Joe Bell (Viking FK | Norway)

Stamenic a very rare start in a 3-1 win for FCK. Got a full game and a yellow

Bell an unused sub. One of Brondby’s starting mids got sent off late on at 82 mins (1-2).

FCK (1st) stay 1 point ahead of Nordsjælland (2nd)

Feeling a bit sorry for Bell. Seems to have regressed for club and country since moving clubs.

Nelfoos

Feeling a bit sorry for Bell. Seems to have regressed for club and country since moving clubs.

I thought he looked good against China. Played a lovely pass to Garbett for the winning goal, in game 2.

He had a strong run of starts through the middle part of the season. He's only fallen out of favour in the last month, at Brondby. Though last year at the start of the season he was again not starting. He might get a run this weekend, as one of the other mids got sent off against FCK.

Niels Frederiksen who brought Bell to Brondby was sacked as coach last November. He coached them to the Superliga title in 2020/21. Interestingly the club is now over 50% owned by an American. He bought in August 2022.

From Flying Kiwis.

There’s been a slight resurgence for Brøndby with a couple of recent wins on the trot, including one against Copenhagen. Nothing that’s going to get them back into the mix for Europe but it’s good momentum to finish the season with. Alas, those two wins have come after a switch in formation to 3-4-3 shape, rather than their previous 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 efforts.

That’s meant one fewer player through the middle of the park and as a result Joe Bell has been dropped to the bench. He didn’t even get on as a sub in those two previous matches and he didn’t get on as a sub this week either as they faced København again, this time at home in front of their raucous crowd.

Brondby (6th) travel to Viborg (3rd).
Bell on the bench

Edit - unused sub in a 1-1 draw

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/21/denmark/superliga/viborg-ff/brondby-if/4058276/

Bell got some game time this morning in the 'Future Cup', a reserve cup competition, against second tier (though already promoted) Vejle. He started and played 71 minutes before being replaced. It was 1-1 when he came off, though Brøndby scored three in quick succession to make it 4-1 by the 80th, but Vejle did manage to pull one back for the final score of 4-2. Live twitter feed didn't mention him at all before his sub, but of course that doesn't mean he played poorly.

A few other non-teenage first teamers played: Norwegian and ex-Viking full back Sebastian Sebulonsen, on-loan from Bundesliga side Augsburg, Danish centre back Frederik Winther, Tunisian World Cup starting midfielder Anis Ben Slimane and Swedish striker Simon Hedlund. As an aside, echoing the point about Sweden's quality, Hedlund hasn't been called up by Sweden since January 2020, but has played 1,576 league minutes this season compared to 1,075 by Bell, who is a nailed on starter for the AWs.

Nordsjælland (2nd) travel to Bell's Brondby (6th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/29/denmark/superliga/brondby-if/fc-nordsjalland/4058280/

Brondby leading 2-0 at HT. They win and FCK are Superliga champions with a round left.

Bell on the bench

Edit - Brondby win 5-1. Bell rides the pine

Brondby (5th) in their final game travel to AGF (3rd)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/04/denmark/superliga/agf-aarhus/brondby-if/4058284/

3-3 draw Bell rides the pine.

Bell started 13 of 32 Superliga games, and was subbed on another 5 times.

For all the promise of that 2019 U20 team, apart from Libby no one is in a big league. Though Singh hopefully not far off.

Just's team relegated to Danish 2nd tier
Singh's down to the German 3rd tier (though yes he will leave J-R)
McCowatt in the Danish 2nd tier
Waine bit player (though injured alot) in Plymouth's promotion. Jury out how he will go in The Championship
Pijnaker in Ireland
Stanger in Scottish 3rd tier
Woud doing nothing in Japan
Elliott - Unattached FC

This group still has a lot of promise, but need to be realistic as to how good they really are in a world context, and by default the AWs.

Bell on the move? Unless of course he's just injured.

No Joe Bell for Brondby this morning in a training game designed for those who, like Bell, didn’t play in the Superliga season opener

Looks like it’s time to start scraping for transfer rumours… ⏳ #FlyingKiwis https://t.co/fVnrS13PKk

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) July 24, 2023

This move just hasn't worked out for him, maybe his value is now low enough for an English club to take a chance.

Confused about that logic

Maybe expand?

It's a fair call by RR. Last Superliga season he only started 13 of 32 Superliga games, and was subbed on another 5 times. Finished last season getting few if any minutes, as Brondby changed shape, after I think the coach who signed Bell was sacked.

This after he was one of Viking's best players, and a bit of a star in Norway.

He's maybe injured, but if not seems he's already on the outer come the new season in Denmark.

AucklandPhoenix

Confused about that logic

Maybe expand?

He was highly rated in Norway & had a few English clubs keeping tabs on him but his price tag was just to high for them to buy him. His minutes in Denmark have plummeted, so probably won't be missed if they sold him. Maybe they will take the loss and sell him at a value those previous clubs would be willing to fork out.

coochiee

It's a fair call by RR. Last Superliga season he only started 13 of 32 Superliga games, and was subbed on another 5 times. Finished last season getting few if any minutes, as Brondby changed shape, after I think the coach who signed Bell was sacked.

This after he was one of Viking's best players, and a bit of a star in Norway.

He's maybe injured, but if not seems he's already on the outer come the new season in Denmark.

Doesn't seem like he was injured. He and American midfielder Christian Cappis were both noticeably absent from the lineup in that friendly, and in the replies to the original tweet there's someone saying along the lines of 'that should mean that the sale of Bell is on and coming soon'. When I asked if a loan is possible they said 'everything points towards a sale' (or similar, it was all på dansk). Of course it doesn't mean it's certain just because a fan said so though.

I did hear a Brøndby fan on a Superliga season preview podcast (around 33 minutes) this weekend say that 'Brøndby have no real defensive midfielder' and that 'Radosevic [the captain] is very good off-the-ball but a very poor passer, and Bell is a very good passer but terrible defender'. So a little insight to how they feel about him. For what it's worth the same guy was quite up beat about McCowatt and even said that 'people around the league have been saying that if he was two years younger it would not be possible for Silkeborg to sign him'.

Brøndby are looking for a new 6 apparently, and did sell their keeper and a midfielder for reasonable fees (8.25m euros or so) to Leicester and Sheffield Utd, so have a few kroner to spend, which could push him further down. Though they did spend a few on two defenders from Fiorentina and FC Dallas. 

Luckily there's still a lot of time in the window to sort himself out, whether that would be towards the UK, elsewhere in Europe, still in Denmark or even MLS I'm not sure. One of the other two ex-Viking players at Brøndby did a half a season loan back in Norway at Oslo-side Vålerenga, and came back to start against Silkeborg, so maybe a return to familiar pastures (or artificials) could be refreshing - even if on loan. There's still half the season to go in Norway, so it might work to jump on loan and then reassess come January as to whether he has a spot at BIF or go on a permanent. Or maybe if he wants to stay in København he can firefight up at Lyngby even, where, with lower expectations (just survive in Superligaen), he might find himself again.

From Flying Kiwis.

The tricky thing there is not only was Bell not in the squad for the Silkeborg game but the following day they played a friendly match designed for the reserve players, specifically those who didn’t feature in the season opener, to get some minutes... and bloody hell he wasn’t in that squad either. It’s possible that there’s an injury that’s gone unreported although most of the chat seem to suggest that Bell is very much on the outer. He’s not the style of midfielder that his new manager wants and thus is considered surplus to requirements. Fans are anticipating a transfer.

A couple of weeks ago there was a report that multiple clubs in the MLS were interested in Joe Bell’s services. As well they should be given how he bossed it there at college level and was poised to be one of the top draft picks until he chose to move to Norway with Viking FK instead. Plenty of scouting reports will already exist within the ranks of those MLS teams – two of his teammates from his University of Virginia days are already USA internationals: Henry Kessler and Daryl Dike, the former at New England Revolution and the latter at West Bromwich Albion via Orlando City – both were top six draft picks and Bell was rated higher than them.

But Bell also made a specific choice to move to Europe rather than America when he finished college. It hasn’t been a great fit at Brøndby but he was superb at Viking and with his English heritage (and past links to Barnsley, who were outbid by BIF when he left VFK) he should have options there too. It’ll be a sneaky one to follow. Bell does have three more years under contract at Brøndby which could be a complication depending on how much interest he gathers – although there is always the possibility of a loan move if clubs can’t stump up a transfer fee.

Brondby host OB.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/30/denmark/superliga/brondby-if/odense-boldklub/4081461/

Made the bench, but that’s where he stayed as Brondby lose 1-2

Brondby travel to Nordsjalland.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/06/denmark/superliga/fc-nordsjalland/brondby-if/4081467/

Bell on in the 81st min (3-1) in a 3-1 loss.

Brondby consecutive losses. Time to start Bell

Bell an unused sub as Brondby (5th) beat 10 man Lyngby (6th), 3-0. Lyngby down to 10 men from 49 mins (1-0).
Time for Joe to move elsewhere, which sounds like is a strong possibility.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/13/denmark/superliga/brondby-if/lyngby-boldklub/4081472/

From Flying Kiwis.

Joe Bell found his way onto the bench for Brøndby again but there were no minutes on offer this time around in a 3-0 win against Lyngby. There are now increasing whispers that his old club Viking in Norway might try lure him back as they prepare to sell midfielder Markus Solbakken to Italy. There’s also reported interest from the MLS in America. A couple of English clubs have tested the waters with him in the past.

There’s a good piece here analysing why Bell hasn’t been able to kick on for BIF yet. In short, they reckon he’s not asserted himself defensively as a deep-lying midfielder and his passing, while super accurate, hasn’t been progressive enough.

Brondby (5th) travel to Midtjylland (3rd).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/20/denmark/superliga/fc-midtjylland/brondby-if/4081478/

No Bell as Brondby win 1-0
Close to a move elsewhere?

coochiee

No Bell as Brondby win 1-0
Close to a move elsewhere?

He didn't even travel to Herning, Brøndby named their 21-man travelling squad and it did not feature his name. He's very much part of the group on the outer that fans have been calling to be sold. A couple already have gone: Carl Björk has gone on loan to IFK Norrköping in Sweden and Simon Hedlund has just overnight made the move back home to Sweden to join Allsvenskan leaders Elfsborg. Though American midfielder Christian Cappis, another member of the group, did travel to Herning and even came off the bench today.

In the DM department, Bell's bench spot - backing up Radosevic - went to 19-year-old Polish newcomer Mateusz Kowalczyk, just signed from Polish second-tier LKS Lodz. There's similarly been clamour to give younger players the spot, kids like Noah Nartey or Oscar Schwartau (though he is not a Bell replacement), pointing at how FC København have given many teenagers runs and their level is higher than Brøndby's. In their 2-0 win against Hvidovre this weekend, for example, they started Theo Sander (GK, 18), Valdemar Lund (CB, 20), Oscar Højlund (CM, 18 (and brother of Man Utd's Rasmus)), William Clem (CM, 19), Roony Bardghji (RW, 17) and Orri Oskarsson (ST, 18).

Bell's name, as generic as it is, makes it a bit harder to find fan sentiment on Twitter, but basically all I see is 'sælge' (sell) or 'udleje' (loan out). There doesn't really look to be a way back in. Viking would be great if he can get it, they sit equal on points (but worse goal difference) with Bodø/Glimt at the top of the Eliteserien. If Markus Solbakken does go to Pisa or elsewhere then he could be a loan option to fill the DM spot, and then who knows, maybe he can go permanently in January. He could do a job for almost any Eliteserien, Allsvenskan, even most Superliga sides, so I just hope he gets a move for everyone's benefit.

Another thing that could factor is that a majority of Brøndby is owned by Global Football Holdings, who have investment in several clubs. Already one Brøndby player, American U20 international Justin Che (just signed this window), has gone on loan to another GFH-owned club in Eerste Divisie side ADO Den Haag. Other GFH clubs are Crystal Palace, Augsburg (Bundesliga), Real Salt Lake (MLS), Estoril (Liga Portugal; top tier), Beveren (Belgian Challenger League; second tier) and Alcorcon (LaLiga 2). Of those, only Estoril would be a good move, but not better than a return to Viking.

Thanks for the Bell summary Carlind. He's an intelligent young man, Joe Zen Bell, so here's hoping his next move will be well thought through.

On a sidenote It's not quite Red Star winning margins, but young FCK sans Stamenic are off to a flyer in the Danish Superliga with 5W from 5 (GD +15).

They have also squeaked into the UCL playoffs. In the 3rd round UCL qualifiers they beat Sparta Prague on pens (finished 3-3 on agg over the 2 ties). Will face Poland's Rakow Czestochowa in the playoffs over 2 legs. 

Played 66 of the 70 minutes (35 minute halves) in a training game at home against Nordsjælland this morning, which Brøndby won 3-1. It was 3-0 when he came off. Their lineup consisted of the guys who didn't get an extended run against Midtjylland (ie no starters); so the new signings (Kowalczyk, Suzuki and Pentz) and some of the guys on the outer.

Bell isn't mentioned much in the live tweeting. The only tweet (five minutes in) mentioning him says he was 'losing the ball in possession and in a dangerous position. Mads Hansen [FCN and Denmark U21 winger] goes to finish but is denied. Corner to the visitors.' Though apparently he got the assist for Brøndby's first goal delivering a corner that ex-Viking teammate Sebulonsen headered in after 15 minutes. Hard to gauge, but seems to have played reasonably well in the match and got some credit from a few fans.

FCN seemed to play quite a few younger players (though that is basically their MO) and did specifically mention in their match report, possibly as an excuse for the loss 'The home team from Brøndby included many names, where players like Josip Radosevic, Joe Bell and Sebastian Sebulonsen among others were there from the start'. So at least Bell still warrants being named as a 'name'.

Brondby (4th) travel Vejle (12th/last).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/28/denmark/superliga/vejle-boldklub-elitefodbold-as/brondby-if/4081486/

Sounds as though he's in the process of undergoing a medical across the North Sea - An imminent return to Viking FK.

Joe Bell er snart fortid i Brøndby, efter at de blågule har accepteret bud på 300.000 euro fra hans tidligere klub Viking. Der er tre rater af det beløb i handlen, i alt 900.000 euro. Han rejser nu til Norge for at ordne lægetjek og underskrive kontrakt. https://t.co/3T1j9Q4FnV

— Farzam Abolhosseini (@F_Abolhosseini) August 28, 2023

Brondby beat Vejle 1-0. No Bell in match day squad.

Edit

✅✍️Danish BT: Brøndby & Viking has agreed a deal worth €200k for Joe Bell (24) 🇳🇿

Viking sold Joe Bell to Brondby for €800k in 2022, and now he returns to Viking one year later.

Viking are in the title race with Bodø Glimt, with level points (44) after 19 games. 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/TK8wkxaMTM

— Footy Norway  (@FootyNorge) August 28, 2023

Good bit of business for Viking if those numbers are right

Smeltz4PM

Good bit of business for Viking if those numbers are right

Not sure if they are, it might be a mistranslation of Danish. Farzam Abolhosseini's (reply above, think of him as the Fabrizio Romano of Denmark) tweet references three payment installments of 300k euros to Brøndby.

On the other hand, Norwegian Aftenposten reports (alongside Stavanger Aftenblad) 'Viking betaler seks millioner kroner til Brøndby, med en totalramme som kan bli opp mot ni millioner kroner' (Viking pays six million [Norwegian] kroner to Brøndby with a total fee up to nine million). Six million NEK is roughly 520k euros and nine million is 775k euros.

The report also differs a bit on the fee Brøndby paid. Stavanger Aftenblad claims that Viking got '15-20 millioner norske kroner' (1.3-1.7m euros now but 1.48-1.94m then due to better NEK to EUR exchange rate) but also says 'Danske medier meldte om en overgangssum på 11 millioner' (Danish media reported a total sum of 11 million [950,000 now but 1.08m then]).

Confirmed until 2027 with Viking FK.

💬 – Jeg forstår at noen supportere ble skuffet og frustrerte over måten jeg dro på, og at de kanskje fortsatt er det. Det vil jeg beklage for. Hvis jeg kunne gått tilbake i tid, ville jeg gjort ting annerledes.

✍️💙 Joe Bell er tilbake i mørkeblått: https://t.co/5ndx18pz9i

— Viking Fotball (@vikingfotball) August 29, 2023

Hopefully can pick up where he left off in Norway, because he was absolutely phenomenal for Viking in the heart of that midfield before venturing across to Denmark.

Nice touch to apologise to a section of fans who may have been slightly aggrieved at the way he left the club last time out too. Takes a lot of courage and humility to get up and do that. Bloody mature for a 24 year old. Well done lad.

Pity it didn't work out for him in Denmark. The main criticism of his play at Brondby seemed to be that though he had high passing accuracy, there weren't alot of incisive forward passes creating goal scoring chances. I think back to a lovely assist for Garbett to score against China at the ROF. He had plenty of assists (some of them corners) when previously in Norway.

The move back to Viking is a bit meh. In last few years had been some hype (and was some reported interest) that Bell could move to a Championship club. Though yes appreciate he now needs to be playing again, and looks likely Viking will be playing in Europe in 2024.

I imagine the plan is he won't see out the whole 4.5 year contract in Norway, he rebuilds his career, and Viking sell him a 2nd time at some point.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/300960374/all-whites-midfielder-joe-bell-rejoins-former-club-viking-fk-in-norway

Just like old times… https://t.co/5fnBOVMqJF

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) August 29, 2023

Viking (2nd on GD) host Valerenga (14th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/02/norway/eliteserien/viking-fotballklubb/valerengen-idrettsforeningen/3998880/

Bell straight into Viking's starting lineup, and 83 mins in a 1-1 draw.
Viking (45 pts) up 1-0 at this stage, but conceded 3 mins later.
Bodø / Glimt (44 pts) play tomorrow.

Of Viking's Aussies - Patrick Yazbek got 91 mins, and Aggers came on at 83 mins. Stensness injured.

Viking (2nd on GD) travel to Haugesund (12th).

Bell off at 62 mins (1-0) in a 2-0 win.
He was replaced by Yazbek. Fellow Aussie D'Agostino on at mins (2-0).