TFT Issue 430!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Inter Turku vs Jaro Pietarsaari – both sides to score at 5/6.
Today’s featured game is the Veikkausliiga game between Inter Turku and Jaro Pietarsaari.
Inter Turku have had a great campaign thus far but their displas have started to slip of late. They’re still winning most of their games, which is great, but you have to question how long it’ll last. They’re good enough to win all of their home games this season and a portion of their away games too. However, this side isn’t notorious for its depth and they tend to concede goals too easily. Take their game at Honka a few days ago, for example. There is a growing gap between those two sides in favour of Inter and yet they still managed to lose the game without any great ceremony. Dragtsma is a top manager and Inter have some top players to boot but sometimes you do have to question their mentality. You can actually see in some games that Inter are beaten before the game even starts. It just depends on how they’ve prepared and how hard they work. As far as goalscoring goes, they’re easily one of the top three sides in Finland so I don’t doubt that side of their game; it’s just their defence that bothers me.
Jaro have a pretty awful record in Turku against Inter, which probably explains the odds on Inter winning this one. Inter are definitely the better side today, too – they really should win this game. However, Jaro look set to go on one of their crazy runs following an unprecedented 2-3 win in Turku against TPS a few days ago. They looked sharp, confident, and clinical, which is important. A few things have contributed to this turnaround and as they’re all at the same time, Jaro are riding the crest of a wave at the moment. Eremenko is a good enough Manager to motivate his players anyway but the signing of big striker Jonke to partner Niang up front is a stroke of genius as Jaro now have a potent attack. At the same time, captain Aho has returned from injury to lead the team and those two elements combined have inspired Jaro into their “we’ll never die” approach. They’re a nightmare to face in form like this and despite Inter being in good form, I do think that they’ll have a harder game than the odds suggest today.
The bookies think Inter will tear Jaro a new one today. I don’t really agree although I certainly agree that it’s possible. I think Jaro will be in a great position to upset their hosts although I’d not bet on a winner here either way. However, taking both sides to score at 5/6 looks a gift, in my view. Inter tend to concede token goals at home anyway and with Jaro’s attack now containing ex-Inter forward Jonke, you have to feel that they can at least score here. My call is for both sides to score here.
Verdict: Both sides to score at 5/6.
Additional game
Ukraine vs England – England to win at evens.
I figured that England would go out in the group stages of this tournament but having seen Ukraine’s composure vanish in the blink of an eye, I find it hard to envision anything but an England win today. Ukraine actually make England look like a composed and dependable footballing side. England have a newfound belief and organisation under Hodgson that they’ve not had before and although they don’t create enough chances to score goals regularly, you do have a bit of faith that they’ll emerge from a game with something if they take the lead. Ukraine’s defence lacks leadership and composure whilst the English side knows precisely what its doing. Ukraine’s only threats are the movement of Shevchenko and the pace of Yarmolenko and Konoplyanka. If England restrain all three then this is their game to win. A draw will suffice for England but Ukraine have to win so pacey counter-attacks look in the offering and England have looked good in those positions thus far. I think taking England to edge this one at evens is worth a punt today.
Verdict: England to win at evens.