Nordic Football News

In: Tuomas Kuparinen, Betim Aliju, Patrice Ollo

Out: Antti Hynynen, Harri Ylönen, Jarno Kauhanen, Olli Kosonen, Hassan Sesay, Arto Lindberg, Adrian Webster, Petteri Pennanen, Jussi Kinnaslampi, Eschiabhi Okodugha

Coach: Kai Nyssönen

Claimed playing budget: €350,000

Egan says: KuPS could well struggle. They have lost some good players, and after a poor season was saved by victory over Viikingit in the relegation play-offs, their pre-season form seems to have carried the hangover into 2009. Relegation candidates.

Juha says: Uh-oh. The list of incoming and outgoing players tells it all. The kinds of Hynynen, Ylönen, Sesay, Webster, Pennanen and Okodugha left, further weakening the team that can partly credit their autumn’s staying up to KooTeePee, one of the worst league teams ever. Kuparinen was a nice bargain, but he alone can’t do the trick. Who can? I have no idea. If I had to pick one team to get relegated, it would be KuPS.

Fan’s View: It was difficult to find a KuPS fan, which is slightly surprising as Savo people are supposed to be very talkative. Former Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen did not reply, but thankfully we found Olli Jaakkola, who more than made up for the Gazprom cheerleader’s silence.

1. Realistically, how will your team do?

Depends. If there are no injuries (hah!) we’re looking at finishing in places 8-12, if there are injuries then 12-14. The previous year’s team has usually been strenghtened (when needed) in the middle of the season, but I’m not sure if they can afford it this year.

KuPS has way too many keyplayers, whose injuries would weaken the team drastically; Venäläinen, Hartikainen, Koljonen, Savolainen, Kuparinen, Taipale, Ollo, Reinikainen… you get the picture.

Hopefully the defence and goalkeepers can improve from preaseason, if not the season will be painful to follow.

When all goes well KuPS plays the kind of football I really like. On the other hand I’d wish coach Nyyssönen would become a bit more cynical in some matches against clearly stronger teams. Sometimes playing for irritating 0-0 style in away matches isn’t a shameful option…

One thing making things worse is the bad condition of our home pitch. The artificial pitch needs changing and KuPS plays the first four matches away (HJK, Lahti, IFK Marieham, Jaro). Only 0-2 points from there and the rest of the season will be difficult. Add to that, that replacing the pitch still isn’t sure because of a lot of hassle in the Kuopio city council.

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

I don’t dislike any teams, but I don’t see the point having so many foreign player in the team as FC Inter and RoPS had. Off the field I didn’t like how some things were handled in Haka’s change in ownership. Actually felt sorry for Kotka’s situation.

Completely subjectively, I like Jaro. I’ve always had some sort of sympathy for the teams coming from small towns. Last season KuPS took an important homewin against them, and they had a nice supporter group in Kuopio.

HJK, Honka, Inter, all played nice football in some matches I saw. Also Lahti could have made that list, but see answer 4…

3. What was the best moment of last season?

The first qualification match against FC Viikingit at Heteniitty pitch (in Helsinki). Late autumn, pitch already in bad shape, no cover from the rain, a nervous and excited feeling.

Just before the match started, it began raining heavily, the pitch became a muddy battlefield and I’m not exaggerating a bit. Nevertheless I saw decent football, lots of effort, several nice performances, two goals, good amount of spectators and nice atmosphere despite (or because of?) the weather. Oh, and the end result was 0-2 for KuPS.

4. What was the worst moment of last season?

In Lahti when the local FC beat KuPS 8-1. The worst individual football match I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I’m sort of used to occasional ugly results, but that was something I never want to see again. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.

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

Submarine manufacturer. In yellow and black colours naturally.

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

HJK has been strong in Liigacup and practice matches I’ve seen. JJK will have a difficult year ahead, though I don’t know how good the Korean players that they made contracts with at the last minute actually are.