Hi from Saint-Etienne :)

[2mas]

Selnæs signed a contract until June 2020 tonight: Ole Selnaes, quatrième recrue des Verts

> Ole Selnaes : « Je suis très content ! Jouer dans un grand club comme l’ASSE est un rêve qui devient réalité. Alexander Söderlund est un bon ami, nous avons échangé à propos de l’ASSE. Il m’a vanté les mérites du club et m’a dit que tout le monde l’avait bien accueilli. Il m’a également parlé de l’ambiance et des supporters. Lors de la rencontre d’UEFA Europa League entre Saint-Etienne et Rosenborg, j’ai pu sentir la grande atmosphère qui règne à Geoffroy-Guichard. J’ai également suivi la rencontre face au PSG depuis les tribunes et je peux dire que je n’avais jamais vu des supporters comme ceux-là. J’ai vraiment envie de débuter et de jouer dans ce stade. »

> Roland Romeyer (Président de l'ASSE): «Compte tenu du nombre de matches que nous devons disputer d'ici la fin de cette saison, nous avons consenti un important effort de recrutement pour former le groupe le plus compétitif possible. L'ASSE est avec le PSG et l'OM l'un des trois seuls clubs en France à être encore engagés dans au moins trois compétitions. Ole Selnaes est un très grand espoir du football norvégien. Son arrivée constitue un investissement comme celles d'Oussama Tannane et Alexander Söderlund, deux joueurs qui se sont engagés pour quatre saisons et demie. Tout en renforçant l'équipe dès cet hiver, nous préparons aussi l'avenir.»

> Christophe Galtier : « Ole est un joueur qui nous avions analysé et supervisé en préparation de notre double confrontation européenne face à Rosenborg, tout comme Alexander Söderlund. C’est un jeune joueur, à l’image d’Oussama (Tannane). Nous avons souhaité rajeunir l’effectif lors de ce mercato d’hiver pour permettre à l’équipe d’avoir des renforts. Il doit apporter une plus-value dans les quatre mois qui arrivent. Il a un profil très atypique et une position très axiale dans le cœur du jeu. Il a également une certaine polyvalence. Mais, il va devoir s’imposer car nous avons beaucoup de concurrence dans ce secteur-là. »

[Pokie]

For all my Norwegian friends, I apologize for posting this link (as it has been posted enough in this forum already). To our new french friends: I sincerely reccomend you to read this old thread from a poker forum.

The story is about the mighty Alexander Søderlund, and it is the best thing I have read all year.

http://forumserver.twoplu...ol-923281/
_________________
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."

- George Best

[Mustrum Ridcully]

Where the hell was this posted and why havent I read it before? No matter, I guess the thread is even better when you can read it as a whole. Awesomeness!
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Agbogbloshie park inspector.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

[LarsG]

Hahaha, this is amazing! Really says something of how unlikely Søderlund himself thought the idea of him becoming a pro one day was at that time.

[Pokie]

[Mustrum Ridcully]

Weird, must have missed that somehow. I never ever visit VGD though so l wouldn`t know anything about stuff going on there.
_________________
Agbogbloshie park inspector.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

[ellestin]

nice piece of background

We're happy with Alex so far. Of course he scored against the goatfuckers from shittown, so for all we care he could resign tomorrow and still be a favourite for the ages.

But in earnest I think his playing style suits the team well. He's obviously not the most skilled of strikers with the ball, and tends to lose it quite a lot, but he has a good eyesight for runs and one-touch passes, and his relentless fighting spirit is also a precious element as it drives his partners to redouble their efforts, and some of them sure need a kick in the ass sometimes. Now he needs goals, hopefully against Rennes on Thursday.

So is poker a popular thing in Norway? Where can I play some cool games, private or otherwise?

[kengjer]

[robbie]

[Bjarnes]

Alex is just a starter, Ole is the main dish.

[Galcian]

[ellestin]

Alex in full swing today in our 4-1 win over at Bordeaux. He had been sick for the past few days and it was unclear if he would be in the squad at all, but in the end he was and made a decisive contribution, on top of a very active performance harrassing the Bordeaux defense.

First he recovered the ball that led to the second goal by Tannane. Then he missed a penalty , quite poorly taken (straight down the middle) but a nice save by the goalkeeper. In half two he scored a set piece header thanks to a mixture of combativeness and luck. And finally he gave a superb assist to Nolan Roux who sealed the score.

Ole was kept off the pitch. I guess he'll make his debut against Troyes in the Cup on Wednesday.

Here's the video of the Bordeaux game for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...SS-eKoa1q4

[haavarl]

Appreciating the update!
_________________
Embrace science - resist ignorance

[Flaav]

Watched the game. You got all scales of Søderlund in one match
From all the frustrating misses(especially the pen miss) to the hard working player that suddenly scores an incredible header.

Its fun to see him starting every game, hope its Selnæs chance in the midweeker. Youve got a new follower

[ellestin]

[attityd!]

That's certainly worth a lot, man.

I think I speak for most of the guys in here when I say that I wish Rosenborg was still in the late 90s.

[Galcian]

You might have failed his singing education though

http://www.dailymotion.co...show_sport

[Silkesvarten]

haha, brilliant!

Do all players have to perform a song after their debut?

[gollumLAD legend]

[Galcian]

Yes they do
But not all of them are recorded (I haven't seen Alex's one for instance).

I'm sur he will. He payed his first game yesterday and went berserk when a teamate scored the winner ^^
He has started to learn French, Alex and him are taking lessons together;

[Megafritz]

I saw the first half, but decided to plant something and watch it grow instead. I think I counted 0 shots from each team...

How was his second half (Selnæs) ? What is the general opinion after his debut?

I noticed your team struggled with the new(?) formation, only trying to play long balls, or just combining with the striker. You did not use the wingers like we do in 433, and I guess thats why you struggled so much (based on first half).

[Galcian]

It was a cup game so beside the keeper, only substitutes and Selnaes were playing, and the other taem was just defending and waiting for a counter. It was actually a classic poor cup game, especially after our brilliant 1-4 win at Bordeaux last week-end.

Usually, we have quick wingers combining with a strong striker. This game, one of the winger was a midfielder and the stricker a winger, so that makes it tricky ^^ The lineup was very weird and I don't think any conclusion can be drawn out of this game. All our key players were saved for an atrocious 6 very important games in 18 days.

If you watch a replay of sunday's game, or you watch the one next sunday, it should be way closer to what the team actually produce.


When it comes to Selnaes, we saw a very impressive pass acuracy, a good vision with a few brilliant forward passes and a good anticipation that allowed him nice interceptions. On the other hand, and maybe because of the opposition, he nearly walked all game and wasn't doing a great pressing, giving an impression of "taking it easy". But it might just be an impression given by his ability to pass and anticipate. No need to run when you can just intercept. We will see against a better team in a lineup that looks like something.

[Megafritz]

I've seen 6 of your last 7 games (including the one on sunday) so I know roughly where you're at. The Bordeaux-game was fun, and you were really "on" in that game, but I cant really see any consistancy in your performances (excluding the cup game with reserves).

Both the Rennes- and the Reims games were defensive and boring games, even though I can see the quality in your team is better than in the oposing. I get that away games are difficult, but you showed against Bordeaux that ithere is no need to stop playing football just because you are playing away.

Someone mentioned earlier that Søderlund played much better against Bordeaux than Rennes, but thats not the whole truth, because it was the team that played better and not Søderlund. His team mates gave him nothing to work with against Rennes. A bit obvious this last paragraph, but it needs to be said as (of what i've seen this last cuple of months) ASSEs performances vary a lot.

[Fusion]

Ugh, so hard to see Ole in another jersey, though I've also grown quite fond of ASSE.

[Galcian]

Reims game was atrocious. The one against Paris was great (even if we lost) while the one against Rennes is tricky to judge. The home team was playing super defensively, and if we crushed them in the midfield, our wingers weren't good enough to score a goal. It was a poor game as well.

However, we are begining a new phase. From August to November, we were playing quite good and offensively. Then (with the injury of our stricker and the number of fixtures) from November to Febuary, our games were just plain awful, maybe the worst I've seen in years. And then, since the end of January, thanks to our recruits, we seem to be better again. This has to be confirmed in the next few weeks. We are currently in a healing process given what the team proposed a few weeks back.

So from our fan point of view, we are quite happy as it is going better. But I can totally understand that from your point it is boring as hell. I wouldn't have watch the Rennes game if I weren't a massive fan ^^