Football Season Guide

Viking

In


Kevin Kabran (mid), Start), Tord Johnsen Salte (def), Sandnes Ulf - return from loan), Harald Tangen (mid), Arendal - return from loan), Herman Johan Haugen (def), Ullensaker/Kisa - return from loan), Shayne Pattiyama (def), Telstar), Zlatko Tripic (mid), Goztepe)

Out


Zymer Bytyqi (k)(mid), Konyaspor), Ylldren Ibrahimaj (r)(mid), Ural), Even Östensen (sp)(att), retired), Axel Óskar Andrésson (sp)(def), Riga), Michael Crowe (sp)(gk), Jefferson De Souza (sp)(att)

Viking enjoyed a very impressive second half of last season and just about ran out of time in their pursuit of a European place. Still, the club decided to sack popular coach Bjarne Berntsen in the off season and appoint his assistant Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim as the new man in charge. The squad is undeniably weaker than last season as the team lost their main attacking player from last season in Zymer Bytyqi, who really raised his game over the course of the campaign and was one of the top players in the league. Yildren Ibrahimaj is another important player to have departed but Veton Berisha looked back to his best in the strong run last year and seems like a player ready to deliver the goals. The main question mark is who will be providing him with the service and it will be interesting if promising youngsters Harald Tangen and Sondre Auklend will start fulfilling their potential and nailing down starting slots. Overall, there are still a bit too many question marks regarding this Viking squad and, while they have the players to become a factor in the division, the lack of too much flexibility and depth could well hamper them. Still, they should have enough to lock down a spot in the top half of the table.

Target


Pushing for the top six and have the quality to stay in the race.