Eliteserien: Rosenborg vs Sarpsborg! Switching coaches to play 4-3-3? Rosenborg’s transition looks challenging

Today, our first topic is Eliteserien: Rosenborg vs Sarpsborg!

Rosenborg, underperforming in the first 10 matches, has already replaced their coach. The new coach Marlen is a student of the legendary Rosenborg coach Rice.

However, can he, seen as Rosenborg’s savior, truly reverse the team’s decline?

Let’s spend three minutes talking about this issue.

It’s unclear if former coach Rekdal anticipated his dismissal.

In May, when Rosenborg went six games without a win, the board still expressed firm support for him.

But after a slight rebound in the last two matches, he was dismissed.

His dismissal might not be due to his lack of ability.

Rosenborg has been a financial black hole for years, always suffering huge losses.

Last season, he managed to bring Rosenborg back to third place in the Eliteserien after many years, which was impressive.

This season, the club sold key players for €12 million but only bought newcomers worth €3.5 million, causing a further drop in strength and breaking the main squad he had built. The decline in results is quite normal.

His dismissal mainly resulted from fan protests. If fans hang insulting banners at your training ground, home stadium, or even outside your own house, it’s tough to keep your job.

Fans dislike his conservative style, believing that a Norwegian powerhouse like Rosenborg should not play ugly five-defender counter-attacking football.

Only a 4-3-3 formation suits the identity of a top club.

The new coach Marlen carries the noble 4-3-3 heritage, having managed 180 professional matches, 175 of which were in 4-3-3. Coupled with his mentor Rice’s high prestige at Rosenborg, he was the obvious choice.

But nowadays, many teams have failed when trying to switch to attacking football.

Rosenborg’s current squad was built by former coach Rekdal for a 3-5-2 formation.

Young Marlen has only coached one professional team, Ranheim, and has been unemployed for two years. Is it realistic for him to lead a rebound with an unsuitable 4-3-3 formation within just 10 days of taking charge?

In fact, if Rosenborg’s management had strong confidence in him, why appoint him only as interim coach while still searching for a permanent one?

Fans see the 4-3-3 as Cinderella’s unique glass slipper, but what if Rosenborg is not Cinderella, but the Big Bad Wolf?

Interestingly, Sarpsborg has a coach familiar with Marlen: Bjorklund.

They operate as a dual-coach team and, due to their excellent performance, recently secured a contract extension early this month.

Bjorklund has won all three matches against Marlen’s Ranheim, both home and away.

However, he does not underestimate Marlen and has studied Rosenborg’s training sessions and Marlen’s Ranheim matches.

Generally, a 4-3-3 team needs a longer period of adjustment before its fighting strength fully develops.

Facing a tough counter-attacking team like Sarpsborg in the first match after switching formations, especially against an opponent who knows you well, is unfortunate for Rosenborg.

Moreover, Sarpsborg relies heavily on headers from set-pieces; they have scored from headers or set-pieces in six consecutive games.

Rosenborg’s defense against aerial set-pieces is weak; in their last five matches where they conceded goals, those goals came from headers or set-pieces.

If they can’t defend well with a 3-5-2, losing a center-back in a 4-3-3 might make it worse. This season, Sarpsborg even defeated the second-ranked 4-3-3 team Brann with a header, which is a worrying sign for Rosenborg.

Overall, although there is a big gap in fame and team value between the two sides.

How do you think Sarpsborg will satisfy their fans? I hope they at least avoid defeat!

Alright, for today’s other matches, I will still send you written analysis in the evening. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. “Watch the game and understand it,” see you then!

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