The increasingly-contributing Henry has collated some predictions about the new Veikkausliiga season. These were written before the opening matches, just took me a while to put them on. Strongly recommend you follow them all for a wide range of views on Finnish football.
Champions: SJK. A couple weeks ago, I was feeling a lot more confident in this pick. However, at the end of the preseason, SJK’s attack started sputtering and HJK made several good moves. If SJK can get their attack back on track, I still have them as the eventual winners though.
Bottom two: Hard to pick, but I’ll go with Ilves and VPS. VPS didn’t score much last year and lost Juho Mäkelä, who scored most of their goals. Ilves, while I really like how scrappy and tough they are, just don’t have enough players to take the game into their own hands.
Player of the Year: If SJK retain their title, it’ll most likely be in large part due to the goals of Roope Riski. He lost his strike partner Akseli Pelvas, so more of the goalscoring burden will be on his (extremely capable) shoulders.
Dark horse: Both promoted clubs, PK-35 and PS Kemi, will surprise people, I think. Of the two, PK-35 should be more able to climb up the Veikkausliiga table. The top half is not out of question for Shefki’s boys if they can keep out goals as effectively as they should score them.
Biggest disappointment: In terms of team most likely to disappoint, it’ll be IFK Mariehamn, who will struggle to repeat the success of last year’s Suomen Cup winning side, after losing big players and not bringing in many reinforcements. Player most likely would be Atom Tanaka (HJK), who with his value and talent must start showing that worth by salvaging points single-handedly. If he isn’t one of the Veikkausliiga players of the year this season, it’ll be a disappointment.
Signing of the year: The player here could either be the most important signing or the biggest disappointment, depending on his commitment to getting into form, Alexei Eremenko (SJK). If in form, he could be towards the top of the league assist charts, and he has so much talent left in him that if this doesn’t happen, it’ll be a big disappointment.
Young player: Urho Nissilä (KuPS). The 19 year old attacking midfielder made a pretty big impact for an otherwise disappointing KuPS side last year, and he looks to take on more attacking responsibility this year with the team lacking other threats. Expect him to bag several goals this season and climb into the top ten of the assists chart (if his teammates can put away the chances he creates at least).
Manager of the year: While I predict that Simo Valakari will defend the Veikkausliiga title with SJK, I’m going to be bold here and say Juha Malinen (RoPS). RoPS lost a lot of good players from last season, but I think Malinen will help guide the team into the top half of the league table regardless, which would be a major accomplishment.
Most excited about: Shefki Kuqi and his PK-35 side. The Vantaa based team plays with an exciting style, but even if the team hits a rough patch, watching Shefki going ballistic on the touchline will make their fixtures entertaining regardless. He’s already been made to watch from the stands for several of the team’s matches in pre-season.
Least excited about: The same as every season, saying goodbye to one or two of the teams from the Veikkausliiga. Maybe it’s a bit sentimental of me, but I do become slightly attached to the teams over the course of the season, and knowing that at least one of them will not be back next year is heartbreaking.
Champions: HJK. A very tough choice, not much between them and SJK. Right now I consider HJK marginally stronger, and after a disaster of last year they won't take anything for granted.
Bottom two: Ilves aren't a terrible team, but I don't see them having the quality of their competitors. They've had a bad pre-season too. I'm picking VPS for play-off. This is a very tough choice too as the league seems very tight again this year, but VPS look like a very mediocre side to me.
Player of the year: Many good options here, but SJK's Roope Riski has been in fine form during pre-season and looks like he has a fifteen-goal season in him. So maybe it's finally Roope's year!
Dark horse: PK-35 are not your usual newly promoted side. Many are not very fond of the club, but there's no denying they have a good team that might ruffle some feathers.
Biggest disappointment: IFK Mariehamn have a good team on paper, but their pre-season doesn't convince me one bit. Furthermore, it's always tough succeeding a coach who's been around for ages so in many ways it seems like Kari Virtanen and Peter Lundberg have their work cut out for them. It doesn't look too bright for KuPS either.
Signing of the year: Many good options again. You could pick almost any HJK or SJK signing really, but I'm going to dig a little deeper and go for Pape Habib Sow (FC Inter). He's already a commanding prescence at the back for Inter, I expect them to be difficult to score against.
Young player: Lauri Ala-Myllymäki looks set for a big role at Ilves. He shows a lot of promise and already has some Veikkausliiga experience under his belt, so maybe this is his breakthrough year?
Manager of the year: HIFK haven't changed much, but they're a very well coached team quite ready to make life difficult for the bigger sides. The patient, long-term planning of Jani Honkavaara has been key to their success over the past few years, I think he deserves some credit.
Most excited about: We seem to be in for a genuine title race (not a given in Finland), and overall it seems very even throughout the league. So many teams can challenge for European places with a good run and just as many teams might face a relegation battle if things go wrong. It was very hard for me to pick my relegation candidates, that's what Veikkausliiga is about!
Least excited about: We have one of the longest pre-seasons in the world and still clubs are struggling to put their teams together just weeks before the league starts. That's of course due to lack of money. Finances are a big issue for Finnish clubs and a serious obstacle for European successes.
Champions: SJK, Simo Valakari has strengthened slightly, but the main reason is that the major contenders HJK and RoPS are weaker now than when they ended 2015, behind the team appropriately dressed in gold.
Bottom two: VPS (R). Take away Juho Mäkelä’s 16 goals (about half of VPS’s) in 2015 and VPS would have been bottom by some distance, his departure will massively impact Vepsu’s season. Veli Lampi’s arrival may slow the decline but his presence didn’t lift HJK last season. Ilves (PL). Once Ilves secured their Veikkausliiga status, the 2015 season ended with 6 defeats in 10. Mika Lahtinen is the sole provider of attacking threat and he hit double figures last year for only the second time in his career, while at home the re-emergences of TamU threatens to dilute the vociferous home support Ilves enjoyed last year.
Player of the year: Roope Riski – 8 goals in 11 games put the most unexpected title on a plate for SJK last year. If he hits similar form he may not stay in Finland, particularly if SJK advance in the shop window of European competition. Even if he plays only half a season in Finland, he’ll still be the best player in the league.
Dark horse: PK-35, Ilari Äijälä, Pablo Counago, Lucas Garcia and Njadzi Kuqi are the kind of reliable players that will grind out results, that and the combative style of the latest Shefki Kuqi still could push them to the upper echelons of the table.
Biggest disappointment: Inter Turku, whatever happens in the league, Inter will finish 4th. Always well-organized with talent, their problem is how quickly that talent is shipped out. I don’t expect anything exciting at the Veritas stadium, and if something comes up, they’ll sell it.
Signing of the year: Mikael Forssell, HJK. Roope Riski will keep SJK at the top but Miklu’s arrival in Helsinki was needed far more. He’s the only player in the HJK squad where you can reliably find the goals Klubi need to keep pace with an improving SJK.
Young player: Robert Taylor (RoPS), the Kuopio native has moved to Rovaniemi charged with one simple task: fill Mosa’s boots. Unlike the current star of the Latvian league, he’ll more likely do his talking on the pitch.
Manager of the year: Simo Valakari, he’s already on the shortlist for some British clubs, if Simo progresses in Europe, which SJK’s signings could accomplish, this will be his last season in Finland.
Most excited about: Nikolai Alho is back after a long injury, he’s only 23 and has an outside shot at making the national side, if he can find the kind of form that got HJK to the Europa League in 2014.
Least excited about: Incessant referee and media focus on Shefki Kuqi. Yes, he swears and shouts, most managers do… get over it!
Champions: HJK
Bottom two: PS Kemi and PK-35, both of the newcomers.
Player of the year: Roope Riski (SJK)
Dark horse: VPS
Biggest disappointment: The Finnish National Team.
Most important signing: Alexei Eremenko (SJK)
Young player of the year: Robert Taylor (RoPS).
Manager of the year: Jani Honkavaara (HIFK)
Most excited about: SJK playing in Europe and a new stadium. Also, Ilves fans pyro shows.
Least excited about: Klubi winning once again.
