Gamba midfielder Sasaki is out for three to four weeks so will take no further part in the Club World Cup, but some good news for Gamba fans is that Futagawa has resumed training… whether he gets to play against Manchester United is unsure as yet.http://www.gamba-osaka.net/news/newsrelease.php

Peter’s been scouring the papers daily and gathering all sorts of news…. and it seems to be wasted on three or four of us, I hope he doesn’t mind, but I’m going to start “publishing” him :-)News here on attendances in 2008 (a record), Vegalta Sendai and Gifu in financial problems, and more…

BBC web site gives details on Ienaga’s trial at Plymouth Argyle! It couldn’t hapen to a nicer guy, but is he TOO nice? If he got stuck in a bit more, he’d be a great player!

So, we go into the final day of J1 with a clearer picture than in previous years…. let’s face it, three years back, who’d have thought that a goal in the 90th minute from FC Tokyo’s Konno would take Cerezo from champions-elect to 5th place in a few seconds AND give the title to their neighbours Gamba!! There ARE still all sorts of possibilities for the final day but it looks like Antlers have an easy ride to the title this year (famous last words!!)….It’s simple if Kashima win, they’re champions… now… if Antlers lose, then Grampus need an away win against Oita Trinita – a draw is not good enough! Then, Kawasaki are also in with a chance, and nothing is impossible in Amazing J! If Kashima loses and Nagoya don’t win, then Kawasaki Frontale need to beat Tokyo Verdy … and then goal difference comes into it. Kashima’s GD is four better than Kawasaki right now, but Kawasaki’s EIGHT goals without reply in the last two games have made this final game scenario a possibility…. in a nutshell, Kawasaki need to make up that four goal difference – if Kashima lose by two, Kawasaki need to win by three. If Kashima lose by three, Kawasaki need a two goal margin… etc. Simple enough for you? Enjoy the final day!All games kick off at 2.30, Saturday Dec. 6th.See the J1 table by clicking on “read more here”.

According to reports this week, J2 is going to be extended by three teams next season with the following teams joining the 2nd echelon….  Tochigi SC (founded in 1953, as Tochigi Teachers Soccer Club).Kataller Toyama – (founded in 2007 from a merger of Arrows Hokuriku and YKK Toyama)Fagiano Okayama – (founded in 1975 by Kawasaki Steel, Mizushima, as RFK)jsoccer.com welcomes the new boys and thanks the powers that be for making it an even number of teams in J2 again!Learn more about them at:Tochigi Soccer Club http://www.tochigisc.jp/Kataller Toyama http://www.kataller.co.jp/Fagiano Okayama http://www.fagiano-okayama.com/

Well. I’m pretty sure you all know that Hiroshima wraped up the Championship of J2 weeks ago… Montedio Yamagata join them in J1 in 2009 after victory over Ehime last weekend (after losing 1-0 with less than ten minutes to play!).So the play-off spot is up for grabs on the final day of the season and Vegalta lie in that spot for now and it’s their’s to lose – they need a win in their last game to take that promotion play-off sport. if they lose Cerezo need only a draw to take that spot. If Vegalta draw Cerezo need a win to leap-frog Sendai. Meanwhile, Bellmare still have an outside chance, too – if Bellmare win away in Fukuoka and both Cerezo and Vegalta draw (or lose), the play-off spot belongs to Bellmare – hope that’s a plain enough for you!The table is included for you to ponder, just click on “read more here”.

Congratulations to Gamba Osaka, who won 2-0 in Adelaide to make it 5-0 overall, and easily take the AFC Champions crown. I’ll be looking forward to the invite to the beer-wasting party and will take lots of pictures!!Omedetto Gamba!

The Emperor’s Cup is getting a little complicated with Gamba being in the ACL final, and delaying their game for weeks, while S-Pulse and Oita games are still not played, so here’s the story, hoping to make it easy for you to know what’s going on!!

Some of you have asked for details, here they are…. You may know of, and be interested in, watching the 1st leg of the Asian Champions League Final between Gamba Osaka and Adeliade United – here are some details, do not hesitate to contact me, or the Gamba Osaka staff mentioned below (who speak English) if you need more information.

Take a look at the league table for J1…. Nagoya (0-0 with Marinos on Sunday) and Oita within two points of Antlers…. Frontale, Reds (both lost on Saturday) and Gamba Osaka (back on form and winning) are also still in with a chance, with five games to go.In the chasing pacj there, we see FC Tokyo, S-Pulse and Vissel al within a possibility of hitting a run of form (S-Pulse and Vissel are on hot streaks) and claiming an ACL place….At the bottom, Consadole are 15 points (and 21 golas in goal difference) worse off than Jubilo so are all but mathematically in J2 already. Joining them? Omiya and Iwata are in grave danger, JEF are confident and on a roll and are pulling clear slowly, but surely. Still in danger are Verdy, Sanga, Marinos and Niigata… and, just to show how close the table is (apart from Sapporo!), even Reysol and Vissel “only” 7 and 8 points clear of the relegation zpot respectively), in 10th and 9th, could still get sucked into a battle.Enjoy the last five games!!