10 + rounds played - are we any wiser? HJK to win the title, Inter runners-up, Haka to fight relegation with Jaro? Time will tell, European fixtures and transfers likely to confuse things in July In short last round only MIFK won deservedly and HJK naturally had their chances, but TPS were in deep trouble throughout the game vs MyPa, Lahti should had won poor visitors - (according to reports neither really deserved any points there) - Haka and the match in Vaasa VPS vs Honka was seriously even and could had gone either way. In the previous day Inter would had deserved a narrow victory over Jaro but unless you score enough and take the win then you can be pretty sure the other team will. The best collection of highlights is still here: MYPA Looks like a very similar case to Haka last season. Everyone - me first - is dooming them to hell because of the weakest possible player material and bad preseason, but the early season success helps them to safety by half-season and only after that will the feelgood-feeling destroy the rest of the season. They have even gotten new players in and for once I have to admit that at this point they are of midtable class as well as most of the other clubs and they can win games on their own. The situation will change at some point; their home ground is being renovated and turned into artificial right now, they have a lot of away games and on Monday also will be the draw for Europe league and those fixtures often mess badly with Veikkausliiga clubs because of narrow player material. They have also the cup semifinal to be played in August vs KuPS, so I must admire and wonder the success so far and for MyPa and their few fans this has been a dream season. Veikkausliiga team news: HJK important mf Erfa Zeneli injured for several weeks. Haka gk Pesonen possibly out for the rest of the season, but he has not played much this season VPS have found a goal-scorer in Steven Morrissey. Hugely important up-front. Jaro´s new signing Jonke helps in keeping the ball in the attacking third. Big and strong man. no confirmed suspensions yet The odds have been out; my eyewitnesses at Turku are very keen on opposing both Turku clubs Inter and TPS based on recent performances; Honka are worth -075 hc at home vs Lahti but the rest of the matches look very tricky. JJK´s defence has been a joke recently (ok, all season) and as the problem is that they do not have the players needed that problem is very likely to continue throughout the season.  KuPS have been good after the break and as MIFK are not great on their travels backing KuPS might become the pick of the day. At Ykkönen We had the very tasty Viikingit winning in a comfortable manner over OPS;RoPS and AC Oulu both dominating one half each, SJK and JIPPO having a goal-rich 3-1 game where the JIPPO preview once more proved to be bullshit as even those player confirmed to be unavailable where playing. JIPPO Suoraniemi red card. KooTeePee losing 0-2 vs HIFK is a bit of a shocker and there are talks about sacking the manager because the player material is far better than results show; Hämeelinna equalized to 1-1 at 95 mins only to concede a 1-2 goal 10 seconds later from the re-start and as they received once more a red card (Tuomenoja) they do have a mountain to climb on Monday at RoPS. PK-35 were expectedly out-of-form and hosting Viikingit on Monday in the derby is not going to be easy. I am still planning on backing KooTeePee when they visit OPS; it will be a game between over-rated and under-rated clubs who are of the same class and some good +0.75 perhaps is to be expected. Have a nice weekend!

Veikkausliiga round 4 preview and early prices published

Order your free  data sheet for this weekends estimations, team news and prices now!

For Free!  puntteri@gmail.com

Well, time is off. I am planning a light version of the service, picks only for a cheaper price. I will get back to you about this probably next week. All current pro customers should stay where they are,  but for any newcomers who are more interested in a big number of picks might get interested.


Stay tuned for details!

Veikkausliiga preview by Nordic Football News

Excellent stuff with deep insight info, it is not really betting-oriented but definitely worth a read.

In case you are interested in tailored content of Finnish Football you can ask NFN directly or you can ask me, puntteri@gmail.com.

Anything is possible.

NFN preview

****

Last Veikkausliiga round on Saturday

Edit: I have been busy out in the country, and start looking at the odds now.
There is more to read at NFN however.

I will update if I have time, but I will a couple of days on the road. There is very little worth betting anyway. Or how the hell should I know?


JJK (13.) - Tampere U (7. )

JJK : 0-0-0-0-0-0
TamU: 3-3-0-1-3-0

Head-to-head:0-0-2
Last meeting in the league: 7.4.2009 TamU – JJK 1-0

JJK do need a point from this match to secure the place in the play-offs and avoid getting straitght relegation, as they are now two points ahead of the last-place RoPS with better goal difference. Their form does not support the idea of points as they have lost 6 matches in a row, but this time they have a visiting team who has nothing to play for. JJK have full squad available.

Tampere United have nothing at stake here, and the main focus is in the Cup where they will host FC Honka next week in the semifinals. Rafinha 25/7 and Jari Niemi 24/1 are suspended, and at least Vili Savolainen might be rested to avoid a danger of suspension for the cup match. Antti Pohja 8/1, is again fit to play.

Last week JJK lost away at Mariehamn 3-1 and TamU lost 0-2 against Lahti at home.

According to the latest reports by the league the home team gk Szerovay was a target for an attempt of bribery, but the origin of the crime is still unknown. EDIT: The culprit was a hungarian football, mostly likely for betting purposes and not acting on behalf of any club.

JJK: 30 Mihaly Szerovay 23/0 – 25 Dejan Brankovic 4/0 - 5 Ik Kuyng Nam 22/7 – 7 Anssi Viren 23/1 – 9 Mika Lahtinen 25/5 – 10 Tommi Kari 22/5 – 14 Jukka Sinisalo 24/0 – 19 Christian Sund 22/1 – 13 Tuomas Latikka 24/0 - 23 Patrick Poutiainen 12/1 – 11 Georgij Hristov 9/1

Bench: 31 Antti-Jussi Karnio (gk) 3/0, 8 Matti Lähitie 18/0, 18 Zakaria Abahassine 18/0, 3 Janne Hannula 18/0, 22 Shkumbiu Arsllani 6/0, 6 Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen 15/0, 15 Antto Tapaninen 3/0

Out: 21 Toni Koskela 17/0 for the rest of the season

Coach: Ville Priha


TamU: 1 Mikko Kavén (gk) 14/0 - 8 Antti Pohja 9/1 - 13 Sakari Saarinen 23/0 - 9 Juha Pirinen 10/0 - 17 Vili Savolainen 22/0 - 16 Ilari Ruuth 13/0 - 14 Jusu Karvonen 11/0 - 22 Henri Scheweleff 24/1 - 11 Aleksei Kangaskolkka 24/6 - 5 Antti Ojanperä 20/1 - 10 Tomi Petrescu 13/3

Bench: 21 Jonne Hjelm 25/3, 12 Juha Soukiala (gk) 11/0, 4 Jesse-Juho Kuusisto 7/0, 28 Jaakko Ruuskanen 1/0,

Out: 2 Toni Järvinen 0/0, 25 Aapo Lappalainen 2/0, 23 Chris James 2/1, 18 Rafinha 25/7 & 30 Jari Niemi 24/1 suspended

Coach: Ari Hjelm


RoPS (14.) - KuPS (12.)

RoPS: 0-0-0-1-0-0
KuPS: 3-3-0-0-0-1

Head-to-head:6-2-5
Last meeting in the league: 4.7.2009 KuPS – RoPS 3-0

RoPS need to win to have a chance to stay in the league as they are two points behind JJK, any other results leads to relegation for sure which they fully deserve. KuPS will be 12th and stay in the league, there is nothing to play for but perhaps the long fight in the cabinets against RoPS has rosen their adrenaline levels and KuPS go fighting for their last game of the season?

RoPS are still without suspended gk Kwon, and after last round´s thrashing at the hands of Honka one of the coaching duo Mika Lumijärvi got fired. RoPS had a lot of minor injuries last week, but their performance lacked exactly everything and the players were ashamed of their match and had a serious talk with the club management. The circumstances at this martch are arctic, as winter is about to come to the Arctic Circle.

KuPS are reportedly still training fully and have kept their playing humor despite not having anything at stake for them, but there is always a chance that they would rather see JJK in the league than RoPS as a middle-Finland derby, and are not going to give RoPS anything without a fight?

KuPS key player Dickson 10/4 is doubful, otherwise KuPS are with full squad.

RoPS lost last week away at Honka by a staggering 9-0, while KuPS drew an amicable 3-3 at home with VPS.

RoPS: 12 Kari-Pekka Syväjärvi (gk) 7/0 – 4 Stephen Kunda 24/0 – 15 Mika- Matti Maisonvaara 21/1 - 3 Marko Koivuranta 8/0 - 11 Chileshe Chibwe 23/2 - 23 Jeremieh Ani 5/2 - 30 Echiabhi Okodugha 25/5 - 6 Joonas Ikäläinen 24/2 - 19 Janne Turpeenniemi 19/0 - 8 Nchimunya Mweetwa 16/1 - 17 Ville Syväjärvi 16/0
Bench: 2 Godfrey Chibanga 21/0, 9 Zeddy Saileti 15/1, 13 Jukka Yrjänheikki 8/0, 20 Juha-Pekka Inkeröinen 10/0, 7 Jarno Tenkula 6/0, 5 White Simwanza 21/0, 10 Chanda Mwaba 22/1, 18 Christopher Musonda 24/4,
Out: 22 Juuso Majava 0/0, 1 Jung-Huyk Kwom (gk) 20/0

Coaches: Zeddy Saileti & Jorma Turpeenniemi



KuPS: 1 Ville Iiskola 21/0 – 8 Tero Taipale 25/0 – 20 Miikka Ilo 24/3 - 9 Balazs Balogh 19/1 - 23 Jussi-Pekka Savolainen 19/0 – 6 Tuomas Kuparinen 19/1 – 28 Raphael Udah 9/0 – 10 Ilja Venäläinen 23/7 - 15 Ollo 19/2 - 7 Miikka Turunen 23/3 - 26 Dickson Nwakaeme 10/4

Bench: 24 Atte Hoivala 12/0, 22 Jyrki Juvonen 1/0, 13 Betim Aliju 9/0, 27 Segun Ikudehinbu 7/0, 12 Joonas Pöntinen (gk) 5/0, 3 Janne Reinikainen 19/0, 18 Ville Strandman 5/0, 19 Juho Karppinen 4/2, 11 Pele Koljonen 20/5, 4 Patrik Turunen 16/0, 2 Joni Nissinen 1/0

Out: 5 Jani Hartikainen 10/0 for the rest of the season

Coach: Esa Pekonen


FC Lahti (11.) – Inter (6.)


Lahti: 0-0-0-3-0-3
Inter: 0-1-3-3-1-1

Head-to-head: 5-6-5
Last meeting in the league: 5.7.2009 Inter – Lahti 1-1

There is nothing to play for in the league, but the same teams will meet in the Cup semifinals next week at Lahti and this will most likely be a dress rehearsal where the goal is not to get injured or suspended, not really scoring any goals. A win here might give a mental advantage, but no risks will be taken and especially for the home side an experimental side is to be expected. Jari Litmanen has played two international matches during the international break and will most likely be rested. Juha Tuomi and Henri Toivomäki have been abroad with the youth national teams and might be rested.

From the Inter side there several players (Kauko, Ojala, Nikkari) with the youth national teams, but unless there are no new injuries they are not likely to be rested. Ari Nyman was with the National Team as well but did not play and is fully fit. Gk Bantamoi 18/0 is still doubtful but David Monsalve has replaced him well.

The replay in the Cup will be in the same place the 25th October with higher stakes, the winner goes to the Cup Final!

Last week Lahti won at Tampere 2-0 and Inter fought a point against HJK 1-1 in a match where they fully would have deserved to win.

FC Lahti: 1 Viktor Szentpeteri 15/0 – 23 Jarkko Värttö 5/0 - 3 Henri Toivomäki 23/0– 6 Kalle Eerola 21/2 - 8 Mohamed Fofana 23/4 - 9 Rafael 23/4 – 11 Drilon Shala 25/8 – 14 Konsta Hietanen 24/0 – 10 Jari Litmanen 13/2 - 17 Eero Korte 25/2
Bench: 21 Kaarlo Rantanen 11/0, 22 Juha Tuomi (gk) 11/0, 20 Jonne Kemppinen 19/2, 13 Jussi Länsitalo 14/2, 5 Jari Holopainen 1/0, 12 Toni Huuhka 21/1, 5 Juho-Matti Heikari 3/0, 19 Riku Heini 16/0

Unavailable: 7 Jukka Veltheim 2/0 for the rest of the season, 16 Jussi Heikkinen 2/0, 4 Janne Moilanen 7/0, 2 Heikki Haara 18/1

Coach : Ilkka Mäkelä



Inter Turku: 1 Patrick Bantamoi (gk)18/0 – 6 Jermu Gustafsson 7/0 – 7 Ari Nyman 25/0 – 11 Timo Furuholm 23/11 – 14 Joni Aho 22/2 – 18 Ats Purje 20/3 – 15 Severi Paajanen 25/0 - 17 Mika Ojala 22/7 - 5 Alberto Ramirez 23/1 - 29 Henri Lehtonen 23/1 - 22 Sami Sanevuori 17/0

Bench: 8 Touko Tumanto 13/0, 13 Eemeli Reponen (gk) 2/0, 12 David Monsalve (gk) 6/0, 19 Aristides Pertot 17/1, 3 Claudio Verino 13/1, 23 Ville Nikkari 14/0, 30 Martin Civit 0/0, 9 Guillano Grot 16/3, 27 Kennedy 20/2, 24 Joni Kauko 19/3
Out:

Coach: Job Dragtsma



Haka (5.) - MYPA (9.)

Haka: 1-1-0-3-3-0
MYPA: 3-3-0-1-0-1

Head-to-head:8-3-7
Last meeting in the league: 5.7.2009 MYPA – Haka 0-2

Two traditional teams with paper mill sponsorship background meet in this match which has no importance to either of teams. Haka is still fifth in the league because of the good run in the early stages of the league, and MYPA never really took part in the competition and are probably just happy that the season is ending. In the history it has been surprisingly often the away team who has taken more points, and as this is the last match for two MYPA icons Saku Puhakainen and Toni Huttunen at least the MYPA will come to this match with full speed.

Last week Haka lost 1-0 away at Jaro, and MYPA slowed down TPS hopes for the title with a 2-2 draw.

Haka could be giving some of their youth players a chance to convince the new manager Sami Ristilä, and the latest recruit Estonian Maido Pakk got his first match already last week. There were no absentees during the international break in either of the teams.

Haka: 1 Janne Korhonen 25/0 - 4 Markus Joenmäki 14/0 - 3 Petri Viljanen 17/0 - 21 Pietari Holopainen 21/5 - 10 Mika Mäkitalo 22/4 - 6 Sebastian Strandvall 24/7 - 7 Mikko Innanen 25/5 - 11 Antti Hynynen 23/6 - 41 Valeri Minkenen 14/0 - 8 Jani Kauppila 23/1 - 17 Kalle Multanen 4/1

Bench: 12 Saku Pesonen (gk) 0/0, 18 Jari Nikkilä 20/0, 19 Juuso Salonen 4/0, 26 Jhon Cagua 5/0, 5 Kalle Parviainen 4/0, 22 Jarno Mattila 22/1, 25 Maido Pakk 1/0

Out: 2 Diego Corpache 15/1, 20 Sami Ristilä 16/2, 9 Niko Ikävalko 18/3,

Coach: Sami Ristilä


MYPA: 1 Antti Kuismala 24/0 – 4 Antti Uimaniemi 24/1 – 11 Ilari Äijälä 21/5 – 16 Toni Huttunen 25/2 - 6 Tuomo Könönen 24/1 - 5 Jarno Tuunainen 10/0 - 13 Toni Lindberg 17/2 – 18 Tuomas Aho 24/0 - 19 Maxim Votinov 18/6, 26 Cleiton 5/1 – 25 Antti Okkonen 6/0

Bench: 15 Ville Oksanen 22/1, 12 Mika Johansson (gk) 1/0, 8 Ady 17/2, 9 Saku Puhakainen 25/2, 24 Nebi Mustafi 13/1, 20 Felipe Benevedes 5/0, , 2 Miikka Multaharju 17/0
Unavailable: 3 Sampsa Timoska 8/0 injured, 7 Ben Webster 20/0 – 14 Tosaint Ricketts 16/5 injured
Coach : Janne Lindberg




HJK (1.) - Jaro (10.)


HJK: 1-3-3-3-3-3
Jaro: 1-3-3-0-0-3

Head-to-head:11-6-2
Last meeting in the league: 5.7.2009 Jaro – HJK 0-2

One of the two matches this round that has huge importance. HJK is leading the tabel by three points which means that a draw would see them through to celebrating the title, but by losing the winner of the match TPS – Honka would go past them because of a superior goal difference.

For Jaro the only motivation is not to be second year in the row the team the sees their opponents win the title, last year they had a chance to ruin the party of Inter Turku away but could not quite make it and were left as by-watchers.

Important right winger Sebastian Sorsa returns from suspension to the line-up.

Last week HJK drew 1-1 at Inter in a match where they had a chance to secure the title by a win, and Jaro won Haka 1-0 at home.

Neither of the teams have had any players in international duty except Jaro midfielder Sebastian Mannström, and they concentrated fully on this last match of the season.

HJK: 1 Wille Wallén 25/0 – 3 Mikko Hauhia 24/0 – 5 Jukka Sauso 19/0 - 4 Medo 22/3 – 19 Aki Riihilahti 9/3 – 6 Cheyne Fowler 16/1 – 21 Petri Oravainen 15/0 – 10 Juho Mäkelä 25/8 - 13 Pyry Kärkkäinen 25/2 – 17 Dawda Bah 24/7 – 9 Sebastian Sorsa 24/6

Bench: 2 Tuomas Kansikas 10/0, 12 Jani Viander (gk) 0/0, 26 Johannes Westö 2/0, 27 Mikko Sumusalo 1/0, 31 Akseli Pelvas 19/5, 16 Jarno Parikka 23/3, 8 Ville Taulo 11/0, 15 Paulus Roiha 5/0, 14 Valeri Popovits 16/3

Unavailable: 7 Tuomas Haapala 6/0, 11 Mathias Lindström 24/1 suspended
Coach : Antti Muurinen


Jaro: 12 Vitali Teles (gk) 8/0 – 6 Janne Vellamo 22/0 - 5 Kristian Kojola 25/2 – 27 Urmas Rooba 5/0 - 7 Marco Matrone 19/1 – 10 Jonas Emet 24/3 – 17 Petter Meyer 24/6 - 18 Mikko Hyyrynen 22/4 – 19 Sebastian Mannström 25/4 – 22 Jens Portin 24/0 – 23 Joonas Laurikainen 25/3

Bench: 30 Jesse Öst 0/0, 11 Jani Koivisto 15/4, 13 Jani Sarajärvi 9/0, 26 Tommi Haanpää 2/0, 9 Björn-Erik Sundqvist 11/1, 16 Papa Niang 22/3, 21 Daniel Fellman 8/0, 20 Tillman Grove 3/0

Unavailable: 8 Jari Sara 0/0, 3 Heikki Aho 8/0, 1 Markus Koljander (gk)18/0 the rest of the season, 2 Jani Tanska 20/1

Coach : Alexei Eremenko Sr


VPS (8.) - IFK Mariehamn (4.)

VPS: 3-0-0-1-3-1
MIFK:1-0-3-0-0-3
Head-to-head:3-3-3
Last meeting in the league:5.7.2009 IFK – VPS 0-0

There is not too much in the air at Vaasa either. VPS will finish mid-table as expected, and IFK Mariehamn has already secured their 4th place in the league, which in the best case would leave them a chance to earn a place in the Europe League qualifications next season. All they need is Honka to win the cup and not to win the league, a prospect that is well possible.

There have been talks of some VPS players getting contracts abroad, but nothing has been cofirmed yet. The most likely players to go are gk Sillanpää and center back Jani Lyyski.

Last week VPS drew 3-3 at Kuopio with KuPS while IFK won JJK 3-1 at home.

VPS: 12 Henrik Moisander (gk) 8/0 - 8 Jani Lyyski 25/3 – 4 Jussi Äijälä 20/0 – 19 Jan Berg 24/0 – 3 Lawrence Smith 21/3 – 7 Tero Koskela 23/2 – 14 Jens Nygård 25/3 - 22 Tony Björk 25/4 - 10 Antonio Inutile 24/5 – 23 Jyri Hietaharju 24/3 - 20 Rikard Lindroos 16/2

Bench: 9 Jussi Aalto 16/1, 25 Pekka Kainu 20/1, 21 Arttu Seppälä 3/1, 16 Jyrki Saranpää 15/1, 11 Toni Hahto 14/0, 1 Henri Sillanpää 20/0

Unavailable: 2 Jan Ahlvik 0/0 & 24 Benjamin Slotte 0/0

Coach: Petri Vuorinen


MIFK : 29 Gustav Långbacka 25/0 - 24 Mate Dujilo 21/1 - 6 Marcus Olofsson 24/4 – 22 Alexandros Pappas 23/0 – 3 Patrik Rikama 22/1 – 8 Kenneth Gustavsson 22/2 - 9 Ante Simunac 21/4 – 10 Tamás Gruborovics 24/8 – 15 Amos Ekhalie 13/1 – 30 Sasha Anttilainen 14/1
Bench: 1 Willis Ochieng (gk) 1/0, 2 Dmytro Voloshyn 10/0, 18 Dmytro Pronevych 5/0, 11 Mika Niskala 22/1, 14 Arsim Gashi 21/1, 26 Wilhelm Ingves 23/4, 4 Johan Carlsson 19/1, 21 Jimmy Sundman 1/0
Unavailable: 23 Paulus Arajuuri 20/1

Coach : Pekka Lyyski



TPS (3.) - Honka (2.)

TPS: 1-3-0-3-3-1
Honka :3-3-0-3-3-3

Head-to-head:3-4-6
Last meeting in the league:6.7.2009 Honka – TPS 0-0


Everything is still out in the open for both teams, depending on the result of this match and the match between HJK and Jaro both teams can end up either as winners, runners-up, or the third in the league. They are three points behind leaders HJK, but with a superior goal-difference either of team would go past HJK in equal points. If they draw, then the final standings are HJK, Honka, TPS.

A good season for both teams, but both teams must be regretful for some points lost during the road. TPS lost too many points to JJK, while Honka had too much trouble in the hands of Inter Turku and lost both games. All the mutual matches between the top three have been draws so far this season, by winning this there is still a chance for the title!

Last week MYPA took two points from TPS by a 2-2 draw, and Honka scored no more or less than nine goals in the RoPS net.

Kasper Hämäläinen, the mf of TPS was with Finland in Hamburg agaist Germany in the starting eleven in the game that ended 1-1, and Joel Perovuo from Honka had also been invited to the national team. Hermanni Vuorinen, the League´s top scorer was a reserve player staying at home, but being invited from Veikkausliiga is something that does not happen every day.

The teams met in the cup some weeks ago, and Honka took an away win at 2-6 on extra time. This is the match of the season for both teams, only shadowed by the fact that HJK is still leading the table.

TPS: 12 Jukka Lehtovaara 24/0 – 2 Iiro Aalto 23/0 – 34 Jussi Kujala 24/3 - 6 Jaakko Nyberg 22/2 - 7 Sami Rähmönen 25/0 – 8 Jarno Heinikangas 25/0 – 9 Mikko Manninen 23/2 – 14 Kasper Hämäläinen 24/0 – 28 Mikko Paatelainen 25/9 – 20 Babatunde Wusu 24/9 - 21 Wayne Brown 25/9

Bench: 11 Mika Ääritalo 14/3, 29 Yll Hoxha 10/0, 1 Jani Tuomala (gk) 1/0, 10 Riku Riski 22/5, 18 Chris Cleaver 21/0, 4 Igor Jovanovic 5/0

Out: 5 Simo Valakari 7/0

Coach: Pasi Rautiainen

Honka: 1 Tuomas Peltonen 20/0 – 2 Sampo Koskinen 18/0 - 19 Rami Hakanpää 23/3 - 3 Roope Heilala 17/1 - 11 Hannu Haarala 16/0 - 28 Rasmus Schuller 18/2 - 20 Nicolas Otaru 22/3 - 21 Joel Perovuo 24/4 - 17 Demba Savage 23/5 - 6 Hermanni Vuorinen 25/16 - 10 Jami Puustinen 24/12

Bench: 12 Janne Henriksson (gk) 6/0, 15 Aleksandr Kokko 18/2, 14 Jussi Vasara 25/7, 7 John Weckström 12/2, 5 Henri Aalto 13/0, 13 Ville Koskimaa 14/3, 26 Jaakko Lepola 16/4

Out:
Coach: Mika Lehkosuo

Veikkausliiga 4th October 2009, the penultimate round

And some matches have a lot of motivation, some teams could not care less and the estimations are more difficult than usual, I will update them later but here some basic info regarding the round;

There is more Veikkausliiga at Nordic Football News!


MIFK (4.) – JJK (13.)


MIFK:3-1-0-3-0-3

JJK : 0-0-0-0-0-0


H2H:2-0-0

Last game in Veikkausliiga: 27.5.2009 JJK – MIFK 0-2


IFK won Jaro 2-1 last week while JJK managed to lose at home 1-2 against VPS even when VPS gk had received a red card early on the game and JJK had taken the lead. For IFK Mariehamn there is still a lot at stake as by reaching the fourth spot in the League they have a chance for European games next season, and JJK in their part received good news this week when RoPS were dropped three points are they are now two points behind JJK in the table when there are two rounds to go. At the moment JJK occupy the play-off place for relegation at 13th spot, and the team on the 14th place will get relegated automatically.


IFK have not yet lost at home this season, and as JJK have lost all of their last six matches it is easy to see the favourite. ” This is very important for us, and naturally for JJK too. We have played well the whole season, and we are going to get the 4th place which gives us the chance to qualify for Europa League.”, says IFK defender Paulus Arajuuri who returns to the squad after suspension and continues, ” I personally missed the first JJK – encounter due injury and look forward the last home match of the season.”


IFK Mariehamn offers this match free of charge for everyone and the stadium and the neighbourhoods are likely to be full and lively in this charming little town.

IFK have full squad available but mf Mika Niskala is doubtful, the only absentee for the JJK team who started the trip already on Friday, is striker Nam 22/7.

MIFK : 29 Gustav Långbacka 24/0 - 24 Mate Dujilo 20/1 - 6 Marcus Olofsson 23/3 – 22 Alexandros Pappas 23/0 – 3 Patrik Rikama 21/0 – 8 Kenneth Gustavsson 21/2 - 9 Ante Simunac 20/4 – 10 Tamás Gruborovics 23/8 – 15 Amos Ekhalie 12/1 – 30 Sasha Anttilainen 13/1

Bench: 1 Willis Ochieng (gk) 1/0, 2 Dmytro Voloshyn 9/0, 18 Dmytro Pronevych 5/0, 11 Mika Niskala 21/1, 14 Arsim Gashi 20/1, 26 Wilhelm Ingves 22/3, 4 Johan Carlsson 19/1, 21 Jimmy Sundman 1/0, 23 Paulus Arajuuri 19/1

Unavailable:


Coach : Pekka Lyyski


JJK: 30 Mihaly Szerovay 22/0 – 25 Dejan Brankovic 3/0 - 18 Zakaria Abahassine 17/0– 7 Anssi Viren 22/1 – 9 Mika Lahtinen 24/5 – 10 Tommi Kari 21/5 – 14 Jukka Sinisalo 23/0 – 19 Christian Sund 21/1 – 13 Tuomas Latikka 23/0 - 23 Patrick Poutiainen 11/1 – 11 Georgij Hristov 9/1


Bench: 31 Antti-Jussi Karnio (gk) 3/0, 8 Matti Lähitie 17/0, 3 Janne Hannula 17/0, 22 Shkumbiu Arsllani 6/0, 6 Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen 14/0, 15 Antto Tapaninen 2/0


Out: 21 Toni Koskela 17/0 for the rest of the season, 5 Ik Kuyng Nam 22/7 suspended


Coach: Ville Priha






KuPS (12.) – VPS (8.)



KuPS:3-0-3-3-0-0

VPS: 0-3-0-0-1-3


H2H:4-3-6

Last game in Veikkausliiga: 17.06.2009 VPS – KuPS 1-0


KuPS got excellent news this week as the 3 points they had already lost in the cabinets were returned, thus KuPS find themselves out of danger of relegation and can relax for the last two games. Last week KuPS lost against Honka 0-4 and VPS took an away victory 1-2 at JJK though playing most of the match with only ten players as gk Henrik Moisander got a red card early on. KuPS have no motivation, they were eliminated from the cup this week against Inter and the 12th place will be theirs in the league no matter what the last two matches. VPS have neither very little motivation, but the players have been promised bonuses according to the final standings and everything goes well for them they have a chance to rise a bit from the current 8th place.

From KuPS side Top striker Dickson is doubful, Aliju is with his native Macedonian U21 – team and the U19 – players Karppinen, Nissinen, Miettinen and Hoivala will be with the junior teams as there is no reward in winning this match. ”It hurts that we got out of the cup against Inter as we were not saving for anything but gave our 100 %, ” says KuPS defender Miikka Ilo, ” but of course, they were a bit better, especially in the start of the match.” He continues that ” I have no picture of VPS really, but i think that they are in the same situation and maybe we can expect an open match here on Sunday.”


VPS have played well their last two matches, ” perhaps it is because the pressure is off, ” says coach Petri Vuorinen, ” and we have attacked well. I do not mind if we concede a few goals as well, but I would like to have a guaranteed top striker, it would also boost the other´s confidence if there was someone who succeeds more often in scoring.”


VPS only absentee is suspended sesond choice goal-keeper Henrik Moisander.


KuPS: 1 Ville Iiskola 20/0 – 8 Tero Taipale 24/0 – 20 Miikka Ilo 23/3 - 9 Balazs Balogh 18/1 - 23 Jussi-Pekka Savolainen 18/0 – 6 Tuomas Kuparinen 18/1 – 28 Raphael Udah 8/0 – 10 Ilja Venäläinen 22/6 - 4 Patrik Turunen 15/0 - 7 Miikka Turunen 22/2 - 26 Dickson Nwakaeme 9/3


Bench: , 27 Segun Ikudehinbu 8/0, 12 Joonas Pöntinen (gk) 5/0, 3 Janne Reinikainen 18/0, 18 Ville Strandman 5/0,11 Pele Koljonen 19/5,

Out: 5 Jani Hartikainen 10/0 for the rest of the season, 15 Ollo 19/2 suspended, 2 Joni Nissinen 1/0, 24 Atte Hoivala 12/0, 22 Jyrki Juvonen 1/0, 19 Juho Karppinen 4/2, 13 Betim Aliju 9/0 (Macedonian U21 international duty)


Coach: Esa Pekonen


VPS: 1 Henri Sillanpää 19/0 - 8 Jani Lyyski 24/3 – 4 Jussi Äijälä 19/0 – 19 Jan Berg 23/0 – 3 Lawrence Smith 20/3 – 7 Tero Koskela 22/1 – 14 Jens Nygård 24/3 - 22 Tony Björk 24/3 - 10 Antonio Inutile 23/4 – 23 Jyri Hietaharju 23/3 - 20 Rikard Lindroos 16/2


Bench: 9 Jussi Aalto 16/1, 25 Pekka Kainu 19/1, 21 Arttu Seppälä 2/1, 16 Jyrki Saranpää 14/1, 11 Toni Hahto 14/0


Unavailable: 2 Jan Ahlvik 0/0 & 24 Benjamin Slotte 0/0, 12 Henrik Moisander (gk) 8/0 suspended


Coach: Petri Vuorinen




Honka (3.) - RoPS (14.)


Honka :3-3-0-3-3-3

RoPS: 1-0-0-0-1-0


H2H:3-2-1

Last game in Veikkausliiga: 28.06.2009 RoPS – Honka 1-2


Honka have been scoring freely lately and especially Jami Puustinen has been on fire and scored amazing three hat-tricks during last week! Honka won KuPS away 0-4 and City Stars in the Cup 0-3 last week. RoPS in turn hosted TPS but were no given no chances and they lost at home 0-4, and they also suffered a big loss in the cabinet when the three points they were earlier this season given in a contradictory match against KuPS were taken back, and RoPS dropped to the last place in the league when there are only two matches to play. They are trailing JJK by two points for the relegation play-off spot.


No one is expecting anything from the away team at the moment, and seems that the biggest enemy in this match is Honka themselves if the attitude is not right. ”It is not a bad team!”, reminds Honka coach Mika Lehkosuo, ” I did watch them against HJK and as long they are leading or at 0-0 their team work and defence is solid, they only drop their guard when they are behind. They have a huge amount of individual skill, and we can let them charge us 1 vs 1. ”

Honka have no injuries or suspensions, only doubftul player is defender Hannu Haarala. Top striker Hermanni Vuorinen was invited to join the national team against Wales and Germany.


RoPS have so far gathered one point from their travels this season – against JJK – and coach Mika Lumijärvi admits that ”we are the underdogs here. Honka is a top team and fighting for the title, and we have a lot of improvements to do. We will take the train on Saturday and stay the night in Helsinki, then take the night train back home after the game. We are fighting until the end!”


RoPs gk Kwon 20/0 is still suspended, striker Ani 4/2 and mf Syväjärvi 16/0 are sidelined due injury and some others have minor knocks.


Honka: 1 Tuomas Peltonen 19/0 – 2 Sampo Koskinen 17/0 - 19 Rami Hakanpää 22/2- 3 Roope Heilala 17/1 - 11 Hannu Haarala 15/0 - 28 Rasmus Schuller 17/2 - 20 Nicolas Otaru 21/3 - 21 Joel Perovuo 23/3 - 17 Demba Savage 22/4 - 6 Hermanni Vuorinen 24/15 - 10 Jami Puustinen 23/11



Bench: 12 Janne Henriksson (gk) 6/0, 15 Aleksandr Kokko 17/1, 14 Jussi Vasara 24/7, 7 John Weckström 11/1, 5 Henri Aalto 13/0, 13 Ville Koskimaa 13/1, 26 Jaakko Lepola 16/4

Out:

Coach: Mika Lehkosuo





RoPS: 12 Kari-Pekka Syväjärvi (gk) 6/0 – 4 Stephen Kunda 23/0 – 15 Mika- Matti Maisonvaara 20/1 - 3 Marko Koivuranta 8/0 - 11 Chileshe Chibwe 22/2 - 18 Christopher Musonda 23/4- 30 Echiabhi Okodugha 24/5 - 6 Joonas Ikäläinen 23/2 - 19 Janne Turpeenniemi 18/0 - 8 Nchimunya Mweetwa 15/1 - 5 White Simwanza 20/0

Bench: 2 Godfrey Chibanga 20/0, 9 Zeddy Saileti 15/1, 13 Jukka Yrjänheikki 7/0, 20 Juha-Pekka Inkeröinen 10/0, 7 Jarno Tenkula 5/0, 10 Chanda Mwaba 22/1,

Out: 22 Juuso Majava 0/0, 1 Jung-Huyk Kwom (gk) 20/0 suspended, 23 Jeremieh Ani 4/2, 17 Ville Syväjärvi 16/0



Coaches: Zeddy Saileti & Mika Lumijärvi



Inter Turku (6.) - HJK (1.) 16.00 CET on TV

Inter: 0-1-3-3-1-1

HJK: 1-3-3-3-3-3


H2H:1-4-13

Last game in Veikkausliiga: 28.06.2009 HJK – Inter 2-0


Inter drew 2-2 at home with TamU and got a 0-2 away win at KuPS in the cup, in the league they do not have anything to play for but the season is not yet over as they qualified to the final four in the cup. HJK have a chance of securing the title for the first time in 6 years time if they win and if TPS lose points at MYPA, and they are very much under pressure. Last week they won MYPA at home 1-0 in another unconvincing way, but it is the points and goals that count, not the style.


Inter captain Henri Lehtonen is suspended and gk Bantamoi is still sidelined, otherwise Inter have full squad available.


”Inter are a top team, but it shows that they lost their two best players after the season. Furuholm is still a dangerous striker, but their defence has not as good as last year, ” says HJK top goal-scorer Juho Mäkelä. ” We do not care how TPS or Honka play but concentrate on our own game, the title is in our own hands. Everyone does more than his share in the team at the moment and we deserve to get it and will show this spirit to all.”

HJK only absentee is long-term patient Tuomas Haapala, important mf Sebastian Sorsa returns from suspension.


Inter Turku: 12 David Monsalve (gk) 5/0– 6 Jermu Gustafsson 7/0 – 7 Ari Nyman 24/0 – 11 Timo Furuholm 22/11 – 14 Joni Aho 21/2 – 18 Ats Purje 19/3 – 15 Severi Paajanen 24/0 - 17 Mika Ojala 21/7 - 5 Alberto Ramirez 22/1 - 8 Touko Tumanto 12/0 - 22 Sami Sanevuori 16/0



Bench:13 Eemeli Reponen (gk) 2/0,, 19 Aristides Pertot 16/1, 3 Claudio Verino 13/1, 23 Ville Nikkari 13/0, 30 Martin Civit 0/0, 9 Guillano Grot 15/3, 27 Kennedy 20/2 24 Joni Kauko 18/2

Out: 29 Henri Lehtonen 23/1 suspended, 1 Patrick Bantamoi (gk)18/0

Coach: Job Dragtsma



HJK: 1 Wille Wallén 24/0 – 3 Mikko Hauhia 23/0 – 4 Medo 21/3 – 19 Aki Riihilahti 8/3 – 6 Cheyne Fowler 15/1 – 9 Sebastian Sorsa 23/6 – 10 Juho Mäkelä 24/8 - 13 Pyry Kärkkäinen 24/2 – 14 Valeri Popovits 16/3 – 17 Dawda Bah 23/6 – 11 Mathias Lindström 23/1



Bench: 2 Tuomas Kansikas 9/0, 12 Jani Viander (gk) 0/0, 26 Johannes Westö 2/0, 27 Mikko Sumusalo 1/0, 31 Akseli Pelvas 18/5, 16 Jarno Parikka 22/3, 8 Ville Taulo 10/0, 15 Paulus Roiha 5/0, 5 Jukka Sauso 19/0, 21 Petri Oravainen 15/0



Unavailable: 7 Tuomas Haapala 6/0

Coach : Antti Muurinen



TamU (7.) – Lahti (11.)


TamU: 0-3-3-3-0-1
Lahti: 0-0-0-0-3-0


H2H:9-4-5

Last game in Veikkausliiga: 27.06.2009 Lahti – TamU 2-1


TamU drew last week in the league with Inter 2-2, and then cruised to the semi-finals in the cup in the expense of Haka 1-3, in the league TamU have almost nothing to play for. Pretty much the same applies to FC Lahti who won 2nd division opponent Jazz 4-0 after having lost shamefully to Haka at home in the league by 2-4.


So both teams are in the cup and where they might meet one another, and have nothing to play for in the league so this might be a match of little motivation and risk-taking? Not so if we believe in Sakari Saarinen, TamU midfielder and the body of the fighting spirit itself, ” now at latest it is everyone´s turn to produce and give out everything, ” he says, ” there have been economical worries, injuries, talks of bankrupty and we have the youngest and cheapest team on the pitch I think, but we will not let it show!”


Antti Ojanperä returns from suspension for Tamu and they have new injury worries, mf Tomi Petrescu is doubtful.


Lahti had 8 players out of the cup match last Thursday and some of them might still be sidelined for minor injuries, ”The aim of the match is to improve our play and prepare for the Cup games, but naturally we are not planning to lose on purpose, ” says Lahti coach Ilkka Mäkelä. ” I am sure eveyone understands the situation we are in. ”


For Lahti the injury list is long and doubtful, the only absentees for sure are the long-term injured Veltheim, Hänninen, Haara, Moilanen and Heikkinen.



TamU: 1 Mikko Kavén (gk) 13/0 - 18 Rafinha 24/7 - 13 Sakari Saarinen 22/0 - 9 Juha Pirinen 9/0 - 17 Vili Savolainen 21/0 - 16 Ilari Ruuth 12/0 - 14 Jusu Karvonen 10/0 - 22 Henri Scheweleff 23/1 - 11 Aleksei Kangaskolkka 23/6 - 30 Jari Niemi 23/1 - 10 Tomi Petrescu 13/3


Bench: 21 Jonne Hjelm 24/3, 12 Juha Soukiala (gk) 11/0, 8 Antti Pohja 8/1, 4 Jesse-Juho Kuusisto 7/0, 28 Jaakko Ruuskanen 1/0, 5 Antti Ojanperä 19/1


Out: 2 Toni Järvinen 0/0, 25 Aapo Lappalainen 2/0, 23 Chris James 2/1,


Coach: Ari Hjelm




FC Lahti: 1 Viktor Szentpeteri 15/0 – 23 Jarkko Värttö 4/0 - 3 Henri Toivomäki 22/0 – 12 Toni Huuhka 20/1 - 6 Kalle Eerola 20/1 - 8 Mohamed Fofana 22/4 - 9 Rafael 22/4 – 11 Drilon Shala 24/7 – 14 Konsta Hietanen 23/0 – 10 Jari Litmanen 13/2 - 17 Eero Korte 24/2

Bench: 21 Kaarlo Rantanen 10/0, 22 Juha Tuomi (gk) 9/0, 20 Jonne Kemppinen 19/2, 13 Jussi Länsitalo 13/2, 5 Jari Holopainen 1/0, , 5 Juho-Matti Heikari 3/0, 19 Riku Heini 15/0



Unavailable: 7 Jukka Veltheim 2/0 for the rest of the season, 16 Jussi Heikkinen 2/0, 4 Janne Moilanen 7/0, 2 Heikki Haara 18/1, Mikä Hänninen



Coach : Ilkka Mäkelä



Jaro (10.) – Haka (5.)


Jaro:0-1-3-3-0-0
Haka: 1-1-0-0-3-3


H2H:3-4-11

Last game in Veikkausliiga: 28.6.09 Haka – Jaro 0-0


Jaro lost 1-2 at Mariehamn but would had deserved a bit more, while for Haka it was quite opposite and they surprisingly won at Lahti by 2-4 after having scored virtually every time they crossed the half-way line. In the cup they lost to TamU 1-3 at home and that result means that the season is over, there is nothing to fight for in the league anymore.


Jaro have a chance to improve the poor head to head statistics, as against TamU in the cup game Haka were out of discipline and there was nothing to remind them of the previous good couple of games. The life-line for European League games next season is so thin that probably they do not believe in it themselves, but coach Sami Ristilä has to say” we still have a slight chance and a couple of games to play.”


Jaro have improved since the new manager came in, and are likely to come focused for this last home game of the season, and on the last round they will be visiting HJK and probably have to witness the championship celebrations again from the other side of the pitch, last season they lost their last league game at Inter Turku.


No new injury worries for either of the teams, some experiments are likely to happen as there are no high stakes in the game.


Jaro: 12 Vitali Teles (gk) 7/0 – 6 Janne Vellamo 21/0 - 5 Kristian Kojola 24/2 – 27 Urmas Rooba 5/0 - 7 Marco Matrone 18/1 – 10 Jonas Emet 23/3 – 17 Petter Meyer 23/5 - 18 Mikko Hyyrynen 21/4 – 19 Sebastian Mannström 24/4 – 22 Jens Portin 23/0 – 23 Joonas Laurikainen 24/3

Bench: 30 Jesse Öst 0/0, 11 Jani Koivisto 14/4, 13 Jani Sarajärvi 9/0, 26 Tommi Haanpää 2/0, 9 Björn-Erik Sundqvist 10/1, 16 Papa Niang 21/3, 21 Daniel Fellman 8/0, 20 Tillman Grove 2/0

Unavailable: 8 Jari Sara 0/0, 3 Heikki Aho 8/0, 1 Markus Koljander (gk)18/0 the rest of the season, 2 Jani Tanska 20/1


Coach : Alexei Eremenko Sr



Haka: 1 Janne Korhonen 24/0 - 4 Markus Joenmäki 13/0 - 3 Petri Viljanen 16/0 - 21 Pietari Holopainen 20/5 - 10 Mika Mäkitalo 21/4 - 6 Sebastian Strandvall 23/7 - 7 Mikko Innanen 23/7 - 11 Antti Hynynen 22/6 - 41 Valeri Minkenen 14/0 - 8 Jani Kauppila 22/1 - 17 Kalle Multanen 3/1


Bench: 12 Saku Pesonen (gk) 0/0, 18 Jari Nikkilä 20/0, 19 Juuso Salonen 4/0, 26 Jhon Cagua 4/0, 5 Kalle Parviainen 3/0, 22 Jarno Mattila 22/1


Out:, 2 Diego Corpache 15/1, 20 Sami Ristilä 16/2, 9 Niko Ikävalko 18/3


Coach: Sami Ristilä



MYPA (9.) – TPS (2.)



MYPA: 1-3-3-0-1-0
TPS: 3-1-3-0-3-3


H2H: 7-3-8

Last game in Veikkausliiga: 27.6.2009 TPS – MYPA 3-1


MYPA lost at HJK away 1-0 and now host another title candidate TPS, who fetched all the points from Rovaniemi by a 0-4 away win. The biggest motivation for MYPA comes from the retirement news of MYPA – legends Saku Puhakainen and Toni Huttunen who are playing their last matches in front of the home crowd.


MYPA had very little to say against HJK though only losing by a narrow margin, but TPS might be a tougher opponent and they have played exceptionally well also on their travels. TPS are trailing HJK by three points, but they have a superior goal-difference if HJK happen to lose at Inter, and then there would be all three top teams still fighting for the championship on the last round when HJK host Jaro and TPS meet FC Honka.


No injury worries and no suspensions, but a lot of pressure for the visitors!


MYPA: 1 Antti Kuismala 23/0 – 4 Antti Uimaniemi 23/1 – 11 Ilari Äijälä 20/5 – 16 Toni Huttunen 24/2 - 6 Tuomo Könönen 23/1 - 5 Jarno Tuunainen 9/0 - 13 Toni Lindberg 16/2 – 18 Tuomas Aho 23/0 - 7 Ben Webster 20/0 – 14 Tosaint Ricketts 16/5 – 2 Miikka Multaharju 17/0


Bench: 15 Ville Oksanen 21/1, 12 Mika Johansson (gk) 1/0, 8 Ady 16/2, 9 Saku Puhakainen 24/2, 24 Nebi Mustafi 13/1, 20 Felipe Benevedes 4/0, 19 Maxim Votinov 17/4, 26 Cleiton 5/1

Unavailable: 3 Sampsa Timoska 8/0 injured,

Coach : Janne Lindberg


TPS: 12 Jukka Lehtovaara 23/0 – 2 Iiro Aalto 22/0 – 34 Jussi Kujala 23/3 - 6 Jaakko Nyberg 21/2 - 7 Sami Rähmönen 24/0 – 8 Jarno Heinikangas 24/0 – 9 Mikko Manninen 22/1 – 14 Kasper Hämäläinen 23/0 – 28 Mikko Paatelainen 24/9 – 20 Babatunde Wusu 23/8 - 21 Wayne Brown 24/9



Bench: 11 Mika Ääritalo 13/3, 29 Yll Hoxha 10/0, 1 Jani Tuomala (gk) 1/0, 10 Riku Riski 21/5, 18 Chris Cleaver 20/0, 4 Igor Jovanovic 5/0



Out: 5 Simo Valakari 7/0



Coach: Pasi Rautiainen

More to follow, estimations and picks. Numbers.

VPS - Inter preview 23.09.2009

VPS (9.) – Inter (6.)
VPS: 3-3-0-3-0-0
Inter: 3-0-0-1-3-3


H2H:5-4-11
Last game in Veikkausliiga: 28.05.09 Inter – VPS 0-1

Last round VPS lost to HJK away very expectedly 2-0 while Inter thrashed JJK 3-0 at home. The home team does not too much at stake anymore this season, they are out of Cup, have no relegation worries and will not achieve anything in the league and it shows on the pitch. Inter have still a slight chance for a top position in the league, they are in the Cup and have also a revenge in mind as they lost to VPS at home in May this season.

Juha Reini, an assistant coach and sports director is about to leave VPS because he did not accept some of the contracts made for future seasons thus leaving Petri Vuorinen being solely responsible for the first team.

VPS have no injury worries physically, but mentally the team is not anymore in full fitness as there is nothing to play for.

Inter might introduce a new signing in the midfield for this game if the paperwork has been completed in the the transfer of Argentinian Martin Civit. Goal-keeper Patrick Bantamoi 18/0 might be rested because of a injury for his thumb, and Ville Nikkari 12/0 is expected to return after recovering from illness. Striker Guillamo Grot 15/3 is still suspended.

VPS: 1 Henri Sillanpää 18/0 - 8 Jani Lyyski 22/3 – 4 Jussi Äijälä 17/0 – 19 Jan Berg 22/0 – 3 Lawrence Smith 18/3 – 7 Tero Koskela 20/1 – 14 Jens Nygård 22/3 - 22 Tony Björk 22/2 - 10 Antonio Inutile 21/4 – 23 Jyri Hietaharju 21/1 - 20 Rikard Lindroos 15/2

Bench: 9 Jussi Aalto 15/1, 25 Pekka Kainu 17/0, 12 Henrik Moisander (gk) 6/0, 21 Arttu Seppälä 2/1,16 Jyrki Saranpää 14/1, 11 Toni Hahto 12/0

Unavailable: 2 Jan Ahlvik 0/0 & 24 Benjamin Slotte 0/0

Coach: Petri Vuorinen


Inter Turku: 1 Patrick Bantamoi (gk)18/0 – 6 Jermu Gustafsson 7/0 – 7 Ari Nyman 22/0 – 11 Timo Furuholm 20/11 – 14 Joni Aho 19/2 – 18 Ats Purje 17/3 – 15 Severi Paajanen 22/0 - 17 Mika Ojala 19/4 - 5 Alberto Ramirez 20/1 - 29 Henri Lehtonen 21/1 - 27 Kennedy 19/2

Bench: 8 Touko Tumanto 10/0, 13 Eemeli Reponen (gk) 2/0, 12 David Monsalve (gk) 3/0, 19 Aristides Pertot 14/0, 22 Sami Sanevuori 14/0, 24 Joni Kauko 17/2, 3 Claudio Verino 13/1, 23 Ville Nikkari 12/0, Martin Civit?
Out: 9 Guillano Grot 15/3 suspended
Coach: Job Dragtsma

Betting: Nothing supports the idea of backing VPS, and the odds for Inter are not that attractive either. No bet yet.

RoPS - TamU preview

RoPS (14th) – TamU (5th)

RoPS: 0-0-0-1-0-0
TamU: 1-0-1-0-3-3
H2H:3-2-11
Last game in Veikkausliiga:17.6.09 TamU – RoPS 3-1

RoPS will probably continue with playing two strikers up as Mweetwa has formed a dangerous pair with new recruit Ani. Last week in Helsinki RoPS was not at all that bad as the ft score of 4-0 might suggest, but the red card for gk Kwon at 1-0 showed to be crucial and the substituted gk Syväjärvi managed to concede three goals in a very little time.

RoPS are last in the league occupying the relegation spot, and with only five matches to go they really need to start producing also results, the promising performances are not enough. Their last win was over two months ago, and this match on their renewed home pitch is of most importance.

”Forget the pretty play now, this is war and only about results, ” remind RoPS coach Mika Lumijärvi.

TamU did sell two of their key players to rival clubs TPS and HJK in desperate need of money, yet they did win IFK Mariehamn 1-0 at home after a well-spirited fight despite having to field youngsters in new positions on the pitch, for example Ilari Ruuth who has been been struggling as a left back found himself as a center back, but despite all the fears at TamU camp he and the whole team did much better than expected. Another key player missing from this trip to Lapland is Antti Ojanperä 18/1 who got sent out against IFK Mariehamn.

The league has been very even, and though TamU have been poor and injury-ridden for all the seasonb they still have a chance for the euro spots as also other clubs have lost a lot of points during the season. ”There is some cup feeling as the game is very important for both teams, ” says TamU coach Ari Hjelm, ” we lost another player in the battle against MIFK but we are not giving up.”

RoPS have gk Kwom 20/0 and Mwaba 20/1 suspended, Musonda 20/3 and Ville Syväjärvi 16/0 are doubtful.

Tamu have only suspended Antti Ojanperä 18/1 to add to the list of absentees.

RoPS: 12 Kari-Pekka Syväjärvi (gk) 3/0 – 4 Stephen Kunda 21/0 – 15 Mika- Matti Maisonvaara 17/1 - 3 Marko Koivuranta 8/0 - 11 Chileshe Chibwe 19/2 - 23 Jeremieh Ani 3/2 - 30 Echiabhi Okodugha 21/5 - 6 Joonas Ikäläinen 20/2 - 19 Janne Turpeenniemi 15/0 - 8 Nchimunya Mweetwa 12/0 - 17 Ville Syväjärvi 16/0
Bench: 2 Godfrey Chibanga 17/0, 9 Zeddy Saileti 14/1, 13 Jukka Yrjänheikki 5/0, 20 Juha-Pekka Inkeröinen 10/0, 7 Jarno Tenkula 2/0, 5 White Simwanza 17/0
Out: 22 Juuso Majava 0/0, 1 Jung-Huyk Kwom (gk) 20/0 suspended, 10 Chanda Mwaba 20/1 suspended, 18 Christopher Musonda 20/3

Coaches: Zeddy Saileti & Mika Lumijärvi

TamU: 1 Mikko Kavén (gk) 10/0 - 18 Rafinha 21/4 -13 Sakari Saarinen 19/0 - 9 Juha Pirinen 6/0 - 17 Vili Savolainen 18/0 - 16 Ilari Ruuth 9/0 - 14 Jusu Karvonen 7/0 - 22 Henri Scheweleff 20/1 - 11 Aleksei Kangaskolkka 20/4 - 30 Jari Niemi 20/0 - 10 Tomi Petrescu 10/1

Bench: 21 Jonne Hjelm 21/3, 12 Juha Soukiala (gk) 11/0, 8 Antti Pohja 8/1, 4 Jesse-Juho Kuusisto 5/0, 28 Jaakko Ruuskanen 1/0

Out: 2 Toni Järvinen 0/0, 25 Aapo Lappalainen 2/0, 23 Chris James 2/1, 5 Antti Ojanperä 18/1 suspended

Coach: Ari Hjelm

Bettingwise a tough nut, have not checked the odds yet. Both have a lot of problems and huge motivation, and a point is not really satisfactory to eithe of the teams. Looks overish to me.

MYPA - JJK on Friday

MYPA (10th) – JJK (12th)

MYPA: 0-0-0-3-0-1
JJK : 3-1-3-0-1-0

H2H: 1-0-1

Last game 13.07.2009 JJK – MYPA 0-1

This is the first round rescheduled game of the season which was cancelled due to terrible pitch conditions in the early spring, and both teams have changed quite significantly from that day. MYPA have taken players to and from their reserve teams trying to find the ideal line-up, and lately they have also signed Antti Okkonen from the Belgian League and Brazilian striker Cleiton. MYPA were dreaming of some success before the season started but the current 10th place in the league makes them to fight off the relegation. They have also already been kicked out of the cup by KuPS.

Last time in the league they met FF Jaro at home, but despite the control and possession they could not find the net and the match ended goalless. Only KuPS with 16 goals have scored less than MYPA who have managed to scored 19 times in the league in the 19 matches played.

JJK started the season with the same personnel which promoted them from Ykkönen last season, it was a nice gesture for the players who had worked hard, and also a test whether they are good enough to stay in the top flight. During the season it became obvious to everyone that there is not enough strength in the squad, and JJK have signed several foreign players during the season in order to survive, but they are far from safe at this point and need more wins to secure their place.

Last weekend JJK lost a bit undeservedly away to Haka 2-1 in the cup and they can concentrate fully in the remaining 7 games of the League. In their last league match they were offered a footballing lesson by FC Honka who won 5-2, and had to make the trip home by wondering how to tighten their shaky defense. Pretty much the only highlights of JJK lately have been the performances of young and promising midfielder Patrick Poutiainen and their Korean striker Nam.

The stakes are getting higher, the match is televised and there should be no major injury worries for either of the teams.

MYPA: 1 Antti Kuismala 18/0 – 4 Antti Uimaniemi 19/0 – 11 Ilari Äijälä 15/4 – 16 Toni Huttunen 19/1 - 6 Tuomo Könönen 18/0 - 25 Antti Okkonen 2/0 - 13 Toni Lindberg 13/2 – 18 Tuomas Aho 18/0 - 7 Ben Webster 18/0 – 14 Tosaint Ricketts 14/5 – 2 Miikka Multaharju 17/0

Bench: 5 Jarno Tuunainen 4/0, 15 Ville Oksanen 16/1, 12 Mika Johansson (gk) 1/0, 8 Ady 12/2, 9 Saku Puhakainen 19/1, 24 Nebi Mustafi 12/1, 20 Felipe Benevedes 2/0, 19 Maxim Votinov 13/2, 26 Cleiton 1/0

Unavailable:, 22 Roope Rautiainen 0/0 loan to MP, 17 Einari Kurittu 1/0 on loan to MP, 3 Sampsa Timoska 8/0, 23 Niko Nakari 6/0 on loan to FC Kuusankoski

Coach : Janne Lindberg

JJK: 30 Mihaly Szerovay 17/0 – 25 Dejan Brankovic 2/0 - 5 Ik Kuyng Nam 18/7 – 7 Anssi Viren 18/1 – 9 Mika Lahtinen 19/3 – 10 Tommi Kari 17/4 – 14 Jukka Sinisalo 18/0 – 19 Christian Sund 17/1 – 13 Tuomas Latikka 18/0 - 23 Patrick Poutiainen 9/1 – 11 Georgij Hristov 6/1

Bench: 31 Antti-Jussi Karnio (gk) 3/0, 12 Sami Myllymäki 0/0, 8 Matti Lähitie 14/0, 21 Toni Koskela 17/0, 18 Zakaria Abahassine 13/0, 16 Niko Markkula 7/0, 3 Janne Hannula 12/0, 22 Shkumbiu Arsllani 3/0, 6 Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen 10/0

Out: 15 Antto Tapaninen 0/0, 24 Niko Kautto 0/0, 17 Hyun-Kwan Kim 4/0 left the team, 4 Markus Paija 7/0 left the team for KaaPo

Coach: Ville Priha

this will be broadcasted as well at 18.00 CET on Friday, but I grabbed already the total, after seeing JJK now several times I wonder if even MYPA manage not to score a couple of times. There was some value on JJK win for some time, but it came quickly back down to current level of + 0,75 @ 2.03 which represents no value whatsover. I am no fan of MYPA, but this looks like a home win to me. Anyway, the only pick for this game is for total market.

o 2.5 @ 2.03

HJK - Haka

HJK: 3-0-3-3-3-1 ----------------- Haka: 0-3-1-3-0-0

H2H: 7-6-6

29.04.2009 Haka – HJK 1-2

This is one of – if not the only – the real classic game of Finland. Two traditional and succesful clubs who used to share the champioships between themselves in the past. HJK did play against Lithuanian club Vetra in the Europe League, and after a nice away win they were found dreaming of the next round´s game against Fulham, and lost miserably 1-3 at home against a very mediocre Lithuanian side.

This game is all about finding their mental strenght and getting back to business. By winning HJK could strech their 4 point lead against Haka and TPS in the top of the table and wipe off the bad memories of the European games. By losing everything would be all open again in the championship and the season would practically start over.

The players and coach very devastated of the loss and coach Muurinen was on an analyzing mood after the game,” We have to think hard now if there have been too many games with this particular line-up. We played badly, and there were silly mistakes in the defense. I might bring in new players against Haka,” he ponders.

Haka have faced the reality after being on top of the table for most of the season, and have lost two home games in a row without scoring. Against their arch rivals they are giving some handicap in the form of the injury of df Diego Corpache 15/1 who will be out for the rest of the season, and the suspension of df Pietari Holopainen 12/5. There is also a chance that another df Jari Nikkilä is not available or fully fit cause of the recently started army sevice.

HJK: 1 Wille Wallén 15/0 – 3 Mikko Hauhia 14/0 – 5 Jukka Sauso 14/0 - 4 Mohamed Kamara 14/2 – 6 Cheyne Fowler 6/1 – 9 Sebastian Sorsa 15/4 – 10 Juho Mäkelä 15/4 - 13 Pyry Kärkkäinen 15/2 – 14 Valeri Popovits 13/3 – 17 Dawda Bah 15/3 – 20 Jukka Raitala 15/0

Bench: 2 Tuomas Kansikas 5/0, 12 Jani Viander (gk) 0/0, 21 Petri Oravainen 11/0, 26 Johannes Westö 2/0, 27 Mikko Sumusalo 1/0, 28 Nosh A Lody 0/0, 31 Akseli Pelvas 10/3, 32 Sami Salmi 0/0, 16 Jarno Parikka 14/3, 8 Ville Taulo 5/0, 18 Juhani Ojala 2/0

Unavailable:15 Paulus Roiha 3/0, 7 Tuomas Haapala 5/0

Coach : Antti Muurinen



Haka: 1 Janne Korhonen 15/0 – 20 Sami Ristilä 11/1 - 3 Petri Viljanen 9/0 - 4 Markus Joenmäki 5/0 - 22 Jarno Mattila 15/0 - 6 Sebastian Strandvall 15/2 - 7 Mikko Innanen 15/2 – 11 Antti Hynynen 14/4 - 10 Mika Mäkitalo 14/2 - 8 Jani Kauppila 15/0 - 9 Niko Ikävalko 12/2

Bench:12 Saku Pesonen (gk) 0/0, 16 Jani Bäckman 8/1, 28 Hans Denissen 5/0, 18 Jari Nikkilä 13/0

Unavailable: 5 Kalle Parviainen 0/0, 14 Valeri Minkenen 4/0, 15 Nicolas Kivistö 6/0, 2 Diego Corpache 15/1 rest of the season, 21 Pietari Holopainen 12/5


Coach : Olli Huttunen


Prediction: I do not know anymore what to predict. This was a sure HW, until the dismal performance against Vetra and the huge disappointment afterwards. Can not say if they have gathered themselves at HJK or not.

Edit: I will stick to my early price for HJK, unless I decide to take a sure 1-2 % with risen odds for Haka. Current line +-0.5 @ 1.8/2.13 could not get any closer to my estimation of this game.

Veikkausliiga round x

I have lost count. Some teams have played 5 rounds, others 8.

In general this is a livebet round for me, with several agents at the stadia and live radio and internet coverage. Tomorrow´s game is on TV, but also at the stadium nearby and I will perhaps watch and bet it really live.


Su 24.05. 18.30 VPS - RoPS

A very big game for VPS. The former manager Kärkkäinen found it wiser pack it a day and left the sports manager Juha Reini to swim in the shit. What do they say about rats and ships?

VPS had high hopes (based on what?) but already now they have also themselves realized that they are fighting relegation, nothing else.

The material is poo(r) especially in the striker´s department and apparently also the coaching has been inadequate and the poor players are in poor condition.

They should not be big favourites against anyone, tonight´s anyone is RoPS.

Away win.



Su 24.05. 18.30 FF Jaro - MyPa

I can not write MyPa as MYPA, it hurts my eyes and mind. That is , however, how the wise men from Kouvola have decided it should be written. Modern indeed! Waves!!

That alone should be enough to despise the away team, but they have managed to create some skill and balance into the team and personally I am slightly surprised. There are not that many quality players apart from Ady and Ilari Äijälä, but the performances have been solid and in lack of real fire-power also defense-minded.

Jaro is one my favourites in the mid-table area when they have all the players available. I am not yet quite sure about the injuries and staff but I will update before kick-off.

Home win.


Su 24.05. 18.30 TPS - IFK Mariehamn

This was one of the games which had a lot of value. TPS has sucked at home and MIFK has played surprisingly well with their brand new team built out of foreign material.

The value has been eaten up though, and I guess this is another miserable encounter at Veritas.

1-1 draw.

Su 24.05. 18.30 TamU - KuPS

I know it is hard for you non-finnish football fans to realize how bad some of the teams are here. The bottom-4 of KuPS, RoPS, VPS and JJK are in danger not to win any away games this season, not even against themselves. The odds on TamU are hardly very tempting, but either take that or lose your money. Or why not go and take a pint and enjoy life?

KuPS is so prone to mistakes all over the pitch that the opponent can just lay back and watch KuPS do it themselves, and TamU showed some positive signs whey they outplayed Honka last round.

Home win.

I am confident that NFN will publish their preview sooner than later, but why wait, take a look at their Tippaligaen preview first!


Mo 25.05. 19.00 HJK - FC Lahti (UTV)

Some early Veikkausliiga bets 16-18.5.2009 some from Ykkönen

No stories this time, too busy with the numbers now.

One more quick bet with rosen price tag;

Hämeenlinna - PS Kemi Kings + 0,5 @ 2.16

There is no real reason for Kemi odds going up, so I take it now when it is worth the trouble.

Edit: I take Viikingit - 0,25 @ 1.92 too when they are away at TPV. Edit: FT 1-0.

Another bet for Ykkönen but this league is desperately difficult to predict. 17.5.09 Atlantis -05 @ 2.05 against Jippo. Atlantis is one of many local teams for me, and the only one with no supporter culture at all. There are a couple of single mums on wearing Atlantis shirts selling coffee, but that is it. Atlantis is a very multicultural-oriented team and not really a team going down. Bankrupt maybe..


17.5. JJK - HJK HJK -0,75 1,92 --> 1.96
18.5. KuPS - Inter KuPS + 0,75 1,90
17.5. Haka - RoPS RoPS + 1 1,95

17.5. MIFK - MyPa is worth two bets;
MIFK 0.0 @ 1,92
u 2,25 @ 1,83

Funny enough, HJK price was too big already when opened at Sbobet and it has risen 0.04 pts overnight.

Do not get me wrong, I am not looking at the table and the results only but personal pre-season rankings, performances and player material at hand and believe me, in comparison JJK does not come even close in any department.

The only reason supporting JJK is their home pitch which is still in awful condition and helps slightly to kill the game as HJK are used to their own artificial grass, but I can not see it will help too much.

The odds for outright win for HJK are about right, so the best choice is handicap.

After these 6 bets my ROI will be between 90 - 120 %. Very big gap, which tells in the first glance that there have been only a handful of picks so far in this record, starting from April 2009 and consisting only of picks of Finnish leagues and all odds are from Sbobet.

All picks and the follow-up are published monthly.

Edit: this was not the best of rounds.

JJK-HJK 1-1
Haka-RoPS 3-1
Atlantis lost 0-2
Hämeenlinna won 3-1, Kemi PS was missing one key defender -- > reason for odds?
MIFK-MyPa 0-0 as expected
.

Veikkausliiga HJK - TPS 23.04.2009

Both teams have chaotic central defences and home team also 5! good strikers. Feels like an over 2.5 to me, and a home win. The numbers below do not back that feeling really and I need to wait to see the game live.

1x2 % 55.0% - 27.0% - 18.0% (1.82 - 3.70 - 5.56)
Moneyline 75.3% - 24.7% (1.33 - 4.06)
1x 82.0% (1.22)
x2 45.0% (2.22)
12 73.0% (1.37)
goals 1.660 - 0.840


Home -0.5 : Away +0.5 55.0% - 45.0% (1.82 - 2.22)
Home -1.5 : Away +1.5 30.2% - 69.8% (3.31 - 1.43)
Home -2.5 : Away +2.5 13.2% - 86.8% (7.58 - 1.15)
Home +0.5 : Away -0.5 82.0% - 18.0% (1.22 - 5.56)
Home +1.5 : Away -1.5 94.4% - 5.6% (1.06 - 17.76)

Home -1.5 : Away +1.5 30.2% - 69.8% (3.31 - 1.43)
Home -1.0 & -1.5 : Away +1.0 & +1.5 35.2% - 64.8% (2.84 - 1.54)
Home -1.0 : Away +1.0 40.2% - 59.8% (2.49 - 1.67)
Home -0.5 & -1.0 : Away +0.5 & +1.0 47.6% - 52.4% (2.10 - 1.91)
Home -0.5 : Away +0.5 55.0% - 45.0% (1.82 - 2.22)
Home 0 & -0.5 : Away 0 & +0.5 65.1% - 34.9% (1.53 - 2.87)
Home 0 : Away 0 75.3% - 24.7% (1.33 - 4.05)
Home 0 & +0.5 : Away 0 & -0.5 78.6% - 21.4% (1.27 - 4.68)
Home +0.5 : Away -0.5 82.0% - 18.0% (1.22 - 5.56)
Home +0.5 & +1.0 : Away -0.5 & -1.0 87.8% - 12.2% (1.14 - 8.19)
Home +1.0 : Away -1.0 93.6% - 6.4% (1.07 - 15.56)
Home +1.0 & +1.5 : Away -1.0 & -1.5 94.0% - 6.0% (1.06 - 16.59)
Home +1.5 : Away -1.5 94.4% - 5.6% (1.06 - 17.76)

Goals
over under
0.5 90.9% (1.10) 9.1% (10.97)
1.5 71.1% (1.41) 28.9% (3.46)
2.5 44.7% (2.24) 55.3% (1.81)
3.5 24.1% (4.15) 75.9% (1.32)
4.5 10.6% (9.43) 89.4% (1.12)

Moneyline

1 88.6% (1.13) 11.4% (8.80)
2 60.7% (1.65) 39.3% (2.55)
3 30.3% (3.30) 69.7% (1.44)
4 12.3% (8.16) 87.7% (1.14)

Pick: No bet

FT: 2-2.

Veikkausliiga 23.04.2009 Lahti - KuPs

1x2 % 72.0% - 21.0% - 7.0% (1.39 - 4.76 - 14.29)
Moneyline 91.1% - 8.9% (1.10 - 11.29)
1x 93.0% (1.08)
x2 28.0% (3.57)
12 79.0% (1.27)
goals 2.390 - 0.610

Koti = Home, Vieras = Away

Koti -0.5 : Vieras +0.5 72.0% - 28.0% (1.39 - 3.57)
Koti -1.5 : Vieras +1.5 50.5% - 49.5% (1.98 - 2.02)
Koti -2.5 : Vieras +2.5 29.5% - 70.5% (3.39 - 1.42)
Koti -3.5 : Vieras +3.5 14.4% - 85.6% (6.93 - 1.17)
Koti -4.5 : Vieras +4.5 6.0% - 94.0% (16.65 - 1.06)
Koti +0.5 : Vieras -0.5 93.0% - 7.0% (1.08 - 14.29)


Koti -1.5 : Vieras +1.5 50.5% - 49.5% (1.98 - 2.02)
Koti -1.0 & -1.5 : Vieras +1.0 & +1.5 57.4% - 42.6% (1.74 - 2.35)
Koti -1.0 : Vieras +1.0 64.3% - 35.7% (1.55 - 2.80)
Koti -0.5 & -1.0 : Vieras +0.5 & +1.0 68.2% - 31.8% (1.47 - 3.14)
Koti -0.5 : Vieras +0.5 72.0% - 28.0% (1.39 - 3.57)
Koti 0 & -0.5 : Vieras 0 & +0.5 81.6% - 18.4% (1.23 - 5.42)
Koti 0 : Vieras 0 91.1% - 8.9% (1.10 - 11.24)
Koti 0 & +0.5 : Vieras 0 & -0.5 92.1% - 7.9% (1.09 - 12.58)
Koti +0.5 : Vieras -0.5 93.0% - 7.0% (1.08 - 14.29)

Pick: Lahti -1.5 @ 1.99 SBOBET

FT 1-0. Very bad pitch conditions.

VPS - Haka 22.04.2009 Veikkausliiga

Let´s take a more mathematical approach this time.

1x2 % 32.0% - 32.0% - 36.0% (3.13 - 3.13 - 2.78)

Moneyline 47.1% - 52.9% (2.12 - 1.89)

Double 1x 64.0% (1.56)
Double x2 68.0% (1.47)
Double 12 68.0% (1.47)

1-0 11.2% 8.90 0-0 12.2% 8.21 0-1 12.1% 8.24
2-0 6.0% 16.79 1-1 14.7% 6.79 0-2 6.9% 14.45
2-1 6.8% 14.72 2-2 4.4% 22.48 0-3 2.6% 38.03

Home -0.5 : Away +0.5 32.0% - 68.0% (3.13 - 1.47)
Home -1.5 : Away +1.5 12.5% - 87.5% (8.03 - 1.14)
Home +0.5 : Away -0.5 64.0% - 36.0% (1.56 - 2.78)
Home +1.5 : Away -1.5 85.1% - 14.9% (1.17 - 6.71)

One must remember that last season VPS drew 8 times out of 26 (5 home/3away) a goalless draw and the team has not changed that much. This is the first game of the season for VPS as their first game was postponed, Haka took a surprise away win at TPS quite comfortably.

There are some injuries on both sides but nothing huge.

The pitch at Vaasa is far from green but the match will be played in rather cold conditions.

My prediction, 0-0,1, there is some value in asian handicaps for Haka.