With four new footballers in place, Knut Tørum can start experimenting with the ideal starting 11. The competition is especially fierce on the midfield.



Karim Essediri, Espen Johnsen, Jahmir Hyka, Ørjan Berg, Aksel Skjølsvik and Sebastian Eguren have all left. Four more or less new faces have arrived: Fredrik Stoor participated on his first common training session on Thursday, while Didier Konan and Abdoulrazack Traore both arrived in Trondheim on Friday. Alejandro Lago arrived at Gran Canary on Saturday.

The highest degree of expectations is placed upon Konan, who impressed greatly for ASEC Abidjan both in the domestic league and in the African Champions League in the 2006 season.

"Konan is an offensive midfielder with good passes and good shots. He's very mobile, and there lives much football in him," Knut Tørum tells rosenborg.info.

The Ivorian first was thought of as an attacking side midfielder, but could just as well give Vidar Riseth competition for the central midfield position.

"We'll take a closer look at him, as we did with Sapara. Both the attacking side midfielder and the "turned V" with an offensive central midfielder are possible. We'll review those two options. At times, we are surprised by players we buy. They might have functioned well in one team, and the way they played, but when they come to us - they must adapt to us, and we must adapt to them. Sapara was well adapted after a week, but it can of course take longer time with Konan," the Rosenborg coach says.

His fellow Ivorian wrote a three-year contract on Friday.

"Traore is a quick player, and can take on most positions. He has a good left foot. Wether he'll end up at the back, or as an attacking side midfieldr, or as a winger, time will show - but he'll play on the left. In many ways he's a still a youth, and will have to learn the system and the co-operation that is needed."

In the back line, the reinforcements consists of two players with experience from Swedish league Allsvenskan. Lago is given a new chance in RBK, but will face hard competition in the central defence.

"We've got five players there now. I still count Basma as a central defender," Tørum says.

When it comes to Stoor, he has already given a good impression.

"He seems fit. The consentration and the work he puts down during the training sessions show that he's a dedicated and serious player."

As Rosenborg bought this promising right back player, it might mean that Roar Strand is returned to the midfield.

"I can't say yet. Roar played right back this autumn. Wether he'll continue in that position, will depend upon Fredrik's prestations, and the results we get with him on the team. We are anxious about that duel," Knut Tørum ends.