Official 2016 J1 Thread

Championship round:

1st game: 6th November
Semifinal: 23rd November
Final 1st leg: 29th November
Final 2nd leg: 3rd December

Those dates could be different of one of the clubs in the final of CS round will make it to ACL final (26st Novemeber). In that case the semifinal will be held on 22th November and first leg of the final on 30 November. This means that at least half of the J1 clubs will start winter vacation at the end of October, 3 weeks earlier than it happened in the past.

 

I can't believe Kashima won't get Championship this year.
Plus, I'm curious about Omiya.

 

Gamba played the first game at their new stadium against Grampus in a friendly which ended 3-1 to Gamba.

 

So it's just a little bit over a week until the season kicks off again.

Anyone planning to see any of the opening matches in the stadium? What are your expectations for the upcoming season? How will the Japanese teams in ACL respond the spending spree in China? The title-chase will most likely be fairly similar to last season, but which teams looks most likely to struggle?

Discuss=)

 

I hope this will be the right year for ACL campaign. And title-race will be very open: at least six teams IMHO have a slight chance of clinching the trophy.

 

The four ACL-teams + Kawasaki and mostly Kashima.

 

Without ACL, yes.

 

"Kawasaki" and "win" should never come in the same sentence.

 

The opening game of 2016 season will be played tomorrow! Fuji Xerox Super Cup will start the new season in Yokohama, the game will start at 1:30 PM JST so don't miss it.

​

 

Kawasaki Frontale is the Japanese version of Bayer Lever-"Never"-Kusen.

.. but who knows?

 

Don't rate the Xerox cup really, it's on National TV but not really bothered to watch it. It's in many ways a meaningless match imho!

Stoked to see that Sky Perfect will broadcast atleast 1 game per round in 4K quality, I believe that will be the first league worldwide to get such coverage! Champions League is being sent in 4K in some countries in Europe, but dont think any national competitions are being sent ( Premier League will start next season).

J.League were also first in the world with 3D I think a few years ago?

 

FT: Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-1 Gamba Osaka.

All goals were scored in the 2nd half.

Scorers:

H.Sato 1-0.
T.Asano (PK) 2-0.
T.Usami 2-1.
P.Utaka 3-1.

Congratulations for Sanfrecce.

 

Hey! We do have actual fans though! Also we weren't one of the original J.League members - upstarts if you will

 

Really booooring game... But Utaka's goal was nice.

 

Nothing for now. But Sanfrecce has really a solid mentality.

 

That was not a very deep analysis, was it?

Here's one example of mine:

KASHIWA REYSOL:

Last season:

- 10th place ( Stage 1: 14th / Stage 2: 8th )

Transfers In:

- GK Kosuke Nakamura (R)

- DF Junya Ito (R)

- DF Jiro Kamata (S/R)

- MF Juliano Mineiro (S/R)

- FW Diego Oliveira (I)

-

Transfers Out:

- GK Takanori Sugeno (I)

- DF Kim Chang Soo (R/I)

- DF Daisuke Suzuki (I)

- DF Naoya Kondo (S/R)

- DF Masato Fujita (S/R)

- MF Kenta Kano (S/R)

- FW Cristiano (I)

- FW Masato Kudo (R/I)

-

Expected Starting Lineup:

- 4-2-3-1:


- Nakamura


- Ito – Eduardo - Masushima – Wako


- Kobayashi - Otani


- Taketomi - Barada – Otsu (I)


- Diego Oliveira (I)

ANALYSIS:

Defence:

- Reysol have lost 3 out of their 5 defensive player since last season, if we include GK Sugeno. Both Suzuki and Sugeno were considered key players, and the players brought in will have a hard time replacing them. Had a decent defensive record last season, but with all the changes might struggle more this year.


- 6/10p

Midfield:

- They have kept most of their midfield intact, and not really made too many changes there. Got very exciting players on the wings, but could probably have done well with a stronger defensive midfield.


- 7/10p

Attack:

- Both Cristiano and Kudo are gone, who stood for 24 of Reysol’s 46 goals last season which is more than half. Leandro also left mid-season last year, so there aren’t that many goalscorers left. They expect big things from the new striker Diego Oliveira, and he needs to deliver immediately if Reysol are to have any shot at a top 4 finish.


- 6,5/10p

Overall: 19,5/30p


Prediction 2016 : 7th – 10th place

- A disappointing season for Reysol last year, as they were expected to be a contender for at least an ACL-finish. Finished stronger than how they started it though, which is a positive thing to bring in to the new season. Got a new manager in Milton Mendez, and with so many players having left as well there are a lot of question marks over Reysol this year.

 

Junya Ito is a FW.