Rumours from inside Gamba say JEF’s Mizumoto is on the way and it is already confirmed that Sidiclei has returned to Kyoto for one more season before retiring? Gamba have also signed a centreback called Mineiro who appears highly rated.Komano approached by Vissel but apparently prefers an offer from Jubilo? more on that as we find out!Big news, Liberian international, politician and ez-Milan superstar, George Weah (41) is to become general manager/technical director of a new football club called Variente Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture.MF Kashiwagi (20) has decided to stay in Hiroshima despite having several offers from J1 clubs, including Kobe and Kashiwa. MF Sakamoto (29) of Niigata is to return to JEF on a full transfer. This move was initiated by the player, who informed his agent he wanted to move back to JEF and the agent negotiated the move between the two clubs.JEF president, Yodogawa, has given up on trying to keep Mizuno. Mizuno’s transfer to Celtic is now regarded as a near certainty (kakujitsu). He has now arrived in Glasgow.GK Ryou Kushino (28) and DF Junya Tanaka (24) are both to return to JEF after completing one-year loans to Grampus and Sagan Tosu respectively.DF Kawakami (27) has moved on a full transfer from Kyoto to Ehime.FW Doi (20) has moved on a full transfer from Vissel to Albirex Niigata S in the Singapore League. Hopefully he will return one day, a promising player, I feel.

Reports coming that Josip Kuze – new JEF manager and all-round nice guy and friend of jsoccer.com – is willing to let Mizuno join Celtic this week…. although Mizuno has not played in the required 75% of full internationals over the last two years, he has, for some reason been granted an exception!Shinji Ono is being given another chance with VFL Bochum – a week of rest then another test of his dodgy ankle.

.. from his training regime in Okinawa, and confirmed that he will be staying with Gamba Osaka this year, and fighting for a place with Bare and newly-signed Lucas!

Nakata re-signs for Perugia!!! Takahara to Urawa Reds!

Antlers did a domestic double a few minutes ago, beating Sanfrecce on an early goal from Uchida and a lost time goal from Danilo sealing it, Kashima Antlers 2-0 Hiroshima Sanfrecce. Congratulations Antlers…. next year a three horse race in the J.League?Happy New Year to all!

With the score 2-1 at half time, Gamba coach Nishino went for it, as usual, bringing on Terada and Ienaga mid-way through the 2nd half and threw everything at Sanfrecce, but they held on, and with Gamba committed all out, Sanfrecce even managed a last gasp 3rd goal to send them into the final on Jan.1st. Kawasaki vs. Kashima finished 1-0 to Antlers on a Motoyama goal.The final, Antlers vs. Sanfecce is Dec.1st.

It’s Gamba vs. Sanfrecce and Antlers vs. Frontale in the Emperor’s Cup semi-finals. Both semis on Saturday went to extra time and ended 1-0. Antlers won through against a plucky (copyright “real” newspapers) Honda, with a late goal from Yanagisawa, after good work from Motoyama. Gamba won through with a goal from unsung hero in the making, Shinichi Terada, after Bando had done the hard work, though Terada’s swerving finish around the keeper from 20 yards was still classy!On Sunday Sanfrecce downed FC Tokyo 2-0, and Frontale beat Reds’ conquerors, FC Ehime by th same score.Any bets on a Gamba – Antlers final?

Yes, it’s true, but Oka-chan’s job is not in jeopardy (yet~!). Monsieur Troussier has signed on as GM at FC Ryukyu (not sure how much coaching role he will take yet), and his first transaction has been to convince his old pal Akita to reconsider retirement and join him in Okinawa next year!

Ryuji Bando wants first-team football and is willing to leave Gamba to go to the club that is most likely to give it to him says Peter… story here…www.nikkansports.com/soccer/p-sc-tp0-20071215-295671.html

Time to start stripping the relegated teams, but Kofu and Yokohama don’t really have anyone worth taking… but Sanfrecce, that’s another story!! Gamba going for Kashiwagi, Vissel going for Komano, KR&AC going for Toda