Football Season Guide

Eliteserien
Norway
Eliteserien
2019
Strømsgodset
Clean filter

Strømsgodset

In


Halldor Stenevik (mid) - Brann, Nicholas Mickelson (def) - HamKam, Viljar Myhra (gk) - Odd, Yacouba Sylla (mid) - KV Mechelen, Martin Spelmann (mid) - Aarhus, Johan Hove (mid) - Sogndal,

Out


Eirik Ulland Andersen (mid) - Molde, Tokmac Chol Nguen (att) - Ferencvárosi TC, Kim André Madsen (def) - Asker, Knut Ahlander (mid) - SMU Mustangs, Francisco Júnior (mid) - Vendsyssel, Bassel Jradi (mid) - Hajduk Split, Christian Rubio Sivodedov (mid) - released,

How Stromsgodset went from being a top five team to finishing 13th last season, with a similar squad to the successful 2017 campaign is still one of the great Eliteserien mysteries. All they had to do was to continue the excellent form of autumn 2017, when they were the form team in the division, but instead they completely lost their balance and composure ending with Tor Ole Skullerud resigning pretty quickly. He just couldn't seem to get the message across to his players anymore. Step forward the loyal Bjorn Petter Ingebretsen who is in very familiar waters, but even he only just managed to steer the Drammen side away from the relegation play off. The damaging 2018 campaign might still have repercussions, as the squad doesn't look anywhere near as good as it did ahead of last season. But maybe the club will benefit from being a more collective unit. Eirik Ulland Andersen has left for Molde and the club were never going to be able to keep hold of Tokmac Nguen who kept them up almost singe handedly last year. Goalkeeper Espen Bugge Pettersen retired after a dreadful season, and Marcus Pedersen surely doesn't have many more seasons at Marienlyst ahead of him if he continues to be as erratic as he was last season.

Target


Bjorn Petter Ingebretsen will be optimistic, he always is, and there's no doubt they have the best man to rebuild a club that lost their way badly last year. That rebuilding process is nowhere near done yet and this will most probably be a season of rehabilitation and learning rather than one where Stromsgodset rocket up the table again. The supporters will expect more after such a dramatic fall from grace, but the club should be happy if they can get into the top half of the table again. Another flirtation with relegation would be a disaster unworthy of the club and the players at Ingebretsen's disposal. Prediction: 10th