Football Season Guide

Stabæk

In


Emil Jonassen (def), BATE Borisov), Romain Gall (mid), Malmo - loan), Jesper Isaksen (mid), Kristiansund), Fitim Azemi (att), Vålerenga), Mats Solheim (def), Hammarby), Will Donkin (mid), Kornelius Hansen (mid), Southampton)

Out


Raymond Gyasi (sp)(mid), RoPS), Simen Lillevik Kjellevold (sp)(gk), Strømmen) , Oscar Aga (sp)(att), Grorud), Kristoffer Askildsen (r)(mid)), Sampdoria), Kasper Junker (r)(att), Horsens - end of loan), Steinar Strömnes (sp)(def), HamKam), Morten Rena Olsen (sp)(def), Strømmen), Herman Geelmuyden (mid), PSV), Ronald Hernández (r)(def), Aberdeen), Daniel Braaten (sp)(mid), Sindre Mauritz-Hansen (sp)(att), Sammy Skytte (sp)(mid), Midtjylland - end of loan), Vadim Demidov (sp)(def), retired), Youssef Toutouh (r)(mid), Aarhus - end of loan), Ola Brynhildsen (r)(mid), Molde)

Stabæk enjoyed a fine campaign last season as they developed into one of the most effective and assured teams in the league and overcame a poor start to finish in mid-table, not least because of the astute management of Jan Jonsson. Now the Blue Ones prepare for another campaign in which they will look to promote youngsters from their excellent academy, while also having a solid core and being able to progress in the upper half of the table. There has been no shortage of turnaround in the squad during the close season and some excellent players have departed. The loss that stings the most is that of youngster Ola Brynhildsen, who rejected a new deal and is heading to Molde, after a breakout last year. Players like Kasper Junker, Kristoffer Askildsen, Ronald Henandez and Youssef Toutouh moved on as well and certainly leave a notable hole in the squad. That said, Jonsson still has a pretty capable squad and players like Emil Jonassen, Jesper Isakson and Fitim Azemi bring experience and knowledge at this level. American winger Romain Gall also has the potential of being an excellent addition to the squad, coming from a top Swedish side in Malmo. Overall, the team has a stable outlook and some interesting players to develop and the fans should be generally pretty optimistic for the season ahead.

Target


Mid-table with the promise of some good football and possible challenge for the top six.