SJK and Inter were almost everyone's favourites to be in the top-3, neither was even close performance-wise even if SJK did win a lot of undeserved points here and there. SJK sacked 3 managers during the year, also the 4th pair of caretakers will have to give room to Tommi Kautonen. Perhaps more about him sometime in future, but in short I can not see him changing the course - or staying in job until his contract runs out.
Inter took a calculated risk with Shefki Kuqi as manager and most believed that he would get sacked, as he did. However his successor Piccareta did not do any better, Inter did not win 2 matches in a row all season! Inter is too much a retirement home and a nice club to hang around, they are too old and comfy and keep on remembering the good old days when they once won the title. Not going to be repeated anytime soon.
Both KuPS and Ilves got kind a "cheap" top-3 position. They earned less points than top-3 in latest 3 seasons, but that is actually down to HJK being totally superior all season from the start. SJK and Inter perhaps gave away their top-3 for someone else to take, but under these circumstances both KuPS and Ilves deserve some silverware.
Lahti took 4th place - and EL position - with the last kick of the match vs HIFK and dropped MIFK out of Europe. This is all good, a welcome change from this season's Europa League teams. Lahti were looking for a long time to a 2nd place, but their keeper Vasjutin - league's best? - got injured for the crucial parts of the season and his replacements could not keep up.
MIFK were strong at home, but did not deserve any more than what they got. Last season's transfers were not properly covered - and they also ran out of luck of 2016. Very much routine out there, but they travel poorly.
Well yes, there is VPS. They were the most over-performers of the Expected goals - count until they got kicked out of Europe by Brondby. They however won 3 of their 4 EL matches, but given the performances in the matches it was something that is likely never going to be repeated. VS Olimpija they had crossed the half-way line about 5 times, and yet they scored the winner on 2nd half!
It is only justice that they got their hugely long run without a win after it, as no one is - and should not be - that lucky. At VPS they actually thought they had a superior team and way of play... in the end they are where they deserve to be, and they were clearly the worst team in the league by any metrics for the last 15 rounds or so.
RoPS had massive injury problems, they fielded a young squad most of the time and they beat HJK twice away!
Kemi rely on individual skill, organization and coaching is not at a very high level and they come from a small and remote city. Future will never be bright for them, if there even is one. Rumours say that they will financially survive.
HIFK had old-timers in the starting lineup, an old-timer managing the team and they failed in giving any youth needed playing time. Very predictable team without much imagination, and they are slow as snails. If they now relegate in the play-offs vs Honka it is exactly what they deserve. They do rely too heavily on their hard core fans, and are widely ignored by other football fans or families in the area as their image is somewhat dirty. Honka are the favourites in this two-legged fixture.
JJK started the season with one of the worst squads of all times. When everything was about lost they made some important signings, and they were acceptable for the last third of the season. Still not a very good try, and I do not see them back at Veikkausliiga anytime soon.
TPS won the promotion from Ykkönen, and at least the Turku derbies return which is a good thing, but at this point it is impossible to say how competitive they will be 2018. They were a big club once.
Rankings made by local experts, final table and 2014-2017 total points
A lot of players will be retired, but the unpleasant truth is that in most cases they should had retired a few years ago. One of the top managers - RoPS Juha Malinen - will leave the club and take over U21, probably eyeing on the prospect of senior national team some day. One or two clubs may face bankrupcy or other financial set-backs.
HJK will also dominate the season 2018. At this point the field is wide open behind them, but KuPS are likely to add some more stakes and to be around in the top. In a league which is as low class by European standards even a few top individuals may make the difference. HJK btw sold league's best scorer Alfredo Morelos to Rangers in the summer. He leads the goal scoring table there too.
*******
The positive news are that HJK's reserves Klubi-04 got promoted to Ykkönen, as there are a dozen or so talented kids who need as high level football as possible. Some of them are 16 years only, great prospects!
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The season will end properly on Nov 4th with a 2nd leg play-off between HIFK and Honka. The new season of 2018 will start in January with the Cup group phase, and there will be news and articles here about it. The groups are here:
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