Football Season Guide

Eliteserien
Norway
Eliteserien
2019
Kristiansund
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Kristiansund

In


Haris Cirak (mid) - Nest Sotra, Christophe Psyché (def) - FC Banik Ostrava, Kristoffer Hoven (att) - Honefoss, Sean McDermott (g) - Dinamo Bucharest, Meinhard Olsen (mid) - Torshavn, Serigne Mor Mbaye (gk) - Víkingur Reykjavík,

Out


Sverre Ökland (mid) - Ullensaker/Kisa, Jonas Rönningen (mid) - Kongsvinger, Simon Alexandersson (att) - Dalkurd (loan), Joakim Bjerkas (def) - Levanger (loan), Benjamin Stokke (att) - Randers, Nikita Baranov (def) - Sogndal, Conny Mansson (gk) - released

With last season's fifth place finish Kristiansund have set the bar very high indeed. It was an incredible campaign for Christian Michelsen's side in their second ever top flight season, and they were definitely one of a number of surprise packages in Norwegian football last year. And as attention turns to their third season in the top flight few will expect Kristiansund to better their 7th and 5th place finishes of the last two campaigns. But at the same time Michelsen can't allow the club to take their foot of the gas now. The Kristiansund squad looks healthy enough, and while they will always be prone to losing their top players to bigger and wealthier clubs, the club have done ever so well in recruiting timely replacements. Flamur Kastrati will be a key player up front if he can curb a tendency for ill discipline, and Liridon Kalludra who had a sensational season last time out remains key to the creative forces in midfield. So far Kristiansund have managed to keep him happy, and it's imperative they don't lose him before the start of the season now.

Target


Kristiansund should aim for another top half finish, but they must keep fighting hard against complacency. Expectations need to be managed at the club, but with Michelsen in charge no one will be given the chance of thinking ahead of themselves. The club looks grounded and honest and as long as they know what to expect and how to deal with disappointments along the way, there shouldn't be a massive downturn in performances this year. Although another fifth place finish is surely a stretch too far. Prediction: 8th