The Norwegian season is here again :) I will post picks from Tippeligaen, Adeccoligaen and probably the 2.Division. too. If you want to contact me, you can do that at toothpick1984@gmail.com .


Sorry for the late posts the last weeks, I will try to post my picks earlier next time.

Fredrikstad third at the table. The other newcomers Molde and Bodo/Glimt are beaten at home. Fredrikstad has one of the best pitches in the league, advantage for them and their good football and not for kick and run HamKam. Important midfielder Michaelsen is suspended for HamKam, one of few players that has some technical skills in this team. HamKam have lost 7 out 9 games he has been absent in Tippeligaen. All three matches away from home are lost, probably will the fourth come here.

The odds has went a little bit up, no reason for that IMO.

Kongsvinger is the only team without a win so far. Some signs of improvement in the last match against Lov-Ham though. The first hour was good, but the last 1/3 was poor. Bryne was back to their roots last at home against Alta and won their first match of the season. Many of the new imported players were sent to the bench, and important players from last year came in and did a good job. They knew each other much better and had a better fighting spirit, like Bryne are known for. Kongsvinger deserves to be at the bottom atm, they will for sure climb later in the season. I think Bryne will continue from the last match and regard them as short favourites here in this early match.

Lov-Ham have seven points so far. Won both first matches by 1-0, then they lost 1-2 against Sparta with only 9 men after leading 1-0 a long time. Last they drew against Hodd. Lov-Ham is typical home team, which should have an advantage of playing indoor. Will get two players back from suspension here. Kongsvinger have disappointed so far, only two points when they have played three of four matches at home. Except from the best team in the league, Odd Grenland, they have met teams that should end in bottom six.

Lov-Ham is normally strong at home, as always they have a good defence. New this year that their offensive also is better with new striker Ademolu. Kongsvinger have not been good at all, and I think Lov-Ham should be pretty big favourites.

Moss as I regard it the third best team in the division after Odd Grenland and Start. They have not lost so far, but drawn three times. They have made good signings like last year’s topscorer in the division, Kvalheim from Notodden. Notodden finally won against Sandnes-Ulf last match after only one point in the start. Normally a bad away team who should end around 10th at the table. Both teams play 4-3-3, and should be able to produce chances here. Especially Moss is very offensive minded at home, and have a goalie and a defence that could do some strange things.

Very disappointing results for Bryne so far, regarded as one of the five best teams before the season. Except from last match against Honefoss, they have played good enough to get more points out of the games. Alta have two wins and two losses so far, but were lucky to win their last match against Haugesund after Haugesund had most of the chances and missed a penalty.

If this had been the first match of the season, the odds would have been 1,30 or so. Bryne are much better than their table position shows, Alta is worse than theirs, they are still my favourite to end last. Bryne is normally a very strong home team, its just bad luck that they only have one point at home instead of four or six. Alta is clearly best at their own artificial pitch and should get trouble here. I think we could se a “ketchup bottle” here and a home win by more than one.

This odd has moved a little bit upwards so I think it is worth a bet. Notodden has only one point so far. Lost away against Haugesund as expected. Lost home against Lov-Ham in a match which could have gone either way. And finally, took one point away against a Bryne who have had a bad season opener. Newcomers Sandnes have met three top half teams and have collected four points. But none of them looked like top half teams in these matches. Because of Sandnes? Maybe, probably not. I’m pretty sure that Notodden will end higher than Sandnes Ulf at the table, and they should take three points here at home. This will be the first game of the season for Sandnes on artificial grass, it could be a problem. They have of course practiced on it similar pitches earlier this year.

Newcomers Hodd without a loss so far. Won their first home match against Sarpsborg Sparta, and then two draws against pretty good Moss and Kongsvinger. Lov-Ham won 1-0 against both Honefoss and Notodden before they lost 2-1 to Sarpsborg Sparta. They were in the lead until they were reduced to 9 men. Both are suspended here, but the replacement should be ok. Hodd are playing their matches at natural grass, while Lov-Hams home matches are playing on artificial grass. Also their away match was played on artificial. Normally strong home team Hodd against normally weak away team Lov-Ham. I think should have advantage of the pitch today, and should have OK chances for three points.

Lyn have won their two first home matches against newcomers Bodo/Glimt and HamKam, and lost both away. Lyn have scored and conceded in every match so far. They are very strong at home and I expect them to try to take control early here. Fredrikstad are at the top of the table with 3 wins and a loss. They are normally an over-machine. It took some time before they scored in the last match, but when a defensive Bodo/Glimt got tired they scored two goals and should have scored more. Fredrikstad is a team that not is very defensive away from home. They have scored 4 goals away so far, and they should easily score today too. I expect an open match here, of course the line is 3,0 so the value is not extreme but enough for a bet.

Molde have drawn three of four so far. 0-0 in both matches at home. They got chances to score, but was not efficient enough. Stromsgodset have been pretty defensive away from home so far, waiting for counters. Will probably do that today too even if Molde is not the same quality as Viking and Brann. I expect a Molde who will have possession, not creating much against a defensive opponent here. This is 50/50 I think. An early goal and we should se an open match with some goals.

Newcomers HamKam have won their only home match so far, against Viking. Their three away matches are all lost, so they need to take points at home. Last they lost 5-0 to Aalesund. They were not bad in the first 30 minutes, then they got a man sent off and Aalesund scored. Then HamKam missed a penalty and after that everything was crap. Stabak have impressed and have not lost so far. But only draws away from home against the two other newcomers, they didn’t deserve a win. Both their matches at home have been very impressive.

Really the game of contrasts here. Physically strong, direct and long ball playing HamKam up against skilled, nice playing Stabak. Hamkam won in a similar situation three weeks ago against another strong team, Viking. Now their pitch should be better and easier to play good football. The team who wants to win here need to get the game into their track from the start. Instead of taking win for Stabak here, I take the risk on the handicap. If Stabak gets the game in their track they should have good chances winning this by more than one.