Yes, after a gaffe-tastic round 8 we have to ask. You can keep your Frank Haffey, your Fred
Martin and all of your Andy Gorams, on the evidence of tonight the Norwegian goalkeepers are as
dodgy as they come.
Starting with what should be the big dog, Rune Jarstein, assumed to be Drillo's first choice for
the upcoming internationals.
Rosenborg and Molde are still going strong, but NFN takes time out to salute the efforts of this
years promoted teams, who have all been superb so far. Other notable events this weekend include
the continuing struggles of Stabæk, Viking possibly turning some kind of corner and renewed calls
for Mad Martin to go away.
Midweek madness in the Tippeliga! While you're waiting for a certain Champions League semi-final
to kick off, why not sit back and watch some players who don't make more in a week than you do in a
year? It's fun, we promise..
Wednesday
Sandefjord (4th) - Viking (5th)
Have Viking turned a corner ?
This weekend's Tippeliga preview contains pollen allergy, diving, a first mention of NFN's
smug-o-meter, an injured Jesus look-alike, stripping and the possibility of a sporting director
going into orbit. What more could you possibly want?
Saturday
Molde (1st) - Viking (11th)
As the Norwegian end of NFN well knows, it's simply impossible to make pollen allergy sound
butch.
Bodø/Glimt 0 - 2 Brann
A double from the delinquent dane David Nielsen was enough to give Brann their first win of the
season. Steinar Nilsen's men were under significant pressure to deliver after failing to grab three
points in any of their first five games, but a thoroughly hapless Bodø/Glimt-side and a return to
scoring-form for Nielsen conspired to take some heat off the boys from Bergen.
Slap on a facemask, stock up on tamiflu and come this way for an all coughing, all sniffling
preview of the 6th round of the Tippeliga..
Saturday
Aalesund (5th) - Molde (2nd)
One of the fiercest rivalries in the league, this encounter has been given some extra gloss
because of the fact that both teams are riding uncharacteristically high in the table.
As the curtains close on part one of the Tippeliga, the 18th round proved a highly appropriate
ending: Rosenborg won without impressing anyone, Molde won and impressed everyone, Lyn shot
themselves in the foot and the rest was all a bit random.
Now, nothing would be more gratifying than to report that the bullies from Bergen where humped,
thumped, thwacked and indeed wallopped by a magnificent Molde.
Runar Berg isn't a superstar. At least he's not a superstar in common terms, transcending
continental and country boundaries. He's only been capped four times for Norway, far from a
footballing powerhouse, and though he's played for Rosenborg and Venezia, he's never really played
for what you'd call a "big club".
This weekend's Tippeliga preview contains pollen allergy, diving, a first mention of NFN's
smug-o-meter, an injured Jesus look-alike, stripping and the possibility of a sporting director
going into orbit. What more could you possibly want?
Saturday
Molde (1st) - Viking (11th)
As the Norwegian end of NFN well knows, it's simply impossible to make pollen allergy sound
butch.
