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Previews

J.League J1 Matchday 32 preview – 17:00 FC Tokyo vs Vissel Kobe at Ajinomoto

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17:00 FC Tokyo vs Vissel Kobe at Ajinomoto – Vissel to Win Valuable Points

Team News
FC Tokyo – DF Otake out long term, MF Hiramatsu out for the season.
Vissel Kobe – DFs Hayashi out for sure, Soma doubtful. FW Yoshida facing a fitness test. GK Tokushige not expected to return this week.

Head to Head
Vissel Kobe have suffered 10 defeats and managed just 6 draws, NO wins in 16 meetings since 2003.

Match Preview
If one is realistic, FC Tokyo are one of the few clubs with nothing left to play for this season. They are five points and 6 positions away from an ACL-qualifying spot, and one point safe from relegation with three games to play. They’ll be playing for nothing but pride and bragging rights – and to keep their unbelievable record against Kobe intact – no loss in their last 16 meetings! Their injuries are clearing up, but too late to have any positive effect this season. The cull has begun already with the announcement that on loan striker Edmilson will not be returning in 2013.

Vissel Kobe, on the other hand, need at least one win in their final matches, perhaps more, to overhaul Omiya Ardija, or stay away from Gamba and Albirex. Last week they fired coach Akira Nishino who, it is rumoured, had “lost the dressing room”. The desperation of recent seasons saw Vissel take vital points in the final games, indeed on the final day, and their experience in fighting the pressure will help. They ARE desperate and so will have so much more motivation that their opponents today. Add to that the “new coach” effect or, in this case, the players playing for the man who they all know so well – Adachi, who took over for a few games when Wada was released earlier in the season, also. He began his short caretaker career then with two wins – can he do it again? Yes, he can! EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL KOBE! Their first in three months!

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview Nov.7th 19.00 – Nagoya Grampus vs FC Tokyo at Mizuho

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Team News
Nagoya Grampus – MF Taguchi is suspended. MF Tanabe and DF Sato will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty. FW Kennedy has recurrence of back injury and not expected to be fit. MF Isomura is back in training after long injury break.
FC Tokyo – MF Hasegawa is suspended, MF Hashimoto will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty. DF Ota and MF Kaga are back in training and could be selected. DF Hiramatsu and MF are long term injuries.

Head to Head – Since 2003 it’s 10 wins for Tokyo, 6 for Nagoya and 4 draws. FC Tokyo won the home leg of this fixture earlier this season.

Match Preview – A mid-table match-up? Or a couple of teams still with slim chances of ACL qualification? Either way I am not expecting too much from this one! Both teams have had injury-hit, inconsistent seasons with big wins and unexpected defeats and will be happy to start afresh in 2013, I am sure. The return of Kennedy seemed to boost Grampus, and he certainly creates space and chances for Nagai, but the Australian is injured again – a big loss, perhaps. Home advantage and the wrath of manager Stojkovic over recently lost points may well be the catalyst that gives Nagoya this match?

FC Tokyo – a win and a draw after some bad results recently have given FC Tokyo some impetus as the season draws to a close. They are safe from relegation and, who knows, a few wins in the final month could see them challenging for that 3rd ACL spot – a long shot but worth considering, and well worth them doing their best to win this as it would take them above today’s opponents, and there is some cash at stake too, depending on the finishing position in J1! Hasegawa is missing, suspended, but their injury list is clearing up. Players fighting for a new contract, perhaps, after injury-hit seasons, could pull them through this one – I’ll go for A DRAW though!

Previews

J1 Preview – Sat. October 27th – 17:00 FC Tokyo v. Consadole Sapporo at Ajinomoto Stadium

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Team News – FC Tokyo – MF Hasegawa is suspended, MF Hashimoto will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty. DF Ota and MF Kaga are back in training and could be selected. DF Hiramatsu and MF Otake are long term injuries.
Consadole Sapporo – DF Kushibiki is suspended. MF Sakaki will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty. FW Kondo is back in training but not match fit.

Head to Head – Three wins for Tokyo, just one for Consadole and a draw in only five previous meetings.

Match Preview – FC Tokyo find themselves JUST clear of the relegation zone in a season that promised so much. Just like Reysol, perhaps, they suffered from an ACL campaign stretching their resources, as well as a glut of injuries not helping. They have won only one in their last five, while their opponents today have suddenly found their shooting boots – winning one and drawing the other of their two games since relegation was confirmed. On 41 points, and with a goal difference of minus 4, FC Tokyo can not be said to have set the season alight and may find themselves below Cerezo Osaka by the end of the day.

Consadole Sapporo seem to have had a load lifted by being relegated – it can’t get any worse, it would seem and they have relaxed. They’ve also cleared a few of their injuries up and could / should be planning for a season in J2 already. That does not necessarily mean Tele and Ramon should be playing! I feel that Sapporo have relaxed a little and now feel no pressure, while FC Tokyo are in a slump, lacking confidence and cohesion . . . EXPECT a WIN for CONSADOLE SAPPORO!