Eliteserien Team of the Year

Time for the full time of the year today after my young team of the year that I posted on Tuesday.

Most of the team picks itself after the incredible season Glimt have had, but some positions were harder to pick down. Same rules apply regarding 20 games, lets see who I have in my team of the year!

Goalkeeper

Probably the position I have found most difficult to pick, but in the end I have settled on
Jacob Storevik from Sandefjord. He has been a huge part of why the team has performed well above expectations this season in avoiding relegation.

Nine clean sheets, the second highest in the league, as well as saving 5 out of 8 penatlies. Storevik has looked really solid and for me just edges Linde as goalkeeper of the year.

Right Back

Another one of the tougher positions, but in the end I have gone with Espen Ruud. What a season the veteran has had for Odd. The 36 year old still gets up and down from right back, and with 6 goals and 10 assists he has been a huge part of the Odd side that is still challenging for a European spot.

Left Back

One of the players in the YTOTY, Fredrik Bjørkan has impressed me so much this season as a left back. Gets forward so well, defends strongly in 1 v 1's too. Has a really big future the 21 year old, Glimt will do well to hang on to him.

Right Centre Back

Picking the second centre back to play on the right has been another tough one, but someone who I think inspires his teammates, and is a very tough defender to play against is 34 year old Tore Reginiussen. Still at his age is one of the best Eliteserien defenders.

Strong in the tackle, aggressive, and reads the game well, he has been one consistent in a poor season for Rosenborg. He is also comfrotable on the ball, and despite his age, doesn't get done for pace very often. 

Probably a controversial pick, but for me he has been solid every time I have watched him.

Left Centre Back

Marius Lode is the other defender, he has been really excellent for Glimt this year. Often having to defend in counter situations, he deals with it really well, but more than that, he has been really important in building attacks for Glimt, and scored a contender for Goal of the Season against Kristiansund earlier in the season.

Central Midfield

Patrick Berg will sit at the base of a midfield three, an absolute star in the Glimt team, would in a normal season be the player of the year, but the attacking numbers of his teammate will probably take that away from him.

A top player in the making, comfortable on the ball in all areas, excellent defensively on transition, and a good eye for a pass on the attacking transition. The full package, a really really good footballer.

Right Central Midfield

Molde have not quite lived up the heights expected of them domestically, although they have qualified for the last 32 in the Europa League. One man for me has held them up and at times carried them through games. That man is Etzaz Hussain. 

Eikrem is the chief creator of the team, but he has had injury problems and not quite done it enough, but Hussain has been as consistent as anyone in the league. A leader on the pitch, Hussain has chipped in with 8 league goals, and generally been their main midfielder.

Left Central Midfield

It has been a great season for Glimt captain and local boy Ulrik Saltnes. His link up with Hauge and Bjørkan was top class early in the season, and in general he has been playing at the top level all year. 

12 goals and 13 assists, it has been a season that Saltnes has become one of Eliteserien's best midfielders.

Right Wing

Player of the year in Norway, and a man who is having the best ever season in the Norwegian top flight statistically, Phillip Zinckernagel has been incredible all year.

19 goals and 18 assists shows the level he has been at, but he offers more than just numbers. His work rate off the ball and set piece delivery have been crucial all season in taking Glimt to levels never seen before in Norway.

Left Wing

Amahl Pellegrino did well when joining Kristiansund least summer, but not many would have expected him to explode like he has this year.

25 league goals has him joint with Kasper Junker, just an incredible season especially considering he usually plays off of the left and not up top. He has scored 24 goals with his right foot, 1 with his head, and his goals are often so similar, but stopping him has proved difficult.

Striker

Joined top scorer with Pellegrino, but in fewer games, is Kasper Junker. The Dane signed in the winter and has shown he is a top finisher with 25 goals in just 23 starts. 

Averaging better than a goal a game, he also has 7 assists and h


is link play is very decent too. A really good striker that might not be in Eliteserien for long.

Some Others

Some players that I considered but were a little unlucky to miss out:

Magnus Wolff Eikrem (midfield)

Andreas Linde (Goalkeeper)

Christian Borchgrevink (Right Back)

Ivan Nasberg (Centre Back)

Zymer Bytyqi (Left Wing)

Kristoffer Zachariassen (Midfield)

Veton Berisha (Striker)