Norwegian Eliteseries: 3. round 25 april

First of hello all you punters, been following the forum for some time now, but havent posted anything.

I thought i would pay back the favors by trying to give some info about the "Eliteseries" in Norway since I am norwegian and follow it closely.

The thing to note about the norwegian series is that there is 1 big team, Rosenborg from Trondheim, they have won the last 12 seasons and will surely win this one also. Apart from that the next 8-9 teams are very very even and very few points end up setting them apart.

I'll try to give my 2-3 choice picks every week when I have time and possibility. Keep in mind I am just as prone to making mistakes and no manner guarantee these picks, its just what I think are the "best" picks of that week/round.

3. round:
Odd Grenland v Lyn 2.05 3.00 3.40

Odd currently at the #1 spot after 2 rounds played. Are showing good form and have Norways 3rd keeper for the national side Erik Holtan in the goal. A strong defense, and very able midfield. Their attack is very decent without having any "star" strikers. 4-0 in their favor so far in goaldifference.
Lyn, lost their opening match to Molde and barely managed a draw in the Oslo derby against Vålerenga last monday. They have in many ways a better team "on paper" but are not playing to their potential.

2.05 home seems to be good here.

Molde v Fredrikstad 1.38 4.00 7.10

Molde is no doubt the better team here, Fredrikstad beeing newly promoted and having lost their 2 first matches without beeing able to score. However I feel the difference in the 2 teams may not justify the difference in odds. The thing to notice is that Molde have been wanting to challenge Rosenborg for domination a long time, but have failed often due to losing the "100%" games and fumbling on the small teams. Even tho Fredrikstad lost both their matches they did play good football with shots in the bar and the post.
This might just be one of the "100%" they fumble on.
Maybe a double chance bet?

Play at your own risk

Rosenborg v Viking Stavanger 1.35 4.15 7.50

Rosenborg are very hard to beat home and Viking are still shocked after their opening loss to Tromsø 4-0 away. They just sacked their coach (after just on game) and there is a great deal of uncertainty going on in Viking these days. I would say this is as safe as it gets, so it might be one
to consider for accumulators.

Those 3 are my opening picks, I will post if I know of any injuries or development. If any norwegians want to comment me or correct me, feel free to do so.

Just my opinion that I thought i should share with you.

EDIT: All price/odd quotes are from Gamebookers.

Nice write up
Thanks for the info and welcome to the Punters lounge .

[Tulenos]

Welcome to PL and don't worry - it's always win some, lose some.

MAybe a new manager, if in charge, phenomenon may work in the Viking match, though - do you have any info regarding this?

I know they have asked Egil "Drillo" Olsen, former national coach and Nils Arne Eggen (The man who made Rosenborg what they are today). Who have both declined any offer. So far they are left with the reserve coach. I agree that sacking a manager may boost the team, but I think the moral is allready very low and I dont see them beeing able to best Rosenborg at their homeground. Will report more once I know.

Very useful having inside info from Norwegian league.

Welcome to PL Orome .

So far from what I gather Viking have approached two more candidates, Arne Erlandsen of Lillestrøm and Harald Aabrekk of Haugesund. Both have declined. (Unofficially it might be different but both declined in the official press).

There is still too much commotion and trouble over in Stavanger so I still recommend, Rosenborg - win - home, on this one.

I have Odd home and Rosenborg home in a double for this weekend.

Also Lyn's Sporting Director, Morgan Andersen, has been fined 1.3 million Norwegian Kroner ( About 130 000£ ) for cheating with tax issues at his former job. 130 000£ is not a lot by English Premiership standards, but by Eliteserie standards this is a lot. Might not affected the allready dubbed weaker side of Lyn, but I think it just might add to their misery.

[Snowman]

Orome, we will finaly have some thread this year I see.

Few comments, I would avoid betting against Lyn, they were the favourites for second place before the season began, so they might just start being good.

In fact I did not even look at the odds yet, so this is just to express my happiness to have a decent Norwegian thread.

Yay! More Norwegians!

I might be a bit biased in my view since I am a Vålerenga fan, but i never really had the faith those good words people had for Lyn. (Vålerenga and Lyn are the two rival Oslo based teams). They have not been able to match their performance since they sacked Sture Fladmark. Odd however has had a way of proving others wrong when they have been dubbed relegation candidates. Now with Oliver Occean on the squad they just look stronger then ever.

But yes many have high words for Lyn, I am not one of them =)

[Snowman]

A few thoughts on the first div.

It seems that newly promoted teams are better than usual, Kongsvinger especially are looking pretty strong, in fact I already did put some money on their victory on Sunday, against Pors Grenland who are the only team that look unfit for this level.

Also worth mentioning are the most relaxed bunch in the league, Sandefjord, they have played the whole last season as if they were on vacation, being terrible in the first half, and then adding some energy in the second. This year they started just the same way, and I am really serious when I think that they should always be backed ht-ft to win from behind or from draw. This time they play with Raufoss, who finished last season much better then they were expected to, so the odds against them are not too bad. I think though that this year Raufoss have no reason to hope for anything more than midtable, though they will probably stay clear of the relegation zone.

Although they have a new caretaker coach, I don't feel that Viking has the "new coach enthusiasm" that you often see elsewhere.

According to former Viking coach Benny Lennartson, this is the job that caretaker coach Bjarne Berntsen wants most of all. Berntsen does not agree, but if Viking starts a winning streak I don't think he will be replaced too soon.

Viking will be without their midfielder Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim, but winger Peter Kopteff returns from suspension.

Rosenborg will field the same starting 11 as against Fredrikstad:
Espen Johnsen - Christer Basma, Vidar Riseth, Erik Hoftun, Ståle Stensaas - Frode Johnsen, Ørjan Berg, Fredrik Winsnes - Jan Gunnar Solli, Azar Karadas, Harald Martin Brattbakk.

In my opinion Rosenborg will win this one.

Does anyone have a good value pick from Tippeligaen or division one?

I would go with Hønefoss v Mandalskameratene.
Away win 3.60 @ Expekt

I was thinking Haugesund - Skeid. Skeid away for around 3.00 odds.
But I dont have enough confidence to bet on it.

[Snowman]

Not sure about any value pick at the mo. The teams are still early in the season, it is first to be seen if they play the way they did last year or the things have changed. If it were the last season I would side with Orome, Skeid could be a good value. Mandal though seem much weaker then they were.

My only value is still Sandefjord x-1 or 2-1 HT/FT

[Snowman]

By the way, talking about the whole season, my favs for place 2 (RBK will be champs, no doubt ) are Lillestroem, just a hunch, but its for the record. If they do get the second place I will regret not saying it on time )

I agree. I actually put a bet down on Lillestrøm before the season started in the "best without Rosenborg"-category. The odds was 10.00!

Hønefoss have Zanetti and probably Kvalheim back from injury, but are missing Karlsen, Heiaas, Eriksen and van Schjindel.

MK have no injuries and my source in the club say that they will go out offensively. Everyone for some reason says that MK are weaker than last year. I disagree. The won away at Bryne and played just as well as Start in the first half last weekend.

That's why I predict a surprise away win tomorrow.

Yes Lillestrøm will be a team for the top this year, but I think Odd will get the better of them to secure the 2nd spot.