The second highest supported club in Norway behind Rosenborg, expectations are often high for Brann, and last season was a real disappointment, finishing down in 9th place.
Brann Stadion holds 17'686 and has been home since 1919, although recent rebuilding of three stands, means it is almost like a new stadium. Once the fourth stand is finished, capacity will be up to 20'000.
Last season goalscoring was a real problem, with only 32 goals in the league, only Sarpsborg scoring less(30). Dauda Bamba was top scorer in the league with just 7 goals, so they will need more from him this year, and someone else will need to step up to get in to double figures.
Managed by Lars Arne Nilsen since 2015, they have always been one of the strongest defensive units, and tend to concede fewer goals than the majority of the league.
But their inability to score enough last year meant they couldn't get out of mid table. Only twice did they score more than two goals in a game, never at home.
Business in the winter window hasn't been exciting, and with an ageing core of important players, will Brann be able to improve on last season is one of the big questions at the start of the season. Losing probably their best defender in Vito Wormgoor, who has joined Columbus Crew, will be a hole to fill in defense.
Key Players
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| Fredrik Haugen |
The hard working midfielder has played over 200 games for the club, and his energy in midfield was missed for the majority of last season.
Never one to shy away from a tackle, he covers a lot of ground defensively and also joins in with attacks, often from an inside right position. He is comfortable on the ball and looks to keep the ball ticking over, and often finds himself in good positions on the right hand side where he can pick out a cross
Top scorer last season, Daouda Bamba, has been a bit of an issue for Brann since his NOK 9 million move from Kristiansund. A four game suspension for an elbow was one problem, but internally he has also broken some club rules and Brann had been trying to recoup the money they paid for the striker.
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| Daouda Bamba |
They have been unable to, and now they might need him to score the goals that they paid the money for in the first place. He no doubt has the ability to do that, with 7 in 19 games last season a decent return.
The focal point in attack, he is strong and has an eye for goal. I don't think his movement is great, but he is quick and knows where the net is, and doesn't find himself too far from goal too often doing most of his work in the middle of the final third.
Another player who should score more goals is Gilbert Koomson. He starts wide on the right but drifts in to the middle to join Bamba, allowing Haugen and right back Taijo Teniste to get forward on the right hand side. He is by no means prolific, but 2 league goals last season was not a good enough return, look for him to get a few more this season.
The signing that is likely to have the biggest impact is Robert Taylor. Relegated with Tromsø last season, he remains in Eliteserien and the Finish international should be a good foil for Bamba from the left hand side.
Taylor plays as an inverted winger from the left and is a technical player that can pick out a good cross, he should be ideal for an aerial threat like Bamba.
Last season was a real step down from 2018, but with the return of Haugen full time, and hopefully Bamba playing near 30 games, they should be further up the table this time, although I don't think they have enough quality to challenge the top two.
Prediction - 5th
Last seasons beaten cup finalists Haugesund come into their 11th consecutive season in Eliteserien having become a regular in the top flight. The defeat in the final last season by their rivals Viking was a real blow, but it was another relatively successful season.
Seventh place in the league was added to with wins over Cliftonville and Sturm Graz in the Europa League, losing out narrowly by 1 goal to PSV Eindhoven in the third qualifying round.
Last season it was goals that was the main problem, with six goals each from midfielders Martin Samuelsen and Niklas Sandberg top scoring in the league. Samuelsen was on loan from West Ham and won't be here in 2020, and they will need some of their forward players to be more regularly finding the net.
Senegalese striker Ibrahima Wadji had scored four in the first 10 games in the league, but he tested positive for morphine after a game in May last year, and was given a 14 month ban. Despite that, Haugesund have stuck by him and will be hoping when he returns in the summer that he can be the one to score the goals to push them up the table.
One of their star players from last season, Sondre Tronstad has left to go to Vitesse in The Netherlands, the central midfielder was ever present in the heart of midfield and really set the tempo from there, he will be missed.
Key Players
A real leader, he is a captain in waiting and will be a crucial part of the back line again in 2020.
He didn't have a regular partner to play with all season last year, but interestingly, 20 year old Ulrik Fredriksen has come in from Sogndal, after 2 good years in OBOS-ligaen, he could well be the one to partner up with Tiedemann.
Another arrival in the winter last year was Niklas Sandberg. Unfortunately an injury early on meant he didn't play as many games as he should have, but towards the end of the season he looked like a real good player.
The left footed wide man usually comes in off the right, and he is technically very accomplished. He takes set pieces and penalties and will likely have a big influence on Haugesund's goalscoring abilities.
They lost only one of their last 11 games, the team looking much better with Sandberg in it.
The goalscoring has to come from someone, and FKH have brought in a couple of guys on loan, although neither I think will be the top scorer come the end of the season. Former Dundee man, Benjamin Kallman, is in on loan from Inter Turku, also youngster Alexander Amitzbøll on loan from AGF in Denmark might be one to keep an eye on.
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| Kristoffer Velde |
Although he usually plays on the wing, he could be the main goal threat for this team from the left hand side, and I am backing him to have a breakthrough year.
Amitzbøll is an interesting one who clearly is very talented. The tall striker is yet to make his breakthrough at Aarhus in Denmark, but at 21 a loan move might be what he needs to kick start his career. He looks strong and quick enough, he could be a threat in Eliteserien.
Captain and former Norwegian international Christian Grindheim deserves a mention. Now 36 years old, the 54 time capped midfielder is going for another season. He played 28 league games last season, and it will be interesting to see how his legs hold up this.
His game is based a lot around hard work and tough tackling, although obviously he has quality too. With games likely coming more regularly, this might be a year he doesn't have such an important role to play.
Prediction - 7th
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