Might have had to do with how the proposed transfer offer, from Barnsley, was structured. May have been by instalments whereas the Bronby fee was all upfront and that suited Vikings better. YoungHeart
mrsmiis
Stunning when you think Viking reportedly rejected circa €3mil from Barnsley
Gets the number 6 jersey. Potential Stamenic-Bell midfield duel in the near future, juicy
Great move for mine. Danish Champions last season and far from out of the running when this season resumes. He'll have a good crack at some silverware and opportunities to play in Europe.
Bargain deal for Brondby too. Could be an excellent piece of business by them in a couple of years time when someone comes knocking for him again.
As for the Barnsley offer of €3,000,000 - Still would have been a bargain deal, but their downfall is that they're in the mire and likely playing League One footy next season. Bell held the cards in his favour by not taking up the contract extension at Viking, so ultimately they had to let him go to get something for him. Bell could've also refused to sign for Barnsley too. But I guess that may come out in the wash, or indeed we will just never know. 🤷♂️
Anyway, lock in Denmark for the next wee while. 🔐
What a great path that place is turning out to be for All Whites and aspiring pro footballers from this part of the world.
No mucking about. Debuts for Brøndby in a 2-1 win over Vålerenga (from Norway) in first match of the Atlantic Cup, a pre season (after Danish winter break) tourney in Portugal.
No mucking about. Debuts for Brøndby in a 2-1 win over Vålerenga (from Norway) in first match of the Atlantic Cup, a pre season (after Danish winter break) tourney in Portugal.
Check out that Twitter joke where Viking try to trap a player in their clubhouse to prevent his transfer. Fans were hoping they’d do the same with Bell. Under it a couple of comments:
No mucking about. Debuts for Brøndby in a 2-1 win over Vålerenga (from Norway) in first match of the Atlantic Cup, a pre season (after Danish winter break) tourney in Portugal.
Started against Brentford (a 'B' or U23 team) in a 1-0 loss in Portugal. You know it's a friendly when the Brentford keeper gets sent off, and Brøndby allow him to be replaced to keep it 11 vs 11!
Brondby has an excellent stadium for atmosphere etc. One end is a terrace (the Faxe Tribune), which is designed for seats to be slid into place for UEFA fixtures, but for local games it's a standing zone, and it's just excellent. Generates great noise, and their theme song is an Elvis number, led by an impersonator wearing Brondby kit. Just all class.
If Joe can win those blokes over, he's going to love his time there :)
It was a warm welcome to the Danish Superliga for Joe Zen Robert Bell. Back from a few training games in Portugal and immediately into the starting eleven for Brøndby for the first game back after the winter break. Away to Nordsjælland. A game that they were expected to win. Bellinho debuting at the base of a five-man midfield. And Brøndby delivering a comfortable enough victory, true to expectations.
Brøndby had the better of the first half in snowy conditions but had to wait until the second half to finally see the net ripple. Carl Björk should have scored in the 48th with a diving header open at the back stick but no worries because Anis Slimani was in the right place to turn one home on 56’. Initially the goal was ruled out for offside but they overturned it on VAR. Ten mins later Slimani slid one through for Andreas Bruus running in from the right wing and he slammed it under the keeper for 2-0. That was how it finished. Catch some highlights here.
Joe Bell slotted easily into the midfield role vacated by Morten Frendrup who recently signed for Genoa in Italy. Striker Carl Björk was the other debutant, staring for BIF in place of the club’s top scorer Mikael Uhre who has moved to Philadelphia Union in MLS. They also lost a number of other key players from last season’s championship squad in the summer so there is a bit of pressure on Bell (and Björk) to fill those boots if Brøndby are going to hang in the title challenge. That quest took a boost when FC Midtjylland (fresh off a 1-0 Europa Conference League win over PAOK a few days earlier) were dropped 2-0 at home by AaB to tighten everything up at the top. That result means that FC København move into first after winning 2-0 over OB. Only three points separate the three of them now.
To be honest, it was a quiet debut for Bell. He was solid but unspectacularly so. He did spray a couple of passes in the first half but settled in nicely after that and overall proved a sturdy and reliable presence in midfield, although the deeper role did mean there wasn’t much sight of his attacking abilities. Here, have a pass chart...
Lots of green there, that’s what we wanna see. Prior to the game, as the teams were warming up, he got his first genuine glimpse of the legendary Brøndby fanbase. He spoke in an interview a week or two back about how everybody in the world is aware of the passion of Brøndby fans, which was a slight exaggeration but they definitely have a glowing reputation. Good fans that they are, they didn’t waste any time in debuting Joe Bell’s new terrace chant (Carl Björk got one too, don’t worry)...
“JOE BELL... JOE BELL... la la la la la la la la!”
Arguably not as melodic as the one they sang to the tune of Dolly Parton’s Jolene back in Viking but it’s pretty good. Didn’t do a lot with the rhyming possibilities of a bloke called Bell but it’s catchy which is what matters. Get this going at All Whites games if they ever play in Aotearoa again.
And this was at an away game. Imagine what it’ll be like next week at home.
Joe Bell: “It was amazing. What an experience it was with the fans. I have never played in an away game like that before! It's probably just a small glimpse of what awaits next week, so I'm looking forward to it. We grew into the fight. Tactically we were better in the second half than in the first and it resulted in two goals. We came from grass to artificial turf today, so of course it all went a little faster, but we were better and faster in the second half and one step ahead. That was good.”
... but Ståle Solbakken is the current manager of the Norwegian national team so he’s following the Eliteserien as closely as anyone. Plus he’s saying that about a Brøndby player and as a former manager of FC København that’s suddenly a much heftier compliment. Big rivals, those two teams. Both got kiwi midfielders too in Joe Bell and Marko Stamenic (albeit Marko’s out on loan atm).
One more game for Brøndby before a top 6/bottom 6 split. Title race looks like will be a tight one. Bell's come straight into this level (notch up on Norway), and played 90 mins each time over his 4 games to date.
Bad day at the office for Brøndby (3rd), thumped 3-0 at AaB (4th).
Bell one of 2 guys subbed off at 57 mins, with AaB 1-0 up. 2 mins later a defender for Brøndby is sent off, and they go 2-0 down from the resulting pen. AaB add a 3rd later on.
Bell subbed off at HT at same score. Hopefully just related to him being away with AWs and maybe a bit low on energy, ie not an injury.
FC Copenhagen (1st) leading 1-0 at AaB (4th). Costa Rica's Oviedo not involved. Copenhagen win and they will be 11 pts clear of Brøndby, and strong title favourites. Brøndby seemingly now in a battle for 2nd with Midtjylland, and the 2nd UCL qualifier spot. Midtjylland 2 points ahead and a game in hand.
Copenhagen (1st, 51 pts) title favourites, being 6 pts clear of Midtjylland (2nd, 45 pts). Those 2 teams will play at Copenhagen later today.
But maybe Brøndby can catch Midtjylland for 2nd UCL qualifiers spot. Will still be 8 rounds left after today.
Edit - Bell subbed off in 64th min (score 3-0) in a 3-0 loss. 3rd consecutive loss for Brondby. Bell’s DM partner Josip Radoevi sent off at 35 mins (score 1-0).
Danish Super Liga a new tougher challenge for Bell. A step up from Norway. But’s what he’ll want
Starting as Brøndby (4th) travel to FC Copenhagen (1st).
Edit - full game in a 2-0 loss. 5 losses in a row for Brøndby.
I note Costa Rica's likely LB against AWs 32 yr old Bryan Oviedo not in match day squad for this game. Good for AWs he's on the outer at his club getting no game time.
Bell starting as Brøndby (5th, 40 pts) host Midtjylland (2nd, 51 pts). Top 2 make UCL qualifiers. That looks beyond Brøndby now.
However 3rd (currently AaB, 44 pts) and 4th (Silkeborg, 43 pts) go into UEFA Conference League, Conference League qualifiers. So Brøndby's best bet for Euro football.
5 games left after today.
Edit - Brøndby had 1 of their CBs sent off in 8th minute. Despite that they were up 1-0 (a pen), until 40th min. But now down 1-2.
Edit 2- Finished a 1-3 loss. Not helped obviously by that very early send off. 6 losses in a row. Winless in 7.
1 goal (today's pen), and 13 against last 6 games. Full game Bell.
Edit - full game and a yellow in a 2-1 loss. Randers down to 10 men from 29 mins (when Brøndby were up 1-0!), but still won, with 2nd goal late at 87 mins
Brøndby winless in 8 games. They drop to 6th. Form even worse than Helsingor's!
Edit - FCK up 1-0 at HT. Edit 2 - ends up a 1-1 draw with Brøndby grabbing a 92nd min equaliser. Bell was subbed off a little earlier at 86 mins.
Brøndby remain 6th. They are 3 points behind AaB in 4th, which is a UEFA Conference League Play-off spot ie Europe.
AaB host Midtjylland (2nd) today, who with an away win can close to within a point of FCK. So I'm sure Brøndby's fans at least enjoyed the late goal, which could help stop FCK winning the league.
2-2 draw with Brondby getting a 94th minute equaliser.
Not a result that helps them a lot, albeit against a quality Midtjylland side. The two FCM goals were a bit soft too, first one the goalscorer picked the ball up wide and they just let him run into the box, the keeper anticipated a square ball and he just rolled it into the near post. The second was a flicked ball over the top, despite a pretty packed box, to a striker who got in behind Bell, had his shot saved by the follow up was buried by a teammate.
In order to at least have a shot at Conference League they needed a win here, as that would put them one point off fourth, though with -11 GD on Aalborg. Fourth would get them the playoff against top of the relegation group, with the winner going into the UECL playoffs for next season. Top in the relegation group is currently promoted-side Viborg, Nikko Boxall’s former club. It’s not impossible to get fourth, but they have to beat AaB when they play each other on Monday morning, hope FCK also beat them on the final day (which they might not be too keen on if they’ve already secured the league), and hope 5th-placed Randers drop points.
Result helps out Brøndby’s biggest rivals, Copenhagen, too. They beat Silkeborg yesterday to go to 62 points, and had FCM won the gap would be one point with two rounds to go. With a three point buffer and +10 GD advantage, this result makes it FCK’s to lose, though the Top 6 format means there’s no east games. Could lead to some ribbing from Marko Stamenic to Bell when they meet in Barcelona next month.
Season not done yet, but the two clubs with All Whites have been pretty disappointing in their championship groups. BIF have 2 points from 24, and Helsingør have 3 from 18, though it’d all be alright if they still get Europe and promotion respectively. If Helsingør do go up, they can take inspiration from last season’s promoted sides; Silkeborg are third (UECL spot) and Viborg top the relegation group (potential UECL spot). FCH were leapfrogged by Lyngby this morning and play 2nd-placed Horsens in a massive game tomorrow morning. Also, yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Nordsjælland saw Marco Rojas’ former club SønderjyskE relegated.
Edit - subbed on at 81 mins in a 3-1 win. Same score when he came on. AaB with 2 guys sent off. 43rd min (Brøndby up 1-0) & 88th min (score 1-3) Brøndby are up to 5th with 1 game left (hosting 3rd placed Silkeborg). Brøndby equal on points with AaB (4th). 4th spot is 'Euro football' - UEFA Conference League Play-offs.
Bell came on at 60 mins (Brøndby up 1-0) in a 2-1 win.
Brøndby finished 4th and a UEFA Conference League Play-off spot for next season. FC Copenhagen with a comfortable 3-0 win over AaB clinch the title. Wonder if they will have a few midfielders move onto bigger clubs, giving Stamenic an opening for next season?
From Flying Kiwis. Brøndby actually with maybe one more game, a playoff against Nikko Boxall's old team Viborg.
Fourth place means that they’re in position to play-off for the last Danish European spot depending on what happens in the cup final. Potentially extending their season by another week – commiserations to Danny Hay on that count. They’ll face Viborg, leaders of the relegation round teams, next week for that honour. Win and they earn a place in the Europa Conference League second qualifying round.
But here’s the thing... if Midtjylland beat OB in the Danish Cup final on Friday NZT then that game won’t happen and Brøndby would instead qualify for that spot automatically (since Midtjylland have already made the Champions League spots via their second placing in the SuperLiga). Meaning that Joe Bell’s season may or may not have already finished, they don’t know yet. Weird ones
