb. I feel sorry for the fans, but I think they are probably right in that it's time to ditch the 4-4-2 diamond. I gave it a reprieve after the 12-2 Cupen victory over Skjervøy but there's been no upturn in Eliteserien against Vålerenga or Sogndal. It was a brilliant strike by Tinius Sundell, no doubt about it, but 90+2 it was too little too late. I thought we were the better team throughout and were on top in the first half. Tommy Setford made a couple of good saves. A Lasse Nordås strike on 23 minutes was ruled out for offside. But then, against the run of play, Marco Brito scored a wonderful goal, curling a 30 yard free-kick around the wall and in off the post. Jasper Torkildsen had no chance; in fact, I don't think any goalkeeper in the world was going o save that one. Hugo Vetlesen and Jonas Therkelsen kept their places in midfield after good performances in Cupen against Strømmen but they were below par against Sogndal... so I subbed them off during the break. We continued to dominate the game, without seriously threatening Tommy Setford's goal so just after the hour mark we changed our shape to 4-2-2-2, went more Attacking, and were a lot better. It looked like we were the only team likely to score but, then, Sogndal hit a hopeful cross into out penalty area, in a crowd of players Aleksander Liland inexplicably raises his arm above his head, the ball hits his arm. Penalty. And just like that we're 0-2 down. We pinned Sogndal in after that, came close a few times, very close, but Tinius Sundell's 90+2 minute goal was no more than a consolation. I normally let my assistant manager Egil Ulfstein be bad-cop but I was angry so I did it myself. Angry with frustration because we are a much better side than we're showing but, after 10 games, a third of the season, I can no longer put our poor form down to bad luck. Something has to change. If I still have a job, something has to change. -- Edited June 24 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I think it may be time for a tactical change just to see if it will get you going. Also, you should probably have a team meeting soon and challenge the players to do better. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 (edited) Monday 30th May 2033 Team Meeting -- That's a very good idea, Egil. [I wanted to hold a Team Meeting ahead of the Sogndal game but didn't have the option to do so - at least I couldn't find it anyway]. -- -- -- With an international break coming up, we only have two fixtures in June. I've given the players a week off, well those not away with their Nations anyway. If I still have a job when the players report back in a week's time there's a lot of hard work to be done. Edited June 24 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Hootieleece said: I think it may be time for a tactical change just to see if it will get you going. I agree, @Hootieleece I've been ready to give up on the diamond for a few weeks now but the tweaks ahead of the 12-2 Cupen First Round win persuaded me to stick with it but there's been no sign of an upturn in Eliteserien against Vålerenga or Sogndal. 6 minutes ago, Hootieleece said: Also, you should probably have a team meeting soon and challenge the players to do better. Funny you should say that because as you were posting, I was updating about the Team Meeting (prompted by my Assistant Manager) above. I'd wanted to hold a Team Meeting ahead of the Sogndal game, but couldn't find an option anywhere to call a Team Meeting. [Where do I find the option to hold a Team Meeting?] Edited June 24 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Wednesday 1st June 2033 Episode 136 - A Winless Month "Viking - First Team Squad" -- Appearances -- Reports -- News -- International Call-Ups -- Players Out on Loan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Wednesday 1st June 2033 Episode 136 - A Winless Month "Monthly Review" -- Results -- Board Confidence -- Supporter Confidence -- Finances -- Dynamics Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
warlock Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 30 minutes ago, Stuniverse said: [Where do I find the option to hold a Team Meeting?] Under 'dynamics' - it's actually shown in your dynamics screenshot 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Wednesday 1st June 2033 Episode 136 - A Winless Month "Job Security" -- Our form is truly woeful... ... and I'm starting to feel the pressure. The knives aren't out for me yet... ... but I can definitely sense them being sharpened... -- 2nd in xG BUT 12th in Eliteserien -- I'm not a quitter, but I'm running out of ideas. I sense my time at Viking is running out and maybe Viking Fotballklubb would be better off with somebody else as manager? -- Tagged: @Blarney, @BML, @Carambau, @cerud, @Dean Gripton, @g1nh0, @Hootieleece, @I have nothing to say, @JaytheGreat, @Jogo Bonito, @phnompenhandy, @Paggioram, @Punch, @samboing, @SixPointer, @warlock, @XaW Note: If you no longer wish to be tagged in posts like this, please let me know by Direct Message and I'll remove you from my tag list for future posts. Likewise if you would like to be tagged, please send me a Direct Message and I'll add you. Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 16 minutes ago, warlock said: Under 'dynamics' - it's actually shown in your dynamics screenshot D'oh! Thanks, @warlock 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Wednesday 1st June 2033 Until Next Time... ... when there's an International break... ... Viking have two fixtures - one Cupen and one Eliteserien... ... and I may not keep my job. -- June'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... and I greatly appreciate the comments as that's what genuinely keeps me motivated to continue updating about this save. Until next time... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
warlock Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 5 minutes ago, Stuniverse said: maybe Viking Fotballklubb would be better off with somebody else as manager? Nah! I'd definitely give the 4132 system a go. The flat midfield gives you better coverage across the pitch, and the extra man in defence should make you a bit more secure. I've not tried it this year, but in FM22/23 the 4132 was weirdly more effective in attack than the 4312. Maybe because the front 3 tend to crowd the box; maybe because late runs from midfield were/are more effective. It's way too soon to throw in the towel. When you come back here and say, honestly, "I've tried everything!" than we can talk 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 (edited) 1 hour ago, Stuniverse said: maybe Viking Fotballklubb would be better off with somebody else as manager? 54 minutes ago, warlock said: Nah! Thank you, @warlock that means a lot. 54 minutes ago, warlock said: I'd definitely give the 4132 system a go. The flat midfield gives you better coverage across the pitch, and the extra man in defence should make you a bit more secure. I've not tried it this year, but in FM22/23 the 4132 was weirdly more effective in attack than the 4312. Maybe because the front 3 tend to crowd the box; maybe because late runs from midfield were/are more effective. Thanks. 4-1-3-2 isn't one I'd considered. I was thinking of 4-2-3-1 which was my go-to at Loddefjord and Hødd before I came to Viking and went with the 4-4-2 diamond. But I don't think I have the players for 4-2-3-1 right now because I haven't been signing or retaining wingers. On that basis, 4-1-3-2 would need the three central midfielders tucked in, not out wide. The other possibilities I was considering was something with three centre-backs and two wing-backs or the 4-2-2-2 I've often used when chasing a game or needing goals second half. 54 minutes ago, warlock said: It's way too soon to throw in the towel. When you come back here and say, honestly, "I've tried everything!" than we can talk I don't want to throw in the towel but I can't get over 1st in chances created (still), joint 1st in goals conceded (still), 2nd in xG (still), yet joint 12th in goals scored. We should be doing much better than we are... Edited June 24 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
g1nh0 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 (edited) Well m8, I'm quite set in my ways tactically so I could be wrong... But I have to admit, when I saw the HB being employed at the base of your diamond I had my head held in my hands for you! But hey, it's always good to experiment I guess, how to learn But, being a side now favourites to win things, there definitely needs to be more of an impetus in going forward, whether it by controlling the game and having more creative roles to break teams down, or just being more aggressive in the press and the positions of your players on the pitch. The diamond can work, but you'll always be at a disadvantage using that system. You can be exploited down the flanks, and given there is generally a lack of width it will be harder to break sides down. Narrow formations especially when teams play pragmatically against you, are highly player dependant. You're probably safer trying to go for the 4231 (boring on this FM, I know!). Otherwise, if you want to keep the same diamond / 4312 shape, then I would definitely utilise a support role at the base of each as they will naturally move a bit further up the pitch to support the play and the team will naturally be in a more advanced position to press higher up. Edited June 24 by g1nh0 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 9 minutes ago, g1nh0 said: Well m8, I'm quite set in my ways tactically so I could be wrong... But I have to admit, when I saw the HB being employed at the base of your diamond I had my head held in my hands for you! But hey, it's always good to experiment I guess, how to learn Thanks, @g1nh0... yeah, the HB at the base of the diamond didn't last that long, more often I've gone with a DM-De at the base. 10 minutes ago, g1nh0 said: But, being a side now favourites to win things, there definitely needs to be more of an impetus in going forward, whether it by controlling the game and having more creative roles to break teams down, or just being more aggressive in the press and the positions of your players on the pitch. But that's the thing, we are 1st in chances created, joint 1st in goals conceded, 2nd in xG, yet joint 12th in goals scored. There's not much more we can in terms of taking the game to the opposition except score more! 29 minutes ago, g1nh0 said: The diamond can work, but you'll always be at a disadvantage using that system. You can be exploited down the flanks, and given there is generally a lack of width it will be harder to break sides down. Narrow formations especially when teams play pragmatically against you, are highly player dependant. You're probably safer trying to go for the 4231 (boring on this FM, I know!). Otherwise, if you want to keep the same diamond / 4312 shape, then I would definitely utilise a support role at the base of each as they will naturally move a bit further up the pitch to support the play and the team will naturally be in a more advanced position to press higher up. Thanks. Sorry, I can't visualise what you mean by "utilise a support role at the base of each"... base of each what? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 (edited) Wednesday 1st June 2033 Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) Fourth Round Draw -- -- Edited June 24 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
g1nh0 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Stuniverse said: Thanks, @g1nh0... yeah, the HB at the base of the diamond didn't last that long, more often I've gone with a DM-De at the base. But that's the thing, we are 1st in chances created, joint 1st in goals conceded, 2nd in xG, yet joint 12th in goals scored. There's not much more we can in terms of taking the game to the opposition except score more! Thanks. Sorry, I can't visualise what you mean by "utilise a support role at the base of each"... base of each what? Sorry, I meant base of each diamond variation xG as a statistic can be very misleading. Although it gives a general idea of how often you do concede or create chances, it doesn't provide very precise information to take meaningful conclusions from. More often than not, you really need to break it down to get an average xG per shot, or even better, an analysis of the xG per shot, and how frequently from your total xG, good chances are being created. Well at least to me, playing a defensive duty of the diamond will mean they aren't as far forward on the pitch, nor as much involved in the play progressively when trying to help break teams down. So for instance, with a DM-D, when you're looking to break sides down and try to constantly place immense pressure in the final third, that role is more of a cautious one - and will likely reduce the pressure you're placing on the opponents, more likely to slow the play down / a safer pass, and thus giving the opponents extra time to re-organise and compose themselves to defend the next wave of attack. They will also hold positions deeper, thus will effect how successful you are in pressing higher up the pitch. The HB is even worse for this, as it is more of a cautious approach that promotes safer possession of the football and will more a less at times create a 3atb shape, thus more defensive. Of course, playing more aggressively will increase the chances of being sucker punched - but if you have superior players / or favourites to win the game, then given their more defensive approach you're still better off trying to increase your chances of achieving a breakthrough by winning the ball more often in the final third and having more of the ball to try and create that opening. Edited June 24 by g1nh0 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
warlock Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 As I said, I've not used a narrow system in FM24 but had a lot of success with it in the last few years. As a starting point you might look at something like this: I've kept it very similar to your current tactics for familiarity but key ideas are: * All of the usual striker combinations will work but I'd be looking for the left-hand man to drop and link with the midfield - DLF, F9 or PF-s should work. * The two key roles, for me, are the wider CMs. In some games you could play two Car or two Mez, but I like the variety you get with one of each combined with the varied play from the wingbacks. The Car will cover the left flank when the LWB attacks but is also a fantastic creator in his own right. The RCM could be a CM-att with the 'run wide' instruction. * The DM could be almost any role, depending on who you have available, but I'd definitely look for him to concentrate on screening the defence and simply recycling the ball to the more creative players ahead of him. Generally, the shape should give you better coverage across the midfield, sacrifices little or nothing in attack, but makes for a more 'layered' attack with players arriving at differing times and in different areas. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 5 minutes ago, g1nh0 said: Sorry, I meant base of each diamond variation 5 minutes ago, g1nh0 said: xG as a statistic can be very misleading. Although it gives a general idea of how often you do concede or create chances, it doesn't provide very precise information to take meaningful conclusions from. More often than not, you really need to break it down to get an average xG per shot, or even better, an analysis of the xG per shot, and how frequently from your total xG, good chances are being created. Must admit, I'm not a big fan of xG. 6 minutes ago, g1nh0 said: Well at least to me, playing a defensive duty of the diamond will mean they aren't as far forward on the pitch, nor as much involved in the play when in the ball in trying to help break teams down. So for instance, with a DM-D, when you're looking to break sides down and try to constantly place immense pressure in the final third, that role is more of a cautious one - and will likely reduce the pressure you're placing on the opponents, more likely to slow the play down / a safer pass, and thus giving the opponents extra time to re-organise and compose themselves to defend the next wave of attack. They will also hold positions deeper, thus will effect how successful you are in pressing higher up the pitch. The HB is even worse for this, as it is more of a cautious approach that promotes safer possession of the football and will more a less at times create a 3atb shape, thus more defensive. Of course, playing more aggressively will increase the chances of being sucker punched - but if you have superior players / or favourites to win the game, then given their more defensive approach you're still better off trying to increase your chances of achieving a breakthrough by winning the ball more often in the final third and having more of the ball to try and create that opening. That makes more sense thanks, @g1nh0. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 (edited) 20 minutes ago, warlock said: As I said, I've not used a narrow system in FM24 but had a lot of success with it in the last few years. As a starting point you might look at something like this: I've kept it very similar to your current tactics for familiarity but key ideas are: * All of the usual striker combinations will work but I'd be looking for the left-hand man to drop and link with the midfield - DLF, F9 or PF-s should work. * The two key roles, for me, are the wider CMs. In some games you could play two Car or two Mez, but I like the variety you get with one of each combined with the varied play from the wingbacks. The Car will cover the left flank when the LWB attacks but is also a fantastic creator in his own right. The RCM could be a CM-att with the 'run wide' instruction. * The DM could be almost any role, depending on who you have available, but I'd definitely look for him to concentrate on screening the defence and simply recycling the ball to the more creative players ahead of him. Generally, the shape should give you better coverage across the midfield, sacrifices little or nothing in attack, but makes for a more 'layered' attack with players arriving at differing times and in different areas. Thanks, @warlock. I appreciate you taking the time to provide this level of detail. I like the way you've explained that. I have no better ideas so I may well give that a go. Edited June 24 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Thursday 2nd June 2033 Norway v Faroe Islands FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group A -- -- -- -- Viking had four players away with Norway but manager Kjetil Knutsen opted not to use any of them. -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Thursday 2nd June 2033 Friendly Matches Announced -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Sunday 5th June 2033 Poland v Norway FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group A -- -- -- -- -- None of our players played any part in the game against Poland. Our former player, Sindre Grønvold, played the full game, earning his first Norway senior cap. Spoiler Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 As another tactical idea......I play a 3-1-4-2 currently with a 3-5-2 as a variation. We only give up bad goals to teams that have elite attacking talent. I am currently fighting relegation in the Bundesliga as St. Pauli AF-A DLF-S WM-Auto AP-S MEZ-A WM-Auto A-D WCB-D CD-Co WCB-D SK-D But to make it work you need converted DEFENSIVE minded Wingbacks with High Positioning on wings 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 1 hour ago, Hootieleece said: As another tactical idea......I play a 3-1-4-2 currently with a 3-5-2 as a variation. We only give up bad goals to teams that have elite attacking talent. I am currently fighting relegation in the Bundesliga as St. Pauli AF-A DLF-S WM-Auto AP-S MEZ-A WM-Auto A-D WCB-D CD-Co WCB-D SK-D Thanks, @Hootieleece. That looks quite an open attacking system. 1 hour ago, Hootieleece said: But to make it work you need converted DEFENSIVE minded Wingbacks with High Positioning on wings I know I haven’t got wingers so I probably haven’t got converted, defensive minded wing-backs either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 4 hours ago, Stuniverse said: I know I haven’t got wingers so I probably haven’t got converted, defensive minded wing-backs either. Attacking minded fullbacks or attacking DM's can also be retrained as Wide Midfielders. Also, the formation is played on the Balanced Mentality and uses the "Vertical Tiki-Taka" Template. We play good defense by controlling possession. Which we often do even against bigger teams. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 15 hours ago, Hootieleece said: As another tactical idea......I play a 3-1-4-2 currently with a 3-5-2 as a variation. We only give up bad goals to teams that have elite attacking talent. I am currently fighting relegation in the Bundesliga as St. Pauli AF-A DLF-S WM-Auto AP-S MEZ-A WM-Auto A-D WCB-D CD-Co WCB-D SK-D But to make it work you need converted DEFENSIVE minded Wingbacks with High Positioning on wings Thanks, @Hootieleece 9 hours ago, Hootieleece said: Attacking minded fullbacks or attacking DM's can also be retrained as Wide Midfielders. Also, the formation is played on the Balanced Mentality and uses the "Vertical Tiki-Taka" Template. We play good defense by controlling possession. Which we often do even against bigger teams. So you're using something like this? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 (edited) Reminiscent of Loddefjord 2025 -- For those of you that have followed my Norwegian Adventure from the very start - thank you - this is reminiscent of my third season (2025) after I'd managed Loddefjord to the Norsk Tipping-ligaen Avdeling 3 (Tier 4) title in 2024 and gained promotion to PostNord-ligaen Avdeling 2 (Tier 3). Pre-season 2025 went very well. But the actual 2025 season in PostNord-ligaen Avdeling 2 (Tier 3) was terrible. We got a draw in our second league game, a win in our fifth league game, a couple more draws late May-early June and then four straight defeats before I was sacked on 1st July 2025. Nothing I tried seemed to work, and the poor form just spiralled out of control. -- Fast forward to 2033 at Viking, after five very successful seasons at Viking, and I know we are under-performing badly this season, but... I know we have very good players at Viking, and the season preview made us favourites to win Eliteserien, and we have the joint best defence in Eliteserien, have created more chances than any other team in Eliteserien, yet 10 teams have scored more goals than us in Eliteserien (and we do have strikers with proven Eliteserien goalscoring records). -- I'm getting the same feeling with Viking in 2033 that I had with Loddefjord back in 2025. I couldn't halt the slide at Loddefjord back in 2025 and I'm not sure I can turn it around at Viking in 2033 either. Edited June 25 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 (edited) Tuesday 7th June 2033 Training -- During the international break we gave the players a week off and then started training two new systems in readiness to try out in our two away friendlies ahead of a very difficult away Cupen-tie against Vålerenga and a trip to play Odd in Eliteserien. Four of our players missed most of training as they were away with Norway on World Cup Qualifying duty although none of them played any part in either of the matches. Our strikers and attacking midfielders continued with their Shooting additional focus. I still maintain that this Viking team isn't that far off the high standards we've set - we're just mis-firing in front of goal - so we're still working on the 4-4-2 diamond with a more aggressive Regista at the base of the diamond (as some of you have suggested) but, given how poor our form has been lately, I think a change of system is called for as our diamond has become predictable to play against and we're starting to lose faith in it. Our de mørkeblå supporters certainly have lost faith in it. Chants of "You don't know what you're doing" are not what I want to be hearing from my own supporters. Granted its a minority of supporters at the moment but, even though I can't blame them, they deserve better, I don't like it. So we've been focussing on how the Viking Board want us to play and working on two systems. I used a 4-2-3-1 system very successfully at my former clubs, Loddefjord in Norsk Tipping-ligaen Avdeling 3 (Tier 4) and at Hødd in OBOS-ligaen (Tier 2). The only problem here is that I don't have any out-and-out wingers at Viking, as we didn't need them in the diamond system, but I reckon Edvin Austbø can do a good job on the right-wing and Lasse Nordås would be able to play on the left as a wide target man. Recalling Joakim Berg Nundal from his loan at Strømsgodset is also an option as he can play on either wing. Spoiler The other system we're training is a 4-1-3-2 as suggested by @warlock in the discussion above. -- My plan is to give each of those systems (4-2-3-1 and 4-1-3-2) 45 minutes each in both the Bohemians Praha and Trinity Zlin friendlies and then make a decision on which one to use against Vålerenga in Cupen. Then, after the Cupen-tie, we'll make a decision on how to approach our next Eliteserien match away to Odd. -- Thanks for your suggestion, @Hootieleece. I have set this up, but I'm not currently training it because I don't think I have the wide defensive midfielders to make it work and, in my current plight (job status still Stable but won't be for much longer if results don't drastically improve) I can't afford the time to train anybody to play there. Edited June 26 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 (edited) Wednesday 8th June 2033 Bohemians Praha (Czechia) v Viking (Norway) Friendly -- -- All our walking wounded are pretty close to a return to full fitness but we'll be careful with Jonas Therkelsen (groin) and Per Joar Hægstad Johnsen (ankle). -- We'll start 4-2-3-1 against Bohemians and switch to 4-1-3-2 after the break. -- -- -- We started with the 4-2-3-1 system. For the first 20 minutes or so we were all over the place and Bohemians Praha had the better of it, creating three chances, forcing Jasper Torkildsen into one save, whilst we managed no attempts on goal at all. In particular, we were getting caught out on the second ball between our centre-backs and midfield two. But around the 20 minute mark we started to settle into the match and the half completely changed. We dominated the rest of the first half, creating 11 chances whilst Bohemians Praha created nothing. We were still struggling to get enough attempts on target, but Aleksander Liland gave us the lead just before the break, heading in Hugo Vetlesen's corner at the far post. We made one substitution at half-time and changed to the 4-1-3-2 system. We continued to control the game in the second half and created plenty of chances, without testing their goalkeeper very much. Bohemians Praha didn't trouble us at all, until the last 15 minutes or so when we started to tire and Bohemians Praha grabbed a late, and undeserved equaliser. -- In the next friendly against Trinity Zlin, we'll reverse it and start 4-1-3-2 and change to 4-2-3-1 in the second half. Edited June 26 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 Saturday 11th June 2033 Trinity Zlin (Czechia) v Viking (Norway) Friendly -- -- We're a lot closer to a fully fit squad and we'll step up David Møller Wolfe's recovery by starting him today. We'll go with the 4-1-3-2 system first half against Trinity Zlin and switch to 4-2-3-1 for the second half. We've made a few changes from the Bohemians Praha match, mainly in midfield and up front. -- -- -- We started 4-1-3-2 and really took the game to Trinity Zlin, creating plenty of early chances. Anders Hartveit Ryste gave us an early 6th minute lead, but it came at a cost... ... as Julian Gonstad got injured in the build-up and we sent Henrik Skogvold on. We were 3-0 up with goals from Oscar Bobb and Otto Rosengren when... ... Anders Hartveit Ryste picked up an injury. We sent Lasse Nordås on. By half-time it was 4-0 with Henrik Skogvold getting on the score sheet. At the break, we made a few substitutions and switched to 4-2-3-1. We continued to dominate the game and Aleksander Liland made it 5-0. In the last 20 minutes we made a lot more substitutions without it impacting our dominance. Trinity Zlin didn't have a single attempt on our goal all match. -- Sadly though, and this is a big disappointment, both Julian Gonstad and Anders Hartveit Ryste will be out for a while. -- With the injuries we picked up to two strikers, we decided to recall Joakim Berg Nundal from his loan at Strømsgodset. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 (edited) Preview - Vålerenga (away) Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) Third Round -- -- We lost two strikers to injuries against Trinity Zlin and that's left us short of options so it was a no-brainer to recall Joakim Berg Nundal, who has three goals and one assist (6.89 average) from 10 starts for Eliteserien Strømsgodset this season. Joakim can also play on either wing which gives us options. Joakim will be in the matchday squad today. Three of those four games were draws, don't forget, and before that we beat Vålerenga in five straight. We don't fear Vålerenga but, I'll admit, they are playing very well this season and are currently 2nd in Eliteserien. I don't think we'll park the bus, no, as we're confident of getting past Vålerenga into the next round. We are away though and it won't be easy in the Intility Arena. During the international break, we've experimented with 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-3-2 in two friendlies against Czechia top flight opposition so we may change from our 4-4-2 diamond today. As if we haven't got enough injured strikers already, Edvin Austbø has a tight thigh he picked up in training this week. -- Expected Line-up I thought we played very well against Bohemians Praha and Trinity Zlin and I liked the look of both the 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-3-2 systems. In fact, I liked them both so much that I'm seriously considering using both - maybe one as our home system and one as our away. Away in Cupen today to Vålerenga, who are 2nd in Eliteserien, I'm leaning towards the 4-1-3-2 as I think that gives us greater solidity at the back with the DM protecting the back-four. Edited June 26 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 (edited) Wednesday 15th June 2033 Vålerenga (2nd-Eliteserien) v Viking (12th- Eliteserien) Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) Third Round -- -- -- Henrik Skogvold is one of four or five very good strikers we have at Viking. Like the rest of them, Henrik has struggled to find his shooting boots this season so I'm delighted for him, and us, that he scored today. With the injuries we have up top, Henrik now has an opportunity to make himself a regular starter, it's up to him to take it. This group of players are a great bunch. Even in our current sticky spell they still have togetherness, character, spirit and a desire to keep going. We needed all of that and more today against a very good Vålerenga team. We started 4-1-3-2 as I thought we'd been at our best creatively when we played that way first half against Bohemians Praha and second half against Trinity Zlin. We started brightly and had the first chance of the game but then Vålerenga started to get a foothold and wrestle control. Vålerenga took a 12th minute lead and then it was difficult for us with the Intility Arena crowd behind the home team. We couldn't get the ball, Vålerenga bossed possession, but they didn't threaten our goal much. At the break, 0-1 down, I thought we needed to change things around as we hadn't looked like scoring. We made one substitution and went 4-2-3-1. We were a lot better after the break, we controlled the possession, we got forward more, we created chances, but we couldn't find an equaliser. On 62 minutes we changed to an Attacking mentality and asked our wingers to Attack (not Support). Two minutes after the change, Henrik Skogvold equalised. Vålerenga still weren't offering much threat and on 72 minutes Pontus Dahbo scored to give us a 2-1 lead. We then had a dilemma, should we stay as we were or go more Positive or more defensive? Vålerenga weren't troubling us though so we decided to stay as we were and we saw the game out comfortably. In fact, we looked more likely to score a third than Vålerenga looked like equalising. I'm delighted with the win. The players have worked so hard this international break that they deserve this. Now we have to start winning in Eliteserien. Nothing changes regarding players leaving Viking. We're under no pressure to sell and I don't want to lose my best players. -- I got my agent, Hedda Berg, tickets for the match. She supports Vålerenga so she won't be very happy this evening. -- Edited June 26 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 Wednesday 15th June 2033 Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) Fourth Round Draw -- -- Lørenskog -- Full Draw Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 Preview - Lørenskog (home) Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) Fourth Round -- -- -- Lørenskog are 11th in Norsk Tipping-ligaen Avdeling 6 (Tier 4) so, of course, we start as favourites. But coming to our SR-Bank Arena to play Viking it's going to be a big game for Lørenskog and their Semi-Proffesional players. Knut Erik Johansen will have his Lørenskog players fired up for this one. We have to match them for intensity and desire and, if we do that, we should be able to win. Stefan Leković joined our injury list this week. Julian Gonstad is close to a return, just not close enough. Edvin Austbø will start. Jonas Therkelsen will be on the bench and we'll look to get him some playing time if we can. We won't be risking Julian Gonstad. I've had a word with Patrick Berg and Lasse Nordås about their recent below par performances. Given our change in tactics, I've called 17 year old left-winger Øyvind Bjørkeng up to the first team squad and, if we get an opportunity, I'd like to take a closer look at him today. Spoiler -- Expected Line-up Our performance last time out away at Vålerenga improved significantly when we changed from 4-1-3-2 to 4-2-3-1 so we'll be starting 4-2-3-1 today, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 (edited) Wednesday 22nd June 2033 Viking (Tier 1) v Lørenskog (Tier 4) Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) Fourth Round -- -- -- Knut Erik Johansen has Lørenskog very well organised and, for saying they are a fourth tier semi-professional outfit, they made life very difficult for us out there. It was 0-0 at the break and Lørenskog probably deserved that for how well they'd defended but, to say they could beat us another time, Knut Erik is just bigging up his team. Lørenskog only had two attempts all game, we scored three, hit the post, had another one disallowed and on another day could've easily scored five or six. It was 0-0 at half-time. Our goalkeeper, back-four and midfield two were playing very well but, up front, Lasse Nordås aside, I didn't think our attackers were doing enough. So I made three substitutions and changed to an Attacking mentality. Substitute Joakim Berg Nundal, recently recalled from his Strømsgodset loan, had only been on the pitch four minutes when he gave us the lead with a stunning shot no goalkeeper was going to save. Lørenskog weren't threatening at all so, on 64 minutes, I sent on young Øyvind Bjørkeng. He was unlucky not to score; on 70 minutes Øyvind Bjørkeng put the ball in the back of the net but he was fractionally offside and on 90+2 minutes he hit the post. Joakim Berg Nundal doubled our lead with his second goal, rifling in a 90+3 minute goal in off the underside of the bar. Two minutes later, Aleksander Liland added our third with a direct free-kick that curled around the wall and thundered into the net off the post. -- Edited June 26 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 (edited) Friday 24th June 2033 Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) Quarter Final Draw -- Spoiler Edited June 26 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 Preview - Odd (away) -- -- -- As a life-long Oddrane fan I have a lot of time for Magnus Powell. He's been in charge at Skagerak Arena almost two years now and helped Odds Ballklubb to a 7th placed finish last season, their highest in two seasons, and this campaign he has them 6th... so it's very nice to hear his kind words. Unfortunately, Julian Gonstad hasn't fully recovered from an ankle ligament injury and won't play any part today. Odd are playing very well this season but we have a good record against them. It won't be easy in their Skagerak Arena but after our last two Cupen-ties, where we won both matches, we're confident of getting a good result. I have a lot of faith in this group of players and I honestly believed at the start of the season that we could win Eliteserien. We won't give up on that ambition until it's mathematically impossible, but we need to start winning games again as we're closer to the relegation places right now than the European spots. The Board's expectation is a top four finish and we're only four points off that with two thirds of the season left to play. Viking's season is a long way from over - don't write us off yet. Edvin Austbø has passed a fitness test. I've had a word with him about his recent poor form and Edvin will be on the bench today. After coming on at half-time last time out against Lørenskog and scoring two goals, Joakim Berg Nundal has earnt the right to start against Odds Ballklubb today. -- Expected Line-up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 Saturday 25th June 2033 Eliteserien Results -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 Saturday 25th June 2033 Odds Ballklubb (6th) v Viking (13th) Eliteserien -- -- -- I have a good, working relationship with Magnus Powell. This won't change that. Yes, it was a very hard fought game, but I'm delighted to have got a win in Eliteserien, away against a very good team. Our first Eliteserien win in seven matches. Now we have to build on this and win more. We deserved the victory. We had a lot more possession than Odd, created more chances than they did, and tested their goalkeeper more often than they troubled Jasper Torkildsen. But it really was a tough game, both teams were pressing and winning tackles so there were a lot of possession turnovers for both teams. Odd took an early 11th minute lead but Pontus Dahbo equalised just three minutes later. The first 25 minutes were fairly even but, after that, I thought we took control and were much the better team in the second half, even if Odd did hit the bar twice.. But we held firm, stuck to our principles by playing on the front foot, and we got our rewards when Hugo Vetlesen won the ball, dribbled it forward, and then rifled home a low shot for a 2-1 lead. There's 19 matches still to play, that's a lot of football, and while Rosenborg are opening up a gap at the top, we're only two points off 5th, four points off 3rd, and eight points behind Vålerenga. Anything can happen over the next 19 games... that's the beauty of football. You're right. Scoring goals, despite creating lots of chances, has been our problem all season. It's something we're working on and, hopefully, changing the way we approach matches will help. I've had a chat with our medical team and Otto Rosenborg and it's a serious hip injury. It's heart-breaking for Otto because I'll be surprised if he plays again this season. -- -- -- Evening Result 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 Friday 1st July 2033 Episode 137 - Climbing the League Table "Transfers Out" -- Leković Joins Espanyol -- Dahbo Bid Rejected -- Transfer Rumours Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 (edited) Friday 1st July 2033 Episode 137 - Climbing the League Table "Viking First Team Squad" -- International Duty -- Appearances -- Reports -- News -- Players Out on Loan Spoiler Edited June 27 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 (edited) Friday 1st July 2033 Episode 137 - Climbing the League Table "Monthly Review" -- Results -- Board Confidence -- Supporter Confidence -- Finances -- Dynamics Edited June 26 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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