J.League Super Cup, Kashima Antlers vs. Gamba Osaka - as it happens....
I'll be updating this every few seconds with my "commentary".. please excuse any typos, I'm doing it as I watch!! :-)
Posted by Alan on 28 Feb 2009


J.League season opens with Super Cup, Saturday 28th February
It's Kashima Antlers vs. Gamba Osaka.....
Posted by Alan on 26 Feb 2009


A Quick Rundown on the Kansai Teams for 2009
900 word article prepared for Kansai Time Out, April edition.
Posted by Alan on 25 Feb 2009


Daigo Kobayashi joins Stabćk IF
Thanks to Oddbjorn in Norway for keeping me up to date on rumours.... after a lot of travelling and trials at various clubs in various countries (often detailed on TV in Japan as a kind of reality TV trip!), Daigo Kobayashi has joined Stabćk IF, in Norway.
Posted by Alan on 24 Feb 2009


J2 Fixtures for 2009
Now's your chance to take a trip to Tochigi, Kumamoto, Kusatsu, Gifu, Okayama... what are you waiting for?!
Posted by Alan on 24 Feb 2009


A New Season - J1 Fixtures
Here are the J1 fixtures for 2009... start planning that trip to Chiba, Kashiwa, Oita, and more!
Posted by Alan on 24 Feb 2009


Inamoto and Nakamura to Vissel!?
Let me be the first to start the Inamoto to Vissel Kobe rumour, which could well have some mileage in it - probably at the end of the season in Europe.... while the Shunsuke to Vissel rumour that I am about to start may not be as far-fetched as it seems, as I write :-) if Mikitani - president of Vissel and all-round rich boss of Rakuten - is as serious as i've heard, Miyamoto is just the beginning!
Can't wait for the new season!!
Posted by Alan on 17 Jan 2009


A Quick Look at the English Premier League!
If we have often thought that the J.League was tight... seen the Premier League lately?

It's 3 points (one win) from 20th to 12th - the bottom nine place are all within three points!

If we take it a little further, from 8th position to the bottom, 20th - it is ONLY 7 points!

On the other hand from 8th to 5th, it's 14 points, before the top four (including Aston Villa) are separated by only three points, though Liverpool may add two points to that on Monday night.

While the top 5 are probably fixed already, just the order to sort out, ANY of the 13 teams from 8th to bottom could easily go down!

Amazing, J? Who wants to predict the relegated teams from the Premier League?

I'll go for West Brom, Stoke and Portsmouth? Any other offers?
Posted by Alan on 17 Jan 2009


Ienaga working visa application rejected in England.
As expected - for the UK the player needs to have played in 75% of the last two year's worth of internationals (usually)... Ienaga's work permit application was rejected.... so how did they handle it at Celtic with Koki Mizuno, I wonder? Or is Scotland a different case from England?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_4803025,00.html
Posted by Alan on 16 Jan 2009


Leandro (and Okubo) out, Miyamoto in!
It's true... Vissel's two main forwards have taken the stage out of town, but the cash received and the youth coming through bodes well for Vissel, I believe.... the Brazilian imports look decent enough and then there's TSUNEYASU MIYAMOTO, who will announce his signing for Vissel Kobe today at a press conference.... Mr. Japanese Football, in my opinion, immensely popular with fans, players and press alike, intelligent and talented and all-round nice guy... welcome to Kobe, Tsune! This can only be good for Vissel Kobe.
Posted by Alan on 15 Jan 2009


Good start for Yoshito in Germany!
Okubo started for Wolfsburg and scored their first goal in a 4-0 demolition of Greuther Fürth.... looking good (though let's remember his great start for Mallorca went down the tubes)... good luck for a bright future, Yoshito!
Posted by Alan on 15 Jan 2009


ACL 2009 - the J.league teams' groups
Here are the groups that feature a Japanese team... FYI... looking forward to it!
Posted by Alan on 08 Jan 2009


Gamba Osaka 1-0 Kashiwa Reysol Gamba win Emperor's Cup and enter 2009 ACL!
Ryuji Bando came on as a 105th minute sub and promptly scored the winning goal in the 118th minute!! Nice one Ban-chan!! I hope my message on your answerphone doesn't break your ear drums!!
Posted by Alan on 01 Jan 2009


Gamba v. Reysol for the Emperor's Cup and a place in the ACL 2009!
Reysol overcame FC Tokyo 2-1 at Shizuoka's Ecopa Stadium earlier in the day before a tired-looking Gamba earned a final place with a 118th minute winner from lucky talisman Yamazaki, for a 1-0 win against Yokohama F Marinos, at Kokuritsu (National) Stadium in Tokyo. Lee Tadanari scored the 88th minute winner for Reysol, giving late excitement to both games. The final will be played at Kokuritsu on January 1st at 2 pm.
Posted by Alan on 29 Dec 2008


Morimoto and Mizuno on the scoresheet!!
Peter sends me an update as I laze on a beach in Thailand!!

Walter Zenga, manager of Catania, started Morimoto against Roma yesterday and he scored two goals in Catania's 3-2 win over great rivals Roma. It was Morimoto's first goal for 16 months and only the third time in history following Nakata for Parma and Shunsuké for Regina that a Japanese player has scored two goals in one Serie-A game.

Following the game, on the possible one-month loan-out of Morimoto, Senga said, "Whether he goes or not is up to Morimoto. If a player continues to give his best anyone will get a chance here." On Morimoto, Catania chairman Antonino Pulvirenti said bluntly, "I highly evaluate him. He is staying here." The executive responsible, Romanaco (?), asked, "Are we going to transfer a player who scored two goals?", and laughed.

Koki Mizuno (23) in his first start for Celtic scored a goal and Shunsuké provided the assist! With the score at 1-0 to Celtic, Mizuno scored the second, and in extra time Shunsuké provided another assist for Macdonald to score a third. Mizuno got his chance because Maloney was injured. Shunsuké played right midfield and Mizuno left midfield in a 4-4-2 formation.
Posted by Alan on 22 Dec 2008

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