After two action packed double Gameweeks, featuring some sensational defensive scores for those that played their “park the bus” chip, its back to the normal grind of single matches again. Here we take stock of recent events in Norwegian top flight game Fantasy Eliteserien and look ahead to Gameweek 7’s matches and key players.
Gameweek 7
Ranheim – Vålerenga
(Saturday, 5:00 P.M.)
Despite a 0-2 loss to Brann, Ranheim look capable of taking on the bet in the league, while Vålerenga are trying to lock in their season form after some mostly decent, but uneven performances. This one can go either way, but we do expect to see goals here.
Erik Tønne is Ranheim’s midfield dynamo and a player we urge you to consider if you do not already own him.
For Vålerenga, Chidera Ejuke looks strong on the left flank and is always in contention for the bonus. Forward Sam Johnson is another shrewd investment, with three goals in five appearances since joining this year.
IK Start – Haugesund
(Sunday, 5:00 P.M.)
Start can’t seem to catch a break, having lost yet another keeper to injury on Wednesday. Fantasy managers are running away from this Start team in large numbers, and Haugesund are favorites to take this one even though it is away from home.
Haugesund have a gem stashed in their squad in Babajide David Akintola, a 5.9 priced midfielder who has attacking returns, as well as bonus points, in each of the last four games. The Nigerian, who is on loan from Danish side FC Midtjylland, is central to Haugesund’s attacking play.
Molde – Odd
(Sunday, 5:00 P.M.)
After scrapping a win very late against Lillestrøm, Molde failed to score against Vålerenga and have been overtaken by Brann at the top of the league.
As expected Molde are rotating a lot, and their goalkeeper Andreas Linde seems like the only safe pick.
Odd have had a disappointing start to the season, but impressed against Sarpsborg on Monday with forward Elba Rashani the standout player. It’s worth noting that defender John Kitolano was taken off at half-time.
Sandefjord – Brann
(Sunday, 5:00 P.M.)
Sandefjord have had a horrible start to the season. They look like the worst team in Eliteserien currently and have already having sacked their head coach. Brann on the other hand have looked really impressive, and deservedly sit at the top of the league. We can’t look beyond a Brann victory here, and back popular picks like Vito Wormgoor, Taijo Teniste, Gill Rolantsson, Gilbert Koomson and Steffen Lie Skålevik to do well here. Fredrik Haugen is likely to miss out yet again with his hip injury.
Sarpsborg 08 – Bodø/Glimt
(Sunday, 5:00 P.M.)
Sarpsborg have looked worse than expected in the last couple of games, and surprisingly had no chance against Odd on Monday. There’s also a lot of rotation going on, and it doesn’t seem like they have found their best starting XI yet. Patrick Mortensen and Kristoffer Zachariassen seems like the safe picks, although there seems to be little value in the latter at the moment. Bodø/Glimt are in the middle of a tough fixture run and with in terms of form there’s no players worth considering for us.
Tromsø – Kristiansund BK
(Sunday, 5:00 P.M.)
Tromsø are flying high at home so far this season, and will look to extend that streak against a close-knit Kristiansund team. Tromsø are favorites for this clash, and it remains to be seen if Kristiansund can keep up. The host’s Gjermund Åsen has scored two and assisted four in the first three home games, and will surely be a popular captaincy pick this gameweek. But Kristiansand are rarely heavily beaten.
Strømsgodset – Rosenborg
(Sunday, 7:00 P.M.)
This is the standout encounter of the round, involving two teams with high expectations that have endured bumpy starts to the campaign. Stromsgodset’s form has ranged from fantastic to dismal, while Rosenborg have been average, bar a superb performance against rivals Molde.
This game is in essence a battle of the predicted top strikers, with the home side’s striker Marcus Pedersen (and to a much lesser extent Mos) pitched against the visitors Nicklas Bendtner and Alexander Søderlund.
Strømsgodset’s Eirik Ulland Anderse and Bassel Jradi are ones to monitor but look unlikely to be major picks just yet. As it is just now, there is just no telling how this will end up, so don’t look to bring anyone in for this game, but if you have assets you may as well play them.
Stabæk – Lillestrøm
(Monday, 6:00 P.M.)
This is among the hardest games to predict this gameweek. Both teams in poor form and Stabæk’s Ohi Omoijuanfo is doing little to justify his 9.3 price tag, despite a goal against Start on Wednesday.
Ola Brynhildsen is one of few positives for Stabæk these days. For Lillestrøm, Erling Knudtzon is a good pick up front despite his side’s poor form.
Players To Watch
With six rounds, including some hefty double gameweeks and chips played, it is time to look at how the league has turned out and what players stand out for us.
It seems clear that high-flying Brann have the prime defensive picks so far, with their whole backline looking like a solid choice for the foreseeable future. Wormgoor is likely a season-long pick as both him and the team look rock solid. Teniste has slotted right into Brann’s defence and has been receiving a lot of praise lately. Rolantsson seems to be nailed on in the team sheet at the moment, he’s been utilized at both left back and left wing recently. Koomson is starting to come alive and emerging as a pick again. Skålevik is also worth considering at a budget price, as it seems like he’s cemented his place up front in the team.
Molde are also solidly in the top, but as feared pre-season the rotation hazard makes picks from this team a gamble no matter what. Linde looks a rock-solid choice for premium keeper, at least until the world cup selection where he might be gone for a while following Gameweek 10. For other choices from Molde, look to the specific gameweek preview and be ready to rotate the players in and out as needed.
FK Haugesund have a flying start so far, and offer up some nice budget picks moving forward, as well as a decent mid-to-high price selection in defence. We want to point out Akintola as a great 5.9 midfielder pick though, and since the strikers have yet to single out any must-have picks, Frederik Gytkjær at 6.8 is a decent choice up top for now.
Rosenborg have had a bumpy ride so far this season but may have turned the corner with a recent winning streak. Their premium priced strikers are not showing value for money yet, although Søderlund could possibly becoming essential really soon with Bendtner focusing on Denmark’s World Cup adventures. As per previous analyses Hedenstad still looks a decent selection, if somewhat pricey, and Reginiussen offers up an only slightly cheaper alternative with some set-piece threat in the box and bonus potential. The surprise dropping of Helland from the squad this weekend shows the danger of having this high-price player in your lineup, as there was no warning at all of his absence once again.
Tromsø are flying high, and seem to have preserved some of their structure from the fantastic season run-in last year. Espejord is stepping up as a viable striker selection at only 6.6, and in the midfield there is rife with choice. Berntsen at 5.1 looks a bargain in a far advanced role on the pitch, Åsen at 7.5 plays a bit deeper than Berntsen, but still has a habit of gathering points. At the back they have adapted wingbacks and with the forward-minded style have made Nilsen a real attacking threat at 5.0. Antonsen also offers some attacking threat from his out of position, box-to-box midfield role.
Strømsgodset have been up and down so far this season, with major picks like Ulland Andersen and Jradi not delivering. Nguen on the other hand has started the season really well, and looks like a bargain at 7.1. Despite a poor showing against Haugesund away, Pedersen still looks like the best striker option in the game currently.
Vålerenga also offer some interesting fantasy picks. Ejuke is probably the hottest of them all as a 7.6 midfielder. Some of you might remember him from the end of last season where he was a bit hot and cold, but so far this season he’s been pretty hot receiving bonus points in four out of six games so far. Johnson at 8.6 also looks like a good pick up front, with one of the league’s best shot rates.
On the dark side of the Eliteserien, Sandefjord are sinking fast, as are Stabæk and Start. Their form is so shoddy that you’ll likely want to shy away from any selection in these teams for the time being.
Scout Picks
Back to the everyday grind again, and we look at the following selections for good point-returns this Gameweek. We’ve starting tracking our Scout picks score, please note that we did not have selections for Gameweek 1 and Gameweek 6.
Niemi’s picks for Gameweek 7 (Score: 247)
Linde
Wormgoor – Nilsen – Tønne
Akintola – Berntsen – Åsen (K) – Koomson – Ejuke
Braut Håland – Skålevik
MrKlin’s picks for Gameweek 7 (Score: 203)
Linde
Wormgoor – Teniste – Antonsen
Akintola(K) – Reginiussen – Ejuke – Berntsen – Knudtzon
Mortensen – Skålevik
Key Links
Official source for lineups, normally 1hr 15m before kick off.
WhoScored – Results, table, detailed player and team stats.
