Dodgy matches in Finland

I have been frequently asked to talk about this and fixed matches in general in Finland. Unfortunately there are a few well-recorded cases like that of Allianssi  and Mr. Ye some years back and some others that really are no secret to anyone with interest in the local betting market, but I have a good reason to hope that it is not as common as some people might think.

Yes, I do have guaranteed info of a few fixed matches and also matches where the opposing clubs have intentionally lost vs. Finnish clubs in the European competition. But there is a but; where to draw the line when talking about proven cases, likely suspects and just wild rumours?

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The line was here. I do not want to get involved in casting a shadow on anyone whose team mate has probably taken part in match fixing. There were also last summer some very strange market moves in some matches at Veikkausliiga, Ykkönen and Kakkonen, but in most cases the teams whose odds crashed also happened to lose the match in the end - so the market move was based on wrong facts or the players played wrong. Rumours take place easily on a vulnerable market like this.

Sorry guys, I know it would make an interesting topic but it will not be discussed here any further. For the Newsletter customers there will naturally be a warning in case there are signs of any foul play.

Arctic conditions - any reason to cancel a friendly?

Believe me, it is! Very annoying weather out there, tomorrow´s JJK - JIPPO cancelled.

Let us see if Klubi04 - Gnistan takes place. Edit: It does not. Snow, snow and more snow.

Friendly season goes on; Honka - Haka Ft 1-2

Edit 1-2 (1-0). A bit strange experience, during the first half I had no doubts that Honka would score more and win in a comfortable manner, on the second half it was the visitors who took the control of the game to a big astonishment of everyone watching the game. The Honka kids lost the ball already in defence and could not get the ball into the dangerous right wing Haarala-Otaru-Puustinen at all. There was a good chance or two for Honka to go 2-0 but they failed and Haka equalizing was in the end well deserved. 1-2 goal was the last touch of the match.

Honka did field a lot of youngsters like a week before vs PK35, but they looked tired and scared in this match and there are at least a few names I would forget now when talking about playing in the League, it will and should not happen. Haka have only a couple of names who yet have established themselves, but they were strong and confident enough to put up a good fight. One of the worst halves of Honka I remember ever seeing but have to give credit to Haka, and in John Weckström they have made an excellent signing, also Gela has grown up a lot as a player.

Line-ups did live a lot, but after Schuller came out on ht the Honka mf play died. Haka took their best midfielders  Matrone and Weckström out as well during ht and started using the wingers.

I am not sure if it was the first ever home loss for Honka at their indoor Arena or not, but at least it is very rare. The home advantage is huge as the pitch is always different from what the visitors are used to, the lightning is so poor that is often difficult to say whether the player running on the opposite flank is home or away, white or black.

Next week Honka host JJK same time & same place. Haka´s next scheduled match is the opening round of the league cup Jan 18th away at Mariehamn.

Haka on Friday: Markus Koljander (65. Ville Kauppinen), Juuso Tuovinen (80. Kwesi Biney), Timi Lahti (46. Mikko-Petteri Latosaari), Juuso Salonen, Josef Chavez, John Weckström (46. Arto Lindberg), Marco Matrone (46. Xhevdet Gela), David Ramadingaye (46. Mohamed Koroma, Teemu Pastila (46. Kaarlo Rantanen), Jaakko Juuti (46. Benito Yllaconza), Kalle Multanen (65. Aleksi Nieminen).

Conpared to the starting XI of the first league match of 2010 there is 1 player remaining and he also wore the captain´s armband this time, Jaakko Juuti who had 1 league match on his belt before last season.
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CET 14.15 on Friday indoors in Espoo.  
Edit: Opening hc -0,75, the odds have been between 1.75 - 2.04.

Both teams have changed a lot since last season, Honka won PK35 2-1 (0-1) in their first friendly and Haka won the Police national team by same numbers or so.

In the league both won their home match last season, this is a testing period. Expecting asian hc to be -0,5. Open widely at asian market. Midfielder Xhevdet Gela (Haka) has been 2 weeks training with AEK Athens and if that leads to a transfer it would be a surprising one.

Honka miss Savage due injury, Heilala and Lepola were also at least missing last week. Haka gk Pesonen recovering from injury.

Transfers so far;

Honka IN:
MacPherlin Omagbemi Dudu,  (KuPS) - unsettled
Ilari Äijälä, 2012 (MyPa)

OUT
Rami Hakanpää (HJK)
John Weckström (Haka)
Markus Paatelainen
Ville Koskimaa (VPS)
Janne Henriksson (VPS)
Aleksandr Kokko
Jere Pyhäranta (TamU)

Haka IN:

Obi Metzger, 2011+1 (FC Viikingit)
Marco Matrone, 2011 (FF Jaro)
John Weckström, 2011 (FC Honka)

OUT:
Kalle Parviainen (FC Inter)
Markus Joenmäki (KuPS)
Ben Traore
Quincy Osei
Mikko Innanen (MyPa)
Jani Kauppila (AC Oulu)

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Finland league cup match program 2011

		Finland league cup 2011
Northern group
Date	+ 2 GMT	Home	Away	Stadion
29.01.11	16.00	Jaro	Oulu	Tellushalli
29.01.11	14.00	JJK	VPS	Vehkalampi
05.02.11	16.00	Jaro	VPS	Tellushalli
05.02.11	14.00	Oulu	JJK	Arina
06.02.11	14.00	RoPS	JJK	Keskusk./Ounash.
11.02.11	18.00	VPS	TamU	Botniahalli
12.02.11	16.00	Jaro	KuPS	Tellushalli
16.02.11	14.00	JJK	KuPS	Vehkalampi
16.02.11	18.00	VPS	RoPS	Botniahalli
19.02.11	14.00	RoPS	Jaro	Keskusk./Ounash.
19.02.11	14.30	TamU	Oulu	Pirkkahalli
23.02.11	18.30	RoPS	TamU	Keskusk./Ounash.
23.02.11	18.00	VPS	Oulu	Botniahalli
26.02.11	14.00	Oulu	KuPS	Arina
26.02.11	14.30	TamU	Jaro	Pirkkahalli
02.03.11	16.00	KuPS	RoPS	Keskuskenttä
06.03.11	14.00	Oulu	RoPS	Arina
09.03.11	16.00	KuPS	VPS	Keskuskenttä
09.03.11	18.30	TamU	JJK	Pirkkahalli
12.03.11	14.00	KuPS	TamU	Keskuskenttä
12.03.11	14.00	JJK	Jaro	Vehkalampi
Southern
18.01.11	19.00	Mariehamn	Haka	Eckerö
22.01.11	13.15	Honka	Mariehamn	Ratiopharm
25.01.11	17.00	TPS	HJK	Urheilupuisto
28.01.11	17.00	TPS	Honka	Urheilupuisto
01.02.11	17.00	HJK	Honka	Tali
04.02.11	15.00	Inter	Mariehamn	Urheilupuisto
04.02.11	18.00	HJK	MYPA	Tali
05.02.11	13.15	Honka	Haka	Ratiopharm
12.02.11	13.15	Honka	MYPA	Ratiopharm
12.02.11	15.00	Haka	Inter	Valkeakoski
17.02.11	19.00	Mariehamn	TPS	Eckerö
18.02.11	15.00	Inter	Honka	Urheilupuisto
19.02.11	15.00	Haka	HJK	Valkeakoski
24.02.11	14.00	MYPA	Inter	Lehtomäki
25.02.11	15.00	HJK	IFK	Mariehamn
26.02.11	15.00	Haka	TPS	Valkeakoski
04.03.11	14.00	MYPA	TPS	Lehtomäki
04.03.11	15.00	Inter	HJK	Urheilupuisto
11.03.11	15.00	TPS	Inter	Urheilupuisto
12.03.11	15.00	MYPA	Haka	Lehtomäki
15.03.11	19.00	Mariehamn	MYPA	Eckerö
19.03.11		quarters
19.03.11		quarters
19.03.11		quarters
19.03.11		quarters
26.03.11		semi
26.03.11		semi
23.04.11		final

基斯特 - VPS華沙

Edit: FT 1-3 but all FT bets are VOID as they did not play full time. Kiisto match report in Finnish:

Or Kiisto - VPS pre-season friendly tonight indoors. A nice live and pre-match betting opportunity at 17.00 CET - at least if you know what is going to happen. A lot of new players at VPS trying to convince the manager of their superior footballing skills, a few new signings like out-of-favour gk Janne Henriksson from Honka, df Ville Koskimaa who returns to Vaasa from Honka and mf Riku Heini who did not want to play with relegated FC Lahti at Ykkönen level. Given the humble economical approach by VPS management the players on the test are not likely to be very expensive or very good either in general and the levels they come from seem to be something like 8th highest in the UK, but you never know if they find a gem? A Bulgarian player has raised some interest at least on a local football forum - Stoyan Ninov.

Several players have naturally also left VPS outfit, including the strikers Pekka Kainu and Jussi Aalto.

Kiisto then? I have no detailed info yet, some test players as well.

Asian odds: Kiisto +1 @ 2.00 - VPS -1 @ 1.90. I wait for more info - which is not at all guaranteed to ever come. VPS have the class advantage, but it would not be the first time for them to lose against a Kakkonen side, they got even got kicked out of the cup vs. a Kakkonen side last season.



A long way to go before the local season start, but the League Cup will start sometime in January.




VPS transfers so far;

IN
Janne Henriksson, 2013 (FC Honka)
Jesper Engström, 2012+1 (VIFK)
Antti Uimaniemi, 2012 (MyPa)
Paco Corr, 2011 (FC PoPa)
Ville Koskimaa, 2013 (FC Honka)
Riku Heini, 2012 (FC Lahti)
Daniel Nordström 2012+1 (VIFK)
Mustafa Maki, 2012+1 )

OUT
Alessandro Marzuoli
Jussi-Pekka Savolainen
Sami Salmi
Osahon Eboigbe
Jussi Äijälä
Jussi Aalto (FF Jaro)
Jan Berg
Pekka Kainu (OPS-jp)


Some VPS team news in local language here;


Same from Kiisto, 10 contracts published today

Looks like a no bet to me, the original thought of VPS -1 has dropped way too much.

Some friendly results from the pre-season Finland 2011

Date	CET	Home	Away	FT	HT	LIVE
03.12.10	14.15	Honka	PK-35	2-1	0-1	Y
04.12.10	17.30	Gnistan	HIFK	1-0	1-0
04.12.10	12.00	Klubi04	Pallohonka	4-1	2-1
09.12.10	17.00	Kiisto	VPS			Y
10.12.10	14.15	Honka	Haka			Y
11.12.10	13.00	Klubi04	Gnistan
11.12.10		JJK	JIPPO
17.12.10	14.15	Honka	JJK			Y
17.12.10		TPS	PK-35

Pre-season 2011 started

With a friendly Honka - PK-35 2-1 (0-1) this afternoon. Hardly a classic, but a useful occasion to see the Pallohonka reserves trying to seal their place for the league team roster.

Goals:
0-1 Einari Kurittu
1-1 Jaakko Hietikko
2-1 Tim Väyrynen

Indoors sure, still managed to freeze my fingers!

No analysis here, but next week Honka host Haka at the same time and it might turn  interesting as well!

PK-35 short match report

Honka first half;
Moisander, Koskinen, Hatakka, Aalto, Paularinne, Seferi, Jokinen, Tammilehto, Otaru, Väyrynen, Puustinen.

2nd half;
Moisander, Äijälä, Lum, Heiskanen, Haarala, Hietikko, Schuller, Simpanen, Valmir Seferi, Väyrynen, Puustinen

The key to success - if there was one - was bringing Simpanen and Schuller to the machine room for the second half. They brought not only insight but patience as well. Nevertheless, no one expected either of the teams to give a 100 % performance at this time of the season.


A lot of new faces at PK35, Ojembe Olatuga caught my eye in the defence. (LoPa 2010), other likely names include Sami Salmi, Alimany Jalloh, Arber Istrefi, Faton Seferi, Ilkka Kallonen and Einari Kurittu but no one was exceptionally good or bad at this time of year.
   

Tomorrow a friendly to see outdoors if I feel like it, the snow is a bit discouraging element to be honest.

Have a nice weekend all!