TFT Issue 197!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
MyPa Anjalankoski vs IFK Mariehamn – home win at evens.
Today’s featured game is the Veikkausliiga encounter between MyPa Anjalankoski and IFK Mariehamn.
It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of MyPa but I have a lot of respect for them right now. Unlike most sides around them, they’ve been consistent and hard-working lately. I’m amazed they’ve done so well without long-term absentees Okkonen and Aho, not to mention Anttilainen, but that shows their spirit right now. They’ve won four out of their last six games and to be honest, they’ve played pretty well in all of them. They’re scoring goals again with Russian striker Votinov brightening up their sterile attack and now even Innanen is joining in. They’ve brought a few players in lately to freshen up a small squad for the remainder of the season but to be honest, they’re not going down this year and they should know it by now; it looks set in stone that RoPS Rovaniemi are down this year.
Visitors IFK Mariehamn are arguably the better side here but they’re certainly not in the best of places when it comes to be able to show it. I genuinely don’t remember the last time that IFK Mariehamn didn’t have injury problems and that’s still the case today with more problems than ever! Their defence is in ruins with both Bellisomo and Olesen absent today and it’ll be even more chaotic if the doubtful De Abreu misses out too. Regular midfielder Olofsson misses out, as does star striker Kangaskolkka, who’ll no doubt be angry at not being able to face his old club. Winger Okodugha is still out, naturally, and IFK’s wafer-thin squad looks very vulnerable right now. Their absences over the season are taking its toll now because they have no depth and subsequently, they’ve been playing very poorly lately, conceding goals easily, and look demoralised. They’ve lost six out of their last eight games, drawing the other two along the way, and they’ve failed to score in their last five away games, unsurprisingly losing all of them. Even bottom club RoPS Rovaniemi hasn’t lost more away games than IFK this season with the islanders having lost nine out of twelve on the road and with the above in mind, they should be set for another defeat here.
It’s been mentioned that the MyPa handicap is worth a thought and seeing IFK’s absentees, I think it is worth a thought. However, I just don’t have enough faith in MyPa’s firepower when it comes to bold bets like that so I’ll stick with the home win at evens because that in itself looks a steal here.
Verdict: MyPa Anjalankoski to win at evens.
Additional game
VPS Vaasa vs Haka Valkeakoski – over 2.5 goals at evens.
On paper, this game would normally scream “under 2.5 goals” but I’m going over 2.5 goals with it today. I might even take a cheeky punt on Haka to win, to be honest, and that takes a lot because they’re a pretty awful side!
I’ll elaborate, though. VPS’ defence is usually built around Tanska and his long-term injury has given VPS no end of problems at the back. Well, now they’ve lost another consistent defender with Woodbine moving to HJK Helsinki. With holding midfielder Koskela and fellow midfield regular Heini both absent, I’m not sure that VPS could keep a cow out of their goal right now, let alone Haka. I don’t pretend to be a big fan of Haka because they’re a quite poor side but they work hard and they do have a nasty habit of scoring goals somehow. VPS are not in a good position to keep a clean sheet and I doubt they will as a result. They’re also missing their best attacker in Kokko today but they’ve signed Jamaican striker Morrissey to give them another option up front so we may see him debutise today. Haka themselves miss playmaker Weckstrom but on-loan Kastrati returns and ex-HJK Helsinki attacking midfielder Dema could debutise. With those two plus Robinson in midfield, there’s enough support for Sihvola to score at least once here. Haka still haven’t gotten over the loss of Lahti at the back, however, who has also coincidentally joined HJK Helsinki. Ergo, Haka’s defence is not in pristine condition either. Both sides are a lot closer to the relegation zone than they’d like so there’s plenty to fight for here so I don’t expect a defensive game. Haka have gone over 2.5 goals in eight out of their eleven away games so far this season and VPS have kept just two clean sheets at home this season and have only failed to score in two home games this season, one of which was against HJK Helsinki. For me, over 2.5 goals is well worth a thought today.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at evens.
Team news
FC Honka Espoo – No absentees.
JJK Jyvaskyla – Okkonen and Korte are absent.
MyPa Anjalankoski – Signed Sesay, Terra, and Frasson. Sesay is absent though. Aho, Anttilainen, and Okkonen are absent.
IFK Mariehamn – Kangaskolkka, Bellisomo, Olesen, and Olofsson are absent. De Abreu is a doubt. Signed Ikavalko.
RoPS Rovaniemi – Qerimi is absent.
Jaro Pietarsaari – Grove is absent.
TPS Turku – Lehtovaara is absent. Kuqi has left the club. R.Riski has been signed.
HJK Helsinki – Sold Pukki, Bah, and Rafinha. Signed Woodbine. Valtteri Moren and Woodbine are absent.
VPS Vaasa – Tanska, Heini, Kokko, and Koskela are absent. Woodbine sold. Signed Morrissey, Barroilhet, Funicello, and Peth.
Haka Valkeakoski – Koljander, Ojala, and Weckstrom are absent. Signed Dema, Perera, and Luoto.
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Gefle – Leino returns.
Malmo FF – Figueiredo is absent. Andersson and Pekalski return. Ranegie expected to debutise.