League Prediction: 12th place

Start (Last year: 9th in Tippeligaen)
+ Mads Stokkelien was the biggest surprise last year, can he preform at the same level this year as well?

+ Good first eleven
- Few good substitutes, will suffer if any of the key players are injured or match banned.
- The defence is to reliant on Goodson, when he is injured(as he often his) they struggle to keep the opponents from scoring goals.
- Both Goodson and Bolaños are likely to be sold during the summer, will they find replacements?


Player to watch:
Christer Kleiven (21) is reported to be the next Hæstad, Strømstad and and Marius Johnsen(!)

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

22.01: Start - Sandefjord 4-0
Bolaños scored two despite only playing 30 minutes.
Ole Martin Årst played 15 minutes in a comeback after originally retiring in October 2009.
16 year old Sondre Kristiansen played his first 11 minutes for Start.
22.01: Stabæk - Moss 5-1
22.01: Basel - Viking 4-0

About the financial situation

We've wanted to write more about the financial crisis in many Norwegian clubs, but it's difficult because the newspapers don't write much about it anymore. The 14th of January is the date when NFF will start investigating the clubs, so we'll probably have more information soon.

What we know:

FC Lyn is now safe. Various investors have invested over 6 million NOK since the end of November. They've lost 14(!) players, cut the wages(some of the players now have to work outside football as well to make a living), they've fired one coach, and will now play their home games on Bislett Stadium rather than Ullevaal stadium (which they used to rent for a high price, especially compared to the fact that they only had about 5000 attending their home games.)

Fredrikstad has also managed to collect money, more than 5 million NOK, however they owe 400,000 NOK to Sarpsborg 08, money Fredrikstad owe after a qualifying match in November. Sarpborg has given Fredrikstad 14 days to pay them back.

The last time we heard from Tromsø was in the middle of December, they had then raised more than 10 million NOK, but were still short of more than 5 millions.

IK Start is probably safe. The city of Kristiansand's cultural foundation has agreed to give the club 6 million NOK if they managed to get the same amouth of money from another source as well, and they have. Three local investors have opened up their wallets.

Team: Start

The last years have been turbulent for the Kristiansand-team.
In 2005 they had a great comeback in tippeligaen and finished second, but two years later they were relegated again. In 2009 they are back in the top division, have surprised again and are currently at 4th place.



Much of the reason for this year's success must be the two players Mads Stokkelien and Christian Bolaños who has entertained the Start fans by scoring some beautiful goals:




IK Start has won the top division twice, in 1980 and 1978.