• Veikkausliiga season 2012: HJK will claim Finnish title, but a surprise is brewing in the relegation battle

    Posted on May 20, 2012 by Markus Kitunen Comment

    1. HJK: reconstruction begins after last season‘s dominance

    Expect them to…be nowhere near as dominant and free-flowing as last season but still win the title due to the quality in the squad.

    Strength: Variety in attack both in terms of numbers and player types should allow coach Antti Muurinen to pick the right players for the right occasion. Experienced defence that has been together for a long time.

    Weakness: New centre-midfield with not enough penetration and dynamism. The use of one-dimensional Juho Mäkelä upfront will inevitably strip HJK off their attacking fluidity.

    Expect great things from…the striking sensation Joel Pohjanpalo who scored 33 goals in 23 Finnish 2nd division matches last season for HJK’s reserves. Also, he recently turned down a contract offer from Liverpool. The 17-year-old has a rare, insatiable hunger for goals (added with the actual skill and vision to score them).

    Expect little from…returnee forward Juho Mäkelä who will score a few goals but still be more a hindrance than an actual asset to HJK.

    2. FC Inter: will give HJK a run for their money, but get left behind on home stretch

    Expect them to…really challenge HJK this season but fall short due to a lack of depth in the squad.

    Strength: Inter’s starting eleven is nearly as good as HJK’s, and their playing style is instilled in the DNA of the squad’s core.

    Weakness: There remains a huge quality gap between the XI and bench. Especially if key members like Mika Ojala and Iraklis Siribladze get injured Inter will struggle. Job Dragtsma is undeniably a fine coach but his performance in the transfer market is less than impressive: for every find like Jos Hooiveld, the Dutchman has dragged in busloads of useless players (Guillano Grot or Daniel Osinachi, anyone?). The jury’s still out on the current lot, but Pim Bouwman does seem like the real deal (then again, Guy Gnabouyou doesn’t).

    Expect great things from…dead-ball specialist Mika Ojala who will again score a tidy number of goals and assist (15+19 in 2011) and should get the next flight out of Turku if he is to further his career.

    Expect little from…the strikers on the bench.

    3. TPS: will to make a claim, but know own limitations

    Expect them to…play balanced, safety-first football and keep the Turku title and European spot as priorities in the absence of any real chance of mounting on a championship challenge.

    Strength: TPS can rely on their solid defence and having the best keeper in the league to get them through any forthcoming hard times. The Turku team are capable of playing through the middle with variety and in Toni Kolehmainen they have a clean, stylish deep-lying playmaker.

    Weakness: Like their city rivals, TPS lack depth in the squad. The wide areas are another concern as, with Mika Ääritalo and Petteri Pennanen playing more centrally, only full-back Sami Rähmönen provides reliable penetration out wide.

    Expect great things from…keeper Jukka Lehtovaara who would (and perhaps still should) be Finland’s No1 had he not suffered from constant injuries in the past.

    Expect little from…coach Marko Rajamäki who has a decent enough XI in his hands, but may not have the required tactical ability to create a successful style for them.

    4. JJK: potential is ripe for the picking

    Expect them to…be perhaps the most entertaining team in the league, ripping defences apart with quick counters time and again. However, the Jyväskylä team will also concede plenty.

    Strength: A versatile attacking third packed with pace, skill and power is supported by a balanced, combative midfield. Speed-merchants Jani Virtanen and Mikko Manninen will pose any Veikkausliiga defence problems.

    Weakness: Coach Kari Martonen needs to find a better playing balance to shore a weak defence. A too impulsive attacking intent would be JJK’s downfall as oppositions are a year wiser in how to play against them.

    Expect great things from…former Udinese winger Jani Virtanen who will try to find consistency to complement the spectacular.

    Expect little from…a shaky defence that shipped in 32 goals in away games last season.

    5. FC Honka: more of the same, just with poorer results

    Expect them to…once again show that a well-defined playing identity is more important than the individuals on the pitch. As years go by, the Honka players keep getting younger.

    Strength: Mika Lehkosuo has done a great job in creating a clear style of play while at the same time making player development a priority. This will again be the reason (and the only reason) for any possible success in the absence players.

    Weakness: With not enough bona fide experience, the young squad will struggle in times of trouble. The experienced players such as Jussi Vasara and Tomi Petrescu are no leaders of men.

    Expect great things from…midfield destroyer Duarte Tammilehto who will look to build his name with something more than just bookings this term.

    Expect little from…Honka’s home advantage as the Espoo team suffer from the worst kind of good weather supporters.

    6. VPS: too early for a true VPS renaissance, but on the right track

    Expect them to…score some goals after being a substitute for sleeping pills for a few seasons.

    Strength: The Vaasa team may have played some boring football in recent years, but they definitely have kept their balance book healthy (actually being one of the few Finnish teams turning a profit). This has given VPS the means to start building a balanced and positively functional team. The reliable Olli Huttunen seems like the right fit as new coach.

    Weakness: VPS lack the cutting-edge in the attacking third. Jarno Parikka definitely has qualities, but the former HJK striker is also suffering from the worst case of misplaced goalscoring shoes.

    Expect great things from…the whole team that look to gradually consolidate themselves as a club to be taken seriously again.

    Expect little from…a defence that lacks quality on every position.

    7. IFK Mariehamn: more balanced but too predictable

    Expect them to… play a lukewarm season now that the team is built around a core of experienced Veikkausliiga players.

    Strength: The middle channel (Jani Lyyski-Mika Niskala-Petteri Forsell-Aleksei Kangaskolkka) looks strong and should be one of the most consistent in the league.

    Weakness: If leading players suffer injuries, there are little options on the bench. Also, wide areas lack penetration.

    Expect great things from…attacking midfield Forsell who has the skill for the unexpected but needs to start applying himself more to the basic rigours of the game in order to dominate matches.

    Expect little from…MIFK’s bench.

    8. KuPS: trying to reinvent the cogs in their cogwheel

    Expect them to…try to reinvent themselves as a ball-playing team after years of travelling on route one.

    Strength: The defence should provide a solid enough platform on which to build on, but their ability to open play will be the key question if KuPS aim to keep the ball on the deck.

    Weakness: Esa Pekonen has done a decent job in Kuopio, but the no-nonsense coach must learn fast to be able to teach new tricks to a squad uncomfortable in passing the ball.

    Expect great things from…the team’s workmanship attitude.

    Expect little from…KuPS consistency as the team is not built to cope with the extra burden of European football.

    9. Haka: talented coach, untalented squad

    Expect them to…build on a surprisingly good last season and stay clear of relegation battle.

    Strength: The coach Sami Ristilä has been able to instil confidence and create a functioning, straightforward playing style into a team lacking quality on every department.

    Weakness: The team overachieved last season so a poor start could spell potential disaster. The leading players such as Dema and Shane Robinson must carry the team.

    Expect great things from…Ristilä who, with his hands-on, open-minded mentality, is one of the brightest coaching prospects in Finland.

    Expect little from…former ManU trainee and Honka man Jami Puustinen who, with limited basic playing skills, is not the leading forward Haka are seeking.

    10. MyPa: a good coach and the right mentality go a long way

    Expect them to…be everyone’s favourites to go down, but perhaps exactly for that reason stay up.

    Strength: The coach Toni Korkeakunnas provided a small miracle by guiding MyPa to eight in 2011, and this season they begin from a similar starting point. There is still really no reason why they should necessarily go down. The squad has players with potential but also with all to prove at Veikkausliiga level. Add that with the ‘us against them’ mentality instilled by the coach (after all of the media and fellow players and coaches have labelled them relegation favourites) and you’ve got yourself a receipt for success (well, escape anyway). With small margins in the lower reaches of the league, MyPa know that they only need to keep one team below them. And that they are capable of doing.

    Weakness: MyPa has the weakest starting line-up on paper in the league (and the bench doesn’t look any better by comparison) so Korkeakunnas really needs to exploit every bit of potential in the team.

    Expect great things from…the classical small man-big man strike partnership of Pekka Sihvola (one of the most underrated players in the league) and Riley O’Neill.

    Expect little from…the substitute forwards.

    11. FC Lahti: the idealists are shooting themselves in the foot

    Expect them to…play idealistic passing football that will earn them admirers but guarantee inconsistency.

    Strength: The midfield has plenty of ball-playing skill and enough potential for penetration as well, which should mean that Lahti have the ability to practise what they preach.

    Weakness: Coach Tommi Kautonen’s idealism shows in the fact that Lahti lack muscle in crucial areas of the pitch. Skill is a good substitute for power providing that you have balance. Lahti, however, does not have it.

    Expect great things from…Lahti’s belief in their ideology (but idealism is hardly synonymous with success).

    Expect little from…their collective defending with little blue-collar attitude in the team.

    12. FF Jaro: attacking football doesn’t work if you don’t know how to defend

    Expect them to…play possession football and dominate games. They will, however, also concede goals at will (and go down because of that).

    Strength: Jaro’s clear playing identity.

    Weakness: Alexei Eremenko Sr. is perhaps the most overrated coach in the league. Granted, the Jaro legend is able to teach players in the art of attacking, but totally lacks the ability (or will) to make them play comprehensive, balanced football that starts with organization at the back. The mental weakness of the team shows as petulance and lack of self-belief when they concede in matches they control.

    Expect great things from…17-year-old attacking midfielder Simon Skrabb who already showed glimpses of his game changing ability last season.

    Expect little from…Jaro’s defending, both collective and position-specific.

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  • Turkish Football: Fatih Terim Takes The Easy Way Out

    Posted on April 12, 2012 by Ata Dizdar Comment

    A decision had to be made from Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim.  Reports coming from the Turkish media last week were that Felipe Melo and Albert Riera got into a fight during training.  Galatasaray were preparing for their final match of the regular season against already relegated Manisaspor.  They had the advantage of having a healthy lead going into the Spor Toto SuperFinal.  Yet, this fight between Melo and Riera looked to throw a wrench into their potential championship plans.

    Melo and Riera had their fight in training broken up.  After they were sent to the locker room, Melo and Riera fought again.  Riera had to be taken to the hospital for stitches above his eye.  Both were immediately suspended for the match against Manisaspor.  The club considered releasing them from their contracts, or in the case of Melo, cancelling his loan.

    This past Monday, the players went to coach Terim to request that he forgive both players in question.  Terim said on a LigTv program that he “wasn’t expecting the players to speak up on behalf of their teammates.”  He added that “it’s impossible for me not to be affected by this” and that he knew that both players regretted their actions.  Terim went on to say that he hadn’t talked to Melo since the incident occurred.  While Melo is a key player for Galatasaray, Terim added that “some things can be sacrificed for the sake of principles and institutions.”  That implied that he would be willing to cut both players loose for the sake of such principles.

    However, when it came time for Terim to make the decision as to the fates of the two players in question, there was a surprise in store.  Both players would be forgiven and be restored to the team, albeit with a monetary fine.

    What kind of message does this send?  That players can get into a fight in training but because they are “too important” to the championship cause, they can get away with only a fine?  Terim got it wrong on this one.

    A contrast could be made with Besiktas’ situation with former coach Carlos Carvalhal.  When Ricardo Quaresma expressed dissent over his halftime substitution during the Europa league round of 16 1st leg match against Atletico Madrid, Carvalhal put his foot down.  He suspended Quaresma for a few games, including the return leg in Istanbul.  This showed that he was in charge.  Granted Quaresma was eventually restored to the Besiktas roster, Carvalhal showed that he was the boss, and that no player was above him in his authority over the team.  Besiktas eventually let Carvalhal go because of poor performance by the team, but he has to be respected that he would bench a star player because of insubordination.

    With this situation, it seems that Terim made the decision that a championship is far more important than “principles”.  For a country that perhaps goes overboard with its valuing of “honor” and “principle”, this seems as though Terim was taking the easy way out and letting bygones be bygones.  It seems like more of a cop out more than anything.

    Terim has the reputation of being a motivator and a man of discipline.  He wouldn’t let something like this be swept under the rug, or at least that’s what one might have thought.  With the way that the Melo and Riera situation has been handled, it seems he has done just that.  If he’s talking about “principles and institutions” being valued and such, then why would he gladly let the players in question be welcomed back to the team?  The very least he could have done is to suspend both players for a match in the SuperFinal.

    No player or players can ever be more important than the team itself.  But it seems as though that with having Melo and Riera back on the team, Terim is sending the opposite message.  If a player is important enough, they can get by with a slap on the wrist punishment.  Would any other coach in the world let this slide with such a light sanction?

    Regardless, Galatasaray have the SuperFinal to now worry about.  They have the most to lose, considering that Fenerbahce now are five points back, and Besiktas and Trabzonspor looking to gladly derail Galatasaray’s championship hopes, and possibly get some measure of revenge for losses during the regular season.  Granted if the playoffs didn’t exist, Galatasaray would be celebrating their 18th league title.  As it is, they, as well as their rivals, have to go through this playoff system.  Whether they can leave this incident quickly behind them is the question.  There’s always the possibility that it could affect their performance in the SuperFinal.

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  • The Arrogance of Unal Aysal

    Posted on March 22, 2012 by Ata Dizdar Comment

    Galatasaray chairman Unal Aysal

    With another Fenerbahce-Galatasaray derby in the books, it seems that Galatasaray is in the driving seat for the title. With the Super League playoffs around the corner, Galatasaray has a healthy lead in the Turkish Super League standings. Although events on the field were viewed upon by many fans in Turkey and around the world, words off the field took even greater significance.

    During the match, a water bottle was thrown in the direction of Galatasaray head coach Fatih Terim. The bottle did make contact with Terim’s eyebrow. Objects thrown onto the field aren’t anything new in Fenerbahce-Galatasaray derbies. However, Galatasaray chairman Unal Aysal made comments as to the behavior of Fenerbahce fans during the derby. He said that Fenerbahce fans did not “have the same standards” compared with Galatasaray fans in regards to throwing objects onto the pitch. He also mentioned that Galatasaray fans “didn’t even spit” at Fenerbahce players during the first derby of the season between the two clubs in the Turk Telekom Arena earlier this season.

    Naturally, Fenerbahce reacted to Aysal’s statements. The response from Fenerbahce vice-chairman Ali Koc was that they didn’t condone what happened to Terim. Koc also mentioned previous instances where Galatasaray fans were throwing objects toward Fenerbahce players when Galatasaray were the home team. Koc particularly mentioned a bottle of liquor being thrown at Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan Demirel during the derby match earlier this season.

    However, the remarks from Aysal were considered unacceptable. Aysal didn’t back down, responding that he didn’t “see they have not matched the standards set by Galatasaray fans.”

    It wouldn’t be the first time that Aysal has made such brash and arrogant statements. Since the match fixing scandal broke out last July, Aysal has made statements that have made him look not only arrogant, but also as an opportunist. It started with one quote after the initial arrests were made,

    “This fire cannot be blown out.”

    With those words, Aysal set off a firestorm. Although Galatasaray was not named as a suspected club in the match fixing scandal, and therefore not in danger of being relegated as per article 58 of TFF disciplary code, Aysal looked like an opportunist. He failed to realize that, unlike other countries where match fixing scandals broke out, the full evidence was never given to the TFF from the authorities. This was due to the confidentiality rule that the authorities enforced while the investigation was being conducted. Many clubs at the time condemned Aysal for his remarks. It was obvious that Aysal was only thinking of the short term gains that Galatasaray would have potentially received if their rivals were relegated.

    The statement looked to have been more of a cover up for transfer failings at the time. If one remembers back then, Aysal had said that he would attempt to sign Didier Drogba, but failed. He had also flown to Madrid in order to sign Tomas Ujfalusi, Diego Forlan, and Jose Reyes away from Atletico Madrid, but only signed Ujfalusi.

    Aysal showed much hubris, not knowing that without the rivals in the league, Galatasaray would suffer in the long term. It would have taken years for the teams implicated to get back to their previous levels, and Galatasaray could have potentially dominated the Turkish Super League for years to come. That would have driven away fans and made the Super League far too predictable. Revenues would decrease from both ticket sales and a reduced broadcast contract. It would have done more harm, but Aysal failed to realize that. Instead he exuded a nose in the air attitude that gained him much derision.

    In a match fixing case where the pattern of arrests, releases, and trials seem eerily similar to the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer cases, Aysal seems oblivious to the realities. Those cases have seen much of the evidence being very flimsy at best and people are locked up because they crossed the current AK Party ruled government. Anybody who has followed the developments in Turkey since July, and who have a current idea of the political wrangling within the country, have seen such similarities with those two cases as it pertains to the case on match fixing in football.

    Earlier this year, the TFF held an extraordinary congress in order to amend article 58 of their disciplinary code. The rule states that if any club is found to be fixing a match, or attempting to fix a match, the punishment would be relegation. While some thought that the attempted amendment was to “save certain clubs”, it made sense to amend the article to provide for a sliding scale of punishment. The article as worded seemed very draconian in nature.

    But Aysal came out and said the following,

    “You can’t change the rules while the game is being played.”

    Yet again, Aysal seemed to be exuding arrogance towards the situation. With about eight Super League clubs in total being mentioned in the indictment, released in December, almost half of the Super League was in danger of being relegated to the Bank Asya First Division. Again, it would have done a lot more harm to the league as a whole, including Galatasaray, if such a thing were to occur.

    Aysal continued to stoke the proverbial fire. After the TFF congress, he threatened to step down if Galatasaray, and Turkish football teams in general (including the Turkish national team), would be hit with a ban from UEFA as to their participation in continental competitions. If Aysal would have actually read the disciplinary code of UEFA, there is nothing written within them that UEFA could impose such sanctions on the TFF. With that threat, he portrayed himself as someone who flat out didn’t care about football in Turkey on a generalized basis. He even said himself that he only cared about the benefits to Galatasaray, and would blame the TFF if the so-called ban ever was handed out.

    There is a striking similarity with what happened during the summer and what happened during the winter. Like the summer, Aysal attempted to sign FC Basel starlet Xherdan Shaqiri to Galatasaray. However, like in the summer, the club could not sign Shaqiri. The player himself even said that Galatasaray never contacted him. Aysal, just like in the summer time, was talking up a storm in order to cover up for a failure in transferring a star to Galatasaray.

    While he has been held as an ideal man by Galatasaray fans, everyone else in the Turkish football community has condemned him for only looking out for himself. Aysal’s arrogance has made him into a villain of football in Turkey. If this was any other league in Europe or the world, Aysal would have been fined monetarily or even suspended for his remarks. As it is, he’s been acting as if he is above all of the occurrences in Turkish football. With Galatasaray leading the Super League standings so far, one would think that Aysal would be satisfied with the success that the club has had domestically at the moment. It doesn’t seem to be the case.

    In the end, Aysal should watch what he says. There’s an old adage that says “it’s not what one says, it’s how it is said.” The way that Aysal speaks, he has shown a level of arrogance that hasn’t been seen in Turkish football in recent memory. While he thinks he’s acting heroically, he’s really acting snobbish, and comes off as arrogant. If Aysal continues on this path of arrogance, then he might be burned by the proverbial fire that he said could not be blown out.

     

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  • Paatelainen’s Finland revolution – phase one completed, tactical consistency achieved (part 1 of 2)

    Posted on February 21, 2012 by Markus Kitunen Comment

    After half a decade spent going through the motions and hoping for a miracle with quick fix coaching appointments, the Finnish Football Association finally took the inevitable leap of faith in 2011 and set forth on a long-term project with the national team. The first step was taken in March with the appointment of Mixu Paatelainen as head coach in place of the largely unpopular and unsuccessful Stuart Baxter. This was a bold move, but bravery is always needed when striving to cast off reactionary tendencies and pave the way for the future.

    The former Kilmarnock and TPS coach signed a five-year contract with an official goal of reaching the 2016 European Championships. Regardless of whether this objective is achieved or not, the actual significance of Paatelainen’s tenure is assessed in an even longer time span. The first task for the new coach has been to reconstruct a new tactical strategy and rejuvenate the squad not only in terms of age structure but with regards to the overall mentality as well. Paatelainen, therefore, ultimately took charge of laying out a sustainable structure for the development of the national team, and in order for Finland to have any chance of achieving the historical qualification in four years’ time (Finland have never featured in a major tournament), the development process needs to be balanced and meticulously planned.

    Paatelainen looks forward as Finland coach

    The early signs are encouraging. Paatelainen was never known for his pace when spearheading Finland attacks as a bulldozing centre-forward in the 90s, but the 45-year-old has been quick to lay the structural groundwork off it. He has instilled a new, progressive tactical strategy and tried out and got to know a host of new (and old) players, which is something few of his predecessors could be bothered to do properly. The first phase of the Paatelainen revolution has been about theory and its gradual implementation while the results have been of purely secondary interest. The second phase, the 2014 World Cup campaign kicking off next autumn, will concentrate on fine-tuning the established system to uncover more intricate details on how it functions against different playing styles and tactical approaches. Finland had the misfortune to be drawn in the toughest group in the whole draw (featuring Spain, France, Belarus and Georgia), but the silver lining is that the group offers a perfect tactical lesson as each team play a different brand of football. Then when the Euro 2016 campaign starts, the strategic platform should be set and the efforts to claim the actual cake by going for the results, and the results only, can begin. Now at the start of 2012, the curtain is effectively drawn on the first phase of the project and it is time to look at the implications of Paatelainen’s start as Finland coach.

    Tactical evolution: Finland are a team once more

    Just by looking at the results, the 2012 European Championship qualifiers were an utter disaster. Finland finished the campaign with a dreadful total of ten points from ten matches, slumping to fourth behind Holland, Sweden and Hungary (recording only one draw against the top three; a drab 0-0 in Budapest in the final round). The blame for the Euro 2012 debacle lands mostly on the porch of Baxter who was still the coach during Finland’s horrific start to the campaign: 0-2 defeat in Moldova (the worst Finland performance I’ve ever witnessed) and subsequent 1-2 defeats in Holland and at home to Hungary. These results give some perspective on the magnitude of Paatelainen’s task; he inherited an aged squad that were in a state of tactical confusion and that had ascribed to a loosing mentality. As a result, the rest of the campaign was always going to be a transition period for the team in the guidance of a new coaching staff (with assistants Markku Kanerva and Sami Hyypiä). And it is particularly in this respect that the first months of the Paatelainen era have been a success.

    Although Baxter always wanted to flag himself as a football modernist, with his application of a 4-2-3-1 formation and all his talk of attacking football (and of rubbing shoulders with Arsene Wenger), it is Paatelainen who has brought Finland into the 21st century on the pitch. Paatelainen made ‘the Christmas tree’ (4-3-2-1) the primary formation, and the tactical choice, with its actual interpretation on the pitch, has proven to be a progressive one. By selecting a system that fits the players, creating a consistent style where each player has a clearly defined role and by putting a lot of effort into practising various attacking combinations, the new coach has introduced a vital sense of balance and comprehensiveness into the playing. The new tactics and new-found focus have shown in a more fluid collective movement, more proactive passing game and more effective transition play (always one of Baxter’s favourite talking points, which just never really translated onto the pitch). There is also an apparent belief amongst the players in the system and, as a result, the team’s collective potential. Finland may have lost to Holland and Sweden at home, but in both matches the team showed they can do a lot more than just sit back and take a beating. All this demonstrates that the players have bought into the new methods and style of management. And no wonder! After Baxter’s cold shoulder treatment, Paatelainen’s arm-round-the-shoulder, hands-on mentality, combined with tactical sensibility, must feel liberating for the players.

    New strategy, new squad

    While the new tactical approach has been an evident point of development, the most notable changes have taken place in the personnel. The likes of Roman Eremenko (Rubin Kazan), Niklas Moisander (AZ Alkmaar) and Kasper Hämäläinen (Djurgårdens IF), who all already featured in Baxter’s team, are now deservedly the first names on the squad sheet. And although the old hands such as Mikael Forssell (Leeds), Petri Pasanen (Red Bull Salzburg) and Mika Väyrynen (Leeds) are still knocking about, it’s the new players who have taken centre stage as Teemu Pukki (Schalke; attacker; born 1990), Alexander Ring (Borussian Mönchengladbach; midfielder; ‘91), Jukka Raitala (Osasuna; full-back; ‘88) and Joona Toivio (Djurgårdens IF; centre-back; ‘88) have all become starting players.

    Especially Pukki and Ring represent the type of footballers who can put Paatelainen’s strategy into action. Pukki has great skill on the ball, quick feet in tight spaces and the ability to try something different, while Ring combines a tremendous work ethic with dynamism, skill and drive. The emergence of new players shows that the new coach is not afraid to put his trust in raw talent (after all, Ring had played only a couple of dozen Finnish league matches when making himself a regular feature), which is a fundamental departure from the selection policy that has been the norm for the best part of a decade in the national team.

    The introduction of young players may be the most self-evident shift away from the old regime, but the new selection mentality is perhaps represented best in the fate of two well-known players: Perparim Hetemaj (Chievo Verona) and Jari Litmanen (HJK). One of Paatelainen’s first decisions when taking over was to give Hetemaj (who always remained unwanted by Baxter) a big role in his plans. Litmanen, on the other hand, has not been called-up. This decision has raised much debate, like all decisions regarding the most loved Finnish player do, but Paatelainen is right in his judgement to leave the Ajax legend out. First of all, even if Litmanen can still provide the odd flash of pure genius, his pedestrian style of play is not suited to Finland’s dynamic approach. Secondly, the 40-year-old doesn’t fit into the Euro 2016 project that favours players who can still play a role in four year’s time. And thirdly, Litmanen was simply unfit to be included as he started only two matches for HJK in 2011. These two decisions have sent a clear signal through the echelons of Finnish football: past is history, the present and future are all that matter. If you are to cut a credible figure as coach, the least you must do is to practise what you preach, and Paatelainen has done exactly that.

    The new coach, like his team, is not a finished article but remains a student of the game. Throughout his career on and off the pitch Paatelainen has demonstrated an ability and, equally importantly, a desire to learn and improve himself. The former Bolton and Hibernian striker’s journey from being a player-coach at St. Johnston, to the managerial seat at Cowdenbeath (then a Scottish third division side) to be awarded the SPL manager of the year award at Kilmarnock for the 2010-11 season (despite quitting mid-term to take the Finland job) is testament to this. Paatelainen has brought in plenty of fresh tactical ideas and instilled a feeling of unity in the national team. To put it in the clearest possible terms, the football Finland play simply makes sense now as you are not only able to gather an impression what they aim to do on the pitch but also how they aim to do it. This is already more the Baxter ever achieved during his two-year reign.

    Part 2, which concentrates more on tactical details, of Paatelainen’s start as Finland coach will be published here soon.

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  • Fabio quits – Who is next?

    Posted on February 9, 2012 by David Hall Comment

    Yesterday Fabio Capello resigned as England manager, details (well some) will be revealed at a press conference at Wembley Stadium at midday. The Italians decision to quit could not be more ill-timed, with Euro2012 his last tournament as England manager just four months away.

    With the furore over John Terry’s second stripping of the England’s captaincy proving the tipping point of what was a turbulent spell in England’s footballing history. A disastrous World Cup campaign in which Capello himself would admit he made wrong decisions. Well for six million pounds a year I would expect him to admit it.

    One shining light to his spell as England manager is his record. A winning percentage of 66.7%, the highest winning percentage in the history of the national side. He also started to blood the younger generation. The likes of Danny Wellbeck, Gary Cahill and Jack Rodwell all getting a chance in the lead up to the Euros.

    So who will be chosen by the FA to lead England to Euro2012 and beyond? Well Stuart Pearce has made the step up to the full national side on a temporary basis, but there is the possibility of him doing the job until after the tournament in Poland and Ukraine. Saying that, his commitments with Team GB in the Olympics may scupper that plan.

    The favourite for the job, and has been for the past couple of years is Harry Redknapp. Who at Tottenham has transformed himself into one of the nation’s top manager. A media darling, and is currently is made of Teflon as not even the courts can make bad news stick on him. Seems the popular choice with the current crop of players who have taken to Twitter in support of him taking the job. But would he leave Spurs in the tail end of a title race? Would he leave and not have one last crack with the Champions League in the 2012/13 season?

    A name always mentioned when the big jobs are going is Guus Hiddink and has a good track record on the international stage. Managing two successful World Cup campaigns, with South Korea in 2002 and with the Socceroos in 2006, and although he failed to get Russia to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 he managed them to the semi finals of Euro 2008, losing to eventual winners Spain.  Hiddink resigned from managing the Turkish national side after failing to qualify for this summer’s tournament, so is available straight away.

    With 37 years of coaching experience, combine that with his vast experience working on the continental and international stage Roy Hodgson is an ideal candidate for the job, but likely not to be considered due to his failure as Liverpool manager still fresh in the memory.

    Alan Pardew was a surprise choice when Newcastle United appointed him in December 2010, but despite the doubters he has turned the magpies round from relegation fodder to a top 6 side in the space of 14 months. With a record like that he should be considered for the job, but they are better candidates around.

    It is no secret that Jose Mourinho loves English football, he has even gone as far as saying he wants to return at the end of the season. With his stature in the game, only a big job will do and it’s looking likely that Sir Alex Ferguson, Roberto Mancini, and the rest of the top club managers are not moving on any time soon, The England job could be seen as a way back into the English game.

    Rafael Benetiz is the king of a knockout competition. Winning the UEFA Cup with Valencia, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League with Liverpool, and the FIFA World Club Cup with Inter, since leaving Inter he has moved back to Liverpool and regularly attending games, he is well versed in the English game and a respected man in footballing circles. He did crack under the media pressure during a press conference in January 2009 was the beginning of the end of Liverpools first serious title challenge in a decade.

    The smart money is on Redknapp being appointed as England manager. Nationwide support for ‘  ‘Arry for England’ has been growing for a couple of years now. Rafa Benetiz would be my preference, good tactically and understands the English game very well for someone who isn’t English. But Rafa, Jose and Guus have the fact that they are not English and as Barry Fry said on SkySportsNews this evening ‘We’ve had enough of these foreigners. They aint got no passion, they aint got no commitment. All they want is money”

    I can’t wait to find out if ‘Arry will be doing the job for free.

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