March 29th – many overseas-based stars, of course and no Tulio or Nakazawa. So that means they’ll be selected for the J.League team? if fit!?Osaka’s Nagai Stadium is the venue – Tokoku Earthquake charities get the benefit – support! Here’s the squad … note the inclusion of Akihiro Ienaga, at last!!

jsoccer.com has been neglected, while I have been busy raising funds for those affected in the Tohoku area disaster, and my thoughts are with all who are in distress. Money has been raised through various sources and from at least 12 different countries so far – totaling around 800,000 yen at last count – plus those of you who have donated (through Facebook links) and not told me!! jsoccer.com has been channeling most of the cash raised into Second Harvest Japan. Please consider donating through this link:[link=http://www.2hj.org/index.php/get_involved/donate_money]http://www.2hj.org/index.php/get_involved/donate_money[/link]That is the direct link for donations, but please, if you need more info, look around the site starting from here:[link=http://www.2hj.org/]http://www.2hj.org/[/link]If the links do not work PLEASE copy and paste them into your browser – some browsers show the links as not clickable right now!?Thank you,Alan Gibson, jsoccer.com

Gamba beaten (in more ways than one) in China!

The JFA have announced that the two late-March friendly games against Montenegro and New Zealand will go ahead as scheduled, despite the disastrous earthquake and tsunami in Japan.March 25th Japan is scheduled to play Montenegro at Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka and Tokyo’s “Kokuritsu” National Stadium will see Japan host New Zealand on March 29.

Stay tuned, but that’s what we hear in advance of an official announcement.

Albirex take top spot n the opening day. Gamba take the Osaka Derby, Nagoya scrape a lost-time PK draw. S-Pulse live down to expectations! In J2 FC Tokyo gain three controversial points. On TV, the big decisions are glossed over COMPLETELY – what’s new!

Gamba run out winners in opening day Osaka Derby!

In answer to many request, some goading, some dares, and just to get it over with before the start of the J1 season in a couple of hours, literally, here is my not very scientific prediction of the J1 table at the end of the season – warning – do NOT use this to base any bets on

Japanese teams began their ACL campaign with mixed fortunes. On March 1st Nagoya went down 2-0 away to Hangzhou Greentown, while Gamba Osaka destroyed Melbourne Victory 5-1 (report follows). On March 2nd Cerezo Osaka laboured to a 2-1 win against Arema Indonesia, while Kashima Antlers ground out a goalless away draw at Shanghai Shenhua.

Pre-Season Views for the Gamba Osaka web site …