The Norway thread

Two friendlies played today.

At Nordlandshallen, Bodø
Grand Bodø vs Trondheims-Ørn 1-2
0-1 Oda Fugelsnes 9
0-2 Rakel Engesvik 69
1-2 Maiken Bakke 70

At Vallhall Arena, Oslo
Vålerenga vs Røa 2-3
0-1 Therese S. Åsland 13
0-2 Lisa Marie Utland 15
1-2 Synne Christiansen 41
2-2 Maren Hauge 63
2-3 Therese S. Åsland 72

Vålerenga, the club who have increased their budget most, are still waiting for a number of their new signings to join the team.

Btw, some dates to keep in mind over the coming months leading up to Euro 2017.

01 March: Norway vs Iceland (Algarve Cup)
02 March: Norway vs Spain (Algarve Cup)
06 March: Norway vs Japan (Algarve Cup)
08 March: Algarve Cup match for x place

10 April: Norway vs Switzerland (friendly at Skien)
17 April: Toppserien 2017 kicks-off - matchday 1
22 April: Toppserien - matchday 2
26 April: NM Cup - 1st round

06 May: Toppserien - matchday 3
13 May: Toppserien - matchday 4
16 May: Toppserien - matchday 5
20 May: Toppserien - matchday 6
27 May: Toppserien - matchday 7

03 June: Toppserien - matchday 8
11 June: Norway vs USA (friendly at Sandefjord)
17 June: Toppserien - matchday 9
24 June: Toppserien - matchday 10
28 June: Toppserien - matchday 11

01 July: Toppserien - matchday 12
16 July: Netherlands vs Norway (Euro '17, Utrecht)
20 July: Norway vs Belgium (Euro '17, Breda)
24 July: Norway vs Denmark (Euro '17, Deventer)

 

Friendly today from London.

Chelsea vs LSK Kvinner 3-0
1-0 Ramona Bachmann 23
2-0 Erin Cuthbert 25
3-0 Ramona Bachmann 28

The game was on Chelsea's request played behind closed doors for some reason. I expected a bigger loss for LSK with the decimated team they have now. Chelsea's website describes the second half as "a scrappy affair with few chances of note".

 

Maren Mjelde will. Gunhild Herregården from Røa is brought into the squad in Nora's absence. Another injury blow is Vilde Bøe Risa, who is set to miss the upcoming season with an ACL injury. Big bummer for a player who was establishing herself in the NT starting eleven. Tuva Hansen from Klepp is added to the squad as replacement.

 

Friday is silly season updates day.

Arna Bjørnar
IN: Helene Gloppen (df, Sandviken), Emma Fletcher (mf, California Golden Bears)
OUT: Bianca Sierra (df, back to America), Sigrid H. Hansen (mf, Kolbotn)

Avaldsnes
IN: Larissa Pereira (fw, Flamengo), Kathlynn Fraine (gk, Vittsjö), Francielle M. Alberto (mf, Corinthians), Diane Santos (df, Rio Preto), Chloe Logarzo (mf, Eskilstuna United)
OUT: Maren Mjelde (mf, Chelsea), Madalyn Schiffel (gk, Seattle Reign), Frida Magnusdottir (fw, back to Iceland), Thorunn Jonsdottir (mf, back to Iceland), Leticia Santos (df, unknown dest.), Bruna Benites (df, Houston Dash), Hege Hansen (fw, Klepp), Laila Himle (df, Sandviken)

Grand Bodø
IN: Siiri Välimaa (gk, Kolbotn), Linda Ruutu (fw, HJK Helsinki)
OUT:

Klepp
IN: Hege Hansen (fw, Avaldsnes), Tameka Butt (mf, Mallbackens IF), Kirsty Yallop (mf, Mallbackens IF), Venera Rexhi (mf, Växjö DFF), Elisabeth Terland (fw, Bryne), Ina Kristoffersen (df, Hinna), Hanne Krogstad (mf, Hinna)
OUT: Gry Tofte Ims (pregnant), Astrid Grøttå Ree (df, retiring), Marie Bakke (df, retiring), Line Smørsgård (fw, retiring), Eliza Campbell (gk, Adelaide United)

Kolbotn
IN: Nora Eide Lie (mf, Urædd), Sigrid H. Hansen (mf, Arna Bjørnar), Camilla Ose (fw, Vålerenga), Antonia Göransson (fw, Mallbacken), Sanna Svensson (df, Växjö DFF)
OUT: Solveig Gulbrandsen (mf, retiring), Rachel Axon (mf, retiring), Siiri Välimaa (gk, Grand Bodø), Cecilie Liane (df, Stabæk), Fanny Andersson (fw, KIF Örebro), Andrea Thun (fw, retiring), Camilla and Linn Huseby (df, Lyn - on loan)

LSK Kvinner
IN: Guro Reiten (mf, Trondheims-Ørn), Synne Skinnes Hansen (fw, Røa), Ingrid Kvernvolden (fw, Fart), Ida Fjordbakk (df, Medkila), Lene Lauve (gk, Urædd), Silje Blakstad (fw, Vålerenga)
OUT: Emilie Haavi (fw, Boston Breakers), Lene Mykjåland (mf, retiring or PSG), Erin McNulty (gk, retiring), Marte Berget (fw, retiring), Celine K. Pettersen (mf, retiring), Marita Skammelsrud Lund (df, retiring), Marit Sandvei (df, retiring), Lill-Yvonn Karlsrud (gk, retiring), Sherida Spitse (mf, Twente), Isabell Herlovsen (fw, Jiangsu Suning), Mimmi Löfwenius (pregnant)

Medkila
IN: Tiffany McCarty (fw, Kansas City), Megan Kufeld (gk, Sundsvall), Alexandra Quincey (df, Kokkola F10), Lotte Fikseth (mf, Mjølner)
OUT: Ida Fjordbakk (df, LSK Kvinner), Katrine W. Jørgensen (df, Røa), Cesilie Andreassen (mf, Trondheims-Ørn), Tatiana Matveeva (mf, Antalya Belediye Spor)

Røa
IN: Lisa-Marie Utland (fw, Trondheims-Ørn), Mari J. Johansen (gk, Byåsen), Mariken Kleppe (df, Urædd), Katrine W. Jørgensen (df, Medkila), Shade Pratt (df, Portland Thorns)
OUT: Silje Vesterbekkmo (gk, retiring), Synne Skinnes Hansen (fw, LSK Kvinner), Eline Torneus (df, retiring), Hedda Strand Gardsjord (df, retiring), Isabel Bårdsgjære (df, Vålerenga)

Sandviken
IN: Nora Gjøen (gk, Grei), Laila Himle (df, Avaldsnes), Anna Lan Lusebo (df, Baune)
OUT: Stine Andreassen (fw, retiring), Åsne Takle Eide (df, unknown dest.), Isabell Gjerde (df, unknown dest.), Ashley Thompson (gk, unknown dest.), Julie Hansen (df, Åsane), Helene Gloppen (df, Arna Bjørnar)

Stabæk
IN: Andrea Willmann (fw, Lyn), Frida Maanum (mf, Lyn), Heidi Ellingsen (mf, Lyn), Cecilie Liane (df, Kolbotn), Synne Jensen (fw, Wolfsburg - now permanent)
OUT: Line Hauge (df, retiring), Ida Elise Enget (fw, retiring), Ingvild Stensland (mf, retiring), Gunnhildur Jonsdottir (mf, Vålerenga), Marie Dølvik Markussen (fw, Wolfsburg), Guro Pettersen (gk, Fortuna Hjørring - on loan)

Trondheims-Ørn
IN: Cesilie Andreassen (mf, Medkila), Hannah Bacon (mf, Sydney FC)
OUT: Guro Reiten (mf, LSK Kvinner), Lisa-Marie Utland (fw, Røa), Guro Ramstad (fw, Byåsen), Kristin Reistad (df, Byåsen), Christine Skogli (gk, Byåsen)

Vålerenga
IN: Elise Krieghoff (fw, Boston Breakers), Teigan Allen (df, Melbourne City), Gunnhildur Jonsdottir (mf, Stabæk), Theresa Nielsen (df, Brøndby), Isabel Bårdsgjære (df, Røa), Stephanie Verdoia (mf, Boston Breakers), Michelle Betos (gk, Portland Thorns)
OUT: Maija Saari (df, HJK Helsinki), Kelsey Frances Hood (mf, retiring), Line Johansen (gk, unknown dest.), Camilla Christensen (mf, retiring), Camilla Ose (fw, Kolbotn), Tina De Caigny (df, Anderlecht), Tine Schryvers (mf, Kristianstad DFF), Silje Blakstad (fw, LSK Kvinner)

 

Not surprised to see Caro start on the bench. She just returned from a long-term injury. Infact, I would have been surprised if she did start at this stage. Kellermann is matching her slowly in the beginning. She played 13 mins a week ago vs Sand, which was her first game in months, and 30 mins now vs Leverkusen.

 

Algarve Cup
Norway vs Iceland 1-1
1-0 Ada Hegerberg 3
1-1 Gunnhildur Jonsdottir 8

Line-up: Ingrid Hjelmseth - Ingrid Moe Wold, Maren Mjelde, Stine Reinås, Elise Thorsnes - Ingvild Isaksen, Ingrid Spord, Andrine Hegerberg, Kristine Minde - Lisa-Marie Utland (Caroline Hansen 70), Ada Hegerberg.

A frustrating draw against The Dottirs. Early lead on a thunderous Hegerberg shot wiped out by a quick Jonsdottir equalizer after poor marking in the box. Iceland scored on their only chance in the game. Norway didn't impress that much either, but created enough chances to win comfortably. It was just one of those days when a victory wasn't meant to be. Precision on the final ball wasn't good enough against a team parking the bus. At least it was a nice practice session to work on the possession football style. We had a little more bite in attack when Caro Hansen came on. She created some openings and scoring chances, but 20 mins with her wasn't enough. On to Spain next. Different game, different challenges.

 

Algarve Cup
Norway vs Spain 0-3
0-1 Maria Thorisdottir 25 (own-goal)
0-2 Jennifer Hermoso 39
0-3 Olga Garcia 41

Line-up: Cecilie Fiskerstrand - Tuva Hansen, Maria Thorisdottir (Stine Reinås 72), Gunhild Herregården, Andrine Tomter - Ingrid Schjelderup (Ingrid Spord 72), Anja Sønstevold (c), Guro Reiten - Caroline Hansen (Lisa Marie Utland 46) - Synne Jensen, Hege Hansen (Kristine Minde 64)

It was only 48 hrs since the first Algarve match, and Martin Sjögren decided to throw away this game before kick-off by changing all eleven players from the Iceland game. I don't agree in that decision. Spain only changed one or two and we should have done the same. Basically it was ten reserves plus Caro Hansen who never touched the ball until the end of the first half when she was hacked down from behind and got Maria Cebrian sent off. We didn't have a team, we had eleven individual players, many of them newly selected in the squad, who had never played a football game together before. Needless to say, we where outplayed and looked like headless chickens out there. Even a player up in the second half, we didn't produce anything. The game was pretty much a waste of time. It can only get better from here. I hope Sjögren got some answers from this game, I sure didn't.

 

Algarve Cup
Norway vs Japan 0-2
0-1 Kumi Yokoyama 59
0-2 Kumi Yokoyama 89

Line-up: Ingrid Hjelmseth - Ingrid Moe Wold, Maren Mjelde, Stine Reinås (Maria Thorisdottir 68), Elise Thorsnes - Anja Sønstevold (Guro Reiten 73), Ingrid Spord, Ingvild Isaksen - Caroline G. Hansen (Lisa-Marie Utland 68) - Ada Hegerberg, Kristine Minde

Our first half against Japan is some of the best football we have seen under Sjögren. Better than in the wins against Sweden and England in January. It showed we have taken some steps in terms of developing relations between players on the field, and improved passing quality under pressure. It's not top notch yet, but a step in the right direction. Unfortunately we didn't get the opening goal after 30 secs when Caro hit the post. She and Ada collaborated well a few times, but Ada had a subpar day. Kumagai knows her movements too well. Caro and Ada will get it right next time.

One draw and two losses in this group stage is below expectations, but we need to look behind the results. Algarve Cup is a practice tournament. A new coach with many new players and new system won't be successful over night. Japan are a good team and won deservedly in the end. Our players had heavy legs in the second half. Have they trained hard between games? Fitness seemed to be lacking. My main concern for Euro 2017 is the central midfield. Sønstevold and Spord didn't impress and Vilde Bøe Risa is out for the year.

 

Algarve Cup
Norway vs Portugal 2-0
1-0 Ingvild Isaksen 13
2-0 Guro Reiten 66

Line-up: Cecilie Fiskerstrand (Kristine Nøstmo 69) - Ingrid Moe Wold, Maren Mjelde, Maria Thorisdottir, Elise Thorsnes (Andrine Tomter 46) - Ingrid Schjelderup (Ingrid Spord 63), Ingvild Isaksen (Tuva Hansen 81), Andrine Hegerberg (Guro Reiten 63), Lisa-Marie Utland - Ada Hegerberg, Caroline Hansen (Synne Jensen 69)

Qualitywise a mediocre performance, but a predictable win. Portugal never looked like scoring and even missed a penalty in stoppage time. Sjögren said he hadn't spent one minute analyzing our opponents before this tournament. It showed. This cup has been all about seeing players in matches, team bonding and sessions on the training ground. Let's hope he got some answers. Of the fresh faces in this squad, how many left a positive impression in this tourney? Not many. Guro Reiten may be. Thorisdottir was decent against Portugal, but is still a rough diamond.

 

We see the same trend in women's football as in men's, don't we? Explosive players take over more and more. You get punished harder for being slow today than ten years ago. You can compensate with positioning and smartness sometimes, but in a back four you need at least two quick players. That's probably why Thorisdottir has been part of the Sjögren-project from day one, even if she is very rusty and barely played a club match in 18 months. Her pace and power is badly needed, especially since Marita S. Lund retired. That's probably also why Tuva Hansen has been selected lately. Strong defensively one-on-one and extra pace. She can play anywhere in defence, but is only 19. As of today I would pick Hansen over Tomter at left back.

I wonder if Sjögren is planning a Holstad-Thorisdottir central defence and Mjelde moved up in midfield again. The way our midfield candidates presented themselves at Algarve wasn't very convincing. Anja Sønstevold and Ingrid Spord have huge lungs and can run until tomorrow, but have square feet when it comes to passing a ball, and Ingvild Isaksen, although combative and hardworking, isn't a very strong passer of a ball either. I want to see Guro Reiten more. Hopefully in the upcoming friendlies. She could be the player we are looking for in that problematic area in the team.