shannon2007

2020 World Cup Qualifying Campaign

Still on a high from the quite brilliant Under 19's efforts, it was time for the Faroes to get down to real business and start looking towards the 2010 World Cup, and especially the opening match in Slovenia. It was Ingi's plan to start playing those of the youths that had so far been most impressive, and look to Olaf to bring on any new youths through the U-19 system again. For the match with Slovenia though, Morten Clausen, Aki Joensen and Kristian Hojgaard were all carrying suspensions and Bardur Jensen was still out with a long term injury. All four players were expected to play a big part though in future qualifying games but would of course have sit out the opener.

Gunnar Nielsen, still only 21, retains his place in goal to gain his 21st cap for his country. Although Nielsen hasn't been in what you could exactly call brilliant form for IBV, he is still the number once choice for his country, but may need to look over his shoulder as one or two others might possibly be knocking on the door soon. Such as 22 year old Heini Kristian, who despite 10 U-21 caps has still to make his full international debut. Yet in getting a consistant start for his new club Fremad Amager, he now has every chance to push Nielsen. Berint Andreasson (25), who has two full caps to his name, remains as third choice for now, but having slipped to the Amager bench his chances of adding to those caps must surely be diminishing.

At left back, 27 year old Mortan I Horg retains his place and will probably be the number one choice for the campaign, although the IBV player - who also celebrates his 21st cap against Slovenia - will be pushed not only by the missing Hojgaard, but also possibly by teammate Morten Larsen. Larsen already has two caps, but the 17 year old is far from ready to be a regular at this level.

The right back spot is also well worn, with Simun Joensen (25) winning his 19th cap in the up coming game. Joensen may well have his weaknessess, but then most of this squad do - they are far from a World Class outfit. However, playing well for his club IBV and having rarely let his country down, Joensen certainly deserves his place. Right back is well is still a seemingly weak position, and although 16 year old Ronnie Danielsen did well enough at the U-19 finals and is playing ok for his club, he still has an awful lot to learn about the game.

The central defence is where there may well be the biggest problem with the whole squad. 19 year old John Hansen of Fremad Amager will win his 5th cap on the left side, but although he has some good qualities, he can make the most elemental of errors and probably needs a good solid and experienced player beside him. Unfortunately, that is a luxury he does not have and he will probably be partnered by IBV defender Pauli Nielsen (18), who would be gaining only his own 4th full cap. 19 year old Johann Davidsen, with one full cap, has struggled to hold down a place since his move to IBV and lets face it if he struggles in the Icelandic League, he's not going to shine on the international stage is he. 16 year old Allan Danielsen has also not been given much chance at IBV, and is really only along for the ride and is unlikely to feature for a while at this level. 22 year old Uni Kjaerbo will be hoping that his comparative maturity will help him become the number one choice, and he certainly has a chance but is likely to start on the bench in his bid to gain his 5th full cap.

Yet if the defence is weak, then the midfield and attack certainly wouldn't appear so. Einar Petersen (22) will win his 13th cap, and the IBV man will be hoping it isn't unlucky for him. A good solid performer, he never seems to play outwith his capabilities and that is probably why he is so reliable in the defensive role, a role which can also be filled by Morten Larsen.

Competition for the other two midfield places would seem to fierce, and that can only be good. It would be expected that Aki Joensen will be first choice when he returns from suspension and is likely to partnered by 21 year old IBV player Johan V Gunnarsson, who will win his 18th cap. Gunnarsson's team mate at IBV, Thomas Overgaard (18), is likely to be his partner against Slovenia, winning his 3rd cap in the process, whilst another IBV player, 16 year old Jan Poulsen will have to wait his turn, but is definately a player who should be good for the future, as should another 16 year old, Magni Danielsen of Fremad Amager. They are both very promising players, but 16 is way too early to decide if they will make the grade. 19 year old Manchester City youngster Christian Mouritsen is also developing into a reasonably decent young player and will be hoping to add to his solitary cap.

Up front, the main striking role will be taken by Faroese Golden Boy, Anders Berg whom it has to be remembered is still only 17. The Fremad Amager striker had a great U-19 tournament although he was worryingly missing in the final. Yet with four goals already from his mere two full caps, he surely has the potential to be the greatest Faroese player of all time. Bergs inclusion in the starting line up means that IBV goal machine Christian Holst (26) will have to move out to one of the wings, and will probably play on the left side, which isn't ideal from his point of view. Eleven goals from twenty two caps is a decent enough record and it will be interesting to see how he fits into the new forward line, which should be completed on the right by Bergs Amager team mate, 17 year old Peter Damgaard. This will be Damgaards first full cap, and a lot is expected of him. Not regarded as technically efficient as Berg or Aki Joensen, Damgaard is nevertheless a very good young player and doesn't always get the credit he deserves. Mainly due to being overshadowed by Berg it has to be said. Gudjon Adalsteinn Gudmundsson (22) has been enjoying life in Denmark after his move to Amager from IBV. Although he can play on the right wing, he plays in a more central midfield role for his club, and looks comfortable enough in either position. Andrew av Flotum at 29 years old is the elder statesman of the team, but is likely to drop out if other players become available in the future, as would 19 year old Amager player Kaj Kjaerbo. Jan Ingi Petersen (24) is also likely to be a fringe player in the squad, although Bardur Jensen's injury has seen him given an extended run at IBV where he has done well enough. 22 year old Arnold Poulsen, who has 4 caps to his name, makes up the squad. Although is indeed a decent enough player, there is a lot of competition up front and Poulsen is finding it hard to make his mark at his club, Amager.

A very youthful squad, but having being largely unimpressive in the Euro 2008 campaign, there really is little to lose, and even just winning a few games and not finishing bottom two will be a massive step forward for the Faroes.

shannon2007

Slovenia v Faroe Islands
2010 World Cup Qualifying – Matchday 1
Wednesday 3rd September 2008

The big day arrived, and with only the previously known players missing it was, in the opinion of the management team at least, the strongest available Faroese side that would go out to face Slovenia. Based on the back of the Under 19 success, this was the start of a brave new era for the Faroes, where they would no longer be the whipping boys of European football. That at least was the theory, practice might be a little bit different, and for sure the success was not going to come over night. After all, even setting aside their lack of ability in comparison to the world's best players, this was a very young and inexperienced side who mostly played in the Icelandic and Danish leagues. It was a fairly big step up from there to the rigours of full international football. And Slovenia were certainly no mugs.

Although they had reached the qualifying play offs for the 2006 World Cup – losing out to Sweden on aggregate – their Euro 2008 campaign had been by comparison disasterous. Only two matches had been won, 3-1 away to Belarus and 3-0 at home to Poland in a campaign that will quickly be pushed under the carpet and forgotten about. We all have times when things don't go quite as planned. And certainly in this group, in which no team really stood out, Slovenia must feel they have as good a chance of anyone of progressing.

The Slovenians opened in near devastating style, as in the first minute they surged forward trying to catch Nielsen cold, but the Faroese keeper pulled of a magnificent save from a Borut Semier shot. The resultant corner was only knocked behind for another, before the ball was finally cleared and the Faroes players could find a bit of breathing space. They certainly knew now, if they didn't before, that they were in for a torrid night of backs to the wall football. On 11 minutes Zeljkovic saw a header go just over and the pattern of the game was being set as the young Faroese side struggled to come to terms with their more experienced – and probably more skillful – counterparts. As the defence withstood some scarey moments, thanks mainly to some excellent goalkeeping and some hard working covering from the midfield and full backs for the shakey middle two, it wasn't until the 19th minute that the Faroes had their first real chance. Pauli Nielsen had a glorious opportunity as he headed from a corner, but his effort was poor and although he possibly should have scored, the ball went sailing over the bar.

Emboldended by winning a corner, the Faroes started to get braver and a few minutes later Berg had a chance, but his effort was well past. No sooner had Berg missed than play raged to the other end and in a panicky attempt to clear the ball away, Simun Joensen almost sent it into his own net as Gunnar Nielsen scrambled it round the post. With the match opening up, Damgaard almost had a dream debut on the 25th minute, but his effort went narrowly wide of the post. Both sides were trying hard for the opener, and it was encouraging to see the Faroes competing and trying to get forward. Yet the defending at times was dodgy at best, and on 36 minutes the worst fears were confirmed as Hansen stupidly lost the ball outside the area with some careless play, leaving Slovenian forward an easy chance to lob the ball over Nielsen and the Slovenians were ahead.

Undaunted by going behing, the Faroese tried to hit back, and Berg had a glorious chance as Holst sliced open the Slovenian defence, but once again he somehow managed to miss the target when it seemed easier to score and eventually half time came and the score was still a goal to nil in favour of the home side. Yet despite the scoreline it was hard to be annoyed with the players, who had battled well and certainly hadn't been outplayed. There were definate signs of improvement in the side already and it was clear they would not be pushed over by anyone.


Slovenia came out in the second half determined to get the killer second goal that would surely wrap up the points. A combination of poor finishing, bad luck and good goalkeeping kept the score at still one nil, but as the half wore on it became increasingly clear that this was a match the Faroes were not going to win. On 56 minutes, Ingi made a double substitution as he replaced the badly struggling John Hansen with club mate Uni Kjaerbo and the ineffectual Thomas Overgaard with Magni Danielsen. And it was Danielsen who set up Holst with an excellent chance on the 65th minute, but the usually lethal striker was unable to get his shot away in time and the Slovenian defence cleared the ball.

On 73 minutes Peter Damgaard, who had laboured away all night with little to show, was replaced by Gudmundsson. Time was running out though, and despite the effort shown it was looking like yet another defeat for the Faroes until out of the blue Anders Berg latched onto a pass from Gunnarsson and as the Slovenian defence stood still the 17 year old calmly smashed the ball home and the Faroes had dramatically equalized. The Slovenians tried their best to restore their lead and take the three points they must have felt were theirs by right, but the end a gallant Faroese effort saw them hang on and no draw has ever been celebrated as proudly and fiercely as this one. To some it may seem crazy to celebrate a draw, but even though Slovenia it has to be said were the all round better team, it was a delight to see the Faroes finally get a break and the point will hopefully be one of many in this group that may yet have more glorious nights than this for the lowly Faroes.

How they played: Gunnar Nielsen 7; Mortan I Horg 7, John Hansen 5, Pauli Nielsen 7, Simun Joensen 7; Einar Petersen 7; Thomas Overgaard 6, Johan V Gunnarsson 7; Christian Holst 7, Anders Berg (1) 8, Peter Damgaard 6 Subs: Uni Kjaerbo (For Hansen 56) 8, Magni Danielsen (For Overgaard 56) 7, Gudjon Adalsteinn Gudmundsson (for Damgaard 73) 7

shannon2007

IBV 2008 UEFA Cup

Reaching the 3rd round of the Champions League Qualifying had been the Holy Grail for IBV since Olaf took over. If they could do that, there was a guaranteed UEFA berth and hopefully a passage to the group stages of that competition and a chance to earn a little bit of cash. Then fate handed the side Valencia.

This would be an enormous test for the Icelandic Champions, and there were few - if indeed any - people anywhere who really believed they could overcome this hurdle. Six minutes into the first leg at the Mestalla, and those few who held out hope saw it blown away as Mista gave Valencia the lead and it was clear even then that were simply in a different league. Further goals on 25 and 29 minutes from Vicente and Diego Menendez saw Valencia open up an impossible chasm and there was a real danger of a severe thrashing on the cards here.

The home side though seemed content with their margin, and it wasn't until ten minutes from time that substitute Marco de Vaio finally got the goal which made the second leg pointless. Yet just as it looked as if the tie was over, sheer bloody minded obstinacy from the Icelandic minnows saw them finally break down the Spanish defence and Christian Holst grabbed a joyous consolation goal. It even gave a little bit of hope to those people who were so over optomistic that they make you sick.

The second leg would be the final match of a long hard season for IBV - unless by some miracle they pulled off a 3-0 victory. Stranger things have happended in football, and certainly it showed the power of the away goals rule. A crowd of 2978 - twelve short of the capacity - packed into the tiny stadium, praying for a miracle. As the home side started brightly, so Christian Holst sent the home fans into raptures with an excellent goal on the 23rd minute and suddenly what had seemed like a mission impossible had become only a mission improbable.

And certainly IBV were the better team on the night, outplaying totally their more illustrious opponents. It could be said of course that with such a healthy lead, Valencia didn't need to expend too much energy and that if they had needed goals they would probably have gotten them. Such things can never be proved, but in the end despite a gallant and heroic effort which resulted in what in reality was a fine win on the night, the trauma of Mestalla proved too hard to overcome and it was Valencia who progressed to the group stages and Olaf's season - and possibly even his IBV career - was well and truly over.

shannon2007

IBV League & Cup 2008

If the IBV support hadn't been alerted by the losses in the League Cup group stage, and were sitting back thinking about another easy run to the title, it wasn't long before they were hitting the panic buttons. An opening game 1-1 draw with FH, and a 1-0 defeat to IA in the third match meant that things were not looking quite as clear cut as previous seasons. And in such a short season, titles can be lost very quickly.

Wins over Grindavik and Keflavik seemed to have gotten the Champions back on track, then came an utterly humiliating 3-0 destruction at the hands of Fram. It seemed something was going badly wrong, and as the personel had really not changed much - only two new faces had joined the club before the start of the season, Jan Poulsen and Allan Danielsen, neither of whom would go straight into the first team - perhaps the defeats were due more to complacency than anything else and it was something that had to be addressed as soon as possible.

That 'something' seemed to have been addressed well enough as the side stuck togeher a run of seven successive victories to surge back to the top of the table, but a draw and yet another loss, this time to KA, showed that all was perhaps still not as well it could be. Wins over Vikingur and Fram, both by 2-1, wrapped up for sure a 4th consecutive title, but it had been a much harder season and it was to be wondered whether the run could be kept going next time around.

Perhaps the highlight of the domestic season came in the 1st round of the Icelandic Cup, as Leikner were overwhelmed by an incredible 9-0 as IBV swept their way through to another Cup Final meeting with IA. This one proved a bit easier as Christian Holst banged in all four goals in a 4-2 win against an IA side who missed a 78th minute penalty and ended the match with 10 men. A second successive domestic treble was finally achieved, and with at least a glimmer of success in Europe this had to go down as overall - and despite the defeats - the best season Olaf had enjoyed.

Yet with only half a million pounds to spend - a considerable sum for Icelandic football some might say - and being unable to bring in any Faroese players who would actually strenghten the squad, those that might do so were either playing for Fremad Amager or some other club and their values were outside what IBV could afford, Olaf was starting to wonder if the great Faroese revolution had come as far as it could do in Iceland and it might just be time to move on.

Assuming the right job became available of course!

retired_tresor

fantastic story

shannon2007

Muchos Gracias

shannon2007

Faroe Islands v Slovakia, Czech Republic V Faroe Islands
2010 World Cup Qualifying - Matchdays 2 & 3
Saturday 4th & Wednesday 8th October 2008

It's a rare - actually impossible - occurance these days to play Czechoslovakia, but such was the way the fixtures in this group worked out that the Faroes would be playing SlovakoCzechia. Well not literally at the same time of course. It did make for an interesting group though, and there was intense excitement in the Faroes about the home match with Slovakia. Although the supporters of the national team were well aware their team was still so far away from challenging top class nations, nevertheless they were going into these games with an almost crazy sense of self belief. Their team would do them proud, of that they had become totally assured, and this was going to be a group in which the other nations feared coming to Tórshavn.

Slovakia had, like Slovenia, reached the play offs for the last World Cup, but had lost out to Serbia & Montenegro on aggregate and in the qualifying for Euro 2008 they had blown hot and cold and even suffered a 3-0 loss at home to Iceland. Their opening match in this campaign had been a far from impressive 2-0 home win over San Marino and it was such results, as well as their own improving team, that gave the Faroese such confidence that this match could turn into a three pointer. And having taken four points from their opening two matches, they could even perhaps start to dream of greater more impossible things.

There were a few changes to the line up from the Slovenia match. Uni Kjaerbo would start ahead of John Hansen after the latters nightmare over there. Aki Joensen returned from suspension to replace Overgaard in partnering Gunnarsson in the midfield. Morten Clausen and Bardur Jensen were back, but both could only find a place on the bench whilst Kristian Hojgaard returned from suspension but didn't make the bench this time.

Only four minutes had gone when the Faroes recieved a devastating blow as keeper Gunnar Nielsen picked up injury and had to go off to be replaced by Heini Kristiansen. The injury was bad enough to make sure the IBV keeper would miss the Czech Republic match as well. Kristiansen though is a decent keeper and although the circumstances weren't ideal he would be hoping to do well in his first caps for his country at full level.

Things weren't going the Faroes way and when Simun Joensen picked up a yellow card just nine minutes into the match, it felt like it was turning into one of those nights. A few seconds later, Kristian was called to make his first international save, and he do so in style to bolster the confidence of his defence. Pauli Nielsen needed attention from the physio on 17 minutes, and Uni Kjaerbo was added to the referee's book on 19 as the Faroese frustrations mounted.

Just before the half hour, Aki Joensen skirted his way into the box passed the Slovakian defence and lobbed the ball audaciously over the head of the outrushing keeper towards the onrushing Anders Berg. Berg though wasn't needed this time, as the ball flew into the net and Joensen bagged his first international goal. Boosted by the goal, the Faroes started to attain the upper hand and before the break Berg missed two excellent chances to extend the lead but come half time it remained at one goal to nil for the Faroese.

On the hour mark Christian Holst was clean through on the keeper and looked a dead cert to score, but the keeper bravely managed to block his shot and a few minutes later missed chances were to come back and haunt the side as Martin Skrtel blasted a free kick passed Kristiansen. There was no more scoring and the match ended in a draw. It had been an excellent performance for the Faroes, and for once they were actually dissapointed not to have come away with all three points which in the balance of play they probably deserved.

Heini Kristiansen was the only change to the starting line up in Teplice as he made his first start at full international level. The Czech Republic had reached the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup, losing out 1-0 to Italy. In the Euro 2008 qualifying though they had lost out to England and had suffered a hugely embarrasing 2-1 home defeat to lowly Luxembourg. And if Luxembourg could do it, there was absolutely no reason why the Faroe Islands couldn't.

Yet the Czech Republic are still regarded as a fine side and this would be a very tough match - possibly the toughest match of the group. Just six minutes in and Berg almost caused more red faces for the Czechs, but Cech made an excellent save to deny the teenager. Both teams were creating chances and it seemed as if a goal must come, and on 22 minutes it did as Jan Polak hit a superb and unstoppable shot from 25 yards to give the home side the lead. It was a goal well worthy of any goal of the season award and there was nothing Kristiansen could have done.

Just five minutes later, Christian Holst sent the small band of Faroese supporters in raptures as he brilliantly brought his side level but the celebrations had not even begun to die down when Sverkos restored the Czech republic lead with seconds of the restart. The Faroes battled bravely on, but as the match entered the 91st minute it looked like yet another glorious defeat and the Faroese fans were starting to worry they might be becoming Scotland. AS the seconds ticked away, substitute Arnold Poulsen broke down the right wing, delivering a perfect cross which Holst drove firmly into the back of the net and the Czech fans stood in utter disbelief the Faroes had stolen a point at the death.

Three matches gone and the side unbeaten. It can't be that often a Faroes team can say that!

How they played:

versus Slovakia: Gunnar Nielsen 6 (inj 4); Mortan I Horg (Y) 7, Uni Kjaerbo (Y) 7, Pauli Nielsen 8 (subbed 61) , Simun Joensen (Y) 7; Einar Petersen 7; Aki Joensen (1) 7, Johan V Gunnarsson 7; Christian Holst 7, Anders Berg 7, Peter Damgaard 7 Subs: Heini Kristiansen (For G Nielsen, 4) 7, Morten Clausen (For P Nielsen, 61) 6

versus Czech Republic: Heini Kristiansen 6; Mortan I Horg (Y) 7, Uni Kjaerbo 7, Pauli Nielsen 8 (subbed 61) , Simun Joensen 7; Einar Petersen 7; Aki Joensen 8, Johan V Gunnarsson 7; Christian Holst (2) 9, Anders Berg (Inj 59) 7, Peter Damgaard 7 Subs: Arnold Poulsen (for Berg, 59) 7

shannon2007

Fremad Amager 2008 League Season - First Part

Even before what was expected to be a very tough season began, the Fremad Amager support were to recieved devastating news when left back Kristian Hojgaard demanded a transfer and eventually moved to Crystal Palace in a £1.5M deal. The sale though did give Ingi some cash to play with, and allowed the purchase of ten new players, including IBV keeper Heini Kristiansen, left centre back Giorgos Pelagias and left back Gustavo Rojas from Frem. It was of course the ideal to have an all Faroese squad, but Ingi realised that he would have to bring in a few other players meanwhile.

With the side favourites to go straight back down, getting early points on the board was a must to bolster confidence. The season started with mixed fortunes - a decent 0-0 draw away to AB was followed by a 1-0 home loss to Esbjerg before Kaj Kaerbo got the first goal of the season in a superb 1-0 home win over last seasons runners up FC Kobenhavn. There would be some more excellent perfomances, perhaps the most stunning of which was an incredible 4-1 away triumph against reigning Champions Aab. A Berg brace and singles from Damgaard and Poulsen stunned AaB, and for a while at least it even looked like Amager would themselves challenge for the title.

Such a scenario though was soon put in it's place, and defeats such as 4-1 to AGF and 5-1 to Brondby showed that there was still very much a lot of work to be done just to stay up and by the time the winter break came, Amager sat 10th out the 12 Premier clubs, eight points clear of the relegation zone. It had been a bumpy ride, including a shock 2nd round Cup exit to First Division B 1909. With relegation still far from staved off, the Fremad Amager fans were about to recieve a far greater shock in an event that was infolding and would send shock waves throughout Danish and even world football. Scandal was about to rear it's ugly head.

retired_tresor

:o

shannon2007

All Aboard, The Train is Moving!

Rumours and discontent abound in football. Olaf was feeling that he had just about done all he could with IBV within the constraints of their league system - no organised youth set up - and their financial liabilities. If the club had reached the Champions League group stages, then he might indeed have had the money to bring in the rest of the Faroese squad, as was the original plan. They had failed to do so though, and even with that a lack of any decent youth football made it very hard to bring through the youngsters that the Faroes needed for the future. He felt, with a deep sadness in his heart, that it was time to move on. The question was, where?

Ingi was feeling down as well. With his Amager side slumping in the league, and the mainstay of the Faroese squad unwilling to move to his club things weren't quite working out as the brothers had planned and it was clear they needed to have one club with all the Faroese players - well as many as possible at least - under the umbrella of that club. Ingi felt that perhaps he had made a mistake in coming in Fremad Amager, but on the other hand there clearly had been a benefit to the national side. Yet as he thought on the matter, events elsewhere would soon lead him to the only possible decision for the good of the Faroese national side. Which, after all, was what this was all about. Ingi didn't really care that much about Fremad Amager.

As the Danish season reached it's winter break so both Brondby - managed by Michael Laudrup - and FC Kobenhavn (managed rather ironically by Olaf's former assistant at IBV, Angelo Attenucci), were both struggling in the league and both managers were under pressure. Olaf mischieviously declared in the press that he would quite like to manage a club of the stature of FK Kobenhavn, and the news stunned the IBV support who gathered outside the stadium to ask their manager to stay.

The ironic thing about the sacking of Attenucci was that it came on the back of a 2-0 win over league leaders OB, and as they won 3-1 in the game in which they were managerless, so in fact the club say 4th in the league only three points off first place. When Olaf was touted as favourite for the job, he failed to deny his interest much to the anger of the IBV board who issued a statement to the effect that would their manager please concentrate on the job they were paying him to do thank you very much.

Two days later Olaf Danielsen was unveiled as the new manager of FC Kobenhavn. But that was far from the end of the drama, and indeed sparked a controversy that shook the foundations of Danish football.

Nearly.