Odds put in a dominant performance against Start, taking advantage of a poor defensive performance to run out comfortable 5-0 winners. Odds used a 4-3-3 formation, with 18-year-old Filip Jørgensen anchoring the midfield, whilst Start lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system. Odds were in control from the start, taking the lead early on and adding another shortly after to go 2-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes. The score remained that way until half-time, with the third coming via a penalty almost immediately after the restart and another two goals being added late on.
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: 18
- Date of birth: 27/05/2002
- Current Club: Odds BK
- Career: Odds BK
- Position: Defensive Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Jørgensen was a calm and reliable presence at the base of the midfield and was very impressive in this game, especially considering this was his full debut. He is evidently a very technically gifted player, comfortable in possession and able to play a range of difficult passes with accuracy using both feet.
He was able to progress the ball with short passes through the middle of the pitch or play long diagonals to the wings and barely gave the ball away despite seeing a lot of possession receiving passes from the back. Start recognised this early on and began to man-mark him, which he responded to well by allowing the defence to pass through the initial press and positioning himself slightly further up the pitch to receive the ball from the wide players.
He also displayed good press resistance when using his skill to get out of tight areas, he is the kind of player who never looks rushed and is always able to find time and space on the ball. This ability to evade pressure comes from his constant scanning of the pitch, giving him a strong mental image of where he is in relation to the space and in relation to his teammates. As such he was always able to make strong, quick decisions on the ball, knowing when to take a touch, when to turn, and when to play a first-time pass.
Defensively, he held his position well to offer extra protection to the back four but was slightly lightweight in the challenge. Continued physical development, which at 18 is expected, would be beneficial to him if he is to become a regular starter in this position. Offensively, he picked the ball up in some great positions on the edge of the box but was reluctant to shoot, perhaps as a result of a lack of confidence in front of goal but also a natural tendency to look to create chances rather than finish them.
Rating – A1
Hard to say anything but good things about this performance from a very exciting player.
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Norwegian
- Age: 19
- Date of birth: 08/03/2001
- Current Club: Odds BK
- Career: Odds BK
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Kitolano worked quietly but effectively in the midfield, pressing high up the pitch and not allowing Start any time on the ball in the midfield areas. His ability to break up the play is excellent, he prefers to stay on his feet, remain patient and keep his eye on the ball which allows him to time his tackles well and dispossess his opponent with minimal fuss.
He seemed to cover every blade of grass and was actively involved all over the pitch, running non-stop until he was substituted for a well-earned rest midway through the second half. He has great acceleration and reacts quickly to pressing triggers which means he is able to close down angles and limit the opponent’s options on the ball.
In possession he is solid without standing out, he retained the ball well and usually offloaded it quickly with a short pass to a teammate in space, acknowledging the creative abilities of the players around him. His work-rate and energy in the midfield gave players like Vebjørn Hoff the creative freedom to influence the game, which he did to great to effect.
Rating – A2
It is very easy for Kitolano to go under the radar in the role that he plays but he is integral to this Molde side and shows great potential for the future.
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Norwegian
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 19/12/1998
- Current Club: Odds BK
- Career: Eidinger IL, Odds BK
- Position: Centre Back
- Preferred foot: Right
Bjørtuft had a fairly easy shift but did his job well in the centre of the Odds defence. He is just over 6’0 and has a good reading of the game, knowing when to turn and face the play to make an interception or a headed clearance, which he did frequently and effectively, but also acknowledging when to drop the defensive line.
We did not see much of his ability when defending 1v1 as Start’s main attacking threat came from wide positions. He struggled when defending crosses into the box, reacting slowly and being caught flat-footed to allow the attacker to get in front of him on more than one occasion, one of which resulted in Start hitting the crossbar.
His passing game improved as he seemed to grow in confidence as the game progressed. In the first half his touch was heavy and he was limited to simple passes in possession but in the second half he started to attempt more difficult passes to break the lines or switch the play, which he was able to do accurately.
Rating – A2
Not necessarily the best game to judge him on as Odds were pretty comfortable at the back but, for the most part, looked strong when called into action.
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Norwegian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 15/07/1997
- Current Club: Odds BK
- Career: Odds BK
- Position: Central Midfield
- Secondary Position: Right Winger
- Preferred foot: Right
Kaasa had a good game for Odds, playing on the right of the front three and opening the scoring inside the first few minutes with a composed dink over the goalkeeper. He impressed with his ability to make driving runs forward with the ball at his feet, showing good strength and balance as well as a decent burst of pace. He also made good runs off the ball and showed an aptitude for arriving into the box at the right time to find space to receive a pass.
He was accurate with his passes and showed good vision with a couple of well-weighted through balls in behind the defence. He was versatile in his positional play, switching between hugging the touchline and taking on opponents and drifting into more central positions where he was able to link up with the midfield on the edge of the box. He was substituted early in the second half but made a big contribution to the game. I’m unsure of his ability to play at a higher level but is a strong performer in this league.
Rating – B1
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Norwegian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 13/02/1998
- Current Club: Odds BK
- Career: 1. FC Köln, Odds BK
- Position: Left Back
- Preferred foot: Left
Risa has an interesting profile for a left-back, standing at 6’2 with a very slim build but a very physical and antagonistic playing style. He plays very close to the line and the way that he defends could be seen as excessively forceful but he seems to know how to be aggressive and combative enough to win his defensive duels without giving away fouls.
He is dominant in the air, attacking the ball and using his height as leverage against the opponent. In 1v1 situations he is not afraid to go to ground and commit himself to a slide tackle but more often than not he timed his tackles well and won the ball.
He did not venture forward too often until later on in the game where he delivered a few dangerous crosses into the box with pace and accuracy. He attempted a few long balls in behind with mixed success but was comfortable in possession and showed good speed to accelerate away from opponents.
Rating – B1
Risa plays intense, high-risk football that is very effective when successful. I have doubts, though, over it’s suitability at a higher level when up against a higher quality of opponent.
Target Scouting 