I can't quite believe it but the first strains of Finnish football is starting next weekend, the league cup. The last thing I heard was that league champions, Tampere United, Honka and ROPS were all struggling to get licences for the new season, due to problems with their pitches. Interesting to see what happens over that. The usual suspects of Tampere (should they receive a licence) and HJK are main candidates for the title. Particularily as they have strengthend their squads from last season and HJK have appointed formerly successful manager, Antti Muurinen, to try and lead them to the title. Tampere have brought in Vili Savolainen, midfielder from HJK, Rafinha, striker from AC Oulu and Henri Scheweleff from Swedish team Orgryte. All three players are likely to be back-up players as they have hardly excelled at their various clubs, Rafinha having scored a lowly 1 goal in AC Oulu's disastrous top flight season. However Ari Hjelm, Tampere manager, must have seen something in them. HJK have signed a number of new players, Orgryte's Jukka Sauso being a potentially key player for the new season, he is a big strong central defender who is a great header of the ball and in certain occasions because of this has been used as a makeshift striker. Looks to be an exciting season and obviously Haka will be thereabouts at the end of the season as they usually are. KUPS are ROPS (if they are licenced) will both be desperate to stay up and will probably struggle given the weight of opposition they will both play against. Any other info about the forthcoming season?
I really can't see anyone challenging Tampere United for this season. They've brought back pretty much the entire team that won it last year with some decent additions. HJK has brought in some players, but I don't think Muurinen's going to be able to turn the ship around in 1 season. Haka and TPS I'm sure will challenge early, but I don't know if they have enough to last with TU for the whole season, particularly as TPS have a brand new head coach. I haven't exactly seen either team upgrade too much this offseason either. As for the bottom of the table, I think KuPS and RoPS stand a better chance then you think. Both I think are better teams then Viikingit and AC Oulu were last year, and KooTeePee and Jaro (moreso than KTP tho) haven't really brought in a ton of players to help avoid repeats of a last year's poor performance. RoPS could surprise people I think. Getting points in Rovaniemi is always going to be difficult, and I think their Zambians will not struggle to much to adjust. Their obvious problem though is a lack of experience and new notable signings (most likely due to their wavering league status). KuPS brings back pretty much the same team that got relegated 2 years ago with a few additions. A solid, organized team but a little slow and not exactly dynamic. In any case, I think the bottom half of the table should be interesting for most of the year. The top half I don't see changing too much from this past year
RoPS always have a problem with their pitch, though I haven't heard about TamU's problems. What's wrong with Ratina? I love my club (Haka) but they will never spend any money. I haven't been keeping up with their youth corps, especially since my move back Stateside. TPS should put up a good run for the title if Kuusela can bring in some solid players. He's been out of the game for a while and I wonder how well he's been keeping up.
I made couple videos about RoPS players Nchimunya Mweetwa and Zeddy Saileti. http://youtube.com/watch?v=2gUyT85xx6Y and http://youtube.com/watch?v=xFHkrjMk7eU Tomorrow TamU, Honka and RoPS licenses will be settled. I let you know when the desicion is made.
Transfers: Haka <-- Jari Nikkilä (TPV) --> Erno Rosenberg (FC Hämeenlinna) Joel Sunabacka (GrIFK) HJK <-- Tuomas Kansikas (MyPa) Mikko Hauhia (FC Lahti) Jukka Sauso (Örgryte) Miikka Multaharju (Fredrikstad) Ville Taulo (FC Lahti) Jani Viander (AC Oulu) Petri Oravainen (Zwolle) Paulus Roiha (Ujpest) --> Timo Marjamaa (lopettaa) Iiro Aalto (TPS / Olympiakos Nikosia) Kabba Samura Vili Savolainen (Tampere Utd) Ilari Äijälä (MyPa) Hermanni Vuorinen (Fredrikstad) Markus Halsti (GAIS) Sebastian Sorsa (Leeds) Turo Simolin Mehmet Hetemaj (Panionios) Grant Smith (Carlisle) Honka <-- --> Janne Saarinen (Häcken) Lasse Lagerblom Peke Huuhtanen Vesa Vasara Mika Helin (Viikingit) Ilpo Verno (Viikingit) Niko Kukka (AC Oulu) Inter <-- Jussi Nuorela (TPS)? Joni Kauko (Inter/A) Ats Purje (Levadia) --> Prince Otoo Miikka Ilo Jaro <-- Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen (TPS) Mikko Hyyrynen (MyPa) Sebastian Mannström (GBK) Kristian Kojola (FC Hämeenlinna) --> Chad Botha Ruslan Zanevsky Jesper Törnqvist (Umeå) Piracaia Tom Melarti (PoPa) KooTeePee <-- Tommi Vartiainen (FC Lahti) Tamas Gruborovics (KuPS) Jani Tanska (MyPa) Ville Oksanen (MyPa) Sasha Anttilainen (JIPPO) --> Anssi Viren (JJK) Jussi Kinnaslampi (KuPS) Jarno Tuunainen (MyPa) Antonio Inutile (VPS) Mika Hänninen (FC Lahti) Teemu Pukki (Sevilla) KuPS <-- Ville Iiskola (TPS) Jussi Kinnaslampi (KooTeePee) Hasan Sesay (Atlantis) Jarno Kauhanen (Zulimanit) Arto Lindberg (PP-70) --> Juuso Kautonen Jonni Heikkinen Jussi Hakasalo (TP-47) Miikka Oinonen (MP) Roope Matsi (FC YPA) Tamas Gruborovics (KooTeePee)) Aki Sipilä (KPV) Niko Kuusisto (Kings) Lahti <-- Jukka Vanninen (FC Hämeenlinna) Juha Tuomi (Reipas) Mika Hänninen (KooTeePee) --> Christian Sund Mikko Hauhia (HJK) Tommi Vartiainen (KooTeePee) Ville-Veikko Savolainen (FC Hämeenlinna) Ville Taulo (HJK) Michal Slawuta (Ljungskile SK) Saku Pesonen (FC Hämeenlinna) MIFK <-- Mattias Wiklöf (Sandviken IF) Samuel Barlay (Örgryte) Andreas Friman (Sylvia) Paulus Arajuuri (Klubi-04) --> Sasa Stevic Antti Kuismala Clive Hachilensa (Zesco United) Mats Gustafsson (lopettaa) Alexander Weckström (Skövde AIK) Daniel Johansson (Friska Viljor) Erik Sandvärn (Ruotsi) Justus Vajanne (Viikingit) Kristoffer Weckström MyPa <-- Jarno Tuunainen (KooTeePee) Ilari Äijälä (HJK) --> Marco Manso (lopettaa) Vasile Marchis Koffi Konan Mikko Hyyrynen (Jaro) Gao Leilei Tuomas Kansikas (HJK) Tero Karhu (Viikingit) Jani Tanska (KooTeePee) Ville Oksanen (KooTeePee) RoPS <-- --> Tampere Utd <-- Rafinha (AC Oulu) Vili Savolainen (HJK) Henri Scheweleff (VPS/Örgryte) Juha Soukiala (FC Hämeenlinna) --> Jarkko Wiss (lopettaa) Miki Sipiläinen (lopettaa) Juska Savolainen (Rosenborg) TPS <-- Iiro Aalto (HJK) --> Ady (JJK) Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen (Jaro) Jussi Nuorela (Inter A-jun. (valm) / Inter?) Jussi Haijanen (SalPa) Joonas Tursas (SalPa) Ville Iiskola (KuPS) Urmas Rooba Iiro Aalto (Olympiakos Nikosia) VPS <-- Tony Björk (VIFK) Jan Ahlvik (VIFK) Antonio Inutile (KooTeePee) Raphael Edehero (AC Oulu) --> Mikko-Ville Hyyhönen (TPV) Tomas Nygård (Norrvalla FF) Henri Scheweleff (Tampere Utd/Örgryte) Olli-Pekka Itälä (KPV) Markus Paija (JJK) Ollo I will update this list every time when transfers are made.
Thanks for the info. There's been a lot of transfers in finland in the close season. I'm surprised that Kooteepee have sold a number of decent players. Big surprise is Teemu Pukki going to Sevilla.
Mika Nurmela signed for RoPS Mika Nurmela signed one year contract with RoPS. "Nure" is biggest transfer ever for RoPS. 1990................Oulun Luistinseura 1990................Rauman Pallo 1991–1992........FC Haka 1993–1995........Malmö FF 1994................Turun Palloseura (laina) 1995–1999........BVO Emmen 1999–2003........SC Heerenveen 2003–2005........1. FC Kaiserslautern 2005................Oulun Luistinseura 2005................Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi 2005–2006........Heracles Almelo 2006................AC Oulu 2006–2007........Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi 2008–..............Rovaniemen Palloseura RoPS also signed one year contract with Juha Majava. Majava comes from FC KooTeePee (Kotka).
HJK hardly got off to a flying start in their opening league cup game. 1-1 to TPS - will HJK fall into last season's trap, drawing far too many games both home and away. I know TPS are a decent side but HJK need to put sides like this to the sword, they've got enough class in the side to achieve this. I was amazed at the MyPa game, most of the game they were leading 1-0, then they blew it and conceded 2 goals in the last few minutes. I think they could struggle next season.
How woude you rate Juska Savolinen ? do you think he has what it takes to break in to rbks first team ?
The midfield is young for RBK, but they don't have many players left now, do they? He's got the chops, I'll say.
The middfield is young but also very strong. We got 2 norwegian NT players who are 20 and 21 a 24 year old NT from Slovakia and a 18 year old from the Ivory Cost that has been said to be among the most intresting young talents in the world. We do have some probelms with ouer defense, ouer defensive players are either to young and inexperiensed or to old injurie prone and over the top. I think Savo is primarly bougth to add dept to the team, but he seem like a really nice guy so i hope he does well and is abel to play a role in what hopefullt will be a better season then the last one.
I wouldn't put too much stock into the League Cup results. These teams are always full of trial players and experimentation to get the team ready for the league. Other than the trophy and maybe a small cash prize there's nothing in it to win (i.e. european qualification). FC Lahti won it last year, but finished middle of the table way. And I would say TPS are more than just a decent side in Finnish terms as well. They finished 3rd in the league last year, and have the highest budget of any team in the league (will try to find a link for that). And as for HJK. With as many players as they have brought in and a new coach, its going to take some time for them to gel.
I accept that the league cup is hardly priority for these teams but it would be great to get off to a good start. HJK had a excellent group stage last year, Jarno Parikka blowing the other teams away with his goalscoring and they went on to have a very average season. Possibly it could be down to the new players struggling to gel and the fact that TPS are real contenders. I would expect HJK to beat MyPa in the next game - the fascinating game will be TPS v Tampere in Feb.
When Muurinen first came to HJK in 1997, he changed the entier squad, won the championship without any problems and on year 1998 HJK played in the champions league Well, there is many problems in general,but the main reason was that Ratina's heating system under the grass doesnt work.
The league cup's already thrown up a fantastic match - Jaro v Kooteepee (6-4) Looks like both teams threw caution to the wind and really went for it. Can anything be read into this game - are both Jaro and Kooteepee going to be exciting, attacking, goalscoring teams or just inept at defending??? Anyone see this game?
Thanks for the plug, RoPs, but the site has moved to: http://footballinfinland.wordpress.com Regarding the predictions, I'm not sure of TamU. I have faith in Ari Hjelm to know what he's doing, but the swapping of Savolainen's looks like a poor move for the team with Vili much less mobile. The defence is now older and creakier and Kujala playing in midfield means nobody can really bring the ball out of defence to counter-attack quickly. That's tamU's main strength, so they need to sort it out. Scheweleff does not look like a TamU player. He's more of an orthodox winger, and Hjelm has his work cut out to make sure he can move the ball quickly rather than concentrating on beating his man then crossing it in. I haven't seen Honka yet, but they hammered TPS and have signed Hermanni 'the German' Vuorinen who scored a shedload of goals in 2006. Porokara for Vuorinen seems like an excellent swap for them. The Rosenborg fan should be very pleased with Savolainen. i personally think he should be in the national squad ahead of heikkinen, he is more athletic, has a better shot and passes the ball better, but I suppose he has to do something in a bigger league first.
Thanks for the Finnish football website links, TampereOwl and RoPS, nice to see websites with news on finnish football in english, not many of them around. Hermanni Vuorinen is a quality player, not someone who has ever been happy playing away from Finland. He will be a great signing for HJK and could help score crucial goals in tricky games that they have struggled in recently. I'm surprised Honka didn't manage to hang onto him.
Sorry, got a bit confused there - He's gone back to Honka from HJK? Hope we see a few goals from him this season. Honka struggled a little in the goalscoring department last season - great news for them.
What i have seen so far of Savolainen looks promising, unfortunatly he couldent play in the UEFA cup since he had allreday done that for Tampere. If you want i`s be happy to give updates on how he does in norway.