Football Season Guide

Kristiansund will be hoping for no second season syndrome ahead of the 2018 campaign, as Christian Michelsen's side once again aim to prove doubters wrong and establish themselves in mid-table. Their first season back in the Norwegian top flight was terrific, with plenty of spirited performances at home as well as picking up a few shocks away as well. It was a compact and together side on show for most of the 30 games, with the dynamics working all over the pitch. Michelsen needs to take a lot of credit for that. There have been a few departures, with striker Jean Alassane Mendy surely the biggest one, but on the other hand Kristiansund have been able to keep the likes of Daouda Bamba and Torgil Gjertsen who they hope will once again bring enough firepower to their attacking play. There's experience in the back four and also in the middle of the park, so there's plenty of reasons why Kristiansund can possible finish the season with at least three teams below them yet again. Pre-season results have been sketchy, with a 3-0 win over Krasnodar the only really impressive result. Narrow defeats to Norwegian opposition doesn't bode too well. But Kristiansund have been good at turning up when it really matters, so they will surely be well up for it when the stakes are higher.