Viking Raid: Scandi Domination
We got lucky. Oooooooooh did we get lucky.
The Champions League League Phase — I’ve never noticed how stupid that sounds or reads — was always going to be a stretch for Inter Turku, and after the disappointing league collapse, we planned to move on as soon as the games were wrapped up.
Defeats to Roma and Liverpool in Europe’s premier cup competition signalled the end and when Arnar Gunnlaugsson, after nine years in Reykjavik, decided to take his skills to Rosenborg in Norway, we were sat in his office chair before it had even gone lukewarm.
Predicted to come first. Decent wage budget. A transfer budget. This could be a bit too easy, right?
Finishing nine points clear of KA (I’m not typing that) and winning the league six of of seven years adds a certain pressure when you come into a new job.
Only first place would do. There would be no room for error. No time for adaptation. Only success.
Looking at what Gunnlaugsson had used to dominate, it was clear we were sticking with 4–4–2, but something slightly different to our Turkington system.
Experienced CM, Ole Kristian Selnæs would be able to control the midfield, but not like Riquelmy as a maruding attacking mid. This would be more conservative.
A simple plan. Be solid through the middle, allow Selnæs to create from deep and the use the wide men to provide pace down the flanks.
We already had some good options to make it work. Bjorgvin Gunnarsson and Helgi Gudjonsson could definitely lead the line, but we are always on the look out for new, fresh faces to make the squad stronger.
Which includes the staff, so say hello to our new Technical Director, Roberto Di Matteo. Yup, that Di Matteo. Plus, our new coaches, Sergio Aguero and Arjen Robben. Why not.
Due to the nature of the seasons in Scandinavia, we had the end of the Europa Conference League to deal with. A fairly convincing 1–0 win over Hearts at home made me feel we were on the right path.
Especially as the Edinburgh side couldn’t muster a single shot on our goal. I hope no one from Gorgie made the trip North.
SIGNINGS
Serbian hit-man, Uros Sremcevic joined from Mladost Lucani for £600k, but we weren’t done.
Blöndal by name, Blonde hair by nature. For £100k we brought Stefan in from HK. I felt these two, mixed with who we already had in the squad would provide enough fire power over the season.
Who do you think will score more this season?
Over the course of our time in Finland we had found a lot of success in the loan market and it would prove fruitful once again.
To play with Wingers, you need good options. You need pace. You need weapons who can get balls into the box.
Michael Richter and Roberto Bianchi are just that. Two players we would never be able to afford, but in they come on loan to terrorise Icelandic defences.
The strength of our signings were reflected in the preseason odds. Considerable favourites to go on and lift another league title for Vikingur, and provide us with the second part of our Pentagon.
STRONG START
Scoring 32 goals in 10 games, with maximum points. Yeah, we’ll take that.
The 4–1 win away to Valur Reykjavik was a pleasing highlight, with Blöndal grabbing a stunning hat-trick. If we can dispatch our ‘closest’ rivals with such ease, could anyone stop us?
Just the 19 goals from our 19-year-old striker after 14 starts, with Bianchi and Richter combining for 17 assists. We couldn’t have asked for a better start.
The Deep Lying Playmaker had evolved to playing a bit higher up in a supporting role and Selnæs was enjoying the freedom of the midfield to dictate and take charge.
At this stage we could have easily coasted to the end of the season and won the league at a canter, but if you are standing still, you may as well be going backwards.
REINFORCEMENTS
In came Juan David Hoyos to play beside Selnæs. Good with the ball, but he also provided that competitive edge I though we were lacking.
Just so he didn’t feel lonely, we welcomed 6 foot 2 Colombian striker Gianfranco Pena to the mix.
Although we wanted to smash everyone in the league, our other target was the cup and to see if we could guide Vikingur into the Champions League like we had Inter Turku.
Nope.
Two 2–1 defeats to Norwegian side Viking would see us exit at the Second Qualifying Round. There would be a cruel deja vu when they would also knock us out of the Europe League Playoff Round.
Drawing the first leg 2–2 in Iceland would prove our downfall. Despite levelling the return fixture with six minutes to go Harald Tangen’s 87th minute strike would relegate us to the Europa Conference League League Phase — they’ve not thought this ‘League League’ thing through have they?
Beating Leiknir Reykjavík was enough to seal the league title before the Championship split. We would then beat them 2–0 in the semis to book our place in the Mjólkurbikarinn cup final.
Poor KA, but someone had to provide us with the guard of honour.
Oh yeah, we also won the cup final 10–0
Just one league defeat all season, 92 goals scored, 22 conceded. We would have loved an invincible campaign, but a 2–1 defeat to FH, the game after our guard of honour ruined it.
Despite missing five weeks with a knee injury, Blondal finished as the league’s top scorer, and just look at the contributions from Richter and Bianchi. Just 30 assists between them. Outstanding.
Turns out it was the most wins, goals, and points the Besta-deild karla has ever seen. Blondal’s goals broke the individual scoring record too.
As a one and done season, you can’t argue with records, a cup win and two victories in the Europa Conference League.
However, we all know what comes next…
Time to leave, but where’s next?
