The Norway thread

Friday is silly season updates day. Just a few changes over the last fortnight. Squads are beginning to take shape.

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), Lisa-Marie Woods (fw, Vestmannaeyja)
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), Savannah Francis (fw, UC Santa Barbara), Trine S. Jensen (df, Røa on loan)
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), 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), Trine S. Jensen (df, Grand Bodø on loan)

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), Aivi Luik (mf, Melbourne City), Arianna Romero (df, Perth Glory)
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)

 

Vålerenga are the only club in Toppserien (as far as I know) with a bigger budget than last season, and it shows this silly season. It will be very interesting to see how strong they really are with all these imports. Vålerenga struggled in the lower section of the table last year, but should improve now. Too many foreign players in the league can be a problem, but I don't think Toppserien has reached the limit yet. After all, it's been a very ethnic Norwegian league for years with only one or two foreign players in a handful of clubs (apart from Avaldsnes). Quality players are always welcome.

 

Martin Sjögren has selected his squad for the home friendly against Switzerland at Skagerak Arena (Skien) April 10th. A few expected changes.

Goalkeepers
Ingrid Hjelmseth (Stabæk)
Cecilie Fiskerstrand (LSK Kvinner)
Kristine Nøstmo (Trondheims-Ørn)

Defenders
Maren Mjelde (Chelsea)
Stine Reinås (Stabæk)
Ingrid Moe Wold (LSK Kvinner)
Elise Thorsnes (Avaldsnes)
Nora Holstad Berge (Bayern Munich)
Maria Thorisdottir (Klepp)
Tuva Hansen (Klepp)

Midfielders
Ingvild Isaksen (Stabæk)
Ingrid Spord (LSK Kvinner)
Ingrid Schjelderup (Eskilstuna United)
Anja Sønstevold (LSK Kvinner)
Andrine Hegerberg (Birmingham City)
Guro Reiten (LSK Kvinner)

Forwards
Synne Jensen (Stabæk)
Kristine Minde (Linköping)
Ada Hegerberg (Olympique Lyonnais)
Lisa-Marie Utland (Røa)
Emilie Haavi (Boston Breakers)
Caroline G. Hansen (Wolfsburg)

Since last time:
Out: Andrine Tomter, Hege Hansen
In: Nora Holstad Berge, Emilie Haavi

 

Hectic period for friendlies now. Many Toppserien clubs are in Spain and some still at home. A few matches played already on Friday and Saturday:

At La Manga:
Trondheims-Ørn vs Sandviken 1-1
0-1 Marina Jensen 27
1-1 Maria Olsvik 47

At La Manga:
Grand Bodø vs Arna-Bjørnar 0-1
0-1 Helene Gloppen 27

At Vallhalla IP, Gothenburg:
Linköping vs LSK Kvinner 1-0
1-0 Marija Banusic 25

- - - - Coming up - - - -

Monday, 27 Mar:
Avaldsnes vs Medkila (La Manga)
Arna-Bjørnar vs Trondheims-Ørn (La Manga)

Tuesday, 28 Mar:
Røa vs Vålerenga (Røabanen, Oslo)
Grand Bodø vs Sandviken (La Manga)
KIF Örebro vs LSK Kvinner (Örebro, Sweden)

Saturday, 1 Apr:
Linköping vs Røa (Linköping, Sweden)
LSK Kvinner vs Stabæk (LSK Hallen)

 

Monday, 27 March at La Manga:

Avaldsnes vs Medkila 1-1
1-0 Elise Thorsnes 22
1-1 Tiffany McCarty 90

Arna-Bjørnar vs Trondheims-Ørn 0-0

Tuesday, 28 March:

Røa vs Vålerenga 3-1
1-0 These S. Åsland 20
2-0 Lisa Marie Utland 22
2-1 Synne Christiansen 47
3-1 Shade Pratt

Grand Bodø vs Sandviken 1-1
(unknown goalscorers)

KIF Örebro vs LSK Kvinner 0-1
0-1 Guro Reiten 70 (pen)

The upcoming season is going to be tighter than ever. LSK have lost so many great players and Avaldsnes have made drastic changes to their squad also, and haven't impressed this winter either. I can't remember the last time it has been so difficult to predict a champion. May be it's going to be Røa again this year?

 

Yes, it's that day again. Some more foreign signings.

Arna Bjørnar
IN: Helene Gloppen (df, Sandviken), Emma Fletcher (mf, California Golden Bears), Josee Nahi (fw, Rossiyanka), Kristine Karstad (mf, Gneist)
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), Lisa-Marie Woods (fw, Vestmannaeyja), Gema Simon (df, Newcastle Jets), Emily Gielnik (fw, Brisbane Roar)
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), Savannah Francis (fw, UC Santa Barbara), Trine S. Jensen (df, Røa on loan)
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), Ryoko Takara (df, Vegalta Sendai Ladies)
OUT: Emilie Haavi (fw, Boston Breakers), Lene Mykjåland (mf, retiring or PSG), Erin McNulty (gk, 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), Ann Mari Dovland (mf, retiring), Cecilie Nku (df, unknown dest.), Ariane Calderon (fw, unknown dest.),

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), Trine S. Jensen (df, Grand Bodø on loan)

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), Aivi Luik (mf, Melbourne City), Arianna Romero (df, Perth Glory)
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)

 

Four youngsters to look out for in Toppserien 2017:

Olaug Tvedten (b.2000), Avaldsnes

Attacking midfielder. Good passer and good shot. Strong on the ball. Creative. She has impressed this winter in friendlies and played more minutes than most people thought for an Avaldsnes team expected to chase the title. Key player in the NT that qualified with ease to the U17 Euros recently.

Frida Maanum (b.1999), Stabæk

Central midfielder with a flamboyant style. A star at youth NT for years already. Failed to win promotion with Lyn last season, but now gets to play for a top team in Toppserien anyway at Stabæk. With Stensland and Jonsdottir gone, she is expected to see much play time. We're waiting for her big break at top senior level. Could come this season.

Rikke Nygard (b.2000), Arna Bjørnar

Much experience already at her tender age because she was a regular starter at left-back for most of last season at injury-prone Arna Bjørnar. Strong one-on-one defensively and very good pace. Captain of the U17 NT. Will hopefully shine even more this season.

Sophie Roman Haug (b.1999), LSK Kvinner

Utility player in midfield or attack. A bit old fashioned physical player. Big and strong and ready to take the next step in her career after all the stars left LSK. Did well coming on as sub many times last season scoring 5 goals in 10 matches all competitions. Will start more games this year.

(Klepp's Matilde Rogde should have been the obvious fifth player, but she will unfortunately miss the upcoming season through injury.)

 

I read she survives on Swedish meatballs at IKEA.

- - - - - -

This weekend's friendlies:

Friday:
Klepp vs Avaldsnes 2-3
1-0 Hege Hansen 1
2-0 Hege Hansen 11
2-1 Andreia Rosa 27
2-2 Elise Thorsnes 44
2-3 Olaug Tvedten 80

Saturday:
LSK Kvinner vs Stabæk 1-0
1-0 Synne S. Hansen 76

Linköping vs Røa 3-0
1-0 Lina Hurtig 61
2-0 Janni Arnth 86
3-0 Tove Almqvist 90

 

Expectations were low before Euro 2013. The team's success came as a big surprise. We had an awful run of results leading up to that tournament, four straight defeats including one at home to Russia. The qualifiers had been a nightmare, we almost missed out on the whole tournament. Norway even lost to Northern Ireland away. Those years around the 2011 WWC, the Eli Landsem years, were the darkest I can remember. Then Even Pellerud came back and shook things up a bit, and we improved slowly in Sweden and grew with every game in the tournament.

I do believe we made improvements after Euro 2013, nine straight wins in the WCQ (we only lost after the spot in Canada was secured), but too many injuries on key players prevented us from a better run in the World Cup. The England team we lost to, and who went on to capture the bronze medals in that World Cup, actually finished dead last at Euro 2013. The international scene is tight. I think Euro 2017 will confirm that further.

 

Toppserien 2017 has its kick-off ceremony at Ullevaal Stadion on Tuesday with presentations of all teams, photo sessions, captains available for interviews, unveiling of uniforms etc. There is also a bit of suspense attached to this event according to the media invitation. Apparently NFF and Serieforeningen for Kvinnefotball will launch a new brand for Toppserien "plus present some really good news". What could that be? Better not get too excited in advance.

 

The big surprise NFF uncovered at the Toppserien 2017 kick-off event this morning, was that one of Norway's biggest tabloids, Dagbladet, will stream live every Toppserien match this season, apart from the 10 matches covered on television by NRK. No words about paywall or geoblock. In addition, Dagbladet is committed to produce articles about the matches before and after every matchday. In theory, this looks like the best coverage ever, but we'll see when the season starts how visible this whole project will be in the media landscape. Dagbladet have signed a one year deal with NFF and Fotball Media. Highlights from the matches will be available on other platforms, hopefully Youtube as last year.

 

At the kick-off event, each club had one player present and those players were each asked the same five questions about the upcoming season.

1. Who will win Toppserien 2017?
2. Who will fight at the bottom?
3. Who will be Player of the Year?
4. Who will be top scorer?
5. Who will be the young break-through player this year?

Arna-Bjørnar (by Ingrid Stenevik)
1. Stabæk
2. Medkila and Grand Bodø
3. Ingvild Isaksen, Stabæk
4. Lisa-Marie Utland, Røa
5. Elise Stenevik, Arna-Bjørnar

Avaldsnes (by Elise Thorsnes)
1. Avaldsnes
2. Grand Bodø and Medkila
3. Ingvild Isaksen, Stabæk
4. Cecilie Pedersen, Avaldsnes
5. Frida Maanum, Stabæk

Grand Bodø (by Tine Erichsen Engan)
1. Avaldsnes
2. Klepp and Medkila
3. Amalie Eikeland, Arna-Bjørnar
4. Lisa-Marie Utland, Røa
5. Sigrid Helbostad, Grand Bodø

Klepp (by Maria Thorisdottir)
1. Avaldsnes
2. Medkila and Grand Bodø
3. Ingvild Isaksen, Stabæk
4. Hege Hansen, Klepp
5. Elisabeth Terland, Klepp

Kolbotn (by Nora Eide Lie)
1. Avaldsnes
2. Grand Bodø and Medkila
3. Ingrid Moe Wold, LSK Kvinner
4. Lisa-Marie Utland, Røa
5. Tone Bettina Pirisi, Kolbotn

LSK Kvinner (by Ingrid Moe Wold)
1. Avaldsnes
2. Medkila and Grand Bodø
3. Ingrid Spord, LSK Kvinner
4. Elise Thorsnes, Avaldsnes
5. Lotte Fossem, Medkila

Medkila (by Megan Kufeld)
1. LSK Kvinner or Avaldsnes.
2. Hard to tell, 4-5 teams could end up at the bottom.
3. Tiffany McCarty
4. Cecilie Pedersen, Avaldsnes
5. Frida Maanum, Stabæk

Røa (by Lisa-Marie Utland)
1. Stabæk
2. Medkila, Grand Bodø (even if they have a great coach)
3. Guro Reiten, LSK Kvinner
4. Guro Reiten, LSK Kvinner
5. Vilde Hasund, Røa

Sandviken (by Stine Hovland)
1. Very tight, but Stabæk win
2. Grand Bodø and Medkila
3. Ingvild Isaksen, Stabæk
4. Elise Thorsnes, Avaldsnes
5. Camilla Ervik, Sandviken

Stabæk (by Ingvild Isaksen)
1. Stabæk
2. Medkila and Trondheims Ørn
3. Cathleen Fraine, Avaldsnes
4. Elise Krieghoff, Vålerenga
5. Heidi Ellingsen, Stabæk

Trondheims-Ørn (by Kristine Nøstmo)
1. Tight between LSK, Avaldsnes and Stabæk
2. Grand Bodø and Medkila
3. Ingrid Moe Wold, LSK Kvinner
4. Lisa-Marie Utland, Røa
5. Tuva Hansen, Klepp

Vålerenga (by Michelle Betos)
1. Vålerenga
2. It's a competitive league, so it's hard to tell.
3. Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir, Vålerenga
4. Elise Krieghoff, Vålerenga
5. Celin Bizet Ildhushøy, Vålerenga