Veikkausliiga starts this weekend!

[ChubbyPoacher]

I've read the official match report from the good people at fchonka.fi, and I can confirm that a couple of promising early corners aside, the rest of the game was a disgraceful snooze-fest with barely a shot on goal.

Couple of interesting games coming up against fellow midtable lurkers TPS and Haka.
Bad results and we've already lost touch with the leading pack, good ones and we're right back mixing it with the big boys.

Fancy going to the Haka match on the 15th before we face your lot in Lahti, Salopian?

[Rosamunda]

We didn't go to the Honka game in the end (ouf!), due to homework and general apathy about being forced to march in formation (he's in for a shock in a few years time when he gets called up for army service ). Glad we missed it then.

[TampereOwl]

I hope Johnny saw MIFK hammer KTP, though....

[Salopian]

Fancy going to the Haka match on the 15th before we face your lot in Lahti, Salopian?

I doubt it

Seriously, I think I have a prior engagement, but can't recall at the moment. I think I need sleep...

[Johnny K]

I hope Johnny saw MIFK hammer KTP, though....

I did indeed TO, although it wasn't as satisfactory as it would seem. KTP went 2-0 up after about 25 mins. Willis, our keeper, let in a howler for the 1st & was probably at fault for the 2nd. Along with his poor kicking all night it is a worry if he goes out of form as we don't have another first class keeper at the club.

Binnion went off injured after about 15 mins, Eagers played central midfield, clearly not his position, & was withdrawn, & Boden didn't get on at all.

KTP looked poor & to be honest the match was not a good advertisement for the league. For the first time since IFK got to the top level, as far as I could see, our opponents had no support with them.

IFK eventually got back into the game, & ahead with ease. Plus points were Arajuuri, who came on at right back, played well & was very enthusiastic, Wiklöf who showed more of a football brain than I thought he had, & David Carlsson who looked a different class up front, working his man at every opportunity.

The English guys got a very positive response in the first 2 games, & Eagers apparently played particularly well against MyPa. However tonight I saw them leaving the game looking a bit fed up, all on their phones probably contacting their agents!. I then saw them heading into a pub, not good for their image as mid week drinking is taboo over here & not good for their own vibe as the pubs here are rubbish! They might, of course, have been fulfilling sponsors commitments.

The IFK Helsinki trip is legendary here & I don't think so many fans make regular away matches. It has previously fallen on a public holiday but has been moved to the last weekend in july this year. I haven't managed to get over for it yet due to parental commitments but can get over this year. I have no idea what the Buffalo Soldier song is!

[ChubbyPoacher]

Fancy going to the Haka match on the 15th before we face your lot in Lahti, Salopian?

I doubt it

Damn philistine, can't take a day off from mourning Everton's Uefa Cup challenge?

I have no idea what the Buffalo Soldier song is!

Pity, I was sure they were belting it out from behind their array of flags.

[TampereOwl]

The Sheffield lads will learn, I'm sure. MIFK have apparently invested a lot in them and are hoping to make a profit (they're not on loan), but it remains to be seen whether or not that will be possible if they're playing in a relegation-threatened side. Hope word doesn't spread about their drinking, but I'm sure Stephen Ward will put them right.

TamU were great for 70 minutes against TPS, but then Zico started meddling. daniel had played very well up to that point, but he was brought off, and Sakari Saarinen came into midfield. Pohja and Niemi, who had both played further back than usual, were moved up the field. The problem was that Pohja and Niemi were both knackered, and Saarinen is clearly unfit (strong rumours about his, er, 'midweek drinking' possibly indicating a reason), and so we had no threat up front and virtually nothing in midfield. It was no surprise when TPS broke from midfield - with no-one tracking the player - and got the equaliser.

The coach messed it up really. It's clear he doesn't like Daniel, and the subs were an attempt to give his favourite players time on the park or time in their favourite positions. When Daniel first arrived, Zico hadn't signed him and continued to conduct training in Finnish. He was, naturally, !"#¤% whenever he played. Now they've started to conduct training in English (with rafinha and Chris James it'd be stupid not to) but adjusting the team to suit the players available is still a problem. It's cost TamU the title this year.

[Salopian]

Fancy going to the Haka match on the 15th before we face your lot in Lahti, Salopian?

Why don't we go to the game in Lahti?

[ChubbyPoacher]

Why don't we go to the game in Lahti?

Hmmm, might do.
Be a chance to see the city, too.
I know it's not much, but I haven't really spent any time there.

[TampereOwl]

There's a great big ski jumping ramp at the end of the pitch in lahti. Everything about the ground is great, it's like something from small town Belarus or something.

[Johnny K]

I feel I should qualify my comments on the English lads going to the pub as it looks a bit stark on a new day. They were only heading into the pub so I have no idea if they drunk anything, or just 1 beer, or were honouring sponsors commitments. They had the look of men who needed a beer but I quite often carry that look & it took me years to get over the 'can't go to the pub in the week' syndrome.

I don't know what the rest of Finland is like but drinking in the week is frowned upon here unless you are in the comfort of your own home where you can quite happily neck a bottle of vodka should you feel the need
;o)

btw TO - Eagers told me he is an Owls fan!

[ChubbyPoacher]

There's a great big ski jumping ramp at the end of the pitch in lahti. Everything about the ground is great, it's like something from small town Belarus or something.

Bloody hell, then I have been there. Visited that ramp a couple of summers ago.
Unless some horrbile person's knocked me off the leaderboard, I should still be third on the ski jumping simulation game they have there..
Horrible, rickety ski-lift up to the tower but the views are great.

[TampereOwl]

Glad to hear one of them's a wednesdayite, johnny!

That stigma does exist in small towns, but as a student in Tampere I don't feel it so much tbh. My local here is also pretty nice, about as close to a British local as I've seen in Finland. They sell good food, have a mix of people, and I often go on a MOnday or Tuesday to see some football.

I suppose things are very different in Mariehamn, though.

[Salopian]

Nice one, Chubster. Let's sort something for the Lahti - Honka match.

Horrible, rickety ski-lift up to the tower but the views are great.

Listen, foo'. I ain't going in no foo' lift, sucker.

[TampereOwl]

IFK are up to second with a 2-0 win away at Jaro. None of the English lads featured.