Niko Hamalainen at QPR

Starts:

📝 #QPRU23 XI v @Coventry_City: Brzozowski; Felix (T), Phillips, Fox, Hamalainen; Owens, Bettache, Mesias; Platt, Eshun, Alfa.

Subs: Bowman, Paul, Akinola, Gubbins. pic.twitter.com/Mp5cjP0B5J

— QPR FC (@QPR) April 26, 2018

 

Enters in 2nd half of friendly:

60' #QPR have made 11 changes at the hour-mark.

Watch live: https://t.co/eMQ9Y9tpRz pic.twitter.com/xt6zG9grrY

— QPR FC (@QPR) July 10, 2018

 

Starts:

📝 #QPR's starting XI is in for tonight's Staines Town friendly.

Here's how we're lining up ... pic.twitter.com/0d1OaZD29N

— QPR FC (@QPR) July 13, 2018

 

On the bench:

📝 Team news is in.

Here's how #QPR line up at AFC Wimbledon this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/RaQ0y7ObK8

— QPR FC (@QPR) July 14, 2018

 

Part of QPR squad going to Germany:

🇩🇪 #QPR's #RsInGermany this weekend! pic.twitter.com/NiT6d9tTVV

— QPR FC (@QPR) July 20, 2018

 

I didn't know he was apart of the Finnish youth teams.

 

On the bench against Hoffenheim:

📝 Team news is in!#RsInGermany pic.twitter.com/oqcKUixQoX

— QPR FC (@QPR) July 21, 2018

 

Starts today's match against Hoffenheim:

📝 Team news is in!#RsInGermany pic.twitter.com/c6gtV9RlbM

— QPR FC (@QPR) July 22, 2018

 

What are his US prospects like? Is he good enough? Does he even want to play for the US?

 

He's a reserve left back who made zero first team appearances for QPR last season after making three the year prior, he's gotten steady playing time with their U-23's however. He's still just 21 but if he can't break into the first team with QPR this preseason he could really use a loan. Considering he's a Florida native I'm sure he would have interest in repping the US but his dad is Finnish and he's cap tied to Finland at the youth level so his only way into a US squad would be to file a one time switch. Definitely not a senior team option for the US as it currently stands but would most likely have gotten a look for the US U-20's last cycle if he werent in the Finnish setup.

 

On the bench:

📝 Here's your #QPR team for our final pre-season friendly!#QPRUNI pic.twitter.com/b8PwTbm3A1

— QPR FC (@QPR) July 28, 2018

 

Started & went 90 for the U23s:

https://www.qpr.co.uk/fixtures/under-23/2018/barnsley-u23s-v-qpr-u23s/

 

Starts for U23s:

📝 #QPRU23 XI: Brzozowski; Felix, Hall, Phillips, Hamalainen; Owens, Agyemang (T), Chair; Oduwa (T), Oteh, Shodipo.

Subs: Bassong (T), Bowman, Paul (T), Dalling. pic.twitter.com/byY13WjnkV

— QPR FC (@QPR) August 20, 2018

 

Starts in Carabao Cup:

🙌 Hally's back for #QPR! #QPRBRO #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/vJ6iTEg6hO

— QPR FC (@QPR) August 28, 2018

 

Went the distance and picked up an assist on the second goal. QPR won 3-1.

 

Had no idea about this kid. The Geoff news had me lurking their roster.

 

Starts for U23s:

📝 #QPRU23 XI: Brzozowski, Kakay, Hamalainen, Goss, Bassong, Hall, Smyth, Owens, Oteh, Chair, Dalling.

Subs: Wells, Dickinson, Felix, Alfa. pic.twitter.com/uDu6Cp183n

— QPR FC (@QPR) September 17, 2018

 

Wow, I really don't come to Yanks Abroad much anymore. Had no idea this thread was here.

His Dad is an old clubmate\teammate, so I've mostly seen stuff that our friends have posted on Facebook.

Here is a recent interview(in English):

https://www.palloliitto.fi/videot/maajoukkueet/pikkuhuuhkajien-nicholas-hamalainen-esittaytyy

Our Club was the one he could not remember, LOL.

Here is a result I researched for the Facebook thread.

https://gh.soccerway.com/matches/20...er-21/finland-under-21/2416120/?ICID=PL_MS_12

 

So, this kid plays left back. He was born and raised in the United States. He came up thru an MLS academy. He's debuted in the Championship.... and he plays for Finland. The US, which is always desperate for left backs, lost a left back. To Finland.

How are we not making a bigger deal of this.

I doubt he'd start over Antonee Robinson for the US, so maybe Finland is the right choice for this kid. But it sure would be nice to have a little depth at left back for once. So perhaps it would be worth seeing if he'd like to give the US another shot.

 

Is he cap tied? Just found this thread and know nothing about him.

 

Supposedly, yes.

The reality is that with Antonee Robinson the same age and ahead of him on the depth chart, the US doesn't have as good a selling point to get him to switch.

"Come be a back-up to someone the same age as you!" The pitch would have to be basically "you'd get a fair shot and there are plenty of chances to play even with Antonee and you've got a better shot at big games with us than Finland."

But is that enough to get him to switch?

 

Provisionally yes. Would need a one-time switch.

 

To be fair. I am not sure there would need to be much of a pitch. Kid seems all American to me. If we want him to play, I can see it being an easy choice for him to play for his country. As far as the competition goes. Good athletes should want to compete. If he's worried about having to compete in order to suit up for the Stars and Stripes then let him go.

 

"How are we not making a bigger deal of this"

- He is 21 and has played 3 times in the championship... two season ago... he might never even make it as a professional... very little reason to make a bigger deal about this.

 

Starts in Carabao Cup:

📝 Teams are in!

Former @BlackpoolFC men @Bright_097 and Alex Baptiste are among the R's starters for tonight's #CarabaoCup tie.#BPLQPR pic.twitter.com/HnxwxswnYj

— QPR FC (@QPR) September 25, 2018