Football Season Guide

Eliteserien
Norway
Eliteserien
2017
Lillestrøm SK
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Lillestrøm SK

In


Shikoze Udoji (att), Qingdoo Jonoon), Simen Rafn (def), Gefle), Stefan Antonijevic (def), Tamba Bay Rowdies), Bajram Ajeti (att), Bryne), Daniel Fernandes (gk), Rayo Oklahoma), Aleksander Melgalvis (def), Strømmen), Mats Haakenstad (def), Fram)

Out


Haraldur Björnsson (sp)(gk), Stjarnan), Malaury Martin (r)(mid), Hearts), Hakon Skogseid (r)(def), Stabaek), Marius Lundemo (r)(mid), Rosenborg), Markus Braendsröd (sp)(att), Strømmen), Mohamed Ofkir (r)(mid), Lokeren), Jörgen Kolstad (sp)(mid), Kongsvinger - loan), Árni Vilhjálmsson (sp)(att), Jönköping - loan), Martin Falkeborn (sp)(def), Frej - loan), Francis Dickoh (sp)(def), Gary Martin (r)(att), Vikingur - en of loan), Ole Martin Rindaröy (sp)(def), Molde), Bassel Jradi (r)(mid), Strømsgodset - end of loan)

Lillestrøm start the campaign aiming for more stability and less flirtation with the relegation places after a very difficult last season. The Yellow and Blacks were heading for the drop after a dreadful run of form during the middle stretch of the season. They managed to save themselves in the final few weeks after the change of manager, with Arne Erlandsen inspiring the team to a few key wins to steer themselves clear of the bottom three places. It was a very close shave by the end and a club like Lillestrøm, with their resources and fanbase, should not really be worrying about their status in the division. Too many players coasted and underperformed last season and a strict and determined manager like Erlandsen will expect dedication and more efficiency from his team in the coming season. He is facing a challenging task as a number of important players have moved on to other clubs during the close season. Marius Lundemo is off to champions Rosenborg while fellow midfielder Malaury Martin is off to Scottish side Hearts. Gary Martin and Mohammed Ofkir linked up with former LSK boss Runar Kristinsson in Belgian side Lokeren, while Hakon Skogseid linked up with league rivals Stabæk. There is quite a lot of departures of important players and the jury is very much out as to whether the club managed to sign appropriate replacements. There are some interesting new additions and it remains to be seen whether they can fit in a new league. Daniel Fernandes and Stefan Antonijevic joined from American teams while winger Udoji last played in China. Simen Rafn and Aleksander Melgalvis will bring options at full-back while striker Bajram Ajeti will hope to make the step up from the lower division. It certainly seems like a weekend squad as none of the new additions seem ready to be first-team regulars. Fernandes used to be a regular for Twente in the Netherlands but has not played too much in recent years and is close to 40. Udoji is a decent player but will need time to settle, and the others do not seem good enough to immediately slot into the side. Erlandsen already defied the odds by steering the team to safety last season and will aim to show his prowess and experience again in what is set to be another season of struggle in the bottom half of the table for LSK.

Target


Expected to battle fiercely against the drop again but should be good enough to stay up. Position 11th-15th