VACATION!!!!!!!

Soilent Green will be closing it's doors for 2 and a half weeks because I will be in California. I might get bored and write but don't count on it too much

Anyhow, have a good summer and go USA U-23s!

Now it's official

http://www.verdy.co.jp/news/topteam/?cmd=DispNews&news_id=454

5.5 million euros to boot....not too shabby!

Gametime v.19 Jubilo Iwata

Here is the lineup

I will be in and out tonight.......the big episode of ROOKIES is on and if I can be totally honest, I AM HOOKED. Seriously, I know the show is geared for pre-pubescent girls and the lead actor has horse teeth and not one but TWO of the players have some weird Christian Slater thing going but man I can't get enough of this show. It's a car accident and I'm not proud of it but I watch. CONSTANTLY!

But enough about my slightly FEY TV habits....let's get to the game

AND NOW, THE STARTING LINEUP FOR YOOOOOOOOOOOOUR Tokyo Verdy

GK Doi

DF Wada

Tsuchiya

Nasu

Hattori

MF Sugawara

Fukunishi

Shibasaki

Diego

FW Oguro

Hiramoto

Bench

GK Takagi, DF Fukuda, Iida MF Ono, Kawano, Hiroyama, Iio

SHOES OF THE STARS

Not that it matters but WSM put out an article listing what shoes the players wear for all 18 teams

Here is Verdy

Adidas

Doi and Kawano

Mizuno

Fukuda, Leandro, and Hiroyama

UMBRO

Hagimura, Sugawara and Ono

PUMA

Wada, Diego, Iio, Hattori, Fukunishi, Yoshitake, GK Shibasaki, Ashikage, and Miyasaka

Nike

Nasu, MF Shibasaki, Funakoshi (It's gotta be the shoes MONEY!), Iida, and Oguro

Kappa

Inoue, Tomisawa, Hiramoto, Tsuchiya, and Shinmura

Asics

Takagi, Suzuki, and El Samni

Diadora

Kaimoto

Done Deal

Well, nothing official out of either team but O Jogo got this picture and have an interview with Hulk. I'm guessing he didn't just visit the team shop looking for a cool souvenir.

5.5 hours till gametime

Say goodbye to my little friend-Day 2

Tomorrow marks a homecoming of sorts for two of Verdy's elder statesmen, Toshihiro Hattori and Takashi Fukunishi return to Yamaha Stadium to face baby blue Jubilo Iwata in a MATCH FOR THE AGES!!!!!!!!! Actually, the game is semi-important because it will determine positioning for the 12th and 13th ranked team. A win pushes the winner farther away from relegation danger and adds more distance between themselves and the bottom 4. A loss puts them in peril of being caught by a semi-resurgent Consadole Sapporo squad.

Verdy has had trouble with Jubilo to say the least. In 29 league matches, their record is a staggeringly underwhelming 9-1-19. This year in league play and Nabisco Cup, Verdy has managed to put up 2 goals in 3 games. One was a decent effort by Kazuki Hiramoto for his only goal of the season in league and the other by Daisuke Nasu to bring victory and joy.........to Jubilo.

All 3 games this campaign have been chippy to say the least, with a combined 19 yellows and 1 red dished out (the red going to Shigenori Hagimura in what I believe was his only appearance this season). Jubilo has rode on the of Gilsinho, who has bedeviled Verdy with 3 goals and numerous moves. Norihiro Nishi, Hiroki Bandai, and Bad Bobby Cullen have also pitched in to put their names in the account.

Speculation by both Yahoo! Japan (graphic above blatantly stolen from them), and El Golazo is that former Brazilian U-2o captain and Strasborg midfielder Rodrigo will be making his FANTASTICO DEBUT!!!!!!!! at central mid. It also looks like workhorse GK Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi will be in between the pipes after sustaining 15 stitches in last weeks match against Oita Trinita. It seems the geriatric Ueslei not only managed to notch up a brace against the Shizuoka side, he also got an assist by knocking out Kawaguchi and hastening the entrance of backup keeper and potential nightmare Naoki Hatta who managed to let in the winner for Oita.

MORE HULK WATCH

Yomiuri Sports Hochi picked up on the story today

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/soccer/jleague/news/20080725-OHT1T00242.htm

Our new friend and avid Porto fan Cesar happened to be the anonymous source yesterday that led me to the Porto information. So Obrigado Cesar! Any more info on the Hulk transfer, let me know and I'll post it!

Hulk is going somewhere....maybe!

Thank you to the Anonymous poster who put me onto Porto as an option.

SoFoot....French Newssite reports that PSG and Porto are in a bidding war

If you speak French, maybe you can figure this out better than me (UltraVerdy, perhaps?)

http://so-foot.football.fr/2008/07/24/8-psg-intret-pour-piquionne
PSG : Intêret pour Piquionne ? "Hulk" direction Porto ?
Par so-foot, jeudi 24 juillet 2008 à 10:26 dans Général / PSG Envoyer à un ami :: title="Lien permanent vers : PSG : Intêret pour Piquionne ? "Hulk" direction Porto ?">#8
:: title="fil RSS des commentaires de : PSG : Intêret pour Piquionne ? "Hulk" direction Porto ?">rss
L'internationale français de l'AS Monaco, Frédéric Piquionne, aurait vu son nom coché sur la liste de Charles Villeneuve et Paul le Guen concernant le chantier de l'attaque parisienne. Concernant la folle rumeur "Hulk", brésilien évoluant dans le championnat Japonnais aurais été promis par Pinto Da Costa, président du club champion d'Europe 2004 à ses supporters. A noté que le club portugais se trompe rarement lorsqu'il s'agit de parier sur des futurs talents brésiliens; on se rapelle de Diégo, Pépé, Déco ou encore Léandro Lima futur grand talent pour ne citer qu'eux.
Le Paris Saint-Germain a du mal à finaliser l'arrivée d'un attaquant. Le club de la capitale se heurte toujours pour l'instant au refus du Stade Rennais de laisser partir son attaquant Jimmy Briand (22 ans, 37 matches en Ligue 1 en 2007/2008, 7 buts) malgré des offres parisiennes très intéressantes. C'est pourquoi les dirigeants du PSG réfléchiraient à la piste menant au buteur monégasque Frédéric Piquionne (29 ans, 32 matches en Ligue 1 cette saison, 7 buts). L'international français n'est pas insensible au charme de la ville lumière et il a déjà clamé plus d'une fois son amour pour le maillot Rouge et Bleu. L'Olympique Lyonnais suit également l'ancien Stéphanois mais doit tout d'abord dégraisser son effectif. Ce timing pourrait permettre à Paris de séduire et enrôler le natif de Nouméa.
Quant au second, le président du FC Porto Pinto da Costa viens de promettre la signature de Givanildo Vieira de Sousa dit "Hulk" (21 ans, 13 matches en J-League en 2008, 7 buts) avant la fin de la semaine à ses supporters. Le quotidien portugais Ojogo publie dans son édition de jeudi l'information selon laquelle le dirigeant portugais espère présenter officiellement l'attaquant brésilien du Tokyo Verdy samedi au plus tard. Si aucun accord n'a été trouvé pour l'instant entre les différentes parties, la finalisation du dossier semble proche, toujours selon le journal. Attention toutefois à l'intérêt du Paris Saint-Germain qui pourrait ne pas avoir dit son dernier mot dans cette histoire. Le club français a déjà transmis une offre de 4 millions d'euros, indemnité compensatoire acceptée par son homologue japonais.

Alright, what I got from this article is that there seemed to be an initial agreement between Verdy and PSG for 4 million euros but FC Porto President Pinto da Costa has decided that he really, really wants Hulk for the defending Portuguese champs and promised his supporters that he would do anything to get him.

I also found this from Portuguese website O Jogo

http://www.ojogo.pt/24-154/artigo735950.asp

Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, mais conhecido como "Hulk". Aí está o reforço prometido por Pinto da Costa para o ataque do campeão nacional. O FC Porto pretende assegurar a contratação do jogador por quatro temporadas, mas os detalhes do negócio ainda estão a ser acertados entre os portistas, o jogador e o seu clube, devendo, contudo, ficar definidos a tempo da apresentação da equipa aos sócios, no sábado. Givanildo corresponde ao perfil publicado ontem por O JOGO: com 21 anos de idade, é jovem, e, com 37 golos marcados na última temporada, ao serviço dos japoneses do Tokyo Verdy, não lhe falta potencial. Aliás, potência é precisamente uma das suas características fundamentais. Apesar de não ser muito alto (1,78 metros), "Hulk" é um avançado poderoso, fisicamente impressionante, mas com uma capacidade técnica claramente acima da média, características que lhe permitem actuar como um genuíno ponta-de-lança, no coração da área, mas também surgir com a bola controlada desde o meio-campo à procura do espaço para o remate, que surge com qualquer dos pés, mas preferencialmente com o esquerdo e normalmente potente e colocado.
De resto, as mesmas características também lhe permitem ser utilizado mais encostado às alas, surgindo, no Tokyo Verdy, muitas vezes à direita, a driblar para o interior, à procura de espaços para o remate, quase sempre muito forte.
Aliás, a potência e colocação do remate também fazem dele o principal cobrador de livres da equipa japonesa e ajudam a explicar os 37 golos apontados na última temporada. Uma característica que Jesualdo Ferreira certamente estará interessado em explorar, dado ser essa uma das principais pechas do futebol ofensivo dos portistas.
Refira-se que "Hulk" foi dado como certo no Paris Saint-Germain durante as últimas semanas, falando-se, na altura, de um valor de aquisição na ordem dos quatro milhões de euros. No Japão, onde é considerado uma estrela, é frequentemente perseguido pelos fãs pelas ruas.

Now this one says that Porto is pretty hopeful that they lock up Hulk to a 4 year contract by Saturday. Or it could mean that Hulk likes cheese......either way things are heating up.

JOMO ALL STARS NAME MAKI TO THE SQUAD

What? Why? 4 goals.....2 of which were PK's. He's barely starting for possibly the worst J league team ever and the J league decides to honor him because Bare has left. Seriously? Diego is having a better year than that guy. Are they having the game in Chiba? Kazu was busy? What?

Oguro's going camping!!!!!!!

Masashi Oguro got an invite to play with the big boys in National team training camp on the 28th of this month. Oguro was a member of the doomed group that went to Germany and stunk.

Anyhow, I'm not real excited about this camp because you could literally make a starting 11 out of guys from the bottom of the table and top of J2. At least there won't be any Seichiro Maki this weekend, but rest assured he will manage to squeeze his untalented and thouroughly overrated arse into a starting spot come qualifiers even though Alex miller doesn't seem to think too highly of the 4okuen man.

Nice job and enjoy the s'mores!

The Emperor's Cup schedule is out!!!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo!!!!!!! Big news! My favorite competition in Japan put out their schedule and Verdy has a home game......at Nishigaoka!!!!!! Hooray! I won't be going though because Omiya actually has a game in Saitama this year.

The game will be either on the 2nd or 3rd of November and it will match the winner of the game between random prefectural squad from Tochigi or Chiba or Aomori or some such place and last year's surprise Emperor's cup runner up and defending Xerox Cup champion Sanfrecce Hiroshima. If they are able to advance, they would face the winner of the Kawasaki Frontale/Montedio Yamagata-unnamed prefecture winner in the lovely confines of.......NAGASAKI. I won't be going to that because it's Nagasaki and I don't have the money.

http://www.jfa.or.jp/domestic/category_1/games/2008/ep_cup_2008/round_4.html#N4

DHL offense done..........new nickname?

With the demise of the Diego, Hulk, and Leandro power trio, I was wondering what the label of the new offense should be. Diego.......Oguro..........Hiramoto...............Yeah, I'm coming up with a blank.

Bare off to the UAE?

Gamba Osaka super striker Bare is rumored to be on his way to the lovely confines of the United Arab Emirates and Al Ahari for the ridiculous sum of 10oku en (1,000,000,000 yen). Sports Hochi has the ridiculous report that Gamba is now looking to acquire Shimzu flop Marcus Aurelio to replace the big striker. You're getting 1 billion yen, can't you aim for something higher like, I dunno, Horvy maybe? How about RickHicki? He has as many goals in his career as Aurelio.

Here's a good idea......instead of trying to cherry pick players from other squads, why don't you take some of that cash and invest in a scouting system so you can bring in good players yourself. I know a certain unnamed journalist thought that this plan was just supercool but it's not.

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/soccer/jleague/news/20080723-OHT1T00056.htm

Ahh ya little scamp

Remember when one of the old English National teamers picked up a cheap yellow because he was close to getting the limit and wanted to get it out of the way while he was gone with the National Team and then got hurt and missed a chunk of the season (Was that Beckham? Am I just making this story up in my head ?) Well, Oita kiddie keeper Shusaku Nishikawa decided to do just that because he was one yellow away from losing a game due to suspension. How does a goalkeeper pick up 4 yellows in half a season is beyond me but that's for another time. Anyway, we know he did it on purpose because the precocious little lad told everyone he did it on his blog (dedicated to his secret dream of being a member of HEY!SAY!!JUMP!!! judging by his girlish little photo. )

Anyhow Nishi, karma is a Rosie O'Donnell sized beyotch and I'm afraid you my friend are going to have to pay the tab at the door. Not for doing it..........that's actually a pretty smart move in my opinion......but for blabbing about it on your myspace page.

The Morning after the morning after

Well Verdy won 2-1 after a couple of tense moments and a dodgy PK call by Iemoto. Hiramoto worked the Hulk position to perfection though, assisting on one goal and getting the call on the other.

Seriously though, 3 overturned goals and 1 iffy PK in the two games since VERY Special Referee Iemoto has come back. What a twat.

Anyhow Nick has provided us with another stellar PBP

Here it is

Well I thought the game was great, all action, woodwork rattled aplenty at both ends, a noisy crowd and 3 points in the bag. The whole approach was different from the word go, the previous tactic of "feed Hulk let him go with it and see what happens" was obviously not the plan on yesterday. I thought we showed that we can play a little yesterday. We moved it around well had lots of options going forward and could have scored more. Standouts for me were Hiramoto, Diego and Oguro. All played very well and all 3 involved in both goals. Superb.At the same time though we were a crossbar away from turning 3 points into 1 deep into second half injury time, with a curling free kick from just outside the box beating Doi in about five different ways!! Anyhow, it came back off the bar and was bundled in by Lee (who was a pain for our defence all night by the way).The ref blew for high feet and a bit of wrestling by the erstwhile striker.To be fair to the ref he blew BEFORE the ball was in the net and tv replays show that there was a push and his feet were high. However, I wouldnt have been up in arms if the goal was allowed to stand. 50-50 call which went our way. No comfort to the Reysol support behind the goal though. I hope the ref doesnt live anywhere near Kashiwa thats for sure!! Well what the heck is going on with Hulk then?? There has been no official word from the club that he has gone and the website is reporting on the birth of Hulks first kid, hence him going back to Brazil. The kids new name??? Youve guessed it "Ian". Hows that for a traditional South American name?? Unless his wifes Welsh and loves Ian Rush or something.... the plot thickens, or doesn`t as the case may be.

Nice work as always Nick. And a good win for Verdy. Next up is Jubilo Iwata who might be without their keeper and Captain Kawaguchi.

Reserve Action AHOY

ヴェルディのスターティングメンバーは、
ＧＫ高木、Takagi
ＤＦ吉武 Yoshitake
、飯田 Iida
、新村 Shinmura
、足助 Ashikage
MF
、萩村 Hagimura
、福田 Fukuda
、廣山 Hiroyama
、河野 Kawano
、ＦW
オサマ Osama
飯尾 Iio
。リザーブ ＧＫ鈴木 Suzuki、ＤＦ八塚 Hatsuka(ユース)、大木Ooki(ユース)、ＭＦ三竿(ユース)、ＦＷ井上 Inoue。

Goals were scored in the 66th minute by Kaz Iio and the 87th by Taira Inoue after Verdy had gone down 1-0 at the half

Box score here
http://www.albirex.co.jp/contents/teaminfo/result080721_s.php

HULK WATCH-RETRACTION

Let me backtrack a little. As of today, there has been no official word on Hulk's status as a player for Verdy. All the news I have reported on the subject has been pieced together using Japanese wire services, rumors from other boards and my opinion. While I do believe that we have seen the last of Hulk in green given his lackluster play, recent antics, and events over the past couple of weeks, it is still possible he could turn up next month wearing green and acting like a spoiled child. I think the PSG bid has legs and if I had to bet, I would put my money on that, but Ken Matsushima rightly pointed out on his message board that there has been no official word on the transfer of Hulk to France, Portugal or any other destination. As of this moment he is still a member of Verdy.

Also to make it clear, I have about as much inside knowledge of Verdy as anyone else.....which is to say, none. All of my posts are opinion unless sourced so there you go.

Sorry if I have been misleading.

SG

Pregame Chatter

Here is the lineup for Verdy

GK Doi
DF Tomisawa
DF Nasu
DF Tsuchiya
DF Wada
MF Sugawara
MF Fukunishi
MF Shibasaki
MF Diego
FW Oguro
FW Hiramoto

BENCH
GK Takagi
DF Fukuda
DF Hagimura
MF Ono
MF Kawano
MF Iio
FW El Samni

Who's missing? Oh yes.......Leandro.

In other news, Vissel Kobe was given a 2 man advantage and still could manage only a tie against Consadole Sapporo. The tie means that Sapporo is 2 points out of the relegation promotion spot and 4 points away from catching Verdy, thus putting even more of an impetus on tonight's little get together.

I'm on Vacation and it's getting interesting. Let's hope the Leandro/new foreign imports break before my trip to the USA!

Feel free to post today here.....I will be checking the ticker

You can also see highlights of the Urawa match and future matches here
http://4media.tv/soccer/club/tokyov/

I'll pop in later!

Verdy at the break

Going into the second half of the season, Verdy finds themselves in 14th place, just a breath away from playing VegaltaCerezoMontedioSaganThespaShonan in a pro/rel playoff extravaganza. Let's take a quick look at the HIGHS and LOWS of Verdy J1 2.0.

High Point of the season- Arguably the game against then 1st place Nagoya was the best moment in a rocky first half. Verdy had come off a shelling by.....you guessed it....Kashiwa Reysol and had only one win on the entire season. A loss could have put the team in JEF Chiba territory but the men in green came through with a decent 2-0 effort and turned the season around to go on a nice 4-1-1 streak headed into the June break

Low point of the season-It wasn't the worst loss of the season scoring wise, but the 2-0 loss to Omiya after the break really was the most disheartening for a squad that had some momentum before the respite. After a tumultuos rest which saw 2 of the 3 Brazilians show up very late to training and throw the team into upheaval, the performance by Verdy was a step back. Did Coach Hashiratani lose the squad by failing to crack down on the two erstwhile mercenaries? It was a mess to be sure.

The Dedimar award- Goes to Leandro for being highly touted and offering little but excuses and uninspired performances. The man was brought into create, and create he did.........team turmoil and a poisonous atmosphere leading to bad team chemistry.

New Face Award- Of all the former J Legends to be brought in, the new face of 2008 has to be the youngster Hiroki Kawano. Kawano has managed to notch 2 goals in limited minutes and has produced numerous chances. While his slight build and defensive lapses put the team at risk from time to time, the Verdy youth product has brought excitement and hope back to Ajinomoto. And I'll go ahead and say it, this kid is much better than the more hyped Morimoto but you won't see that in the Japanese press.

MVP Defense- Yukio Tsuchiya has been the only consistent performer on an otherwise mediocre back line. Tsuchiya has disrupted and guarded well for most of the season, only having a few lapses and he's managed to be a presence in the attack on set pieces. A few more centimeters and he would have been a NT mainstay.

MVP Offense- Diego has been the only consistent performer on an otherwise mediocre front line....Deja Vu! No seriously, Hulk has had flashes of brilliance but when you shoot 100 times you should have more to show for it and Diego has nearly matched him in less than half the shots. And Diego has been professional and in shape the whole year. I had my doubts about the big man stepping up to J1 but he has been decent as a creator.

Biggest disappointment not named Hulk- Captain Toshihiro Hattori follow in the footsteps of previous captains Harutaka Ono and Takuya Yamada as guys who are known for being vocal and inspirational and truly out of their depths on the field. If Hattori isn't making an erstwhile cross, he's falling over and letting someone get off a clean shot. The team is filled with guys like this but he is the most noticeable. The policy nest year needs to be no more old dudes from Jubilo's glory days. I'm serious.

The pressure is on- Coach Hashiratani. The whole Hulk mess and Japanese player group sob really has you in a bind. Yokohama F Marinos fired their coach and arguably their squad was in much better shape. I imagine the hairdo will give you about 6 games to get the team to a respectable 10th or 11th before he cuts you out and installs a FANTASTICO big name guy to take your place. A name that starts with Rui and ends with Ramos perhaps?

Grades (on a G scale of 1 to 5....5 being best)

Doi 3 Gs- Decent performance but the age is showing. Why they didn't push harder for Sugeno is beyond me.

Wada 2Gs- Injuries and less than inspired play brings the score down on this former Fulie.

Nasu 2Gs- Another disappointment thus far. Expected more out of him as the big punsher to accent the crafty Tsuchiya

Tsuchiya 4Gs- Ohhhhh, how I wish he had never left Omiya. Good player and one of the better signings for Verdy. That's a veteran signing.

Tomisawa 1G- All around player, meaning he manages to play all positions equally bad. Why is he on the field?

Hattori 1G-Not going to beat a dead horse on this one but I'm not impressed to say the least.

Sugawara 3Gs- Really been a bit of a surprise considering he was pretty poor in J2. Quietly efficient this year and not many mistakes.

Fukunishi 2Gs- I think he is more a case of not having a set position in this team. He's too slow to be on the wings and not good enough to replace Diego up top. Decent player, bad signing.

Ono 1G-Like Fukunishi except without the talent. He's just getting in the way of Shibasaki and Kawano's development. Not a J1 player.

Kawano and Shibasaki 3Gs- Good effort in limited time. Making rookie mistakes but contributing something to the team. I'd love to see more.

Hiroyama 1G- Injuries and erratic play have hampered one of my favorite players. Here's hoping he can turn it around

Iio 2Gs- I haven't noticed him too much so that's probably a good thing.

Leandro 1G- Unbelievably bad signing. Moments of good play surrounded by piles of dreck.

Hiramoto 2Gs- Very limited time, now's your chance to show you are a player..........been waiting for a good 4 years now.

Oguro N/A- Not yet......but soon.

Funakoshi- Just kidding, Bikkuri Donkey has been on the shelf too long to get a grade.

Hulk 0Gs- 7 goals and one huge cancerous tumor have been your contributions to this squad. Bon Voyage Les Enfants Terrible..........I imagine you'll be the Jerry Lewis of soccer with your clownish facial expression and fake cries of anguish and pain. As the Nike saying goes JUST gerard deparDIEU IT.

Hasiratani 1G- I don't blame him for the results so much as his mishandling of the Brazilian situation. The second half needs to be better and the losses by 2 or 3 goals need to be cut down.

Eternal Sunshine of the Clueless mind

Tomorrow is Anpanman day at Ajinomoto stadium and a more fitting theme might not be possible as Verdy faces Chiba nemisis Kashiwa Reysol. As you might remember, Verdy lost in their last meeting against Reysol 5-1.

From the start, results against Reysol haven't been great

Let's take a look

3-25-1995 H Verdy 0-1 Kashiwa L

5-10-1995 A Verdy 1-0 Kashiwa W

9-23-1995 A Verdy 7-1 Kashiwa W

11-15-1995 H Verdy 2-0 Kashiwa W

3-23-1996 H Verdy 2-3 Kashiwa L

10-2-1996 A Verdy 2-1 Kashiwa W

Nabisco Cup Verdy 2-1 Kashiwa Semifinals

7-2-1997 H Verdy 1-3 Kashiwa L

9-27-1997 A Verdy 1-2 Kashiwa L

7-25-1998 H Verdy 1-3 Kashiwa L

11-14-1998 A Verdy 1-2 Kashiwa L

5-22-1999 A Verdy 1-0 Kashiwa W

9-15-1999 H Verdy 1-3 Kashiwa L

3-18-2000 A Verdy 0-1 Kashiwa L

7-1-2000 H Verdy 1-0 Kashiwa W

4-14-2001 H Verdy 1-0 Kashiwa W

9-29-2001 A Verdy 1-1 Kashiwa T

3-31-2002 H Verdy 0-1 Kashiwa L

11-17-2002 A Verdy 1-4 Kashiwa L

7-12-2003 H Verdy 3-1 Kashiwa W

10-19-2003 A Verdy 2-0 Kashiwa L

3-21-2004 H Verdy 0-1 Kashiwa L

11-6-2004 A Verdy 2-0 Kashiwa W

5-14-2005 H Verdy 1-0 Kashiwa W

11-26-2005 A Verdy 1-5 Kashiwa L

4-1-2006 H Verdy 2-3 Kashiwa L

6-10-2006 A Verdy 1-4 Kashiwa L

8-22-2006 H Verdy 4-1 Kashiwa W

10-14-2006 A Verdy 1-4 Kashiwa L

4-19-2008 A Verdy 1-5 Kashiwa L

Not too awful 12-17-1 but recent results have skewed in Kashiwa's favor, including 4 of the last 6 contests being decided by 3 goals or more in Kashiwa's favor. Add to that Verdy's recent run in the past 4 contests (3 losses and a win against JEF reserves) and the loss of big striker Hulk and on paper this looks like a bloodbath.

However, I think tomorrow's contest might be a surprise win. Here's why

1. Kashiwa isn't that good- Seriously, the team that currently resides in 3rd has won alot of 1-0 contests on bad bounces, other team's mistakes and non-calls. Eventually that luck turns the other way. While there is talent on the squad, namely GK Takenori Sugeno and FW Tadanori Ri, the team relies more on physical play and grabbing and eventually that comes to backfire on you. They've had a real nice run but they are due for a drubbing.....and those usually happen when you least expect it.

2. Hulk is gone- Yeah, you read that right. I know it sounds crazy, but losing your morst talented player forces the impetus to create and score on the other members of the team and more often than not they come through.......in the short term. I expect Verdy to come out firing to prove that they were more than a one man show. Look for Hiramoto to be especially good tomorrow.....in the past he has shown he can turn it up for a 1 or 2 game stretch.

3. The team is on notice- After the antics of Hulk finally wore thin, the team is on notice that no one is untouchable on this squad. As a whole, they've been underperforming so today is the day to step it up. I imagine the era of big egos of yesteryear might be coming to a close soon, especially with the noose tightening around Hahiratani's neck. This is all his team now and he has to make sure they respond after the events transpiring in the past few weeks. The players asked for this and now they got what they wanted.

Yahoo Japan has this lineup for tomorrow

GK Doi

DF Tomisawa-Tsuchiya-Nasu-Wada

DMF Sugawara

Branch Fukunishi-Ono

AMF Diego

FW Oguro-Hiramoto

I think Leandro will start for Oguro but have a very short leash. I believe he is soon to be out the door if he doesn't perform. Look for him to be pulled at halftime, benched for the game against Jubilo and out of the J league by August. with his best friend on his way out, I don't see Leandro in green for long.

WAGAMAMA!

It finally hit the fan last night. Today reports out of Verdy camp are that Hulk has gone home to Brazil and has played his last game in the green of Tokyo.

http://www.jsgoal.jp/club/00068000/00068298.html

News stories

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/soccer/news/2008/07/18/04.html

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/soccer/jleague/news/20080718-OHT1T00035.htm

It seems as though Hulk got upset at being taken out of the game and pulled away from Hashiratani after he tried to say good job, showing up his coach in the process.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/soccer/news/2008/07/18/KFullNormal20080718066_p.html

After the game, the meeting between Hashiratani, Kato (the technical director), Team President Hagiwara and Constantine Teo (Hulk, Leandro, and Diego's representative) took place and it was agreed that Hulk would be finished as a Verdy player. Talks have been ongoing for the services of Hulk between Verdy and numerous clubs including Paris SG, who have reportedly put up a 4 million Euro bid (6.7 oku yen). Considering the team bought him for 5oku, you seriously have to consider it, especially since he has made himself known as poison to two clubs now.

While the big striker was contributing at a decent rate (7 goals in 11 games) and opening up chances for other players, his antics were starting to wear down the fabric of Verdy as a team. 90 minute Japanese only meetings, not showing up to practice, putting in petulant and substandard performances against Omiya and Kyoto. It came to the point where either Hashiratani had to go and numerous players who couldn't get along with Hulk or Hulk had to be severed from the squad. Hulk was the choice.

Now it appears that Verdy will have to find a player who can fill the void. Oguro is not the same type of player.....think more of a Washington type of ball hawk. Hiramoto can be, but doesn't show the desire to score on a consistent basis like Hulk. There's also a possibility of a new foreign player coming in during the transfer window......probably Brazilian and not half as good.

So now the team finds itself in 14th place, a collection of stars from yesteryear and youngsters not yet ready for primetime. Where will the goals come from? Who will be the catalyst? No one knows for sure, but this team is now going to have to actually be a team to win and not a collection of one fantastic talent and 10 hangers on.

Oh yeah.....3-2 Urawa on a hat trick by the douchebag.

The effort was there

But unfortunately for Verdy, the finishing was not. After a tumultuos week in which the non-Brazilian members had a meeting with management and Leandro and Hulk were given belated fines for not showing up to training on time, Verdy faced off against fellow strugglers Kyoto Sanga in a game to get some much needed points. Playing in a more traditional spread 4-4-2, Verdy took the field with Leandro and Kawano playing wide. The difference was evident as a much faster Verdy side controlled play for large stretches of play.

29 shots between the two clubs only produced one goal however as Fernandinho hit a streaking Atsushi Yanagisawa who caused the ever increasingly innefective Toshihiro Hattori to fall on his posterior and struck for an easy goal.

The second half saw the debut of Masashi Oguro, who had one nice cross to a hesitant Hulk who was a bit slow in striking.

Overall not a bad effort, especially from the two young mids Kawano and Shibasaki and erstwhile forwards Hiramoto and Leandro.

Clown moment of the game came when Kyoto defender Tatsuya Masushima, taking a note out of the Hattori school of acting dropped like a rock when brushed by Hulk in the box.

TIGHTEN SECURITY

Next up for Verdy is a short trip down the Musashino line to Urawa and the Red stench of Saitama. This game has an interesting undercurrent as Yukio Tsuchiya faces up against the man who he put out of action for a year with an erstwhile tackle. Tsuchiya didn't face the Reds when Tanaka came back, having been pulled out with injury. A story floating around Omiya is that Tsuchiya left for Verdy because of increasing harassment of himself and his family during his one year stint in orange so I imagine the atmosphere will be a little tense.

During the weekend, Verdy comes home to face Kashiwa in a biannual bludgeoning by the yellow thugs of Chiba prefeture. Good news though, the 20th will be An-pan-man day so when Kashiwa is putting up their 5th goal against Verdy.........again.......you can at least be happy with the fact that you got a free An-pan-man file folder or whatever the hell they are going to foist upon the unsuspecting fans at this seedy affair.

ODDS OF CROWD CONFRONTATIONS

Urawa 30%
Kashiwa 10%

Look in the mirror

Can anybody tell me what the difference is between Verdy and today's guest Kyoto? It is like looking in the mirror in alot of ways. Both teams came up from the depths of J2 to return to top level soccer. Both have brought in big names from the past and present to bolster their squads. Kyoto with Sidiclei, Sato, Fernandinho, Mizumoto, and Yanagisawa. Verdy with Tsuchiya, Doi, Fukunishi, Hulk, and now Oguro. Both have had Rui Ramos and Kazu Miura gracing us with their presence in green and purple. Both have had to watch Harutaka Ono stumble around for 9o minutes. And both have been led by a Hashiratani.

Today sees two teams with high expectations and lower results. Verdy is coming off one of their better performances with a 3-0 dismantling of bottom barrel JEF Chiba while Sanga returns after a 1-1 tie to Oita. Seemingly every game this year is a must-win for positioning and both teams look to get a win to distance themselves from relegation.

All reports are that Masashi Oguro will make some of apperance in today's contest. Questions remain about the fitness and confidence level of the former goal king. I imagine he won't be in the best shape, but getting on the field probably is the most important thing today.

THE LINEUP

GK DOI

DF Tomisawa-Tsuchiya-Nasu-Hattori

DM Sugawara

Wings Fukunishi Shibasaki

OM Leandro

FW Hulk Hiramoto

(Yahoo has said Oguro, El Golazo calls it for Hiramoto. I'm gonna say he comes in early second half for the emotional lift)

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Shut down Fernandinho early
2. Run-run-run
3. Control the midfield

VERDY signs another for the future

Meiji University midfielder Masato Fujita is the second commitment for 2009. That is all

KNOCK OUT!!!!!!!!!!

Verdy crushed JEF Chiba........this was one of the first games I've seen where a 3-0 scoreline doesn't do the game justice. Seriously JEF, you could bring in Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink, Sir Alex, and Arsene as a technical director and you aren't gonna get a result with that woeful squad on Saturday.

After 45 minutes of slipping and sliding around, Hashiratani made the switch of Harutaka Ono for Shibasaki and it paid off. Hulk started the bloodletting with a 35 meter rocket shot against JEF's woeful keeper and it went downhill from there. Shibasaki and Diego added to the count and it was over.

The only bad news out of the game was that Diego will be out for the game against Kyoto who tied Oita 1-1.

In other news, Verdy picked up their first win in the Sattelite campaign with a 3-2 win in Niigata.
Osama El Samni notched one and Kawano picked up 2 more before Albirex got two back late.

Kappa Derby part deux-Chiba time

The mighty men of green come home after a dismal performance against the little squirrels of Omiya to face a bottom sitting but newly resurgent JEF Chiba squad. Since new man Alex Miller has taken over the wheel, the Chibains (Chibese? Chibish? ) have been undefeated. However Nagoya took the first leg 1-0 on an early goal by Norwegian striker Frode Jonsen.

Recent rumblings from Hashiratani have pointed to the fact that the once solid pencling in of DHL is now not so certain. New signing Masashi Oguro and benchers Kaz Iio and Kazuki Hiramoto could possibly see some time as starters in future contests. Oguro has been ruled out for today's match and will make his debut against Kyoto on the 12th.

Yahoo has the same lineup as last weeks game against Omiya going for Verdy.

A loss could see the squad back in the uncomfortable position of relegation playoff with a tiny bit of breathing room from the bottom. A win could push the squad back up in the top 10.

TEST THESPA

If you haven't been paying attention, the mighty Thespans of Kusatsu have jumped up to a solid 5th in J2. A win today, combined with a loss or tie by Vegalta and Cerezo would see the 3rd year J2 squad reach the unbelievable heights of promotion playoff. Seriously unbelievable and I think probably illegal.......somebody better get some white cups and plenty of liquids cause the J league is gonna need a sample.

Seriously, can't you picture random boy band starring in a story about a little team who works in a hot spring during the day and plays their hearts out at night for the chance to be in J1. Then they go to ASIA and face off against random rich Middle East team and finally they play Manchester United and become Champions of the world......TV drama with some insufferable SMAP guy as coach and freaky foreign talent as well. Maybe they can call it SPABOYS or something dumb like that.

Big Signing day

Verdy finally got the striker they wanted today. That's right Meiji Universities own Kyohei Hayashi signed with the squad for next year. Hayashi was a product of the Verdy youth system and made the Kanto league best 11 team. Good signing for the future.

Kawano becomes a man

Actually, he becomes a better paid man, qualifying for his A contract after accruing enough minutes to be a full fledged J leaguer. Nice job!

Weekly Soccer Digest name 3 to the weeks worst 11

Leandro, Daisuke Nasu, and Tomo Sugawara all found themselves in the wheezing 11. I would have found a place for Hulk too but they seem to be nicer.

Oguro thoughts

If the reports from Sponichi are to be believed, Verdy signed Oguro to a 3 year, 700,000,000 yen deal. http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/news/20080701-00000025-spn-spo.html

Maybe it's a tad high, but they did get a proven goalscorer in J league competition, albeit 2005 J league competition. And one wonders what 2 years of frustration and inaction has done to the big mans psyche.

A more perplexing pattern is that of Verdy's blast to the past of signing big name stars of yesteryear whether or not they fit into the team mold. Hattori, Doi, Fukunishi......former National teamers who have seen better days. Now Oguro. If it works, it will be a sight to see......if it doesn't, well 2005 comes to mind. And not in a good Gamba way but a bad Ossie Ardilles 7-0 way. Where's Kazuyuki Toda when you need him?

OH YEAH.....

That was Toda huffing and puffing in bright yellow for JEF Chiba the other day. Toda is quickly becoming Exotic Terminater 2.0, helping to see another squad down to relegation land. Granted, they were bad before he came around but 50 minutes of uninspired chugging against a 10 man Gas Attack didn't dispell any notions about the sell-by date of this old hash.

Yokohama FC, the next stop?