Lauri Marjamäki has explained the Kärppie’s composure throughout the regular season. In the playoffs, it’s the turn of action. Will the Oulu people’s course reverse?
Explanations no longer help. Results are now required from Lauri Marjamäki Kärpi. Tomi Natri / All Over Press
Operating with perhaps the biggest player budget in the league, Kärpät finished seventh in the regular season. The team goes on the hunt for the Canada Cup from the so-called pity playoffs.
– It’s a big bang, Pekka Virta says.
Iltalehti’s hockey expert expected much more from Kärpi in the regular season. Before the season, the team was one of the biggest championship favorites, along with Tappara.
The bunch of ants is full of experienced national team players, but the head coach Lauri Marjamäki hasn’t gotten the beast pack to fly properly at any point.
– The belief was quite strong that things would get better towards spring, but it’s still a bit of a mystery what has happened there, Virta is amazed.
The way of playing speaks volumes
When the result has not come, the Kärppie’s formulaic game has received a lot of criticism from both fans and journalists during the season.
Last week, even Oulu’s own star striker Ville Leskinen criticized Kalevain an interview with the Kärppi magazine.
– When the opponent leads by 2–3 goals, we forget a few things and let it go. We should have more of that. Everything starts to seem slow if you have to think about too many things on that field, Leskinen stated.
After the commentary, Leskinen watched the next match from the side of the stands.
Virta does not see that the Kärppie’s problem lies in the way they play, characterized as “slow”, or in player material that is not suitable for it.
– The player material is absolutely optimal for that style of play. Tappara also has big and experienced players in the same way, but no one says that they play slowly.
The story continues after the picture.
Marjamäki often has a case for the judges. Matti Raivio / AOP
An explanation
Marjamäki has defended his own style of play throughout the season. Even after losing matches, he has often highlighted the goal posts that Kärpät has won in his statistics.
– The idea has been terribly defensive all season. I don’t know why it needs to be defended. Kärpi has his own way of playing, which he believes in, Virta knows.
The man continues the topic on a general level.
– The manager is usually not very interested in what the manager knows, but in what the manager believes. And self-advocating leaders don’t inspire faith in anyone. I know that from experience, Virta states.
Marjamäki has explained the poor results during the season with, among other things, an unfavorable match schedule and the fact that the national team has taken away the top players from Oulu. The judges have also been able to hear their honor at regular intervals in the Kärppie matches.
At times, Marjamäki has tried to completely divert attention away from the game. For example, he has called Tapparaa and Ilve “buying teams” in the Petopodi podcast.
– Now you no longer have to take a stand on all issues. Now we just play hockey, and by winning this can be fixed, Virta instructs.
The same pressures
Kärpät will face KooKoo, who placed tenth in the regular season. The match series starts on Monday. Two wins are required for the semi-finals.
– This is a very even series. KooKoo’s success last spring and the uniform way of playing, which fell into place, gives them a good starting point, Virta estimates.
Moni puts all the pressure on the neck of the Kärppie in the series, because the team is expected to succeed. Virta does not understand this way of thinking.
– Nobody plays there without pressure. I don’t understand the idea that Kärpi would now have bigger pressures than KooKoo. They play for the same things.
The Kärppien Runkosarija ended with a losing streak of four matches. In the last game, Jukurit defeated the Oulu team in Raksila 6–2. Even one point from the Jukurit match would have been enough for Kärpi to get a place in the quarterfinals.
– The Kärppi’s starting situation is not easy, but now they have the opportunity to show their inner strength to everyone. Negativity from the outside can turn into a win if the team gets energy from it and becomes more united as a result, Virta sees.
Ace has an advantage?
Ässät and TPS meet in the second quarter-final pair.
– Aces are coming from the bottom up. TPS, on the other hand, has played in the finals for the last two seasons, when their expectations were much higher before the season.
It has already been five years since the Ässien’s last playoff spring, so the pot shirts will surely get full support from their home crowd in Pori. In Turku, the situation may be different.
– It is a big challenge for the people of Turku to help TPS in the same way as in previous seasons. The full Turku hall has played a big role in the success of TPS.
– Things in the game are going pretty evenly, but Äss may have the mental advantage, Virta estimates.
Ville Leskinen has sometimes been at the dog kennel in Marjamäki. Mikko Lieri / AOP