Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 (edited) Sunday 15th October 2034 Sarpsborg (14th) v Viking (1st) Eliteserien -- -- -- After the International break we cobbled together a team today based on who was fittest. We weren't at our best but I still thought the team selected was good enough to beat Sarpsborg. We created plenty of chances, but didn't get enough on target. Kasper Jacobsen gave us a 23rd minute lead with a brilliant, individual goal. Just after the hour though, Sarpsborg equalised. They played a long ball forward which Ove Benjamin Modell and Jan Rune Hansen left to each other, either of them could have headed it clear but neither of them jumped for it, and Jan ran through, collected the ball and scored. We made substitutions after that... ... and changed to a more Attacking mentality and shape, but we were unable to find a winner. -- Edited July 29 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Wednesday 18th October 2034 Eliteserien Result -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Thursday 19th October 2034 Eliteserien Title Race -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Preview - Rosenborg (home) Eliteserien -- -- We have a very mixed record against Rosenborg during my time at Viking. By the odd goal in five we won a thrilling game earlier in the season away in Rosenborg's Lerkendal. At home, with our supporters making the SR-Bank Arena rock, hopefully we can get another win. I had a lot of time for Magnus Powell when he was Odds Ballklubb manager Andreas Alm has only been at Brann since June and I think he deserves more time. -- Expected Line-up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 (edited) Saturday 21st October 2034 Viking (1st) v Rosenborg (11th) Eliteserien -- -- -- Edvin Austbø was outstanding today, it has to be said. His goal, after Anders Hartveit Ryste gave us the lead was the best goal of the match. Bill Freeman scored our third. Our fourth came from an own goal and Anders Hartveit Ryste scored our fifth. We were superb going forward, created lots of chances, and were clinical in front of goal. Defensively, though, it was a bit crazy. At 3-0, we switched off just before the break and Rosenborg pulled one back. In the second half, 5-1 up, Rosenborg scored a second from the penalty spot after a penalty decision I didn't understand. Rosenborg hit a long ball into the penalty area, Jasper Torkildsen charged into a crowd of players with his arms above his head, and the ball sailed over everyone and out for a goal kick. Next thing we know, the referee's awarded a penalty. And then we gave away another penalty. This time I have no complaints, it was clearly hand ball, although why Costel Tilincă had his arm above his head, I'll never know. Jasper Torkildsen made a superb flying save to push the penalty kick out for a corner. -- -- -- Sunday's Preview Edited July 29 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Sunday 22nd October 2034 Eliteserien -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Preview - St. Gallen (away) UEFA Europa League League Path -- -- If we can attack like we did against Rosenborg, and defend better than we did that day, then I'm confident even though we've never played St. Gallen before. I don't intend to be disrespectful to St. Gallen but we really need to go strong against Odd on Sunday so, yes, there's likely to be a lot of changes to the starting 11 for the St. Gallen match. -- Expected Line-up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Thursday 26th October 2034 St. Gallen (Switzerland) v Viking (Norway) UEFA Europa League League Path -- -- -- We were 0-1 down when we sent Bill Freeman on after 52 minutes. Bill changed the game and scored two great goals. Julian Gonstad had a great game and scored our third goal. I made nine changes, I think, for this game and you always wonder if you're doing the right thing. I thought we were the better team throughout but were a goal down at the break. In the second half, we sent on some of the big guns we'd been resting and, fortunately, we were able to come-from-behind to win with three second half goals. Joakim Berg Nundal took a knock but we don't think it's too serious. -- 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Preview - Odds Ballklubb (home) Eliteserien -- -- Olof Mellberg does have an experienced squad at Odd but it's primarily the squad he inherited from Magnus Powell. We've played these players before and generally have a good record against them. We went to Odd's Skagerak Arena earlier this season and won by the only goal of the game. There might be a slight advantage but I doubt that means much since Odd have a new manager in Olof Mellberg. We rotated about nine players against St. Gallen and then had to bring some of the rested players on in the second half. There's some tiredness in the legs but we'll select a strong team to play Odd. Yes, it's possible we could clinch the Eliteserien title if we beat Odd and Molde lose to Sarpsborg but I'm not expecting Molde to slip up in their own Aker Stadion. Joakim Berg Nundal will be on the bench, but we don't really want to risk him. Jasper Robertsen will miss the Odd game through suspension. -- Expected Line-up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Sunday 29th October 2034 Team Meeting -- -- -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Sunday 29th October 2034 Viking (1st) v Odds Ballklubb (7th) Eliteserien -- -- -- There is a real buzz around the SR-Bank Arena at the moment. We're playing good football, we're winning football matches, and everybody is having fun and enjoying themselves. Not that you'd have thought that today. We started brightly and we thought Bill Freeman had given us a 5th minute lead, but he'd strayed into an offside position. After that, we got really nervy and there was no fluidity to our play. Odd weren't causing us any problems but we didn't look like scoring. [Then, why are we playing with a Cautious mentality? I don't know when or how that changed but...] On 35 minutes we changed to our normal Positive mentality. And we did start to create some chances then. On 55 minutes, we changed to an Attacking mentality. The goal, the only goal of the game, came when Henrik Skogvold headed in Mathias Fjørtoft Løvik's corner at the far post. We reverted back to Positive. On 73 minutes we made a raft of substitutions to replace tired legs with fresh legs. It was a very disjointed performance, but we still completely controlled the game. And the win puts us within touching distance of the Eliteserien title with three matches to go. If my maths is right, I think one more win will guarantee us the Eliteserien title. -- -- Evening Result 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 Wednesday 1st November 2034 Viking U19s Finish Third -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) Wednesday 1st November 2034 Episode 154 - Eliteserien Title Within Reach "Viking First Team Squad" -- News -- Appearances -- Reports -- Players Out on Loan Edited July 30 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) Wednesday 1st November 2034 Episode 154 - Eliteserien Title Within Reach "Månedens Awards" -- Månedens Trener -- Månedens Spiller Edited July 30 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) Wednesday 1st November 2034 Episode 154 - Eliteserien Title Within Reach "Monthly Review" -- Results -- Board Confidence -- Supporter Confidence -- Finances -- Dynamics Edited July 30 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 Wenesday 1st November 2034 Until Next Time... ... when we conclude our Eliteserien campaign, and... ... play two more UEFA Europa League League Path 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... 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...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) Saturday 4th November 2034 Viking II Retain Title -- Viking II will stay in PostNord-ligaen Avdeling 2 (Tier 3) next season and attempt to win the title for a third straight season. Edited July 30 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 Saturday 5th November 2034 Youth Intake Preview -- -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 Preview - FC Nordsjælland (away) UEFA Europa League League Path -- -- I doubt Roger Vestgøte would have featured today in any case but he'll be a few weeks yet before he's back in training. We've not played FC Nordsjælland before during my time at Viking but our short trip to Denmark will be a bit like Friends Re-united as Runar Norheim, Eivind Helland and David Møller Wolfe all play for them. All three were good servants to Viking and a pleasure to work with. It will be good to see them again. The break has allowed us to rest the players, which they needed after a long, demanding season, but more of a concern is that we play Molde in a very important Eliteserien match on Sunday. We'll probably do the same as we did against St. Galen. Rotate quite heavily and bring the big guns on second half should we need them. We picked up a couple more injuries in training this week. -- Expected Line-up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaytheGreat Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 Wow the League, Europa League, the Cup it doesn't matter you and the team are steamrolling through everyone. Must really feel good after last season, even if the biggest moments of the season are still to be played. Dang another apparently stinker of a youth intake, hopefully its better then it looks like. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) Thursday 9th November 2034 FC Nordsjælland (Denmark) v Viking (Norway) UEFA Europa League League Path -- -- -- FC Nordsjælland started the game well and put us under some early pressure. I did wonder, then, if we'd made too many changes but we settled into the game and, I thought, were good value for the win by the final whistle. In a scrappy game, of very few chances, quality finishing by Bill Freeman and Anders Hartveit Ryste was the difference. We have a very strong squad, with plenty of strength in depth, and we showed that tonight. On 70 minutes, 2-0 up, I decided to give the youngsters Filip Lauritzen and Robert Reyes some game time. Spoiler Four minutes later, FC Nordsjælland pulled a goal back... and you think oh no, here we go.... but the players regrouped and responded. I was delighted for Filip Lauritzen that he provided the cross for our third goal. Unfortunately, late-on, in trying to help out defensively, Robert Reyes gave away a penalty. On 90+3 minutes, Joakim Berg Nundal took a knock, when we'd used all our substitutes, but he should be ok. -- Edited July 30 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 27 minutes ago, JaytheGreat said: Wow the League, Europa League, the Cup it doesn't matter you and the team are steamrolling through everyone. Thanks, @JaytheGreat... yes, we are doing brilliantly in all competitions! 28 minutes ago, JaytheGreat said: Must really feel good after last season, even if the biggest moments of the season are still to be played. It is an amazing feeling to be honest with you. Most of this squad were here last season and I thought we had a very good squad then but it just didn't pan out that way as the 2033 season unfolded, particularly the first half of the season when we were somewhere between stuttering and struggling. We have made some great additions this season, Mamady Diambou and Daniel Daga as ball-winning midfielders, and Bill Freeman up front but, fundamentally, it's the same core squad as last season. I think my decision to really go at teams, with a Positive 4-2-4 and as many goal scorers up top as possible, has reaped its rewards. Now, I just hope the players can see it through and finish the season in style. 32 minutes ago, JaytheGreat said: Dang another apparently stinker of a youth intake, hopefully its better then it looks like. Indeed... and we have Excellent Youth Recruitment apparently Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 1 hour ago, Stuniverse said: Indeed... and we have Excellent Youth Recruitment apparently That is because your squad is currently too good to properly rate the youngsters. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 1 hour ago, Hootieleece said: That is because your squad is currently too good to properly rate the youngsters. Well I didn’t know that. Do you think I could be in for a pleasant surprise @Hootieleece ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BML Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 Bill Freeman was an inspired signing, even better that he's an 'unusual' nationality. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) 34 minutes ago, BML said: Bill Freeman was an inspired signing, even better that he's an 'unusual' nationality. You’re not wrong, @BML Bill Freeman has been sensational since he joined us. To be honest, I’d forgotten about him because we signed him on a pre-contract way back in January but he didn’t join us until July when his contract expired. Bill has it all, he scores goals, he provides assists, he takes free-kicks and sometimes takes corners. The only thing he isn’t very good at, bizarrely, is taking penalties. And he’s a Liberian international as well. Edited July 30 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) Friday 10th November 2034 International Call-ups -- -- -- We appear to have an away fixture against Bodø/Glimt that clashes with Norway's home match against Portugal. Hopefully Bodø/Glimt v Viking will get postponed due to International call-ups. -- Edited July 30 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) Saturday 11th November 2034 Team Meeting -- -- -- -- Edited July 30 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 Saturday 11th November 2034 Eliteserien Result -- -- Sunday's Preview Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) Preview - Molde (home) Eliteserien -- -- There's a great togetherness in this Viking squad which is full of strong characters, with a lot of spirit and determination, and one defeat, not that we're planning on losing, won't change that. This is a big match for us, we can clinch the Eliteserien title with a positive result, so there's bound to be nerves. We're in confident mood. We had a very positive Team Meeting yesterday and, hopefully, we'll get the job done in front of our own supporters inside our SR-Bank Arena. Molde are a very good side, we know that, they wouldn't be second and chasing us for the Eliteserien title otherwise. We went to their Aker Stadion and won 4-1 earlier in the season but I don't read anything into that, it's in the past, both Jacob Neestrup and us have made changes since then, and Molde know they have to win to keep any chance of them winning Eliteserien alive. That will make them very dangerous indeed. In a strange way though, I think the pressure is all on Molde today. If they fail to win, then their Eliteserien title challenge is over for this season. If we lose, and we're confident of winning, but if we were to lose we still have two more matches to clinch the Eliteserien title. We made the short trip to Denmark and beat FC Nordsjælland in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. We rotated heavily for that match, rested some players, gave the likes of Bill Freeman and Anders Hartveit Ryste 45 minutes each, and we've looked in good shape in training since getting back. There may be some tiredness, understandably, but if anything, I think adrenalin will carry us through today. Molde also played in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, at home, beating Puskás Akadémia of Hungary 2-0. So, although we did more travelling, we're in similar situations in that regard. Lasse Nordås remains a long way off a return to training. -- Expected Line-up -- Edited July 31 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) Sunday 12th November 2034 Viking (1st) v Molde (2nd) Eliteserien -- -- -- Thank you. Thank you. Just listen to that noise and look at those celebrations. I'm told there were 15,438 de mørkeblå Viking fans in a SR-Bank Arena crowd of 15,703 today and they deserve to celebrate this. We put them through the ringer last season and then some... quite simply, we didn't live up to expectations last year but this season we've delivered. The fourth official announced six extra minutes and we were well into that sixth added minute when Molde equalised from a corner. Maybe if we hadn't lost two players to injury we wouldn't have been hanging on so much right at the end. It was a very tight, nervous and tense game which I think is completely understandable. Sometimes the big occasions don't live up to the hype and I think that was the case here. Very few chances, very few clear cut chances, and I think Molde's late equaliser, a shot through a crowd of players was their only shot on target all game... and it came on 90+6 minutes. 17 minutes in and we lost Edvin Austbø to injury. On 44 minutes we thought we'd broken the deadlock, Aleksander Liland hit a long ball over the top, Anders Hartveit Ryste outran the Molde defence and, one-on-one with Molde's goalkeeper Adrian Juskiewicz, calmly scored but, to be fair, the assistant had raised his flag for offside and the referee blew his whistle before Anders got his shot away. We made two substitutions at the break, replacing two players who were on yellow cards. Our goal finally came on 75 minutes. Kasper Jacobsen hit a long ball over the top, Anders Hartveit Ryste ran onto it and scored... the on-field officials disallowed it for offside but, fortunately for us, VAR overruled them and the goal stood. On 89 minutes we lost Joakim Berg Nundal to a nasty looking injury. I sent young Filip Lauritzen on and he had a shot charged down in a crowded Molde penalty area. Then came Molde's late, late, very late equaliser but a draw was all we needed. We've done it. We're Eliteserien Champions. -- Edited July 30 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 Sunday 12th November 2034 Viking Crowned Eliteserien Champions -- 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) Sunday 12th November 2034 Stuniverse Post-Match -- I wouldn’t say that. There are some very good teams in Eliteserien and it’s being disrespectful to them to say it’s no surprise we won the title. Last season we were the pre-season favourites and we, and I very much include myself in that, didn’t handle being favourites very well. We learnt some very hard lessons from the 2033 campaign and, this season, we handled being pre-season favourites much better. I think I was a bit emotional when you thrust a microphone in front of me just moments after the final whistle. I’m relieved more than anything else. I knew this was a great squad of players, they’ve worked incredibly hard this season, and they thoroughly deserve this success. I’m incredibly proud. I’ve been at Viking a long time, I’m the second longest serving manager in Eliteserien, and this place feels like home. So to win the title for the supporters, the staff, the Board and the people of Stavanger is a wonderful feeling. That’s something you’d have to ask the Board and the fans about. I get on very well with the Chairperson and the Board stuck by me last season, when we got off to a poor start, and I can’t thank them enough for that. I hope so. This is the best group of players I’ve ever worked with and, domestically, we’ve only lost one match all season. We have a Cupen Final to look forward to next month and we’ve won four out of four to start our UEFA Europa League campaign. Quite a lot of the players are getting International recognition, which is fantastic for them, but great news for Viking because if players can play for their Nation as a Viking player then that makes it easier to sign and retain International class players. I thought we did enough to win this game, but in the last minute of added-on time, Molde sent everybody, including their goalkeeper, into a crowded penalty area. Their goalkeeper caused disruption because nobody, including himself I’d wager, knew what he was going to do. The corner came in, we half cleared it, an all-mighty scramble followed, Molde shoot through a crowded penalty area and they equalise with their first shot on target all match. Normally that would hurt but, knowing a draw today was enough to win Eliteserien, it didn’t hurt as much. Look, if VAR means we get the correct decision in the end then I’m all for it. Although I wish VAR could make the decision quicker, it does seem to take forever sometimes. We have two Eliteserien matches left, a Cupen Final to play, and four more games in the UEFA Europa League League Phase. We’ve set our standards high now and I expect us to continue to work hard in training and play to those standards in matches. Edited July 31 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 Now that you have secured the title, are you going to give squad and fringe players playing time in the League matches remaining? To save your first XI for the Cup Final and Europa League. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 (edited) 11 hours ago, Hootieleece said: Now that you have secured the title, are you going to give squad and fringe players playing time in the League matches remaining? That’s a very good question @Hootieleece and I haven’t decided yet. Although the next Eliteserien match may be out of my hands. Next up are Bodo/Glimt on the 19th and that match clashes with International fixtures. In total, 20 Viking players have been called up by their Nations. 12 of them are in my first team squad and all but one of them are registered. At the moment there’s no sign of the Bodo/Glimt match being postponed and I don’t appear to have an option to request a postponement. As for the Sandefjord game on the final day, Sandefjord are currently 14th, in the relegation playoff spot, and I’m not sure how I’d feel about fielding a weakened team against them if Sandefjord still have something to play for. There’s an integrity to Eliteserien I’d want to respect and it wouldn’t be fair on the teams Sandefjord are battling relegation against if I fielded a weakened team. 11 hours ago, Hootieleece said: To save your first XI for the Cup Final and Europa League. But, on the other hand, Cupen Final and UEFA Europa League matches need to be the priority now. — 17 hours ago, Stuniverse said: Friday 10th November 2034 International Call-ups -- -- -- We appear to have an away fixture against Bodø/Glimt that clashes with Norway's home match against Portugal. Hopefully Bodø/Glimt v Viking will get postponed due to International call-ups. -- Edited July 31 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 Stuniverse, please check in on my latest adventure. In Japan: Toranaga's Ambition: Rise of a Soccer Shogun? I am about to begin my second season. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BML Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 14 hours ago, Stuniverse said: There’s an integrity to Eliteserien I’d want to respect and it wouldn’t be fair on the teams Sandefjord are battling relegation against if I fielded a weakened team. You're a better man than me, once the title is sewn up it's prospects in every league game with no consideration for any other teams. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 On 31/07/2024 at 12:26, BML said: You're a better man than me, once the title is sewn up it's prospects in every league game with no consideration for any other teams. I’ve been away for a few days and have been thinking about this. I’m not against the idea… we’ll just have to see how the last two Eliteserien matches play out, @BML — On 30/07/2024 at 21:33, Stuniverse said: That’s a very good question @Hootieleece and I haven’t decided yet. Although the next Eliteserien match may be out of my hands. Next up are Bodo/Glimt on the 19th and that match clashes with International fixtures. In total, 20 Viking players have been called up by their Nations. 12 of them are in my first team squad and all but one of them are registered. At the moment there’s no sign of the Bodo/Glimt match being postponed and I don’t appear to have an option to request a postponement. As for the Sandefjord game on the final day, Sandefjord are currently 14th, in the relegation playoff spot, and I’m not sure how I’d feel about fielding a weakened team against them if Sandefjord still have something to play for. There’s an integrity to Eliteserien I’d want to respect and it wouldn’t be fair on the teams Sandefjord are battling relegation against if I fielded a weakened team. But, on the other hand, Cupen Final and UEFA Europa League matches need to be the priority now. — Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 (edited) Thursday 16th November 2034 Norway v Italy UEFA Nations League A Group 2 -- -- -- -- -- Two Viking players, Aleksander Liland (27th cap) and Sindre Grønvold (5th cap) started for Norway. Sindre played 70 minutes and Aleksander the full game. Both Viking goalkeepers Hans Jørgen Solberg and Jasper Torkildsen were unused substitutes, as was Tinius Sundell. Edited August 5 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 Thursday 16th November 2034 Now This Doesn't Seem Very Fair -- Norway's next match is on Sunday 19th November 2034 which clashes with our next Eliteserien match away to Bodø/Glimt at Aspmyra. -- We've had 20 players, in total, called up for International duty, of which, 11 of them are part of our first team squad. -- Unlike previous International matches this season, there's no International break, the Bodø/Glimt v Viking match has not been postponed, and there's no option (I can see) for me to request a postponement. We have 10 first team squad players unavailable because they are away with their Nations, it's actually 11 but Tinius Sundell is suspended and would miss the Bodø/Glimt match in any case. Bodø/Glimt, on the other hand, only have four players away on International duty. -- This hardly seems fair. It's a good job we've already won the Eliteserien title and nothing, for us at any rate, is resting on the Bodø/Glimt match. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 (edited) Thursday 16th November 2034 Squad Availability For Bodø/Glimt Match -- When you factor in injuries, suspensions and players away on international duty, these are the only Viking players I have available to play Bodø/Glimt away on Sunday: -- So no goalkeepers and four empty seats on the bench. There's only three unregistered players in the first team squad who are fit so I'm going to have to register them and I'll still have one empty seat on the bench so I'll need to either recall somebody from loan or call-up someone from the Second or U19 Teams. -- Should I call-up the experienced Sander Lønning from the 2nd Team... ... or dare I start one of the young, unregistered goalkeepers Thomas Otterlei or Roger Vestgøte? -- So @Hootieleece and @BML it appears I'm going to be forced to play fringe squad players and prospects against Bodø/Glimt whether I want to or not. -- Tagged: @samboing Edited August 5 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 (edited) Friday 17th November 2034 Viking Recall Four Players From Loan -- Spoiler -- Spoiler -- Spoiler -- Spoiler Edited August 5 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BML Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 Not sure if it was rhetorical or if you actually wanted suggestions, but in cases like this I would always chuck one of the kids in goal, even if their ceiling isn't actually that high (according to your coaches anyway). Assuming you have the players, and there's no U19 match clash, I'd be filling the empty spots with kids also, covering positions where I can but always prioritising PA. In fact, with 9 subs, I'd always have a couple of kids on the bench. I'm forced to in Wales (with fewer bench slots) and it's a great way of getting kids gametime. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 56 minutes ago, BML said: Not sure if it was rhetorical or if you actually wanted suggestions Certainly not rhetorical… and I always appreciate feedback, discussion and debate on this thread… so thank you very much @BML for your response. I found myself asking myself lots of questions ahead of the Bodo/Glimt game, and pondering my options whilst away in the Lake District for a few days, so I thought they were worth sharing on here. 56 minutes ago, BML said: but in cases like this I would always chuck one of the kids in goal, even if their ceiling isn't actually that high (according to your coaches anyway). I think you’re right. I have called up the more experienced Sander Lonning from the 2nd Team but he’s out of contract soon, has no intention of renewing, and it doesn’t make sense to play him when he’s almost certainly going to be released at the end of the season in any case. 56 minutes ago, BML said: Assuming you have the players, and there's no U19 match clash, I'd be filling the empty spots with kids also, covering positions where I can but always prioritising PA. Yeah, the 2nd Team and U19s have completed their seasons now. 56 minutes ago, BML said: In fact, with 9 subs, I'd always have a couple of kids on the bench. I'm forced to in Wales (with fewer bench slots) and it's a great way of getting kids gametime. I think I’ve mentioned before that this is officially my longest ever save so I’m a rookie when it comes to long(er)-term youth development but that’s something I need to look at now that I’m going to need the youngsters coming through to meet the HGC squad registration requirements - Eliteserien: minimum two; Europe: minimum four. I’m also going to change my squad make-up from next season. When I went through the two seasons (2032 and 2033) of not winning Eliteserien, I thought I needed a squad of quality players but, as I found out with the likes of Miroslav Marchev, Rafael Mota, Niklas Ødegård and Pontus Dahbo (and others too), not to mention my two Norwegian international goalkeepers, it’s impossible to keep a squad happy if they’re all expecting playing time as a regular starter or better. So, next season, I’m going to try and get back to a balanced squad with enough players expecting squad player or fringe player playing time with enough room for HGC youngsters to develop and, hopefully, overtake those fringe / squad players. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 (edited) Preview - Bodø/Glimt (away) Eliteserien -- -- -- We do have a very good record against Bodø/Glimt during my time at Viking, but... ... we're very much down to bare bones squad wise so I'd be happy with any result today. It won't be easy in Aspmyra, that's for sure. I have a lot of time for Thomas Thomasberg and it was very nice of him to say those kind words. But it won't be easy today. A combination of suspensions, injuries, lack of fitness and international call-ups mean we're down to our bare bones and then some. Kasper Jacobsen spent five seasons with Bodø/Glimt so it's huge for him to be going back to Aspmyra. Spoiler Dawid Zając has been playing very well for Skeid, who are 8th in Eliteserien. We considered recalling him for the Bodø/Glimt match but Dawid is out with an ankle injury. We recalled Biniyam Teklab from his loan at Flekkerøy (Tier 4) bur a calf strain means we might not risk him. Spoiler We recalled Tor Helge Vatten from his loan at Sandefjord (14th in Eliteserien). Tor Helge will be on the bench today. Spoiler There's a lot more young players in our matchday squad. 18 year old Thomas Otterlei has the gloves today with our #1 and #2 goalkeepers away with Norway, and 20 year old Brede Norbye starts in central midfield. Spoiler I'm delighted for Bill Fisher as it's a dream for any player to score for their Nation. I just don't understand why the crucial Round 29 fixtures, the penultimate fixtures of the season, were scheduled when Nations all over the world are playing International fixtures. I don't get it. -- Expected Line-up -- Edited August 5 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 (edited) Sunday 19th November 2034 Bodø/Glimt (5th) v Viking (1st) Eliteserien -- -- -- Spoiler We know all about Oliver Petersen (7.7) from his time at Viking as our back-up goalkeeper in 2029 and 2030. Oliver never made an Eliteserien appearance for us so maybe he felt he had a point to prove. We started well, had a couple of early chances, and Henrik Skogvold headed against the bar from an offside position. Then Bodø/Glimt scored with their first attack. Our former goalkeeper, Oliver Petersen, made a brilliant save to deny Oscar Bobb. On 23 minutes, we lost Henrik Skogvold to an injury. Substitute Kasper Jacobsen shot wide, Oliver Petersen made good saves to deny Anders Hartveit Ryste and Edvin Austbø. Oscar Bobb put a free-kick into the side netting. Right on the stroke of half-time, Julian Gonstad had a goal disallowed for offside. At half-time, we felt aggrieved at being a goal down because we'd had by far the better of it in the opening 45 minutes. A minute after the restart, Julian Gonstad seized on a bad back pass from Kenneth Tollevik and equalised from the narrowest of narrow angles. Kasper Jacobsen saw a long-range shot well saved by Oliver Petersen. But then Kasper Jacobsen ran from the halfway line and hit a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area that flew past Oliver Petersen to give us the lead. Bodø/Glimt equalised from a corner, nobody picked up the cross and the ball was half-volleyed from the penalty spot into the back of our net. Oliver Petersen pushed a shot from Oscar Bobb over the bar. On 81 minutes, we pushed the central midfielders further forward. Oscar Bobb looped a long-range shot onto the bar. Due to circumstances we had to put out a makeshift team today with kids on the bench but I thought we outplayed Bodø/Glimt throughout. We deserved to win. Would we have won with a more experienced goalkeeper between the sticks? We'll never know. I would've taken a draw before the start so I have to be pleased with this result and young Thomas Otterlei will have learnt a lot in goal today. -- Edited August 5 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 Sunday 19th November 2034 Norway v Portugal UEFA Nations League A Group 2 -- -- -- -- Viking's Tinius Sundell (11th cap) started for Norway against Portugal and played the full match. Aleksander Liland (28th cap) came on as a 68th minute substitute. Goalkeepers Jasper Torkildsen and Hans Jørgen Solberg as well as Sindre Grønvold were unused substitutes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 Thursday 23rd November 2034 International Appearances -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 (edited) Preview - Sandefjord (home) Eliteserien -- -- -- We let our brilliant de mørkeblå supporters down last season with a disappointing league campaign but, having regained the Eliteserien Crown, we want to give our fans a performance to celebrate in our SR-Bank Arena today. The season isn't over for Sandefjord as they still need points to guarantee safety. Sogndal and Sarpsborg are also trying to avoid the relegation playoff so we owe it to those teams, as well as ourselves and our fans, to take this game seriously. Andreas Alm took over a Brann team that were embroiled in a relegation battle barely five months ago. Andreas wasn't able to keep Brann up, in the end, but I think he deserves longer than five months in charge. Øyvind Bekkevold is suspended today. Lasse Nordås (achilles) and Joakim Berg Nundal (shin splints) are definitely out, but everybody else is fit and raring to go. -- Expected Line-up I've included prospects Filip Lauritzen and Robert Reyes on the bench in case there's an opportunity to give them playing time against Sandefjord. Edited August 5 by Stuniverse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuniverse Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 (edited) Saturday 25th November 2034 Viking (1st) v Sandefjord (12th) Eliteserien -- -- -- I don't like singling out individuals but I thought Edvin Austbø, Anders Hartveit Ryste and Bill Fisher were outstanding today. Sandefjord gave us a really difficult game today and they were a credit to their manager Eivind Kampen. They started brightly, knowing they needed a win to guarantee safety by avoiding the relegation playoffs and, even when things were going against them in the Sarpsborg and Sogndal games, and then here at SR-Bank Arena, Sandefjord kept going until the final whistle. We had a shock just four minutes in when Costel Tilincă mistimed a tackle inside our penalty area and Sandefjord scored the penalty. On 26 minutes we lost Kasper Jakobsen with a calf issue. By half-time we were level after Bill Fisher showed great composure in the penalty area to convert Edvin Austbø's low cross. Four minutes into the second half, Anders Hartveit Ryste gave us the lead after great work by Edvin Austbø. On 52 minutes, we defended a corner poorly, didn't mark properly, and Sandefjord equalised. A hat-trick of assists from Edvin Austbø set-up Henrik Skogvold to restore our lead and Sindre Grønvold then scored our fourth. On 74 minutes we made our final substitutions, sending on prospects Filip Lauritzen and Robert Reyes. It was great to win our final Eliteserien match of the season at home, to round-off a great league campaign and allow our supporters to celebrate in style. -- Edited August 5 by Stuniverse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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