Tag Archives: Albirex Niigata

Previews

J1 Preview Aug.25th – 18:30 Kashima Antlers vs Albirex Niigata at Kashima

Leave a comment

Kashima Antlers – FWs Osako and Dutra and DF/MF Nishi are all suspended. DF/MF Koji Nakata will be out for at least another month.
Albirex Niigata – MFs Kim, Nakamura and Ichida, and FW Suzuki are all long-term injuries.

Head to Head – surprisingly even over the years, since 2004, 7 wins for Antlers, 6 for Albirex and 7 draws.

Kashima have won one of the last three – with defeats to Sagan Tosu and Urawa Reds sandwiching a win over Jubilo Iwata. After a terrible start Kashima put some points on the board but still look like a team in disarray at times and are not yet clear of relegation this season. If they can consolidate their position in J1 the powers-that-be need to decide if they keep faith with Jorginho as coach, then they can start the rebuilding process. FW Koroki will have a lot on his shoulders with the suspensions of Osako and Dutra which could be a bonus for Albirex Niigata, who are in deep trouble.
The return of CB Suzuki from the Olympics didn’t make much difference last week in a defeat to top team Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and they are the lowest scoring team in J1, with even less goals than bottom club Consadole! FWs Hirai, Yano et al MUST take the chances that they are given, as they are few and far between.

Even with the suspensions I can not see Albirex getting anything out of this. Expect a WIN for KASHIMA ANTLERS!

Previews

J1 Preview Aug.18th – 19:00 Albirex Niigata vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Tohoku Den

Leave a comment

Albirex Niigata – DF Suzuki returns from the Olympics. DF Uchida out for the season. FW Musashi Suzuki out for three months.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima – MF Hwang is back from Korea’s Olympic outing.

10 wins for Sanfrecce, 5 for Albirex, and 7 draws since 2003, that season being in J2 before both teams entered J1.

Sanfrecce are top of J1, and well-deserving of the position. But the last time they made the summit they lost their next game. if they are to win J1 they need to kill off opponents and beat the pressure that they feel. Albirex Niigata are slowly sliding into J2, even though they have won 2 of their last 5 games. FC Tokyo and Consadole Sapporo were their victims, but I can’t see them adding Sanfrecce’s scalp to that list. The likes of Bruno Lopes, HIrai and Yano are just not scoring goals, or looking confident in front of goal – just 15 goals in 21 games says it all. That’s level with Sapporo’s goalscoring record. Having noted their forwards’ lack of goals, the Albirex defence should be commended for only conceding 25 goals – almost comparable to teams like Vegalta (20) or Sanfrecce themselves (23), but those teams score goals also.

This may be low-scoring but EXPECT a WIN for SANFECCE HIROSHIMA!

Previews

PREVIEW May 12th 16:00 Urawa Reds v. Albirex Niigata at Saitama Stadium

Leave a comment

Urawa Reds – FW Escudero is playing in training matches. MF Umesaki has a hamstring problem. FW Popo is considered doubtful.

Urawa Reds (P10 W5 D2 L3 GD +10) have only won one of their last four, losing at home to Marinos last week, while being held by Jubilo Iwata last time out. They suffer from a lack of a real striker, although Marcio Richardes and Popo do their best – it may not be enough to prolong an attack at the top spot. Genki Haraguchi scored a beautiful striker’s goal against Jubilo and, if he is fighting fit again, clear of injury, he will be a big addition to the Reds’ arsenal. The flat three at the back seems settled now, with Yuki Abe taking one of the two defensive midfield spots as opposed to a back line role. A wise decision, I believe.

Albirex Niigata (P10 W2 D2 L6 GD -5) have struggled, as expected, this season. The forward additions they have to rely on are Shoki Hirai – on loan from Gamba – and Kisho Yano – back from Europe with his tail between his legs. Neither have set the team alight as yet. They do have two away wins to show for themselves this season – at Cerezo and Sanfrecce, but Reds know that if they are to keep in touch with the top three they must win this kind of game. Winning one in the last four is just not good enough so EXPECT a BIG WIN for Urawa Reds!

Over the last decade Reds have won this meeting 15 times, while Albirex have won just twice, with two draws. Those two wins for Niigata came in J1 in 2006 and the Nabisco Cup in 2005.

Archives, In the Mix, Reports

JSoccer.COMment – Results Round-Up of Games 8, 9 and 10

1 Comment

Archives, In the Mix, Reports

J1 Round-Up, May 3rd, Matchday 9

Leave a comment


An all-in-one report this weekend due to the glut of J.League in Golden Week – you thought it was a holiday!? Not for us J.League watchers!

Here are the results:

Consadole Sapporo 1-0 Cerezo Osaka
Vissel Kobe 3-0 Omiya Ardija
Kawasaki Frontale 4-3 Jubilo Iwata
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0-1 Albirex Niigata
Sagan Tosu 1-1 Vegalta Sendai
Urawa Reds 1-2 Yokohama F. Marinos
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Kashima Antlers

JSoccer.COMment:
Cerezo proved once and for all how inconsistent they are by giving Cosadole Sapporo their first win of the season! Yusuke Kondo scored the winner in the 25th minute and Consadole hold on for the three points.

Vissel Kobe fired coach Wada, put Adachi in charge for a couple of games while they work out finances with Akira Nishino, travel arrangements with Stuart Baxter, or work up enough courage to approach Pep Guardiola! (I also suggested that Michael Laudrup be considered!). The new coach will be happy to know that Vissel played with freedom and confidence and destroyed Omiya Ardija with ease! Goals from Ogawa, lee and Mogi (his first touch) sealed the points for Vissel.

Frontale found their goalscoring touch under new coach Kazama, but almost let Jubilo back into the game late on. Jubilo are being found out after their start seemed better than they deserved? Yajima scored two for Frontale.

Sanfrecce gave Albirex their first win of the season, just when it seemed Sanfrecce would make a run at Sendai on top. Were Sanfrecce bad, or did Albirex finally come good? A bit of both, it seems!

Tosu held unbeaten Vegalta to a draw, just as predicted on this very site in the previews. Is that the beginning of the end for Sendai? Will S-Pulse take them out this weekend and send them on a downward spiral? Watch this space!

Reds gave Marinos an unexpected second win in-a-row on Thursday. Saito scored a lovely goal (does he ever score simple ones!!?), Makino matched his brilliance with one of his own to make it 1-1, but old soldier Marquinos came on as a late sub and confounded us all with the winner!

S-Pulse staked their claim to be title contenders with a 3-0 drubbing of resurgent Antlers. Ito popped one in at close range very early on, then Takagi scored a screamer, and Omae another well taken volley to round out the scoring and send the away team back to Kashima under a cloud.


Note that FC Tokyo v. Kashiwa Reysol and Gamba Osaka v. Nagoya Grampus – postponed die to ACL commitments – will be played on June 27

Uncategorized

PREVIEW – アルビレックス新潟 vs. ＦＣ東京 – 5/6

Leave a comment

ＦＣ東京 – ＭＦ大竹の今季の出場は絶望的。ＦＷ平山は、３週間は出場の見込みなし。

前節は悪天候の中、サンフレッチェ広島から勝利をもぎ取ったアルビレックス新潟 (点８勝２分２敗５差－３) だったが、９試合でわずか５得点とサポーターには物足りない試合が続いている。今節も１-０の勝利といきたいところだが、そうはさせてもらえないだろう。
一方のＦＣ東京 (点12勝４分０敗４差－２)、出だしは順調だったものの、ここ５試合で４つの黒星と下り坂だ。ただ、渡邊千真がＡＣＬでのゴールに気を良くしているし、ＡＣＬに先発出場せず休息十分の石川にも期待したい。見どころは、ＦＣ東京のスピードに新潟ディフェンス陣が機能するか。ＦＣ東京の勝利か！

両者の対戦は、アルビレックスの７勝、ＦＣ東京の６勝、引き分けが２試合。2008年に連勝して以来、東京のリーグ戦での勝利はない。

Previews

PREVIEW – Albirex Niigata v. FC Tokyo – May 6th

Leave a comment

FC Tokyo – MF Otake must be considered out for the season. FW Hirayama expected to be out at least three weeks.

Abirex Niigata (P9 W2 D2 L5 GD -3) shocked Sanfrecce Hiroshima last time out in a game that appeared to be played by two teams under the weather, a case of bad Sanfrecce as opposed to good Albirex perhaps! Albirex have scored just fve goals in nine games this season, although have only conceded eight goals in that time … not much goal action for the Niigata fans so far but they’ll be happy with another 1-0 win, for sure. They will probably not get it, though.

FC Tokyo (P8 W4 D0 L4 GD -2) have gone on a downward slide after a good start and now sit in 10th place after losing four out of their last five J1 games. The capital team will be looking to halt that slide and Kazuma Watanabe will be expecting the start after a goalscoring ACL performance in midweek. Ishihara didn’t start the game in that ACL win so will be rested and ready to create or score as necessary. Expect the speedy FC Tokyo attack to unpick the lock of the stingy Niigata defence. Except a WIN for FC Tokyo!

Albirex have notched seven wins to FC Tokyo’s six, with two games ending in draws. Tokyo haven’t won in league play since doing the double over Niigata in 2008.

In the Mix, Reports

J1 Round-Up, May 3rd, Matchday 9

Leave a comment

J1 Round-Up, May 3rd, Matchday 9

Here are the results:

Consadole Sapporo 1-0 Cerezo Osaka
Vissel Kobe 3-0 Omiya Ardija
Kawasaki Frontale 4-3 Jubilo Iwata
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0-1 Albirex Niigata
Sagan Tosu 1-1 Vegalta Sendai
Urawa Reds 1-2 Yokohama F. Marinos
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Kashima Antlers

JSoccer.COMment:
Cerezo proved once and for all how inconsistent they are by giving Cosadole Sapporo their first win of the season! Yusuke Kondo scored the winner in the 25th minute and Consadole hold on for the three points.

Vissel Kobe fired coach Wada, put Adachi in charge for a couple of games while they work out finances with Akira Nishino, travel arrangements with Stuart Baxter, or work up enough courage to approach Pep Guardiola! (I also suggested that Michael Laudrup be considered!). The new coach will be happy to know that Vissel played with freedom and confidence and destroyed Omiya Ardija with ease! Goals from Ogawa, lee and Mogi (his first touch) sealed the points for Vissel.

Frontale found their goalscoring touch under new coach Kazama, but almost let Jubilo back into the game late on. Jubilo are being found out after their start seemed better than they deserved? Yajima scored two for Frontale.

Sanfrecce gave Albirex their first win of the season, just when it seemed Sanfrecce would make a run at Sendai on top. Were Sanfrecce bad, or did Albirex finally come good? A bit of both, it seems!

Tosu held unbeaten Vegalta to a draw, just as predicted on this very site in the previews. Is that the beginning of the end for Sendai? Will S-Pulse take them out this weekend and send them on a downward spiral? Watch this space!

Reds gave Marinos an unexpected second win in-a-row on Thursday. Saito scored a lovely goal (does he ever score simple ones!!?), Makino matched his brilliance with one of his own to make it 1-1, but old soldier Marquinos came on as a late sub and confounded us all with the winner!

S-Pulse staked their claim to be title contenders with a 3-0 drubbing of resurgent Antlers. Ito popped one in at close range very early on, then Takagi scored a screamer, and Omae another well taken volley to round out the scoring and send the away team back to Kashima under a cloud.

Note that FC Tokyo v. Kashiwa Reysol and Gamba Osaka v. Nagoya Grampus – postponed die to ACL commitments – will be played on June 27

Previews

Sanfrecce Hiroshima v. Albirex Niigata – preview May 3rd

Leave a comment

Sanfrecce too Strong for Struggling Niigata!

Sanfrecce Hiroshima – Kazuyuki Morisaki is suspended.
Albirex Niigata – Bruno Lopes is suspended.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima (P8 W5 D1 L2 GD +8) walked all over Kawasaki Frontale at the weekend, away from home to boot, and will be looking to increase the pressure on runaway leaders Vegalta Sendai in this game. Against a team second from bottom after eight games they must fancy themselves to score a few goals! Hisashi Sato is in fine form and his supply from Mikic, in particular, on the right wing is paying huge dividends. Expect more goals for Sanfrecce today.

Albirex Niigata are just dire … EXPECT a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA!