While the future might look a little brighter again in Drammen at present, the 2016 season is one Stromsgodset might want to forget relatively quickly. For the second campaign in succession there was a head coach change, although whereas David Nielsen was relieved of his duties for performance related reasons, the departure of Bjorn Petter Ingebretsen was much sadder having had to leave the touchline for health reasons. Ingebretsen tried to come back after a period of sick leave but it became very clear that he couldn't give 100% at present and as a loyal servant to the club soon realised that the club deserved and needed more. Tor Ole Skullerud was appointed, and fans will hope that he can emulate the success he had with Molde before he was unceremoniously scrapped for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2015. His first task will surely be to make sure Stromsgodset come back a lot stronger and don't finish anywhere near 7th again in the seasons to come. The club's Tippeligaen success in 2013 seems a long long time ago, but they will still aim to be among the top three in the shake up of the 2017 season.
Some excellent players have departed the club in recent years and, while the likes of Eirik Ulland Andersen and Tokmac Nguen look promising, there is no doubt that the squad is not as strong as it has been in the past. Bismarck Adjei Boateng was still the pick of the midfielders while there is plenty to work on defensively following the departure of Gustav Valsvik. Stromsgodset were unbeaten in their last four league games including a magnificent 2-0 victory over champions Rosenborg. But the one defeat they did suffer was a much more costly one, the inexplicable 2-1 home defeat to OBOS ligaen side Kongsvinger in the semi final of the Norwegian cup at Marienlyst robbing the Drammen side of a trip to Ulleval Stadion to face Rosenborg in the cup final. That was a bitter blow for the side, as a cup final appearance would have at least been something for the fans to remember the 2016 season by.
As it stands Skullerud now has plenty of time to build a strong Stromsgodset team for the future and, as there are still some excellent players already at his disposal, there is every reason to believe the side will come back stronger in 2017. A campaign where there is no need for a managerial change at the midway point would be an excellent start.
