Vissel to Pile on Marinos Misery!

Yokohama F.Marinos – FW Marquinhos is still only in light training and should not be considered ready. MF Taniguchi is restricted to light training and should be considered doubtful.

Vissel Kobe – FW Okubo will be out for about 2 months with badly twisted ankle. CB Komoto has resumed training but is probably not yet ready for selection.

Vissel Kobe (P7 W3 D0 L4 GD -4) started with two wins in their first two games and looked on course for the season that many expected, considering the incoming players for the new campaign. The likes of Tashiro, Nozawa, Inoha and Hashimoto looked set to make Vissel a force to be reckoned with, but then it fell to pieces and four losses later (or six if you include two Nabisco Cup games) and they were looking for a new coach. Last weekend a 3-1 win over Kashiwa Reysol probably saved Vissel coach Wada’s job, but Vissel will be needing 3 or 4 more wins in the next month or so to keep his job safe. The return of Tashiro last week will help the team get over the loss of Okubo for at least the next month. Left back Soma is in fine form and the return of Kitamoto to centre back was the turning point in the match last week when he came off the bench.

Yokohama F.Marinos (P7 W0 D4 L3 GD -4), on the other hand, should have replaced their coach by now, certainly if the fans had had their way, but have not yet made the decision that most are expecting any day now. Certainly, another loss would speed the arrival of a new coach, which might be the best thing for Marinos right now. While last week’s defeat at Jubilo Iwata was narrow in scoreline it was patently obvious that the team have a lot to get over before their season gets going, if it ever does! EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!