ETS 2013 resolutions

A week into the new year, and I had an urge to write something. It was either a list of goals for 2013, or a round-up of transfers and gossip but I don't fancy going down that route.

Anyway, I'll be saving this, and coming back to it in December. Anyone offering assistance, ideas and exposure will be especially welcome!

Hello 2013

1. Podcast

In autumn 2012, plans were afoot with Oliver at the Frozen Pitch to plan a podcast on Finnish football. Unfortunately the season ended and other commitments got in the way, but hopefully this year will see some progress. There are enough good and great minds to make this work, even if it's a one-off. While there may not be threatening the charts, it may give some of you a podcast to listen to on the commute to work. This will be the bit I'm most keen on recruiting for...

 The first ETS podcast recording, hopefully with less hair and more laughs

2. Visiting Finland

June is looking good, driving from London with the dog in tow. Plan is to arrive in Helsinki for the international against Belarus on the site's first birthday, and then hopefully a Veikkausliiga match the following weekend (the return Belarus tie is the Tuesday after). I'll be stopping in Turku, Helsinki and Kuopio on the way, so there should be plenty of change. I wonder if I'll be the one man and his dog watching a match from the sideline? Hopefully the fixtures will be out soon so that I can start planning...

Woody my travelling companion

3. Writing proper articles and interviews

In the first couple of months, there were several blogs and articles written about some of the more newsworthy topics, and a huge research piece on the 1912 Finnish Olympic football side. Hopefully 2013 will see some more, and some initial contact has been made with some English based players for interviews. There is also a longer term piece on the 1985/86 European Cup, hopefully to hit soon. Just need to find the time to do it...

1986 European champions Steaua Bucharest - their QF opponents will feature soon

HJK's gamble on experience

For a team that has been champions of Finland for four years in a row, HJK have decided to take drastic steps in order to progress, and Wednesday saw the latest development in their new direction. Continually frustrated at failing to reach the group stage of the Champions League (they haven't since 1998), they've gone for experience over potential.

HJK announced the signing of midfielder Teemu Tainio (33 years old) after his release from the New York Red Bulls. Tainio hasn't played in Finland since leaving Haka in 1997, and has since gained experience at Auxerre, Tottenham and a short spell at Ajax. The move had been rumoured for weeks, and Tainio finally signed a two-year-contract to line up in midfield with the younger Mika Väyrynen (just 31).

Gives you wings

Back in October, just days after winning the title, HJK also unveiled Mikael Forssell (31 years old) for the 2013 season. Forssell was close to signing for English League One side Notts County, but was tempted back to his first club. There are concerns over his knee injury, and the fact that he has a large salary will bring increased pressure. While we're still in the January transfer window, it's difficult to speculate on whether Mikael could start the season up front with Joel Pohjanpalo... But a fully fit Forssell and a shop window Jolle would be some partnership.

Thank you, come again

Leading the good ship HJK is new coach Sixten Boström, having arrived from Örebro (relegated from the Swedish Allsvenskan). His brief is simple - win the title, get to the group stage. He's no stranger to the club having been a player and a youth coach, but has a big challenge ahead. Prominent blogger Juha Reini predicts a 15 point winning margin in the league. Can HJK make it past the Euro qualifiers? Some of the other early qualifiers are BATE, Elfsborg and Molde, and that's before the rest of Europe joins in.

The new Next model was perfecting the dugout look

There's still nearly four months until the league season starts, and a lot of potential movement to come - most notably Pohjanpalo's future. Come August, we'll have a good idea how much has changed.