Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Joe Bell (Viking FK | Norway)

823 replies · 237,894 views
21 Jul 21:11 · edited 21 Jul 23:12 · History
Bell full game in a 1-0 loss.

Aussies - Stensness full game, Yazbek off at 70 mins (1-0) & no Daggers.
Permalink
23 Jul 07:28
From Flying Kiwis. Everyone's heading to the US!
Wonder Bell would ever consider a move there, if Norway proves to be his European ceiling??  Was no 2 pick in the MLS Draft a few years back after all.

By the way, this was the last game at the club for Aussie midfielder Patrick Yazbek who is expected to be announced by Nashville SC anytime soon so it’s a double ANZAC absence in that midfield.
Permalink
23 Jul 07:51
coochiee
From Flying Kiwis. Everyone's heading to the US!
Wonder Bell would ever consider a move there, if Norway proves to be his European ceiling??  Was no 2 pick in the MLS Draft a few years back after all.

By the way, this was the last game at the club for Aussie midfielder Patrick Yazbek who is expected to be announced by Nashville SC anytime soon so it’s a double ANZAC absence in that midfield.
I didn't think he went into the draft? If he did, he would probably have to join whomever has his rights.
Permalink
23 Jul 10:49 · edited 23 Jul 10:49 · History
My bad, yes he pulled out of the Draft. Was no 1 or 2 pick in a few Mock Drafts.

All looks like he'll keep persevering in Europe. I reckon Des would like to have him at Oxford, but he's not a free agent like Singh. Contracted at Viking until August 2027.

But seems like there is a bit of cash around the MLS, so who post the 2026 WC, he might consider a move there.
Permalink
28 Jul 23:12
Viking sans Bell with a crucial 1-0 win over Molde. Viking jump up to 2nd, 6 pts behind Bodo/Glint, Viking the game in hand.

Aussies - Stensness full game, no Daggers. Yazbek has left Norway to sign with Nashville in the MLS.

Permalink
04 Aug 21:21
Bell and Stensness full games in a 3-3 draw. No Daggers. Viking slip to 3rd

Next a huge game hosting leaders Bodo/ Glint
Permalink
10 Aug 22:16
Full games Stensness and Bell in a 1-1 draw

Viking go 2nd on GD, but are 8 pts behind BG if having a game in hand
Permalink
13 Aug 12:10
From Niche Cache. Bell having a good season.

Apparently Joe Bell ranks sixth-equal across the entire Eliteserien for accurate passes into the attacking third. Three of the five blokes ahead of him play for Bodø/Glimt but they didn’t have much joy up against Bellinho and Co.
Permalink
18 Aug 21:07
Bell and Stensness full games in a 2-1 loss.
Viking slip to 3rd
Permalink
25 Aug 20:46 · edited 26 Aug 00:39 · History
The assist for Viking’s first goal in a 5-2 win. Stensness the the fifth goal. Both with full games. No Daggers

Viking up to 2nd on GD, but Bodo/Glint 8 pts clear in 1st, with 10 rounds left.
So more about clinching a European spot for Viking, than a genuine title shot.
Permalink
26 Aug 06:13
Commentary somehow all out of sync with the action.

Permalink
01 Sep 21:19
Bell and Stensness full games in a 2-2 draw
Viking back from being 2-0 down
Permalink
08 Sep 21:58 · edited 09 Sep 00:25 · History
Oooops, wrong thread 

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

Permalink
14 Sep 23:30 · edited 18 Sep 01:10 · History
Bell 83 mins (1-0) in a 1-0 win
Viking in 2nd 10 pts behind Bodo/Glint with 8 games left.

Bell got a yellow and so will be suspended for Viking's next game, having accumulated 4 cards for the season.
Permalink
22 Sep 23:54
The suspended Bell missed, as Viking lose 3-2. They did come back from being 3-0 down. Viking slip to 4th.

Full game Stensness. No Daggers who hasn't now featured since 14th July.
Permalink
29 Sep 23:40
Full game & a yellow Bell in a 4-1 win. Stensness also a full game. Still no Daggers.

Viking 4th, the last spot that makes Europe. 6 league games left. 
Bodø / Glimt basically Champions elect, 7 points clear in 1st.
Permalink
20 Oct 23:47
Bell & Stensness both full games, as Viking (4th) blow their lines, held to a 3-3 draw by lowly Odd (15th/2nd last) at home. 5 rounds left.

Aggers made his comeback coming on at 72 mins for Viking, and grabbing the 3rd goal late at 95 mins to save the hosts dropping all 3 pts.
Permalink
24 Oct 10:29
Niche Cache. Viking will be hoping for top 2. Minimum top 4.

Joe Bell took the international window off - part of an arrangement between NZ Football and Viking FK that had seen him released for the Olympics – so he was fresh for the visit of Odd this past weekend... and he needed to be because this game was nuts. Viking started well, creating a couple of good early chances at home, but then conceded after 14 mins when their goalie made a mess of a corner kick and Magnus Ree was credited with the own goal. Set piece defending has been their achilles heel for most of this season and in the 18th minute they found themselves 2-0 down when Sheriff Sinyan headed in off a long throw. This was trouble. This was a hole to dig themselves out of.

That digging began on 35’ when Henrik Heggheim snuck in at the far post to make it 2-1... but the next goal was harder to find. Gianni Stensness went close stepping up and smashing a chest-and-volley slightly over the top. A Joe Bell dummy created another shooting chance that went wide. There were saves. There were defensive blocks and deflections. There were hopeful substitutions. Finally, on 79’, Lars-Joergen Salvesen followed up a shot off the crossbar to give VFK the equaliser... but then right at the end of the ninety a long ball over the top led to keeper Ree and defender Stensness running into each other which gave Bilal Njie a tap-in for 3-2. Absolute throwaway... until the fifth minute of stoppage time when another Aussie, Nick D’Agostino, popped up with a back stick header for 3-3. Heck of a game. Extended highlights here.

Viking should have won this. They had overwhelmingly more shots and possession and two of the goals they conceded were goalkeeping errors. But at least they didn’t lose. Joe Bell wasn’t involved in the goals. He actually hasn’t done a lot of assisting lately, mostly just sitting deep in midfield and making sure the ball gets where it needs to go. He completed 47/53 passes and won a few interceptions, though was perhaps less effective with his tackling in this one.

That means a draw either side of the international break for Viking, although they do go tied for third with Molde thanks to this result after that lot were defeated. Brann won their match to open up a five point gap between themselves in second and Molde/Viking in third/fourth. Fredrikstad also won so they’re only one point behind in fifth. Five rounds left. Top two means Champions League qualifiers. Third or fourth means Europa Conference League qualifiers.  
Permalink
27 Oct 23:40
Highly valuable 2-1 away win for Viking in the battle for the European spots. They stay 4th. Four rounds left.

Stensness the winning 2nd goal at 70 mins. Both him & Bell full games. Daggers on at 64 mins (1-1)

Permalink
02 Nov 23:15
Viking come back from being down 0-2 to win 3-2.  Salvesen  with a hat trick.
Full game Bell. Stensness off at HT (2-2). Daggers came on at 64 mins (2-2).

Viking up to 3rd.
Permalink
02 Nov 23:16
Viking come back from being down 0-2 to win 3-2.  Salvesen  with a hat trick.
Full game Bell. Stensness off at HT (2-2). Daggers came on at 64 mins (2-2).

Viking up to 3rd.
Permalink
07 Nov 03:26
Niche Cache. Viking (3rd) have actually closed the gap on leaders
Bodø / Glimt to 5 points with 3 games left. B/G have completely lost form.

But some bad news on Stensness.

Sadly, there was terrible news for Stensness in there as he twisted his knee in a challenge late in the first half. Viking have already ruled him out for the rest of the season and it’s understood he could be set for another extended spell on the sidelines. Stensness has already suffered one ACL injury since joining Viking in 2021. Not sure on the diagnosis of this one yet but it is the other knee that’s the problem, not the one he previously injured. 

NZ Olympian Stensness has quietly become one of Viking’s most important players as this season has progressed – including captaining the side for the game in which both Joe Bell and Zlatko Tripic were suspended back in September. He had also won his way back into the Australia squad last month so this is nasty timing.
Permalink
09 Nov 00:59
Sucks for Gianni. I was rather displeased when he changed allegiance, but it's always sad to see a good, promising footballer being forced to sit out due to serious injury. Wish him a speedy and full recovery. For what it's worth, it's probably better it's the other knee. With two new knees and with today's medicine, you'd hope he will be fine for the rest of his career

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

Permalink
11 Nov 01:41
Important 1-0 win for Viking. Full game Bell. Daggers on at 68 mins (1-0).
2 league games left. Viking (3rd, 53 pts) look a strong prospect for a European spot (top 4 teams) being 4 points ahead of 5th.

Viking are still an outside chance of winning the league. 5 pts behind Brann (1st, 58 pts). They travel to Brann in their final game.

Bodo/Glint (2nd, 56 pts) have imploded. A month or so ago they looked to be coasting to the title. Only 1 win in their last 6 league games, with 2L & 3D. They have also been juggling midweek Europa League matches, which may now cost them the title.

Will be a very interesting last few weeks post the FIFA break.
Permalink
24 Nov 00:03
 Viking make the most of Haugesund having their keeper sent off at 41 mins (1-1), to canter to a 5-1 win.

Daggers off the pine at HT to score a double. Bell 69 mins (3-1).

1 round left. Despite faltering of late, Bodø / Glimt (59 pts, +37 GD) look like winning the title. They host lowly Lillestrøm in their final game.

Elsewhere is 2nd verus 3rd as Viking (56 pts, +22 GD) travel to 2nd placed
Brann (58 pts, +22 GD).

Viking do have a European spot locked in. Can't finish lower than 3rd. Beat Brann they finish 2nd. 
Permalink
27 Nov 11:33
Niche Cache.

Video opposition keeper sent off on the weekend. To clarify it was a 2nd yellow, but still extremely soft.



And bloke scoring from the bicycle kick here is  Nick D’Agostino 

 
Permalink
01 Dec 01:33
Last round of the season, and Viking (3rd) travel to Brann (2nd)

Bodø/Glimt are first heading into the final round. I'll let Niche Cache describe the possible outcomes.


This was a blessed weekend for them (Viking). Brann had steadily climbed into title favourite status over the past few weeks while Bodø/Glimt absolutely crumbled. Unfortunately, B/G won 2-0 against Odd to break a four-game winless streak in the Eliteserien (largely due to their Europa League midweek commitments)... but Molde beat Brann 2-1 in one of the other fixtures. That sends Bodø/Glimt back into first place and, more importantly, it leaves Brann only one point ahead of Viking in second. Those two teams play each other next week. If Viking win... they’ll make it to the Champions League qualifiers (they’re already guaranteed at least a Conference League shot).
There’s even a small chance heading into the final round that Viking could win the league... but that would require B/G losing at home and Viking overturning a goal difference margin of 15 goals. If B/G had lost against Odd, or even just drawn, then that would have been a genuine possibility considering that B/G have to play away against Manchester United three days before their last Eliteserien game. But it’s cool we’ll settle for second if Joe Bell and the fellas can achieve it
Permalink