Brann's 2018 season was definitely one of what might have been. Lars Gunnar Nilsen's side looked like champions in waiting for lengthy spells, until an autumn collapse has seen them slip down to third. It's not that they didn't invest in the summer either, but rather than pushing on the collective response has been worse and they have seen Molde pip them into third now.
There will be plenty of time for inquests, but it has to be said that Brann are a good side, and have got themselves out of the relegation mess suffered just four years ago magnificently. But with the money spent, everyone would've expected more than just four wins from their last ten games. And the crucial one was of course the home defeat to Rosenborg at the end of October, which effectively marked the end of the title race.
Steffen Lie Skalevik had a great start to the season before a loss of form in the latter months curtailed his efforts in front of goal. Fredrik Haugen was as ever reliable in the middle, and his suspension against Rosenborg cost the team very dear indeed. But leading from the back was Vito Wormgoor who yet again proved what a prize asset he has become.
The fact that Brann were unbeaten until July is an incredible statistic, but it did go horribly wrong for them on several occasions over the summer. The 4-0 home defeat against Molde came out of nowhere, and salt was added to the wound a couple of weeks later when Molde thrashed them 5-1 in the away game. Brann will no doubt be back, but Nilsen will have to make sure that such a severe collapse can't happen again. Bergen is hungry for silverware again, and that can only be a good thing for Norwegian football.
