He's by far the best of the NZ Olympic players, as good as anything I saw in any team in fact, and can easily see him in a top league in Europe. I'd be holding out for some De Niro's too, if I were (a) Viking.
He's by far the best of the NZ Olympic players, as good as anything I saw in any team in fact, and can easily see him in a top league in Europe. I'd be holding out for some De Niro's too, if I were (a) Viking.
sorry, messed up - that’s 10 million krone, not Euros, which comes to about €1 million. You’re right, I see that as a huge underpay tbh. Saw fans wanting as much as 20 million krone for him
Joe Bell and Stensness to join Wood at Burnley based on their Olympic showing.
2 cheap decent buys with plenty of potential... just wait : )
In fairness to both players, I think a season or two in the Championship would be better than playing in the reserves. They might get the odd 1st team showing but I don't think they are quite ready for EPL action. Be a great double signing for Burnley though. Always had a soft spot for them when they had Bryan Flynn, Dave Thomas, Leighton James playing for them. But I show my age and besides football was only ever invented in 1992 & Sky.
Joe Bell on the other hand... he starts every week for a midtable team in Norway’s top division and was an absolute standout at the Olympics, playing every minute (compared to Garbett who was very good in a smaller role but is in and out of the Falkenbergs team in the second tier of Swedish footy). If you’re starting every week for a top division club in Europe aged under 24 then suffice it to say that all the scouts worth a damn already know who you are. Football Manager databases take care of that business with a ten second search. Hence rumours of top Championship teams and even possibly middling Premier League clubs being keen on what he offers hit a more harmonious note with reality.
An article on Stavanger Aftenblad appears to have corroborated those rumours, with the journo who wrote the piece adding that they’d be talking something in the range of €8-10m for a fee if he were to leave. That would be the second largest fee ever commanded by a New Zealander after Chris Wood’s move to Burnley (reportedly £16m). Bell was also born in England which takes care of the logistics. You’d imagine it’s not only English clubs looking at him though.
If the tweets during the game saying "he's already grown out of Viking" and calling him "absolutely insane" are anything to go by... he did well
He's a star in the making for sure. Will he finish the season in Norway, or will another club come in with an offer for him? Good to see our young guns coming along nicely and performing consistently at club level.
Full game as Viking (6th) beat top of the table Molde 3-2. Credited with the assist for Viking's 3rd goal.
No Stensness, but even L Messi has had to wait a week to get a game for his new club. Viking has conceded 31 goals from 15 games (2nd worst in the league), so Stensness may not have to wait long for a chance.
Full game as Viking (6th) beat top of the table Molde 3-2. Credited with the assist for Viking's 3rd goal.
No Stensness, but even L Messi has had to wait a week to get a game for his new club. Viking has conceded 31 goals from 15 games (2nd worst in the league), so Stensness may not have to wait long for a chance.
Stensness (and all the other New Zealand-bound Olympic contingent) only came out of MIQ in Christchurch this morning, so could be a bit before he’s ready to debut
Reports in the UK that Championship club Barnsley have tabled a £500,000 bid for New Zealand and Viking FK midfielder Joe Bell. Barnsley had Bell's former University of Virginia team-mate Daryl Dike on loan last season. Will he leave before Gianni Stensness's debut?
Reports in the UK that Championship club Barnsley have tabled a £500,000 bid for New Zealand and Viking FK midfielder Joe Bell. Barnsley had Bell's former University of Virginia team-mate Daryl Dike on loan last season. Will he leave before Gianni Stensness's debut?
Reports in the UK that Championship club Barnsley have tabled a £500,000 bid for New Zealand and Viking FK midfielder Joe Bell. Barnsley had Bell's former University of Virginia team-mate Daryl Dike on loan last season. Will he leave before Gianni Stensness's debut?
Seems a bit anti-climactic, to go from a team challenging for Europe to a second division team, I thought he’d try go to a team like Salzburg or similar, but football is a career first and foremost so hopefully it’ll work out for him
Reports in the UK that Championship club Barnsley have tabled a £500,000 bid for New Zealand and Viking FK midfielder Joe Bell. Barnsley had Bell's former University of Virginia team-mate Daryl Dike on loan last season. Will he leave before Gianni Stensness's debut?
Seems a bit anti-climactic, to go from a team challenging for Europe to a second division team, I thought he’d try go to a team like Salzburg or similar, but football is a career first and foremost so hopefully it’ll work out for him
The Championship to me feels like a pretty large step up from Norway 1st Division, especially if he's playing for a team likely to make a run at the playoffs.
Barnsley look a good outfit. I watched their game at QPR. First half was all Barnsley. Game ended 2-2. I would suggest that they are quite capable of finishing top 6-8 this season. They press quite high and are fast as.
The championship would be above most other leagues of Western Europe in terms of both pay and quality - with the exception of the top leagues in Germany Italy and France and England.
