Third Time Not So Lucky For Brann

Molde 3 (Jose Mota 2x, Christian Steen) - 2 Brann (Petter Vaagan Moen, Randolph Austin)

"Embarrassing!", "Worse than losing 8-0", Mons Ivar Mjelde was not a happy man after Brann's third embarrassing defeat to Molde this season. Fjordball carelessly called for someone like Mjelde to "do a Kinnear" this Friday, and we almost got our wish when TV2 interviewed a furious Mjelde after the game:

Reporter: I not even sure what to ask you about because.. I've never experienced before that a team has..

Mjelde (interrupting): You can ask whatever the hell you want to because this is as embarrassing as, this is the most embarrassing thing I've been a part of. Ever. This is much worse than losing 8-0.

And so it went on.

Mjelde: Close to the edge, in every sense

The reason why Mjelde looked and sounded like a man who wanted to punch someone in the face was that somehow, through one of the most gutless and passive second half-performances in recent history, Brann managed to throw away a 2-0 lead against 10 men. 

Once again the complete lack of leadership and backbone in this season's Brann-team was painfully obvious, as the "men" from Bergen collapsed like fjordball after five minutes on a treadmill. 

A fuming Mjelde pointed his finger squarely at the players for not following his instructions (which presumably did not include "don't close people down", "don't mark anyone" and "give the ball away at every opportunity"), an accusation captain Erik Bakke somewhat incredibly is taking umbrage with: "I don't like him blaming the players. We're together in this. He is responsible for us". Sorry Erik, but there is just no way a collapse of such epic proportions by well-paid professionals, many of whom are full internationals, can be blamed on anyone else than themselves. 

But it does raise the question once again: Does Mons Ivar Mjelde have any authority at all in the dressing room?