Football Season Guide

Ranheim

In


Magnus Stamneströ (mid) - Rosenborg, Erlend Sørhøy (att) - Kolstad, Fredrik Vinje (mid) - Rosenborg 2, Adrià Mateo (mid) - Levanger, Ivar Rönning (mid) - Ham/Kam, Jörgen Överaas (def) - Egersunds IK

Out


Christian Eggen Rismark (def) - Brann, Aslak Fonn Witry (def) - Djurgarden, Kristoffer Lökberg (mid) - Brann, Mats Lillebo (att) - Stjordals Blink, Jakob Tromsdal (mid) - Stjordals Blink, Simen Raaen Sandmael (mid) - Levanger, Sivert Solli (mid) - Stjördals Blink IL, Andreas Helmersen (att) - Rosenborg (end of loan), Karl Morten Eek (def) - released

Ranheim fans must still be pinching themselves as a first Eliteserien season produced a sensational seventh place finish. It was an incredible season for Svein Maalen's side, and it could in truth have been even better with the bubble bursting slightly in the autumn and any plans of keeping up with the top four clubs evaporated quickly. But with the resources available and the teams they were up against a top half finish was beyond everyone's dreams before a ball had been kicked last season. Expectation is curbed once again ahead of the 2019 campaign, and that can only be a good thing. There's no doubt that the club and Maalen are ambitious, but they are well aware of the framework needed for Ranheim to operate in the top division of Norwegian football. There will never be any marquee signings, and the better performers at the club will always be in the shop window for the bigger teams. It's a credit to the work done at the Trondheim club that Brann have snapped up to of their starting eleven from last season ahead of this one. And as long as they have a healthy relationship with big brother Rosenborg, Ranheim will be able to produce and develop excellent footballers and give them a wealth of experience in the Eliteserien.

Target


Ranheim know what is needed not only to survive in the top flight but also how to excel in it. This time around though they won't be the surprise package everyone heralded them as last time around. Second seasons can always be a bit trickier, and Maalen will be hoping for the same attitude and commitment his players showed last season in spades. Even that might not be enough this season,. Ranheim will do extremely well to get anywhere near their top half finish of 2018, and it'll more likely be a dogfight to preserve their Eliteserien status. Prediction: 14th