Kick-off: Sunday, 5 August, 3:00 PM BST/4:00 PM local time
Location: Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway (capacity: 25,572)
Vålerenga vs. United [Preseason Friendly]
- Thread starter gooDevil
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Kick-off: Sunday, 5 August, 3:00 PM BST/4:00 PM local time
Location: Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway (capacity: 25,572)
Valerenga ready for Reds
24/06/2012 09:22, Report by Alan Beck
Alan Beck analyses pre-season opponents Valerenga...
Tell me about Valerenga…
The Norwegian game owes them a considerable debt – as long as you're not a Rosenborg fan. When Valerenga won the title in 2005, it broke Rosenborg's 13-year stranglehold on the Norwegian league, since when three other teams – Brann, Stabaek and Ole Solskjaer's Molde - have taken the title in a division of much-improved competitiveness.
How did they do last season?
Not bad. They came seventh, but reached as high as third after a strong run in the latter part of the campaign. They never really threatened Molde, though, who were top for the whole of the second half of the season.
Who’s in the hotseat?
Martin Andresen. A recent Norwegian international in defensive midfield, Andresen signed in 2008 as player/manager. The 35-year-old retired from top level football in 2010. English fans may remember him from short stints at Wimbledon and Blackburn Rovers.
Talk me through the team..
Kristofer Haestad – very briefly seen in Wigan colours in 2007 – bosses the side from central midfield as captain. They've got experience between the sticks in Canadian international stopper (and erstwhile Tottenham squad member) Lars Hirschfeld. Leading the line is the young and vibrant pairing of Håvard Nielsen, aged 18, and Marcus Pedersen, 21.
And the fans?
Valerenga's official supporters club boasts around 10,000 members – the biggest in the country. 'Klanen' ('the Clan') are proud of their singing and claim to be "the best mixed choir in Norway" (it says here).
Any United links?
Ronny Johnsen returned to Norway after leaving United and helped Valerenga to that 2005 league success. We drew 2-2 with them in a pre-season friendly in 1998.
Star player
Lively 21-year-old striker Pedersen is on loan from Vitesse Arnhem, having signed for the Dutch side in 2010 after two impressive seasons in Norway for Stromgodset. With a lack of first-team opportunities, a loan deal made sense and he has been quickly into his stride in the capital, with four goals in 10 league games (at the time of writing).
Did you know?
Valerenga used to play at the Bislett Stadium, on whose famously-quick athletics track 69 world records have been set.
They said…
"United are a massive team in Norway. They'll have no problem filling the stadium for this match!" - Ronny Johnsen.
http://www.manutd.com/en/Tour2012Te...file-ahead-of-manchester-united-friendly.aspx
24/06/2012 09:22, Report by Alan Beck
Alan Beck analyses pre-season opponents Valerenga...
Tell me about Valerenga…
The Norwegian game owes them a considerable debt – as long as you're not a Rosenborg fan. When Valerenga won the title in 2005, it broke Rosenborg's 13-year stranglehold on the Norwegian league, since when three other teams – Brann, Stabaek and Ole Solskjaer's Molde - have taken the title in a division of much-improved competitiveness.
How did they do last season?
Not bad. They came seventh, but reached as high as third after a strong run in the latter part of the campaign. They never really threatened Molde, though, who were top for the whole of the second half of the season.
Who’s in the hotseat?
Martin Andresen. A recent Norwegian international in defensive midfield, Andresen signed in 2008 as player/manager. The 35-year-old retired from top level football in 2010. English fans may remember him from short stints at Wimbledon and Blackburn Rovers.
Talk me through the team..
Kristofer Haestad – very briefly seen in Wigan colours in 2007 – bosses the side from central midfield as captain. They've got experience between the sticks in Canadian international stopper (and erstwhile Tottenham squad member) Lars Hirschfeld. Leading the line is the young and vibrant pairing of Håvard Nielsen, aged 18, and Marcus Pedersen, 21.
And the fans?
Valerenga's official supporters club boasts around 10,000 members – the biggest in the country. 'Klanen' ('the Clan') are proud of their singing and claim to be "the best mixed choir in Norway" (it says here).
Any United links?
Ronny Johnsen returned to Norway after leaving United and helped Valerenga to that 2005 league success. We drew 2-2 with them in a pre-season friendly in 1998.
Star player
Lively 21-year-old striker Pedersen is on loan from Vitesse Arnhem, having signed for the Dutch side in 2010 after two impressive seasons in Norway for Stromgodset. With a lack of first-team opportunities, a loan deal made sense and he has been quickly into his stride in the capital, with four goals in 10 league games (at the time of writing).
Did you know?
Valerenga used to play at the Bislett Stadium, on whose famously-quick athletics track 69 world records have been set.
They said…
"United are a massive team in Norway. They'll have no problem filling the stadium for this match!" - Ronny Johnsen.
http://www.manutd.com/en/Tour2012Te...file-ahead-of-manchester-united-friendly.aspx
"Not bad"? 7th is shite for them, they aim for top three at least. And they are disappointing this year too. They have a big fan base and are able to sign big names such as Veigar Pall Gunnarsson, Marcus Pedersen, Kristoffer Hæstad, so last season wasn't "not bad".
I'm going anyway.
I'm going anyway.
Just what I could dig up, by all means, give us the real insider account!
3 pm our time. I wont miss it this time.
10 fecking days.. NooOOoooo
Haestad .. former FM legend.
Doesnt Harmeet singh play for them? How has he been doing? He's looked alright whenever I've seen him play... which hasnt been that much.
Doesnt Harmeet singh play for them? How has he been doing? He's looked alright whenever I've seen him play... which hasnt been that much.
Anyone else think the stadium looks a bit OT like?
Damn it. Its 10 days away.
I know. I'm no VIF expert, but follow the league. VIF is generally not well liked by people who don't support them, I'd say.
Singh and Fellah are two of the most hyped Norwegian talents around, but haven't been that great the last year or so (I think) and haven't played that much due to not signing a new contract. To answer your question Singh just went to Feyernoord. Superwolff is better and will continue to be so.
Aye. Only 2 more pre-season games now. Not much preparation for the lads only just returning from international duty.
At least our lads can get home for a rest then train as a full squad, Fergie can check out some brazilians we wont sign and more spackulation can he had. Its muppet heaven.
Three.
four, isn't it?
Valerenga, Barcelona, Peterborough and Hannover.
The grass is the same color.
Really? United website only has Valerenga and Barca listed.
EDIT: Nevermind. Clicked on a different bit. Now showing 3 games.
05 Aug Tour 2012 Valerenga A 16:00
08 Aug Tour 2012 FC Barcelona A 20:00
11 Aug Tour 2012 Hannover 96 A 20:20
Wonder if Diouf will be over his injury to inflict some pain.
Isn't the Peterborough match on the same day as one of those three? It's United XI, not first team, so I guess our Reserves will play.
It's a day before our Hannover game. Most likely, the reserves. yeah.
Have the Euro lads been back in training yet? I presume so.
Hopefully see Rooney, Evra, Young, Jones, Nani and Vidic in the squad.
Hopefully see Rooney, Evra, Young, Jones, Nani and Vidic in the squad.
They're back today.
We travelled all the way to Africa and Asia just to play 3 games?
I'm going, hoping to see Lucas Moura and RvP. 
In true Norwegian style the tickets are ridiculously expensive, £75.
But I guess United are not really cheap to get into town.
In true Norwegian style the tickets are ridiculously expensive, £75.
But I guess United are not really cheap to get into town.
I haven't seen any of our pre-season games so far. Should be able to catch this one.
We travelled all the way to China to schmooze with a large customer base.
Edit: I don't remember such a big gap in the schedule in previous pre-seasons?
I'm going, hoping to see Lucas Moura and RvP.
In true Norwegian style the tickets are ridiculously expensive, £75.
But I guess United are not really cheap to get into town.
Lucas will be at the Olympics.
I'm guessing that's why we now have 10 days without a game, to recover from the "great tour" so that we can start preparation for real.
Damn, I thought the game was this weekend. We don't usually have a gap this big in pre-season, do we? I suppose it makes sense, giving time for the Euro lads to get a lot of training in.
We've definitely got the lads who went to the Euros back for the rest of the tour. So, let's see how Rooney, Nani, and Young play with Kagawa at some point
I'm going also, only to see Kagawa obv.
I don't think Pedersen is available for this game, he returns to Vitesse after tomorrow's game. Right?
I think Pedersen's loan deal ends on August 1st.
This game isn't until next Sunday?
Did we not bother organising our pre-season until the middle of June or something?
Did we not bother organising our pre-season until the middle of June or something?
The most expensive game ever to be played at Norwegian soil.
I thought this was today.
Has pre-season ever had a gap like this before?
Seemed more like a mini pre-preseason.
So did I. Why is there almost 2 weeks between the matches?