The Pentagon Challenge

Season One, Part One: Odense On Top

As the squad breaks up for Winter, and we creep towards the January transfer window, I can take the time to reflect on what has been an incredibly successful first half of the season. Since our last update, I have brought in a couple more players on free transfers, as well as lining up deals for players who's contracts are expiring in summer, to bring more depth to my squad. These players have experienced varying degrees of success, however we are now somewhat over the committed spend for the wage budget.

I am hoping to bring this down in January by offloading further unnecessary players, and loaning players who I think require more development. Additionally, some of the free transfers brought in this season may depart at the end of next, as I look to develop the squad in those areas.

Additionally, I was offered a new contract by the board in November, and I was delighted to be able to extend my stay with Odense until the summer of 2017 - the added security this brings allows me to be a little more ambitious in both my transfer targets and goals for the club.

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In terms of our league form, I am delighted. We were predicted to finish the season 8th, with bookmakers offering odds of 40/1 for us to take home the title. We've dumfounded our critics, however, and currently, we sit top of the league after 18 games, with 31 points, 2 ahead of 2nd placed FC København.

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At first, I was disappointed to have been beaten in the Danish Cup, but I quickly came to realise that the lack of cup football allowed us to fully focus on the league, and steady what had previously been shaky league form. In the wake of that cup exit, we did wobble - confidence was low and the players were finding it tricky to pick up points. However, a 88th minute goal from Viborg which handed them a win actually became a catalyst for us to embark on a 9 game unbeaten run, and start to creep up the table.


We now have 75 days until our next league game, and in that time I am hoping to develop my squad and hope that our players return refreshed and ready to battle to keep our top position. I am not necessarily gunning for the title this year, although it would be a nice bonus. My main goal is to make it into the Champions League, so we can start to build towards European Glory.

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Season One, Part Two: Things Fall Apart

Finances

Board Confidence

End of Season Awards

Team of the Year

Final Table

Season 2 Squad Report

After something of a disappointing second half to the season last year, I set about revamping my squad for the 2016/17 season. We sold a fair few big names, but they were big names who, in my view, didn't add much to the squad, and several of whom were getting on a bit - I figured better to sell them now, and cash in, than hold off until they're worth pennies because of some mis-placed conception of loyalty.

Transfer Roundup

I'm delighted with the players we've brought in, especially being able to renew the loans of Sondre Rossbach and Tyias Browning, which aren't shown on here. Overall, our squad is pretty solid, and i'm hopeful for the coming season after a positive pre-season in which we beat Anderlecht and drew with Newcastle United in a couple of tense games.

Squad Report

Squad Breakdown