Football Season Guide

Eliteserien
Norway
Eliteserien
2019
Haugesund
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Haugesund

In


Benjamin Hansen (def), Nordsjaelland), Martin Samuelsen (mid), West Ham - loan), Niklas Sandberg (mid), Start), Thore Pedersen (mid), Vard Haugesund), Mikkel Desler (def), Odense)

Out


Marko Cosic (sp)(def), Rudar Velenje), Kristoffer Velde (sp)(att), Nest Sotra - loan), David Akintola (r)(mid), Midtjylland - end of loan), Vegard Skjerve (r)(def), retired), Per Kristian Bratveit (r)(gk), Djurdgarden), Kristoffer Haraldseid (r)(def), Molde), Frederik Gytkjaer (r)(att), Lyngby)

Haugesund had a brilliant last season where they consistently punched above their weight and held their nerve until the end to clinch a spot in Europe. Yet inevitably bigger fish came looking to prize their assets way and coach Erik Horneland was lured to Rosenborg. That means that Jostein Grindhaug takes over as a manager for a second time, having also been a director of football at the club in the past couple of seasons. He has an unenviable task in trying to replicate the heroics of last season while the team has been stripped of some vital players. Kristoffer Haraldseid is the biggest loss as he has been one of the best right-backs in the league in the past 12 months while the brilliant goalie Per Kristian Bratveit, who is off to Sweden, will be very tough to replace too. Martin Samuelsen is an exciting signing and he is returning to his home town after struggling for the past couple of years to reach his early promise but the other new signings are mostly underwhelming and there is definitely a drop-off in squad quality year on year. Haugesund should still be tough to beat but they do not have the sort of go-to striker that will be relied upon to settle games. Also, not replacing Bratveit looks a very risky move as his replacement in the starting 11, Helge Sandvik, is several levels below.

Target


Haugesund should prioritise staying well clear of the bottom places and solidifying in mid-table but should be a rocky season after the exploits of last year.