Ganbare! J-League Thread

[JohnBM01]

In an attempt to expand my sports knowledge, I'd like to open this thread to talking about all of Japan's J-Leauge. This is my debut in the Soccer forums.

Japanese football is as exciting and as colorful as the European leauges. Usually seen in America on FOX Soccer Channel (formerly FOX Sports World), "Ganbare!" is a weekly show highlighting on Japanese football. It is a leauge featuring teams such as the Yokohama F Marinos, the Urawa Reds, FC Tokyo, Gamba Osaka, Nagoya Grampus 8, Shimizu S-Pulse, and Oita Trinita in the highest class of the J-Leauge. If you wish to discuss the J-Leauge, you have my word.

In 2005, there are two newcomers who have been promoted from J2- Omida Ardijya and Kawasaki Frontale. Both of them had pretty good seasons so far. I haven't seen the latest standings, but for what I know, Tokyo Verdy 1969 and Vissel Kobe are two of the worst teams in the J1 leaderboard. The big names at the top include the Kashima Antlers, Yokohama F Marinos, and even Gamba Osaka.

Simple, huh? Well, let's see how my Soccer forum debut goes with this thread. Remember, this is all about the J-League. Highest class, lowest class. Best teams, worst teams. Close games, blowouts or shutouts. Best today, best then. Reply on.

For more information:
http://www.j-league.or.jp (Japanese)
http://www.j-league.or.jp/eng (English)

 

[Race Idiot]

Don't you have Gol TV in america?

the J-League gets sod all coverage here anyway and I doubt the quality of football is upto the standard of any of the major european leagues. If it was a top league they would be able to hang onto their star players, which the majority are playing in Europe. Although this is only to be expected as the J-League is a fairly young league, only starting in 1993.

Although Man U did get knocked down a peg by Marinos and another side I forget the name of. Mind you they beat the Red diamonds.

Man those teams sure have silly names. I think they have a pretty overly complicated relegation/promotion system in the J-League, eh mind you so does Serie A.

I'm sure you can keep us updated.

 

[JohnBM01]

Well, as I tried to generate a college football fanbase on GTPlanet, I'm kind of hoping I can work on making things work for the J-Leauge. But then, I still think you can say that Japanese football may not have the talent of Manchester United, Arsenal, Crystal Palace (just naming anyone), or what-have-you, there is still some good action. From what I've seen in the highest class, I've seen some long bombs, nice headers, but not to mention some failed excecution and foolish red cards. When watching "Ganbare!," sometimes when I heard of Tokyo Verdy 1969, I keep thinking that the show will cover an old game from 1969. But as you mentioned, the series formed for quite some time. I think that just like Japan's Super GT/JGTC, it's catching on. Only bigtime team I know of in the J-League is Yokohama F Marinos. There's still a lot I have to learn about this brand of football, but I'm getting there.

Of course, any fans of the J-Leauge can come into this thread and get a discussion going. I think for right now, the series is taking a break while it's been the halfway point of J-Leauge Stage One. All of my info is going to come from FOX Soccer Channel, so if anything is old news, my apologies. I usually tune in each Friday to see the latest highlights. But if you want to talk about the J-League, any of its games, any of its teams, this is your thread.

 

[JohnBM01]

By the way, we do have GolTV. The one I have here on Dish is rather boring. No Spanish announcers saying "Gol! Gol! Gol!" Just dull American commentary...

 

[JohnBM01]

The J-Leauge is back underway. Scores courtesy of FOX Soccer Channel show "Ganbare!" Round 19.

Sanfrece Hiroshima at Kashima Antlers; Kashima-Shi, Japan (2-1; Hiroshima) The game featured a big number of yellow and red cards. If you're playing football, you DON'T want the red card.

Gamba Osaka at Albirex Niigata; Niigata, Japan; (4-2; Niigata) Gamba Osaka been around for some time, but no hardware to prove their success. The game was a soggy mess with a good deal of rain out in Niigata. Didn't stop the orange of Albirex Niigata from brining a little sunshine to their team, though. It was a big battle.

Yokohama F Marinos at Jubilo Iwata; Iwata, Japan (3-1; Jubilo Iwata) Yokohama F Marinos are in 8th Place in J1, but in nicer weather. Iwata struck immediately to score the first point. Player #22 for the Jubilo Iwata scored two goals in succession. So last year's Stage 1 champions fell to Jubilo Iwata. The Marinos lost three straight counting this match.

F.C. Tokyo at Urawa Reds; ???, Japan (- #38 for F.C. Tokyo scored his first goal in his J-Leauge debut. Urawa scored thereafter to make it a 1-1 deadlock to end the first half. The Reds scored again with #10 scoring the goal. 54th Minute, as Urawa scored with the Brazilian #17 R. Ponto. FC Tokyo tried to make it a draw, but the Reds go to being seven points under to the Antlers

Shmizu S-Pulse at Cerezo Osaka; Osaka, Japan (1-1; draw) Player #16 of Shimizu scored the first goal with this Korean drawing first blood in the middle of the first half. In Injury Time, the men in blue with pink stripes and white trim drew the game level, as it ended in a 1-1 draw.

Oita Trinita at Kawasaki Frontale; (2-1; Kawasaki) Kawasaki Frontale won only once in their last five matches. The men in powder blue and black (Frontale) scored their first goal of the game over the floundering Oita Trinita club. It didn't mean, however, that Oita were going to sit down and watch as they scored. Kawasaki made it 2-1 with #29 scoring the goal to make it 2-1. The newcomers Kawasaki Frontale took three points. For beating Trinita. Don't get your hopes up, Kawasaki. Next for you- the Yokohama F Marinos, one of the best football clubs in Japan.

Kashima Antlers, Gamba Osaka, and the Urawa Reds make up your top three in J1 after Round 19.

 

[livemusic]

Sorry to be an (fat) ass, but aren´t you spelling league wrong, John?

We don´t get any coverage of the J-League here in Brazil, all I know about Japanese football is that Zico is their National Team's coach. And also they make the best football game in the world! 👍

 

[JohnBM01]

I commonly misspell that, "FatAssBR." You are correct. You aren't being offensive. It's common error for me.

 

[JohnBM01]

Next round action, now. No, sorry... TWO more rounds! Let's do it!


Kawasaki Frontale at Yokohama F Marinos; Yokohama, Japan
The men in dark blue and white shorts and red socks (Yokohama F Marinos). Gunning for an upset, Kawasaki led 2-0 over last year's big champs. Two defeats in five days for the Yokohama giants (2-0; Kawasaki Frontale)

Albirex Niigata at Kashima Antlers; Kashima, Japan
On to eastern Japan. #10 of the black and red of the Antlers prevented Albirex from running away with the game. Player #14 made it 2-1 as another Antler knocked down a beautiful Penalty Kick, then hit another. So it's 4-1 until Niigata knocked one in. Player #9 of the Antlers hit another one. #25 completed the blowout over Niigata. Not even close. Niigata's three-game win streak is snapped facing league-leading Kashima. (7-2; KASHIMA ANTLERS)

Jubilo Iwata at Gamba Osaka; Osaka, Japan
Osaka is the beautiful City of Water in Japan. Osaka (blue shirts with black stripes and black shorts with blue trim) would pay for their bad play as #18 of Iwata banged in a goal to make it 1-0 in favor of the visitors. Gamba refused to stay down as #8 of Osaka made it 1 all and game on after halftime. Osaka's #9 hit another score to make it 2-1 for Gamba Osaka. Minute 84, and #8 made in another score to beat Iwata for good. The question now is, how can they open the flood gates on strugg-a-ling Yokohama F Marinos? (3-1; GAMBA OSAKA)

Vissel Kobe at Urawa Reds; Saitama, Japan
Wear red, party hard! The red and white of Urawa welcomed the horrid Kobe. #21 for Kobe moved ahead 1-nil early until the Reds made things a deadlock into the second half. Kobe's #17 knocked in another goal to make it 2-1 for the visitors. Urawa's #10 wanted a deadlock, and got it with a nice strike even with solid defending. The game ended in a 2-2 draw (2-2 DRAW)

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Yokohama F Marinos at Gamba Osaka; Osaka, Japan
Beautiful Osaka again. The Marinos need some help. #11 for the Marinos knocked in a goal as in the 38th Minute, former Kashiwa Reysol #15 of Osaka made the game 1-1 at the half. The rally to win meant that Oguro of Osaka made it a comforting lead... not quite as #15 of Yokohama made things level again. Osaka fought back in Injury Time as #15 made Osaka get out of their seats and cheer. Yokohama lost three straight (3-2; GAMBA OSAKA)

Kashima Antlers at Tokyo Verdy 1969; Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is a city I'd wouldn't mind going to. In fact, I'd LOVE to go. The Antlers faced 16th place Verdy 1969. Tokyo Verdy 1969 scored after the half as #9 led for the pine green with white stripes. The same player struck again to make it 2-0 in a potential upset. That upset did take place. (2-0; TOKYO VERDY 1969)

Urawa Reds at Nagoya Grampus Eight; Nagoya, Japan
Nagoya played host to Urawa. #4 scored the first odd goal . The Reds made the game a 2-0 blank so far. Nagoya (red shirts, red shorts, and red socks). The Reds (sporting white as the Away team) tried to make life Hell for Nagoya, and they did it beating Nagoya 2-0. (2-0; Urawa Reds)

Kashima, Osaka, Urawa are your Top Three in Stage 1 after Round 21.