Football Season Guide

Molde start a new cycle this season after the departure of title-winning coach Erling Moe at the end of last year, following a season full of false downs and frustration that ultimately ended without qualification for European competitions for a first time in eight years. Molde were still one of the better sides last season but too often it felt quite stale and the constant stream of injuries did not help as they were nowhere near challenging for the title, which is the standard at this club. A change was probably needed and the club opted for another experienced manager that has been around the block for a while in Per-Mathias Høgmo, rather than an up-and-coming, progressive new manager. Høgmo is very much like Moe in his wise, measured demeanour and avuncular look but he is different in his approach to games, preferring a possession-heavy, patient approach and a dogmatic 4-2-3-1. The players, who got accustomed to the more direct 3-5-2 under Moe in the last couple of years, may need a fair bit of adjustment period initially and it is not quite clear yet how suited they are to this new approach, especially given the relative lack of wing options at Høgmo's disposal. The squad is almost the same as last season, barring a couple of notable departed in Andreas Hjegelskjær and Matias Løvik. There has been one late major signing as Ivorian winger Caleb Zady Sery arrived from Serbian side Vojvodina but he may need some time to bed into the squad. There is still enough quality and experience in the likes of Magnus Wolff Eire, Mats Møller Dæhli and Kristian Eriksen but up front there are more questions than certainties as the two main number 9s both missed pretty much the entire last season and it remains to be seen if they are back to their usual level. Generally, Molde should be among the contenders with the quality they still have but this could well be a transition season for them as the squad gets a reboot to fit the new manager better.