The season of the departures

The last season could be defined as the "season of the departures". Why? Because we have lost 4 players good enough for the Tippeligaen and the Europe League. However, when a society is in crisis, doesn't have money and doesn't have ideas, the best thing it can do is to start over. 

NIELSEN - We've lost Nicki Bille Nielsen, a player that gave us many problems, it's true, but the one that in 50 appereances scored 24 times, almost 1 goal in 2 matches. Yes, the club was able to sell him the double to the Evian (in euros, he was bought for 675.000€ and sold for 2 millions), but the fact is that now we've lost one of the best players we had. How the club will use that money?

CHIBUIKE - The nigerian midfielder left us with 87 appareances and 32 goals. But the statistics cannot explain the importance that the player had in the matches. Strong, powerfull, one of the best midfielder able to stop the opponent's counterattack. Obviously he wasn't the best player at all all over the world, sure, but for our dimension, for a club that wanna play the Europe League and win the Tippeligaen, John Chibuike was really good. And we lost him.

DISKERUD - Unacceptable. This departures cannot be justified. No money can explain it, also because he left us free. Totally free. Our club wasn't strong enough to let him sign another contract, and so he was totally free to go to anoher team. It is said to Mexico, or USA soccer league. Sure, he's strong and Rosenborg cannot let him to win anything, and so he wanted to go away. But the fact is that we have lost a real good player. USA national midfielder, the 24 aged player has a glorious future. And we wasn't able to sell him. 

GAMBOA - Nothing to say. I've just repeat the same thing I wrote about Diskerud. You have just to change his role, fullback. After his very very good World Cup in Brazil everyone in Trondheim could bet on his departure. And so, West Bromwich Albion bought him for almost 3 millions (in euros). I can bear his departures, because he didn't leave us for free, but I'm very sad because he's a very good fullback. 

Start over, it's the only way left. Everything depends on the way the club will spend his money. Rosenborg, revive!

@mondorbk #MondoRBK

https://www.facebook.com/mondorbk

Erik Hoftun: The soap opera goes on

Erik Hoftun finally decided what to do with his life. The former RBK defender will be the assistan of Ingebrigsten, like he was during this season.

Now Ivar Koteng has to find out a new Director of football. The president said that: "The new director of football hasn't to be someone who works in soccer world"

Maybe, indeed, it's better to have someone who doesn't come from soccer. Maybe it's better to have someone else, anyone but Hoftun.

@MondoRBK

Where were we?

Hi guys
I was very busy, and so I couldn't write anything about Rosenborg from July untill now. What happened? So many things, I saw the last post I wrote was about Per Joar Hansen, the former coach. It was substitued by Ingebrigsten, the one who is still coach today. Our team arrived at second place in Tippeligaen 2014: it means that e shall play the Europa League qualifications. Last year, this season, we did not win the last qulification match, and so we had not the possibilities to play the play-off match.
What's the situation now?

MIX DISKERUD - The Norwegian-USA midfielder  during his permanence at Trondheim was often tempted by very important soccer teams, all over the european leagues, but he decided everytime to stay in the Tippeligaen. Now his future is doubtful, because the tension is high at Trondheim.

IT'S HARD TO BREATHE - The Rosenborg economic state is in a bind: the managers said that the sponsors money are not enough, and the tickets too. So it was necessary to sell someone: Berntsen, that went to Djurgarden. The causes of this situation are three: Nielsen, Chibuike and Brede Moe, good players sold or few moneys.

FRIENDLY MATCHES - Seeing that the training for last season was injurious and deleterious, this year mr. Inge decided that was necessary to have few friendly matches against weak teams. The hope is that this decision will be a good decision.

I'm glad to write in this blog, after so many complicated months of silence. I whish you had understood what I wrote!

Forza Rosenborg

@mondorbk

Gamboa pride of Rosenborg

In a video-interviews posted on Adressa.no Gamboa shows us how happy it was to be back in Trondheim. Yes, it would be best to be still in Brazil, maybe playing against Germany this match, but with his national team he played very well, with courage and passion, in order to make his countrymen happy and pride to be Costaricians.

Welcome home Cristian, we miss you a lot, and we wanna be back in Europe. We need you for this, and we absolutely want you. 

Immense Gamboa, but don't show you up!

I wanted to write a post about Gamboa, because of his magnificient match against Uruguay with his CostaRica. He showed to the world how strong he is, how powerfull and fast. But now we all know how does it work: a great team sees him, obviously it likes him and wants to buy him. So, I just want to make a plea: Cristian, don't show you up!

Of course I'm joking, and we all love you. Cristian, be the pride of all us.

Open Letter to Mr. Per Joar Hansen

On "Adressa.no" were written six points that explain why Perry should go away. What I noticed, and interested me, were the points about the training: this is the main reason why Perry lost the trust among the players. I read:  low-intensity exercise, uncertainty 
formation, tactics and team selection. I wrote something about, when I said that Perry was a liar when he said that before the summer the team should have had the best physical condition (and the latest matches showed us the truth).

So, Perry, How long must we wait before you understand that your sad adventure in Rosenborg is finished? First you will understand it, the best will be for everyone. You have everyone against you: players, staff, supporters. What do you want to do? 
Think about it tonight. 

With love, 

Mondo Rosenborg

Here I am - News

Obviously everyone in the earth wondered himself: "Where is Mondo Rosenborg? I cannot live without his news about the most succesfull team in Norway!". So, here I am, and there's a reason why I didn't write anything. Rosenborg is my passion, sure, but my life (and the life generally) is full of other things, more important that soccer. I won't go into details, but I've taken this opportunity to change the way of writing in this blog (yes, I'd made too much changes since I've started, but... this is me). I will not write the analysis of the matches, that were very boring and written in a bad english, but I'll write (as in every blog in internet) my impressions on the match, and seeing the Rosenborg situation, I think I'll write only vets, words full of anger. 
So, I hope you'll read my blog in future, and... Forza Rosenborg!

P.S.: I write the analysis of the matches in Italian on "Tribuna Italia", an online newspaper. If you wanna see something...

Molde showman at Lerkendal

How does it possible to let our enemy play in this way in our home? Too many errors, stupid errors that we cannot do if we wanna be a great team. Above al, what I really hate in this team is the behaviour, we wre absent minded, we wrong every match in this way, and the real question remain: what will we do in Europa? We will do the same show Tromso did this winter? I dont wanna be the joke of Europe, I want to play first of allin Champions, and then demonstrate how Rosenborg strong is. In every match we have to show our history, and we certainly can lose a match, but not in this way. Man withouts balls. Nothing more to say right now.

Rosenborg knocks down Brann, and ricovers Bille Nielsen

That this Rosenborg-Brann could finish in this way, it was told by the history: in the 23 matches played there was a scoring average of 3.8 goals per game: it was too easy to bet. It was just easy also to bet on the victory of Rosenborg , that in the last four matches beat Brann three times , scoring 15 goals . So this match could have been the turning point of the season for the team from Trondheim, which brings back to goal the striker Danish director Bille Nielsen , who had missed the last match for the well known facts with the police. But the game didn't start in the best way , as usual this season. At 14 ' Brann took the lead with Skaanes : lightning counter-attack of the guests, who were three against three , Huseklepp passed the ball to Skaanes , and midfielder couldn't go wrong , and scored the 1-0 . Now it seems an unsolvable problem the defense of Rosenborg , who can not find balance. Being this problem , mr . Hansen saw that it must push the team in attack , even if it was easier for the opponents to score . We are in the 5th round, and Rosenborg took almost 2 goals per match. The tactic of Perry began to glimpse already in this match , and we could wait only five minutes to see the goals from captain Reginiussen , who had already scored in the national cup match last Wednesday valid for entering the second round. The assist was usually by Gamst Pedersen on a free-kick, the man most important at this moment in the team, an infinite resource . Rosenborg began to attack persistently, and after nine minutes the goal of the advantage with Svensonn : on a corner kick by Mix Diskerud , Strandberg protracted with the head the ball in the box , Svensonn pounced on the ball and beat the goalkeeper : 2 -1. The goal was greeted with a standing ovation, and the midfielder born in Levanger celebrated the goal as if he had scored the goal of the life , the ninth with the shirt of Rosenborg . This creates the conditions for a spectacular second half , which gave for all viewers four goals . The first of these four goals , however, was marked once again by Skaanes , although just few minutes before Rosenborg had a chance to close the match with Bernsten , author of a powerful shot from outside the box deflected in corner by the keeper. As mentioned , however, was Brann to score the 2-2 , at 60 ' : Lindemann Jensen lost the ball in midfield, Brann again on a counterattack , Badji fed the ball to Skaanes that hit it into the net for the draw. Brann also risked to score the goal of 3-2: Lund Hansen erred the launch on which pounced Barmen , which replaced at 59 ' Huseklepp , author of a good first half . Barmen let it go a powerful shot that was deflected in corner by Hansen . But Rosenborg didn't lose the head and threw himself headlong into the attack to try the advantage goal . Jensen wanted to redeem the error committed shortly before, that had led to the equalizing goal, and scored a spectacular goal : a shot five meters outside the box that bag in the corner of the net , 3-2 . Brann holded for another ten minutes, but then was forced to collapse, inevitably , under the weight of the supporters at Lerkendal Stadion . Riku Riski was brought down in the penalty area , and the referee had no doubt , penalty. Reviewing the action , the foul is no doubt , but Soderlund presents himself in the box, in order to strike. And he scored the 4-2. It  was done , but in order to end the party in the best way, we had to see another goal, a goal by Bille Nielsen. Once again, was committed a fouil in the box on Riku Riski (this time it is the fould was  clear) and the referee whistled a second penalty , which beat Bille , scoring the final 5-2 . The exultation that followed may be saw exaggerated for the fifth goal , but entirely justified if it is aware of the dark period that he has passed the Danish striker. A beautiful game well played by Rosenborg , that is four points behind the league leader, and champion of the last Tippeligaen, Stromsgodset . The problems remain the defense , but what matters is to win, and if this happens...

The Nicki Bille instance: Rosenborg spoke

Finally the society spoke about the Nicki Bille Nielsen instance. Bille was arrested in Copenaghen by the police, and there were many doubts about his permanence in Rosenborg Ballklubb. It was not the first time, indeed, that the Dane striker made something wrong cause of his behaviour. This is the communicate made by RBK via his website:

"Since the case with Nicki Bille Nielsen happened and was made known to the club, we have worked to provide us the relevant facts of the case. The case is covered with great interest and has many aspects to it. As an employer, we must act responsibly and protect the club, players and others involved. We consider it very serious that one of our players being detained by police, brought to the police station and get the charges against him. Rosenborg players are role models and should act accordingly. In Rosenborg should be room for everyone and it should be possible to have a different personality.

The club has in recent days been in contact with Nicki Bille, we have talked with appropriate witnesses, been in contact with Nicki's attorney, watched videos of the arrest and spoke with the police in Copenhagen and Trondheim.We have also been in contact with Nicki Billes agents and interrogated us with relevant professionals.

We do not and can not decide whether police in Copenhagen have acted reprehensible. Our point is that the police, whether in Trondheim or Copenhagen acts as a track power to do.

The club wishes to stress that we are looking very seriously at what happened.

Based on the information we currently have and Copenhagen Police further process, will Nicki Bille from Friday again be in training in Rosenborg. We perceive that there is no doubt that Nicki in this case has acted inappropriately to public space and through that again put himself in a situation where he has been in trouble with the police and arrested. This is not consistent with being Rosenborg player and role model.  

The club's reaction to what has happened is that Nicki Bille imposed alcohol ban. In addition, the club along with Nicki utilizing his positive qualities and energy in social work. We will get back to what this entails.

Rosenborg Trondheim Klub, 24 April 2014"

So Bille will remain at Rosenborg, but he will be utilized in social work, and will be imposed an alcohol ban for him. 

The things we won't do for the champs....

The former player Olsen stops Rosenborg: 2-2 at Aspmyra Stadion

Finished with a draw the match against Bodo Glimt , the team placed first in the last Adeccoligaen. Third draw of the season for Rosenborg , who cannot drive out the ghosts above Trondheim. Rosenborg played without Nicki Bille Nielsen ; The Danish striker , in fact, has become protagonist in an unpleasant fact in his native city (Copenhagen) during the easter holidays, so he was excluded from the match at Aspmyra Stadion. Rosenborg is now deciding what to do, but it seems that the conclusion is only one: sell the striker . In Trondheim supporters are tired of his temperament , his character instinctive and violent. In September he was arrested and imprisoned in similar circumstances. So mr. Perry is forced to put into Soderlund , in the usual 4-3-3 : Alexander Lund Hansen - Jonas Svensson , Stefan Strandberg , Tore Reginiussen , Jørgen Skjelvik - Morten Gamst Pedersen , Daniel Berntsen , Mike Jensen - Mikkel Diskerud , Alexander Søderlund , Riku Riski . 
The hosts hit the ground running, and at 7 ' minute scored with Laajab : lightning counter-attack team by Bodo, orchestrated by one of the former player, Trond Olsen (the other is our Daniel Berntsen , who grew up in the opposing team). Strandberg forget the attacker in the yellow shirt behind him, wich could be face to face with Lund Hansen , and overcame him with a delightful lob. Another goal conceded on a counterattack by the team of Trondheim, who can not find defensive solidity. Even Strandberg , as Ronning and Reginiussen, is not able to play as central defender: too many mistakes during the match, and in both goals there is something he erred.
Fortunately, however, Rosenborg reacted , and at 11' equalized with Morten Gamst Pedersen, the hit of the winter market. Mix intercepted the ball to Soderlund, wich suddenly fed it to Gamst. Powerful shot unstoppable for Londak : 1-1 . After the draw , Rosenborg is the absolute ruler of the race, and is likely to go ahead immediately on advantage. Gamst Pedersen crossed the ball on a free kick to Strandberg, wich was lonely in the penalty area, but he get a goal very very easy wrong. He couldn't atone for the fatal mistake that has made him an accomplice in the first opponent's goal. Rosenborg is alive and seeking the advantaging goal , and the goal came at 63 ' with Soderlund ; the striker who had replaced Bille Nielsen scored the 1-2 on a defensive inattention of Bodo Glimt , who get the offside trap wrong and left the Norwegian forward lonely . Gamst Pedersen gave back the assist that led to the first goal hitting the ball with the chest to Soderlund , the former Haugesund player made no mistake , and Rosenborg scored . The team of Trondheim intended to close as soon as possible the match, and the opportunities arrived : from free kick , with the usual duo Gamst - Soderlund, but this time the striker failed to tuck the ball into the net with his head , thanks to a splendid saved made by the goalkeeper . Still Gamst , served this time not by Soderlund but by Mix Diskerud : the ball went out . 

As usual , for the most cruel law of football , who does not close the game, undergoes a draw , and so it was: at 81 ' Bodo entered in the box, with a beautiful lob Richards overcame his direct opponent feeding the ball to Konradsen, which crossed from the end line to the center of the box. Ndiaye incredibly missed to score and the ball went to Olsen, who found himselfto be in front ot Lund Hansen and didn't hesitate to hit in the net. What is most disconcerting in this action is Strandberg , who saw that Ndiaye was going to kick, and so he turned to cover himself, and didn't realize that instead the ball came near him , leaving Olsen free to score. Bad day for the central defender, very bad . Rosenborg fell asleep , and on the wings the Bodo Glimt players did what they want , easily surpassing the old fullback and thirty-seven aged Dorsin, making dangerous cross into the box . Not only: at the last minute Bodo Glimt also risked to score again , always with Olsen, who was retained by Riski when he was about to shoot. The referee stopped the match and cautioned the Finnish wing of Rosenborg . At the end of the match Olsen said : "We should scored the 3-2 if I had not been held there . Richards and I were ready to pull , and it was almost a goal done. " So Ended up , 2-2 , but the Rosenborg continues to go through the tunnel of the crisis. How to get out ?

The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow: but Rosenborg doesn't smile

The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow said H.G. Wells, but how does it take this crisis? Another draw for Rosenborg , which has only two points after two rounds. The draw was less dramatic than the one in the first round, but very irritating. The only extenuating circumstances may be two : the field factor and obviously the opposing team, wich yesterday was in a very fine form. A draw that is actually tight for Aalesund , that could  have won the game If it had not been for the skills of Lund Hansen ( on Saturday author of at least two small miracles) and the imprecision of the striker Barrantes ( like Berisha  in the game against the Viking Barrantes was very inspired). The match begins immediately in the worst way for Rosenborg , who in the ninth minute is forced to replace the right fullback Cristian Gamboa for an injury (it should be out 4-6 weeks) with Skjelvik , author of a bad first half on the first journey against Viking . In the first few minutes should have been read the plot of the match: the hosts did high pressure and prevented the build up of Rosenborg actions , and then closed themselves in defense when the team from Trondheim overcame his half of the field. The whole game was played on this scheme, and the music was directed by Aalesunds, whereas we would have expected a game administered by Rosenborg . The counterattacks by Aalesunds were deadly for the team from Trondheim, who suffered terribly in defense , as he had suffered terribly against Viking . The couple Reginiussen - Ronning offers really very few guarantees, and if we will have not a good substitute the season will take a turn for the worst. The coach Mr.Per Joar Hansen is already risking the dismissal, with his strange ideas about football. He showed the team saturday with a new 4-2-3-1 instead of the usual 4-3-3 , but the hosts constructed actions of attack, not Rosenborg , which was struggling to recover, and remained entangled in the net made by Aalesund . Aalesund was dangerous since the beginning of the match: after the first ten minutes, began to attack with more continuity; at 13 ' Barrantes missed an almost penalty on the move, sending the ball just outside the right post. At 21 ' Pedersen was picked up on time by James , who found himself face to face with Hansen, who made a miracle rejecting the ball. Barrantes pounced on the rebound but took the ball with a bad impact and Hansen could throw the ball out. Rosenborg was slow on the counterattacks , and Aalesund had so many time to close in on the defense. The few chances we had ended with weak and central shots. At 30 ' James was once again pulling undisturbed from the edge of the box , having in front of him Ronning, that still does not find his best form. Two minutes later Barrantes again went close to score , but the ball came out . Only in the last minutes of the first half Rosenborg started to become dangerous, and a great shot at the last second by Riski went off. The second half opened with an incredible opportunity for Aalesund : four our players lost the ball in midfield, which was recovered by James . The Nigerian feed the ball to Barrantes, that was face to face with Hansen, but sent the ball high and hit the bar . At this point the Rosenborg seemed to wake up , and came with more continuity and ideas in the hosts midfield . When the Rosenborg was attacking with many intensity , Aalesund scored, with a counterattack orchestrated by Barrantes , who ran along the whole right wing , made the cross for James, who badly stopped the ball, so he passed it to Larsen wich undisturbed kicked the ball with a powerful shot that Hansen couldn't save 1-0 . The situation was harder for Rosenborg, because Aalesund more than before could express its way of playing, closing itself in defense and making counterattacks with Barrantes or James . Mr. Hansen so decided to change something and entered Soderlund in place of a tired Mikkelsen , author of a poor match. Perry then returned to his favorite 4-3-3 , with Bille shifted on the wing and Soderlund as pivot . The home team seemed to be very tired, and was no longer able to make counterattacks as it did before , but on the other hand also Rosenborg did not seem to be alert. Then came an unexpected gift : at 74 ' by a lack of Aalesund , Chibuike recovered the ball , passed it for Soderlund that feed the ball to Riski , who kicked and sent the ball to the inferior corner of the net : 1-1 , Rosenborg drew with his mysterious object . We should have made many attacking actions to find the opening goal , but it did not come. The two teams were tired and the final minutes of the match were not as fun as you might have expected . Only at 91 ' Rosenborg had a good chance to score , with Reginiussen , which was so close to scoring on a free kick with his head. Therefore ended the match at the Color Line, where Aalesund stopped Rosenborg on 1- 1. Still goes on the crisis of Rosenborg . More than results, the most dramatic problem is caused by the lack of a way of playing; Mr. Hansen seems to have no idea about what to do, how to play, how to prepare tactically the match , and we're only in the second round. Rosenborghas reached a critical juncture in its season. We all hope something go better in future.

Whistles at Lerkendal

Rosenborg could not start worse. A bad game , where opponents (Viking ) has dominated for almost all the time, except in those ten minutes that the Rosenborg managed to score two goals.

And so the team from Trondheim has to face the music with this first false step . The first half was completely dominated by the team from Stavanger; in the first ten minutes, Viking was able to go close to scoring twice , first with a cross that went across the penalty area, then with a shot that went out. Viking was the uncontested ruler of the field , it was able to monopolize the game during the entire first half , brushing several times the goal . Rosenborg was hard to get out of its own half of the field, with a non-existent midfield that made everything easier for the opponents . Svensonn looked like a ghost in the field, and Jensen helped few times the defense. Moreover, the choice of Perry has been to not put into the field from the first minute Mikkel Diskerud.

At 24 ' the first incredible opportunity for Viking : the central striker Berisha was spoon fed by a companion and found himself face to face with Lund Hansen ( that replaced the injured Örlund ) , who was able to wrest the ball from his feet , making a miracle. Rosenborg did not seem to be playing in a game . The two central defenders still do not understand each other, as had happened during the last friendly , and Berisha was very good at take advantage of the situations. Fortunately for us, the number ten always wrong at kicking, even if was very dangerous when he was in the penalty area, when he got over, with a disarming easiness, throughout the defense. He looked like Messi, but he ain’t him.

At 32 ' still Berisha, wich Saturday was very inspired, with a in a serpentine pattern came face -to-face (again) with Hansen , who saved a weak shot easily and centrally located.

Rosenborg was not concentrated , got wrong so much, but the main problem was that it was impalpable. It looked more like a training match than the first round of a league that you wanna win. Surely, with this performance, you will never win it, it will be hard only to be protagonists. Just an opportunity for Rosenborg in the first half : at 40 ' a cross, on the developments of a corner, there was a small scrum in the penalty area, but the ball slammed twice on the defensive wall pulled over by Viking , first on a close shot by Söderlund, then on a shot from the long-range by Tore Reginiussen.

The first half ended 0-0 , but it must be admitted that the Viking deserved to be in the lead , maybe even with two goals. Perry finally realized that something had to be changed , and put into Mix Diskerud and Dorsin , respectively in place of Svensonn and Skjlevik . I don’t dare to say that they played badly , they had just not played.

In the second half all of us expected a reaction from Rosenborg , we expected to see they fought. Well it didn’t happend: the second half began as the first ended. At 50 ' Viking was again close to scoring with the usual Berisha ( just remind you : he is not a talent , it was the defense that was embarrassing), which on the development of a cross was once again alone in front of Hansen , who made a miracle for the second time.

Thirty minutes before the end finally something snapped, and the Rosenborg changed gears and started to become dangerous . On a cross from the corner Ronning tried to redeem him for the disastrous game with a header, but it was out (even if he had scored he would not have redeemed for the bad performance ) . Even Riku Riski made him seen (after having been in the shadow for the entire first half) with a shot that ended up. Grow more and more the doubts about the former player of Hoenefoss . The team from Trondheim began to appear more often in the frontline of the opponents penalty area , until at 64’ Viking defensive inattention led to the goal scored by Diskerud : Bille intercepted a ball deflected from the defense, feed it to the U.S. midfielder who scored with a powerful shot: 1-0 for Rosenborg . The goal gave us more confidence, and at  68 ' we scored again, with another player that started from the bench, Dorsin.

Bille passed the ball on the wing to Gamboa , who tried to cross to the center but the ball was picked with an hand by an opponent. Pedersen was in charge of beating the free-kick and crossed to Dorsin, that headed and scored: 2-0 .

A terrible match put into the right railroad tracks by Diskerud and Dorsin, both of them started on the bench. A day that seemed to ended in the best possible way, with the three points. And this seemed obvious, until five minutes from the end. At 73 ' the coach of Viking Jonevret entered Bodvarson in place of the tired Berisha. Both of the coach were very inspired, because even Bodvarson ( as Diskerud and Dorsin for Rosenborg) went to the goal . Twice in five minutes.

Rosenborg thought it was able to control the match, but at 87' the new entry Bodvarson stood alone in front of the goalkeeper, who failed to make the third miracle, and was overcome with a beautiful lob . The Viking began to believe in the draw, and the draw arrived at the ninetieth , with a long ball from midfield that overcame the entire defense of Rosenborg . Ingason headed the ball , leaving the usual Bodvarson lonely in front of Hansen, and for the second time overcame the goalkeeper with a delightful lob .

A defensive inattention threw Rosenborg inside the tunnel of the crisis, even if the Tippeligaen is still long . There are many questions, few answers : why Perry put into the field only in the second half Diskerud and Dorsin? Why he still goes on playing with this module? Why the defense is always deployed in a bad way? It obvious that a player like Ronning is not yet ready to return to the levels he had before, and the pair formed with Reginiussen could be decisive. For the opponents .

Reports:

Lund Hansen: 7

Gamboa: 6

Reginiussen: 4

Ronning: 4

Skjlevik: 5

Svensonn: 5

Jensen: 5

Pedersen: 6.5

Bille: 6

Soderlund: 4

Riski: 4.5

Diskerud: 6.5

Dorsin: 6

Ghosts above Trondheim / Rosenborg-Stabaek 2-3

An embarrassing show was played on Sunday evening between Rosenborg and Stabaek . We have indeed lost 2-3 against the team placed second last season in Adeccoligaen (the second division in Norway of course). A match that showed the weaknesses of our team, a team that can not score wihout 2-3 players, essential to get results during the season. 

One of these is Chibuike , that started on the bench , and when he entered, took only ten minutes to score the 2-3. Another player who played very well on Sunday's match, (that was the last pre-season friendly), was Gamst Pedersen , the newcomer , who signed the goal of momentary 1-2 . The third player that I would count is Bille Nielsen , but it must still find his best physical condition . The match seemed to be easy for Rosenborg ( That would be the limit, seeing that the opponent played in the Adecco last year ), which was very dangerous in attack, in particular at the 5', when there was an interesting cross, but Soderlund headed very weakly, and so the ball couldn't enter in. However the reaction of Stabaek didn't wait, and at 16 ' scored with Boli . The action of the opponent's advantage denotes the weakness of the defense department of Rosenborg . The action that leads to the goal in fact stemed from a ball throwed towards the half of the field , that surprised the two central defenders ( Reginiussen returning from injury to the heel, and Ronning, returned after six months cause of an injury ). The defneders didn't opposed to the opponent, which easily overcomed the goalkeeper Lund Hansen. 

The two defenders didn't seem to understand each other, neither of them tried to hinder the attacker , who was able to run through them and be face to face with the goalkeeper . Perry had said this week that his team had some evident defensive problems, but it seems he does not want to do anything to better the situation. On the other hand it is also true that the two central defenders didn't play togheter from six months, but that does not justify the behavior that they took throughout the match. I've seen a team that's already tired, and this is particularly serious at this point of the season, that the league it still not started. Perry during the pre-season had said he would have worked in a way that he would have led the team to be in top condition quite before the summer. It seems to me that this plan is already stillborn . In fact, the only one who seems to be in good condition is Gamst Pedersen , who has not done the preparation with Rosenborg this winter. 

Rosenborg hardly got a reaction to the goal, and the most irritating player of the day was, undoubtedly, Mix Diskerud . The U.S. National player, played without desire , even if he had a chance to equalize, but he missed, pulling a ball on the defender. That's didn't sound like him , seeing his enormous ballistic qualities .  

On the ongoing of the action , Reginiussen tried to redeem himself from the preceding error kicking with a powerful shot that touched the top of the crossbar . I can not say that Rosenborg did not tried to equalize , because it had occasions during the match, but it lacked a little courage and a lot, too much imprecision in the penalty area . Imprecision that was personified in the figure of Soderlund , which even Sunday not lived up to expectations, but missed a goal practically made. Didn't Rosenborg score? So, Stabaek did, trying to have some fun to the audience (his audience of course, not our).  Still goes on the disastrous day of Reginiussen , which that made a foul into our pnelaty area . The referee assigned a penalty. Penalty that was scored at 30 ' from Stephens . After three minutes , however, came the equalizer, with Gamst Pedersen . After a cross by Bille from the frontline, an unfortunate touch of the defender of Stabaek promoted Pedersen, that from outside doesn't wrong : 1-2 . Luck still does not assist the defense, which gets caught by the corner. The usual Boli,  headed the ball on a cross and the ball slowly came into the net. Rosenborg - Stabaek 1-3 . 

The first half was over (thankfully), and Perry continues to hold the same eleven on the field. Maybe he is satisfied with the performance of his team, as opposed to the fans. Both during the first half, that during the whole match , Rosenborg kept losing the ball in the attacking actions, giving the opportunity to the opponents to do a counter-attack. The pace was incredibly low, which could encourage opponents, who controlled the match. One of the few opportunities to reopen the match it had the usual Pedersen, that with a free-kick was almost to score. But there was a great save by the keeper of Stabaek . Riku Riski also tried to redeem his match, but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper with his fists. 

Perry finally decided to change something, and Svensonn entered in place of the evanescent Diskerud, and Chibuike for Reginiussen . The only smart move of the match , because Chibuike scored at 85 ' after a great counter-attack action ended with the passage of Midtsjø for the Nigerian. The match ended, but we all are very disappointed, becuase this match reflected a state of agony of ours. Maybe we are slowly returning to our origins, when Rosenborg was nothing more than a small team from the suburbs. Hopefully I will be denied , I'd be happy to apologize.

Zibaldone 15 March 2014

Here I am again to talk about, of course, Rosenborg. Tomorrow we'll play against Kalmar FF, the real first test of the season, and we won't have some players, that are still injuried. 
Tore Reginiussen is still injuried, he had also to stay on ultrasound, in order to see when he could come back, but from the medical staff it is said that we've to keep calm, because it's better to have him at the best, even if this would mean to have him later on the weeks.
Perry had to compose the defense with Gamboa, Ronning, Dorsin and Skjelvik. But Ronning is still not ready for the whole match. Indeed this will be the squad, with the 4 defenders Perry tested: Daniel Örlund-Cristian Gamboa, Micke Dorsin, Per Verner Rønning, Jørgen Skjelvik - Mike Jensen, Mix, Gamst Pedersen - Nicki Bille, Alexander Søderlund, Riku Riski.

Someone said that at midfield we have many problems, because we have so many players, like Mike Jensen, Jonas Svensson, Mix, Daniel Berntsen, John Chibuike, Fredrik Midtsjø, Pål André Helland and Bent Sørmo, the "magnificient seven". I've to say that Midtsjo could be a great resource for us later on, as subsitute of Gamboa. He demonstrated against Levanger what he can do as fullback, but we've to see him against a stronger team. With the Kalmar could have been a good chance to see him, he could demonstrate how he good he was, but Perry decided in a different way. Maybe he'll shift him as fullback during the match. 
I insist on Midtsjo because Perry tested so many players as fullbacks, but nobody did like Midtsjo did (I repeat, Midtsjo played against a weak team). He tried Mikkelsen, Dorsin, but none of them did well. Now, that we've find out a good substitue, he didn't test him. 
In that list of midfielder, there's Helland. But Helland is a forward instead, we all know it. 
He could be considered as lateral midfielder if Perry played with a 4-2-3-1, or something like this. But Perry insists on the 4-3-3, and so that problems doesn't exist.
But reading the squad we can see a great surprise: Gamst Pedersen as midfielder, lateral midfielder. Yes, he can be a midfielder, but as I could see, he's very good at attacking. We have so many forwards, Perry in the last matches used to place in the field a lot of strikers, but according to me in the wrong roles. 
Bille, for example, did very bad when he played as a wing in attack. And we've to consider also that he broke up with his girlfriend, and maybe he could not be perfect tomorrow. But he's a professionist, we know it, and he'll have to play at his best. 
Perry still wants try Soderlund as pivot, with Riku near him. No comment, I wrote about Sode many many times in the past.
What make me laugh, is that Perry seems to test new kind of squads and modules, but indeed nothing changed during this pre-season. We've seen only players shifted in many roles, but nothing clear. The match we played demonstrated two things, according  to me: the first one, that we need Chibuike in every match, and the second one that we cannot play with the 4-3-3 at all. Using almost 4 forwards, it's impossible to win, we could have perfect halfbacks, but we don't have. Mix is very good, but he cannot work lonely in the defensive phase. 
Concerning Mix, still goes on the discussion with the society after he wasn't allowed to play with his national team against Ukraine. Hoftun maybe is yet thinking about a way to sell him. 
In this week Arni Vilhjálmsson trained with us, but the society rejected him. As I wrote on twitter, starts the countdown to see when he'll become a talented. Hoftun pay attention. 

Finally, it turned out that Rosenborg asked to have the UEFA Supercup in its stadion, at Lerkendal, in 2017, for the centenary of the club. 

Zibaldone - 25 Feb 2014 (Waiting for Rosenborg- Odd)

Few considerations about the match we are going to play against the Odd. First of all this is the squad, the starting line-up

Orlund-Gamboa, Moe, Strandberg, Skjelvik- Jensen,Mix, Berntsen- Bille, Søderlund, Riski

1) Perry understood that Mikkelsen couldn't be a fullback (fortunatly) and put Gamboa in the place of the wing forward. As we can see Dorsin is out of the starting line-up, so Perry give Moe the chance to show him off. Moe said that he's much improved during the last season, and so he's sure he can do very well this year. Perry several times in this friendlies rejected Moe as central defendor, preferring Dorsin, that instead is a fullback. Now Moe can shows him off, and we are all hoping he can demonstrate what he's able to do in the field.

2) We have, also in this match, injuried so many players: Reginiussen and Selnaes (as you can read here) but we have still injuried Strandberg, that probably won't play against Odd. What I wonder is: why we have so many players injuried? This is a great problem, and I think could be a big danger all along the season. We haven't many players indeed, and so if we have injuried the only players able to play, we are out of the games. I have to remind that this summer we have to play the european qualifications for the Europe League, and going in this way we won't able to do great thing (remembering also that in summer Mix and Gamboa will be out for the World Cup)

3) Berntsen said he's ready to compete with Selnaes and Mix for a role in midfield. I saw Berntsen in the last match against Sudnsvall: yes, he didn't drive me crazy, but at the end did a nice match. But I don't know how he can compete with Mix and Selnaes. He can compete maybe with the last one, but just because he's always injuried (it's just a joke, I'm hoping we can have him soon of course )

4) Riski did very bad according to me the last match, maybe against Odd can show him as the player we hope he is. Fast, precise and insidious. Not like the last matches. I'd rather have Helland as pivot and not Soderlund, but, let's see what he can do. Seeing this squad (the strikers sector) it comes to my mind that during the match the module can change. Starting with a 4-3-3 he can become a 4-3-2-1 or a 4-2-3-1 with Bille as playmaker, however he can play behind the two forwards. Maybe Perry put Soderlund because he saw that every cross in the area was sliced by the forwards, nobody took the ball. Soderlund maybe can do this kind of job.

Zibaldone 18/02/2014

I decided to create a new "column" called Zibaldone, where I summarize all the most important news of the last days.

First of all I'd like to say to you that at the right side you can see the Twitter Widget, where you can interact with @MondoRBK, the official account of Mondo Rosenborg on Twitter. There's also the link to the Facebook Page.

Then, let's review the week's news.

Ola By Rise

The former goalkeeper of RBK (then assistant and coach of Rosenborg untill 2004) should be included in the Rosenborg board. Rosenborg indeed has a board of directors that decide how to rule society, and it was suggested Ola By Rise.

So, however, a problem arises. In fact, now there is, as team manager, Erik Hoftun, which in the past has helped to oust the former coach of the team. 

Probably there's no good blood in the water between the two, and maybe one of them will have to leave the team. Between the two,the one who deserves to go out of the society should be Hoftun, that ousting Ola By Rise from the team in 2004, ended the golden age of Rosenborg, filling only failures, as history shows.

Witry, Selnes and Reginiussen

Good news about the National soccer team. Witry was convocated to play with the Under 18 Norwegian team. Good luck to Aslak!

But we've problem with Selnes and Reginiussen. Both of them are still injuried, and the problem of Selnse seems to be serious.

The player said he was frustrated, he still has problem with his knee. Selnes had hoped to play RBK's next game against Sundsvall in Abra this Saturday, but it is now out of the question.

Like many other players his contract is going out, so the society and Selnes have to discuss the new agreement soon. Very soon.

Reginiussen is still injuried because of his problem on the heel, but it should be in the field very soon.


Meanwhile we're waiting for the match against the Sundsvall this Saturday, at Abra Hallen.

Chibuike won't leave. RBK's searching the Gamboa subsitute.

Now it's certain: Chibuike will remain at Rosenborg. 
This guy had been given, by the media, "sold" to almost all teams in the world, but apparently he doesn't wanna go away from Trondheim.The news was given by the same player last night to Adresse.no.

I don't wanna go to the Dinamo Minsk or in another teams in Belarus or Russia. There is no aim for me to go to a club that is on par or lower level than Rosenborg.

He had only words of praise for the supporters of Rosenborg

I just don't want to become rich, money aren't everything compared to other things. If I change the club I need a better league where I can develop myself and become better. I must respect my own values, and can not travel only for the money. Dinamo Minsk is certainly a great club, but I must be a 100% sure that I like where I'm going. 
I'm happy to be in the club and the city. The supporters are amazing, and I have only positive things to say here. We'll take it as it comes. 


At the same time it received bids from an Israeli club, but it was so low that it was not relevant to sales. And the RBK is ready to offer a contract extension to the Nigerian player. 

We talked about the extension just before, but now here we go again. Then we will have to discuss it with his agent, says Hoftun.

I have to congratulate him for the sincerity, and we all hope that he'll sign that contract.

So it seems that the joke Bille and Gamboa will not result in reality. Fortunately.


Bille is ok, but maybe the destiny make Gamboa sick cause of that joke for the match against Djurgarden. So Perry has the chance to test the substitute of Gamboa during the World Cup Brazil 2014. The idea is to place Svensonn behind. But he'll not be the unique player "tested". Also Witry has to demonstrate his skills during this months. Mr Hansen has to find out a good substitute, because in that period we'll have to play against Sarpsborg, Strømsgodset, Lillestrøm and Start, and so it will be hard to play without that players. Not only Gamboa, but also Mix of course. 

Maybe it will be very important the summer transfer market

Copa del Sol: Rosenborg - Astra Giurgiu, first defeat

Who is the blame? The third red shirt or the players? 

I think I've an answer. We were wrong in the interpretation of the match. The early stages of the game were not so bad, but we were weak  and they were more physically strong and determined than us. In fact the opponenents had the first opportunity, caused by an error in defence (so many mistakes in this match in defence, we tried to play the ball above us in the penalty area, or near it, in order to have a counter-attack, but instead we lost the ball and made the opponents have opportunities). Fortunately they erred the shot, and Orlund made a save.

We have continued to leave too much space for opponents, like in a corner kick, where they tried a shot from the border of the penalty area and they made an off target shot.

We reacted with Skjelvek, that took the ball neat the border of the penalty area and passed the ball to Svensson that made an assist in the penalty area for Soderlund, that missed the shot.

In this first half it was clear that we were good at taking ball to the opponents, in our 3/4 half field, but we were slow in the counter-attack phase, we missed the ball in their 3/4, because they were quick to place themselves in defence, and they closed all the spaces. We played a poor play, we were not determined, and the only two players that were moving and were doing well were the newcomer Riku Riski and Gamboa, that will have a good second half.

In the second half we made substitutions. In Bille and Dorsin, out Soderlund and Skjelvik.

But in the second half we were still not determined, the Astra instead was in the match. Bille tried to made an assist but Mikkelsen wasn't able to take the ball and go to score. The Astra was determined more than us, in fact they scored with Seto. Our defence were motionless, static, and Seto, instead of pass the ball, tried to shot, Orlund didn't expect that shot and couldn't make a save. 

We were so slow in attack, the opponents gave us many meters to advance but we stopped in their half field, and the only one that tried to move and create opportunity was Riku Riski, but the others were stopped, and didn't make anything to help him. The other one that tried to make opportunity was Gamboa, that tried to shot, starting from the lateral bands and going to the center, like Riku did all along the match, then kicked the ball, but he took the internal post, and the ball went through the borderline but didn't enter in the goal.

It was clear that we had to try to play in the lateral bands, Mr Hansen indeed standed in Helland for Mikkelsen, in order to create opportunity with Riku, also making corner for Bille. It didn't happen. As usual we were very good to overcome the midfield, but we were wrong to create opportunities, playing in the middle and not passing the ball to Riski or Helland. The only one that tried to do this was Gamboa.

Finally, there wasn't a good match, at all, and I think if we don't change our line-up we can't win. We have to play in the lateral bands, that's clear, and that's why we bought Riku, to overcome the opponents on the wings, and cross in the middle for the head of Bille. The same Helland has to do, with his speed, but we still go on this way, and according to me, we still go to lose. Ok, Astra is a good team, but we've to return in Champions League, and in this way, we will not enter in the Europa League, next summer. How can we go on?

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