Eliteserien 2008

[Jon Irenicus]

What are your predictions for next year? I hope the young players will continue to show their class and help out.

Much hinges on whether Sollied returns. If he does I think it will help us get better players on the transfer market, create enthusiasm for the team and help us win the double.

[Skotten]

Hmm..it's clear to see that there will be big changes in terms of management,players and possibly even board.

We know that even if Brann become weaker, which will probably be the case if Andresen/Huseklepp and others leave, Stabaek/Lillestrom/Viking/VIF will probably all try and contest the title.

If we get Sollied i will be pretty of confident of at least top 2, if not, then who knows.

[Skotten]

Bodo Glimt.

[2mas]

It may not have been mentioned here, but our assistant coach Kåre Ingebrigtsen (ex Man City) will take over Bodø/Glimt next year. Bet he is quite happy with the promotion tonight.

[Christian]

CONGRATULATIONS, ERIK HOFTUN & BODØ/GLIMT!

Sad for Erik that he quits as player, I would have like it to see him in action in Tippeligaen again and taking silver!
But it´s good for RBK that he returns!

Nice to see Bodø/Glimt in next years Eliteserien, for I became a kind of supporter after Erik and Harald Martin went to north!
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Hilsen fra Tyskland

[2mas]

Chelsea actually made a pretty good overview over our squad to the match at Stamford Bridge. Now it is updated:

1. Ole Lilleås Næss
Goalkeeper
Just 18, this keeper who has risen through the club's youth ranks is still awaiting his first team debut.

2. Miika Koppinen
Defender
It was Koppinen's header that opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge two months ago, following up his goal in Champions League qualifying against Maltese side Tampere United. Koppinen signed in 2005 from Tromsø, and has 17 international caps.

4. Fredrik Stoor
Defender
23-year-old Stoor has nine Swedish under-21 caps, and signed for Rosenborg in January, arriving from Hammarby in his homeland, where he appeared 51 times.

5. Ole Christer Basma
Defender
Has represented Norway 40 times, and has been at the Lerkendal stadium since 1998, playing in excess of 200 games. He was withdrawn at half-time of September's clash, replaced by Bjorn Tore Kvarme.

6. Roar Strand
Midfielder
Played at right-back at Stamford Bridge. Strand is a Rosenborg legend who has been at the club since 1989, winning 14 domestic league titles - a European record. Strand is a hero among Rosenborg fans, and has won 42 caps for Norway, scoring four goals.

7. Yssouf Koné
Forward
A transfer target of several clubs around Europe, Koné has impressed with his recent goalscoring form, netting at home to Valencia. Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Koné represents Burkina Faso at international level, where he has scored five goals in 15 appearances. He signed for Rosenborg in January 2006, and scored six times in this season's qualifying for the Champions League groups.

8. Didier Konan Ya
Forward
Another forward who hails from the Ivorian capital, Konan will be very familiar with our own Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, and was nominated for the 2006 African Player of the Year award. Konan signed for Rosenborg in January 2007, having been the top scorer in the African Champions League last year for his former side Olympic Sport Abobo.

10. Vidar Riseth
Defender
35-year-old veteran, who has had spells at both Celtic and Luton Town. He signed for Rosenborg from 1860 Munich, whom he had joined upon leaving Glasgow in 2001. Riseth has won 49 caps for Norway. Riseth made his 50th appearance in European football at Stamford Bridge back in September, and was an influential figure in the Norwegians' spirited performance.

13. Lars Hirschfeld
Goalkeeper
At fault for our goal back in September, Hirschfeld is a former third choice goalkeeper at Spurs between 2002 and 2004, though he never made an appearance before short spells at both Dundee United and Leicester City. Hirschfeld has 18 caps for his country Canada.

14. Steffen Iversen
Forward
A late sub at Stamford Bridge, Iversen scored both goals in the win in Valencia three weeks ago.Well-known to English fans, another former Spurs player, who was at White Hart Lane between 1996 and 2003. Iversen was touted as a superb prospect but injury hampered his progress and he was eventually released. He was in the Rosenborg team that beat AC Milan in the San Siro in 1996, and has 68 international caps, scoring 15 times.

15. Per Ciljan Skjelbred
Midfielder
The team's young star, Skjelbred is already a Norwegian international at the tender age of 20, making his debut against Turkey in March. He has represented his country at every level from under-16, and scored on his Champions League debut against Olympiakos in 2005. He impressed in the two wins over Valencia on Champions League duty this season.


16. Thomas Nikolaisen Valø
Forward
Another youngster still awaiting his first team debut, Valø arrived at Rosenborg shortly after his 16th birthday in 2005, signing from rivals Lillestrom.

17. Øyvind Storflor
Forward
Has won three league titles with the club, scoring 30 goals in 155 domestic matches. Storflor is a youth product at Rosenborg, but spent two seasons at Moss before returning home. He has three Norwegian caps.

18. Alejandro Lago Correa
Defender
Uruguayan international defender who has been dogged by injury since arriving in the summer of 2005 from Penarol. He has won 30 caps, and previously had a spell in Europe with Swedish side IFK Göteborg.

19. Alexander Tettey
Midfielder
21-year-old who recently made his Norwegian debut against Argentina. Born in Accra, Ghana, Tettey racked up 23 league appearances for Rosenborg in 2007, scoring four times. He made his Champions League debut in 2005, losing 4-1 in the Bernabeu.

20. Abdou Razack Traoré
Forward
Still only 18, Traoré signed from Raja Casablanca in January 2007. He has played ten times this season, scoring once. Another Ivorian born in Abidjan.

21. Jo Sondre Aas
Forward
Another youth player who signed for Rosenborg in 2006, Aas, 18, has made one first team appearance.

22. Andreas Nordvik
Defender
Nordvik signed from Nardo in 2006, but it still waiting for his league debut, having spent three months on loan at Haugesund. He is a versatile player who can operate anywhere across the back line.

23. Michael Kleppe Jamtfall
Forward
Jamtfall suffered a cruciate ligament injury earlier this month, which will keep him out until April. Has played just nine league games for Rosenborg since signing in August 2006.

26. Bjørn Tore Kvarme
Defender
Now 35, the former Liverpool defender is in his second spell with the club. Kvarme signed for The Reds in 1997, but moved on to St. Etienne after 45 games, before an unsuccessful spell with Real Sociedad, where he gained limited Champions League experience. Kvarme won one cap for Norway back in 1997, and has announced his intention to retire at the end of 2007. He was a half-time substitute back in September, making some crucial blocks for his side.

27. Marek Sapara
Midfielder
Impressive in the first meeting, he is a Slovak international who captained MFK Ruzomberok to the 2005/6 league and cup double in his homeland before moving to Rosenborg, where he was an ever-present in the 2007 league campaign, scoring seven goals in 26 games.

28. Alexander Lund Hansen
Goalkeeper
Lund Hansen is back-up to Hirschfeld at the Lerkendal. He made his debut in a 15-0 cup victory over Rissa in 2004, and has spent time on loan at Fredrikstad.

33. Mikael Dorsin
Defender
Left-back at Stamford Bridge, Dorsin is a Swedish international, and has been at Rosenborg three years, playing 70 games and scoring four goals. He joined from French club Strasbourg, where he spent one season in 2003/4. Dorsin was a late call up to Sweden's latest squad, but did not feature against either Denmark or Montenegro.

XX. Albert Berbatovci
Midfielder
18-year-old Norwegian awaiting his first team debut having signed in August 2005 at the age of 16.

XX. Steffen Mathisen
Defender
Despite having been at the club for three years, 19-year-old Mathisen is still awaiting his first team debut, though he has represented Norway at under-19 level.

Trond Henriksen
Head Coach
The 43-year-old took over from Knut Tørum following the first of two wins against Valencia in this season's Champions League. Previously, he had been number two, having joined the club for the 2006 season. As a player, Henriksen was hugely successful for Rosenborg, lifting league and cup honours with the Lerkendal club.

[Skotten]

What are the general opinions of how VIF are shaping up under Andresen and will they be the main threat this year?

Doffen may be a good signing but I don't rate Bengt Sæternes that much now at his age. They will obviously be looking to recruit more players, particularly in attack. I think defensively they are ok but it will be a big test for Andresen with his in-experience.

For me, it will be one of Brann/LSK/Viking/RBK.

[Kjello]

Don't exclude Stabæk this year. They haven't lost any players.

[Skotten]

Yes, true. They did have an exceptional season last year though and it may be difficult for them to repeat this. Again, i suppose with any potential title challenger, whoever arrives and departs between now and the beginning of the season will give us a better idea.

[Matt]

As for who is gone win the league next year

I think Rosenborg coulde have a shot if we get at least 1 hopefully 2 new qualite defenders, if we do not get any new defenders i think we will struggel.

Brann still has a strong squad but it will be itresting to see how they deal with loseing Martin Andresen

VÃ¥lrenga has signed many good midefielders and looks to have a very strong team, but we will have to see if Andresen who is inexperiensed at leading a club will be capabel of makeing them play well together

Lillestrøm migth be abel to challenge for the titel but they need to avoid getting so many yellow and red card on there key players.That really hurt them last season.

Stabøk has a good team, but they will struggel if they get a lot of injuries and i also think they will have a problem with key players getting tierd since they have a relatively small squad.

Finaly i also think Viking can do well they got a good manager and have signed some inresting new players.

as for who i think is the favorit, well it`s to early to say.

[Kjello]

I don't think Brann will be able to win again. They've lost Andresen who was a key player for them. And they are in a new situation as defending champions. If they strugle just a little bit everyone will say it was Andresen who led them to victory last season and not headcoach Mons Ivar Mjelde.

[torerik]

Once Brann starts to fumble, they're out. And as we all know, Brann not having any downs in 2008 is highly unlikely. The only thing that saved them from themselves in 2007 was the lack of any stable competitors.

[Kjello]

Yes, and they won a were important mach against us. If we had won that one I actually think we would have won the league.

[torerik]

I don't know about that, it's possible, of course, but we had a lot to play for even after losing to Brann - and managed some pretty terrible results, like losing to Start and Fredrikstad, and drawing against Strømsgodset.

Back to Brann, though; I'm pretty sure won't win in 2008. Andresen will be a big loss, but it's the pressure that'll be the biggest problem for them. In 2007, although being their typical obnoxious selves, the supporters in Bergen were behind them, supporting their "glorious quest" for the gold medal. In 2008, they'll be expecting - demanding - a repeat. Brann will buckle under the pressure.

[Kjello]

The match in Bergen was a key match for us. We were 7 points behind, a win would have taken us up in 4 points behind. Instead we became 10 points behind and out of the real gold fight. Ofcourse we had to win the other matches too, but a win in Bergen would have been very good motivation and given the team s little more confidence.

[bolgebah]

[torerik]

I wasn't (just) talking about us. My point isn't that Brann didn't deserve to win; they were the best team, so they do. However, for the last ten games or so of the season they had a lead of 3 points or more at any given time, not always only as a result of their own efforts. If another team had put real pressure on them, I don't think they would've reached 54 points.

[Jon Irenicus]

Sour grapes itt.

[Skotten]

Viking for gull?

http://www.vg.no/pub/vgar...tid=513445

[Czech rbk fan]

Yes, I think Viking FK will be the strongest oponent of RBK, but I hope the season will be much better than the last one . By the way, could I find anywhere a summary of transfers of all Tippeligaen´s clubs?
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http://www.fb.com/norskyfotbal

[Juch]

http://fotball.aftenposte...e93393.ece

This is a Norwegian page, but at least you can see the names. 'Inn' means 'in' and 'ut' means 'out'.

[Czech rbk fan]

Thank you very much, Juchmako2. That´s the article I tried to find.
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http://www.fb.com/norskyfotbal

[Skotten]

Watched the first match today, VIF-AAFK, and I have to admit not to being impressed that much by either. VIF are reasonably strong defensively and still have that conservative style. Their keeper Perkins doesn't look great but they have good defenders. Andresen, as expected, is at the heart of everything they do. I think that if they lose him to injury/suspension they might lose form. Also, I'm not convinced by their attack too much, Saeternes and Berre will score but not consistently enough to be true challengers.

Aalesund might struggle this year.

[Kjello]

I think Aalesund really missed Aarøy and Arneng. I think they will do better allready next weekend against Brann if those two get back.

[Czech rbk fan]

Could I find any possibility to watch headlines of Tippeliga´s matches? Last season it was not any problem but now . I know I can pay and then watch but does it exist any chance to watch it free?
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http://www.fb.com/norskyfotbal