Veikkausliiga 2012 Round 3 Review

Average round - good and bad and mixed performances and bets and the usual big market moves Check website for highlights Start with the one game the pisses me off the most, HJK - Jaro FT 4-1. Jaro were at least even and took the lead for the first 15 minutes, the next 15 minutes HJK scored 3 from silly defensive mistakes and the game was over at 30th min. After that it was non-competive non-football and all over. Jaro´s American signings Banner and DeFreitas are probably the most overhyped players in the whole league right now, Banner as a left-back was a constant hazard and the other fellow never touched the ball when subbed in when the game was over. From HJK´s side returning players Lindström, Kansikas and Savage were the best ones, but all in all HJK did not - and needed not to - play well except for a short moment. Could had been 5-1 at ht, a long time since I have seen a team lose control so badly and so quickly and ahead of Thu Cup game HJK - Jaro there is not much I want to do but stay away. If Jaro are that bad they go down, I do still want to believe it was just a bad day but I doubt I have enough balls to back them again on Thursday after seeing this horror show. Oh yes, if you want to check match stats go to Veikkausliiga.com, choose round and match and click the blue arrow and then "tapahtumat" far right and you will get this screen: goals-shots on target-off target-corners-free kicks-off sides-subs-yellow cards (and red if there are ). KuPS - TPS FT 1-1. KuPS with injury worries could had lost the match on first half but at 0-1 ex-KuPS player Pennanen missed a penalty. TPS better first half, KuPS dominant most of the other one and perhaps a draw is a fair result, there should had been more goals. Interestingly they meet again on Wed in cup in same arena. In my understanding TPS stayed in Kuopio and had a mini camp there? Depending on injury situation tomorrow KuPS might interest at 0, and at least the suspended striker should return. From VPS - Lahti FT 2-1 I have mostly read biased match reports, but I believe in the version where VPS deserved the win. It was 2-0 until late and the new formation of VPS with 2 strikers suited them well. VPS have tomorrow an easy task in Cup away in Helsinki vs mediocre Kakkonen LPS, though in the preaseason dress rehearsal VPS of all clubs managed to lose vs a Kakkonen side.. something we do not see too often.  Lahti already out of the cup and they can concentrate on 4th round game at  home vs Inter. Inter - MyPa 2-0. Inter almost killed the game off on first half, but injury of important mf Kauko and some easy win attitude problems let MyPa to be at least almost within the game.  Inter meet Ykkönen side KooTeePee away in the Cup and they are huge favourites, MyPa have a cup game away at Haka. Both - or actually all - clubs are already feeling the heavy schedule in the start of the season, this week most clubs have 3 games with a limited player material. Haka - MIFK FT 0-2. No highlights and the reports as usual rather general or biased, but I am let to believe that Haka have had at least more possession but not too many proper goal chances. Early goal helped MIFK here a lot. Haka host MyPa in Cup, MIFK have an "easy" away cup game in Helsinki vs Gnistan. I say easy because the class difference in Finland is huge if there are two divisions in-between though Gnistan is a top Kakkonen side. MIFK already met another Kakkonen favourite Klubi04 and drew 1-1 and finally won after extra time so at least they know what to expect. Gnistan are not quite that good and MIFK were also unlucky - and bad - in that game. Honka - JJK FT 0-2. If Honka´s Petrescu had scored from his early golden chance it could had gone other way, but it did not and JJK´s first goal was crucial. Until then Honka were better, after that JJK with Manninen again being the top guy. JJK defence is seriously bad, but so is also Honka attack as they are very slow to come forward and do not get easily into the danger zone and some of the profile players like Tammilehto and Äijälä are not producing at all. Honka have a tough Cup away at Kakkonen club Atlantis in Helsinki. Tough because Atlantis will rough them up and are in great form with a good team and Honka self-confidence is down. JJK can rest until Monday when they host VPS in a TV game. Odds open already for round 4 and a lot can happen before these games kick-off because of the midweek Cup round, but must say that the early lines are good. Inter and MIFK most likely clubs to drop a bit. The big movers at pregame market on Round 3 were MyPa, Honka, HJK and Lahti.Only HJK came out as winners and still it is strongly advised not to start following the money. There have been very strange selections when late money pour in. A look at cup games tomorrow, enjoy CL tonight!