TFT Issue 173!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Fredrikstad vs Stabaek – home win at 11/10.
Today’s featured game is the Eliteserien game between Fredrikstad and Stabaek. The hosts have impressed at home this season whereas the visitors rarely do anything but disappoint away from home.
Fredrikstad’s vociferous support and the leadership of their talismanic attackers Elyounoussi and Borges tends to steer this side to glory at home and I expect something similar today. Borges has been in terrific form lately and with big Piiroja back to hold Fredrikstad’s defence together, we should see a much more composed display than the random 4-2 win against Brann Bergen in their last home game. They do miss a regular defender, unfortunately – Thomassen – who is suspended. I’d read more into it if I feared their opponents’ attack, however, which I don’t! Promising midfielder Hussain is also suspended but Fredrikstad’s golden trio are available and that’s enough for me to take Fredrikstad to win at home!
Stabaek, though – I love to bet against them away from home because they’re generally crap unless they’re playing Rosenborg BK, in which case a massive sign appears in the sky saying “no bet!” because they produce some random games! Stabaek are strong at the Telenor Arena because of their artificial turf and hazy attacking style. Away from home, they’re generally outplayed, out-thought, and outscored because their defence is non-existant and most Norwegian clubs play on natural turf, which is the case today. The big problem Stabaek have ahead of this game is goalscoring, however. We all know they’re poor at defending but goalscoring usually helps them out. However, I don’t see that being the case today! Stabaek began to be a force a few years ago when Swedish hitman Nannskog linked up with Icelandic strike partner Gunnarsson and forged a deadly duo who were so good that Gunnarsson ended up moving on. However, he moved back to Stabaek last season shortly before Nannskog retired and since then it’s just been him. Being realistic, he didn’t look great last year and it’s no surprise that Stabaek have struggled without them being at their best. However, he’s been in fantastic form this season and it’s not gone unnoticed and goal-shy Valerenga Oslo have now signed him from Stabaek. This is a huge, huge blow for the visitors, both from a goalscoring and a creative perspective and I cannot see them recovering from it, to be blunt.
A strong and organised Fredrikstad hosting a random and defensively-inept Stabaek side with no goal threat smells like a home win to me. Stabaek have earned points away from home this season by scoring goals. With no Gunnarsson, I don’t see that happening. Fredrikstad are hard to score against and the hosts have some good attacking players. For me, the home win at 11/10 is well worth a flutter today.
Team news – Fredrikstad miss Hussain and Thomassen.
Verdict: Fredrikstad to win at 11/10.