TFT Issue 443!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Vikingur Gotu vs Gomel – under 3 goals at 11/10.
Today’s featured game is the UEFA Europa League Qualifier between Vikingur Gotu and Gomel in Torshavn.
Vikingur aren’t at home for this game; they’re playing in Torshavn. However, the Faroe Islands is a powerful weapon for all its club sides as few adapt to the tough conditions here and I very much doubt that Belarusian visitors Gomel will be any different today.
Vikingur Gotu aren’t really good enough to be in this tournament. Last season, they were able to boast Meistaradeildin top goalscorer Justinussen. However, he’s gone to Sweden to play for Jonkopings Sodra and Vikingur Gotu are really feeling it. They brought in former PSV Eindhoven youngster Lasse Qvist to provide the same kind of threat as Justinussen did but the young Dane hasn’t settled properly yet, although his lightning pace makes him a potent threat at any time. Unfortunately for Vikingur Gotu, they’re missing some of their key players right now, albeit mentally rather than physically. For example, Vatnhamar is the heartbeat of their midfield but we’ve barely seen him playing for them this season. Instead, it’s been all about emerging central midfielder Bartalsstovu, who has done well, to be fair. In Bie and Hansen, Vikingur Gotu can form a mobile and tenacious midfield and they’re certainly not an easy side to beat. However, they lack goalscorers and at this level, you really do feel that it’ll ultimately cost them. I expect them to play this game cautiously and not give away daft early goals or the return leg in Belarus will be completely pointless to them. On the rugged artificial turf, though, they’re good enough to stop Gomel from getting a good result here, in my view.
Gomel are a big club in Belarus, although it’s they’ve not been back in the Vysshaya Liga for long. Gomel aren’t a top class side like BATE Borisov or Shakhtyor Soligorsk. However, they’re one of the best sides in Belarus when it comes to approaching games tactically. These fuckers simply do not concede goals; that’s how it is. Even mighty BATE have only bagged one against them this season, as have Shakhtyor Soligorsk. They’re an absolute nightmare to break through and although they’re horribly inexperienced on a European level, they’re still very efficient and difficult to play against. There’s plenty of experience in their squad and they do have match-winners in Vyacheslav Hleb (brother of Aliaksandar) and Platonov. They’re more than good enough to prevent ineffectual Vikingur Gotu from scoring against them here although I can’t take the odds on Gomel winning this game seriously at all because artificial turf is a nightmare to play on and Gomel are not a good goalscoring side themselves. Gomel rarely score more than one goal in a game as they sit back and hold the lead when they have it. Why would this difficult away game be any different?
Despite Gomel being the better side, I think this game has 0-0 all over it. I’m surprised that Gomel are so short here, to be honest. Maybe I’ll get rolled over with the scoreline; football does that sometimes. However, for me, taking under 3 goals at 11/10 looks an absolute steal here.
Verdict: Under 3 goals at 11/10.
Additional games
FC Honka Espoo vs IFK Mariehamn – home win at 10/11.
Jumping on the Honka bandwagon again, eh? I must be mental!
Still, Honka are doing the business right now with a string of excellent displays. They were even good against VPS Vaasa but conceded daft goals and didn’t take their own chances. Honka are very much a confidence side; when they have it, they’re very good. When they don’t, they’re as susceptible as hell.
Yeah, Honka can’t defend but I balance that out with the fact that IFK Mariehamn are rubbish when playing away from their beloved island group balances it out, in my view. I like IFK Mariehamn a lot, as it happens – they’re a very underrated side. However, they tend to show that the best when they’re at home. Few sides leave Aland with points as long as IFK take their chances and they’ve been doing that well this season. However, taking on Honka in Espoo is different. Honka play a style of football that IFK don’t like to deal with. IFK are good on the counter-attack with their pace and they’ll love Honka’s dubious high line but Honka have quicker and more skilful players than IFK. If Honka weren’t playing well then I’d have every faith in IFK bullying them and getting something from this game but Honka are playing well – really well, actually – which is why I’m giving them the nod here.
These are two contradicting sides but Honka do shade it on quality. I think the hosts have enough about them to score against their physical opponents and finish them off on counter-attacks, although be warned that IFK will probably score because Honka clean sheets are almost a myth nowadays.
Verdict: FC Honka Espoo to win at 10/11.
Djurgarden vs IFK Goteborg – over 2.5 goals at 11/10.
Again, I’m rolling with the majority of displays that both sides have shown this season but if they both play like they did prior to the Summer break then we should see plenty of goals here.
Djurgarden are a very underrated passing side. They attack really well and tend to have a lot of belief, irrespective of the scoreline. They love to be underdogs and to upset the odds. They’ve got some terrific players, most notably in midfield where Hamalainen and Sjolund patrol. The addition of Keene up front has made them a very mobile and dangerous attacking side, particularly on counter-attacks. As an attacking side, Djurgarden are a lot better than they’re given credit for, in my view. However, as a defensive side, they’re a bunch of nutcases that will happily concede in almost every game with the proviso that their opponents bother attacking them. Djurgarden don’t have the composure at the back to keep any side out and they lack any kind of cohesion between defence and goalkeeper. I love watching them play but they’re a horrendous side to have to rely upon if you back them to win because it’s hit-and-miss as to whether they can actually take their chances and whether they can hold a lead or not.
Ironically enough, IFK Goteborg are a bit like an advanced version of Djurgarden. They’ve got a better team with better players in most positions. They’ve got a huge fanbase and they tend to play some good football. However, they seem to concede stupid goals at stupid times, especially on the road, and that tends to result in them not getting the points that the likes of Elfsborg or Malmo would pick up. IFK have some absolutely lethal players in their squad, not least Hysen, although his form this season has been questionable at best. Still, this side can and will create chances and I expect them to damage Djurgarden today as a result. Djurgarden aren’t good enough to keep them out, simply put.
As far as winners go – just don’t go there. Either side could win this. There’ll most likely be a bit of rivalry as it’s a Goteborg-Stockholm clash and there’s plenty of loonies on either side that might fancy a brisk walk down the tunnel. Still, both sides are attacking sides with plenty of firepower so taking over 2.5 goals looks very appealing at 11/10.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 11/10.
Team news
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
FC Honka Espoo – Rexhepi is a big doubt.
IFK Mariehamn – Fageholm, Lundberg, and Ekhaile are absent. Wiklof and Lyyski return.