TFT Issue 112!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Be sure to avoid Udinese vs AC Milan today and Lecce vs Lazio today!
Double chance
1X:
Salzburg
Liga de Quito
Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur
EB/Streymur
Genoa
AS Roma
Bryne
IFK Goteborg
Thun
Eskisehirspor
Featured game
IFK Mariehamn vs HJK Helsinki – lay HJK Helsinki at 9/10.
Ok, first of all, you may want to wait until nearer the game for this one as I’m pretty confident that some dolts will back HJK on name alone, which is suicide. The fact that they’re 4/5 to win at IFK Mariehamn already suggests idiocy; perhaps even more stupid people will contribute!
As you may have guessed by now, I rate IFK Mariehamn much higher than the bookies do. Not only that but I don’t rate HJK Helsinki away from home. HJK are the best side in the Veikkausliiga; there simply cannot be any arguments to that. They’ve got the most talented players, the most strength in-depth, a lot of experience, and a great manager. However – as we all know, this doesn’t manifest into every game’s display or all good sides would win every game.
HJK’s weakness is playing away from home. In Finland, that’s not a big surprise, really. Varying sides have varying advantages – indoor areas, quagmire pitches, compact pitches – you name it, they’ve got it. However, HJK have discovered a new flaw at the start of the current campaign; finishing sides off. Barring their opening day trip to Turku, HJK have outplayed all of their opponents in their four games. Deservedly, they’ve won all four games but the common factor of all of those games is that HJK are simply not taking their chances. It’s not cost them so far but it’s only a matter of time before it does. Why not today? HJK don’t enjoy their trips to Aland, generally speaking, failing to win four out of their last six visits in all competitions. As superior as HJK’s squad unquestionably is, their inability to convert their chances will cost them at somepoint and I think IFK Mariehamn are a side that can punish them for that.
IFK Mariehamn were down in my book as potentially surprising relegation candidates pre-season. The sale of Gruborovics pre-season to JJK Jyvaskyla was the biggest admittance of “We have no ambition” that I’ve seen for some time. However, lady luck smiled upon them and ended the existence of Tampere United. Subsequently, IFK Mariehamn signed four of their players and in those signatures they’ve transformed themselves from mid-table hopefuls to dark horses for the European places. Suffice to say that the players they signed were very good!
Pekka Lyyski has been quite clever with his new arrivals, gradually integrating them into the team without throwing them in at the deep end and shouting “Save us!”. New striker Kangaskolkka has looked solid in attack although surprisingly it’s ex-Peterborough United striker Lehtinen who is providing their goals up front, which can only mean bad defending from opposing sides has been plentiful, if we’re honest!
However, IFK Mariehamn have a new hero in their midst and his ascent has been timed coincidentally well to marry up with the influx of talent that has arrived. I don’t know if that’s what has aided his development or perhaps the competition for places but either way, young midfielder Petteri Forsell has really stepped up to the plate this season. The talented mifiedler has alread bagged three times in the Veikkausliiga this season, one of which was a real rocket last match against KuPS Kuopio. Surprisingly, it’s Forsell who is carrying this team along with a consistent attacking threat and with himin their team, they genuinely stand a chance of overcoming any side in the division.
The form guide says IFK Mariehamn have lost two consecutive games ahead of this one blah blah blah. The form guide is wrong in this instance because IFK Mariehamn outplayed KuPS Kuopio last match and should have left with a minimum of a draw. I think it’s fair to say that IFK Mariehamn have been strong in all of their games thus far and very dangerous in front of goal and to underestimate them based entirely on recent form is crazy.
Like I said earlier – HJK are better than IFK – no questions asked. However, there isn’t a side in Finland that is worthy of 4/5 to win at IFK Mariehamn – all of IFK’s players would have to be dead for that to be value, in my eyes. Additionally, check out the compact fixture schedules that the Finnish Football Association has dealt out – can we really expect a mis-firing HJK Helsinki to come to Aland and blitz a very good side? It’s possible but I certainly wouldn’t put any money on it. For me, the value in this game is in laying HJK Helsinki today.
Verdict: Lay HJK Helsinki at 9/10.