Stuniverse

Wednesday 19th May 2032 Os Turn (Tier 4) v Viking (Tier 1) Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) First Round -- -- -- It did, yes. As early as the first minute, Lasse Nordås headed a corner against the far post and you do start to think: oh no, not again. So for Niklas Ødegård to chest the ball down in the penalty and calmly volley it home, in the fourth minute, was a big relief. Niklas Ødegård went on to score a second, Henrik Skogvold also bagged a brace, and Lasse Berg Johnsen and Kjetil Istre also scored. Henrik Skogvold was unlucky not to score a hat-trick as he also hit the bar from long-range on 55 minutes. At 2-0, Os Turn pulled a goal back when a shot, in a crowded penalty area, took a wicked deflection past Daniel Gjerde Sætren. It was nice to be able to give youngsters Sindre Grønvold and Kjetil Istre some decent playing time and I was thrilled for Kjetil when he scored our sixth goal. -- --

Preview -- -- -- Os Turn play in Norsk Tipping-ligaen Avdeling 5 (Tier 4) where they are finding it difficult and lie in 12th place with only one point from six games. We won't be taking Os Turn lightly though as we were knocked out in the second round last season by KIL/Hemne who finished 11th in their Tier 4 division last season. We dominated that Cupen-tie, but KIL/Hemne's goalkeeper was unbelievably good on the day, we didn't manage to score from any of our 27 chances, KIL/Hemne grabbed a sucker-punch goal... and that was that. We will definitely be without Patrick Berg who has a Cupen suspension carried over from his time at Bodø/Glimt. Anders Hartveit Ryste (hamstring) is still sidelined. We'll probably rotate the starting 11 a lot for this Cupen tie because, without being disrespectful to Os Turn, any team I select from the Viking squad should be capable of progressing to the next round. -- Expected Line-up

Saturday 15th May 2032 Viking (1st) v Sandnes Ulf (6th) Eliteserien -- -- -- This was a pretty comprehensive victory for us today although it's always nerve wracking at only 1-0. On 17 minutes, Lasse Nordås hit the post and Edvin Austbø put the rebound wide. But Oscar Bobb broke the deadlock on 22 minutes and on 35 minutes, Otto Rosengren also hit the post. Jan Rune Hansen came in at left-back today with Filip Hornburg Møller-Hansen alongside him as the left-sided centre-back and both played well. We restricted Sandnes Ulf to only three attempts on goal, and Jasper Torkildsen only had one shot to save, but you always worry at 1-0 because it's such a slender lead. Lasse Nordås settled things for us on 78 minutes when he doubled our lead. --

Preview -- -- Predicted to finish 11th, Sandnes Ulf have done brilliantly so far this season and are currently 6th, just one point off top spot. They've won six and lost three but their three losses have been against Brann, Molde and Rosenborg which suggests they're still finding it tough against the better teams. I'm really intrigued by this match and am looking forward to playing Thomas Holm's Sandnes Ulf team. We've worked hard in training and prepared for this match as we would any other. We'll give Sandnes Ulf the respect they deserve and, hopefully, we'll get the result in our own SR-Bank Arena. For the second match running, we'll be up against one of our own strikers as Sean Nilsen-Modebe is on loan at Sandnes Ulf. Sean has already scored three goals for Sandnes Ulf this season. Unfortunately David Møller Wolfe (ankle) and Rafael Mota (groin) picked up knocks in training this week so we probably won't risk them. I've had a chat with Lasse Nordås and I'm leaning towards him getting the start with Anders Hartveit Ryste (hamstring) ruled out. -- Expected Line-up --

Wednesday 12th May 2032 UEFA 2032 European Championship -- -- Hmmmmn, I'm not sure pushing the Strømsgodset fixture back three days, so that it will still be played during the 2032 UEFA European Championship, helps us that much.

Overall, how have you found your Youth Intakes on this save, @Punch? Would you say you've generally had good, bad or indifferent ones?

Saturday 8th May 2032 Åsane (11th) v Viking (5th) Eliteserien -- -- -- I thought Edvin Austbø was brilliant today. He didn't score, or get an assist, but he was instrumental in much of what we did going forward and we created a lot of chances today, really taking the game to Åsane. We were 3-0 up by half-time and that helped settle our nerves as we've been used to trying to recover the game in the second half of late. The first goal is vital and Rafael Mota headed in Patrick Berg's corner at the far post to give us a 20th minute lead. Three minutes later, the Åsane goalkeeper pushed Pontus Dahbo's header onto the post. Oscar Bobb curled a shot into the top corner, from outside the penalty area, to double our lead on 29 minutes and Otto Rosengren, scored a sensational solo goal, five minutes before the break, Otto received the ball about 40 yards out, drove straight down the middle, into the penalty area, before shooting across the goalkeeper into the top corner. Åsane didn't really trouble us, to be fair, but when Jasper Torklidsen came for a corner, only to run into Patrick Berg, Øystein Bekkeheien had a free-header. To be fair, Øystein Bekkeheien looked their best player and, at 6'5" he was a handful for us. I'm still not sure he'd get much playing time for us this season, he'd be behind Anders Hartveit Ryste, Edvin Austbø, Lasse Nordås, Henrik Skogvold and Oscar Aga but we were impressed enough to trigger Øystein Bekkeheien's one-year contract extension. Unfortunately, Anders Hartveit Ryste had an issue with his hamstring and we had to take him off around the 83rd minute mark. Which was a problem because we'd already made five substitutions. With a player advantage, Åsane put us under sustained pressure in the last 10+ minutes, for the first time in the match, so we made some changes to our shape and went with a Defensive mentality. We were able to keep Åsane out though and claim a well-deserved 3-1 away win. -- -- Evening Result

Preview -- This squad of players has a strong spirit and sense of togetherness. They are a very determined group and I don't see one defeat - not that we want or expect to lose, we go into every game believing we can win, but we know we won't win every game, football isn't like that. Åsane are nicely placed in 11th but are only a point above the relegation playoff places. They've drawn one and lost three of their last four games so we know they'll be looking for a win today which makes them a dangerous opponent for us to play in the Åsane Arena. Åsane also have Øystein Bekkeheien playing for them, on loan from us, so it'll be interesting to see how Øystein does against us. Stefan Leković has been brilliant so far for us. At 6'4" Stefan is a threat in both boxes and the biggest compliment I can give him is to say we aren't missing David Brekalo or Isak Amundsen right now. We have a fully fit squad and everybody is available for selection, which is great for me as manager because you don't get that very often. Anders Hartveit Ryste is recently back from a twisted ankle. He wasn't in the best of form before his injury so I've had a word with him. Anders may well get the start today as Lasse Nordås has struggled a bit of late. Otherwise, I think it'll be the same starting 11 and subs that I selected against Sandefjord. -- Extended Line-up -- My Observations We’re back to one game a week now which means after each game I can give the players one or two days rest and then they are green again for the next match. The odd Cupen game will make it two games in a week now and again. I really want to win Norgesmesterskapet i fotball again (we’ve been disappointing in the Cupen these last two seasons) so may have to rotate the squad. I need to find a way to rotate any way otherwise I’ll have some very good players becoming unhappy. We’re eight games into Eliteserien and there’s only three points separating the top six. We're fifth, but we’ve had by far the most difficult set of opening fixtures out of all 16 Eliteserien clubs. My two main strikers (Lasse Nordås and Anders Hartveit Ryste) are out-of-form, Anders is just back from injury, but my third and fourth choice strikers (Edvin Austbø and Henrik Skogvold) have stepped up big time. In central midfield, I have more than four quality players and I still haven’t found my best combination of personnel and roles in that midfield diamond. And I’ve not settled on a centre-back partnership I’m happy with, although I think I’m getting there with Stefan Leković looking the part on the right and it's more a question of who plays alongside him on the left. Currently, Rafael Mota has the nod at the moment and is doing well. My biggest headache, with what I hope is my best squad yet at Viking, will be giving the players sufficient playing time to keep them happy.

Thanks, @cerud I appreciate you looking.

Sunday 2nd May 2032 Viking (6th) v Sandefjord (15th) Eliteserien -- -- -- I thought we were the better team, we had a lot more possession than Sandefjord, we created more chances than Sandefjord, but we conceded a soft goal on 18 minutes so to go in losing 0-1 at the break would have been harsh. Equalising a minute before half-time lifted everybody's spirits which made it an easier, and more motivational team talk during the break. We made three substitutions and changed to an Attacking (from Positive) mentality. The goal was one we'd worked on in training. Oscar Bobb aimed a low corner towards the penalty area arc, where Edvin Austbø was waiting and he smashed it first time from outside penalty area, just to the right of the D, low and hard into the far bottom corner of the net. Edvin showed there why he's our in-form striker at the moment. Incredible really. Jasper Robertsen hit the post with a long-range effort after just seven minutes. On 42 minutes, shortly before we equalised, Patrick Berg hit the bar with a free-kick. You do start to wonder at times if it's just not your day. And on 66 minutes after Dominique Youfeigane, in Sandefjord's goal, had made an unbeievable point-blank save from Anders Hartveit Ryste, from the resulting corner, Stefan Leković's header hit the foot of the post. Yeah, it does seem to be a thing doesn't it? I don't like singling out individuals for criticism but left-back David Møller Wolfe should've done more to prevent the low cross to the near post and Rafael Mota definitely has to do better in that situation to defend the cross when it comes in. We do ask our full-backs to get forward and support the attack so maybe that's the risk and the trade off we take with that. I do wonder sometimes if we might be better asking our entire back-four and the defensive midfielder at the base of the diamond to just sit and defend and then let the other five outfield players attack. Our matches are starting to follow a similar pattern. We control the game but struggle to score either by hitting the woodwork, or straying offside as Edvin Austbø did a few times, including having his 76th minute effort ruled out for offside when the score was still 1-1, or the opposition goalkeeper has the game of his life, as Dominique Youfeigane looked like doing for Sandefjord today. Then we concede a goal and that always makes it more difficult to chase a game in an attempt to recover it. We made further changes with a substitution and adjustments to our roles in the midfield diamond around 68 minutes. Fortunately, two long-range efforts - a wonderful curled shot from Oscar Bobb from just out side the 'D' and a 25-yard screamer from Henrik Skogvold - ensured we got the win our overall play deserved but it was a difficult, nervy game and those two late goals in the 80th and 85th minutes, whilst worth the wait, I don't want to be relying on that every game. I thought Sandefjord were a credit to themselves and their manager Patrik Hansson today. They worked tirelessly, they closed us down, they harried us, they made it very difficult for us to retain possession and get any rhythm into our play. But we found a way to win the game, get the three points, and that's the main thing. --

Preview -- Sandefjord are an improving team who we will need to respect and take seriously. After losing their opening five Eliteserien fixtures, Sandefjord have responded with a 2-1 away victory over Fredrikstad and a 0-0 home draw with Rosenborg. We're at home and are confident of doing well in front of our own supporters in the SR-Bank Arena. We have a fully fit squad to select from as Mathias Fjørtoft Løvik (gashed leg) and Oscar Aga (calf) have both been given the green light following fitness tests with our medical team. -- Expected Line-up --

I've just checked and we have already played Brann (W 4-0) and Vålerenga (d 1-1) at home as well as Bodø/Glimt (d 0-0) and Molde (d 2-2) away. The only other Eliteserien match so far between any combination of Bodø/Glimt, Brann, Molde and Vålerenga was played at Aspmyra and finished Bodø/Glimt 1-2 Vålerenga. -- For completeness, surprise package Sandnes Ulf (prediction 12th) have played Brann (L 0-2 away) and Molde (L 0-2 at home).

Who cares now? I bet the Guernsey fans don't. That's fantastic, @Punch Massive congratulations! Sounds like a right roller-coaster of emotions for you in that EFL Cup Final.

Records are there to be broken, @Punch Good luck 🍀⚽️🏆🤞

Saturday 1st May 2032 Until Next Time... ... when our Eliteserien campaign continues with five more league matches, ... ... and our Norgesmesterskapet i fotball (Cupen) journey gets underway. -- May'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...

Episode 122 - Unbeaten but Only 6th | 1st May 2032 "My Reflections" -- As we look to retain our Eliteserien Title for the third time, it's disappointing to be only 6th after seven matches. Although it is incredibly close with only three points separating 1st and 7th. And, looking at the positives, we are unbeaten and we have already played all the big hitters above us with the exception of Sandnes Ulf (who are the surprise package as the Season Preview had them finishing 12th). I’m sure all the other teams above us won’t have played all the big hitters yet, like we have so, hopefully, they will take points off each other.

Episode 122 - Unbeaten but only 6th | 1st May 2032 "Monthly Review" -- Results -- Board Confidence -- Supporter Confidence -- Finances -- Dynamics

Episode 122 - Unbeaten but only 6th | 1st May 2032 "Viking First Team Squad" -- Appearances -- Reports -- Players Out on Loan

Episode 122 - Unbeaten but only 6th | 1st May 2032 "Viking Hire U19 Coach" --

Episode 122 - Unbeaten but only 6th | 1st May 2032 "Cincinnati Sign Diouf" --

Sunday 25th April 2032 Molde (3rd) v Viking (5th) Eliteserien -- -- -- Ironically, Rui Silva is a player we had in on trial during pre-season but, even though we really liked him, we decided not to offer him a contract because we had a lot of centre-backs and we didn't think he was any better than the players we already had. -- Molde are a very good team and I'm sure we'll look back on this result at the end of the season and say it was a very good result for us but, after being 2-0 up with less than 15 minutes to go, it feels like a defeat and conceding two goals in two minutes, so close after VAR denied us a third goal, really was a kick-in-the-teeth. Overall, based on the balance of play, a draw was probably a fair result but after Pontus Dahbo had given us a 17th minute lead, and Edvin Austbø doubled our lead on 65 minutes, that's a position you should really go on and win from. But fair play to Molde, Kim Bergstrand's team never gave up and, roared on by a crowd of just under 11,000 in the Aker Stadion, they found a way to salvage a draw from the match. After we went 2-0 up, we brought Lasse Berg Johnsen on as (DLP-De) for Otto Rosengren (BBM-Su) on the right of the diamond. Maybe that was a mistake, I don't know, but on 72 minutes we thought we'd scored a third when Jesper Robertsen chipped a lovely ball long and between Molde's centre-backs for Edvin Austbø to volley into the back of the net. 3-0 would've won it, and the officials gave the goal, but VAR ruled it out for offside. Maybe the VAR stuff evens itself out because on 51 minutes, Rafael Mota won the ball fairly in his own penalty area, Brian Brobbey went down during the challenge, and the referee awarded Molde a penalty. We were livid but, fortunately, VAR said no penalty. Then, less than 10 minutes after Edvin's goal had been disallowed, it was 2-2. We made changes for the closing minutes... ... created a couple of half-decent chances, but had to settle for a draw. --

Preview -- -- -- Jesper Robertsen was Player of the Match last time out at home to Brann but it was also a great team performance in a 4-0 win. Today's game will, arguably, be even more difficult as we travel to play 3rd-placed Molde in their Aker Stadion. Kim Bergstrand only took charge of Molde in January so this is the first time we've played a team Kim manages. Molde are unbeaten, two points ahead of us, having won four and drawn two so we know it's going to be a very difficult match. Mathias Fjørtoft Løvik gashed his leg in training so Jan Rune Hansen takes his place on the bench. We're still keeping Anders Hartveit Ryste (ankle) wrapped in cotton wool but we can, maybe, get 45 minutes out of him should we really need him. Our starting 11 will be unchanged from the team that started against Brann last time out but I have had a quiet word with Pontus Dahbo and Lasse Nordås about their recent form. -- Expected Line-up

Yes, it is, although draws with Vålerenga (home) and Bodø/Glimt (away) aren't bad results. As for the draw away at Sarpsborg, why is it that goalkeepers nearly always play the best games of their career against us? I hope it's just because we're bedding in a new centre-back pairing and trying to include new players in central midfield whilst at the same time trying to work out the best balance and mix of players and roles in that midfield diamond. Thank you, @warlock I think I was typing the post-match for the Best i vest derby v Brann (see post above) as you were sending your post... so #nospoilers.

Sunday 18th April 2032 Viking (6th) v Brann (1st) Eliteserien -- -- -- -- When 15,500 de mørkeblå, inside a packed 16,300 SR-Bank Arena, are screaming "SHOOT!" and Jesper Robertsen then curls a screamer from 25-yards into the top corner off the post, it really is something special. We left the best goal until last and that one will stay in my memory for a long, long time. Jesper had a great game, yes, but it was a great team performance. I wasn't being disingenuous when I praised Brann before the match because they've been magnificent so far this season, winning five out of five, and they showed why in the first quarter-of-an-hour when we had to defend bravely and resolutely. But we worked our way back into the game and on 18 minutes Otto Rosengren made a run into the box, was tripped, and for the second time this season Lasse Nordås saw his penalty saved. We grew into the game after that and wrestled control in a game of very few chances. Stefan Leković gave us the lead, just before the break, powerfully heading in Patrick Berg's corner. And there was chance for one more before half-time. We took a corner, the referee saw a hand-ball, and this time Edvin Austbø took responsibility and calmly scored from the penalty spot. After the break, Brann never really threatened us and we added two more goals through Oscar Bobb and Jesper Robertsen. We knew going into this match that it was a very significant Best i vest derby and we're delighted to have won it for our supporters. --

Preview -- -- -- -- I'll be honest with you, this is probably the most significant Best i vest derby in my time at Viking so far. Emre Belözoğlu has got Brann playing very well and they've made the perfect start that everybody strives for and rarely achieves. Brann are top of Eliteserien after five wins out of five, although they haven't played anybody in the top six yet. We are unbeaten, one of five unbeaten teams so far in Eliteserien, but we have drawn three of our five and that's too many really. Bodø/Glimt, Molde and Vålerenga are the other unbeaten sides but Brann are the only team to have won all five. We've trained hard, we've prepared well, we're ready. I can assure our wonderful supporters that we'll be doing everything we can to win this Best i vest derby for all the de mørkeblå inside our SR-Bank Arena. I can't guarantee a win, obviously, and Brann will be determined to keep their 100% winning streak going, but we're going to do everything we can to try and win. Pontus Dahbo spent the previous five seasons playing for Brann, before signing for Viking, and he's been looking forward to this one ever since the fixture list came out. I expect Pontus will start but, to be fair, with our new signings in midfield we're still trying to find the right mix of personnel and roles in our midfield diamond. Our medical team has passed everybody fit to play although Anders Hartveit Ryste (ankle) isn't ready to play a full 90 minutes just yet so we'll go carefully with him. -- Expected Line-up