Published: November 16, 2024, at 10:41 AM Last updated: November 16, 2024, at 10:41 AM
KRINGSJÅ (Dagsavisen): Lyn has mainly played with the same lineups in defense and midfield in recent seasons. The ever-reliable William Sell has played virtually every minute, while Herman Solberg Nilsen has also played nearly every match. The same applies in midfield, before Even Bydal got injured. With a further injury to Henrik Kristiansen, Julius Skaug has recently had many different midfield partners.
– It is certainly easier to play in the same configuration all the time, but that being said, all my teammates are incredibly good players, so I feel we manage well regardless of who plays. Our continuity is a great strength, but luckily we have a squad where everyone trains at such a high level that it has also gone well even with a few changes, Skaug tells Dagsavisen.
Bydal’s injury has caused trouble
He has been the regular in midfield for the last matches, while Lyn coach Jan Halvor Halvorsen has tried several configurations around him. Eron Isufi, Malvin Ingebrigtsen, Salim Lagzhaoui, Adrian Berntsen, and most recently Massire Sylla have played since Even Bydal had to leave with an injury against Ranheim.
– Even is one of our best players, so we have missed him a lot, but we have to adapt to the players on the field and the attributes they have. Malvin, for example, has skills that Even does not have, and vice versa, and I think he has done well when he has come in, but then we as players around have to adjust to that. It’s all about playing in a way that gives us the greatest chance of winning, Skaug says.
Lyn captain William Sell also praises Bydal, saying they notice his absence when he is not in the starting eleven.
– I think Even has been incredibly good for us all these years and extremely important for our success and for the way we can play. I believe this is partly why those who come in have good opportunities to do well since they have seen what Even has done in that role. Malvin is actually a defender, but I think he has performed very well and taken charge in midfield when he has played, Sell continues:
– Even has set a standard for what is required to play in that role, and he is a very good role model for those who need to step up in his absence, but first and foremost, we must hope that Even can recover from his injury before next season and can play that role himself. We need that, the captain explains.
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Has a clear midfield plan
Lyn coach Jan Halvor Halvorsen acknowledges that there has been a bit more rotation in the team than he would have preferred in recent matches, but he is not too worried about the midfield configuration.
– Henrik has struggled with an injury, and when he returned, he got a new one. Then Even got injured against Ranheim, and Malvin fell ill before the match against Moss. Herman was also out due to suspension, so there were quite a few players unavailable at the same time, which was unfortunate. Nonetheless, we were marginally away from points both against Åsane and Moss, Halvorsen continues:
– I have a very clear idea of that midfield configuration, so I am not too worried since I now have the players available to me. Now Malvin is back from illness, and Eron has also been very good. We let him rest from the start against Moss since he has played many matches recently and is just back from injury, but he came in and was brilliant before the goal we scored, so we have plenty to choose from, the Lyn coach believes.
He believes there are several considerations to make against an opponent like Kongsvinger, and both he and Julius Skaug are preparing for a tough and physical battle in midfield.
– We need to prepare for longer periods without the ball. This means we have to be especially good at being tight and compact in the midfield, and I will include the wingers so that we become a five-man unit, forcing Kongsvinger to play around us. In both matches against Åsane and Moss, we became a bit too wide and a bit too long, which made it too easy to play through us. We didn’t quite look like ourselves, and it didn’t go as we hoped. Now we must return to what we are good at, lure Kongsvinger into traps, win the battle in midfield, and counter them into submission, Skaug explains with a grin.
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– Approaching where we need to be
The Lyn players have good experiences from last year’s qualifying rounds and will use them to their advantage.
– The fact that we have been through this before makes us realize it’s just another match. It’s about relaxing and playing our way, not thinking too much about the occasion, but replicating the best performances we can from what we’ve done in the series this year. Like last year, we have the joy of being the underdog, as we have exceeded both our own internal expectations and what everyone else has expected from us. Even if we were to be knocked out now, it has been a fantastic season, so we have everything to gain, Skaug says.
– If you had told me before the season that we would face Kongsvinger in a qualifying match for promotion to the Eliteserien, most people would have seen them as favorites. However, they have had a season where they have been quite inconsistent and have lagged behind where they would have liked to be, while we are very pleased to have ended up where we have, with everything to gain, Sell explains.
With a win, there will be an away match against Egersund, followed by Moss in the next round. If Lyn wins both, they will face a team from the Eliteserien over two rounds, and with an aggregate win, they will return to the Eliteserien.
– It’s incredible to think about, but we are almost where we need to be. We want to get back to the Eliteserien, even if it doesn’t have to happen this year. But it’s really nice that we are already fighting for it now. It’s so much fun to play in the stadiums and be part of the matches we have participated in this year, rather than just floating around in the PostNord league and especially the 3rd division when we were there, Skaug concludes.
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What impact has Julius Skaug’s role been on Lyn’s midfield dynamics this season?
It seems you have provided text from an article discussing the Lyn football team’s dynamics, particularly focusing on their midfield players and upcoming matches. Here’s a summary of the key points:
- Player Importance: Julius Skaug is highlighted as a key midfielder for Lyn, and captain William Sell emphasizes the impact of Even’s absence and his crucial role over the years.
- Coach’s Insights: Lyn’s coach, Jan Halvor Halvorsen, acknowledges the midfield rotation due to several player injuries but expresses confidence in the team’s configuration and the players’ readiness to step up.
- Tactical Preparation: Skaug mentions the need for the team to adopt a compact midfield strategy against Kongsvinger, aiming to control the game even when they might have less ball possession.
- Mindset and Expectations: The team aims to utilize their past experiences in qualifying rounds, treating the upcoming match as another opportunity and relishing their underdog status, even against perceived favorites like Kongsvinger.
- Overall Team Morale: Both players and coaching staff reflect on the season’s achievements and their positive outlook heading into the crucial match, even if it doesn’t go as planned.
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