Football Season Guide

Eliteserien
Norway
Eliteserien
2019
Sarpsborg 08
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Sarpsborg 08

In


Steffen Skalevik (att), Brann), Nicolai Naess (def), Heerenveen), Wilmer Azofeifa (mid), Santos FC), Pablo Arboine (def), Santos FC), Lars-Jörgen Salvesen (att), Ullensaker/Kasa), Sheldon Bateau (def), Kairat), Jonathan Lindseth (mid, Mjondalen)

Out


Tobias Heintz (sp)(mid), Kasimpasa), Rashad Muhammed (r)(att), Erzurumspor), Harmeet Singh (sp)(mid), HJK Helsinki), Mikkel Agger (sp)(att), Viborg), Patrick Mortensen (k)(att), Aarhus),Usman Mohammed (sp)(mid), Pyunik), Joackim Jörgensen (r))(def), IK Start), Joonas Tamm (sp)(def), Flora Talinn - end of loan)

Sarpsborg put all their eggs in the Europa League basket in the second half of last season and the league was very much an afterthought. Hence, their lowly spot in the final standings is somewhat misleading and prior to July they wee having another very strong and consistent campaign. Yet this could be the first season in a while that the team from the outskirts of Oslo starts to regress as they lost more than a few key pieces. Patrick Mortensen was a brilliantly reliably, if unflashy striker, and he will be massively missed by Geir Bakke after a move to Denmakr. Moreover, fellow striker Rashad Muhammed, versatile and talented young winger Tobias Heintz, and reliable defender Joakim Jorgesen leave sizeable holes too. On the plus, side, keeping Kristoffer Zachariessen around despite strong interest is a boost and the team did bring some proven quality in striker Steffen Skalevik and Sheldon Bateau. A couple of signings from Costa Rica are very much a shot in the dark but could prove jewels as well. Sarpsborg will be once again aiming high and looking to challenge with the big teams but the feeling is that the squad lost a bit too much guile and experience and should have a pretty slow start given all the changes. One player who could make a major breakthrough is Jorgen Strand Larsen as the prodigy striker is set to be given more game time and has the potential to be the new Erling Haland in the league.

Target


Should settle for a spot in mid-table and anything more will be a bit too much to handle.