KuPS - TamU preview

KuPS (14th)– TamU (7th)

KuPS: 0-1-1-1-3-3
TamU: 3-3-1-0-1-0

H2H:1-4-12

Last game:24.05.09 TamU – KuPS 2-0

KuPS do not like the relegation team anymore and they are unbeaten now since losing to HJK 6 games ago. The new signings have proved to be brilliant findings, especially Nigerian striker Dickson Nwakaeme 4/1 has been the best player on the pitch in all of his games played so far. Still, KuPS are the last in the league and can respect no one and have to go searching for a win against everyone in order to stay in the league. The active and aggressive style of KuPS today has brought a lot of suspensions, from this match there are 3 suspended KuPS players, mf Ollo 15/2, mf Ikudehinbu 6/0 and defender Balogh 14/1.

Since taking charge of KuPS in the middle of the season Esa Pekonen, the KuPS coach, has found the lost joy and self-believed, helped by the implementation of total football, i.e the whole team both attacks and defends as a team, not like a bunch of school kids. The general consensus in the league is that KuPS are too good to get relegated, all they need to do is play their part and gain important points as the end is closer round by round.

Goal-keeper Joonas Pöntinen 4/0 is out injured, but is easily replaced by Ville Iiskola 16/0 who was in charge from the start of the season.

Tampere United have not won in their last three and were completely outplayed at Fc Honka last week, but should be a tough opponent for KuPS as their injury list has shortened round by round and they can field almost best possible starting eleven. Tampere United season has been far from perfect, but as there have been a lot of draws in the league and no team has been able to run off they still have a slight chance of a good position, but it requires also success from their travels.

Chris James 2/1 is going to a knee surgery and Antti Pohja 8/1 is doubtful for the Tampere side.

KuPS: 1 Ville Iiskola 16/0 – 8 Tero Taipale 19/0 – 20 Miikka Ilo 18/1 - 3 Janne Reinikainen 17/0 - 23 Jussi-Pekka Savolainen 15/0 – 6 Tuomas Kuparinen 13/1 – 28 Raphael Udah 3/0 – 10 Ilja Venäläinen 17/4 - 11 Pele Koljonen 16/5 - 7 Miikka Turunen 17/2 - 26 Dickson Nwakaeme 4/1

Bench: 17 Jussi Kolari 0/0,24 Atte Hoivala 7/0, 22 Jyrki Juvonen 1/0, 13 Betim Aliju 9/0

Out: 5 Jani Hartikainen 10/0 for the rest of the season, 21 Jesse Miettinen 0/0, 2 Joni Nissinen 1/0, 27 Segun Ikudehinbu 6/0 suspended, 4 Patrik Turunen 14/0, 15 Ollo 15/2 suspended, 12 Joonas Pöntinen (gk) 4/0, 9 Balazs Balogh 14/1 suspended

Coach: Esa Pekonen


TamU: Mikko Kavén (gk) 8/0 - 18 Rafinha 19/3 - 3 Mathias Lindström 19/1 - 7 Jussi Kujala 18/2 - 17 Vili Savolainen 16/0 - 16 Ilari Ruuth 7/0 - 5 Antti Ojanperä 17/1 - 22 Henri Scheweleff 18/1 - 11 Aleksei Kangaskolkka 18/3 - 30 Jari Niemi 18/0 - 10 Tomi Petrescu 8/1

Bench: 21 Jonne Hjelm 19/2, 12 Juha Soukiala (gk) 11/0, 14 Jusu Karvonen 5/0, 9 Juha Pirinen 5/0, 8 Antti Pohja 8/1, 13 Sakari Saarinen 17/0

Out: 2 Toni Järvinen 0/0, 25 Aapo Lappalainen 2/0, 23 Chris James 2/1, 20 Juska Savolainen 15/1 (return to Rosenborg)

Coach: Ari Hjelm

Prediction: To be honest I am not sure what to think. It is also an option not to bang my head against the wall, I might leave this game alone.