Football Season Guide

Rosenborg once again start the season as dominant figures and the widespread expectations are that they will be coasting to the title again. They did lost some defensive stalwarts as Jørgen Skelvik and Johan Laedre Bjørdal departed for new adventures but the expectations are that Jacob Rasmussen will grow into the role of a regular centre-back after being allowed to settle in gently and not play too many games last season. The one major signing made by the champions in the close season is Alexander Søderlund as the striker completed his return to the club that he left two years ago, having not really impressed at St Etienne. His arrivals is likely to force a change of formation as he and Nicklas Bendtner should dovetail as an attacking pair in a very offensive 4-2-4. Bendtner has resisted offers from France and China to stay put and the former Arsenal man looked close to unplayable for opposing defences last season, scoring 19 goals. If he and Søderlung hit some good early form, added to the wing threat of the superb Samuel Adegbenro, Rosenborg look quite ominous going forward. Anders Trondsen should become a more integral player in midfield after using the latter stages of last season to integrate into the system while Birger Melling is expected to push on, having had a pretty good debut season at full-back. All in all, the Trondheim side look a cut above the test in terms of quality and depth of their squad and it will take a stunning season from one of the contenders for there to be a genuine title race. Rosenborg lost to Rubin Kazan in one of their few more interesting preseason friendly games, while beating Krasnodar and Dinamo Brest.