The Nagoya Grampus Thread

The reason why we don't have these team threads is because there are no fans of these teams on BS Japan.

Usually if we want to talk about these clubs we just do it in the J1 thread.

Most people on BS Japan are either Urawa or Marinos fans.

 

Grampus U-18 won the J-Youth Cup

 

Funny story, Nagoya will extend Yuki Maki but he'll make a conversion from forward to defender. Good thing he noticed he's not talented, hopefully he'll make a solid backup in defense with his height.

 

Tulio must be worried about his place in the squad! Seriously, though, surely they aren't serious. If they are, TG he'll be fifth or sixth choice. I'd rather have Nikki Havenaar...

But on a more exciting topic, this season, for the first time, Grampus will be playing the majority of their home games outside Nagoya. Going to Toyota suits me fine, but I wonder what Nagoya city and the JFA make of this drift away from their home base, not to mention their devoted fans to the north and west of the city.

 

But dont u think most fans prefer watching games at Toyota over Mizuho? I know for once I would, and I would gladly travel the extra hour or so (?) it takes to get to Toyota. But since its not technically in Nagoya anymore, I guess some fans could get mad yeah.

 

An extra hour on the travel time, an extra 1000 yen on the day out... For me, a small price to pay for watching a game in splendid surroundings at Toyota. But I can't speak for "most fans". Obviously the club have done their sums, and they get bigger crowds at Toyota than at Mizuho, so what's to lose?

Except that obviously they are Nagoya Grampus not Toyota Corolla (or whatever). In the long run, if they are going to play most of their home games in a sizeable and completely separate municipality, what does the name mean? If Sanfrecce played in Iwakuni or Sanga played in Otsu, would it matter? When does it stop being your local team?

 

Yesterday's training match with Fukuoka Univ ends 7-1 to Grampus. First half with the "first team" is 4-0 (Kennedy not at the Kyushu camp). Second half with the "second team" (and some new guy - Maki - playing CB ) is 3-1. Naoshi is in the second team, whose attack is made up mostly of ex-youth players. Tanaka Teruki bags two to add to the couple he got in the second half against Oita HS.
Another interesting piece of news is Isomura being called up to the NT squad for Iceland. Of course, it's a mixed bunch of players with few if any of the regulars, but nice to see that a youth team player has broken through - perhaps the first since Maya.

 

On Tuesday Nagoya beat Oita 3-1 in a training match. "First team" were leading 2-0 after 70 mins (both from Ogawa - making a comeback to goal-scoring?). Yoshida scored for the "second team" with Trinita pulling one back before the end.
Looks like Grampus are experimenting with three at the back, giving Abe and Hayuma more freedom to attack. Fujita, Kennedy and Nakamura were missing from this game, and Tanaka T replaced Tamada after an hour. Could this be a transition season for some of the veterans?
Next game is against J2 newcomers Matsumoto Yamaga (where's the Gifu game?) on Saturday at the Toyota Sports Center (14.00).

 

Not a lot appears to have happened in the training match between Nagoya and Matsumoto yesterday. In a game of three halves (45 mins each), the "first team" played the first half with four at the back, Naoshi in midfield and Nagai up front. (Fujimoto and Kennedy were the main absentees.) For the second period Naoshi was replaced by Daniel and the team presumably went to three at the back. Stojkovic has been saying that he wants the team to play both ways, and to be able to switch smoothly. Mid-way through the half Nagai came off - can he lead the line on his own? - and Isomura went on to shore up midfield. Near the end of the second period, the "second team" took over, with Taguchi scoring early in the third period and Matsumoto equalising ten minutes later. More substitutions in the middle of the third period made sure that everyone had a run out. My feeling is that Pixy is pretty conservative in his player selection and tactics, but he should be feeling happier with a few more options this season as younger players grow nearer the level of J1.

 

Another practice match, this time against Zweigen Kanazawa, sees Kennedy return to the fold - and score twice in his first game back! Tamada and Ogawa were missing, and Pixy played a back four, with Nakamura starting instead of Isomura in midfield. The "second team" played the third (45 min) period, during which Kanazawa equalised and Takahara (young U18 striker newly promoted to the squad) was injured and will be out for the first half of the season. Final score 2-2.
And so on to the real business with the ACL game on Wednesday against Seongnam.

 

Do Nagoya have any fit midfielders for Sunday haha. Danilson picked the wrong time to get sent off. Be good to see Isomura get a chance, I hear he is a talented boy, although I've only see him play 20 mins so I can't judge.

 

Oh and Nagai's dive the other day was unbelievable. I hope the manager has a word.

 

Yeah, it was bad even by AFC standards, angered a lot of football pundits in Australia.

 

Nagai should leave the diving to Tamada. I mean, that's what he's on the team for, isn't it?

 

take Tamada out of this team and you win 60% less games.

 

Difficult to get evidence for this, since he rarely ever misses a game, but Nagoya certainly win more games when he doesn't take the penalties.

 

How would Kennedy manage to get over 10 goals without his penalties ? I agree with you.
(still wake up at night remembering this PK, Nagoya would already be qualified, pffffff)

 

Tamada is king!

 

Anyone have an idea on how Nagoya are playing against Cerezo Osaka. Can't find a link anywhere.

 

http://ja.justin.tv/reds2024
Currently 0-1.