Ich glaube, dass vieles von dem, was Pekka da sagt, nicht von Pekka kommt. Das passt einfach null zu dem Pekka, der er in Frankreich war. Wenn er da nach leistung aufgestellt hĂ€tte, wĂ€re auĂer Manu und evtl Vince nie wer im WC gestartet, aber er hat David Lazzaroni und auch Mab und Nico immer wieder unterstĂŒtzt.
Und wo kommt Niemi auf einmal her? Oder nimmt man den nur mit nach zakopane, damit er vor der JWM nochmal Wettkampferfahrung sammelt?
I do have more trust for Pekka Holopainen's professionalism. Those are direct quotes from NiemelÀ and I have no reason to believe, that Holopainen would lie.
Niemi is taken, because he won one finjumping cup competition (and was once second after Harri) and because he was once tenth on COC (when Harri was disqualified), on next day COC he was worse than Harri, who was 14th (after being 4th after first round.) So certainly better than Harri. Niemi will continue to OtepÀÀ, but because Happonen will be back to Willingen and Finnish quote will be 5, NiemelÀ no more has problem to explain why he will not take Harri.
I have given a lot of benefit of doubt for NiemelÀ for his comments in media, first thought it was lack of experience in this kind of media focus, then something else, but this really starts to feel too much. His comments of especially Hapa have been very inconsistent and I can't find any other explanation but that he has simply decided, that Hapa will never jump at his team and now he is coming up new 'reasons' as he goes by. Every time Harri jumps the hoops he is given, there is a new reason, why it's not enough etc. And there has also been some really big gaffes (kicking Harri out from the team through media and not telling him personally comes to mind.)
NiemelÀ has of course a right to choose his team. But some honesty would be nice. And as a Finn I would also appreciate, if there would really be best Finnish ski jumpers jumping on the big events. It is really difficult to sell to me, that NiemelÀ really has seven better and more probable to be on the podium candidates for Oslo than Harri.
EDIT: And this also not only about Harri. Somehow NiemelÀ has taken all the credit for Matti's and Ville's success, but Rane's and Kalle's bad form has nothing to do with him. Then there is the whole bindings thing, that really smells etc. And how this Hapa-thing has been treated, is also a real problem. Yes, Hapa has done lots wrong and is in fault, but there is still the proper way to handle these things and NiemelÀ certainly is not going that route.
If Rane has not find his shape, Havu doesn't work miracles and Matti isn't back to shape, this will be a hot mess and I will not envy Pekka at all.