Football Season Guide

Rosenborg clawed their way to a title last season almost despite themselves, making a dire start and then eventually rectifying things under caretaker Rino Coolen as main contenders Brann failed to sustain the pace. It is now a fresh start for RBK as Erik Horneland assumes the role of a manager and is expected to keep the tradition domestically and finally make a breakthrough to the Champions League group stages. Horneland showed his acumen, vision and ability to motivate last season with lowly Haugesund but this will be an entirely different type of job and he will need to be flexible. Signings have not been too many but all of them have been quality as all of Asen, Akintola and Valsvik add something and have what it takes to be very useful components, even if none of them is likely to be a starter immediately. Rosenborg managed to retain all of their core pieces as well, with Nicklas Bendtner sticking on for another season, and some fine players like Birger Meling, Mike Jensen and Samuel Adegbenro resisting the temptation to look for new challenge just yet. That said, it has been a rocky pre-season for the title holders as they have looked confused and got beaten on regular basis. It should be a slow start of the season but as a whole the team has too much quality and no real pretender for the throne.