Lyngby Boldklub - The Vikings

A BRIDGE TOO FAR?!

Having only been relegated from the 3F Superliga last term, Lyngby Boldklub have turned to a management novice in Englishman Dan Bridges. The 33-year-old has recently retired at the end of a modest, if not unspectacular playing career, and has found himself in the management business quicker than even he could have imagined. A club insider, who preferred to remain anonymous, branded the move “A Bridge Too Far” stating that it was “Ridiculous” to expect a manager with zero experience to compete for top spot in the NordicBet Liga, as is fully expected of the club.

GREAT TO BE HERE

In a press conference hosted by the Lyngby Boldklub Chairman, Tommy Petersen, this afternoon, Dan Bridges was introduced to the media and Lyngby fans alike.

Bridges expressed his “overwhelming gratitude” to both the chairman and board for entrusting him with the responsibility of returning the club to the 3F Superliga.

Questioned on the squad Bridges stated that he was “Yet to meet the squad or take a training session” but has spoken to some of the backroom staff who assure him that the squad is “strong and in need of little more than a few additions” to be ready to compete.

Asked about his transfer policy, Bridges said that there was “little to play with” in terms of both transfer and wage budgets, but that he would “wheel and deal” where he could.

On transfer policy, he expressed a desire to “build a strong scouting network” although he acknowledged that this was a long term goal that would take time. Bridges also stated that as much as he will trust and find useful his scouts' written reports, he will also rely on data analysis to try and find bargains for the club.

Lyngby Boldklub - The Vikings

ONES TO WATCH

Frederik Gytkjær

Frederik Gytkjær is a centre forward who can also occupy the no.10 position. He has been at Lyngby since 2008 as a youth player, save for a 2 season spell at Haguesund in Norway between 2017 and 2018.

The 28-year-old has never been a prolific goalscorer; his best return being 12 goals from 21 games in the NordicBet Liga back in 2015/16. Many Lyngby fans, however, are banking on him being one of their main threats this season.

Rezan Çorlu

Rezan Çorlu is beginning his 3rd spell with Lyngby after signing from Brøndby IF for an undisclosed fee. His previous two spells were on loan from Roma in 2018/19 and on loan from Brøndby in 2019/20 in which he scored 3 and 8 goals respectively.

Still only 24 years old, and capable of playing in all attacking positions; there's plenty of reason for Lyngby fans to feel positive about this player.

Kristian Riis

Kristian Riis signed for Lyngby for an undisclosed fee from FC Midtjylland this summer, after failing to establish himself after first breaking in to the senior team in 2016/17 at 19 years old. A 6'2" centre half, Riis made just 17 appearances for FC Midtjylland, and loans to Vendsyssel FF and Esbjerg fB preceded his permanent move to Lyngby.

Considered a quality player that never really reached his full potential, he's definitely one to watch with plenty of playing years still ahead of him.

Lyngby Boldklub - The Vikings

BRIDGES GOES BARGAIN HUNTING

Dan Bridges has made the first 5 signings of his Lyngby Boldklub reign, dishing out a grand total of a measly £2,000 in the process.

A number of these signings have caused a great deal of excitement, while it would be fair to say that others have caused eyebrows to be raised. Today, we take a look at that transfer business:

MITCHELL DONALD

The 2-times capped Suriname international joins Lyngby after his 1-year contract with Turkish side Büyükşehir Belediye Erzurumspor came to an end. An uninspiring campaign with Erzurumspor saw Donald make just 16 appearances, scoring 1 goal.

Taking that season aside, Donald has always been a regular feature in the sides he has played for, and has found himself good for a goal too, regularly scoring between 3 and 6 goals a season throughout his career.

This is a well travelled player joining the Vikings, having represented clubs in Turkey, Serbia, Russia, and grounded in his youth development in the Netherlands at Ajax.

It is believed that Bridges sees Mitchell Donald primarily as a deep-lying playmaker.

Hendrik Helmke

An even more well-traveled player, the 34-year-old German has played for clubs in Germany, Finland, Malaysia, Norway, Iran and Egypt. He joins Lyngby after a 1 year spell with Finnish Veikkausliiga club Kokkolan Pallo-Veikot, in which he made 21 appearances, scoring 4 goals, came to an end.

A very versatile player, it is believed that he may fill a utility role within Bridges' midfield.

Idris El Mizouni

Perhaps the most eye-catching piece of Bridges' business is the loan signing of Tunisian youngster Idris El Mizouni. It has been well documented that Bridges is an Ipswich Town fan and he has wasted no time in bringing a product of their successful youth academy to the shores of Denmark.

El Mizouni has recently spent spells on load at Cambridge United (twice) and Grimsby Town, as well as making several appearances for his parent club.

Highly rated at the Tractor Boys, this is a very good piece of business and it is believed that a condition of his loan is that he be played in a Mezzala role.

Jakob Rømo Skille

As mentioned earlier, some signings have caused eyebrows to be raised, and we look at one of those here; Jakob Rømo Skille. Perhaps not initially the kind of signing that would get the heart racing, the relatively unknown Norwegian does make for interesting reading. At just 20 years old, the front man comes with a reasonable level of experience, having made over 100 appearances, bagging a not unimpressive 35 goals in the process.

It is believed that Bridges has been looking for a target man throughout pre-season, and at a towering 6'4" Skille is certainly that.

Bridges also talked after his arrival at Lyngby of his desire to use statistical based recruitment, and it is believed that it was this data that brought Jakob Rømo Skille to his attention, with a high aerial challenge win ration, 6 goals in 9 games and an average rating of 7.96 - he certainly fit the target man bill.

His transfer from IL Stjørdals-Blink 2 cost Lyngby a mere £2,000 with a 30% sell-on clause believed to have been included in the deal.

Patrick Aaltonen

Bridges' final piece of business is the loan signing of 27-year-old right back Patrick Aaltonen from Finnish side PK-35. Not one to set the pulses racing, he is largely seen as back up to first choice right back Lasse Fosgaard.

Lyngby Boldklub - The Vikings

LYNGBY END AUGUST STRONG, DESPITE FALSE START

Bridges blushes have been spared as a strong end to the month of august have helped to rectify a rather unspectacular start to Lyngby's NordicBet Liga campaign.

Uninspiring draws to Hvidovre IF and FC Helsingør preceded a heart breaking late defeat to AC Horsens, seeing Bridges side take just 2 points from their first 3 fixtures.

A strong 4-0 victory over amateur club Tårnby FF in the Sydbank Pokalen Cup was the only saving grace during this below-par period.

Fortunately, a 3 match unbeaten run in the league, that saw Lyngby pick up 7 points whilst conceding no goals at all, has made for a much better end to the month, and keeps Bridges' side competing at the right end of the table.

MATCH TO REMEMBER

A strong 2-0 home victory against Jammerbugt FC was a good way for Lyngby to end a month that didn't exactly go exactly as had been expected. Lyngby dominated throughout, but they have hardly been prolific in front of goal and still had to wait until the final 10 minutes of the game to finally break the dead-lock.

MATCH TO FORGET

Billed as a potential 6 pointer early on in the season, Lyngby actually had the better of the game against fellow expected title candidates AC Horsens. Naturally Lyngby fans thought they had the 3 points in the bag when veteran midfielder Hendrik Helmke put his side ahead with just 4 minutes of normal time left on the clock.

However, a late Horsens double in the 88th and 95th minutes broke Lyngby hearts. Advantage AC Horsens.