We can never have too much Caro Hansen on this thread, can we? A rare goalless draw for Wolfsburg against Essen today marked the end of 2018 for the Bundesliga, which starts up again in February. Three goals and a whopping 13 assists after 13 matchdays is strong. Caro is usually more quiet in the first half of the season, so the best is likely yet to come. Some action from the current season (and some old) is featuring on this new video out now: Wolfsburg players pick up individual honours at home one by one these days. Nilla Fischer was Sweden's PotY, Sara Björk Gunnarsdottir was Iceland's PotY, Pernille Harder was Denmark's PotY and Caro Hansen was... not in the Top 3 nominated for Norway's PotY. Better luck next year..
Column: Not here to dance Ada Hegerberg in her own words (in English) about the "greatest night of my entire life".
Big transfer news: Norway's new midfield maestro, Ingrid Syrstad Engen, has signed a two and a half year deal with Wolfsburg. She will be loaned back to LSK until the World Cup and then join the German giants afterwards. - This has been a huge goal for me. Finally I can live as a pro footballer. Wolfsburg have followed me for 2-3 years, and I visited them in November. What a year she is having.
Martin Sjögren has announced his squad for the two January friendlies at La Manga against Scotland and a still unknown opponent. The Scotland game will be played 17 January. Goalkeepers Ingrid Hjelmseth ................ 1980 ..... Stabæk Cecilie Fiskerstrand .......... 1996 ..... LSK Kvinner Nora Gjøen ....................... 1992 ..... Sandviken Defenders Cecilie R. Kvamme ............ 1995 ..... Sandviken Maria Thorisdottir ............. 1993 ..... Chelsea (ENG) Kristine Leine .................... 1996 ..... Røa Kristine Minde ................... 1992 ..... Wolfsburg (GER) Ingrid Ryland ..................... 1989 ..... Djurgården (SWE) Ina Gausdal ...................... 1991 ..... LSK Kvinner Elise Thorsnes ................. 1988 ..... LSK Kvinner Midfielders Guro Reiten ...................... 1994 ..... LSK Kvinner Vilde Bøe Risa .................. 1995 ..... Kopparbergs Göteborg (SWE) Ingrid Engen ..................... 1998 ..... LSK Kvinner / Wolfsburg (GER) Therese Åsland ................. 1995 ..... LSK Kvinner Nora Eide Lie .................... 1997 ..... Kolbotn Maren Mjelde .................... 1989 ..... Chelsea (ENG) Caroline G. Hansen .......... 1995 ..... Wolfsburg (GER) Forwards Synne Skinnes Hansen ...... 1995 ..... LSK Kvinner Lisa-Marie Utland ............... 1992 ..... Rosengård (SWE) Emilie Haavi ....................... 1995 ..... LSK Kvinner Isabell Herlovsen ................ 1988 ..... Vålerenga Emilie Nautnes .................. 1999 ..... Arna Bjørnar Amalie Eikeland ................. 1995 ..... Sandviken Ingrid Moe Wold and Frida Maanum are out injured. Melissa Bjånesøy and Stine Hovland are dropped after the Japan game. Veterans Elise Thorsnes and Maren Mjelde are back after injuries, so too is Maria Thorisdottir. The speedy right-back Cecilie Kvamme is selected for the first time. She is one of five key players at Arna Bjørnar who have surprisingly switched club to city rivals Sandviken over the last few days. More on that in the next silly season update.
Last silly season update before Christmas: Arna Bjørnar IN: Andrea Wilmann (fw, Stabæk), Oda Bogstad (gk, Lyn) OUT: Ingrid Stenevik (df, Sandviken), Vilde Bøe Risa (mf, Kopparbergs Göteborg), Maria Brochmann (mf, Sandviken), Amalie Eikeland (fw, Sandviken), Cecilie R. Kvamme (df, Sandviken), Lisa Naalsund (mf, Sandviken) Avaldsnes IN: Rebekah Stott (df, Sky Blue FC), Victoria Esson (gk, North Shore United), Stephanie Ribeiro (fw, Grand Bodø), Giovanna de Oliveira (fw, Chinese club), Robyn Decker (df, Grand Bodø), Maria Sørenes (fw, Klepp), Brena de Oliveira (mf, Santos FC), Erika Alves de Moura (mf, Santos FC) OUT: Luana Bertolucci (mf, unknown dest.), Andreia Rosa (df, retiring), Meryll Abrahamsen (mf, unknown dest.), Chante Sandiford (gk, unknown dest.), Dejana Stefanovic (df, unknown dest.), Maruschka Waldus (df, Western Sydney Wanderers), Jamia Fields (fw, unknown dest.), Jordan O’Brien (mf, unknown dest.), Cho So-hyun (mf, unknown dest.) Fart IN: Benedikte Birkelund (df, Vålerenga), Naomi Griffin (fw, Kolbotn), Sigrid Bloch-Hansen (df, Øvrevoll Hosle) OUT: Frida Dybvig Haugen (fw, Røa) Klepp IN: Amanda Frisbie (df, Sky Blue FC), Havana Solaun (mf, Washington Spirit) OUT: Ina Kristoffersen (df, Stabæk), Kirsty Yallop (mf, retiring), Mackenzie Berryhill (df, unknown dest.) Kolbotn IN: Sara Hørte (mf, Øvrevoll Hosle) OUT: Ina Gausdal (df, LSK Kvinner), Naomi Griffin (fw, Fart), Maren H. Johansen (fw, retiring) LSK Kvinner IN: Heidi Ellingsen (mf, Stabæk), Therese S. Åsland (mf, Røa), Elise Thorsnes (fw, Utah Royals), Ina Gausdal (df, Kolbotn) OUT: Sigridur Gardarsdottir (mf, IBV), Ida Fjordbakk (df, unknown dest.), Cathrine Dekkerhus (mf, possible retirement), Anna Westerlund (df, Åland United), Silje Blakstad (fw, Stabæk), Ingrid Kvernvolden (fw, Røa), Juliette Kemppi (fw, Bristol City), Ingrid Syrstad Engen (mf, Wolfsburg [from July]) Lyn IN: OUT: Oda Bogstad (gk, Arna Bjørnar), Katerina Bjerke (df, Grei) Røa IN: Synne Jensen (fw, Stabæk), Linn-Mari Nilsen (gk, Kaupanger), Ingrid Kvernvolden (fw, LSK Kvinner), Frida Dybvig Haugen (fw, Fart), Vilde Fjelldal (fw, Grand Bodø) OUT: Therese S. Åsland (mf, LSK Kvinner), Line Holter (mf, retiring), Svava Ros Gudmundsdottir (fw, Kristianstads DFF) Sandviken IN: Ingrid Stenevik (df, Arna Bjørnar), Maria Brochmann (mf, Arna Bjørnar), Amalie Eikeland (fw, Arna Bjørnar), Cecilie R. Kvamme (df, Arna Bjørnar), Lisa Naalsund (mf, Arna Bjørnar) OUT: June Hammersland (df, retiring), Ajara Njoya (fw, Vålerenga) Stabæk IN: Katarina Naumanen (df, HJK Helsinki), Ina Kristoffersen (df, Klepp), Silje Blakstad (fw, LSK Kvinner), Ingvild Isaksen (mf, free agent), Chinyelu Asher (mf, Washington Spirit), Gabrielle Lie (mf, Røa) OUT: Heidi Ellingsen (mf, LSK Kvinner), Andrea Wilmann (fw, Arna Bjørnar), Synne Jensen (fw, Røa), Kelly Fitzgerald (mf, back to USA), Ine Østmo (mf, college in USA) Trondheims-Ørn IN: Maiken Bakke (fw, Grand Bodø) OUT: Svanhild Sand (df, Vålerenga) Vålerenga IN: Ajara Njoya (fw, Sandviken), Svanhild Sand (df, Trondheims-Ørn) OUT: Benedikte Birkelund (df, Fart), Camille Levin (df, unknown dest.), Anne Lise Olsen (fw, unknown dest.) Quite extraordinary to see what happens at Arna Bjørnar nowadays, the club which finished third in Toppserien 2018. They are dissolving. Five of their best players have moved to city rivals Sandviken. Vilde Bøe Risa has moved to Sweden, and coach Morten Røssland has gone back to coaching a local men's team. It will be interesting to see how Arna Bjørnar cope with this. Despite the departure of top scorer Njoya, Sandviken now emerge as the silly season winners by Christmas. Of their five signings from Arna Bjørnar, three or four are strong enough to make the World Cup squad next summer. Sandviken have shut down their reserve team to save money, and now focus entirely on the first team. Annual salaries are reputed to be in the €40 000 range. But I think they still need a top striker to challenge LSK next season. No solution in sight in the Herlovsen case after a meeting with Vålerenga the other day. The one club which showed interest in buying her out of the contract, Røa, have instead signed Vilde Fjelldal as forward. Isabell seems one step closer to retirement unless a new offer comes up. Something for Sandviken?
At Christmas every year, Verdens Gang, Norway's biggest tabloid newspaper, releases a Top 100 list of sports personalities. This year it's obviously influenced heavily by the successful Winter Olympics in Pyeong-Chang. This is the 2018 list with four woso connections: 1 - Marit Bjørgen (Olympic champion, cross-country skiing) 2 - Magnus Carlsen (Chess, world champion) 3 - Aksel Lund Svindal (Olympic champion, alpine skier) 4 - Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (Olympic champion, cross-country skiing) 5 - Håvard Lorentzen (Olympic champion, speed skating) 6 - Jakob Ingebrigtsen (European champion, middle distance running) 7 - Ada Hegerberg 8 - Maren Lundby (Olympic champion, ski jumping) 9 - Simen H. Krüger (Olympic champion, cross-country skiing) 10 - Ragnhild Haga (Olympic champion, cross-country skiing) --- 62 - Caroline G. Hansen 72 - Maren Mjelde 74 - LSK Kvinner -- Merry Christmas everyone!
Røa vs LSK Kvinner 3-3 a.e.t. (1-3 a.p.) 1-0 Line Holter 1 2-0 Svava Ros Gudmundsdottir 23 3-0 Rebecka Holum 46 3-1 Anja Sønstevold 49 3-2 Guro Reiten 66 3-3 Sophie Haug 85 Penalties: Goal - Guro Reiten (LSK) Miss - Line Holter (Røa) Goal - Emilie Haavi (LSK) Goal - Kristine Leine (Røa) Miss - Ingrid Syrstad Engen (LSK) Miss - Ina Skaug (Røa) Goal - Anja Sønstevold (LSK) Miss - Svava Ros Gudmundsdottir (Røa) Klepp vs Sandviken 1-1 a.e.t. (1-3 a.p.) 0-1 Ajara Njoya 30 1-1 Tameka Butt 45+1 Penalties Miss - Tatiana Matveeva (Sandviken) Miss - Zaneta Wyne (Klepp) Goal - Marije Brummel (Sandviken) Miss - Tameka Butt (Klepp) Goal - Ajara Njoya (Sandviken) Goal - Kirsty Yallop (Klepp) Miss - Amanda Perez (Sandviken) Miss - McKenzie Berryhill (Klepp) Goal - Ingrid Spord (Sandviken) First semi-final, only the last taker an international. Second match, only the last taker a Norwegian. Norwegians converted 2/3, Internationals 1/3.
Herlovsen-gate goes on. Vålerenga are not allowing Isabell to join the Norway camp at La Manga later this month due to the conflict between club and player. She is under contract with Vålerenga, but won't show up at their training sessions. Isabell now instead has solo training sessions with her father. No new club on the horizon either. To be continued, I guess...
Read that again today. It really is a sad story. Interesting moves and chess game being played. Not showing up for your training and saying it makes me sick, and then countered by if we are making you so sick you can't show up and train then you are obviously too sick to play nationally. On the men's side with 9-figure transfer fees when players pull similar actions they can bully their way because of the financial impact and fans and sponsors will revolt, but on the women's side no one really cares much and the clubs can absorb any financial issues. Vålerenga as a club aren't a starving standalone local women's program. Curious how the other players feel about it. Usually when you throw down a comment like that it's hard to go back.
Hovland is brought back in the squad again for the La Manga games. Maria Thorisdottir is in rapid recovery, but not yet ready for international football, so she withdraws. With Herlovsen stopped by Vålerenga, I wouldn't be surprised if Bjånesøy is selected again also.
Ada got visited by Fredrik Skavlan, a Norwegian talk show host. Segment will air this weekend, I believe. Things started well! https://www.instagram.com/p/BsdyP88IQwM/
Aftenposten had her interview as the secondary lead story earlier today but have since bumped it. https://www.aftenposten.no/100Sport...-ikke-far-spille-for-landet-mitt-267222b.html And TV2 is running a promo as well: https://www.tv2.no/sport/10334819/
All the papers running crisis stories this weekend with different photos of Hegerberg and Herlvosen together and the trouble expected without either. Herlovsen now looking for her fourth team in under two years. Hegerberg did not score in the Euro. Perhaps with the best supporting cast money can buy in the world she can't be marked out and can be very effective, but isn't world class effective without it. The Austrians won their group in that same Euro over France and Switzerland. And made it to the semi's where they lost in PK's or they could have won it. They don't have the FIFA best player in the world, and most people would struggle to even name a player on the team. But I'll bet all 18 adored being there and were all on the same boat and paddling in the same direction and ego-less for country and supported each other backs to the wall. There are less than five months to go to the tournament and maybe it's time to focus on the other 16 and their talents and the sacrifices they have made. I'd much rather hear those stories.
Grand Bodø's Sara Eggesvik has moved to England and signed for Charlton Athletic. Since Grand Bodø no longer are in Toppserien, it's a transfer that won't be picked up in the silly season set-up. Eggesvik has been a fringe player at youth level national teams so far. She made the U23 team last year, and I think a tad underrated because of the weak club she played for. Exciting player at times.
Friendly, La Manga Norway vs Scotland 3-1 1-0 Caroline Hansen 12 2-0 Lisa-Marie Utland 15 2-1 Caroline Weir 54 (pen) 3-1 Caroline Hansen 74 Line-up (4-2-3-1): Cecilie Fiskerstrand - Synne Skinnes Hansen, Ina Gausdal (Kristine Leine 83), Stine Hovland, Kristine Minde - Vilde Bøe Risa, Ingrid Syrstad Engen - Emilie Haavi (Therese Åsland 66), Guro Reiten (Emilie Nautnes 83), Caroline Hansen (c) - Lisa-Marie Utland (Amalie Eikeland 89) Good start to the World Cup year with an experimental back-line. I didn't see the game, only highlights. Hope to watch the full game if I find it later. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2265663463723318
Good VG piece on people asking FIFA how Hegerberg could win the best player in Europe in 2016 (with more than three times any other player in the final round) but not make the shortlist of 10 for the FIFA Player of the Year: https://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/i/J1e9P8/interne-dokumenter-viser-hegerberg-skapte-fifa-kaos "Next year, I think the whole process should be reassessed, since I'm not sure the committee is watching football actively and from around the world." - FIFA employee Alejandro Varsky wrote this in an internal e-mail to colleagues on December 5, 2016
It has been one of Martin Sjögren's big projects to make Reiten as influential for Norway as she is for LSK. She has been too inconsistent until now in the NT. Let's hope 2019 is her international break-out year. Two nice assists yesterday. Norway can't only depend on Caroline Hansen to deliver the goods.
Guro Reiten v. Jessie Fleming on Tuesday will be interesting as they're both cut from the same cloth. NRK is probably geoblocked again but the CSA stream may not be: Back at it! #CanWNT launch into 2019 @fifawwc campaign! Catch Canada v Norway on Tues Jan 22nd (Noon ET/9 am PT) on https://t.co/QAm3Fwds6b pic.twitter.com/FOsxQRhxVJ— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) January 17, 2019