JSoccer

Finally, we have a date for the resumption of the J.League. And it’s not as far away as some were predicting: the Japanese domestic footballing calendar will begin once more on 23^rd April.

The J.League clubs most affected by the natural and nuclear disasters -Kashima Antlers, Vegalta Sendai and Mito Hollyhock - will play away or at neutral venues initially until they can restore their stadiums.

The matches that have been postponed will be played during July, a month originally earmarked as an international break. This month is likely to be busy, with 5 rounds of J1 matches and 6 of J2 to be played during it.

Games will be played during the day, whenever possible, to reduce electricity usage, but clearly the hot summer games will require late kick offs and therefore floodlights.

Alan Gibson of JSoccer.com lets us know all we need to know about Vissel Kobe and Urawa Reds...re-live the drama, right here!

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (36)

Alan Gibson of JSoccer.com gives us the low-down on Osaka's hotly-contested local 'derby' between Gamba and Cerezo, as the J.League kicks off in earnest.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (29)

Yes, that’s right...Japanese footballers, known for their humility and professionalism, have decided to...wait for it, wait for it...form a trade union.

Perhaps some in Japan will see this as a backward step, but if the union proposed by the Japan Professional Footballers Association (JPFA) is worth its salt, this development could lead to increasing wages. This in turn could lead to an influx of top foreign talent and a halt to exodus of the most promising Japanese players, like Ryo Miyaichi (now on loan at Feyenoord from Arsenal).

Unionising the JPFA means the players now have the legal right to go on strike, which could happen on 25^th March when Japan take on Montenegro in an international friendly.

The Japanese Football Association (JFA) is currently only paying a daily fee of 10,000 yen plus performance-related bonuses to players selected for national-team duty and the new union is almost certain to demand more money.

At least, Japan’s international stars made decent money during the World Cup in South Africa last year, with six players receiving 20million yen or more and seven getting 18million yen.

The Asian Cup winners made 3.95million each from returning victorious from that tournament, but it’s the money (or lack of it) earned from friendlies which is a more contentious issue.

Japan is now producing some of the most highly regarded footballers in the world and now the inevitable has happened...the players want to be paid what they’re worth.

The incredible ‘sulk’, Sir Alex Ferguson Mark II, call him what you will but you can’t accuse him of being in a good mood after dropping points against Omiya Ardija...yes, we’re talking about Kashima Antlers manager Oswaldo Oliveira!

Unlike Sir Alex, who has banned his players from speaking to the press following Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat against Liverpool, Oliveira could face punishment for not showing up for the post-match press conference following Sunday’s 3-3 home draw.

The hot-headed Brazilian boss also had a touchline dispute with the fourth official, after Shinzo Koroki was denied a penalty in the closing stages.

Oliveira disappeared after the game, perhaps in the mistaken belief that he had been sent off following that altercation. Had he been red-carded, he would not have been allowed to attend the press conference.

In the end, it was his assistant Ryosuke Okuno answering questions as to why Kashima slipped up and were very near losing their opening game, which looked an easy one on paper.

A last-minute own goal from Shusuke Tsubouchi rescued Kashima’s blushes and now Oliviera’s charges will hope to make amends for their poor start with three points away at Shimizu S-Pulse on Saturday.

J.LEAGUE ROUND-UP

WEEK 1 RESULTS

VENTFORET KOFU 0-1 JUBILO IWATA

NAGOYA GRAMPUS 1-1 YOKOHAMA MARINOS

SANFREECE HIROSHIMA 0-0 VEGALTA SENDAI

AVISPA FUKUOKA 0-3 ALBIREX NIIGATA

KAWASAKI FRONTALE 2-0 MONTEDIO YAMAGATA

KASHIWA REYSOL 3-0 SHIMIZU S-PULSE

VISSEL KOBE 1-0 URAWA REDS

KASHIMA ANTLERS 3-3 OMIYA ARDIJA

More than any other J.League club, Gamba Osaka have the right to call themselves ‘the Arsenal‘ of Japan.

Shortly after Gunners boss Arsene Wenger felt it fit to name Nagoya Grampus`s coach Dragan Stojkovic as a potential successor at the Emirates Stadium, it was Japanese boss Akira Nishino drawing the plaudits for his team`s passing football and opening day victory.

It was always going to be tough to start the campaign with a local `derby` against Cerezo, but Gamba`s 2-1 win means they already have 2 points on Stojkovic`s defending J.League champions.

Nishino must be applauded for insisting his side plays the `beautiful game`, but perhaps that`s relatively easy to instil into a side that boast the mercurial midfield talents of Yasuhito Endo.

However against Cerezo, Endo endured mixed fortunes: seeing his penalty saved, but redeeming himself with a superbly struck winner.

Unusually for Endo, his passing was not completely flawless and, in the first half, Cerezo had midfield dominance and looked the more likely team to score.

Gamba could count themsleves lucky that the score was still 0-0 at half-time.

Early in the second half, Gamba`s new signing from Cerezo stooped to head in a goal against his old club, meeting Takumi Shimohira`s left-wing cross.

Gamba boss Nishino was left so frustrated on the sidelines that he even kicked a water bottle, as he saw his side squander their lead.

Like Arsenal, Gamba`s Achilles heel is their defence. The back line was looking decidedly shaky prior to goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya seeing Shu Kurata`s deflected shot dribbling under his body into the net.

Cerezo`s pink-clad fans celebrated like they`d won the Asian Champions League while Gamba banners proclaiming the home support`s `200% anti pink` stance rippled silently in the freezing wind.

Until Endo`s winner that is!

Defending J.League champions Nagoya Grampus needed a late goal from Australia international striker Josh Kennedy to avoid crashing to an opening day defeat against Yokohama Marinos.

Grampus were hoping to recover from a defeat in the Asian Champions League, but fell behind to Shingo Hyodo`s 63rd minute strike.

Kennedy had the chance to equalise with the last kick of the game, after the referee awarded a penalty for Yuzi Kurahara`s challenge on the impressive `birthday boy` Kensuki Nagai.

The big Aussie had to banish all thoughts of his recent spot-kick shootout miss against Kashima Antlers in the Xerox Cup, but luckily for him and his boss, Dragan Stojkovic (earmarked by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as his potential successor at the Emirates Stadium), he despatched it successfully.

STOP PRESS: New podcast out soon! Gamba v Cerezo! Watch this space!

Omiya Ardija are not exactly a household name in the world of football, but lately they have been hogging the headlines in the J League for all the wrong reasons. The president and two members of staff have been implicated and roundly condemned for allegedly inflating attendance figures and now the club faces disciplinary action.

After moving to the NACK5 Stadium in November 2007, the ‘Squirrels’ set a target of attracting 300,000 fans per season by 2009. This may have put the staff under undue pressure to deliver figures that were perhaps unattainable and a little unrealistic. Only those that attended meetings at management level would be able to answer the question as to whether or not the target was SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely). Was the president Seigo Watanabe asked his opinion when the goals were set? If not, then why not? How SMART was the target if, over the past three years, 111,737 extra spectators were added to the figures?   

In the Squirrels’ first home game since the scandal erupted, they attracted a crowd of 10,700 for the visit of Kawasaki Frontale. The previous attendance at the NACK5 for a J League game was 12,888 against Shimizu S-Pulse. Triple 8 is generally considered a lucky number in the Far East, but on this occasion it proved not to be the case for the Squirrels.

Arsenal have offered Japanese starlet Ryo Miyaichi a five-year contract.

The 17-year-old forward was also on trial at Ajax, but suffered a broken fibula.

Medical reports revealed the damage was not as bad as first feared and now Miyaichi is set to join Arsenal from Chukyo High School on 14th December when he turns 18.

Don't forget to click below for the latest J. League podcast from the JLS team!

Joe Leone & Alan Gibson take in new scenery...Gamba's Expo 70 Stadium and watch the beautiful game played at its best J.League style by those passmasters of Osaka! Our reporters are lucky enough to meet Gamba's Executive Officer, Kikuo Kanamori plus a load of the stars like Gamba's Yasuhito Endo, Michihiro Yasuda and his brother Kodai, as well as the Brazilians lads Lucas, Dodo and (physical coach) Brollo. And even Yoshikatsu Kawguchi of Jubilo Iwata, the ex-Portsmouth keeper. Unfortunately, none of these are on this particular podcast, but you can check out Endo on one of the previous episodes...so make sure you do just that!

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (54)

According to Alan Gibson: '"Kisho Yano is Japan's Emile Heskey! Lanky (but not as "beefy" as Emile), Allow me to explain:

"His ball control deserts him more often than it turns up....

"He is missing from games for hours on end, and then pops up to remind you how brilliant he can be, or more often, that you have to get out and buy another sack of spuds for the Mrs.

"He's the manager's pet (Martin O'Neill, I am talking about you!) ... he's rarely dropped, despite more talent getting splinters in the bum on the bench, and is selected time and again for the national team, while showing us bugger all on the field in the Samurai Blue shirt!

"Good luck to him ... I suggest that he won't be missed, even by Albirex Niigata! On the other hand, he could become a legend (or a leg end) in Germany!"

This and other transfer stories concerning the J League are discussed by Joe Leone & Alan in part 1 of this podcast from the Universiade Stadium.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (41)

It's all going off at Vissel Kobe's other home...not the Home's Stadium...no, it's the Universiade, with a silent 'e'! One problem no goals and the other...boring or self-deprecating (take your pick!) presenters: Joe Leone & Alan Gibson! It's part 2 of a 3 part podcast.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (32)

He wears number 7 in a red shirt. He buzzes around. His name's Park. Is he the new Kevin Keegan? Joe Leone asks the questions and Alan Gibson replies...often without answers! Oh yeah, and this is part 3 from the Universiade Stadium, Kobe.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (30)

Alan Gibson of J Soccer tells Joe Leone his opinion of Leicester's probable new signing Yuki Abe: "Interesting ... he has the ability to play at Premier League level so it could be a smart investment for the Foxes.

"He is an excellent holding/defensive midfielder who can also play centre back and has played on either side of the full back positions, too.

"He can also get up and support the attack, and has a few goals to his name.

"Salt & Lineker, Cheese & Owen, Beef & Abe?"

So it's the thumbs up for Abe it seems...and maybe even a new crisp flavour!

Don't forget to check out the latest four podcasts, recorded before, during and after Gampus Nagoya's 3-1 win against Gamba Osaka.

For advertising and other enquiries, please contact us at japanleaguesoccer@yahoo.com

Yuki Abe of Urawa Reds looks likely to join Leicester City.

The 28-year-old midfielder has 49 caps for Japan and is taking time off to consider his options.

To advertise, contact us at japanleaguesoccer@yahoo.com

Joe Leone and Alan Gibson report from the Mizuho Stadium at the top of the table clash between Grampus Nagoya and Gamba Osaka. Nearly 18,000 have been squashed into this small stadium as we tiptoe through the Tulios (a vague reference to Marcus Tulio Tanaka) to sample the atmosphere. Before that Joe and Alan sampled the coffee and Hawaiian (almost George Formby style!) music of Cafe Liseron (http://liseron.jp) and ate some tasty hot snacks outside the ground (http://www.karittogyoza-kogane.com). Then they launch into this so-called bilingual podcast, which for once actually does what it says on the tin! Yes people, if you listen carefully to all four parts you will hear some Japanese spoken! Nihongo podcast, here we come!

To advertise, contact us at japanleaguesoccer@yahoo.com

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (37)

Grampus Nagoya's Denilson and Ashimoto both catch the eye of our intrepid scouts-cum-analysts, Joe Leone and Alan Gibson, as they score to put the home side ahead at half-time.

To advertise, contact us at japanleaguesoccer@yahoo.com

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (30)

Are Gamba Osaka the Arsenal of the J League. 60% possession, perhaps, against Grampus, but only one goal to show for it. And no points. Joe Leone and Alan Gibson discuss this, amongst other things.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (26)