Marty
Audere est farce
- Mar 10, 2005
- 40,190
- 63,974
Sorry for going all Spursking on your arses here but I'm very, very bored and watching the game between Stabæk and Brann, two of the supposed favourites for the title in Norway.
The game is showing that there are no players from these two teams that we would want in the current times, but this is not the point of this thread. I am going to just name a few players we have been linked with in the past two windows and some other talents in Norway that I will expect to see in a bigger league within the next couple of years.
Players we've been linked with
Håkon Opdal - 25 year old Brann and Norway international goalie who we were linked with in January. He's done a Robinson. Quite simply. Has made two huge international blunders recently, one v Turkey last autumn which played a huge part in sending Turkey to the Euros instead of Norway and another in a friendly v Montenegro, both spills. Has also started the season poorly and made another massive blunder last weekend completely mistiming a dead ball. Is not playing in today's game due to illness, and the way he's been in the three previous games I think some Brann fans are glad to see what the reserve keeper's good for (I know I am!). Needs to forget these mistakes and raise his game before Spurs seriously consider him, but he has proved himself very strong mentally before (his big advantage vis-a-vis Robinson) so it's not impossible.
Per Ciljan Skjelbred - 20 year old Rosenborg player, think we've been linked to him in the last two windows. Was Norway's biggest talent and destined to shine on the world stage until he got crippled and lost almost a year due to an Eduardo-like injury in 2005. Has definitely developed since he got back, but despite all his hard work in the middle of the park and a fantastic attitude still hasn't showed enough professionalism or signs of maturity. I suspect he will never be quite as good as people were hoping he would be before the injury, but could definitely join a Blackburn/Villa/Everton type team before too long. But unless we change to a 4-3-3/4-5-1 I can't see him being the sort of player we need. Industrious midfielder who likes to get forward, but I don't think he'd suit being in a two-man central midfield in a 4-4-2. Definitely a three-man centre mid player.
Vegard Forren - 20 year old Molde central defender who we were linked with only a few weeks ago. Definitely a defender we should keep tabs on but this is his first season in the Norwegian top flight and he's only played three games so far at this level. Has done very well so far though, for a side that are expected to struggle. Needs two or three years in this league before any club in a bigger league would try to get him. Very far from the finished article even though the potential is there. Tall and strong, single-handedly took the best strike duo in Norway last season out of the game on the opening day of this season, which happened to be the game our scout, Brian King, was watching (he was interviewed after the game). Future international, definitely. One for us now? No, but maybe in two or three years.
Watch Out For
Odion Ighalo - 18 year old Nigerian Lyn striker who has taken the league by storm in the first three games and scored two stunning goals. Don't fear another Mikel saga with this guy, his agent's safe, but he will be at a top club in Europe at some stage, I am sure. Incredibly good with the ball, almost like a Taarabt with a decent end product from what I've seen, and it is very hard to shake him off the ball without fouling him. The Norwegian league is a perfect league for him to learn the trade for a couple of years before moving on, and if he continues in this manner, I hope our Scandinavian scout keeps regular tabs on him so we can join the hunt for him when he outgrows this league. Because if these games are anything to go by, he will.
Tarik Elyounoussi - 19 year old Fredrikstad striker. Moroccan descent but a Norwegian U21 international and almost definitely in the full squad, probably even a starter, for the May friendlies unless he gets injured. Small, incredibly quick and very hard to deal. Three goals in the first three games this season, he really has grown and matured over the winter break, his movement is very clever and he can create them as well as score them. Can play on either wing in a 4-3-3 but is best as a striker in a 4-4-2. It's possible that he will leave for a bigger league this summer, but next summer is much more likely. Will be part of the fulcrum of the Norwegian national side before too long and for years to come.
Again, sorry to go all Spursking on your arses, but I was bored and some of your might be interested. Most of you won't, of course.
The game is showing that there are no players from these two teams that we would want in the current times, but this is not the point of this thread. I am going to just name a few players we have been linked with in the past two windows and some other talents in Norway that I will expect to see in a bigger league within the next couple of years.
Players we've been linked with
Håkon Opdal - 25 year old Brann and Norway international goalie who we were linked with in January. He's done a Robinson. Quite simply. Has made two huge international blunders recently, one v Turkey last autumn which played a huge part in sending Turkey to the Euros instead of Norway and another in a friendly v Montenegro, both spills. Has also started the season poorly and made another massive blunder last weekend completely mistiming a dead ball. Is not playing in today's game due to illness, and the way he's been in the three previous games I think some Brann fans are glad to see what the reserve keeper's good for (I know I am!). Needs to forget these mistakes and raise his game before Spurs seriously consider him, but he has proved himself very strong mentally before (his big advantage vis-a-vis Robinson) so it's not impossible.
Per Ciljan Skjelbred - 20 year old Rosenborg player, think we've been linked to him in the last two windows. Was Norway's biggest talent and destined to shine on the world stage until he got crippled and lost almost a year due to an Eduardo-like injury in 2005. Has definitely developed since he got back, but despite all his hard work in the middle of the park and a fantastic attitude still hasn't showed enough professionalism or signs of maturity. I suspect he will never be quite as good as people were hoping he would be before the injury, but could definitely join a Blackburn/Villa/Everton type team before too long. But unless we change to a 4-3-3/4-5-1 I can't see him being the sort of player we need. Industrious midfielder who likes to get forward, but I don't think he'd suit being in a two-man central midfield in a 4-4-2. Definitely a three-man centre mid player.
Vegard Forren - 20 year old Molde central defender who we were linked with only a few weeks ago. Definitely a defender we should keep tabs on but this is his first season in the Norwegian top flight and he's only played three games so far at this level. Has done very well so far though, for a side that are expected to struggle. Needs two or three years in this league before any club in a bigger league would try to get him. Very far from the finished article even though the potential is there. Tall and strong, single-handedly took the best strike duo in Norway last season out of the game on the opening day of this season, which happened to be the game our scout, Brian King, was watching (he was interviewed after the game). Future international, definitely. One for us now? No, but maybe in two or three years.
Watch Out For
Odion Ighalo - 18 year old Nigerian Lyn striker who has taken the league by storm in the first three games and scored two stunning goals. Don't fear another Mikel saga with this guy, his agent's safe, but he will be at a top club in Europe at some stage, I am sure. Incredibly good with the ball, almost like a Taarabt with a decent end product from what I've seen, and it is very hard to shake him off the ball without fouling him. The Norwegian league is a perfect league for him to learn the trade for a couple of years before moving on, and if he continues in this manner, I hope our Scandinavian scout keeps regular tabs on him so we can join the hunt for him when he outgrows this league. Because if these games are anything to go by, he will.
Tarik Elyounoussi - 19 year old Fredrikstad striker. Moroccan descent but a Norwegian U21 international and almost definitely in the full squad, probably even a starter, for the May friendlies unless he gets injured. Small, incredibly quick and very hard to deal. Three goals in the first three games this season, he really has grown and matured over the winter break, his movement is very clever and he can create them as well as score them. Can play on either wing in a 4-3-3 but is best as a striker in a 4-4-2. It's possible that he will leave for a bigger league this summer, but next summer is much more likely. Will be part of the fulcrum of the Norwegian national side before too long and for years to come.
Again, sorry to go all Spursking on your arses, but I was bored and some of your might be interested. Most of you won't, of course.
