FIN lineup vs Estonia

FIN vs Lithuania played appallingly poorly and deserve no comment. They did not bother to play, why bother talking about it.

Time to save face vs EST but a very frienfly occasion and deserve very little attention.

Huuhkajat ‏@Huuhkajat  8m

Huuhkajien avaus Viroa vastaan: Hradecky, Hurme, Moisander, Ojala, Toivio, Sparv, Eremenko, Kauko, Hetemaj, Pohjanpalo, Pukki #Huuhkajat

EST:

22-Pavel Londak, 20-Gert Kams, 2-Alo Bärengrub (kapten), 21-Artjom Artjunin, 5-Ken Kallaste, 11-Igor Subbotin, 16-Eino Puri, 13-Martin Vunk, 19-Siim Luts, 9-Albert Prosa, 18-Sander Post

Kakkonen Pohjoinen 28.5

FC YPA has announced a livestream for their match: http://www.videokuva.net/fcypa/ . You can also follow live updates for OPS-PS Kemi here, so only GBK-TP-47 match will be without live info if you're interested in live bets. 

OPS - PS Kemi 14 17 69
o/u 2.5: 67 33

So yeah, looking back to Sunday OPS was not a good idea. They did seem to have an acceptable performance again but the trouble with scoring was again evident for them. The two fruits of free movement of labor have been released so it's anyone's guess who will start in the attack. The same problem has more or less plagued OPS for all of their existence, and that's maybe because you'd actually have to pay something to a proven scorer. As OPS usually operates with a very narrow squad, their defense will be hurt a lot by Richardson's suspension. PS Kemi continued their perfect season last round against JBK.. or at least until 70 minutes after which they did their best to choke their lead. They're obviously again a big favorite but this time the odds look more like they were taken from the standings. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't hesitate with -1 as PS Kemi has proven their quality this year too while OPS hasn't, but the 1.45 type odds for straight win are not interesting at all.

GBK - TP-47 39 22 39
o/u 2.5: 65 35

Two very evenly matched teams, TP-47 has been set as narrow favorites which is probably stretching it a bit as I don't see them being that much better than GBK. However, the difference with opinions is so small that any value is hard to come by. TP-47 does have one probable key player out (Dunyin), two of GBK's Americans are questionable, with Smith being the more important one.

FC YPA - AC Kajaani 31 21 48
o/u 2.5: 67 33

There wasn't much wrong with YPA's performance against OLS, yet they still were miles behind their last year's form. Obviously my view could be skewed due to the fact that they played Tervarit and ORPa last year as OLS should be much better than those two. Some improvement could happen for them, but it didn't look like players such as Vidic could ever replace Maluka. AC Kajaani's last game seems to have been quite even if I'm deciphering the mostly biased reports correctly. Truthfully, I would've expected more from them so any AC Kajaani selection will not be with the utmost confidence. Nevertheless, -0,25 for ACK would be a good choice as they've been much better than YPA this year, and it goes without saying that they also have the advantage in player quality and coaching.


OPS - PS Kemi -1 2 60% 1,89 7/10 Sbobet
FC YPA - AC Kajaani -0,25 2 54% 2,02 5/10 Sbobet
FC YPA - AC Kajaani  O3.25 50% 2,17 1,5/10 Sbobet

Kakkonen Pohjoinen 26.5

KPV - OLS 60 19 21
o/u 2.5: 64 36

Another Kokkola vs Oulu match, let's hope this one goes better. You can check the previous OLS notes from Friday as not much has changed since then. Some players might return, but the most important ones will very likely remain out. YPA match was one of the few games this year that has gone more or less according to the script. OLS created zero chances, and while YPA did not impress either they cruised to a very easy win in the end even if the margin was only 1 goal for most of the game. KPV has had two very disappointing games in a row, the latest being the PK-37 match where they made the PK-37 goalkeeper a hero with poor finishing. I still remain very skeptical about any promotion hopes for KPV, though I think the majority has rated them below PS Kemi and AC Kajaani anyway. My estimation might have some extra for KPV but it's hard to resist -0,75 considering how badly OLS are playing right now. KPV's key player Tshibasu has been in and out of line-up for reasons unknown (off-field issues, if you read the forums), but otherwise they should have everyone worth mentioning available. The total lines have started to drop now that the goals have been hard to come by. I'll be on the lookout for overs in the future as I don't think this group of teams will be that low-scoring when the season's over. This game, however, is as unappealing as it gets. OLS does not know how to score, but have reasonably good defense, KPV should be average in the long run when it comes to goals, but they've already had two 0-0s so..

KPV - OLS -0,75 1 55 % 1,92 5/10 Sbobet

Kakkonen Pohjoinen 25.5

GBK - OPS 35 22 43
o/u 2.5: 64 36

After two games of new look OPS I still don't know how the heck they should be rated. Goalie Koponen and the defensive partnership of Richardson and Bezerra Soares has been rock solid and Rhoden and Martins Pereira in the midfield have been okay. The two Africans in the attack have been of Ali Dia variety so goals have been unsurprisingly hard to come by as the existing players are not exactly prolific goalscorers. GBK is also a bit of a mystery team as they've only played three games so far. Getting blown out by PS Kemi and easily beating PK-37 don't really tell anything too useful, in KPV match they could have maybe grabbed a point if they had been more lucky. They've had a few injuries, but none too important, OPS does not have any significant players out. European bookies have OPS as small favorite which is fairly easy to agree with, so unless the asian odds are completely different I'll take a pass with this game.

GBK - OPS O3.0 53,5% 1,98 2/10 Sbobet
GBK - OPS +0.0 2 55% 1,89 2/10 Sbobet

Basically I see OPS still being a class above GBK, though as said at this stage of the season it's difficult to estimate so only small stakes.

Kakkonen Pohjoinen 24.5

PS Kemi - JBK 82 11 7
o/u 2.5: 74 26

Men with sticks will be chasing a piece of rubber but at the same time there will also be something more interesting going on. What is different from Thursday is that PS Kemi has had a spotless season so far and they have a proven track record going back to last year. Also, in the match that I saw they looked even better than what they were when they won the group. On the other hand, in the first three games their opponents have been very easy so their form could be slightly misleading, but since JBK should be a team of same caliber as GBK, OLS and PK-37 it shouldn't matter too much today. There were a few lapses last year, especially when YPA was stumbling in the late season, but usually PS Kemi has been very good at home both in results and dominating performances. JBK's start has been acceptable or more or less what they were expected to be. Wins are yet to come but they've kept the numbers respectable even when they've lost so they should have no trouble grabbing three points next week when they face PK-37. In today's match, however, the reality is that there's at least half a dozen better teams in the league than them, and the class difference should be as big as it could be if we don't count PK-37. A -1,25 line would have been perfect, a quick look at stats tells us that PS Kemi has very rarely had a fast start so waiting for a 15 or 20 minutes could give that opportunity. PS Kemi does not mention any injuries in their preview, JBK does not bother with previews.

PS Kemi - JBK -1,5 63% 1,84 9/10 Sbobet
PS Kemi - JBK O3.5 53,5% 1,92 2/10 Sbobet

Kakkonen Pohjoinen 23.5

OLS - FC YPA 32 21 47
o/u 2.5: 66 34

Two rather similar games today, yet the form differs a lot in both matches. YPA has been a huge disappointment so far as most of the predictions placed them in the top half of the group. They can't blame their player situation as practically all the key guys have been available, though it looks like the new Serbians and Armstrong are not going help them that much if the local reports are to be trusted. The short turnaround of two days from KPV to JBK match did affect YPA but the overall schedule so far in terms of opponents has not been that tough. Additionally the performances aside from OPS and JBK first half have not promising so that's enough to skip any pregame bets. OLS has gathered plenty of points so far but aside from the JBK match (don't know what happened there) what they've displayed has been very unconvincing. The defending has been good as Wentin is a very stable goalkeeper and Lukkari has improved a lot after spending a year in SJK organization, but that said luck has played a big part in both TP-47 and OPS matches as the both teams missed plenty of opportunities. OLS' offense has been very ineffective in regards to creating chances. TP-47 match had one great individual effort which flew in the top left corner, and OPS game had one corner kick scramble which left a defender one-on-one with the keeper, but outside those OLS I can't really recall any proper opportunities.

That said, good organization as in style of play and how its followed is top notch in OLS and you don't get 7 points by just luck (OLS defense, while at times lucky, has been quite solid) so there's obviously some good things too. OLS still misses couple of vital attackers, Kainu (striker), a former Veikkausliiga player is questionable but they do get Welling from AC Oulu. He didn't impress last year in 3rd division but with young players improvement could happen quickly and he did score two against JBK. The odds for YPA have dropped to not valuable levels. In any case, I wouldn't have trusted them enough to take them pregame, so follow the tweets here to see for live selections.

TP-47 - AC Kajaani 30 21 49
o/u 2.5: 68 32

Jarmo Korhonen is already working his magic in Kajaani as the visitors have along with PS Kemi been head above the rest of the teams so far. Their schedule has admittedly been quite light as the first game was against OPS who was playing with Kolmonen squad and the next two were against bottom dwellers PK-37 and JBK. Completely outplaying KPV in last round was certainly impressive, though maybe not that much after what happened yesterday. The hosts are probably slightly below KPV in quality but this will probably be the stiffest test they've faced as this is their first true away game of the season. A fortunate schedule has offered two glimpses of TP-47 as they've visited both Oulu teams recently. Even if the results were the same, the two 1-1 draws couldn't have been more different. Against OLS, TP-47 was fully in control but they only managed a lucky last-minute equalizer. OPS held TP-47 in check for most of the match, but after the red card for the hosts took it toll TP-47 could again count themselves slightly unlucky as they missed three clear chances in the last 15 minutes.

TP-47 was strengthened by the addition of Mapoka, who even played in Veikkausliiga with TP-47 in 2005. He did display fine ball control in OPS match and should help them a lot this season. TP-47 does have respectable team for this level, the two centrebacks Dunyin and Shevchenko were impressive in both games and the third foreigner Badji has proved his worth in last season already. The rest of the team consisting of mostly local youngsters has plenty of experience from Kakkonen and relegation should not be a worry for TP-47. I'm still a little bit cautious with AC Kajaani and giving them over 50 % would maybe at this stage of the season be too much. On the other hand, in a few week's time we could be looking at minimum of -0,5 all over the place for AC Kajaani. The visitors do certainly have what it takes to be dominant in this league, a great coach and a group of players that has already proven they can win the group plus a bunch of other guys that should have no trouble succeeding at this level (Graciano, Ceesay and the others). I'll take AC Kajaani "unofficially" as I don't see them losing today, a more value-minded way would be to wait for a couple of games to see whether AC Kajaani is really that good, but I'll take the gut feeling approach personally.

Kakkonen 22.5

KPV - PK-37 91 7 2
o/u 2.5: 74 26

Really in a hurry, but I don't think you'd need a long preview to describe this match anyway. PK-37 has been almost as bad as they were predicted to be, they've kept the numbers respectable in a couple of occasions but the last week's spiritless effort against a very average GBK side tells a lot. KPV was deservedly beaten by AC Kajaani but they should be a top-5 side this year so they're huge favorites. Maybe a few more additional words closer to the kickoff.

KPV - PK-37 -2 1 70% 1,67 8/10 188Bet