Matsumoto Yamaga were relegated last season. Here’s what they’ll be wearing in J2. Green home, white away, red and blue are the ‘keepers’ gear!

Graphic for Shimizu S-Pulse home shirt for their J2 season in 2016.

And S-Pulse neighbours Jubilo Iwata, who have switched places with them in J1 for 2016.

Vissel Kobe home and away, with a special close-up on their home shirt, too.

Kawasaki Frontale 2016 20th Anniversary “Gremio” shirt!

Kawasaki Frontale Home, away, “cup” shirts

V-Varen Nagasaki home (orange) and away

Yokohama F•Marinos home (blue), away (pink) and three cool GK shirts

Albirex Niigata home (orange) and away

Ventforet Kofu home (blue) and away

Kashiwa Reysol home (yellow) and blue GK shirt

Urawa Reds

Thespakusatsu Gunma home (blue away (white) and two GK shirts

FC Tokyo home / away authentic version

Nagoya Grampus home and away

Kashima Antlers home (red) and away

Fujieda MYFC home

Nara Club (JFL), home, away, GK

Montedio Yamagata away

Mito HollyHock home (blue) and away

Zweigen Kanazawa home

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Machida Zelvia 1-7 Urawa Reds
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Gamba Osaka 2-0 Kawasaki Frontale
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Kashiwa Reysol 2-1 Ventforet Kofu (After Extra Time)
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Vegalta Sendai 2-1 Matsumoto Yamaga
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Tokushima Vortis 1-2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
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FC Tokyo 2-0 Mito HollyHock
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Sagan Tosu 4-3 Montedio Yamagata
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At the bottom of J1, S-Pulse are down, and Montedio are all but gone, but mathematically in with a chance of survival as I write. Again, worth noting just in case there is any confusion, the relegation places are decided on the overall season/two stages combined table. Matsumoto Yamaga need to make up five points on Vissel Kobe, or six on Sagan or Albirex to reach safety. A tall order, right?

At the top of J2, Omiya Ardija appeared to have the Championship sewn up weeks ago but are now doing their best to lose it. Jubilo are just two points clear of Avispa Fukuoka with the top two going up to J1 without a play-off fight. Fukuoka seem to be the favourites of many now, while Cerezo Osaka have faded away in the last few games although are still well withing the play-off spots.

The play-offs will be 3rd-placed team v 6th placed, and 4th v 5th, over two legs, with a final play-off for a spot in J1 between the winners of those two ties.

Verdy have dropped a few points recently, while Ehime have also flirted with that 6th spot. Giravanz looked good for the play-offs earlier in the season but are not five points away, while the unlikely names of Roasso Kumamoto and Tokushima Vortis have risen into the frame, although it would be a huge surprise, but there are still 15 points to play for in five remaining games. Anythong COULD (and will?) happen.

At the bottom of J2 Tochigi are six points away from safely, although only two points away from earning a play-off spot – as opposed to straight relegation – against the 2nd placed J3 team. FC Gifu have flirted with wins but have dropped back into danger, just four points clear of Oita in that 2nd relegation (play-off) spot. With five matches to go Kyoto Sanga and Mito HollyHock are still well within reach of the lower teams, too.

At the top of J3 Yamaguchi Renofa are looking good for promotion as the Champions, while Machida Zelvia have pulled away from Nagano going for that play-off spot.

At the bottom of J3 we see the J.League Under 22 selection who, of course couldn’t be relegated anyway, although it seems will be replaced by an Under 19 team next season?! Fujieda MYFC are ten points clear of Y.S.C.C. although it should be noted that no teams will be relegated this season as the J3 expansion continues. With rumours of four (at least) “2nd XI” teams from J1 being added to J3 next season, including Gamba Osaka and Urawa Reds, interesting times are ahead! Not necessarily well-received times, though?!

Leandro – rejoining Vissel from Kashiwa Reysol – and, of course, teaming up again with manager Nelsinho, was thrown straight into the starting line-up and repaid that faith with hard work, creation of chances, and an easy finish to get on the score-sheet himself.

An interesting team selection from Nelsinho – with most of the squad available to him after a 1st Stage beset by injuries – saw nominal defensive midfielder Masatoshi Mihara return to the line-up, although just behind the strikers, while Ryota Morioka seems to have settled into his defensive midfield role, while previously accepted as an attacking player. Marquinhos was selected as a supporting striker/attacking midfielder to Leandro, the lone forward – technically – in a 3-2-2-2-1 formation.

The opening goal came from Morioka, in the 7th minute, who poked home a loose ball after Leandro had controlled a Takahito Soma cross, then created space from nowhere for an excellent shot that the keeper couldn’t hold.

Shunki Takahashi was next on the mark, volleying home another excellent far post cross from Soma in the 19th minute, with Leandro getting his goal four minutes before the break, after having a 22nd minute effort blocked by the desperate home defence. The returning Brazilian’s goal was simplicity itself, as a pinpoint pass from Jung Woo Young found Shunki Takahashi on the right wing. He sprinted to beat Mitchell Duke – no slouch in the speed stakes himself – to the ball and crossed it first time where the unmarked Leandro poked it home from close range.

In the 55th minute it was Soma yet again racing forward to send in a low, early cross for Marquinhos to stab home from close range. 4-0, and Vissel were cruising.

The final goal was, perhaps, the best of the day, and a personal victory for Shohei Takahashi. The central defender won the ball, found Leandro and sprinted off behind the Brazilian forward. Leandro sent the ball long and wide to Marquinhos in the right channel and the Vissel number 18 timed his run to perfection, reaching the ball for a first time cross to Takahashi for the defender to head home the final goal of the game after completing his 70 yard dash.

And so, Vissel end the day on top of J1 and looking forward to a successful 2nd Stage. A win against Shonan Bellmare on Wednesday night is next on the cards!

Team – Yamamoto, Iwanami, Masukawa, Sho.Takahashi, Morioka, Jung, Shu.Takahashi, Soma, Marquinhos, Mihara, Leandro

Vissel Kobe goals:
7′ Ryota MORIOKA
19′ Shunki TAKAHASHI
41′ LEANDRO
55′ MARQUINHOS
75′ Shohei TAKAHASHI

Attendance: 14,037

Vissel girls!

Black and white, yet colour everywhere!

Anyone you know?

The photographer!

Movi in action!

Stuart Baxter harangues the referee, literally translated by Christian Melillan Ishiki, while Mr. Ebara of Kobe Football Association tries to control proceedings!

Akihiro Nagashima (now a TV commentator/talent and Masahiro Wada (no.7, currently Kyoto Sanga manager) try to penetrate the NTT defence

Vissel’s Tunisian star Ziad Tlemçani

Michael Laudrup
(Photographs taken with permission of Vissel Kobe WAY back in “the day”).

I am a great believer in momentum. Over the years I have seen teams plummet down the divisions because they couldn’t reverse their decline. I hope this will not be the case for Vissel Kobe, as four straight defeats in their last J1 outings indicate tough times ahead. However, a new broom can sweep clean, which must be why Vissel appointed Nelsinho as their new boss.
The 64-year-old Brazilian has a wealth of experience at this level, although it has to be remembered that when he took over Kashiwa Reysol they got relegated shortly afterwards; Vissel fans will hope lightning doesn’t strike twice. Having said that, in Nelsinho’s second season, Reysol won promotion back to the top fl ight and followed that by lifting the J1 title. Quite a rollercoaster ride!
How fitting it is that Vissel’s first game of the season is against Nelsinho’s old employers at the Noevir Stadium. In fact, the fixture list has been almost kind to Vissel with three home games in the month of March and just one away trip to Kawasaki Frontale (who finished sixth and beat Vissel in the final game of last season).
So what can possibly go wrong? Nelsinho should know all about his former charges, so you’d expect Vissel to get off to a flyer against Reysol. Points may be dropped at Kawasaki Frontale, but a home win against an out-of-form FC Tokyo would put that right.
Finally in March, the likely new whipping boys of J1, Montedio Yamagata, should be dispatched easily enough in the J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup. Imagine how optimistic Vissel fans will be with three wins out of four in March!
Obviously, a lot depends on how well the new signings bed in. Nelsinho has brought in Kazuma Watanabe from FC Tokyo to bolster the attack. Although the 28-year-old scored 17 goals in 2013, double figures tend to be an exception rather than the norm for him and last season he finished with a paltry three league goals. Nevertheless, his signing will allow the new manager to rest 38-year-old top goalscorer Marquinhos more often. Not only that, there needed to be an injection of new blood upfront, given the barren run of Pedro Junior, who hasn’t scored since September 2014.
Despite the comparative lack of goals at the end of last season, Vissel’s main problem was conceding them at the other end. To rectify that issue, Kobe start this season with two new names at the back: Michihiro Yasuda comes in from Sagan Tosu with Shohei Takahashi signing from relegated Omiya Ardija. The former is a 27-yearold left (wing) back who had the honour of being the first Japanese player to play at Vitesse Arnhem, while the latter is a versatile defender who may have huge boots to fill with centre-back Hiroyuki Komoto moving in the opposite direction to Ardija.
Clearly though, something had to be done about Vissel’s leaking defence: to concede a half century of goals is relegation form. Indeed, only three teams in J1 let in more. Nelsinho will hope his changes plug the holes in what could otherwise be a sinking ship. The Brazilian manager may have his work cut out, which is why I’m predicting a season of consolidation and another mid-table
finish for Vissel.

 FC Gifu MINAMO

Giravanz Kitakyushu GIRAN

Mito HollyHock HOLLY-kun

Fagiano Okayama FAGI-MARU

Jubilo Iwata JUBILO-kun

Ehime FC IYOKANTA

Kyoto Sanga PURSA-kun

Yokohama FC FULIE MARU

J.League Mascot – Mr. PITCH!

 JEF United JEFFY

Thespakusatsu Gunma YUUTO

Kashiwa Reysol Rey-kun

Roasso Kumamoto ROASSO-kun

Omiya Ardija ARDY

Shonan Bellmare KING BELL I

Cerezo Osaka ROBI

Zweigen Kanazawa GENJI

Tokushima Vortis VORTA-kun

Albirex Niigata ALBI-kun

Urawa Reds REDIA

Tochigi SC TOKKY

Kashima Antlers SHIKAO

Tokyo Verdy VERDY-kun

Sagan Tosu WINTOSU

Shimizu S-Pulse PUL-chan

Avispa Fukuoka AVI-kun

Oita Trinita NEETAN

Vissel Kobe MOVI

Gamba Osaka GAMBA BOY

FC Tokyo TOKYO DOROMPA

Nagoya Grampus GRAMPUS-kun

Yokohama F•Marinos MARINOSUKE

Ventforet Kofu VAN-kun

Matsumoto Yamaga GANS-kun

Kawasaki Frontale FRONTA

 Vegalta Sendai VEGATTA

V-Varen Nagasaki VIVI-kun

Montedio Yamagata DIIO

NUMBER 1!!  Sanfrecce Hiroshima SANCCE

And why the cover? Of a player that hardly kicked a ball this year due to injury? A player who is not a star by any means? A player who is actually wearing the 20134 season shirt?

Well … why not!!? What a great picture it is! Of a true professional who will – next season – hit an age that is the same as the number he is wearing … and he plays for the team that is our main (or, hey, COVER) story… and, if, and that’s IF he announces retirement – – a fitting tribute indeedf

Yukio Tsuchiya – sterling service to Ventforet Kofu, Tokyo Verdy, Omiya Ardija, Kashiwa Reysol and Vissel Kobe.

Thank you !

GOALKEEPER:

Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba) – transformed a team that was known for leaking goals into a trophy-winning team with a tight defence.

DEFENCE:

Koki Yonekura (Gamba) – filled Akira Kaji’s shoes, and more. Created, scored, worked hard. Many years ahead of him, too!

Tsukasa Shiotani (Sanfrecce) – Burst onto the scene as a goalscoring defender who proved that he can play in a Japan NT back four, also. Hope Sanfrecce keep hold of him for a season or three more!

Daisuke Nasu (Reds) A rock between two hard cases (Moriwaki and Makino). Often the only glue that held those boys together. With the attacking tendencies (and referee/opposition-baiting tactics) of his co-defenders, he was the one that stood tall.

JaeSuk Oh (Gamba) Covered right back when needed, but mainly displaced Hiroki Fujiharu at left back, who had been ever-present for two seasons in the Gamba back four.

MIDFIELD:

Yasuhito Endo (Gamba) – The name is enough!

Gaku Shibasaki (Antlers) – Endo’s heir apparent in the national team and Ogasawara’s long-term replacement at Antlers.

Yasushi Endo (Antlers) – Chimed in with goals to back his flair and workrate. Deserves a shot at the national team, too?

Hiroyuki Abe (Gamba) – Unsung hero of Gamba’s attacking bunch. In particular, his early-season goals were important, but his overall workrate up and down the right wing is phenomenal. Another one who deserves Aguirre’s attention.

FORWARDS:

Takashi Usami (Gamba) – Simply changed Gamba’s season (along with Patric’s arrival) upon his return from injury about ten games in!

Yoshito Okubo (Frontale) – Goalscoring phenomenon, and a player everyone hates playing against their team!

Substitutes:

Akihiro Hayashi (Tosu)
Daiki Niwa (Gamba) Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo)
Yosuke Kashiwagi (Reds)
Yoshinoro Muto (FC Tokyo) Patric (Gamba) Yohei Toyoda (Tosu)

MVP for the season Yasuhito Endo (Gamba

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Official J.League Best XI 2014

(Nominees for the J.League Awards, Dec.9th:

GK – Higashiguchi (Gamba) Nishikawa (Reds) Hayashi (Tosu)

DF – Yonekura (Gamba) Nishi (Antlers) Nasu (Reds) Konno (Gamba) Mizumoto (Sanfrecce) Shoji (Antlers) Shiotani (Sanfrecce) Makino (Reds) Morishige (FC Tokyo) Yasuda (Tosu) Ota (FC Tokyo)

MF – Endo (Gamba) Shibasaki (Antlers) Kashiwagi (Reds) Abe (Gamba) Morioka (Vissel) Oshima (Frontale) Abe (Reds) Endo (Antlers) Nakamura (Frontale) Leo Silva (Albirex) Muto (FC Tokyo)

FW – Usami (Gamba) Okubo (Frontale) Patric (Gamba) Kobayashi (Frontale) Koroki (Reds) Renato (Frontale) Toyoda (Tosu)