Rosenborg-Sundsvall 0-0

As I said in the last post, we had problem with some players, that couldn't play because they were injuried. They were Mix, Reginiussen, Saelnes, Soderlund and Strandberg. So we played with the usual squad (4-3-3) but as fullback Mikkelsen, and Berntsen from the beginning. The other "new" thing was Dorsin as centrale defender, but we've seen him in that role in other matches yet.

It was a very boring match, of course, but we must trust Mr. Hansen, who said that he's preparing the team to gradually improve during the season. I wish he's right. 

In order to analyse this match I will consider three players: Mikkelsen, Bille and Chibuike.

Mikkelsen

No, if Perry had any doubt about Mikkelsen as a substitute for Gamboa during the World Cup, I sincerely hope that he has quickly realized that the thing cannot be done. Mikkelsen is a forward, not a fullback, and it was clear during the match. He was ever in attack, and rarely came back in defense when opponents attacked ("attacked", tried to create some small problem to us, just to create a minimum of show).

They easily overcame him, like in one occasion for them, when Mikkelsen sliced the ball with the head and the opponent went in the area. Fortunatly the opponent wasn't CR7, so he didn't score.

Perry understood the problem Mikkelsen could create in that role, so he made him go in attack, replacing Riku with Gamboa in the second half.

Obviously Perry had to do this, because Riku never entered in the field yesterday, he was really out of the game. He slept all the time, and when he took the ball, every time did the wrong thing. It was really incredible, and of course he was replaced. 

But the problem reamin: who can replace Gamboa? Dorsin is used as substitute of Reginiussen, and we haven't a real fullback who can replace Gamboa this summer. If he won't buy someone in the next transfer market, safe bet we'll run the risk of coming to a bad end.

Bille

Bille, according to me, is an excellent player, if he wants to. But in that squad (4-3-3) he rarely find a good position to play. During the match he often played as playmaker 

(untill Chibuike came in replacing an absent Svensonn), but when he had to come into the area (in order to take the ball with the head and then score) he didn't do it, and nobody took the ball that Helland or Mikkelsen crossed. 

I think it's better to play with a 4-2-3-1, because with the 4-3-3 we can win only if we meet weak teams or the midfielder go into the area to score. But this rarely happen with our pkayers, Chibuike is a good player, but he stopped himself when he has the ball, in the borderline of the area, and seldom he come inside. Mix the same, is more a halfback, and Berntsen, as we saw yesterday, like Chibuike, doesn't come into the area. The only one who can do this is Bille, but isn't in a good mood I think, and the other one is Soderlund. I'd rather not to talk about Soderlund.

Chibuike

Just few words about Chibuike. He brings the light in the team when he plays. Yesterday, as he entered, made only good passes; and as playmaker, he was an excellent assist-man. We've to make him resign the contract with Rosenborg, very soon, because without him, it will be very hard to win something.

Zibaldone 02/21/2014: waiting for saturday

As we knew, Ole Saelnes and Tore Reginiussen won't play that match saturday because they're still injuried. With them, we have unvailable also Mix, Soderlund and Strandberg.

Mr. Hansen, then, has to try in the squad the substitutes of them. But he has also to try the substitutes of Gamboa and Mix. Both of them, unfortunatly for us, fortunatly for them, will have to play the World Cup in Brazil this summer, in the middle of the season. In this way spoke Mr. Hansen

Yes, it is true that we have struggled with injuries and it is sad. But it also gives other players the chance to show what they are good for. We have three young players in the squad against Sundsvall. It is Aslak Witry, Bent Sørmo and Martin Lundal

Nevertheless Chibuike will be in the bench in the starting line-up. Indeed this is the squad:

Örlund; Mikkelsen, Moe, Dorsin, Skjelvik; Jensen, Svensson, Berntsen; Helland, Bille, Riski

In this way I think, during the match, we will see more of a 4-2-3-1 than a 4-3-3 classic. This because Helland and Riski use to take the ball in the midfield and then cross in the area, or go in the center and try to kick. Bille will be the pivot, but if necessary will be able to play behind the two forwards Helland and Riski.

However Berntsen has to improve himself in that role, and Perry did very well to make him play in that role and not Chibuike or Bille. He has to test every player to create a good team. He has to know how much a player can give to the team and how.

We can see also Mikkelsen as fullback, in place of Gamboa. That's because, as I wrote, Gamboa won't be in Norway during the summer, and we have to find out a subsitute (seeing that the society has no money to buy anyone...)

This could be strange, because Mikkelsen is a forward. Maybe Perry had seen during the workouts that he can play as right-fullback. We hope so, but we need too the forward-Mikkelsen, we'll not be able to use Mikkelsen as fullback so long.

It's strange that Perry won't use Dorsin as right-fullback, but... we can only see if this will be a good choice or not.

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.