KuPS - The Rocky Road To Glory

KuPS Taught Lesson in Tough Defeat

Your first loss in Europe this season, how do you feel?

Bayern are just an amazing team. Every single one of their players are global superstars. For us to lose against them was expected. I thought that we controlled the game though as we had slightly more of the ball and a few more shots but we weren't as clinical as Bayern and Mario Gomez."



"Bayern did you no favours by starting a full-strength team. Was there any hope in your mind of them being complacent?"

"No, I know that Bayern wanted to win to help their chances of winning the competition so they had to start the strongest team possible."



"How happy were you with your team's performance?"

"Very. They played their hearts out and almost got their reward. We were unfortunate with a couple of our attacks not ending with goals but that is football and we just have to accept that and move on."

October League Awards

Here are the final monthly league awards.

Manager of the Month




Player of the Month




Team of the Month




October results to follow. Stay tuned.

October Update

The final month of the domestic season. Here we go...




1-1 Draw vs PSG (A) Champions Leage Grp E, 2.10.12.

Match Details + Reactions


4-1 Win vs FC Lahti (A) League, 4.10.12.
Antti Hynynen 10'
Antti Hynynen 45+3'
Jussi Lansitalo 59'
Abdoulaye Sylla 69'
Abdoulaye Sylla 88'
Antti Hynynen (9.1)

Heighway - "A splendid game for us, we managed to score four goals and concede just one. Two days after our match, we expected it to be tougher."


3-0 Win vs VPS (A) League, 7.10.12.
Abdoulaye Sylla 29'
Miika Ilo 56'
Fredrik Karlsson 64'
Etchu Tabe (7.9)

Heighway - "A brilliant performance by our attackers and defenders alike."


3-1 Win vs FF Jaro (A) League, 9.10.12.
Stefan Strandberg 14'
Raymond Fafiani 23'
Stefan Strandberg og 56'
Raymond Fafiani 64'
Nassir Macchi 16'
Raymond Fafiani (8.8)

Heighway - No Comment


3-0 Win vs JJK (H) League, 14.10.12.
Etchu Tabe 1'
Pyry Karkkainen 49'
Miika Ilo 85'
Etchu Tabe (8.5)

Heighway - "Another great result. We wanted to win our penultimate league game in class and we did precisely that."


1-0 Win vs TPS (H) League, 21.10.12.
Fredrik Svanback 8'
Fredrik Svanback (8.2)

Heighway - "A great last home domestic game with Fredrik scoring an absolute screamer."


0-2 Loss vs FC Bayern (H) Champions League Grp E, 24.10.12.

Match Details + Reactions



Final League Table




Player Stats




Champions League Group E




So that is that. Stay tuned for more.

Valiant Showing at the Allianz-Arena Not Enough for KuPS

SKY Reporter - "You were very unfortunate today against Bayern. What are your reactions after this match?"

Heighway - "Yeah, we were unfortunate. We were the team to break the deadlock today but the quality of Bayern saw them win. They have a brilliant squad of players and they deserved the win today because they were the better team."



"How has the experience of playing in the Champions League affected your team?"

"The players have been great. Of course there have been nerves but that is natural. The players seem to have gained ten years worth of experience in the space of a couple of months."



"You must have had hope when Manuel Neuer got sent off for hand-balling outside of the box."

"Yeah, why wouldn't I? To be honest, I think that it was a wake-up call for the Bayern players. We tried hard but Die Bayern held strong."

KuPS' Youth Bolstered With Danish Trio

Three free transfers for players from very reputable Danish clubs. A 'keeper, a centre mid' and a winger. They all have insane potential (and selling ability, if needed).



Nicolaj Andersen (GK) - 18 yrs
Free Transfer - FC Midtjylland

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Nicolai Surel (MC) - 17 yrs
Free Transfer - Brondby

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Martin Bech (M/AMR) - 18 yrs
Free Transfer - FC Midtjylland

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I signed these three players with the intention of bringing in the next top Danish players and I believe these three to be among them. I just need to get a few young defenders in now.

Mestella Rocked by Scandinavian Powerhouse

SKY Reporter - "Congratulations on this terrific win. You must be delighted."

Heighway - "Thank you. We were terrific. Sylla did very well to grab a brace and the rest of the team were very solid."




"How serious is the injury to Ilja Venalainen?"

"He is a fairly bad twisted ankle. He will probably be out for around five weeks. We will be as careful as we can."




"This result leaves you second in your group. Do you think that you will qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League or will you have to settle for the knock-out stages of the Europa League?"

"I think we have a chance. We have to play PSG at home, they're a good team but we are on form and we will definately have a chance."

Transfers, Retirement and Departure of a Loanee

Transfers

Vesa Myllyniemi (DC) - 17 yrs
Free Transfer - FC Espoo

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Lauri Niemi (DM) - 18 yrs
Free Transfer - HIFK

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Tim Pedersen (DL) - 18 yrs
Free Transfer - FC Midtjylland

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Selnaes Loan Finished :(




Taipale Retires (As a Player)

Harsh Lesson Taught to Loyal KuPSi

"We played very well today but couldn't get the result that we needed. We put in a valiant performance and I cannot fault the player's commitment. At the end of the day, PSG got the win that they deserved."



"Etchu Tabe got sent off early on for a handball. What was your reaction to that and did that decision change the game?"

"Yeah, a red card will always change a game and it did today. I honestly thought that a red card was a harsh decision. Nene tried to flick the ball around Tabe and hit off of his hand but there was nothing Tabe could do to stop it so that it is why I feel that it was a harsh decision."



"You were close to brawling with the PSG manager Rudi Garcia near the end of the game. What provoked that?"

"Rudi had being saying things ro the press about our club not being as "big" as his and that we are "not worthy" of playing them. He had said bad things about our players and about our style of play. He then turned towards our fans and started laughing at them for supporting our team. He then made a remark about a few of our players before he made a remark about me. He showed a great deal of arrogance and stupidity and he was not going to get away with that. He is a very arrogant person who should be embarassed by his actions and ashamed by his attitude. I can tell you that there are not many people who respect him."


Champions League Group E

First Post now contains season overviews

KuPS Draw Parent Team In Europa League Last 32

Heighway - "Its a brilliant achievement for this club to reach the later stages of a European competition. It was painful to be knocked out of the Champions League in the last group game as it happened but it is still very early days for this club and the progress that we are making. Like I said, reaching the later rounds is a great achievement. Hopefully, over the next few years, we will continue to grow in as quick a way as we have done."

"This is a great draw for our club and theirs (FC Kobenhavn). They are a parent club of ours and this draw will benefit both of us, strengthening our link, building a better knowledge of eachother's clubs and bringing the clubs' fans together."

"Who do I fancy to win this competition? Well, there are thirty-two possible teams who are all well capable of winning the Europa League this term. I think that the four favoured clubs to win are Arsenal, Juventus, Milan and Atletico Madrid. Out of those, Milan and Juve look the strongest."

Second Round Draw

Two Youth Players Join The Ranks

Magnus Nilsson (DL) - 17 yrs
£400 - IFK Mariehamn

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Santtu Koskinen (DC) - 17 yrs
£200 - Viikingit

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Upcoming League Cup Fixtures And Super Signing

My League Cup and Europa League Fixtures



KuPS' Replacement For Loan-Star Selnaes
Sebastian Eriksson (MC) - 23 yrs
Free Transfer - IFK Goteborg

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After Selnaes' loan spell finished, I was in desperate need to fill the gap left by him so I scoured the market and found this gem on a free transfer. He is not as good as the eighteen year old but is a solid, hard worker. He even has five appearances for Sweden to prove it.

Heighway Plays The Right Cards To Earn Vital Away Goals

"We got the away goals and that is what matters. Kobenhavn certaintly didn't take this game lightly and they did well to quench a number of our attacks and stretched our defence multiple times. A draw is a fair result for both teams and I'm sure that it was an entertaining spectacle for the neutral."



"We had a weakend team today. Tuomi (main 'keeper) was injured and Hilander (back-up) was still carrying a bit of a knock. Etchu Tabe was also suspended which had a bad effect on our back-line."



"Raymond (Fafiani) had another great performance today. He was crucial in all our attacks. He is keeping Miika Ilo out of the team at the moment and is becoming a key player for us."

Rookie, I'm not sure how you manage to put a new signing in every post. How many kids do you sign? If I didn't know you were Irish, I would've probably assumed you are Arsene Wenger in disguise.
Europa League against Copenhagen, after matches against Valencia, PSG and Bayern? KuPS has hit the big time!