This was on the NHK local news yesterday, but has since made it to theNikkanSports. (Article attached at end of this message.)Gamba’s negotiations with Suita City have stalled over the City’sinsistence on receiving al of thel 13 billion yen pledged towards thebuilding of a new stadium, and that the city wants said stadium to bea ‘city facility’. As a result, Gamba are said to considering otheroptions, including a site in Takatsuki, near Ibaragi station. (Iwonder if this is the same site that is a temptingly vacant lotbetween Ibaragi and Nunobe, which would offer TWO rail options forgetting to the stadium.)Interestingly, the Suita resident I work with at Minpaku (her son is akeen footy fan and her husband works at Panasonic) says that Gamba hasalways had a close connection with Takatsuki since it has a strongerfootballing history, and a Takatsuki base would likely improveattendances. I suspect, that this ‘news’ is probably just anegotiating tactic, but it will be interesting to see what happens.Mark Grampalogue II

The East Asian Championship (formerly the Dynasty Cup) kicked off with a disappointing 0-0 draw with China, in front of a disappointing 25,000 crowd at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo.

Schedule for the tournament featuring South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Japan. A useful tune-up for the national team and a great chance for Okada to try a few more line-ups out!Saturday 6 FebruaryJapan v ChinaSunday 7 FebruarySouth Korea v Hong KongWednesday 10 FebruaryChina v South KoreaThursday 11 FebruaryJapan v Hong KongSunday 14 FebruaryHong Kong v ChinaJapan v South KoreaAll games to be held in Tokyo.

Japan kick off a new year of football against South American opponents as they take on Venezuela tonight. Many expected Hirayama to get a start, especially with Tamada under the weather, and Ogasawara to get his first start in three years or so. Well, we got Oga, we didn’t get Hira – Okubo and Okazaki starting up front …. read on for the starting line-up and as-it-went match report!

For those of you who can’t read the Japanese stories out there…. here is a list of transfers from the end of the 2009 season until a few days ago. I’ll update the latest every few days now and start writing articles on the latest and best transfers as we go.This list is sorted by the J.League club that the player has ended up at. If anyone out there needs this in EXCEL, drop me an email at alan@jsoccer.com and I’ll send it along.The first names listed are those who retired or were released and, at this time, have no new club taking them on. If there is a ” – ” that means they have no new club (yet)… in the rest of the list the first named club is where the player was in 2009, the 2nd named club is where he is for 2010.Enjoy….Alan

Sota Hirayama scored a full national team debut hat trick after coming on as an early substitute when Japan were 2-0 down away at Yemen! While the 13 new call-ups and young team were not expected to get a big win, the fact that Okada changed it so early and the young guns were able to pull it around gives great encouragement! With the likes of Okubo, Tamada and other “regulars” rarely getting among the goals, it looks like Okada’s “gamble” to see what could be gained has yielded another prospect to fight for a place alongside Okazaki, Morimoto and, perhaps Honda in South Africa!The three points ensured Japan’s place in Qatar in the 2011 Asian Championships with a game to spare, too!”I must give the greatest praise to Hirayama, but him immediately becoming a full member in the national team is a different story. I must say he played to his potential , so there is great hope,” Japan coach Takeshi Okada told reporters, through interpreters, after the victory.Hirayama said: “We had to go home with a win and I just wanted to score again and again, But I’d like to to concentrate on myself this year, rather than looking for a place in the national team.”The FC Tkyo forward scored with a header in the 42nd minute and then trapped and swivelled in one great move to score the equaliser on 55 minutes. He then hit his hat trick with a difficult left-foot sliding volley.While Okada has said he “expects” a semi-final place, the Japanese tabloids have put the mockers on this and roundly seem to think that Japan will struggle to earn a point in a group with the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark. not very encouraging from the local press!The interesting team selection worked in two ways. The senior players were rested or allowed to stay in their leagues in Europe, while the three points were gained and qualification ensured … AND there could be a new start rising! Welcome to the full squad Sota Hirayama!!Now, why wasn’t this game televised in Japan! The newspapers are negative and the TV didn’t even think it worth showing? A sad state of affairs!!

Amid security fears, and surrounded by armed guards, Japan’s coach has thrown a few kids in at the deep end … Here’s the squad for tonight’s game against Yemen – is Okada taking the pi$$? or is he playing a trump card by choosing the youngest Japan side ever to see who can come through for him? He sort of did the same in France ’98 when he selected Ono and Ichikawa to join the squad, and left Kazu and Kitazawa at home … didn’t work then, though!!?

Gamba Osaka 4-1 Nagoya GrampusTwo goals for Endo, the first a 2-1 lead-taking shot was a perfect example of the fair play of this man. Minutes after Tamada got a yellow for a dive, Endo rode two late tackles to stay on his feet on the edge of the area (even though perfect poitions for his trademark free kicks) and put the ball away from 20 yards. Then Gamba’s passing and carefree don’t-care-if-we’re-winning-let’s-get-another-goal-anyway attitude brought the 3rd goal. And a wonderful control, turn and volley from Endo crowned the win!

Gamba dispacthed the relegated Chibans with ease … but what came after was worth waiting for …

Vissel Kobe have announced their cuts… stand by for the other teams as they come in!