TFT Issue 201!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Orebro vs AIK Solna – home win with draw no bet at 4/5.
Today’s featured game is the Allsvenskan encounter between Orebro and AIK Solna.
Generally speaking, there’s not much between these two sides. AIK had the two Banguras, which were amongst the best strikers in Sweden, and thus had the edge. However, despite their prestigious history, Orebro were beginning to become a rival for them with a strong midfield and good organsation so I think the bookies have gauged that quite accurately pre-match.
However, one thing I don’t agree on is the draw no bet price for Orebro, which frankly looks a bargain. Orebro lost Bedoya in the transfer window and the American midfielder was really rather important to the team, admittedly. Losing defender Almeback to Club Brugge at the end of June was a blow too, as he was a regular for Orebro. However, they’ve not been idle in the market themselves, clinching the signing of promising Icelandic defender Sigurbjornsson from IBV Vestmannaeyjar, who played a key role in their successful Urvalsdeild campaign last year and in their current campaign, too. They’ve also signed Finnish hot prospect Riku Riski on loan from Widzew Lodz, whose twin brother you may note has just returned to home club TPS Turku on loan from Cesena. Both Riski brothers are good players and an attacking attribute to each side they’ve played in so again, this is a good signing for Orebro. The third signing Orebro have made is a bit of a mystery to me, I must confess. He’s called Pino and is a towering Panamanian striker signed from Sporting 89 in Panama. He’s had experience in Colombia before and sounds like a target man which is something that Orebro do need so I think Orebro may have a decent deal here. All in all, Orebro have dealt with things pretty well and they tend to function well as a unit. The long-term plans are to make Orebro a force in Sweden and why not? With integral midfielder Gerzic having signed a new five-year deal in the past couple of months, the core of the team is ready to continue its assault on the Allsvenskan and they do have plenty of quality in this team with Rama, Paulinho, and Lushtaku all impressing this season, and that’s excluding long-term absentees Haddad. Orebro are solid, especially at home on their artificial turf, so I really don’t see them losing this one.
I mentioned how well AIK Solna have done this season thanks to the Bangura strikers and it’s true – they’re the outstanding aspects of a distinctly average AIK side. However, they’ve hit a snag over the transfer window as the form of the two unrelated Sierra Leone strikers has not gone unnoticed in Europe and repeated inquiries regarding their avaiability led to Teteh Bangura joining Bursaspor in Turkey and Mohamed Bangura joining Celtic in Scotland. Uh-oh. This fucks AIK Solna up in a big way. Don’t get me wrong – they’ve done some great business on those two players and recouped a lot of money for them both so that’s good to see. However, AIK announced that they will not be replacing the two strikers at the moment. What?! They’ve carried the team this season and they won’t be replaced?! Unbelievable! I mean, with the likes of Johansson at the back and Persson in midfield, AIK Solna do have a decent team – but nothing more. It’s Tjernstrom’s last season in the famous black-and-yellow of AIK Solna so they can’t rely on his experience for much longer; what will they do? They’ve got a couple of kids remaining up front and a “stopper team” behind them, which means that they’re decent at keeping sides out but not at scoring goals. Personally, I think AIK Solna are going to really struggle for the remainder of this Allsvenskan campaign and that should start at Orebro today.
So, yeah – not light years between the two sides but the advantage has to be with Orebro today as they have far more firepower than their opponents. For me, there’s a good level of value in Orebro draw no bet at 4/5.
Verdict: Orebro to win with draw no bet at 4/5.
Additional game
Sparta Prague vs Viktoria Zizkov – home win with -2 Asian Handicap at 11/10.
Ok, let’s not beat around the bush here – we’ve effectively got the best that the Czech Republic can offer right now versus one of the most impotent and inexperienced side in the Gambrinus Liga. Conclusion? Heavy home win.
So yeah – veteran goalkeeper Blazek is absent and old hand Repka is a doubt but to be honest, this really doesn’t concern me right now; they’re not playing a strong side. Indeed, let’s focus moreso on how dramatically Cameroonian hitman Kweuke has improved and how much he’s dominating the Gambrinus Liga right now. Indeed, only Jablonec striker Lafata is outshining him so Sparta Prague are enjoying themselves with a strong striker scoring goals for fun. Hot prospect Kadlec is champing at the bit to get into the team but they’re playing too well without him to force a way in right now. Playmaker Matejovsky is playing well and with Juhar and experienced Sionko alongside him, this Sparta Prague side looks very strong right now. More than that, they look terrifically hungry and that was notable during their 0-2 win at Viktoria Plzen lately. Sparta Prague are beating everyone emphatically because of that hunger, which perhaps wasn’t always the case in previous years as they became complacent from consecutive Gambrinus Liga titles. That’s not the case this year, though. Their usual backline includes Blazek, Repka, and Zapotcny, not to mention Vidlicka and Pamic. There’s bags of experience and ability in this defence and it makes them the best in the country for my money. However, that’s not important today, as I mentioned earlier – it’s Sparta’s ability to score goals this season that interests me far more. The loss of winger Kamil Vacek in the past couple of weeks may hurt them ultimately but for this game? I doubt it. Sparta Prague haven’t beaten this handicap so far this season but let’s make note of their European commitments during that time and also note who they’ve faced – Viktoria Plzen away, Jablonec at home, Ceske Budejovice away – not easy games, but they’ve won all of them. If they’re up for it, Sparta can win this game very comfortably today.
Viktoria Zizkov are plucky but short on ability and they have one big problem area today; midfield. Their defence isn’t solid so they rely on their midfield a lot. However, Folprecht can’t play today as he’s on loan from Sparta Prague. Back-up midfielder Kaderabek is injured, so he won’t play. Additionally, another midfield regular in Sukennik is a big doubt so Viktoria Zizkov’s limited squad is already looking stretched. Viktoria Zizkov have looked really out of their depth so far this season, losing three out of their five games with their only win coming against fellow newly-promoted side Dukla Prague. They salvaged a 2-2 draw with Sigma Olomouc last match but their stay in the Gambrinus Liga will be their atypical short stay if they continue to ship goals so easily. There’s too many Druha Liga quality players in this team and although Brabec will be dying to make an impression against his former club, I just don’t see Viktoria Zizkov having anywhere near enough to either score against or keep out Sparta Prague.
I’m expecting a heavy home win here with a minimum of a two-goal scoreline. I’ve added a bit of insurance because a lazy Sparta Prague display will see a 2-0 win. However, I expect 3-0 or 4-0 so the -2 Asian Handicap at 11/10 appeals to me today.
Verdict: Sparta Prague to beat the -2 Asian Handicap at 11/10.
Team news
Bulgarian A PFG:
CSKA Sofia – Dechev is absent.
Lokomotiv Plovdiv – No absentees. Georgiev may debutise.
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Sparta Prague – Blazek is absent. Repka is a doubt. Keric has left the club on loan.
Viktoria Zizkov – Kaderabek and Folprecht are absent. Sukennik is a doubt.
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
Inter Turku – Lehtonen, Parviainen, Asis, and Osinachi are absent. Kallio is a doubt.
FC Honka Espoo – No absentees.
HJK Helsinki – Valtteri Moren is absent.
KuPS Kuopio – Nwakaeme, Venelainen, Ollo, Oravainen, Kaivonurmi, Nykanen, Hynynen, and Holopainen are absent.
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Sarpsborg 08 – Roberts, Henanger, Wembangomo, and Jusufi are absent.
Rosenborg BK – Jamtfall, Goa, Hoiland, Holm, and Wangberg are absent. Svensson and Moldskred are doubts.
Russian Premier League:
Terek Grozny – Utsiev is absent. Fixed draw.
Kuban’ Krasnodar – Bucur and Zhavnerchik are absent. Fixed draw.
Swedish Allsvenskan
Orebro – Johansson is absent.
AIK Solna – Atakora is absent.