Major news now. For the first time ever, Toppserien is getting a separate league sponsor; OBOS which is a real-estate giant. It's a 5-year deal running from 2018 to the end of 2022 worth around 60 million kroner (€ 6.25 million). 30 million in direct sponsorship and a further 30 million to cover other expenses, and there might be more added underway. OBOS said at the press conference, that this new deal is a result of the ongoing debate in the media about the state of Norwegian football after the fiasco in the Euros. I would like to know more in detail where all these resources will be put in though, but the snowball is rolling.
Here is the press conference when the OBOS deal was announced - AC/DC intro One new thing that will be tested next season is the so called "OBOS super weekend". All six games in Matchday 9 will be played at the Telenor Arena one after another. Three on Saturday, three on Sunday, all covered live on NRK television. This is so extraordinary that it will create some extra buzz in the media when time comes. I guess there will be some debate about which clubs should give up home matches in favour of these on neutral ground. Must be the Oslo clubs.
New silly season update. Still quite low activity on the market, but a couple of key players are leaving the country. Arna Bjørnar IN: OUT: Avaldsnes IN: OUT: Elise Thorsnes (fw, Canberra United) Grand Bodø IN: OUT: Klepp IN: Sandra Simonsen (fw, Fløya) OUT: Kolbotn IN: OUT: LSK Kvinner IN: Ingrid S. Engen (mf, Trondheims-Ørn) OUT: Ingrid Spord (mf, Fiorentina) Lyn IN: OUT: Røa IN: OUT: Lisa Marie Utland (fw, Rosengård) Sandviken IN: Synne Raa (mf, Fana) OUT: Karoline Bakke (retiring at 26) Stabæk IN: OUT: Trine Rønning (retiring) Trondheims-Ørn IN: OUT: Ingrid S. Engen (mf, LSK Kvinner), Marit Clausen (retiring at 21) Vålerenga IN: OUT: Tomorrow is the NM Cup final 2017: Avaldsnes vs Vålerenga (4:00pm) (It says on the page it should be available world-wide)
Avaldsnes won the NM Cup yesterday by beating Vålerenga 1-0 in the final. Elise Thorsnes became the match-winner with a 5th minute goal set up by Cecilie Pedersen. This was Avaldsnes first ever title in Norwegian football. They've lost two previous cup finals and have finished runners-up in Toppserien three times. You can watch the entire final all over again here. In other news: Serieforeningen for Kvinnefotball, under leadership of Hege Jørgensen, keeps getting more major sponsor deals. The latest is the betting company Norsk Tipping who have signed a 3-year-deal until 2020 worth 16 million kroner (€ 1.65 million). With the OBOS millions and the additional millions from NFF, we are looking at a quite solid annual budget for Norwegian woso now. Certainly a step in the right direction. Now the challenge is; how to spend the money wisely? Toppserien award winners announced. Winners in bold: Goalkeeper of the Year Katlynn Fraine, Avaldsnes Alyssa Giannetti, Arna Bjørnar Ingrid Hjelmseth, Stabæk Defender of the Year Theresa Nielsen, Vålerenga Ingrid Ryland, Avaldsnes Stine Reinås, Stabæk Midfielder of the Year Tameka Butt, Klepp Gunnhildur Jonsdottir, Vålerenga Guro Reiten, LSK Kvinner Forward of the Year Anne-Marthe Birkeland, Grand Bodø Lisa Marie Utland, Røa Sophie Haug, LSK Kvinner Young Player of the Year Malin Brenn, LSK Kvinner Sophie Haug, LSK Kvinner Heidi Ellingsen, Stabæk Coach of the Year Hege Riise, LSK Kvinner Oliver Harder, Klepp Vanja Stefanovic, Stabæk Player of the Year Lisa Marie Utland, Røa Tameka Butt, Klepp Guro Reiten, LSK Kvinner
To play fullback, I presume? It's a bold move. I can't see her win a starting spot up front in that stacked team, but she is a versatile player who can play in a number of positions. Will probably function in a rotation role.
Another Friday, another silly season update. Arna Bjørnar IN: OUT: Avaldsnes IN: OUT: Elise Thorsnes (fw, Canberra United on loan), Katlynn Fraine (gk, Växjö), Emily Gielnik (fw, Brisbane Roar), Chloe Logarzo (mf, Sydney FC), Gema Simon (df, unknown dest.) Grand Bodø IN: OUT: Klepp IN: Sandra Simonsen (fw, Fløya) OUT: Maria Hiim (mf, Røa) Kolbotn IN: OUT: LSK Kvinner IN: Ingrid S. Engen (mf, Trondheims-Ørn) OUT: Ingrid Spord (mf, Fiorentina), Ryoko Takara (back to Japan) Lyn IN: Vilde Hasund (fw, Røa) OUT: Røa IN: Maria Hiim (mf, Klepp) OUT: Lisa Marie Utland (fw, Rosengård), Vilde Hasund (fw, Lyn) Sandviken IN: Synne Raa (mf, Fana) OUT: Karoline Bakke (retiring), Sunniva Lillestøl (retiring), Sofie Skjelstad Jensen (studying in Australia), Sofie Bloch Jørgensen (injured, back to Denmark) Stabæk IN: OUT: Trine Rønning (retiring) Trondheims-Ørn IN: OUT: Ingrid S. Engen (mf, LSK Kvinner), Marit Clausen (retiring) Vålerenga IN: OUT: Gunnhildur Jonsdottir (mf, unknown dest.), Aivi Luik (mf, unknown dest.), Stephanie Verdoia (fw, unknown dest.)
Well, it was written on the wall, after she hadn't find decent playing time in the last part of the season. Wonder if she'll get back to her last former team, Vegalta Sendai Ladies, or anywhere else.
Monica Knudsen, who built up LSK Kvinner and many thought would be offered the Norway job a year ago, has now signed for Vålerenga as coach. Vålerenga and LSK are fierce rivals (even more so in men's football), so the news has been met by raised eyebrows at her old club. Very interesting indeed. If one Norwegian club is going to sign some top foreign players in this transfer window, it's likely to be Vålerenga, as they spend more and more money on their women's team. Due to increased financial means in the league, more clubs will be able to have practice sessions in the mornings and not only afternoons. Knudsen is getting former Norway coach Eli Landsem as her assistant.
Did not see that coming. Tomorrow's friendly against Canada should be streamed by the Canadians, at least: Final training session for #CANWNT ahead of tomorrow's friendly v Norway. Live Tuesday 13.00 ET / 10.00 PT on https://t.co/QAm3Fwds6b pic.twitter.com/aaQUQDuib5— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) November 27, 2017
According to this news: https://www.calciofemminileitaliano...op-player-internazionali-la-rimonta-scudetto/ also Ingrid Schjelderup (along with the Icelander Sigurdardottir) have been recently seen in the Fiorentina training center for a possible signing. The current italian champions, after a bad start of the season, are 9 points behind the Brescia and Juventus table leaders, and will face a very difficult comeback.
Nice. Perhaps geoblocked, but we'll see. Norway have never ever lost against Canada. Eleven matches in total, the last one in 2013 ended 0-0. What better year to ruin that record than annus horribilis 2017? Sjögren hints at playing two up front in this game and use many substitutions.
Not quite correct, this; according to the club's announcement she's hired as 'sportssjef' (director of football/sport or some such in English), which if VIF is like other clubs technically places Landsem above Knudsen in the hierarchy. Typically the sportssjef position gets responsibility for signing players and coaches and dealing with the administrative side of things, while the coach is responsible for what happens on the pitch.
Friendly in Marbella, Spain: Norway vs Canada 2-3 1-0 Ina Gausdal 18 2-0 Caroline Hansen 37 2-1 Christine Sinclair 53 2-2 Janine Beckie 64 2-3 Adriana Leon 66 Line-up: Cecilie Fiskerstrand - Ingrid Moe Wold, Ina Gausdal, Maria Thorisdottir (Lisa Naalsund 84), Kristine Minde - Guro Reiten (Ingrid Spord 77), Frida Maanum, Maren Mjelde, Caroline Hansen - Lisa-Marie Utland (Emilie Haavi 62), Isabell Herlovsen (Synne Jensen 77). Norway played well in the first half, had the initiative, looked untroubled and scored a couple of goals. Debutant Gausdal scored on a header from Norway's fifth corner. Hansen added a second before the break. Then two unbelievable unforced errors gifted the Canadians two goals. The first after a disastrous goalkeeping error by Fiskerstrand, the second after a stupid square pass from Minde just outside the box. Canada scored a nice third goal when they had the momentum. Norway looked dazed and confused and couldn't respond. How fitting that 2017 was wrapped up by that awful second half. The only one topping Norway's second half performance was the camera man at the stadium! I'm still dizzy.
Norway v Canada 2-3 - The goals: Sorry, Minde, it was of course Thorisdottir with the awful square pass.
As an official prophet, now what do you predict: will Norway manage to move this parked bus when it will be their turn vs Ireland?
Well, continued second half blues for Lady Norway. They had a similar game with Sweden where Norway went up 2-0 then lost 3-2. Put some wheat germ in their meatballs! Sounds like they had a solid first half. They tied France and beat England and Sweden this year. One wonders if Ada would have made a difference with the NED and CAN games. Well, Ada has disappeared for World Cup qualifiers and Herlovsen disappeared for Euros - what might/could have been/be with a full squad (and C.Ped too). Well, on to 2018!
Another Friday, another silly season update. We're still waiting for the major signings. Many transfers so far are players leaving for an uncertain future elsewhere. Some go back to school in another part of the country, and foreigners going back home. December should be the big month for new signings as clubs want to have their squads ready when pre-season training starts in January. Arna Bjørnar IN: OUT: Alyssa Giannetti (gk, unknown dest.), Emma Fletcher (mf, unknown dest.), Ingrid Altermark (fw, unknown dest.), Ine Wedaa (retiring), Guro Pettersen (gk, Stabæk) Avaldsnes IN: OUT: Elise Thorsnes (fw, Canberra United on loan), Katlynn Fraine (gk, Växjö), Emily Gielnik (fw, Brisbane Roar), Chloe Logarzo (mf, Sydney FC), Gema Simon (df, unknown dest.) Grand Bodø IN: OUT: Klepp IN: Sandra Simonsen (fw, Fløya) OUT: Maria Hiim (mf, Røa) Kolbotn IN: OUT: Juliette Kemppi (fw, unknown dest.), Sanna Svensson (df, unknown dest.) LSK Kvinner IN: Ingrid S. Engen (mf, Trondheims-Ørn) OUT: Ingrid Spord (mf, Fiorentina), Ryoko Takara (back to Japan) Lyn IN: Vilde Hasund (fw, Røa) OUT: Røa IN: Maria Hiim (mf, Klepp), Frida Lyshoel (df, Vålerenga), Synne Christiansen (fw, Vålerenga), Maren Jakobsen (gk, Fløya) OUT: Lisa Marie Utland (fw, Rosengård), Vilde Hasund (fw, Lyn) Sandviken IN: Synne Raa (mf, Fana) OUT: Karoline Bakke (retiring), Sunniva Lillestøl (retiring), Sofie Skjelstad Jensen (studying in Australia), Sofie Bloch Jørgensen (injured, back to Denmark) Stabæk IN: Guro Pettersen (gk, Arna Bjørnar) OUT: Trine Rønning (retiring) Trondheims-Ørn IN: OUT: Ingrid S. Engen (mf, LSK Kvinner), Marit Clausen (retiring) Vålerenga IN: OUT: Gunnhildur Jonsdottir (mf, unknown dest.), Aivi Luik (mf, unknown dest.), Stephanie Verdoia (fw, unknown dest.), Frida Lyshoel (df, Røa), Synne Christiansen (fw, Røa)
After Ingrid Spord, also Ingrid Schjelderup is now a Fiorentina player: she even played a few minutes as a subbed in, in the last match, won 4-0 vs. Chievo. http://it.violachannel.tv/fw-dettag...ngrid-schjelderup-e-una-calciatrice-viol.html