Football Season Guide

Odd enjoyed a pretty good season last year as they finished third in the standing and were the only side that actually kept pace with leaders Rosenborg for an extended period. They could maintain their challenge in the second half of the season and suffered some poor form in the summer and autumn. Yet they still managed to get a European spot at the end of the campaign and are now relishing the start of the new season with mild optimism. The Blacks have taken the mantle as the best team in the league other than Rosenborg, even though there is not much to choose between them, Brann and Strømsgodset in terms of quality of the squad. The team from Skien lost only one important regular during the close season as disruptive winger Bentley eventually completed a move away to Turkey, having pushed for it since the summer. While he is a pretty good player all in all, he is hardly indispensable and the hopes are new signing Martin Broberg fits in quickly and fill the gap. Apart from the Swede, the other major addition before the start of the season is striker Torbjörn Agdestein, who enjoyed an excellent campaign at Haugesund last year. he is a good finisher, with movement and pace to worry the opposition defences, and should bring extra competition up front, where Oliver Occean is reaching a veteran age and cannot keep going for too long. With major players like Jone Samuelsen, Rafik Zekhnini and Fredrik Semb Berge all retained for new season, it is pretty much a case of building on already solid foundations for Dag-Eliev Fagermo ahead of the new campaign. That is the main reason why Odd have a good chance of doing even better than last season and they are certainly a fine side that mixes dazzling attacking potential with good assurance at the back.