Jaakko Lam

Attacking Midfielder (R) - VPS U20
24 Dec 2028
Sunday
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Marked for Jaakko Lam

117 Edition

The VPS Chronicle

23 Oct 2028
From our football correspondent Steady

Market23 Oct 2028

Steven Nufour puts it in writing

“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at VPS, and it is not being withdrawn.

Squad23 Oct 2028

Words exchanged at VPS

Simon van Duivenbooden and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.

Squad23 Oct 2028

A row about effort at VPS

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Emmanuel Okereke was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

The dugout23 Oct 2028

No hiding place for Lucas Väyrynen

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Lucas Väyrynen, and the manager let it.

The dugout23 Oct 2028

Lucas Väyrynen gets picked when it counts

Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Lucas Väyrynen is on it.

The dugout23 Oct 2028

Will Wilson asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

In brief

Back issues
69 Edition

The VPS Chronicle

22 Nov 2027
From our football correspondent Steady

Market22 Nov 2027

Mattia La Penna hands in a written request

“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what VPS can pretend not to have heard.

Squad22 Nov 2027

Simon van Duivenbooden in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at VPS this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad22 Nov 2027

Words at VPS training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Miika Niemi is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.

The dugout22 Nov 2027

Simon van Duivenbooden knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at VPS, and both men came out saying it was fine.

The dugout22 Nov 2027

Jabir Abdihakim Ali gets picked when it counts

Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Jabir Abdihakim Ali is on it.

The dugout22 Nov 2027

The manager comes out for Martti Haukioja

Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Martti Haukioja has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.

In brief

59 Edition

The VPS Chronicle

13 Sep 2027
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Squad13 Sep 2027

Words exchanged at VPS

Simon van Duivenbooden and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.

Market13 Sep 2027

Jaakko Lam steps up from the VPS academy

There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Jaakko Lam has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.

Market13 Sep 2027

VPS promote Joel Hradecky from within

The academy exists for exactly this morning. Joel Hradecky has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.

Market13 Sep 2027

VPS promote Eero Raitala from within

The academy exists for exactly this morning. Eero Raitala has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.

Market13 Sep 2027

One of our own: Riku Lam joins the VPS first team

Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Riku Lam is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.

The dugout13 Sep 2027

The manager has not finished forgetting Aleksi Piispa's mistake

Publicly it is behind everybody. It is not behind the man who picks the team, and the only place that shows is a team sheet. He will get another chance; he will get it in a match that matters less.

The dugout13 Sep 2027

When it matters, Simon van Duivenbooden plays

It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.

Squad13 Sep 2027

Paulo Lima falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

The dugout13 Sep 2027

The manager makes an example of Joonas Vahtera

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

In brief