Power Rankings is Oliver Jørgensens monthly take on which teams are truly in form. It’s not about the league table, but about how the teams have performed during the past month.
Here are the Danish Men’s League Power Rankings for November!
1: Aalborg Håndbold
Current league standing: 1
Photo: Aalborg Håndbold
Now without Thomas Arnoldsen – at least for a few month. Still they look scary good. 35,4 goals/match in the league and nothing but wins. Looks like cruise control in the regular season – add impressive wins against Nantes and Kielce in the Champions League.
2: TTH Holstebro
Current league standing: 4
Photo: TTH Holstebro
Unbeaten in the last 6 games and just 1 defeat in November. Atlason got some good things going. A lot of new players. Lost Aspenbäck, Bjerre, Zvizej and Heieren before the season but they have found rhythm.
3: Mors-Thy Håndbold
Current league standing: 2
Yes, they lost to Aalborg, TTH and GOG but great wins against Fredericia, SAH and HØJ and The Norlyk-twins are a joy to watch. You have to put some respect to what they are doing in “Bette-Balkan”.
4: HØJ
Current league standing: 7
Photo: HØJ Håndbold
Ambitions are through the roof in HØJ (Hello Lasse Andersson). They started the season with 5 defeats in the first 6 games but boy have they turned things around. 4 wins in 5 games in November and now inside top-8.
5: Skjern
Current league standing: 6
Photo: HBC Nantes.
Fired the coach in early October and have turned things around since. Bonde is a human wall when he’s at his best, and Jon Lindenchrone might be the best signing in the summer.
6: Skanderborg-Aarhus
Current league standing: 5
Photo: SAH
It’s difficult to balance playing 2 games a week and they have had a tough schedule in November. Did beat GOG and came close against Aalborg. 5. in the League and topped the EL Group – Nick Rasmussen rarely looks happy but he should be. Thats pretty good.
7: GOG Håndbold
Current league standing: 3
In a bit of a slump with no wins in the last 4 (okay, they did play Barca and Plock in Champions League). Just 2 wins in November but I still see them as the biggest contender for gold. The question is – will the young guys develop fast enough?
8: SönderjyskE Håndbold
Current league standing: 8
Photo: JCFoto
Crucial win against Ribe-Esbjerg on Saturday. Kept the chasers at distance. Did I call Lindenchrone the best signing? Scratch that. They lost 275 goals with the departure of Nikolaj Jørgensen but might even look stronger with Frederik Tilsted. What a steal.
9: Ribe-Esbjerg
Current league standing: 10
Photo: Photo-Andersen.dk
A part of that group of teams who battles for top 8 – which only makes the recent defeats against SønderjyskE and HØJ sting even more. Player for player they look great. But are they? I’m not sure.
10: Nordsjælland
Current league standing: 11
Photo: Nordsjaelland Håndbold
Seems obvious that the focus is to avoid that number 13 spot. Massive win against Skjern and the best part? The key players are young and homegrown.
11: TMS Ringsted
Current league standing: 13
Photo: Evan Foto
Same goal as Nordsjælland whom they beat in October. Did the job against Grindsted – now Fredericia, HØJ and Ribe-Esbjerg in the next 3. Could be defining for the rest of the season.
12: Fredericia Håndbold
Current league standing: 12
So close to gold in 2024. In the Champions League last season. Now just 9 points in 14 games. Am I being unreasonable? They did just beat Hannover and Presov twice. I guess I just miss Taboada and the little angry Icelandic fella on the bench.
13: Bjerringbro-Silkeborg
Current league standing: 9
Photo: Martin Gorritzen
This team doesn’t look in sync. 1 win in November. Could have been 0. The draw at home against Grindsted says it all really. No speed, very few great 1v1 players. Lauge in and out with injuries. Could top 8 be in danger?
14: Grindsted
Current league standing: 14
Photo: Grindsted
Still without a win. They really needed it against Ringsted – now instead they find themself isolated at the bottom. Surprised quite a few teams last season with 7v6. Doesn’t seem to do the trick anymore. As charming as they are, they are a level or two below the rest in this League.
Author: Oliver Jørgensen