Seriously, what is it about his team? Seven league titles - three in a row - they're still in the cup and you wouldn't bet against them. It's not even like it's phase - they've been kick ass and racking up titles since the J. League started. I envy their success, but I can't help respecting a team who has been so consistently good for so long. What is it they do differently that makes them the ultimate J. League club?
I think it's alot of things....... 1. They are in a market where they are the team in the region. That's including baseball. 2. They picked the right guy to be their first icon in Zico. The team still feels his influence and the respect he helped the team get has helped to bring in top tier coaches, including Olivera (Even though I think he's an arrogant crybaby) 3. They've done a good job of bringing in young talent and working them in to their lineup. 4. They target needs and upgrade well........Already they are rumored to be linked to 4 players who would help them shore up weaknesses (Gilton, Park, Kagawa, and Kanazaki) 5. They bring in foreign players who are professional and fit in with the team. 6. They are skilled and physical.......always have been. 7. They don't turnover the lineup every year but they don't let things get stale either. 8. They let guys go who they have no plans for instead of making them rot in reserves even if the players are talented (players like flexibility.....if it doesn't work out, they don't want to be in purgatory) I don't like the Antlers but I can stomach them winning because they earn it.
Difference I see with Antlers and other bigger clubs particularly Urawa is that they buy players for a specific given need in a system that's already been implemented. Urawa on the other hand seem to wanna buy every talented young player in the league but they don't know what to do with them. Also, they don't let the ACL interrupt their league ambitions as much as the other ACL sides do.
I might be wrong, but they also seem not to be as injury-prone as other teams are... I more or less remember them playing with tha same 11 for two years now.
You'd have to wonder how they'll fare, next year, if they take the Champions League seriously. They have the potential to win the tournament, but how would it damage their domestic chances? They probably need Ogasawara to stop getting red carded in the first leg of games, too. It seems like as soon as that happens, they get knocked out in the next game.
Interesting discussion. For starters, they historically have a strong identity and clear goals that were set out form the beggining of the J-League, apart from a deep identification and support in the region. They have stability, a good youth system and a balanced mix of veterans and foreigners. fc koshigaya mostly covered it, there's not much more to add. They're my favourite Japanese team, been following them since the mid-90's. So naturally, I'm delighted with their 3 titles in a row, although I do think it would be good if some other teams rose up to the challenge and broke their hegemony.
just wondering... did kashima change their name from 鹿島アントラーズ to 鹿島アントラーズFC? http://www.so-net.ne.jp/antlers/news/detail/20100128_13_2508.html
did not hear anything about it. As far as I know, Kashima Antlers FC is the name of the managing company of the club. The club name is still Kashima Antlers I believe.
Somehow related: I have noticed that in official documents Kyoto Sanga FC is still "Kyoto Purple Sanga Ltd."
Re: Official 2010 J1 Thread [R] How many games have Kashima played so far? 7? 1 Xerox Supercup 3 League Games 3 AFC Champions League And still are undefeated, they really have depth in their squad not only in their starting XI but in their bench as well . I hope they can win the League and the ACL.
Re: Official 2010 J1 Thread [R] In the ACL, it will all come down to Round-of-16 for Kashima. They most likely will face Pohang or Adelaide.
Persipura Jayapura's manager rested five starters on Wednesday because he decided to punt two matches into the competition and focus on the domestic league: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/sports/black-pearls-wave-white-flag-in-asian-champions-league/365857
Re: Official 2010 J1 Thread [R] I'm not sure whether Adelaide would be better off with Kashima or Jeonbuk. I'm personally hoping Adelaide end up with Jeonbuk because I think Kashima will be much more difficult opposition (you know, with a defence, and everything), but that means you guys had better come first. I can see Kashima walking all over this year's Pohang.
Re: Official 2010 J1 Thread [R] I think Kashima would rather face Adelaide in RO16 despite their loss against Adelaide in two seasons ago. Pohang's current manager is the actual brother of Oswaldo de Oliveira.
Re: Official 2010 J1 Thread [R] What's better than, as the saying goes (despite taking it out of context), "Keeping it in the family?"
Hvaen't been following them (don't live in Ibaraki anymore), how's the 2 Brazilians (Gabriel and Gilton)?
More than a couple of hours, according to the website. http://www.so-net.ne.jp/antlers/access/stadium.html It's easier to get there from Mito, if that helps...
I was thinking for the Emperor's Cup game vs Roasso, on 10/9. Two hours seems doable. Are you going too......??? I am undecided between that and Marinos-Sagan.
For Tokyo, the bus seems like a much more popular option than the train based on fan usage I've seen.