In Part 1 of our preview of the 2018 season of Norwegian top flight game Fantasy Eliteserien we looked at the gameplay and some key players to consider. For this second part we look in detail at the prospects of the eight top teams from last season.
The Norwegian language version of the game can be found here here. This season the game’s creators have developed an English language version, which can be found here.
Rosenborg
This club has been the undisputed top club in Norway for decades and in particular recent years, winning the league in each of the last three seasons, and earning two domestic cups over that timeframe. Last season they also made it through to the group stages of the Europa League.
Pros: One expects points in all sections of the team here, with last year’s tightest defence, one of the better keepers of the season, and golden boot winner in the striker ranks. They play a 4-3-3, where the up-front wingers are all listed as midfielders in the game, adding prospects there as well.
Cons: This team’s success comes at a cost to Fantasy managers’ budgets. They dominate Norwegian football, as Manchester City are currently doing in England, but in contrast to the Sky Blues come with far less rotation risk.
Even fringe first-team players may end up too expensive for value. Also, with so much choice it can be hard to nail down the best source of points among players.
Notable players: Niklas Bendtner (FWD, 13.0), Pål Andre Helland (MID, 12.0), Samuel Adegbenro (MID, 11.0), Vegard Hedenstad (DEF, 7.0), Birger Meling (DEF, 7.0), Tore Reginiussen (DEF, 6.5), Jacob Rasmussen (DEF, 6.0), Andre Hansen (GKP, 6.0)
Advice: You’ll likely want double, or even maybe triple, cover here, as they are quite solid in both ends. Niklas Bendtner up top or not will be a pivotal choice to how you enter the season, a defender and/or perhaps a starting winger if they are fit. Price is an issue though, so might be hard to accomplish any combinations there.
Molde
Rosenborg’s arch rivals and the team who have been closest to de-throning them at the top of Norwegian football. With Ole Gunnar Solskjær managing, the club went into a golden age taking five titles (three league, two cups) from 2011 to 2014. They’ve not yet rebuilt completely after Solskjær left for Cardiff and then later came back, but are considered a prime contender to challenge Rosenborg this season.
Pros: Molde are known for attacking football and a decent defence, so there are points to be found in their team in all areas.
Cons: They sold their top goalscorer last season, leaving a vacuum up top. There is also Solskjær’s penchant for strange early substitutions and rotation, making every team roster a potential source for heartbreak.
Notable players: Daniel Chukwu Chima (FWD, 9.0), Petter Strand (MID, 7.0), Kristoffer Haugen (DEF, 6.0), Ruben Gabrielsen (DEF, 5.5), Andreas Linde (GKP, 5.5)
Advice: Look to identify who gets the nod as the top striker in the squad, as this will be your main source of points. They are strong at the back, with the goalkeeper looking the better option as other team’s field defenders with more attacking history.
Sarpsborg 08
This team has been building slow and steady over several campaigns, coming third last season and making the cup final. But picking Fantasy prospects has proved hard due to players sharing the points. Krepin Diatta did emerge as a dominant force, but has been sold over the winter. Crafty number crunchers are likely to find gems in this team.
Pros: A sensible administration and coach team have built a team likely to be outside challenger in all competitions this season, and should provide some decent options in all positions.
Cons: Having sold their stand-out options, making the correct picks will be a difficult task until the season is underway. Introducing their first outing in European qualifiers will also likely see some unexpected rotations in the mid-summer part of the season.
Notable players: Patrick Mortensen (FWD, 8.5), Kristoffer Zachariassen (MID, 7.5), Ronnie Schwartz Nielsen (FWD, 6.5)
Advice: Keep a close eye on pre-season friendlies. Gleaning the prefered starting XI, as well as how new arrivals settle in, will be crucial to selections from the Sarpsborg squad. You’ll likely want someone from the team though, so the research will be worth it.
Strømsgodset
Godset have built a sturdy top-flight team solidly in the top half of the league. Last season they started somewhat unsteady, but they followed this up with an end run that saw them rocket up the league and in contention for medals to the very last, ending up with a solid fourth place.
Pros: Sporting traditionally attacking defenders, almost to wingback standards. Midfielders Jradi and Ulland Andersen also impressed last time out. There are a lot of nice options likely in the mid-high price range in this team. Add to that a superb signing in the striker Mustafa “Mos” Abdellaoue, and prospects across a range of positions look plentiful.
Cons: Godset have moved to strengthen this season which creates some uncertainties when it comes to possible rotation.
Notable players: Mos (FWD, 10.5), Eirik Ulland Andersen (MID, 9.5), Bassel Jradi (MID, 9.5), Jonathan Parr (DEF, 6.0), Lars Vilvik (DEF, 6.0), Jakob Glesnes (DEF, 5.5)
Advice: A double-up with one defender and one mid seems possible, and maybe even sensible, from Godset. Paying attention to who gets the starting XI nods pre-season will be key.
Brann
Brann have historical deep roots in the top flight, and have found their form as a club with second and fifth finishes over the last two campaigns. Their tough and pragmatic approach will see them on the upper half of the league this season as well, so there should at the very least be some defensive points to be found in the team.
Pros: Their defensive prowess promises some clean sheets, and they have made a promising transfer move to sign ace winger Gilbert Koomson during the winter.
Cons: Where to find the points has become a question, with power goalie Leciejewski out the door, and somewhat erratic form for each of the attacking options. It’s easy to fall back on midfield powerhouse Fredrik Haugen, and maybe take a punt on Koomson being an instant hit in new environs.
Notable players: Fredrik Haugen (MID, 10.0), Gilbert Koomson (MID, 8.5), Vito Wormgoor (DEF, 5.5), Taijo Teniste (DEF, 5.5), Samuel Sahin-Radlinger (GKP, 5.5)
Advice: Gilbert Koomson has been an exciting budget prospect in minor club Sogndal the past two seasons, and with Brann now signing his paycheck he looks set to become one of the stars of the season. The right hand side with him and Teniste (both Sogndal players last season) have been working really well in pre-season. Wormgoor might be an excellent pick as he could be Brann’s penalty taker this season and also have a share of direct free-kicks.
Odds Ballklubb
In a twist of fate, the club that inspired the founding of Rosenborg a century ago is today the side that is seeking to emulate Rosenborg. As with the champions Odds Ballklubb also favour a 4-3-3 set up with emphasis on attacking football and hard work. This team usually has some options to look at.
Pros: With the traditional attacking mindset we are looking at a team ready to go for the next goal and push forward, a nice feature in a team when looking for Fantasy options. Wingback-style defenders, midfield slated wingers and a power forward are the hallmarks of such a team.
Cons: Despite the build-up they had a strange season, where their offensive play fell well short of expected standards and adding a big doubt as to what they will look like in the season to come. The generational shift happening in the squad is also a big factor adding to the uncertainty, despite a solid defensive turnout last season.
Notable players: Torgeir Børven (FWD, 8.0), Elba Rashani (MID, 7.5), Espen Ruud (DEF, 6.0), Viljar Myhra (GKP, 5.0)
Advice: The key figure is Espen Ruud, a defender on set pieces as well as a desire to bomb forward. He looks this side’s best Fantasy asset. He fell well short of expectations last season, but still hauled a triple digit number over the 30 Gameweeks.
Kristiansund BK
Usurping Aalesund as “the other team” in the region surrounding Molde, Kristiansund were the newly promoted upstarts of last season, and they went at it with gusto. Given their position in the league, goalie McDermott was primed for a couple of double digit hauls, making him a go-to budget option for a while despite clean sheets being few and far between. A mid-season purchase of Torgil Gjertsen provided some excitement as he went on to pick up point-hauls in seven of the 13 games he was eligible for – a score average surpassing all other players in the game.
Pros: A spirited team always ready to go for it in any game, although still small enough for their assets to come with a budget price tag.
Cons: Extremely unstable in performances with a lack of consistency making it hard to select their top picks.
Notable players: Benjamin Stokke (FWD, 7.0), Torgil Gjertsen (MID, 7.5), Sean McDermott (GKP, 4.5)
Advice: If Gjertsen can keep even parts of his form intact, he is an excellent fifth midfield option. Benjamin Stoke looks to be a great mid-price striker. Keep an eye on this team for differentials.
Vålerenga
The big club of the capital, this side should by all rights be a major player in the Norwegian top flight. They have ambitions to play like Barcelona, even if they don’t quite have the players to match this dream. Every year the question appears – will this be heaven or hell from Vålerenga?
Pros: Head coach Ronny Deila (formerly of Celtic) knows to build a squad with attacking potential, and has had a full winter to try to whip some shape into Vålerenga. It is likely he will unlock the potential of the club, with the only question being when will he hit the sweet spot.
Cons: The big names have left the club, and the young starlets have yet to blossom, leaving some big question marks as to team selection. Very much a squad that needs monitoring for Fantasy picks.
Notable players: Ben Johnson (FWD, 8.5), Chidera Ejuke (MID, 7.5), Simen Juklerød (MID, 6.5), Jonatan Tollås Nation (DEF, 5.5)
Advice: As mentioned, selection here comes with a health warning. That being said there is huge value-potential to be found here, so making an effort to monitor and select wisely may pay off nicely.
