TFT Issue 208!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Haka Valkeakoski vs IFK Mariehamn – home win with draw no bet at evens.
Today’s featured game is the Veikkausliiga game between Haka Valkeakoski and IFK Mariehamn.
I still don’t like Haka, I have to say, but I cannot fault their work ethic at all. Sami Ristila has to be something of a magician to have conjoured up such displays as to keep a frankly weak Haka side in the division! The ex-Zwolle hitman has worked wonders with limited resources and full marks to him for it. The signings of Weckstrom and Robinson have probably kept them in the division and now that they have ex-HJK Helsinki playmaker Dema in their ranks, they finally have a midfield good enough to accomodate for their crap strikers. Haka are one of two sides that are playing well as the Veikkausliiga begins to draw to a close with only HJK Helsinki beating them in their last six games whilst Haka recorded four wins along the way. They’re scoring goals, playing efficiently, and most importantly of all, they’re not losing. For me, Haka has enough to do well here.
IFK Mariehamn, on the other hand, are a spent force. Their continual battle with injuries this season has finally caught up with them and they now look dejected, devoid of motivation, and completely lacking in firepower. Their injury concerns are a lot less than they were, admittedly, but with their best striker Kangaskolkka still absent, it’s hard to imagine demoralised IFK Mariehamn breaking through a stubborn Haka Valkeakoski today. In Aland, IFK are not a side to fuck around with but this game is not in Aland – it’s in Valkeakoski. Therefore, there’s every chance that they’ll make this away loss number ten from their last twelve games, especially with IFK Mariehamn having failed to even score a lot in six out of their last seven away games. Hell, they only beat MyPa Anjalankoski in their last away game because the hosts were throwing men forward as they sought an evasive lead due to wasting chances and were caught out by their opponents. I doubt lightning will strike twice for IFK Mariehamn, however.
Although I must confess that I rate IFK Mariehamn as the better of the two sides overall, I can only look on the odds on the home win with draw no bet cover as a gift here. The hosts are enthused and hard to beat whereas the islanders are poor travellers, lacking in motivation, and lacking in firepower.
Verdict: Haka Valkeakoski to win with draw no bet at evens.
Team news
Bulgarian A PFG:
Botev Vratsa – New manager Djambazki.
Minior Pernik – Adzhov is absent. Bibishkov is a doubt.
Cypriot Division 1:
Apollon Limassol – Big financial problems – players leaving the club. Assistant coach Antone has left. Colar is absent. Lopez is a doubt.
AEK Larnaca – No news.
Aris Limassol – No absentees.
Alki Larnaca – Markes and Solari are absent.
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Banik Ostrava – Smejkal and Husbauer are absent.
Sparta Prague – Blazek, Repka, and Husek are absent.
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
Haka Valkeakoski – Koljander, Ojala, Juuti, and Matrone are absent. Weckstrom is a doubt. Metzger returns.
IFK Mariehamn – Kangaskolkka, de Abreu, Mikko Paatelainen, and Markus Paatelainen are absent.
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Wisla Krakow – Malecki and Genkov are absent.
GKS Belchatow – Popek, Nowak, and Zbozien are absent. Kieres has been appointed as their new manager.
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Sporting Clube de Lisboa – Izmailov and Carrico are absent.
Rio Ave – Rafa, Mendes, and Bruno China are absent.
Vitoria Guimaraes – Tony, Targino, Pedro Mendes, Renan, and Edson Sita are absent.
Sporting Braga – Fran Merida, Galo, Custodio, Jose Luis, Ukra, and Andre Coelho are absent.