Tag Archives: Omiya Ardija
J2 Kanto Bites ‘Team of the Season’….
After much deliberation, I’ve finally settled on my J2 Kanto Bites ‘Team of the Season’.
Only players from Omiya, JEF, Verdy and Yokohama FC considered! It’s a 4-2-3-1 line-up!
GK: Kato (OMI)
DF: Watabe (OMI), Ibayashi (VER), Komoto (OMI), Kazuki Anzai (VER)
DMF: Misao (VER), Paulinho (JEF)
AMF: Sugimoto (VER), Ienaga (OMI), Izumisawa (OMI)
FW: Pecnik (JEF)
Overall player of the season – IZUMISAWA
JSoccer Magazine Issue 17 is here! Order before Sept.15 for FREE WORLDWIDE delivery!
JSoccer Magazine Issue 17 is here! Order your copy before September 15th and you qualify for FREE WORLDWIDE delivery.
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If you prefer the Pay-What-You-Like PDF, we are ready for you!
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Shinji Okazaki is on the cover and there is SO MUCH MORE inside… here are a few page grabs to whet your appetite.
Bare Returns to Ventforet Kofu!
Bare is BACK!
Last week Ventforet Kofu reported that they were about to re-sign the legendary forward named Jader Volnei Spindler – better known as Bare! Technically, as the making of legends go, Bare probably made more of a name with Gamba Osaka after he left Kofu for pastures greener but any player who scores SIX goals in a single match as important as a promotion play-off probably sealed his legendary status right there and then!
Before appearing for Ventforet the young Brazilian had two spells at Omiya Ardija. The first came in 2001 as a “special case/under minimum age” foreign player, and even then he racked up 13 goals in his 30 appearances. He returned to Ardija in 2003 after two very unassuming seasons in Brazil and his 37 goals in 84 matches was key to Ardija getting promotion to J1. Then came the move to Ventforet and a very creditable 37 strikes in 67 games.
Bare did eventially make that move to Gamba Osaka in 2007 – following in the footsteps of Araujo and Magno Alves, and preceding other Brazilians like Leandro, who all came to Gamba via their excellent scouting network – a network that often took lesser-known Brazilians at smaller clubs to greater heights, before selling them off – or seeing them lured away – to Arabic clubs.
Bare scored 30 goals in less than 50 games for Gamba before garnering a reported 5 million Euros-plus transfer fee from Dubai’s Al-Ahli, who he helped win the league title the year after with 22 goals in 37 matches.
Gamba fans will always remember Bare’s performance in the Pan-Pacific Championship, of course, when he scored four goals in the final against Houston Dynamo, in a 6–1 victory for Gamba!
The player did return to Japan after his Arabian adventure, to play for Shimizu S-Pulse in 2012-13, when he managed four more J.goals in 16 appearances before moving to Tianjin Teda in Korea, where his output has been far less prolific. Will he be able to help Ventforet stave off relegation in 2015? Adriano – another player that Gamba picked up, “improved” and sold off is currently plying his trade in Kofu, also, but seems to have seen his best days already. Will Bare go the same way? Or will the legend see a new chapter written?
Ventforet Kofu officials hope to have their new marksman in the team on May 10th, against Shonan Bellmare, if the paperwork goes to plan. Golden Week won’t help in the registration department, but after a hectic holiday campaign some fresh blood and a new hope may be just what is needed for the perennial strugglers of Yamanashi. Beware, Bellmare, beware! This imposing 6 ft. 3 in. striker isn’t coming for a holiday!
Emperor's Cup Quarter Finals, Dec. 23rd 2012
Quarter Finals December 23rd:
13:00 Cerezo Osaka v. Gamba Osaka at Nagai Stadium, Osaka
15:00 JEF Utd Ichihara Chiba v. Kashima Antlers at Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
13:00 Nagoya Grampus v. Yokohama F.Marinos at Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya
13:00 Omiya Ardija v. Kashiwa Reysol at Kumagaya Stadium, Saitama
Semi Finals to be played on December 29th as follows:
13:00 Gamba or Cerezo v JEF or Antlers at Ecopa Stadium, Shizuoka
15:00 Grampus or Marinos v Ardija or Reysol at Kokuritsu Stadium, Tokyo
The Final of the 92nd Emperor’s Cup will be held on January 1st at Kokuritsu Stadium, kick off 14.00
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Omiya Ardija at Outsourcing 15.30, Dec.1st
Team News
Shimizu S-Pulse – DF Yoshida is suspended, MF Hattanda is doubtful with an injury.
Omiya Ardija – no injuries or suspensions.
Head to Head – 9 wins for S-Pulse, 4 for Ardija, and 5 draws since 2005.
Match Preview – Omiya Ardija have put a superb run together and are now safe in J1 for another season of struggle in 2013 – or are they? Will they finally improve next season or will they mess it up, again? Survive, and shoot themselves in the foot! Many fans feel that the biggest improvement has been Komoto at centre back and, if all is well he will hold off the S-Pulse attack today, while the likes of Cho and Higashi finally live up to their potential! Another win against S-Pulse and the team can go out on a high for the season – unbeaten since two defeats to Sanfrecce and Vegalta way back in August – and try to build on that.
Shimizu S-Pulse’s youngsters have buckled since the Nabisco Cup final defeat and seem to have given up the ghost going on recent results. Having said that, coach Afshin Ghotbi stated that their performance in the defeat to Kawasaki Frontale last weekend was one of their best in a long time but, nevertheless they have gone down to three league defeats in a row and are ending their season on a down. If the team stay together there will a decent season to look forward to but, for now, the team may well have their focus on the Emperor’s Cup? EXPECT a DRAW!
J1 Preview Nov.7th 19.00 – Omiya Ardija vs Kashima Antlers at NACK 5
Team News
Omiya Ardija – DF Murakami is out long term.
Kashima Antlers – DF Yamamura is a long-term injury victim. MF Renato is ready to return from injury.
Head to Head – In 16 matches between these two teams since 2003, Ardija have won only once, with 4 draws occurring. 11 wins for Antlers.
Match Preview – Kashima Antlers come into the game still in relegation trouble, but wih the boost of a Nabisco Cup Final win at the weekend. Will they be on a roll, or will they be hungover? Their Nabisco win was not emphatic, by far, a penalty kick and a counter attack won the game for them on a very defensive display. Perhaps a similar approach will get them a point, or three, and secure their J1 place for 2013? Osako and Koroki are off form, but Dutra is creating space and chances, and their midfield gets the goals. And will again.
Omiya Ardija are the in-form team and a win today will see them quite probably safe from relegation and pull Antlers into that fight. It is a real six-pointer. They may be disillusioned by quotes from Novokovic in the German press this week that emphasised him saying he looks forward to returning to the Bundesliga in January. Possible out-of-context, and possibly not missed in the end, but the timing was not good. EXPECT a DRAW!
J1 Preview – Sat. October 27th – 14:00 – Kashiwa Reysol v. Omiya Ardija at Kashiwa Stadium
Team News – Kashiwa Reysol – MF Leandro Domingues is expected to miss this game, DF Kondo will be out at least a month. DF Yamanaka will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty.
Omiya Ardija – DF Murakami is out long term, FW Novakovic is doubtful, facing a fitness test.
Head to Head – Four wins each, and five draws in 13 meetings since 2005.
Match Preview – Kashiwa Reysol knocked off Sanfrecce last week and, in doing so, took themselves in to 4th spot, making it three wins in five. It’s been an up and down season, perhaps their entry into the ACL did not help, stretching their squad and causing inconsistency early on in the season. They will be missing Leandro Domingues – last season’s J.League Player of the Season – and it shows, although no complaints about the end result last game! Defender Kondo will also be a big loss but surely they will be strong enough to take out Ardija, especially as a win could take them into 3rd spot.
Omiya Ardija are a place and a point clear of relegation and hoping that they can get something from this game, while those around them slip up. Omiya have steered clear of the bottom three in recent weeks, with a five game unbeaten run, although the last three games have all been draws, while before that they had a 5-0 away win at Sapporo! Don’t expect five goals today, in fact EXPECT a WIN for KASHIWA REYSOL!
J1 Matchday 29 Round-Up
Vegalta Sendai 3-2 Urawa Reds
Yokohama F Marinos 4-0 Jubilo Iwata
Omiya Ardija 1-1 Albirex Niigata
Kawasaki Frontale 2-3 Gamba Osaka
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-1 Vissel Kobe
Sagan Tosu 1-3 Nagoya Grampus
Consadole Sapporo 0-0 Kashima Antlers
Cerezo Osaka 1-1 FC Tokyo
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-2 Kashiwa Reysol
Table, as always, at http://www.jsoccer.com/tables/
It gets ever-more tight in J1 after this weekend’s results after Sanfrecce Hiroshima – sitting atop the league with a five point lead two games back – losing, at home to Kashiwa Reysol, and finding they are now on top on goal difference alone. Meanwhile 2nd placed Vegalta Sendai took out 3rd placed Urawa Reds (3-2) to, realistically make the race for the Championship a two horse race now but, as we all know in J.League, anything can still happen! Shimizu S-Pulse fans will be hoping, no perhaps that should be dreaming that the unexpected CAN occur as they close in on Urawa Reds, albeit with a home draw (1-1) against Vissel Kobe. With a win, S-Pulse might still be dreaming of a final run that brings them the title, but now, they probably have to settle for stealing that 3rd spot off Reds?! BUt, Kashiwa Reysol’s win over the top team meant that they sneaked into 4th spot and are also ready to attack Reds’ position.
Moving on down J1, Nagoya battered Sagan’s usually impregnable home fortress and took all three points (1-3) tp push them down into 9th spot, while Jubilo were indeed battered by Yokohama F.Marinos in a 4-0 win that could well have been 6 or 8-0 from many accounts. Marinos (7th) moved above Iwata (8th) with that win, albeit by just one point, and having equal goal difference.
The mid-table match-up – and mid-table is a compliment / testament to Cerezo, after their season! – ended 1-1, points shared and those teams are in 10th (Tokyo) and 11th (Cerezo) position. Moving into the relegation dogfight, Cerezo on 39 points couldn’t possibly go down now (could they!?) and sitting on the same points total are Kawasaki Frontale, who were beaten at home in a see-saw 3-2 defeat by Gamba Osaka, who have now scored 58 goals (four more than top dogs Sanfrecce!) but have a goal difference of +1! The win was vital for Gamba, as it pulled them to within one point of safety as Omiya Ardija and Albirex Niigata fought out a 1-1 draw. Omiya remain one spot (and one point) above Gamba, but have a 15 goal deficit in the goal difference category, compared to the Osaka team! Could be very important on that final day!
To round off the matches, Kashima Antlers, after “winning” an away point in a scoreless draw in Sapporo, are still not mathematically safe, having 38 points to their name, while that away point at an in-form S-Pulse was vital for Vissel, who sit in 14th position, just one, two and three points clear of Ardija, Gamba and Albirex respectively. It looks as if J1 will be going down to the final day at the top AND the bottom?!
Matchday 29 – JSoccer Magazine Previews J1 Saturday October 20th
13:00 Vegalta Sendai vs. Urawa Reds at Yurtec.S – Reds to Kill Off Sendai Title Hopes?
Urawa Reds need a win to match the 51 points of Vegalta Sendai – a loss and they go six points back with just five games to go. They’d probably have to give up on their championship hopes so need at least a draw, but preferably a win. Sanfrecce will probably be hoping for a draw or, perhaps a Reds win.
On Sendai’s side, a win will give them 54 points, which is what Sanfrecce sit on now – it’s tight at the top and points will be at a premium in the coming month. Reds have lost two of their last three, while Vegalta have lost two of their last four … both teams need some consistency to finish the season to overtake Sanfrecce. Something’s gotta give in this match, and I think that will be Vegalta.
Reds need a goalscorer, instead of relying on last-gasp goals from Popo, but they’ll do enough in this match – EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!
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14:00 Yokohama F.Marinos vs. Jubilo Iwata at Nissan.S – Bore Draw in Order Today?
One of the best defences in J1 at home, entertaining one of the best attacks in the league? Or alternatively, Marinos don’t score too many, while Jubilo have conceded quite a few. Anything could happen! Since their extended unbeaten run came to and end Marinos have gone downhill, boring even their own fans. They’ve won one in their last five and are in No-Man’s land on 40 points.
Having said that, Jubilo are only two points ahead, but four spaces up and were stung by S-Pulse in the Shizuoka Derby last time out. They will be missing international forward Maeda to injury and may struggle to break down this stubborn Marinos defence. Nothing less than a win for either team would be enough to keep them in touch with that 3rd spot and an ACL place in 2013. But I feel this will be a DRAW! Not enough for either team!
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15:00 Omiya Ardija vs. Albirex Niigata at NACK5.S – A Point Each for Relegation Battlers?
This match really is the proverbial relegation dogfight six-pointer. While Albirex have scored only 22 goals (five of them in that one wild game against Grampus), Ardija have just 28, we shouldn’t expect a goalfest! Added to that Albirex have conceded only one more goal than leaders Sanfrecce, BUT have lost their ‘keeper Higashiguchi for the season, and much longer.
Omiya Ardija have been close to relegation over and over, that experience MAY come in useful. They have won two and drawn three of their last five games – an unbeaten run that has seen them move out of the bottom three, just. Albirex have also turned it around with three draws and a win in their last four… it looks very much to me like a DRAW today!
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15:00 Kawasaki Frontale vs. Gamba Osaka at Todoroki – Gamba to Earn Vital Win!
Gamba Osaka will feel hard done by after their loss at Sendai last league match and find themselves three points adrift of safety with the two teams above them playing each other. Gamba are the highest scorers in J1 but also have the second-worst defence in the division, but Kawasaki Frontale are not the best team to take advantage of that.
While Frontale managed to win two out of their last three to hit 39 points and be very close to safety. They lost on a single goal to Reysol last time out and, while their injury woes have cleared up, their teamwork has not really gelled all season … coach Kazama may be looking for a new job next season even if he racks up a few wins before the end of the season.
The desperation of Gamba Osaka will trump the average season that Frontale are having and, presuming that talisman Leandro is fit and raring to go, expect a VITAL WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!
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15:00 Shimizu S-Pulse vs. Vissel Kobe at OUTSOURCING.S – S-Pulse Hangover? Or Extended Run of Success?
Shimizu S-Pulse beat off FC Tokyo for a place in the Nabisco Cup Final last weekend and will either be on a high ready to add to their three wins in-a-row, including that semi-final OR they’ll be hungover from the celebrations and succumb to a Vissel Kobe that REALLY needs the points! Will they build on that today?
Vissel Kobe have been hit by centre back problems, with Kitamoto suspended and Inoha returning from national team duty to report he is three weeks out of the game. They also have Tashiro in and out of the treatment room up front, and Okubo confirmed as missing at least two weeks. It’s time for a big game from Tokura, and Vissel have to pray that the error-prone Takagi is on form if he is selected as a cover centre back today.
Both teams have been rebuilding and, with some luck it could have been Vissel in that top six spot but, instead, they find themselves fighting relegation and need the win. Do they need it more than S-Pulse? EXPECT a DRAW! Shared spoils.
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15:00 Sagan Tosu vs. Nagoya Grampus at Saga – Sagan Home Form to Return!
Just a single point separates these teams in 7th and 8th places and Sagan’s home fortress has been breached recently, although they have still conceded only 30 goals in their maiden J1 season so far and have out-paced all the critics’ expectations, but are fading now as the season draws to a close. Cerezo Osaka took them out last game and they will want to show their home fans that they have not given up on their season yet.
Even though they have only scored four goals in the last five games, two of those were wins… they have lost two of their last three, though, including that confidence-killing 5-0 defeat from Albirex Niigata. Three or four wins in their final month could give them an air of respectability, while three or four losses would see them in the bottom half… what do they have left in them? They will miss Josh Kennedy if he continues to suffer from those back injuries but Tamada, Nagai et al should take on the goalscoring and creating among themselves.
EXPECT a WIN for SAGAN TOSU!
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16:00 Consadole Sapporo vs. Kashima Antlers at Atsubetsu – Surely Sapporo Can’t Win Two In-a-Row!
Last time out in J1 everyone had Consadole Sapporo down for a thrashing at the hands of Urawa Reds, but the surprise of the day, week, month (season?) saw Reds capitulate to the already-relegated team – at home! Once the “relief” of knowing their destiny sweeps over a doomed team, perhaps a change takes place! Could they win another? They’d have to go against history, having never even gained a point against today(s opponents in the past, but nothing is impossible, is it!?
Kashima Antlers made short work of Reysol last week in their Nabisco Cup semi-final and thrashed FC Tokyo 5-1 in their last league match, their up and down season will be on an up this time out and they’ll be hoping to continue their run with a win against Consadole. Osako got back among the goals recently and, with Maeda injured and Havenaar not having the best games in the national team jersey, perhaps Osaka will feel the chance to attract the eye of national team coach Alberto Zaccheroni over the next month or so – it’s now or never, Osako! EXPECT a WIN for KASHIMA ANTLERS!
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18:00 Cerezo Osaka vs. FC Tokyo at KINCHO.S – Cerezo to Continue Rise!
Cerezo Osaka are on the up – four wins in their last five games have taken them to the brink of safety. Re-hired coach Levir Culpi has almost completed his job and will be on his way in early December, leaving a space for a new coach – who that is, and whether Cerezo can hold on to their players for 2013 will decide the future of the team. They will give their all to get the win that will almost guarantee safety.
FC Tokyo have lost two of their last three and sit two points above Cerezo on the 40 points that probably does see them safe, but losing to Cerezo will dent the confidence indeed. Morishige is an influential player to lose on an away trip to a team in form and coach Popovic has not yet shown enough faith in Vucicevic to give him the start, but he looks more the apart than Edmilson – a stopgap at best? I EXPECT a WIN for CEREZO OSAKA!
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19:00 Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Kashiwa Reysol at Hiroshima.B – Sanfrecce to Consolidate Top Spot.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima are unbeaten in their last five and showing the form that should keep their head above water if it continues … with the two teams closest to them playing each other it is their chance to pull away from at least one of them, perhaps both – if there is a draw there! They are reporting no new injuries and have no suspensions and will be confident and ready to consolidate their place at the top. Losing this game will be a tragedy and they will NOT let that happen. Sato will be buoyed by his recognition of national team selection – although he didn’t play on the European tour – and will be on a high that his team will join.
Kashiwa Reysol have lost three of their last four – including a Nabisco Cup semi-final against Kashima Antlers and are missing Leandro Domingues and the reliable Sugai, they realistically have nothing left to play for? Six points out of 3rd place and playing the top team today, they can expect little chance of bouncing back from their cup defeat here today. With Sanfrecce knowing how much this game means I can’t see anything other than a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA!
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