Nordic Football News

In: Aristides Pertot, Eemeli Reponen, Guillano Grot, Touko Tumanto, Pablo Gomez-Marttila, Kennedy Ugoala Nwanganga, David Monsalve, Ari Nyman, Alberto Ramirez, Claudio Verino

Out: Mika Mäkitalo, Jos Hooiveld, Dominic Chatto, Domagoj Abramovic, Oskari Forsman, Diego Corpache, Soga Sambo

Coach: Job Dragtsma

Claimed playing budget: €720,000

Egan says: Last year’s champions had a tough winter, playing most of the League cup with a very young team. They finally completed their squad three weeks before the season, with the signings of Claudio Verino, an Argentinian centre back rated as ‘better than Jos Hooiveld’ by manager Job Dragtsma, Alberto Ramirez, a former Mexican under-21 international midfielder, and Ari Nyman, returning to his former club after a spell with FC Thun in Switzerland. Those three signings make Inter a good bet for a European place, but probably won’t have come early enough for Dragtsma to mould another title-winning team. Don’t bet against them, though.

Juha says: Inter are considerably weaker than they were last year,  having lost five very important players. Ari Nyman is an impressive signing, Verino and Ramirez are question marks at this point. Pertot will probably better from last year’s dreadful performances with TPS though. The other signings are investments in the future, even though this summer will probably see the youngsters come on from the bench regularly. Their most severe limitation is the fact that their team has been ready for a pityful three weeks, and that is too little to establish a system. This fact is likely to see Inter fall back from the title race in the spring, as the spring schedule is packed with games. If the team manages to gel together, they should recover to turn in a top 3 challenge later in the season.

Fan’s View: Our Inter fan is Stefan Wallin, Finland’s Sport and Culture Minister. He is the chairman of the Swedish People’s Party, and has watched Inter for a good few years now.

1. Realistically, how will your team do?

As usual I am optimistic. I think that Inter will be in the top three at the end of the season.

2. Which teams did you like and dislike most last season?

I was extremely impressed by Inter! I don’t dislike any football team, but I definitely have my favourites.

3. What was the best moment of last season?

On 26 October we had municipal elections in Finland so I could not attend the game that day. I was sitting in the car on the way to Helsinki, biting my nails while listeining to commentary on Inter’s very last home game, when they secured the championship. It was raining cats and dogs. I was very happy for Inter and sent Stefan Håkans my congratulations with an SMS. That was the best moment!

4. What was the worst moment of last season?

I was horrified when Furuholm was injured at the start of the season after he’d scored some crucial goals for Inter. I thought that might destroy the team’s chances to remain top of the table, but fortunately I was wrong. They were strong enough to recover as a team and go all the way.

5. If your club wasn’t in the football business what other business would it be in?

Shipping of some kind, I guess.

6. Who will win Veikkausliiga and who will go down? (Just the names will do)

Inter or TPS will win the title. It remains to be seen who will be relegated.