I have been to Keuruu many times before, but never previously had the urge to visit one of the fine examples of Nordic wooden architecture common in the area. Thanks to Mr Berlusconi, I’m now curious what they’re like and am about to go and have a look. Anything that man dislikes deserves a chance, at least, but it does mean that this round-up/preview is going to e a bit of a rush job.
Firstly, the results. Highlights of all the latest Veikkausliiga games are available from Iltalehti’s netti TV site, so you can go and watch them there if you like.There is an excellent performance from Wayne Brown in the TPS-TamU game, where he set up one and scored another. I spoke to him afterwards and will write up the interview after my visit to the wooden church (that would have been burned down like a Romanian family’s home in Mr Berlusconi’s brave new Italy).
The results have been many and varied since the last round-up, but suffice to say that the main issue for many people has been attendances. Honka got just over 1,000 for their game against MyPa, and this poor turn-out for a title favourite, when combined with the low average, has caused much flapping and embarrassment.
I don’t share this. Honka are not playing at their home ground, which is being renovated, the weather has been cold, which affects Finnish crowds, TamU have been rubbish, and they have usually had biggish crowds, RoPS are playing at a ground that looks like it was virgin forest a couple of weeks ago, rather than their normal home, and it has been the perennial ice hockey championships that are still bafflingly popular in Finland.
Esa Maaranen suggested yesterday in Aamulehti that football should leave space for ‘Finland’s number one sport’, but I think he has it the wrong way around: Finns should get a grip of themselves and realise that if their best hockey players don’t care about the worlds, then they should probably stop getting quite so excited over a devalued competition. If Olli Jokinen had played, Finland might well have beaten the Americans, but he’d rather be in his cottage because it is now summer. And summer is the time to play football.
If I could skate I would probably have played in one of these Euro Hockey Tour things by now, having lived here for 3 years, such is their ridiculous ubiquity. People like them, lets have more of them will eventually send you to a Travel Tavern if pursued as a strategy, and international hockey will end up there soon enough if it doesn’t make some changes.
Rant over, preview time: IFK Mariehamn will only get a draw at RoPS because RoPS have the advantage of that recently-cleared section of Lappish forest. I want to go there. Meanwhile in Kuopio, visiting JJK might well get their first ever top flight three-pointer.
10. May 2009 at 11:57 am
But what about the actual games, KuPS vs JJK and RoPS vs Mariehamn?
10. May 2009 at 1:14 pm
Egan got carried away with the prospect of getting to visit Berlusconi’s favourite church. When he realised the mistake, he panicked and sent me an SMS. I fixed the post, everything’s hunky dory and mr. Richardson owes me one.
Twitter: EganRichardson
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10. May 2009 at 5:39 pm
I never panic.
I did forget to mention JJK’s fantastic crowd though, they got over 3,000 for a team tipped to be relegated. Excellent stuff from the Central Finlanders.
11. May 2009 at 10:24 am
I am speechless for what my own PM said!
I do not have interest in politics, but it is very sad indeed when a guy attracts hatred to all the nation for his stupidities.
Returning to main topics: what about today’s MyPa – HJK ?? The line is HJK -0.25 in several books…
11. May 2009 at 11:58 am
Do not worry, Berlusconi is more hilarious than anything else. I can not see anyone listening to him too him seriosly, not even the italians I know.
MyPa has been very defence-minded lately, partly due to poor strikers and they have to earn their points one way or another, their way at the moment is very humble approach to the the games where they are considered as underdogs, just like today.
There is a slight chance however for goals tonight as two of key players from the defence line are doubtful, and HJK central defence is as shaky as ever.
Personally I found some value in HJK -0.25 @ 1.87, but I am a bit tempted to try HJK with even bigger handicap though my calculations do not support it at the moment. MyPa scoring would surprise me, but to be on the safe side it might not be a bad idea to cover with a goalless draw with a small stake.
The game is broadcasted live, a stream is possibly to be found.
Twitter: EganRichardson
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11. May 2009 at 12:31 pm
ISH, don’t worry: we all know Berlsuconi is a complete idiot and unlike most Italians. It’s unfortunate he keeps getting elected, but then judging countries by their politicians is a bit of a mug’s game isn’t it?
I’ll be very interested to see how HJK line up for this one. The line-up chosen against MIFK seemed to indicate a rough, tough, Mäkelä-focused gameplan, which was well suited to the opposition. Now Muurinen has to decide whether or not to stick to it: the return of Roiha and the availability of Parikka mean there is a hell of a lot of competition up front.
11. May 2009 at 12:58 pm
True. I do not like Roiha that much myself but keeping in mind that last time around at Myllykoski (1-3) he scored all three HJK goals, he is very likely to have a chance tonight if fully fit, at least from the bench.
Mäkelä is a curious striker, no one thinks he is good enough and pretty much a useless everywhere else except in front of the goal. His average per game is though slightly over 0.5 and if he keeps this pace he should play too.
Parikka of course is the most useful and allround player of them all, he would be my first choice, pairing with Popovitch.
11. May 2009 at 4:23 pm
Any news about Aho and Timoska?
11. May 2009 at 6:36 pm
Now when the economy is like it’s, is there any intentions to split up Tampere United as I’ve heard?!
Twitter: EganRichardson
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11. May 2009 at 6:57 pm
Stillballin: Aho plays, Timoska doesn’t.
Musho Deti: Check this post for some background: http://www.nordicfootball.info/finland/those-jari-viita-people/
Puntteri: I agree about Parikka, and haven’t seen enough of Roiha to reach much of an opinion on him. HJK have been a bit disjointed in the first half, and if Mäkelä stays on they really need Sorsa to get into the game and start putting some crosses in.
12. May 2009 at 1:26 pm
Mäkelä was in the starting eleven and was his useless self. In the second half HJK Muurinen suddenly surprised everyone and reacted to the fact that they are one goal behind and substituted Mäkelä & Popovitch to Pelvas and Parikka, a change which brought some speed into the HJK play.
MyPa made HJK look bad, though HJK defence, especially Hauhia & Kärkkäinen do not need any help for that.
Well deserved points for MyPa, but scoring will still a problem for them as they do not have any goal-scoring power and can not rely 36 years Ady to play such magnificently as last night.
HJK captain Haapala got injured and will be out for some time, but it just might be a good thing for HJK when they will eventually replace him with Ville Taulo, who is capable of passing the ball also forward.