Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Joe Bell (Viking FK | Norway)

823 replies · 237,894 views
23 Nov 01:28
Penultimate round Viking (2nd, 28 games, 65 pts) travel to Fredrikstad (6th). 
Massive game in the Championship race. Viking have to win, a draw not enough.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/fredrikstad-bPdl4V8N/viking-bXAgOWwb/?mid=UZ84E1mo

Unfortunately Bodo/Glimt (1st, 28 games, 67 pts) got a 94th min winner (2-1) at KUFM Oslo, and so the pressure goes back on Viking.

Viking finish the season next weekend hosting Valerenga (7th).
Whilst B/G host Fredrikstad. 

You feel it all hinges on Viking's tough away match at Fredrikstad tonight.

B/G will have to juggle hosting Juventus in a midweek UCL tie.
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23 Nov 20:38
Viking win 1-0 to move within touching distance of the title. Just need to match or better BG's result next weekend. 
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23 Nov 20:59
That first league title in 34 years oh so close now

72nd min winner

Full game Bell
Stensness on at 87 mins. No Daggers
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24 Nov 06:04


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30 Nov 17:55
Viking have done it! Congrats to them and Joe Bell. Huge achievement. Game finishes 5-1
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30 Nov 21:06
First title in 34 years
Congrats Bell
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30 Nov 22:02
Looks to me like Viking will now only need to get through one two-legged tie to reach the Champions League group stage 
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30 Nov 23:34 · edited 30 Nov 23:57 · History
Party time in Stavanger.

If indeed Viking are now only two games away from the UCL in 2026, you wonder if Bell will stay on?

And yes it looks like Imanix is correct, last year's Eliteserien champs Bodø/Glimt beat Sturm Graz over 2 legs (final playoff round) to go into the UCL Group Stage proper.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cn81yynnwpwo

And a message from 2019. 




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30 Nov 23:51 · edited 01 Dec 06:18 · History
Match highlights.
https://youtu.be/cfvx_JYEM7M

Bell full game & a yellow.
Stensness full game & an assist for the first goal.
No Daggers - a return to the ALM for him? Is on the fringes of the Socceroos. Poppa picked him at least once this year.
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01 Dec 11:52
Actually Daggers might be a good pick up for the Nix in January. 

And a big wooooooooooo! for Joe Bell. 



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01 Dec 21:29
martinb
Actually Daggers might be a good pick up for the Nix in January. 

And a big wooooooooooo! for Joe Bell. 

Surely the Vuck are in for him. Former player, and they're really struggling for goals atm.

He'll be locked on to score against us if he comes back to the league!
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01 Dec 21:57
Surely Bell will get a transfer to a bigger league? Or does he hang around for a European adventure? 

As others have said he'd do well in the Championship. 
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01 Dec 22:30 · edited 01 Dec 22:33 · History
Prime age now at 26. If he is ever going to leave his current league and do it now is the time. 

Has no doubt learnt from his time at Brondby and had a couple of years thereafter back in Norway to improve his game.

One of the problems I guess in moving in Jan to a championship club is that it is likely that those who would be looking at him would be in a potential relegation fight, which could be a tough place to be.

Auckland will rise once more

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01 Dec 22:49 · edited 03 Dec 02:24 · History
The chance to play in the Champions League would be a big carrot.

As others have suggested the MLS, is another option. Went to college there, and see him as the type of intelligent ex AW who will make a nice post football career for himself Stateside aka Nellie, Elliott, Tim Brown etc. 

Also with the MLS moving to an Autumn/Spring comp, I think that better suits him. Not sure he likes playing in the intense heat much. Struggled against Mexico last year. Struggled at the Paris Olympics.

Though at only 26 a MLS move might be a bit early, and with English parentage you presume he would like a crack at UK football.
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03 Dec 02:23


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04 Dec 00:31
Niche Cache predicts Bell will stay in Norway another 12 months or more.

Joe Bell was shortlisted for Eliteserien Player of the Season. He had Zlatko Tripic (Viking), Patrick Berg (Bodø/Glimt), Henrik Falchener (Viking), and Odin Bjørtuft (Bodø/Glimt) for company there with Patrick Berg getting the top honours. As they say, it’s an honour merely to be nominated. 

TV2.no: “Always alert, always calm. Joe Bell's ability to dictate tempo in matches has been crucial to Viking this season. The partnership with Askildsen has worked brilliantly and Bell has probably never been better than this year.”

And let us not overlook the other reward for winning this title. Sure there’s a trophy... but there’s also admittance to the playoff round of the Champions League with guaranteed Europa League entry even if they fail. That means a single two-legged tie for a spot in the UCL League Phase – Bodø/Glimt won 6-2 against Sturm Graz of Austria in the equivalent round this year.

The seeding is done by UEFA Club Coefficients and while Viking have dipped their toes into some European competition in the last few years, it probably won’t be enough to get them a favourable draw. Huge opportunity for Joe Bell to match Wynton Rufer, Marko Stamenic, Chris Killen, Kim Wright, and Danny Hay in playing Men’s Champions League... but it’s going to be tough. Again, even if they lose they’ll still get Europa League.

Keep that in mind if you’re wondering whether Bellinho might cash in on this success with a transfer – where else is he going to get the chance to potentially play Champions League as an established club hero? This brother is going nowhere any time soon and nor should he.
Up Next: Party on, excellent
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16 Dec 12:48
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29 Jan 11:04
Bodo Glimt power on with a win away at Athetico Madrid, and into the UCL playoffs.
Again will give Viking some confidence for later this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsr9Gfb1HeM
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