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

You know what really pi$$es me off….. lazy reports stating that a team beat “ten man someone or other”… it just doesn’t tell the story or mean anything…….. for example….I quote the Yomiuri of November 2008 ….. SNIP”….. Gamba 4-0 up against Kashima Antlers in the Asian Champions League Final 2008 and Toru Araiba, playing against his former club, was sent off for a petulant kick at Gamba’s 17 year old genius (insert name here) in the 89th minute….. “Headline, Gamba beat ten man Antlers to secure Champions Cup.Now, I ask you, does that not cheapen the victory, everyone not knowing the whole story thinking Villa had it easy against ten men for most of the game!!? But it happens in print, almost every week!Alan

John Potter recently interviewed Japan Ladies National Team footballer Miyamoto Tomomi

1st leg of the J1/J2 play-off goes Kyoto’s way, with two goals from Tahara, but a late 88th minute goal for Hiroshima gives some hope for the 2nd leg on Saturday!