Tag Archives: Otaka

Previews

FC Tokyo vs Vegalta Sendai at Ajinomoto 15.30, Dec.1st

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Team News
FC Tokyo – no suspensions, DF Hiramatsu and MF Otake are both long-term absentees and DF Nakamura is a new injury, at least 3 months out.
Vegalta Sendai – no suspensions, DF Uemoto is a long-term injury absentee.

Head to Head – 3 wins for Sendai, 2 for Tokyo and 3 draws stretched over ten years and just 8 meetings.

Match Preview – FC Tokyo haven’t won since their 5-0 defeat of bottom team Consadole four games back and have literally nothing to play for but their pride. They might gain a place if they win and S-Pulse lose but not a lot riding on this game for them. Having said that, they face a deflated Vegalta Sendai, who lost last week to a team seemingly headed for J2, and gave away the Championship. They will be deflated, depressed and away from home. They can not be caught by any of the teams below them so their position, and their prize money is already set. I am expecting a half-hearted performance from them today (if they were home it might be different) and A WIN for FC TOKYO!

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview – Kashima Antlers vs FC Tokyo at Kashima Stadium – Oct.6, Matchday 28

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Team News
Kashima Antlers – NO suspensions, the only injuries are Nakata and Yamamura – both long-term.
FC Tokyo – FW Hirayama is said to be ready to return, MF Kaga is out, DF Ota is doubtful, MFs Kawano and Otake, DF Hiramatsu are long term absentees.

Head to Head – Tokyo have not beaten Antlers since 2008 and just 3 times in total since 2003, with Antlers winning 10 and 4 games ending as a draw.

Match Preview – Kashima Antlers held Gamba Osaka to a draw away last time out but remain just 4 points away from the drop zone – in the shape of Gamba Osaka in 16th place – and will be desperate for a win here, at home against a slightly improving FC Tokyo. A loss for Antlers, especially with the form of those teams around them could spell trouble for the Kashima team but their only win in their last five was a fortunate three points against Vissel Kobe and they will be hard-pressed to pull out a win here against an FC Tokyo team that have won three of their last five and are looking to hit the top six, or even better, in the final games of the season. Some of the injuries that have affected the team are history and recent signing Vucicevic is settling in and getting among the goals – I think we should EXPECT an FC TOKYO WIN here!

Previews

J1 Preview Aug.25th – 19:00 Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs FC Tokyo at Hiroshima Big Arch

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FC Tokyo – MF Otake out for the season, DFs Ota, Jang and Hiramatsu out for a few more weeks each, no news on FW Hirayama from the club, MF Hanyu may be set to return but needs match fitness.

Head to Head – 7 wins for Sanfrecce, just one for FC Tokyo and 5 draws since 2004, all in J1.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima sit atop the J.League four points clear of Vegalta Sendai, after the clubs around them all dropped points recently. Having said that, Sanfrecce themselves lost at home to S-Pulse when they topped the division two weeks ago so anything can happen with the “Curse of the Top Team” in J1! But FC Tokyo are seriously tiring and showing dire form right now, with fans seriously worried about them dropping into the relegation battle after such a good start to the season. A win for FC Tokyo here would settle the team, go some way to rebuilding shattered confidence and pull them away from a potential nail-biting final two months. But Tokyo are beset with injuries and inconsistencies and I can’t see them taking out a Sanfrecce riding high at the top, especially if Hisashi Sato – J1 top scorer – is allowed time in front of goal.
With five or six teams poised to challenge, if a decent run can be ut together, the fate of Sanfrecce’s Championship aim is in their own hands now and I can not see them losing today.
EXPECT a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA!