Peter writes, Alan replies….. the chances of the teams at the top and bottom!!

South American champions SC Internacional (Brazil) will play either Auckland City (New Zealand) or the African Champions League winners on December 13 in a semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup Japan.European Champions League winners Barcelona (Spain) will meet the winner of the match between the Asian champions and Club America of Mexico on December 14 in the other semi-final.

From JFA official site Takigawa Daini High School took the Prince Takamado Cup All-Japan Under-18 Youth Championship for the first time after beating Nagoya Grampus Eight youth team 3-0 in the final at Saitama Stadium 2002 in Saitama on Monday.

Three goals, and not one a free kick…. wonderful!

YKK at Urawa, Banditonce at FC Tokyo, Honda FC at Kashima – some fun will ensue!

Half time 2-0 Bando two goals, two Alex crosses, one from right, one from left, but, let’s face it, Alex has done NOTHING else but give the ball away and not mark his players. Please read on as I make a fool of myself gessing what Osim will do!

I was thinking about how “uninteresting” the Emperors Cup was becoming, and wondering what to write about in aprticular, when I came acrooss ken’s diatribe, and – to be honest – it says it all. I couldn’t put it better so, with thanks and credit where it is due, here is why the Emperors Cup is BORING!! Even for those teams who are winning through…. for example:3rd Round casualties, against non-league/amateur teams included, today, Tokyo Verdy 1969, Vissel Kobe and Yokohama FC! Unfortunately, the winners of those games, instead of having the magic and the luck of the draw and possibly facing a J1 team, have it fixed against them to have to win at least one more game against “average” opposition before the fairy tale can even really begin…..

So, let’s get it on…. hopefully the Japanese MFers (midfielders, by the way – not what YOU were thinking!) survive the attentions of Essien and co. Here is the Samurai Blue starting line-up…. along with “as it happens” notes on the WHOLE game – keep reading, I’ll keep updating!!!

Yes, it’s true – just for a change, the man in black (or green, in this case) did enough to affect the outcome of a J.League game! With the help of an inept (biased?) referee, once again a smaller club beats a top club to keep the J.League interesting!!? PLEASE READ ON – for one of ther WORST REFEREEING decisions in modern times :angry:

After some recent problems attributed to his agent ripping him off, and subsequent homesickness and weight gain over the summer due to possible depression, Sota Hirayama is on his way back home.