Wow, aren't that quite many games for the Estonian top clubs, playing 36 league rounds, the national cup, the few appearances on European cup level AND the Baltic league within its short playing period starting in March and ending somewhat in October?
After all if you compare it with Western Europe it's still quite moderate, I think. But the club structures there are at a different level.

 

yes, but considering that many games against the teams from the bottom of the table are quite easy, it's good that the top 4 get more top games.

 

Nice move Erki.

Yeah, i think like MaoMoondog, that is a lot of games in a short time, with the bad weather and the horrible pitchs.

What about the new promoted teams, any of them got already some ambitions ? And what about the top teams ? Flora has recruit somes new players or will play with their youths and homegrown players ?

I think we could have a new thread to discuss about the future baltic league.

 

And do we know when the league will start yet ?

 

Both Ajax and Vaprus will try to stay up with their youth.

Flora will go on with his youth but they got a new coach - Pasi Rautiainen.

Levadia got ex-international Marek Lemsalu from Bryne and current international Maksim Smirnov from TVMK plus two new goalkeepers, the Lithuanian Modestas Stonys and Sergei Lepmets. Also new is Darius Regelskis.

TVMK had to give away Ingemar Teever and Smirnov, but signed the top-scorer of the Latvian league Viktors Dobrecovs plus a young player from Olimps, Vladislav Gabov.
From Flora came Kert Haavistu and from Tulevik Mikk Haavistu.

Meistriliiga will start on the 8th March with FC TVMK Tallinn against JK Vaprus Pärnu.

 

Levadia signed two new goalkeepers? Whats with international Artur Kotenko then, will he stay in front?

 

most probably yes. at a moment there were man speculations about him leaving, that's why Levadia geared up for back-up.

 

FC TVMK - JK Vaprus

3:1​

Goals: 52. pen. Maksim Kisseljov, 71. o.g. Gert Olesk, 90.+3. Tarmo Neemelo - 87. Sergei Ženjov

FC TVMK: 1-Vitali Teleš, 3-Tarmo Neemelo, 4-Tomas Rimas, 5-Jevgenijs Kacanovs (46. 9-Vladislavs Gabovs), 7-Kert Haavistu, 8-Andrei Borissov, 10-Gintas Širmelis, 11-Viktors Dobrecovs, 12-Nikolai Mašitšev (77. 23-Vladislav Gussev), 15-Eduard Sarajev, 18-Maksim Kisseljov.

JK Vaprus: 35-Veiko Põldemaa, 21-Jevgeni Novikov, 4-Gert Olesk, 2-Rain Põldme, 3-Raimo Rand, 5-Artur Pinka, 12-Aleksei Galkin (57. 11-Aleksei Avdejenkov), 15-Ranet Lepik, 10-Indrek Joost (59. 14-Mihhail Kazak), 8-Verner Uibo, 20-Sergei Ženjov.

 

Good start for TVMK.

Trio have eyes on TVMK's crown from UEFA.com

Btw i have added a poll to that thread.

 

Leviadia got a huge transfer budget and they have already signed some good players (Lemsalu, Smirnov plus some foreigners I don't know much about). They're certainly the biggest favourites. The also plan to do well in UEFA Cup, where they want to get into the group stage.

TVMK has lost some key players (Teever, Neemelo, Smirnov) and are probably weaker than last year, but they have also done some decent signings, especially that Latvian striker Dobrecovs.

These two teams should by all logic decide the title between themselves as Flora is still believing in their youth system and developing the future of Estonian football, so they seem to be out of the title race already even before the season starts

Narva Trans will be fourth again.

 

FC Levadia Tallinn - FC Flora Tallinn 4:1 (3:1)
10., 18., 48. Indrek Zelinski, 43. Nikita Andrejev - 25. Andrei Sidorenkov

FC Ajax Lasnamäe - FC TVMK Tallinn 1:2 (1:1)
19. Jaroslav Dmitrijev - 30. Vladislav Gussev, 50. Gintas Širmelis

JK Maag Tartu - FC Warrior Valga 6:0 (2:0)
14. Sergei Starovoitov, 15. Vitali Gussev, 60., 88. Maksim Bazjukin, 69. Anton Sereda, 73. Kaspar Rõivassepp

JK Vaprus Pärnu - JK Trans Narva 1:4 (0:4)
58. Mihhail Kazak - 8. Dmitri Lipartov, 14. Maksim Gruznov, 16. Dmitri Lipartov, 23. Dmitri Lipartov

JK Tulevik Viljandi - JK Tammeka Tartu 0:2 (0:0)
54. Ivan O´Konnel-Bronin, 80. Ando Hausenberg

 

Where do you play league matches in March - artificial, indoor pitches? You just can't have grass already p

 

artificial pitches.

 

Round 2

19.03 TVMK - Tulevik 2:1
19.03 Warrior - Tammeka 1:1
19.03 Trans - Ajax 2:0
19.03 Flora - Vaprus 4:0
19.03 Maag - Levadia 1:2

 

Round 3

22.03 Levadia - Warrior 5:0
22.03 Vaprus - Maag 2:3
22.03 Ajax - Flora 1:4
22.03 Tulevik - Trans 0:3
22.03 Tammeka - TVMK 0:2

1. FC TVMK Tallinn 12
2. FC Levadia Tallinn 9
3. JK Trans Narva 9
4. JK Maag Tartu 6
5. FC Flora Tallinn 6
6. JK Tammeka Tartu 4
7. FC Warrior Valga 1
8. FC Ajax Lasnamäe 0
9. JK Tulevik Viljandi 0
10. JK Vaprus Pärnu 0

 

4. voor

29.03 Flora - Tulevik 3:0
29.03 Warrior - TVMK 0:5
29.03 Trans - Tammeka 3:2
29.03 Maag - Ajax 3:1
29.03 Levadia - Vaprus 4:1


Tabeliseis

1. FC TVMK Tallinn 15
2. FC Levadia Tallinn 12
3. JK Trans Narva 12
4. JK Maag Tartu 9
5. FC Flora Tallinn 9
6. JK Tammeka Tartu 4
7. FC Warrior Valga 1
8. FC Ajax Lasnamäe 0
9. JK Tulevik Viljandi 0
10. JK Vaprus Pärnu 0

 

That's what they call a two class-society, I guess. :depress:

 

Well, let's face it: only two teams have realistic chances for the title this season. The difference in quality really is quite huge and the first rounds have proven it.

 

it'll probably be like every season: the 'big four' will glide away and the other six get some points from each other, picking a few from the top teams.

 

Estonia's cream rises to the top (Uefa monthly review)​

Vaprus have already provided one of the sensations of the season with their youngest player - 16-year-old forward Sergei Zenjov - scoring three goals in four games, including one on his league debut against TVMK.

Will be interesting to see if he can keep it up.

 

Round 5

02.04 Ajax - Levadia 0:3
02.04 Vaprus - Warrior 2:0
02.04 Tulevik - Maag 0:3
02.04 Tammeka - Flora 0:1
02.04 TVMK - Trans 1:1

1. FC TVMK Tallinn 16
2. FC Levadia Tallinn 15
3. JK Trans Narva 13
4. JK Maag Tartu 12
5. FC Flora Tallinn 12
6. JK Tammeka Tartu 4
7. JK Vaprus Pärnu 3
8. FC Warrior Valga 1
9. FC Ajax Lasnamäe 0
10. JK Tulevik Viljandi 0

Two teams still without points.

 

1. FC TVMK Tallinn 19
2. FC Levadia Tallinn 18
3. JK Trans Narva 16
4. JK Maag Tartu 12
5. FC Flora Tallinn 12
6. JK Tammeka Tartu 7
7. JK Vaprus Pärnu 6
8. FC Warrior Valga 1
9. FC Ajax Lasnamäe 0
10. JK Tulevik Viljandi 0
6. voor

09.04 Levadia - Tulevik 2:0
09.04 Warrior - Trans 0:5
09.04 Flora - TVMK 1:4
09.04 Maag - Tammeka 0:2
09.04 Vaprus - Ajax 1:0

 

Well i wouldnt watch these developments in that bad light. The big four have a habbit of being always the title contenders but i think that Tartu´s clubs have potential to also be the title contenders in a few years. For some time the matches between Maag/Merkuur and Tammeka have been matches with a lot f attendance( well at least comparing to other Meistriliiga games). And as far as i know Tamme stadium will be somewhat renovated also so that Estonian NT could play some games in Tartu also.
And looking at the table Maag is currently holding the 4th place and when Tammeka and TVMK played Tammeka was at least in my opinion the better side(TVMK eventually won but still).
So if things continue to develop in that way, one of the clubs from Tartu or maybe even both of them may intervene the title race in a few years.

Sad about Viljandi Tulevik and Valga though for always being the reserve teams for Flora and thus not having any title chances at all. But i think that in Estonia´s context there arent better solutions.

 

Maybe 'a few years' is too optimistic for Tartu

Tabeliseis

1. FC TVMK Tallinn 22
2. FC Levadia Tallinn 21
3. JK Trans Narva 17
4. FC Flora Tallinn 13
5. JK Maag Tartu 12
6. JK Tammeka Tartu 7
7. JK Vaprus Pärnu 7
8. FC Ajax Lasnamäe 3
9. JK Tulevik Viljandi 1
10. FC Warrior Valga 1
7. voor

16.04 TVMK - Maag 5:0
16.04 Ajax - Warrior 2:0
16.04 Tulevik - Vaprus 1:1
16.04 Tammeka - Levadia 0:5
16.04 Trans - Flora 2:2

 

okay...maybe it will take few and some more years