A medical, a signature, a shirt held up in front of a sponsor’s board. FF Jaro have done the hard part with Pro Vercelli, and the part that remains is the part supporters actually see.
Linus Zetterström was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
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.
Signings arrive with a picture of the club in their head, and this one’s picture was bigger than the building. He will play well and he will be gone, in that order, and everybody knows it.
“I have done everything asked of me in training and it has not changed a thing on a Saturday.” The most familiar complaint in football, and one FF Jaro will have to answer with minutes or with a transfer.
The system has changed and his position has not. A footballer can improve his form; he cannot improve the manager’s formation, and that is the whole of the problem.
Linus Zetterström 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.
Footballers are asked about their boyhood club so often that nobody listens to the answer. Marco Stigliano has just signed for FF Jaro, and for once the answer mattered.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Luca Weckström was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Signings arrive with a picture of the club in their head, and this one’s picture was bigger than the building. He will play well and he will be gone, in that order, and everybody knows it.
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.
Nothing is announced when this happens and everybody knows. He is a bigger part of the plan at FF Jaro than he was a month ago, and the training ground worked that out before the team sheet said so.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at FF Jaro has been clear about where Antonio Hotta stands, which is more than many ever get.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at FF Jaro this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Ville Vuorinen was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Kaius Hardén signs something — a contract at FF Jaro or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Matias Paavola was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Luca Weckström was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
In brief
The dugoutThe manager makes an example of Jim Myrevik
Matias Paavola 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.
Squad11 Jan 2027
Words at FF Jaro training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Ville Vuorinen 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.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Ville Vuorinen was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at FF Jaro this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Luca Weckström was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Erik Gunnarsson trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Kaius Hardén signs something — a contract at FF Jaro or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
He asked about his future and was given an answer with minutes in it. The manager has now made a promise in a building where promises are remembered, and the clock on it has started.
In brief
The dugoutThe manager plants his flag on Senne Vits
Words at FF Jaro training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Luca Weckström 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.
Matias Paavola 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.
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Juha Jensen 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.
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Lukas Huuhka is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Ville Vuorinen was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at FF Jaro, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Luca Weckström was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at FF Jaro this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Oliver Kass Kawo, and the manager let it.
Squad30 Nov 2026
Words at FF Jaro training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Ville Vuorinen 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.
Matias Paavola was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Fabian Østigård Ness and FF Jaro agree another 4 years.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Ville Vuorinen was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at FF Jaro, and both men came out saying it was fine.
He asked about his future and was given an answer with minutes in it. The manager has now made a promise in a building where promises are remembered, and the clock on it has started.
Matias Paavola 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.
Squad16 Nov 2026
Words at FF Jaro training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Luca Weckström 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.
He asked about his future and was given an answer with minutes in it. The manager has now made a promise in a building where promises are remembered, and the clock on it has started.
A new face in his position and a shirt he thought he owned suddenly up for discussion. FF Jaro have promised nothing, which is what clubs promise at this stage.
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.
“I have given this everything, but my family is not here and neither am I, not really.” A footballer can be coached out of bad form. Nobody has ever been coached out of this, and FF Jaro know it.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Ville Vuorinen was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around FF Jaro they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Matias Paavola was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Nobody makes a documentary about a hamstring and everybody in the game fears one. FF Jaro will be careful with the return date, because the second one is always worse than the first.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Luca Weckström was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Michael Ogungbaro trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
He asked about his future and was given an answer with minutes in it. The manager has now made a promise in a building where promises are remembered, and the clock on it has started.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around FF Jaro they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Matias Paavola 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.
“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.
Squad19 Oct 2026
15 new faces, and FF Jaro are still learning each other
A squad rebuilt inside one window pays for it in a currency nobody budgets for. The football is not worse than the sum of the players; it is worse than the sum of the players who have played together before.
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 academy exists for exactly this morning. Amos Kamara 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.
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Eero 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.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at FF Jaro, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Nobody at FF Jaro will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
A year in and the city has not opened up, the language has not come, and lunch is eaten alone more often than anybody at FF Jaro would admit. It shows on Saturdays.
The shrug has gone, the language is coming, and he now argues in training like somebody who expects to be here next year. Half a signing's value is this and none of it appears on a fee.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around FF Jaro they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at FF Jaro this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
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.
He is 30, he has been here since he was a boy, and the shirt he grew up expecting has been given to somebody flown in for it. That grievance belongs to the town as much as to the player.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around FF Jaro they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Matias Paavola was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Ville Vuorinen was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Nothing in writing and nothing in public: a word about playing time, given face to face at FF Jaro. The team sheets over the next month will show whether it was worth having.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Ville Vuorinen trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
In brief
MarketThe clock does Johan Brunell’s negotiating for him
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Erik Gunnarsson will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around FF Jaro the goodbyes have quietly begun.
Linus Zetterström 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.
Squad21 Sep 2026
Words at FF Jaro training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Jim Myrevik 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.
15 new signings in one window. Every one may be an upgrade and the side can still be worse for a while, which is the part of a rebuild the verdicts never mention.
Nothing in writing and nothing in public: a word about playing time, given face to face at FF Jaro. The team sheets over the next month will show whether it was worth having.
2 months left, and both sides know what that means: every week without a signature, the fee FF Jaro could ask drops and the wages Erik Gunnarsson can ask rise.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Ville Vuorinen trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Joel Joronen 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.
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Amos Hakola 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.
Squad14 Sep 2026
Jim Myrevik 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.
Nobody at FF Jaro will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
A conversation in the manager’s office, and a commitment that came out of it. Promises like that are cheap to make and expensive to break, and Erik Gunnarsson has written the date down.
He trains hard, says the right things and goes home to an empty flat. Nobody at FF Jaro has done anything wrong, which is exactly what makes it so difficult to fix.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around FF Jaro they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Centre-halves are allowed forward twice a season and are judged on what they do when they get there. Jesper Svenungsen Skau scored, was marked 7.79, and got back before anybody noticed he had gone.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at FF Jaro this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
FF Jaro asked and Ascoli said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
Successful dribbles: 17. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
Squad7 Sep 2026
Words at FF Jaro training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Ville Vuorinen 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.
A month is long enough that nobody gets in by accident. Rudi Vikström is in the division's best eleven for it, which is a quieter compliment than an award and a more reliable one.
0‑3 to KuPS, and it was every bit as bad as the number suggests. There are defeats you argue about and defeats you apologise for; this was the second kind.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around FF Jaro they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Matias Paavola was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The paperwork is done long before the player is. Sebastian Suvanne has agreed terms to come here when his current deal runs out, which means FF Jaro have spent a summer's transfer budget on a phone call.
FF Jaro asked and Vikingur said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
Successful dribbles: 16. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
The view from the dugout
“We will look at it, we will learn from it, and we go again.” The three sentences every manager keeps for a 0‑3 defeat, delivered by Rasmus Uronen to a room that had heard them before.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at FF Jaro is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
He will play here until the summer and then walk out of the door for free, having already signed elsewhere. Supporters will manage the first part of that sentence; it is the second they will struggle with.
Matias Paavola 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.
6 goals in one match, Linus Zetterström on the scoresheet, and a scoreline that will look like a misprint. Neutrals could not have asked more of FF Jaro and HIFK.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around FF Jaro they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Marked 7.64 at 19, in a side that makes no allowances for age. He did not need any, and he looked the least nervous man on the pitch.
Boardroom17 Aug 2026
Deadline passes with 17 signed and 2 gone
That is the business done at FF Jaro until the window opens again. Whether it was enough will be answered on Saturdays rather than in a column, and the first Saturday is close.
A medical, a signature, a shirt held up in front of a sponsor’s board. FF Jaro have done the hard part with Ilves, and the part that remains is the part supporters actually see.
He will play here until the summer and then walk out of the door for free, having already signed elsewhere. Supporters will manage the first part of that sentence; it is the second they will struggle with.
Footballers are asked about their boyhood club so often that nobody listens to the answer. Rasmus Leislahti has just signed for FF Jaro, and for once the answer mattered.
Terms were offered and declined. Whether it was the wages, the role or the town, nobody at Trento is saying, and nobody at FF Jaro is enjoying the guessing.
He will play here until the summer and then walk out of the door for free, having already signed elsewhere. Supporters will manage the first part of that sentence; it is the second they will struggle with.
Matias Paavola was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Paulus Valakari 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.
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Juho Pohjanpalo 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.
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Riku Hamalainen is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Onni Ojala 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.
In brief
SquadWords at FF Jaro training over how hard people work
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Jesper Svenungsen Skau and FF Jaro agree another 4 years.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at FF Jaro this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad3 Aug 2026
Words at FF Jaro training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Erik Gunnarsson 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.
Level with 91 minutes on the clock, after an afternoon FF Jaro had all but put away. SJK will call it a point earned; the home dressing room will call it two given away, and both of them are right.
FF Jaro have made the call to Cittadella. No fee, a share of the wages, and a spare shirt in the position where the squad has been thinnest all season.
In brief
Transfer targetsA loan move for Michele Tommasi is in the works