Inconsistent Cerezo to Show Their Good Side?!

Cerezo Osaka – DF Takahashi will be out for a month.

Cerezo Osaka (P7 W3 D1 L3 GD +2) have, once again proved their inconsistency this season already with away wins at Frontale and Ardija and home losses to Albirex and Antlers – the latter after taking a 2-0 lead! Can we expect the good side or the bad side of Cerezo today? With the likes of Kiyotake and Kim on excellent form, ably supported by the future of the game in Ogihara, Yamaguchi and more, surely Cerezo will bounce back from last week’s defeat at Kashima and put the Shizuoka pretenders in their place today?

Jubilo Iwata (P7 W4 D2 L1 GD +3) have a draw with Sendai, two 1-0 wins and a referee-assisted win against Gamba Osaka – one goal offside and the best dive of the season so far by Maeda for a PK – in their last five games and equal 2nd spot seems to be more than their performances deserve, but it’s goals and points that count in the end. I think the good side of Cerezo will be on display here so you can expect a WIN for CEREZO OSAKA!

Sendai to Destroy Albirex!

Vegalta Sendai – Akamine is out with a muscle strain

Albirex Niigata (P7 W1 D2 L4 GD -3) have struggled to make any kind of impact this campaign, despite the arrival of Shoki Hirai on loan from Gamba, and the return of Kishi Yano from an unsuccessful stint overseas. Their single win this season came at the wildly inconsistent Cerezo Osaka, before they succumbed to J1 newbies Sagan Tosu last week, and things were back to normal. Seven games, four goals is all this team can show for the season, don’t expect goals against the best team in the league – unbeaten and flying!

Vegalta Sendai (P7 W6 D1 L0 GD +12) are five points clear of 2nd place already and have notched 18 goals in their 7 game so far. Akamine – score of four of those goals) is out for a few weeks, but Ota (4 goals), Sekiguchi (3 goals) and Wilson (2 goals) will be more than ready to take on the mantle of goal scorers. Last time out FC Tokyo were sent packing in a 4-0 victory, while the week before they beat 2011 champions Reysol on their own turf. Do not expect Albirex to put a dent in Vegalta’s unbeaten start to this season – EXPECT a WIN for VEGALTA SENDAI!

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!

Omiya to Build on Derby Victory!

Omiya Ardija (P7 W2 D1 L4 GD -2) have played well and lost – they were all over FC Tokyo only to lose to a wonder goal from Lucas, and played well and won (last week against Urawa Reds!). They have the potential to get away from the relegation zone and stay out of it, especially if the likes of U23 midfield dynamo Higashi, and the left-sided team of Shimohira and Cho hit form. Presuming that they continue to put things together they should have no problem in taking the points from the bottom team this time out.

Consadole Sapporo (P7 W0 D1 L6 GD -8) look to be aiming to set a record for the least number of points in a J1 season as they continue their losing streak, the only point they have to show so far this season is a home 0-0 draw with Jubilo Iwata on opening day – after that they have lost six in-a-row and are floundering on the bottom, already six points behind the safety zone of 15th position. While they have scored five goals, they have conceded 13 so expect them to get on the scoresheet at some time during this game, perhaps, but for Omiya to be too strong. A WIN for OMIYA ARDIJA!

Gamba to Continue Recovery!

Kashima Antlers – CB/Defensive MF Koji Nakata has resumed training but is probably not yet ready for selection.

Both teams had disastrous starts to the campaign, Gamba Osaka (P7 W2 D1 L4 GD -3) going as far as replacing their coaching team after also showing badly in the AFC ACL. Since the change Gamba have notched a draw and two wins. They also, and this is not a change have the most potent attack in the division, apart from leaders Vegalta, but the worst defence – plus ca change, plus ca meme chose! If Gamba can get the defence together, and they have failed in that in recent seasons they could be a danger at the top. For now, their fans will be happy with a few more wins to move them away from the bottom of the table. They are gradually changing the team and this season will be one of consolidation while the youngsters gain experience, but they will be up for a game against perpetual rivals Antlers.

Kashima Antlers (P7 W2 D1 L4 GD -4) have turned around their disastrous start with two wins in a row in their last two games but still have a long way to go. If Koroki and Osako up front are give a decent run in the team, and the creative talents of the likes of Endo in midfield are given their head, there is no reason that Antlers will continue to struggle in the lower half of the table. Last time out the showed their spirit by coming back from 2-0 down to beat Cerezo Osaka 3-2, with a late winning goal from Endo to give Antlers, while they won away at FC Tokyo the week before – their season has finally begun? A tight one to call as both teams are finally coming out of the doldrums, expect a scoring DRAW!

Sanfrecce to Halt Frontale Progress!

Kawasaki Frontale – DF Jeci has cruciate ligament damage of the left knee and is expected to be out for three months.

A couple of early season fortunate 1-0 wins gave Kawasaki Frontale (P7 W3 D1 L3 GD 0) a rather flattering position but the powers-that-be were not fooled and relieved coach Naoki Soma of his position and have installed Yahiro Kazama as his replacement. The coach spent plenty of his playing career in Germany and is also in the history books for scoring the first ever goal in the J.league – for Sanfrecce Hiroshima on opening day in 1993 – and has resigned from his post coaching at Tsukuba University to take on this role. New coach, new approach? Certainly the new coach syndrome, and home advantage will help Frontale take this game but is the team good enough in the long run?

Sanfrecce Hiroshima (P7 W4 D1 L2 GD +5) stuck at their job last weekend and managed to break through a stubborn Nagoya Grampus defence in the final seconds to gain a precious home point and will be expecting to take all three points in this game but Sanfrecce’s last two games – a draw and a loss – is starting to reveal their true colours after a great start… Kawasaki are by no means a good team (yet) this season, but will do enough here to take the points. EXPECT a WIN for KAWASAKI FRONTALE!

Reysol to Recover!

Last year’s champions Kashiwa Reysol (P7 W2 D1 L4 GD -2) are struggling in the bottom half of the table and are as good as out of the AFC ACL, which may well be a good thing as this inexperienced squad struggle to match the heights of last season. They are no longer a surprise team and teams now know what to expect on a visit to Kashiwa. Reysol have lost three of their last four and will be relieved to welcome back Leandro Domingues and Hiroki Sakai after suspensions last weekend. They capitulated to Vissel Kobe – who were on a five game losing streak – last weekend, and will be hoping to get back to winning ways against this season’s surprise team!

Sagan Tosu (P7 W4 D1 L1 GD +4) have won four of their last five including a 1-0 win at Albirex Niigata last weekend and are surprising many, although surely no-one expects them to repeat Kashiwa Reysol’s feat of last season, coming out of J2 to win the championship! Forward Toyoda does not look out of place in J1 and last weekend saw the debut of Koki Kiyotake – brother of Cerezo’s Hiroshi – who created openings, and the goal for Tozin in his short time on the field and looks to be a bright addition to the Tosu roster. It is time that Reysol got back to winning ways, and, with home advantage at their compact stadium, and with all players to choose from EXPECT a WIN for KASHIWA REYSOL!

Reds to Bounce Back!

Urawa Red Diamonds – MF Naoki Yamada out long term

Nagoya Grampus – 2010/2011 top goalscorer, FW Kennedy must be considered doubtful, although no official news is coming out of the Nagoya camp.

It’s 2nd (Grampus) against 6th (Reds) but just one point separates these teams and both will be looking to make up ground on Vegalta Sendai as they race away at the top. Nagoya (P7 W4 D2 L1 GD +4) will look at it as two points dropped last weekend, after Sanfrecce Hiroshima equalised deep into injury time and will be stung – Reds should beware the backlash.

Urawa Reds (P7 W4 D1 L2 GD +3), however had the worst result imaginable – certainly by their fans – last weekend, losing out in very unconvincing fashion in the Saitama Derby, Omiya Ardija taking them out 2-0.

So both teams hurt last weekend, and both teams will be looking for maximum points, but Reds have troubles scoring, Grampus are stubborn at home … expect a DRAW!