Glimt ran out eventual 4-2 winners against Viking in a very entertaining match that saw some suspect defending coupled with some very impressive attacking play. Both teams lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Glimt using the technical quality in their squad to dominate possession but conceding twice in the first-half to go in 2-1 down at the break. They managed a 3-goal comeback in the second-half and, in truth, the score could have been more for both sides as quality chances were spurned at both ends.
Ratings
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average in this match
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Norwegian
- Age: 20
- Date of birth: 12/10/1999
- Current Club: FK Bodø/Glimt
- Career: FK Bodø/Glimt, Aalesunds FK (L)
- Position: Right Winger
- Secondary position: Left Winger
- Preferred foot: Right
Hauge started on the left of the front three but occupied positions all over the pitch as he covered a lot of ground to get on the ball and drive the team forward with his ball-carrying abilities. He was at the heart of a lot of good moves for Glimt and ended an impressive performance with a goal and an assist. At just under 6′, he is fairly tall for a wide player but has great ground speed and is very strong on the ball which makes him hard to dispossess.
He is extremely effective in tight spaces where he can use his agility and close control to evade challenges and beat his opponent but he also has a great awareness of where the space is to move into once past the challenge. He struggled to get on the ball from wide positions in the early stages so started to drift into more central positions, making him difficult to mark and allowing him to the influence the play more by progressing the ball into advanced areas.
One area for improvement from this game would be his passing as he under-hit or misplaced a number, particularly in the first-half. He was also involved in some neat interchanges and could have had a second assist from a cut-back that should have been converted so he has evident ability in this area but needs to find more consistency. He pressed well out of possession and showed good aggression in attacking duels to protect the ball and hold off opponents.
Rating: A1
Hauge showed his excellent technical ability in this game but also his mental aptitude to recognise the need to alter his style of play to suit the tactical demands of the game. A move to Cercle Brugge is all but complete and Hauge looks ready to take the next step and test himself at a higher level.
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Norwegian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 24/11/1997
- Current Club: FK Bodø/Glimt
- Career: FK Bodø/Glimt
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Berg played at the base of the midfield in a deep-lying playmaker role where he showcased his impressed passing range and repertoire. He was constantly collecting the ball from the defence and was very important in setting the tempo for Glimt, often starting an attacking sequence with a sharp and accurate line-breaking pass into the final third.
He could also play accurate long balls over the top or out wide, as seen in the second goal where he picked up the ball in his own half and played an excellent pass into the path of the winger who squared it across for a tap-in. He did not look to travel with the ball, instead often taking one touch to get the ball out of his feet and his head up before using the next touch to play a pass forwards and keep the play moving.
He didn’t look as impressive defensively as he was slightly lethargic in reacting to the movement of the opponent, resulting in a first-half yellow, and struggled with marking in the box especially when losing his man for the opening goal. At 5’9 he is not physically imposing but he held his position well to offer some extra protection to the back four and is more than capable of anchoring the midfield in a possession-based system like the one used by Glimt in this game.
Rating: A2
Berg saw more possession than anyone else on the pitch and used it very well to control the game for Glimt. There are a few question marks, though, over his ability to play in that position at a higher level where he might not be given as much time on the ball and would have to rely more on his defensive abilities.
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Norwegian
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 21/08/1998
- Current Club: FK Bodø/Glimt
- Career: FK Bodø/Glimt
- Position: Left Back
- Preferred foot: Left
Bjørkan was a good attacking threat from left-back, getting forward at every opportunity and being heavily involved in build-up to the third goal. His positional play when attacking was very impressive, playing as an inverted wing-back and looking to play passes into the forwards off both feet from central areas. This also created attacking overloads that opened up space for Hauge, giving him more freedom to receive the ball and use his dribbling ability to work it into the box.
Defensively, he started slowly and was caught out of a position a few times but grew into the game and showed good speed to outpace wide players running onto balls in behind. He was confident on the ball and liked to dribble forwards into space but was guilty of over-playing at times and losing possession which left the defence exposed. His penchant for attacking provided a great outlet for Glimt but he needs to make sure he strikes the right balance and has the awareness to release the ball at the right time.
Rating: A2
Bjørkan is another impressive young talent at Glimt who will likely play at a higher level in the near future, just needs to ensure that he does not overlook his defensive duties in favour of his attacking abilities.