Tag: Rosenborg BK

Week 29: Terrific Day in Trondheim

Week 29: Terrific Day in Trondheim

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Scores

Start 0 – 0 Rosenborg BK (M)

That was a thing that happened. Moving on.

Real Salt Lake 0 – 0 Minnesota United

Your curly haired “cousin”
(Minnesota United)

Both Salt Lake and Minnesota won their first games of the “MLS is Back” tournament (which I still prefer to call “July Jamboree”), so they naturally played a boring as hell cagey match with both teams taking a point and staying in position to advance. However, Minnesota got to see Thomas Chacon, who looks to be only a couple months older than you boys, so that was nice

Rosenborg BK 3 – 1 Kolbotn (W)

For the first time this year, RBK had both the ladies and the gentlemen playing at home on the same day. Unfortunately, also for the first time this year, the ladies of Rosenborg gave up a lead. Though Cesile Andreassen put them up in the first half amid a rampaging attack, Kolbotn struck quickly after half time to level the score.

Then Marit Clausen did a number of Marit Clausen-y things (you know dominating the air, causing havoc in front of goal) and Rosenborg ran out winners. None too shabby for an undefeated start to the season, and it should be said that their post match song is flame.

Rosenborg BK 2 – 1 Sandefjord (M)

The gentlemen of Rosenborg found a way to win and sweep the double header day thanks to Kristoffer Zachariassen whose presence on corner kicks was a major difference maker. Scoring one in the first half on a blooping cranial chip, and a second to seal the win

One concern for the now fourth place Rosenborg side is that during this six game unbeaten run their attacking crew has changed more often than filters in a home made Coronavirus mask.

Midfielder Zachariassen now has four goals, all from set pieces, while no other player has more than 1 (including big name signings Dino Islamovic and Torgeir Borven, as well as stalwart Pal Andre Helland, and starlet Emil Konradsen Ceide). Combine Sunday’s scrambles for goal with the paltry opportunities on offer in their midweek game at Start, and RBK has reason to start strategizing differently

News & Notes

Kvinning

Yes, Rosenborg is on top of the ToppSerien in Norway. Yes, this is the first time any of our teams has led any league during this (admittedly relatively recent project). Yes, this means they are awesome and we’re having a lot of fun. In particular, Marit Clausen and Julie Blakstad who are now tied for the ToppSerien golden boot watch! Can’t lie, this is fun.

Young Warriors walk away, Loons check in

This is not the offseason Punjab FC would have hoped for. First came the transfer ban, and this week two young stars left the club. According to the awesome Nehal from the Away End, first Thoiba Singh Moirangthem, headed to Odisha FC, and now Makan Chothe has left for top tier side FC Goa

Bebelo may be flying north soon
(Photo from ESPN)

Meanwhile, Minnesota United have their eyes set not on a departure but a massive acquisition: Emanuel “Bebelo” Reynoso a young star for Boca Juniors in Argentina. While Boca is stacked and playing time is thin, Reynoso still seems like a serious talent who could light a fire under the Loons offense while the defensive spine continues to blockade the goal.

Player of the Week

Marvelous Marit
(RBK.no)

Right now Marit Clausen’s game is so hot it makes a July day in Minnesota feel like a January day in Minnesota. Clausen is so on fire that she doesn’t drink water to cool down, she drinks flame retardant chemicals (Note: THAT WAS A JOKE, DON’T DRINK FLAME RETARDANT CHEMICALS EITHER IF YOU PLAY WELL, PLAY POORLY, OR NEVER PLAY AT ALL). Clausen has kicked so much butt, that Chuck Norris is asking her for pointers. Point is Marit Clausen rocks.

What’s Next

Wednesday, July 22

9:30 Colorado Rapids v Minnesota United

Thursday, July 23

Friday, July 24

Saturday, July 25

8:00 Arna Bjornar v. Rosenborg BK (W)

Sunday, July 26

1:30 FK Haugesund v Rosenborg BK (M)

Monday, July 27

Tuesday, July 28

29. Context is King

29. Context is King

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Clearly Rosenborg Ballklub’s women’s team is the greatest team in the history of soccer. They’ve never lost a match.

Also, history is brewing near Dingwall. Ross County’s next transfer will break the club’s record for summer transfer sessions. The club is poised to join the top ten spenders in Scottish soccer.

Oh, and it’s terrible to ask about black people being shot by the police because more white people are victims of police shootings. How dare you make this about race.

Those are three very stupid hot takes. But they’re all stupid for the same reason.

Context is king.

Dear Boys,



You may hear people saying that you can’t argue with facts. Which is true. The encyclopedia has never changed itself while I yell at it.

But while you can’t argue with facts you can and should argue with people who use facts out of context. Facts out of context aren’t sacrosanct, their tools of persuasion: tools that can be wielded subtly or with all the careful grace of a hippo in a tutu.

You don’t have to let them use those tools any more than you have to let your dentist use a compound mitre saw to floss your teeth.

Each of those hot takes is based on facts, each of which I italicized. Those facts superficially support my claim, but include context and both the fact and my argument fall apart.

The classic look
(Vavel.com)

Yes, the Rosenborg Kvinner are undefeated under that name. But the sample size is ludicrously small. They’ve only played two games as Rosenborg, and under the club’s old mantle (Trondheims Ørn) they certainly lost their share. They’ve had a great two games with a new names, that doesn’t make them the greatest team ever.

Yes, the next signing by Ross County will break records and put them into the top ten spenders in Scotland. But you have to know both the team’s history and the state of Scottish soccer to see how irrelevant that is.

Really, isn’t everything a record
(From The Scotsman)

Since joining the top league Ross County have never paid for a transfer, so even one cent would break a record. Moreover, with only twenty teams in the top league, being in the top ten could mean you spend like crazed Glaswegians (Rangers/Celtic) or that you are right on average for the top league.

So a transfer fee would be historic, it also wouldn’t make a lot of difference. It would be as historic as the punctuation I put at the end of this specific sentence¡

Which brings us to the last out of context fact which both distorts sample size and skews away from cultural/historical context.

https://twitter.com/MaddiKiwana/status/1283225629270269953

Yes, over 2,000 white people have been killed by police and yes that is two times more than other racial groups. Also, there are four times more white people in the US than black ones. So, black (and Hispanic) people are killed more than twice as often as white folks. Totals are facts, so are percentages and rates, using one while ignoring the context of others is stupid and biased.

That bias, that damned systemic racism, is the other part. Throughout the country’s history, we’ve undervalued people of color to over-inflate the importance of white people. Sometimes it’s as crass as proclaiming “reverse racism” over any racial discussion. Sometimes it’s as subtle as celebrating the white teacher before acknowledging the brown-skinned students. This time it’s pretty blatant, stupid, and divorced from the history of oppression that underpins the United States.

I mean…in a room with Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson…maybe?

However you look at it, facts are indisputable. But the conclusions we draw from them are, always and forever, debatable. Much as we cheer Julie Blakstad and company, much as we hope for Steven Ferguson’s side, we have to know that our arguments are less about the facts and more about our feelings. Just as we know the dismissal of uncomfortable claims of racism is less about the facts, and more about our feeling uncomfortable with the truth.

Silly sports opinions can carry this natural bias as part of their very nature. We’re fans, not fact machines. But the same issues that cloud judgments about teams or players apply to other arguments. So keep asking questions, wonder why people say what they do, and remember: context is king.

Week 28: Practically Perfect in Every Way

Week 28: Practically Perfect in Every Way

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Scores

Lyn Football 1 – 4 Rosenborg BK (W)

A late first half goal put RBK up, and a flurry to start the second half put it away. Marit Clausen and, our fave, Julie Blakstad each had a brace to give RBKKvinner a first win in their new colors.

The win saw RBK jump to a tie atop the ToppSerien. Granted both of the top two teams have big wins against last-placed Lyn, but wins are wins and with four points being the maximum this year, this may be a great year for parity.

Rosenborg BK 3 – 0 Stromsgodset (M)

Another strong showing from Rosenborg’s men’s side, should allay some fear of regression. That it came together only after a second half substitution may leave some lingering tactical questions.

Pål André Helland played the hero with a goal and two assists in just 31 minutes of game time. Coach Trond Henriksen opted to drop Helland for more recent signees Carlo Holse, Dino Islamovic and Torgeir Børven, but in retrospect, maybe play the hot hand…er, foot.

Sporting KC 1 – 2 Minnesota United

Your mom and I got to watch the second half of this game after you boys went to bed.

We missed the bad news: a spotty defense without Ike Opara and Ozzie Alonso, and a shaky offense after both Luis Amarilla and Mason Toye caught an injury each. But we did see a stellar comeback led by Aaron Shoenfeld who drew a red card from KC keeper Tim Melia, then provided the distracting target for an equalizing own goal.

Finally a late winner worked from a cross by Roman Metanire to a redirection by Raheem Edwards and a ripping finish by Kevin Molino elicited a lot of reactions. I shouted “yes!” Your mom muttered “wow!” Broadcaster Taylor Twellman gave us 12 variations on “it wasn’t pretty, but it is a win”. And Minnesota sang Wonderwall for the first time in months.

News & Notes

Welcome Back, Man

There are increasing signs of a slightly more normal fall. COVID cases are falling in most countries and most major leagues are gearing up for a return to action in August. Social media is full of training camps from Dingwall and Grenoble to Belgrade and Guayaquil.

College Plan

One place where transmission of COVID-19 is still deeply problematic is right here in the US. While the professional leagues have kicked off with modified structures, college conferences are still mulling their options. Several big football conferences have narrowed their scope to games against regional rivals only. No word yet on if Grizzly Soccer will follow suit, but they do seem keen on making sure you mask up if you come to cheer.

Punjab Ban

There’s no plan yet for India to return to the pitch either, which offers some particularly bad news for Punjab FC. Without any matches for amusement, fans could be watching rosters for some daydream thrills. But that watch got a lot more pointless this month.

Hristan Denkovski, who ended up being much
more expensive than initially thought (Sportskeeda)

Over a year ago, former Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj signed Macedonian Hristijan Denkovski. Denkovski didn’t show so Bajaj ended the contract without paying him. Then Bajaj sold the club, COVID hit, and Denkovski still hadn’t been paid (even though Bajaj and the new owners knew they had to). Now, almost a year later, international judges levied the consequence for not paying someone who never played for you: NO MORE SIGNING ANYONE FOR A YEAR!! I’ll bet there’s another appeal coming, but surely it would’ve been easier to pay the man $18,000 and move on. Instead the club faces the soccer equivalent of having your library card set on fire because you didn’t pay six month of late fees on Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.

Woman of the Matches

Sure Pål André Helland played a part in every goal against Stromsgødet, and Kevin Molino netted a late winner, but I’m of going to miss the chance to plant myself firmly in the driver seat of the Julie Blaksted Hype Train. Three goals in two games have put the Kvinner in the thick of the early title race

What’s Next

Wednesday, July 15

Thursday, July 16

1:30 Start v. Rosenborg BK (M)

Friday, July 17

9:30 Real Salt Lake v Minnesota United

Saturday, July 18

Sunday, July 19

9:00 Rosenborg BK v. Kolbotn (W)

11:00 Rosenborg BK v. Sandefjord (M)

Monday, July 20

Tuesday, July 21

28. Future Facing

28. Future Facing

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Change is hard.

We’re in a time and a place where just about everyone would give their right arm if we could just “get back to normal.” If we could reset to before the unrest, before the virus, before the last election.

But that’s not what we need. We don’t need to go back. We need to go forward.

Dear Boys,

You can’t prepare for the future by trying to recreate the past

You can see that in the one club that’s still active: Rosenborg Ballklub. No team has won more titles in the men’s or women’s game in Norway. No team has a higher profile, garners more attention, or attracts more talent.

Neither team has been in great form lately. The men scuffled last year and have begun this season decidedly off color. Their last title came just two years ago, but they feel far from championship caliber.

The women, who began play as Trondheim-Orn in 1972, may have dominated the Norwegian soccer scene in the 90’s but it has been a decade since they cracked the top 5. While Lillestrom has grabbed the league by the scruff of the neck, Rosenborg nee Trondheim, might well wish for a chance to go back to their glory days.

But what’s so gratifying is to see the teams push ahead rather than search around behind themselves.

Blakstad celebrates the first of many
(Football.no)

The two players who did the most to shine last week were Emil Konradsen Ceide and Julie Blakstad. Each is only 18 years old. To put that in perspective, if they’d been foreign exchange students: I’d have taught them. Even more in perspective: both they are closer to your age than they are to mine.

That’s as it should be. The focus shouldn’t be on what has been, but on what could be. Ceide and Blakstad are the future of Rosenborg, just as you boys are the future of our family.

Konradsen Ceide (fvn.no)

It can be hard to let go of your own importance, and for every Ceide and Blakstad that rises to the fore, it seems like a veteran player is fading away. To be sure, you can certainly learn a lot from studying the past and respecting those who have gone before you. But that’s not what this is about.

Focusing on the future doesn’t diminish the past. Returning to “normalcy” is only positive if what was “normal” was good for you. Hard as it is to know that my time is passing with every stroke of the keys and tick of the clock, I take comfort in knowing that what comes next will boost you boys into the future.

Week 27: No-Way Norway

Week 27: No-Way Norway

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Scores

Rosenborg BK 1 – 1 Valerenga (M)

Back home with a socially distant crowd and a new chapter to write, Rosenborg looked much more dangerous against Valerenga than they had so far this season. This was due in no small part to Emil Konradsen Ceide’s absolutely stunning grace and intelligence on the ball.

Emil Konradsen Ceide put on his dancing shoes…

That highlight reel is a thing of beauty. His perfect judgement of positioning and angles to draw in defenders and set up the howling Marius Lundemo strike is just a joy to behold.

Oh, yeah, Valerenga scored too to equalize against a still shaky defense, but I’m too busy drooling over Ceide’s skills and smarts to care.

Rosenborg BK v LSK Kvinner (W)

The Toppserien came back this weekend, with Rosenborg’s newly partnered women’s side kicking off against the reigning champions from Lillestrom LSV. Both teams have won the women’s division seven times, but the Trondheim ladies haven’t come close in 15 years.

LSK looked like a championship side on the rainy pitch. Battering at the Rosenborg goal could well have yielded a few more goals than it did, but credit to young Julie Blakstad for a knuckling ball that bashed through the opponent’s hands and into the back of the net for a great equalizer.

Stabaek 0 – 3 Rosenborg BK (M)

The class of the Troll Children started to shine through a little more on Sunday. (Seriously, that’s their nickname. I don’t know how I haven’t used it in every Rosenborg post ever, but here we are.)

They appeared in total control of the game against Stabaek, perhaps none more so than Left Back, Anders Trondsen who inserted himself into two build ups to frazzle the defense and set up the team’s second and third goals. As RBK brings in a few more high profile names and starts to stretch their legs out for more fast paced style, the team has a great chance to build throughout July.

News & Notes

Summer Transfers start to sizzle

After several months of inaction, teams have begun to move players around, particularly now that the first major European league (Germany’s Bundesliga) has closed up shop for the summer.

Freiburg said goodbye to Yoric Ravet, Jerome Gondorf, and Pascal Stenzel, none of whom seemed to factor much in the action this past season. But word that Schalke is sweet on goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow and set to steal him away, might well give Griffins something to worry about.

Meanwhile, the end of the Bundesliga brought great news for Rosenborg, as beloved youth product and international standard midfielder Per Ciljan Skjelbred leaves Hertha Berlin to rejoin his home town club. (That caption above reads “Per is back where he calls home”) It’s particularly valuable as Marius Lundemo prepares to head off for sunny Cyprus and the team needs a new central pivot for their attack.

Loons take flight…?

Here in the US, Major League Soccer is due to restart tomorrow…except…

So, America isn’t really a functional society right now. We’re a too divided and mad at each other to do the basic things and make the basic sacrifices that Norway and Germany did already. Instead of testing like crazy in Germany, only the lines to get tested are crazy. Instead of social distanced everything like in Norway, we have people partying up on top of each other.

And so, one team has already been removed from the tournament due to positive test results, and a warm up match against an opponent was cancelled. So…maybe we have a game on Sunday, or maybe we see it all come crashing to a halt…again.

Man of the Matches

He didn’t score. He didn’t factor in to the cruising win at Staebek, but my goodness, I think I’m in love with Emil Konradsen Ceide.

Emil Konradsen Ceide

What’s Next

Wednesday, July 8

Thursday, July 9

Friday, July 10

Saturday, July 11

7:00 AM Lyn Football v. Rosenborg BK (W)

1:30 PM Rosenborg BK v Stromsgodset (M)

Sunday, July 12

7:00 PM Sporting KC v. Minnesota United

Monday, July 13

Tuesday, July 7

27. Looking for Leaders

27. Looking for Leaders

by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Dear Boys,

You’re too young for it now, but you will in time become obsessed with Star Wars. So it has been for me, your mother, your uncles, just about everybody at one time or another. While I don’t love it like I used to, I will always remember one key line.

(Magic Quote, from Star Wars IV: A New Hope by George Lucas)

That scene pokes fun at those who doubt and deride others without taking up the mantle of leadership themselves. But it applies to lots of us, every day, in different ways. In these uncertain times, we look to leaders for guidance. But how do we know leaders from fools?

Leadership without accountability is just authority.

I think you can see this illustrated in two of our favorite clubs.

First, there’s SC Freiburg: the Baden-Wuttermburg based workhorses of Germany. With little capital and only a light dusting of history, they have become genuine contenders to represent the best that German football has to offer. And at the center of that is the coach, Christian Streich.

Streich in stride (Daily Mail)

Streich doesn’t cut a striking figure or command attention. He leads through honesty, and introspection. He thinks big thoughts and asks big questions, not just about X’s and O’s but of how he and soccer contribute to modern challenges, and what they can do to address them.

Streich could, like other coaches, fixate on the next game and shut out everything else. But he doesn’t. He invites dialogue, not obedience. He questions his place, and the place of soccer as part of our world: not life/death, not all/nothing, just part of the whole. Being accountable as a coach, and a person breeds the trust that builds a team and begets leadership. He models accountability beyond the sideline, and in life itself.

Then, there’s Eirik Horneland. He who was given the keys to the kingdom at Rosenborg Ballklub and promptly dropped them down the garbage disposal.

Horneland heads home (Dagblad.com)

I mock, but truthfully, Horneland is the other side of accountability. Things have not gone as Rosenborg wants or expects. Horneland could have done many things. He could have deflected. He could have huffed, puffed, and thrown players, management, or officials under the proverbial bus. He could have, but he didn’t.

“er det naturlig at jeg som øverste sportslig ansvarlig i RBK må ta ansvaret for manglende sportslig fremgang,”

It is natural that I , as the top sports director at RBK, must take responsibility for the lack of team progress

Eirick Horneland

That is everything. Horneland was held responsible, and he held himself responsible. He was held accountable, and he accepted it.

If the world was perfect, you boys would always be Streichs. You’d work hard, do well, and, by all accounts, deserve to be rewarded. But that is not the world. Sometimes, you will work hard, struggle, and, by all accounts, deserve to lose what you work for. You will have times when you are Hornelands. You may be full of hope, ideals, and exciting opportunities. But it may all wind up in that garbage disposal.

(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)

I say this because, right now, America has a leader without accountability. A leader who sees everything he does as right, and every critique of him as cruel. A leader who insists on dividing our community as we cry out for unity. In short, we have a fool. A man who likes the authority of his office, and eschews the accountability.

So, absent that figure in our public consciousness, I bring up these two coaches, both of whom lead, both are held accountable, and both respect that they don’t just have a position of authority, they have a position of leadership.

Week 26: Auf Weidersein and Velkommen

Week 26: Auf Weidersein and Velkommen

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Scores

Rosenborg BK 2 – Bodo/Glimt 3 (M)

This. Was. Epic. This match had everything. Captain Tor Reginussen digging the team an early hole with a silly foul in the box. A studs up challenge eliciting a straight red card for Birger Meling leaving us all to believe that RBK was doomed.

UNTIL….a pair of meticulously placed crosses unsettled Bodo/Glimt, witnessed a screaming volley from Anders Trondsen, and gave Rosenborg an unlikely lead with only 8 minutes to play, at home. Leaving us all to believe that RBK was a lock.

UNTIL….a pair of clinical passes slipped between an outnumbered and overwhelmed RBK back line. Meaning that Bodo/Glimt took the win, and Rosenborg coach Eirik Horneland headed for an exit of his own (see news).

SC Freiburg 4 – Schalke 0 (M)

In their last match of the year, Freiburg turned in a fabulous performance that emphasized how close they are to the next tier of Bundesliga sides. While Schalke has more resources, more recent history and a higher profile coach (hi former US International David Wagner!), they hadn’t won in 15 games, and Freiburg made it 16.

It’s hard to pick out my favorite part: two strong goals from Gian-Luca Waldschmit, two stellar assists from Christian Gunter to go along with his usual solid play at fullback, Vincenzo Grifo with another pin point pass to set up a goal. All in all the number of times you hear the wordless chorus to “I Will Survive” ensures it will be in your head until next season kicks off.

Frankfurt 0 – SC Freiburg 2 (W)

Saving the best for last, the ladies Bundesliga finished a day after the menfolk. And again, Freiburg has plenty of reason for hope. Sure Klara Buhl will take her talismanic ways to Bayern Munich, but Hasret Kayikci’s second goal in as many games means that the Lady Griffins end the year having won four of their last six. (I can’t find any highlights, so lets just enjoy the I will survive chorus a couple more times!)

Brann 1 – Rosenborg BK 2 (M)

Rosenborg got their first win of the season, but still made it interesting. Conceding painfully early to Brann gave them plenty to worry about, and Samuel Adegbenro’s early injury left them without their most dynamic play maker. But perhaps they just needed the pressure on.

As with the come back against Bodo/Glimt, Rosenborg again scored late and often. First a sweet end of the half strike from Even Haland tied the game. Then, a bonkers 90th minute deflected chip from Carlo Holse stole the points from Brann.

News & Notes

Horneland gets the hook

Eirik Horneland had built a bit of a reputation for stylish and attractive football over three seasons with FK Haugesaund. But that didn’t quite translate to Trondheim.

Horneland heads for the exit.
From Ole Martin World (Dagbladet)

Last January he was appointed to take over the title holders after the man who saw them to three titles and several double wins (taking both the title and the single elimination cup) Kare Ingibritsen. Ingibritsen’s excellent record in Norway won him more chances in Europe. (sidebar: Ingibritsen should be careful what he wishes for. After dominating Norway, his Dutch side barely ducked relegation, he was lured to mercurial Cyprus giant Apoel, and got dumped after just 45 days…their 11th manager in 7 years. Wanna come home Kare?)

The hopes that Horneland could duplicate the meteoric rise have turned much more into a asteroid-falling-from-the-sky kind of effect. After squeaking into the top 3 last year, this season began with strong but unsuccessful efforts leaving the giants of the league rooted to the bottom, 13th in a league of 16. The win over Brann boosted them to tenth, and there’s much more to play.

Deutschland, Deutschland, over already…

Grateful as we are for the Bundesliga leading the way for teams and leagues to return to action, we knew it meant they would be the first ones finished with their season. Still, Freiburg gave us some great football to enjoy while they were back.

They Ladies may have finished just below mid-table and far off the pace of VfL Wolfsburg, but they clearly played their best games of the season after the restart, and are just a short summer training session away from building on the momentum again.

Streich on side
(Robin Rudel for Pressefoto)

Meanwhile the men’s side seems to be on the verge of something special. This is not a team that can/will be satisfied with surviving the league any more. With Christian Streich re-signed and a squad strong enough to draw attention of big European sides, there’s lots of reason for optimism in the summer ahead.

Man of the Matches

No doubt about it Christian Gunter was critical to the superlative showing by Freiburg over the weekend. He may not always get two assists, but he has been invaluable in solidifying the boys from the Black Forest during the return to play.

What’s Next

Wednesday, July 1

1:30 Rosenborg BK v. Valerenga (M)

Thursday, July 2

Friday, July 3

12:45 Rosenborg BK v LSV Kvinner (W)

Saturday, July 4

Sunday, July 5

1:30 Stabaek v Rosenborg BK (M)

Monday, July 6

Tuesday, July 7

Week 25: Welcome back Norway, Bye-bye Serbia

Week 25: Welcome back Norway, Bye-bye Serbia

by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Scores

Rosenborg BK 0 v. Kristiansund 0 (M)

It was a great day at Lerkendal stadium. The sun was shining. The drone footage was captivating. The players were reunited.

Eric Pal Helland not scoring and Samuel Adebengro’s individual runs going to waste were after thoughts. The Eliteserien is back and we are grateful.

Here’s hoping the video from Norway works

SC Freiburg 2 v. Hertha Berlin 1 (M)

Coming off a draw that buoyed their chances for Europe, Freiburg got a vital victory to move in to keep the pressure on Hoffenheim.

After a raft of great opportunities went lacking in the first half, an absolute thunder crack from Vincenzo Grifo put the Griffins ahead (after video review had spared them giving up a thundering shot at the other end). After a foolish stumble gave the lead back, Nils Petersen again scored the kind of goal that older brothers use to domineer their little brothers all the time. Some goals are beautiful, some aren’t. They all count.

SC Freiburg 0 v. VfL Wolfsburg 2 (W)

Watching Wolfsburg play in the Women’s Bundesliga is a little like watching Duke basketball play in the Montana High School League. It’s the same game, and every opponent can have a good stretch, but the outcome is rarely if ever in doubt.

So Freiburg’s loss isn’t remarkable, but the fact that they held the champs to two goals, for the first time since a November draw against Bayern and only the fourth team all year to hold them under 3 (Bayern, FC Twente in the Womn’s Champions League and SC Sand on opening day). But despite a few solid goal scoring chances, it was Wolfsburg’s day dominating in the opposing box.

FK Vozdovac 1 v. FK Radnik Surdulica 1

Clearly feeling themselves in the midst of a fine run of form, the Red Dragons fired at Radnik Surdulica early and often. Seemingly every inch of space invited a shot, and while many had the look of Goalazos the ice breaker turned out to be a solid headed redirection with Lazar Zlicic elevating to nod in the aggressive attacking defender and captain, Nikola Mikic. The first goal seemed only to whet Zlicic’s appetite with his blasts coming faster and faster as the match wore on.

When Vozdovac failed to push in a free kick that seemed to run along the entire length of the goal line, Radnik capitalized. A straightforward cross could have been easily cleared, but Nemanja Pejcinovic’s foot angled toward goal and the gift was given and the points were shared.

Bayern Munich 3 v SC Freiburg 1 (M)

Munich had won another title so they didn’t have much reason to try in this match. But they are Bayern Munich, so, of course, they did. Robert Lewandowski did what he always does: score goals. A great run by Jonathan Schmid and a well placed tap-in from Lucas Holer gave us a little hope, but…it wasn’t to be.

That result, combined with Hoffenhiem’s win over Union Berlin ended any remaining daydreams of Europe for Christian Streich and company. But that’s all the more reason to start dreaming about next year!

Molde 1 v. Rosenborg BK 0 (M)

The reigning champions versus the eternal champions set up a rather tasty early fixture on the Eliteserien schedule. Molde wasn’t about to let the chance to bring fans into the stands go to waste, as for the first time outside Serbia we could hear timely, topical cheering (mercifully without the neo-nazi undertones).

The two sides showed their class in a pacy, back and forth match. Each side had clear cut opportunities, each had some urgent defensive lapses. In the end, the result hinged on two players. First, there was the rampaging class of Molde’s Ohi Omoijufano who seemed as confounding for Rosenborg as Minnesota’s maintenance of Lutefisk is for regular Norwegians. Second the lucky bounces of the ball from off Ola Brynhildsen, off keeper Andre Hansen back off Brynhildsen and finally off the post to deny Molde a second.

SC Freiburg 1 v. SGS Essen 2 (W)

The women from Freiburg had hopes of returning to winning ways, but it wasn’t to be against the side from Essen. The ominous omen for the rest of the match had to be Hasret Kayikci’s golden chance in the opening moments. Alone against the keeper Kayikci whiffed on her shot and may have earned some blooper music too.

Essen seemed to control the match the rest of the way, not withstanding a Janina Minge goal that bounced perfectly between the opposing keeper’s legs to remove some of the sting for Freiburg’s faithful.

Another attempted video upload, this time from the German Federation proper

News & Notes

FK Vozdovac wraps up

Ending much later than anyone anticipated, the Serbian league ended as it so often does: with Red Star Belgrade triumphant, Partizan Belgrade right behind them, and FK Vozdovac back in the distance.

While it may not have ended in hard ware, the comeback from an abysmal February to a respectable mid-table finish seems promising for the Red Dragons, and we hope that there’s more good news ahead.

Warriors Lose Starlet to Odisha FC

Moirangthem (from AFC Cup Media)

The awesome writers at the Away End, particularly the great and good Nehal are always our go to spot for info on the Indian game. This week the news was less than good. 17 year-old Thoiba Singh Moirangthem has left the Northwest. Though he wasn’t a permanent starter in Punjab, Moirangthem has the kind of potential you have to dream on. Or, if you’re a lower division club, sell on to try to keep yourself afloat during a pandemic.

Rosenborg add the Golden Boot Winner

Torgeir Borven lit up the Eliteserien for Odd last year, striking 21 times to top all players. That performance earned him a step up in profile and a move to the higher profile RBK to boot. He’ll start in August

Man of the Matches

While I’m tempted to name a Red Dragon as a parting gift, or a Rosenborger as a welcome back present, we can’t keep ignoring Vincenzo Grifo. With the Griffins, Grifo has done it all to boost them back into Europe. Powerful spot kicks, masterful distributing, without him there was every reason to fear a slide toward relegation. Instead, we got the thrilling final month. (He even took a break in being awesome to say hi to his hometown) Grazi Vincenzo.

What’s Next

Wednesday, June 24

Thursday, June 25

1:30 Rosenborg BK v. Bodo/Glimt (M)

Friday, June 26

Saturday, June 27

8:30 SC Freiburg v Schalke 04 (M)

Sunday, June 28

7:00 Frankfurt v. SC Freiburg (W)

1:30 Brann v Rosenborg BK (M)

Monday, June 29

Tuesday, June 30

25. Amazing Grace

25. Amazing Grace

by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Dear Boys,

My friend Aly once broke it down for me like this: “you’re a cis-hetero, upper middle class, educated white guy. If life were a video game, you’d be playing it on easy mode.”

That can be a little hard to hear but it’s true for me, and it may turn out to be true for you too. To be fair, at your age it’s not clear if your genders are more fluid, or your orientations are different, or where your education and careers will take you. But make no mistake, the comfort and prominence of being white has made and will make your life easier

And yet, if you’re anything like me, you will run into people who invite you to “take it easy” or cut others who look like us “some slack”.

Right now there’s a lot to do. As the protests fade into the background it’s easier and easier to let go of lofty goals and abandon your expectations. Easier still to ridicule and disparage people who take a break.

Even with all the pressure, stress, and big fights to fight, you shouldn’t take it easy. Even when someone who looks like you, sounds like you and pleads that they meant well, or were raised at a different time, and so would appreciate a little slack, be wary before you agree.

Life is easy enough already and white guys have more than our share of slack as it is.

Don’t take it easy, don’t cut people a ton of slack, but do extend yourself and others a little grace.

To some, these may sound like distinctions without a difference. Ease, slack, grace. All speak to comfort and a break from struggle. So why applaud one and avoid the others?

Taking it easy excuses yourself from the work that must be done. Cutting slack lowers expectations for some while others keep striving. Extending grace asks us to appreciate the humanity in others while holding firm expectations for what will be done and how it will be done.

(From Stream)

As a teacher, I often need to do this for students. If a kid doesn’t do an assignment, we could take it easy and cancel the assignment, we could cut some slack and grade it with the notion that this is the best they could do, or we could extend grace, offer support and sympathy, then set a plan for completing the full assignment.

C’mon Man!! (from Esquire)

There is another alternative of course: be a jerk and tell them they’re wrong. It’s a popular choice for some. It comes along with an inflated sense of righteousness and a diminished view of other people. It can feel good to tell people who fall short just how far they are from adequate. But that’s as far away from grace as you can get.

Or consider sports, players are coming back to training, but few if any are as crisp and sharp as they might have been otherwise. Now is not the time to berate or demean them as failures, nor is it the time to pat them on the head and provide a participation trophy.

Instead we can extend some grace. So if/when they miss an open netter (Rosenborg) , flub a great opportunity to cross (Freiburg), or get caught ball watching as an opponent slices up the defense (Vozdovac), we neither rage nor shrug. We remember these are people. They have families at risk for a rampant disease and their job puts them at extra risk. The world is often on fire and friends, loved ones, or neighbors, might be in harm’s way. By extending a little grace we keep things in perspective, appreciate where they are now and stay focused on where we hope to go.

Extending grace

I live my life on easy mode. I have the luxury and privilege of doing so. For a long time I’ve bemoaned every failure and loathed each short coming. While others encourage me to take it easy or cut myself some slack, I would respectfully say no. I have a lot to do. I can and should do it as well as possible. But I can extend grace and recognize that I am here now, I have done my best, and I can do better.

I’m not saying I’ve done it right, or that I’ve done it at all. But with a little grace I know I’ve done my best today, and I’ll strive to do better tomorrow.