Tag Archives: Soma
J.League J1 Matchday 32 preview – 17:00 FC Tokyo vs Vissel Kobe at Ajinomoto
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!
J1 Preview Nov.7th 19.00 – Vissel Kobe vs Yokohama F. Marinos at Home's
Team News
Vissel Kobe – DF Iwanami will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty. GK Tokushige and DF Hayashi definitely out. FW Ogawa is back in training, a possible selection. FW Yoshida and DF Soma undergoing fitness tests.
Yokohama F.Marinos – DF Amano is a long term absentee who is now back in training, but not yet fit?
Head to Head – 8 wins for Marinos, just 4 for Vissel and NINE draws in this fixture since 2003.
Match Preview – Vissel Kobe went through September with loss after loss – October is was draws galore, so November starts with a win? They are just three points above Gamba Osaka in the final relegation spot, and only five above Niigata one spot below. A win here would go a LONG way to ensuring safety in J1 and allow them to build on the fine young players that they have. Injuries and bad luck have plagued the team and they SHOULD be higher than they are. Relegation would not do them justice, and could well see them lose thee promise of the likes of Ogawa, Morioka and Inui, among others, as J1 teams snap them up.
Yokohama F.Marinos are in 7th position, five points off an ACL spot which must seem far away now but is much closer than it ever would have seemed after their dire start to the season. Rumours of Nakamura moving back to Celtic abound right now, and may unsettle the team, or give the fans something to attack the team with, and the promise of Yuji Ono in 2011 has completely disappeared this season. Just 38 goals in their 30 games so far has not been good enough, although their defence is the best in J1 up to now. more goals, more points, more confidence, they could be much higher – find a natural goalscorer and have a great 2013? For now, they have little to play for and may suffer in this game. EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!