League Prediction: 6th place

Odd (Last year: 4th in Tippeligaen)
+ Surprised last year with a 4th place, but the opponents will be more aware of the possible threat this year.
+ Manager Fagermo knows how to make the most out of the players he has got, even if this means playing dreadfully boring.
+ Arason is a solid goal keeper.
+ Good midfielders in Brenne, Bjørkøy and Samuelsen(from Viking), Lekven did also good last year.
+ Bentley is an exiting player, with good pace and technique
+ Has won 5 out of 7 matches in the pre-season

- Lacks a good defensive midfielder/deep lying playmaker. (Could Lekven do?)
- Many old players who have peaked several seasons ago, (like Fevang for instance)
- Needs to vary their tactics more, and not just play long balls forward to Kovacs.

Player to watch:
Fredrik Semb could be the next Odd profile if he gets the chance to play in the defence.

Friendly matches results

27.01: Las Palmas - Brann 1-2:
Erik Huseklepp, who has been linked with Stoke and Newcastle the last week, scored one of Brann's goals.

29.01: Start - Haugesund 2-2
Ole Martin Årst signed a new contract with Start, and celebrated by scoring two goals.


29.01: Lillestrøm - GAIS 1-0 (highlights)
The match was stopped after 5 minutes when the police has to calm down the supporters of Swedish GAIS. Olivier Occean scored the only goal.


29.01: Aalesund - Molde 1-1 (highlights)
Pape Pate Diouf scored with an overhead kick in the first minute, but Aarøy equalized in the second half.

29.01: Kongsvinger - Hønefoss 2-0
Kim Holmen scored in his debut for KIL.

29.01: Odd Grenland - Tromsø 0-0
Odd Grenland won the penalty shoot out in the La Manga cup.


29.01: Rosenborg - AIK 1-1 (highlights)
It was the young local players of Rosenborg who played best in this match against the Swedish League Champions. Kjell Rune Sellin(20yrs) scored Rosenborg's goal, and Simen Wangsberg(18yrs) was voted man of the match.

Friendly matches results

23.01: Haugesund - Sogndal 1-1
23.01: Molde - Kristiansund 6-0
23.01: Lillestrøm - Strømmen 2-0
23.01: Kongsvinger - Strømsgodset 0-2

24.01 Odd Grenland - Lech Poznan 0-0 (4-5 after penalties)

Fair Play Competition

Odd Grenland will get a chance to qualify for the Europa League through the UEFA Fair Play Competition. Rosenborg won the domestic competition, but as they are already qualified for the Champeons League, Odd Grenland will be given the chance.

Many will find this surprising, as Odd has been in the headlines this season after a couple of interesting situations:





However, the reason why Odd still scores high is beacause both of these incidents happened in the cup and not in the league, and do therefore not affect the fair play score.

Here is the complete list:
1. Rosenborg (8,12)
2. Odd Grenland (7,97)
3. Molde (7,96)
4. Stabæk (7,93)
4. Vålerenga (7,93)
6. Tromsø (7,92)
7. Strømsgodset (7,84)
8. Bodø/Glimt (7,82)
9. Brann (7,79)
10. Fredrikstad (7,77)
11. Start (7,73)
12. Aalesund (7,72)
13. Lillestrøm (7, 70)
14. Sandefjord (7,63)
15. Viking (7,59)
16. Lyn (7,53)

Team: Odd Grenland

• 29 points was pretty much the amount of points Odd Grenland was planning on having at the end of the season, but because of their great form at home Odd is now on third place in Tippeligaen.
• Odd is Norway's oldest football club, but has never won the league.
• Rosenborg was originally called Odd, as a tribute to this club.
• No club has won the cup as many times as Odd, 12 times. However, except from the victory in 2000, they haven't won it since before the 2nd world war.
  
• Odd's Mascot, the bumblebee Brodd, became famous after hitting the opponent's striker in the face