Mark Smith was in Tokushima to see the promotion battle.Saturday’s game saw Vortis surrender their advantage in the chase for the third promotion slot from J2. They crashed to a 0-3 loss at home against a Sagan Tosu team that looks as though it should be able to hold its own in J1. The visitors were the more direct and effective team, and should do better than the likes of Avispa and Yokohama FC in the top flight. We wish them well.Tokushima have risen to the brink of promotion thanks to solid team play, but on Saturday both Elizeu and Kakitani were guilty of trying to do too much on their own. Vortis’ chances of salvaging an otherwise excellent season will depend on Naohiko Minobe and his staff’s ability to inspire the players to rebound from this setback, and from the team concentrating on what it does best. Fagiano are not a highly fancied team, but the regional rivals will not want to lose to Inland Sea neighbours Vortis. It could be a thrilling game in Okayama this Saturday.As for the game itself, a nervous start by both teams meant that the game never lived up to the high standard the two teams showed in the previous encounter at Sagan. The course of the game was decided in the opening 15 minutes when Sagan scored on their first serious venture forward after six minutes, and Vortis failed to convert a penalty a few minutes later. Tokushige

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At the top of J1, THREE teams are still in it for the final day games – all kick off 15.30 on Saturday, December 3rd.Urawa Reds v. Kashiwa ReysolAlbirex Niigata v.Nagoya GrampusShimizu S-Pulse v. Gamba OsakaReds are virtually safe, barring a HUGE win for Kofu AND a HUGE loss for Reds. Will this mean they are more relaxed and go and and thrash Reysol?Niigata have been dire recently so you must fancy Nagoya’s chances! Gamba came from behind in 2005 to take the Championship, so they won’t have given up. A win for Reysol takes it. A draw for Reysol and a win for Nagoya gives it to Grampus. Less than a win for Nagoya AND Reysol and a Gamba win by 5-0 would take them above Nagoya on goals SCORED! A 6 goal win would be better :-)1 Kashiwa Reysol 69 +212 Nagoya Grampus 68 +303 Gamba Osaka 67 +25It’s going to be a nail-biting 90+ minutes for the fans of those three teams…. the rest of us can sit back and enjoy the drama!

In J2 over the weekend Tokushima Vortis capitulated to Sagan Tosu and saw the away team get promoted to J1 for the first time in their history (barring a HUGE swing in goal difference and all sorts of, let’s face it, impossible happenings on the final day, that is!). Congratulations to Sagan Tosu, who join FC Tokyo in J1 next season.And so, to the final day, Saturday, December 3rd…. all games 12.30 kick-off:Sapporo v. FC TokyoOkayama v. TokushimaConsadole Sapporo entertain FC Tokyo, with the away team already in J1 – will they take it easy or will they want to go out with a bang? Either way Tokushima make the short trip to Fagiano Okayama knowing they need to win. If both teams win their games, it’s down to goal difference – with Consadole having a better goal difference by two over Vortis. So Vortis will be looking for a big win to cement that place.1 F.C.Tokyo 77 +462 Sagan Tosu 68 +343 Consadole Sapporo 65 +164 Tokushima Vortis 65 +14

At the top of J1 Reysol take on Cerezo with Gamba hoping for a favour from their neighbours! Grampus are at home to Yamagata who lost BIG time to Avispa last week, while Gamba have to topple Vegalta to stay in the hunt, and hope for defeats or draws for Reysol and Nagoya.1 Kashiwa Reysol 68 +212 Nagoya Grampus 65 +273 Gamba Osaka 64 +24At the bottom Kofu must beat Niigata and are looking for a defeat for Reds who are away at Fukuoka, who found a new life last week!!15 Urawa Reds 33 -616 Ventforet Kofu 30 -2217 Avispa Fukuoka 22 -3418 Montedio Yamagata 21 -36In J2 FC Tokyo are already up as Champions while 2nd and 3rd placed teams – Tokushima and Tosu – play each other. In 4th place Consadole are away at Bellmare. If Consadole fail to win on Saturday, a draw in Tokushima will see both teams promoted!1 F.C.Tokyo 74 +452 Sagan Tosu 65 +313 Tokushima Vortis 65 +174 Consadole Sapporo 62 +14

Gamba’s Nishino is confirmed as leaving. Petrovic at Sanfrecce on his bike. Culpi leaving Cerezo. Reds already managerless. FC Tokyo will be returning to J1 with a new manager….. Okada is available. And there’ll be more joining the fun soon …. it’s going to be fun as they all move around.A Japanese could take a look at the current coach of the Mozambique national team – Gert Engels would do a brilliant job given a club and some freedom.Guus Hiddink – how about spending a few years in Japan, sir?Reports state that Nishino may well return home to Saitama and take over Reds. But others think Okada is in for that.Petrovic would be a good fit for Gamba or Cerezo …. if the agents can keep their hands off the players for a year or two (some hope!).Go to the Facebook page / group www.jsoccer.com and add your rumours and news.

For some fun, and to allow some of the shirts out of their boxes, I’ve been adding pictures to my Shirt Collection albums on FaceBook and UStream today… take a look if you have time.JSoccer.Com or Alan Gibson on FaceBookJSoccerMagazine on UStream

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Rumours abound that Akira Nishino will leave Gamba Osaka at the end of this season … it’s been coming for a while, in my opinion – Gamba need a change at the top according to many.The connected rumour to that is Urawa Reds want him! He’d clean them up, for sure, change the team around, but would the “back office management” allow him free reign – THAT is where Urawa apparently need to change!Still Nishino would sort out that defence, wouldn’t he? Oh, maybe not!!! ;0)Nishino would be a good fit for the national team, for me, but Zac has that, hopefully (if he keeps getting good results, that is) sewn up for a few years!