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Of course it wasn't just the full Faroese team that was important - the U-21's and perhaps especially the under 19's were in many ways more important. The U-21 side had not had a good European U-21 Championship Qualifying campaign, although they did manager a 1-0 win in Cyprus and very creditable 1-1 draws at home to France, Switzerland and Ireland. A 5-1 thrashing at home to Cyprus followed by a 5-0 gubbing in France showed though that progress is minimal at best and rounding off the campaign with two 2-0 defeats to Israel didn't really offer that much hope.
The Under 21 side mirrored the friendly matches of the full side against Japan and Azerbaijan, losing both games by 2-1. Yet if the U-21 sides results would perhaps send Faroese supporters into fits of depression about the future, the U 19 side at least is showing some tiny little signs that there perhaps is a glimmer of hope. They didn't progress past the 1st qualifying group of the U-19 European Championsips - but then perhaps that would really be expected too big a miracle, especially considering Greece, Belarus and Italy were their opponents. But then they didn't finish bottom either.
A 2-1 defeat from Greece in the opening match was encouraging simply because they hadn't been outplayed. Hosts Belarus were held to a very creditable 2-2 draw and then finally the might Italy were humbled 2-1. Indeed it was a shockingly poor showing from an Italian side who lost all three of their games. The Faroes side ended level on points with Belarus, with identical goals scored and conceded but it was the hosts who went through by vritue of - well luck really.
Hope for the future lies with the youth, and although Iceland is a distance away from the Faroes, it's here that a tiny new bit of hope has arisen in the IBV squad. Five fifteen year olds were promoted to join the first team squad. Danish born Rasmus Frandsen looks the best of a bunch who all mostly look like they could be half decent players in the future. The hope for the Faroes comes from midfielder Thomas Overgaard. Born in Iceland, he boasts dual Icelandic/Faroes nationality and although perhaps not with the same level of natural talent as the rest of the players who have come through is nevertheless a player who just may one day appear in a Faroese national shirt - assuming he doesn't instead opt to play for Iceland!
As well as the teenagers, the close season saw the arrival of seven new faces - only one of whom was Faroese - and the departure of seven players who had spent most of last season on the sidelines and were just eating up wages. Long term, Olaf and Ingi's goal was of course to have the whole Faroese national side playing at IBV, but for now that goal was still a long way from being realised and Olaf knew that he would have to bring in other players in the short term in order to be able to compete. Especially in Europe.
The squad still contained a core of Faroese, and Olaf was sure that the players he had brought in would not only make the team stronger, but would help the Faroese players develop as they played with better players.
Gunnar Nielsen has turned nineteen, and had a decent season last time out as he slowly improves. His main weaknessess are his throwing and anticipation and as shown against France he sometimes struggles with high crosses, but he should definately add to his seven caps and be the number one choice keeper for club and country for a good while yet - at least until someone better comes along.
The back up for the keeping postion in provided by another 19 year old Faroese player, Heini Kristiansen who is the current U-21 keeper for his country. Has yet to make an appearance for IBV but looks a decent enough keeper although is not quite as good as Nielsen all round. Twenty Two year old Icelander Gudjon Magnusson is also still to make his debut for IBV, but is a keeper who is certainly competant.
Simun Joensen (22) has done well to secure the right back spot for himself at club and country and also has seven caps. His passing is perhaps not top class, and his dribbling tends to be farcical, but as long as he keeps it simple he can be a good asset to the team. New signing Hjalmur Dor Hjalmsson, a 24 year old Icelander, has come in from IA after spending last season on loan at Keflavik. A decent but far from brilliant player, but is expected to be able to a job if needed.
Twenty Five year old Mortan I Horg holds down the left back position and has performed very well so far. An average all rounder who possibly lacks a little bit of finesse but can hold his own at this level. Twenty year old Cypriot Giorgios Pelagias has been brought in for the left side of the central defense, but can also play at left back of needed. Pelagias has one cap for his country already and is consider a hot prospect for Cyprus.
Twenty four year old Leon Kjaerbaek will partner Pelagias at the back, after captaining the side to the league title last season. He is a solid reliable, no frills defender, who has great pace and stamina. Other central defenders are 19 year old Dane Peter Piil, signed from FC Nordsjaelland during the close season and 20 year old Icelander Andri Olafsson who had a good season last time around but sees his place threatened by the new signings.
The defensive midfield role last season was taken by Faroese veteran, 33 year old Henning Jarnskor. During the close season though, Olaf snapped up 25 year old Iceland international Stefan Gislason and he is sure to play there as he is certainly a more technically gifted player. Twenty year old Faroette Einar Petersen has also arrived and can play this role, whilst two of the youngsters seem suited to this kind of role. Fifteen year olds Rasmus Frandsen - a Dane who looks as if he might have a decent future in the game - and Bardur Hansen, and Icelander who looks to have good physical attributes but possibly lacks too much technical ability to rise to any decent level.
The central midfield roles will be filled by new signing, 20 year old Hungarian international Daniel Toszer. Toszer is a class act and is sure to go on to bigger things, but first of all will certainly thrill the Icelandic crowds with his skill - and destroy the opposition players. He will be partnered by eighteen times capped Faroes player Jann Ingi Petersen who has dropped back from the more attacking roles. Back is provided by 18 year old Faroes player Johan V Gunnarsson who had done well when called on, 22 year old Icelander Bjarni Runar Einarsson, and 23 year old Icelander Atli Johannsson. Sixteen year old Icelander Olafur Gudlaugsson will be hoping to impress enough to gain the odd start, but its probably he will have to think about a part time career in a lower division. Fifteen year old Faroette/Icelander Thomas Overgaard also will be looking to make the breakthrough, but its unlikely to be for a few years yet. 36 year old veteran Harley Bertholdsen stil remains at the club as back up.
Up front IBV have found what is in Icelandic terms, a devastating threesome. Gudjon Adalsteinn Gudmundsson (20) has swapped places with Ingi Petersen to take advantage of his superior crossing ability, although he hasn't quite provided a decent goals ratio yet. the left side is taken by 26 year old Andrew av Flotum and in the middle is the man who has cashed in on the wide players abilities, Christian Holst. The 24 year old has bagged eight goals for his country, and fought his way into the IBV starting line up and has become a bit of a hero with the support.
Back up for the forwards comes from 32 year old Icelander Steingrimur Johannesson whose nine league goals made him top scorer last season. 19 year old Danish protegy Kristian Kaagh has come in from AGF and 15 year old Johann Saevarsson comes from the youths but is unlikely to have much opportunity to play for quite some time.
For the Faroe Islands, there would be just one more game, in February, before a long break until the opening match of 2008 European Championship Qualifiers. African side Congo were the opponents in an entertaining 1-1 draw in Torshavn, Andrew av Flotum bagging the Faroese goal.
Few, if indeed any, people living in Faroe expected their side to qualify for Euro 2008. After hearing the draw, even the smallest glimmer of hope must have been brushed aside as Ingi's team were drawn with Israel again, Denmark, Bosnia, Kazakhstan, Norway and Germany. It is sure to be a tough group, but having already thrashed Israel at home their must be hope in that tie, as well as picking up points against Bosnia and Kazakhstan. The target for the group is to finish 5th, with 4th being touted as a possibility if everything goes well.
Back in Iceland, and IBV kicked off the 2006 season with the Iceland Upper League Cup group stage. Eight teams play each other once, with the top four going through. It should therefore have been a formality for the IBV side, and indeed that is how it turned out in the end. Newly promoted Premier side Volsunger were the first opponents, and a good hard fought 3-1 away win - new signing Daniel Toszer showing his class with a brace - was just what the fans wanted to see.
There was a slight hiccup in a dissapointing 2-2 home draw with Fylkir, before three successive 2-0 wins over Breidablik, IA and Valur secured IBV's place in the last eight. The qualifying ended with a 1-1 home draw against Prottur and a 4-0 demolition of expected title rivals FH. Some good solid performances that give the IBV support a lot to be cheerful about, and great hope for the season ahead.
Thanks d_s. Actually at first I'd thought the draw was horrendous but after writing it down, well we wont win the group but I fancy we can cause a few shocks!
The Upper League Cup - there is also a Lower one - continued with a Quarter Final tie at home to First Division Vikingur. This was turn into a one side match as goals from Holst and Petersen were added to by a hattrick from Kristian Kaag, and to top it all Vikingur had a man sent off on the hour. It just wasn't their day and they could only limp home with their tails between their legs and hope no-one would care too much.
The Semi Final was also at home, against fellow Premier League side Fram. Indeed, it was Fram against whom IBV would open their defence of the league title just a few days later and so this was an important match psychologically. In then end it was a poor match, which end 0-0 after ninety minutes. Christian Holst finally got the goal that sent IBV to the Final five minutes into extra time, but there was little here to get excited about.
The League opener in Fram provided little in the way of improvement, ending as it did in another stalemate 0-0 draw. IBV's first home league match did provide some excitement from their fans, partly from a much improved performance that saw them run out 3-1 winners thanks to a brace from Holst and a single from Toszer and partly because of the introduction of two 16 year olds late on in the shape of Thomas Overgaard and Rasmus Frandsen. From the point of view of the Faroes, the introduction of Overgaard was the key excitement, but it was probably true to say that the IBV support were much more thrilled with the appearance of Frandsen. Both kids had decent enough games for the time they were on, although they clearly still have a lot of learning to do. As you would expect.
Another 0-0 draw followed away to KA, and then it was off to Reykjavik for the Upper League Cup Final against IA. Yet again the IBV scoring bug was in effect, but just as the match looked to be heading to Extra Time, Kristian Kaagh popped up to nab the winner. This definately was not the greatest ever Cup final, but they all count and the IBV support were just happy to have won another trophy. One thing is for sure though - if IBV want to retain the title, they will have to rediscover the art of scoring.
With one trophy in the bag, it was time to set sbout bagging two more if possible and there was also the not so small matter of the Champions League Qualifying. IBV were seeded for the 1st round and were pulled out of the hat with Racing de Andorra in what should be an easy passage to the 2nd round. If they progress as expected, they will then fave Hungarian side Debrecen, which will be a much harder task.
The League campaign continued with a narrow 1-0 home win over newly promoted Volsunger, who played an hour with only 10 men. There had been growing concern amongst the IBV support over the lack of goals from their team, but at home to Fylkir all three strikers - Kaagh, Holst and Flotum - were on target in a much improved 3-0 triumph. A poor away performance at Prottur though saw the Champions come away only with a 1-1 draw, and also had Jann Ingi Petersen sent off on the stroke of half time.
Things were certainly far from rolling along nicely, when the 1st round of the Icelandic FA Cup paired IBV with lower league side Leiknir. This should have been an easy victory, and goals from Holst, Toszer, Flotum and Kaagh made sure of progression, although the fact is the 4-1 win could and should have been much more impressive. Back in the League, and a dissapointing 1-1 home draw with FH saw another two points dropped, and another dent in the title defence.
The 2nd round of the Cup saw Olaf's side travel to Reykjavik to take on KR, and for once no-one could be unhappy with a scintillating performance as Daniel Toszer's 12th minute opener was added to by a brace from Kristian Kaagh and the Quarter Final was reached with consumate ease. A 2-0 win over IA was acceptable in the league, and then Racing de Andorra turned up for the Chmpions League Qualifier. Most people in the Icelandic media expected an easy win here for IBV to put the tie out of reach of the Andorran side. In the end though, despite a 7th minute opener from Holst, there was a lot to be dissapointed about as Racing made things very tough indeed. It took a 35th minute penalty from Horg to make the match safe, and Racing never really threatened but the IBV support left the ground feeling a little bit dissapointed.
A 0-0 home draw with KR brought the League to the halfway point with nine matches played. Olaf's IBV side sat in 2nd place with 17 points, the only unbeaten side in the League. FH also had 17 points, whilst league leaders FRam were on 20. Certainly being unbeated was excellent, and the league was very much there for the taking, but there was still that feeling that perhaps the side just wasn't quite clicking right.
The trip to Andorra was perhaps slightly more fretful than it needed to be, but after 34 minutes Kristian Kaagh got the goal that settled IBV nerves - and the tie. Two minutes later Racing were reduced to 10 men after a cynical foul from Monreal and the match was well and truly over now. Daniel Toszer added a 2nd two minutes after the break and it could have been even more convincing if Horg hadn't missed an 87th minute penalty.
Certainly, although things are going well and the team has been unbeaten in all matches there is a feeling that they still have a lot more to give and for sure they will have to raise their game a lot more to overcome a tricky Debrecen side and ensure a place in the UEFA Cup.
Although it seemed the side were struggling to score, they also had an excellent defensive record and the truth is if you don't lose goals, you won't lose matches. The home match with league leaders Fram would be another big test for Olaf's title ambitions, and with just three minutes gone Christian Holst gave IBV the lead. Things looked frustratingly familiar as chances were missed, and then on the half hour Fram found an equalizer. The visitors joy though lasted less than two minutes before Kaagh sent IBV back in front. Two second half penalties from Horg sealed a flattering 4-1 win that saw IBV move to the top of the table for the first time this season, but Olaf remained far from convinced that they could stay there.
Debrecen are far from an elite European side. Nevertheless, a trip to Hungary was bound to push the talents of the IBV players to the limit. Yet although the Icelandic Champions created more chances than their opponents, it was Debrecen who went in a goal up at the break. An away goal would of course be useful, but as time passed it seemed clear that lady luck just wasn't prepared to give any favours to Olaf's side and when Debrecen added a crucial second, the task for the home leg seemed to be just that bit out of range.
A dissapointing 1-1 draw away to Keflavik meant the title race was as tight as ever as we moved into the home straight. Back in Europe and once more IBV outplayed and out created their opponents, but somehow the ball refused to go into the back of the Debrecen net, and eight minutes from time the inevitable happened as the Hungarians killed the tie stone dead, and IBV crashed rather pathetically out of Europe.
A 2-0 win over IA in the Cup Quarter Final was followed by yet another draw in the league as the match with KA ended in a goalless stalemate. Christian Holst bagged the only goal in a narrow, but oh so vital, 1-0 victory away to a Volsunger side who teetered on the verge of relegation. IBV went into the Cup Semi Final with Fram in Rekjavik unbeaten in domestic competition. Perhaps it was inevitable that such a run would end, and it did as Fram gained revenge for the 4-1 league mauling with a two goals to nil triumph, and IBV's dreams of the domestic treble were gone.
With four teams still very much in the title race - only a few points seperating IBV, Fram, FH and IA - any dropped points in the final five matches could be fatal and it seemed the players realised this as they turned in a superb first half performance against Prottur that saw then go in 4-1 up at the break. The second half was less convincing, but in the end the 4-2 win was all that was needed to keep IBV in the title frame.
A dissapointing 0-0 draw at Fylkir was nevertheless not fatal as the other challengers failed to capitalize, and then it was a huge game away to fellow title chasers FH. With ten minutes gone, Jann Ingi Petersen sent IBV ahead, but unusual carelessness in defence allowed the home side to be level by the break. Whilst a draw here would not be a disaster, a win would be more than useful and a Christian Holst double in the second half ensure that was gained.
With two matches left to play, IBV had moved two points clear of Fram at the top of the table, with FH and IA now a further three points adrift. The title was within grasp, but it would still need one last push to ensure that IBV were crowned Champions for the second year in a row.
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