THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT?

Verdy Blog and Pride of Green as well as other numerous sites are reporting on a story released by Nikkan Gendai

Before I tell the sordid details, let me say 2 things

1. Nikkan Gendai is a tabloid variety publication and has some credibility issues
2. No other publication has picked up the story

Anyhow the story states that CyberAgent and Yomiuri publications/NTV are looking to pull out all of their capital in Tokyo Verdy due to lackluster ticket sales and a loss of money. The story states that Yokohama FC would buy the name "VERDY" and become Yokohama Verdy FC next year.

WHY IT'S BELIEVABLE

Verdy has lost a ton of money due to overspending, bad personnel decisions, and a declining fan base. Old stars such as Nanami and Hattori failed to give the team a boost in the gates that CyberAgent had hoped for. Verdy has alot of money invested in land as well as renting out a huge facility in Ajinimoto while only averaging 10 percent of capacity.

WHY IT'S NOT BELIEVABLE

I think that if Yokohama FC rebranded to Verdy, the supporters who went through the whole Flugel tragedy and spent their early J League fandom hating prefectural rival Kawasaki Verdy would probably go on a killing spree the likes of which hasn't been seen since Atilla was still kickin. Even with the Verdy reunion tour going on right now at relegation ground zero, I don't think Yokohama FC woud do that. The goodwill that they are getting from reaching J1 would be destroyed.......relegation, they'll survive.......rebranding and you'll see two teams die.

I'll keep an eye on this story

A Blast from the past?

Pride of Green went to practice and found a familiar face among the regulars

Here are some hints.......He's young

He's Brazilian

He played for Yokohama FC

Give up?

http://ameblo.jp/verdy-yoshikazu/entry-10045529066.html

Good pickup if it goes through

Hulk teaming up with Silva.......that's a ton of speed at the top

Ze Luis has left the building

The team announced today that defensive Midfielder Ze Luis has left the team and is joining San Paulo FC. Ze notched 4 goals in 36 games over the 2006 and 2007 campaign. The move theoretically opens up a space for what I assume will be a more offensive import to team up top with Hulk. Good luck to Ze.....not quite the impact player that I thought he would be but not bad either.

The Rise and Fall of the Baby Blue Buzzards

Asahi Shimbun is reporting that last year's miracle maker, Takuya Takagi is being shown the door after a disaster of a J1 Campaign.

While some of the blame lies on the head mans shoulders, it must be said that the main failing lies in a team made up of retreads and castoffs from teams as lowly as J2 bottomfeeders Tokushima Vortis.

Leading the parade of misfit soccer players is a veritable collection of Who's Who in Verdy lore, starting with Takuya Yamada.......the Angel of Death
Verdy preseason hero Kazuki Hiramoto has failed to impress, only notching 3 goals in a role that wildly fluctuates from starter to bench to trainee
The patron saint of FC, Kazu Miura has hardly been seen this year.....the last time he was seen in a game was in June.

Shingo Nejime has been a bright spot in a dismal season. Jun Tamano has barely been seen. Atsuhiro Miura has yet to don pale blue. Gimar was released.

Dismal............

LOST IN AMERICA-Soilent Green #2

Ohhhhhh, I'm enjoying watching the Beckham non-show parade around the US of A. I'm starting to wonder if he will actually play or if they will just wheel him out for personal appearances. I also got a chance to watch some second division sides play to varying degrees of success. Pretty sure even Kaz Iio could score on the California Victory but I digress.

Anyhow Verdy played a couple of games down south when they went head to head with Avispa Fukuoka (loss) and Ehime FC (tie). Both games took place without the services of Hulk who is still serving a suspension for card accumulation. One notable player was Verdy youth MF Hiroki Kawano, who slipped in for 5 minutes. Ryutsu Keisai DF Masaki Iida was also on the bench for the club, but saw no time in the game.

J1 Shenanigans

Last post, I mentioned the disaster that is JEF Chiba and how I wished for their demise. Well, it seems the geniuses at Omiya misunderstood and decided that THEY would be the team to make the drop. After scathing criticism by Robert Verbeek in the press.....wait a minute...after Robert Verbeek stated the obvious and the girlish and thin skinned mouth breather Satoru Sakuma got his feelings hurt after reading that the team needed help at the forward position and in the back, Messrs Verbeek was summarily dismissed from his position as head man and replaced by......wait for it.......Satoru Sakuma.

If you are not familiar with Satoru Sakuma, he was the man who took Daigo Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, and Yukio Tsuchiya from relegated teams and made them into a 12th place squad......THAT WAS HIS HIGH POINT

Sakuma was the genius who released Bare and Leandro from Omiya for a head case named Christian and a flop by the name of Saul "Speedy" Martinez. Sakuma was the mastermind who brought in Naoya Saeki and rented him to Avispa during a relegation fight WITH AVISPA. Sakuma was the man who decided that the pairing of Takuro Nishimura and Yasuhiro Hato were even remotely adequate enough to play first division soccer. Sakuma was the man that brought you the two headed forward ghidra known as Morita-Salles. One word....ENILTON.
Sakuma allowed former coach Toshiya Miura to take GK Takahiro Takagi and let him become the best goalkeeper in J2.......leaving the squad with a frail Aratani and an inept Ezumi.

Satoru Sakuma....you sir make Ramos Rui look like a coaching genius.

Soilent Green American Style!

Still haven't seen David Beckham play yet but I have been watching some good footy

MLS-FMF Superliga has been everything the A3 championships aren't....good hard fought matches providing entertainment and controversy. Shockingly, CONCACAF club champion and COPA somethin or other champs Pachuca find themselves at the bottom of their group after two disappointing results to MLS squads Galaxy and FC Dallas......meanwhile The Urawa Reds of Mexico, CD Chivas Guadalajara and their merry band of urine throwers find themselves on top of their group after a controversial hand ball goal and dives aplenty.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Verdy had an up and down week, beating the snot outta Cerezo Osaka 4-0. Last night, Verdy went back to the scene of the early season collapse which nearly cost them their season. Like the fateful game in Fukuoka, Rui Ramos chose to start my least favorite player and constant rally killer Kaz Iio, like in that match Iio failed to generate any offense, and like that match Verdy lost 2-1. No Hulk, so Iio probably wasn't first selection but Taira Inoue couldn't do the job?

Another note....check out the Verdy Blog linked on the site and scroll down a bit..........looks like old Verdy forward and resident Urawa crybaby Wahhhhhhshington turned up at Nishigaoka to see his old team crush Cerezo

Speaking of Cerezo, Satoshi Tsunami got hired to assist to the Japan U-16 National Squad....Good Luck to the big man.

Finally Ivica Osim needs to look for a new job after that Abortion of a coaching job he pulled in the Asian Cup.......Seriously, is everything JEF Chiba affiliated with crap right now? Maybe JEF reserves are allright but the rest of it is sinking fast. Hurry up and die already, do the right thing and let yourself get relegated.

Hulk in Samurai Blue?

　東京Ｖのブラジル人ＦＷフッキが２０日、日本への帰化と日本代表への思いを口にした。日本語はまったく話せないが「日本代表？　それも選択肢の一つ。日本代表のユニホームを着てプレーしたい」。フッキは前節１４日の山形戦（西が丘）では終了間際に同点ゴールを決めるなど１８得点でＪ２得点王。

Sankei Sports is reporting that Hulk would like to obtain Japanese Citizenship even though he doesn't speak the greatest Japanese. While the outcome doesn't look likely and probably would take a looooooong time if it ever happened, it would solve some problems up top for the Japanese National Team.

TSUNAMI COMES HOME

Tokyo Verdy brought back Verdy legend Satoshi Tsunami as a special advisor. Good move and classy. Here's hoping he helps.

ALEMAO CORRECTION

I mistakenly reported that Alemao was at Vasco De Gama at the time of his death.....He was actually a member of Palmieras.....one of the readers pointed that out to me, Thank You and Mea Culpa.

VACATION

I'm headed back to the Land of Dog Fights and Steroids tomorrow so I will be erratic in my posting.......just like now so no real difference. Have a good summer and stay safe!

Hulk saves the day

Last minute, Torrential rain and big Hulk scores one at the end to steal a point away from Montedio.....good result considring the back 5 were a bit patchwork at best

Didn't see the game

VENDO'S BRUSH WITH GREATNESS......Alright Vendo's brush with Rui

Our friend Vendo from Mito Hollyhock News and Report ran into a bunch of the guys after the Mito match.....here is his account

Mito outplayed Tokyo Verdy in all ways but the one that counts. Since soccer isn't scored on judging, it's another loss and another three points in the divide between Mito and the rest of the field.Unfortunately I couldn't see most of the game live because there was a massive crowd that filled Hitachinaka's stadium to beyond capacity. Since I was working the gate, I was going hard trying to keep nearly 4,000 fans in order going in and out of a single gate. There was too much to do until the final 10 minutes or so, unlike Kasamatsu which usually can allow watching from whistle to whistle. I had to see the recording at home late night after finishing stadium work.Speaking of that crowd, the final number reached over 5,500 in a stadium that seats 5,000. (Well, "seats" are only in the higher priced section...) It marks the first time in 2007 that Mito's fan count was higher than another J. League game, and was in fact more than twice the size of Ehime's home game against Tokushima.After the game, in the locker room area, I talked with a few Japanese players from both teams and tried to do the same with Hulk, but there was a language barrier there. As I headed back into the main hall from the locker room area, Tokyo coach Rui Ramos came out of the press room and walked just beside me. He seemed kind of shocked to see a white guy working in the back for Mito and after a brief exchange of greetings and the equivalent of "good game" on both sides, I wished him luck for the future. He honestly came off as very nice and personable, but then again he had just won a hard game against a team that had embarrassed him in the last meeting. He seemed in a hurry to leave so I resisted the urge to ask for a picture. I also resisted the urge to ask why he pitched a tantrum on the sidelines after his keeper refused to hold the ball at the end of the game. It was probably for the best.He walked out of the front door to the waiting Tokyo fans who waited for player pictures and autographs. They were rabid and happy just to see them in person. On one hand, I was jealous that Tokyo had a fan base so rabid as to wait more than an hour just to see the players get on the bus. On the other, I felt bad for that fan base that the players seemed so inaccessable and untouchable, as if on a pedestal. I realized that different fan bases enjoy different teams in different ways. Mito's fans feel that they are closer to the team and know the players personally, supporting them one-on-one in addition to as a group. The downside is that if the team loses, the supporters don't just feel bad... The fans feel like losers, too.After my roles were finished and I waited for the rest, those of us who were waiting grabbed a ball and headed out to the field, still pockmarked from the steps and slides of the match, and played around for a bit. A couple of others stood where the Tokyo front line had been less than two hours earlier, while I took goalkeeper Takeda's spot. Although I wasn't up against the top scorer in the division, I wish that Takeda had been as successful as I was for those few minutes.Around three hours after the final whistle, I finally was able to head back to my car to make the drive home. As I put the key into the ignition, the lights on the field went out, and the first half of the season went dark. While no team can be mathematically eliminated from promotion at this point and thus hope must remain, it is clear that Mito is likely is headed to one of its worst season records ever despite playing some of its best quality games. I pondered that for a moment and came to the realization that it didn't matter. I feel so lucky to have this team and plan to do all I can to help it as much as possible.I just kind of wish the wins would come along a little more often.

Nice work Vendo

Weekly wrap

Getting close to Vacation time for Soilent Green (3 weeks in Beckham Valley) So here you go.....

ALEMAO AND MARCUS

I was in attendance last year as two Brazilian players went down from J1 to J2. Tokyo Verdy had just acquired the services of longtime veteran midfielder Marcus from high flying Kawasaki Frontale. Yokohama FC picked up the services of a young mercurial striker by the name of Alemao from soon to be relegated Kyoto Sanga. On a rain soaked summer night in Yokohama, neither did a damn thing as both teams wallowed in a 0-0 slog.

Marcus would struggle through the rest of the year, hovering between injury, erratic play, and aging legs. Alemao meanwhile, would tear the league apart, scoring about a goal a game and putting the offense of the little blue squad from Yokohama on his narrow shoulders. Irritating to watch at times, theatrical and annoying, there was no doubt about the young man's talent. He wasn't my favorite player but he was impressive.

The close of the season would find both men leaving their squads......Alemao to Vasco De Gama, and Marcus to Yokohama. Last week saw the two intertwined again. Marcus would see the end of his J league career after a disappointing end. Alemao saw the end of his life. While driving in a suburb of Rio De Janiero, Alemao crashed his car and died. He was 23 years old, far too young to be in the grave.

Our friend Cesare wrote a moving piece about the young striker on his Kyoto blog

http://sangananbanjin.blogspot.com/2007/07/alemao.html

Here's hoping you and your family find peace, Alemao.

GET USED TO TAKAGI

Shinya Yoshihara is out for 6 weeks after getting banged up in the game against Cerezo. That's why you bring in a couple good keepers.

VERDY VAULTS TO 4th AFTER A VICTORY OVER VEGALTA

Hulkamania ran wild in Sendai as the green machine thumped Vegalta on the road 4-1. One of the few bright spots in the Rui era has been the domination of the Sendai side. Verdy now holds a 5-1-1 record against the hawks. Call it Tsunami's revenge......(Speaking of which, 2-0-0 against Cerezo as well)

MONTEDIO AT NISHIGAOKA

Hagimura is out......back three of Ichiyanagi, Togawa, and Tomisawa with Ono and Sugayama in the middle and Takagi in net, Hattori and Kaimoto on the wings

Could be a shootout.

Half Finished

The season hit the halfway mark yesterday with Verdy finding themselves in 5th place, 6 points behind 2nd place Kyoto Purple Sanga.

Here is Verdy half wrap

BIGGEST WIN: At Kyoto 4-1.......Verdy found themselves in a 7 game morass before taking it to the purple gang of Kyoto. A loss here would have ended all chances of recovering and Verdy behind the two Brazilians came through big.

WORST LOSS: Ehime 1-0......some will say the 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Mito was the worst loss and it's hard to argue against them. I will contend however that outshooting and out powering little Ehime while not finding the net was a killer. Ehime robbed points from Verdy. It was the game that caused me to stop writng for a month.

MVP: Hulk 13 goals 8 assists, constant threats, powerful runs in the box.

Surprise of the year: Shigenori Hagimura, the guy has done the most with his chances after a dreadful season in 2006.

No surprise: Kaz Iio, THE STRIKER THAT DOESN'T SHOOT

What about Rui? I still say he is overmatched as a coach and he does things that I disagree with. I would have fired him......that being said, he did institute the switch to 3-5-2 that jumpstarted the 2007 campaign and put the squad back in contention for promotion...that he deserves credit for.

Changes? Tsuchiya will be back so Togawa probably loses his spot. Funakoshi is back as a starter, although I'm not quite sure why. Possibly the adddition of another big name from the past and maybe a replacement for Ze Luis, who has disappeared completely.

Mystery?????? What happened to Masaki Saito? Did he die? Where is the guy?

Forecast for the second half- If everything breaks right, 3rd place and a chance to play against JEF Chiba for the last spot in J1.

J2's upcoming crisis

Next year will see the inclusion of up to 3 more teams into the ranks of J2. While the number of squads has made for a tidy if bit long 48 game schedule, the addition of 2 more teams could throw a huge monkey wrench into the works. 15 teams would mean the loss of 18 games on the schedule, down to a paltry 28 games. Lacking a cup situation would mean loss of revenue and less chances for players to see meaningful playing time.

Therefore Soilent Green proposes something completely different and possibly really stupid......the two tiered season.

Unlike the two stage mess that was in the J league, this two tiered system would have a purpose........

STEP 1- The 28 game preliminaries
STEP 2- The final rounds
Each team would get a home and home series against every opponent in J2. At the end of the 28 game season teams would be classified into two groups......the promotion group and the cup group. The promotion group (top 8) would play another 14 game home and home set against the other 7 top finishers. The cup group (bottom 7) would play a 12 game set against the other also rans in their group. Instead of promotion, the cup group would play for a monetary prize and a cup, so even the smallest fish could have dreams of winning something.

Scheduling would be a difficulty, arranging travel plans and putting out advertisements would be done on an unfortunate truncated schedule. However, every team has a competition to play in so venues could be reserved at the start of the the season.

The second problem with this is the age old question of cheapening the season versus making every game count. Don't know where I stand when it comes to this. I don't mind playoffs, especially since the Colaship and other various leagues have a playoff system in place in relation to promotion. The one problem I do see with this is the devaluing of performance in the earlier stages. Kashiwa had a monster start last year and a bit of a dropoff in form near the end. In my scenario, a loss in form could doom a team who consistently performed well during a majority of the season.

Just a thought.....all I know is Thespa vs Tokushima is Booooooooring right now!

Lucky 7

To start this week's edition of Soilent Green, we start with the long awaited arrival of FOSG Jesse Fink's book on the socceroos and former Yomiuri FC goalkeeper Dennis Boland. Titled 15 days in June, it details the rise of a new power in Asian football. I've gotten through the first three chapters and it is a fast and interesting read. Not sure where you can buy it in Japan or Europe..(probably Amazon or E-Bay). Anyhow, congratulations on the new book Jesseand here's hoping you come to Japan and write 1 and a half long damn years in Tokyo.....How Rui messed up a sure thing!
Today, Verdy ventures to Ibaraki prefecture to take on Vendo's own Mito Hollyhock. Yahoo.co.jp posted this as the potential lineup, and it seems that there is an Albirex tinge to the lineup. The key to the game will be effective counter-attacking, Mito love to push the ball lately and a hawk like Hulk could put his stamp on the game.

Three Brazilians, Hulk and Diego for Verdy and new signing Biju for Mito did not appear in the last contest. Another thing in Verdy's favor is the fact that last year the teams split the season series two apiece with road teams winning all the games.

Reversal of fortune? Possibly.

MIURA IN LIMBO

Well, as of today there is still no movement on the transfer of Atsuhiro Miura. Spots Hochi has thrown Yokohama FC back into the mix in regards to making a move on the longtime pro. Makes sense, considering he was one of the best players in Flugel history and has connections up the ying yang to the Yokohama squad.

Like Bad Breath........

I'm back.

Couple of interesting tidbits to pass along as I try to get back into the swing of things

1. Yukio Tsuchiya is out for 6 weeks. He came up injured in the game against Flaming Pink on Wednesday.

2. Atsuhiro Miura is allegedly a target for Ramos and friends. The 32 year old former captain of Vissel Kobe was told to hit the road after criticizing Vissels manager for his player selection and tactics. The team said that he had to apologize, he didn't and he was let go.

Over the past couple of weeks, Ramos has made overtures to his former teammate from Verdy days of yore in an attempt to lure him back as a wing.

It was easy to dismiss the overtures as another attempt by Rui to get his name in the papers and make him look like he was trying to do something to save the SS Green Titanic. Another mercurial former foreign legend from the days of J league infancy, Pierre Littbarski, also has made advances towards the gritty professional.

One had to be wondering why Miura would take a step back into J2 when some of the lower rung J1 squads were begging for his services and leadership. It seems to me the clock was ticking on his J1 career and road trips to Tosu couldn't be too palatable for the former National teamer.

The first sign that maybe Verdy's overtures were more credible came in the form of a response by Yokohama FC that they would not be pursuing the services of Miura because of money and desire. Now, when a team with a massive Verdy fetish like Yokohama FC turns down the chance to get one of its former legends, you know that something is cooking....by last count they had Silva, Kazu, Yamada, Sugeno, Nejime, Tamano, Takagi, Hiramoto and new signing Hayashi all claiming ties to the Green.

A few days ago, Vissel added to the speculation that Miura would take the field in green by issuing a statement saying that they would only transfer Miura to a J2 squad......J1 was out of the question. Reasonable enough, Vissel kind of is mediocre bordering on suck and they don't want a pissed off former player going at them directly or indirectly for a rival.

Like everything Verdy does, this move could be good or bad..........

What will Miura do when he sees that Ramos (or Littbarski) are both mediocre as managers and have the same aggravating style of indecision and constant player moves?

What will adding another "crony" do to the likes of a Fukuda who hasn't seen the pitch in a long time?

Why is a team who is mid table second division trying to get older?

What does this do to the leadership structure of the squad.........Is Ono still the captain? Hattori? Does Miura get the band after walking in?

Is he a forward or defender?

Any other manager, I'd say bring him in........but Rui? He'll mess up for sure.

Game on!

GONE FISHIN!

I have decided to take a break from blogging for the month of June.......I will be back on July 1st, hopefully relaxed and refreshed.

Kinda came to this conclusion during the game when I was doing everything but paying attention to what was on the field yesterday.

OH YEAH......I blame Kaz Iio for th loss yesterday.....I don't know why Rui insists on playing the guy after win streaks but he is the biggest jinx I've ever seen.

So look for me on July 1st to blog again.......much apologies, feel free to keep the discussions going though here.

It's been awhile

Sorry...bad back and a nasty cold put me out of action for over a week

Tsuyoshi Yoshitake got injured in the inagural sattelite game against Venforet Kofu and is out for 6 months. The good news is Kaz Iio scored so I'm sure he has pole vaulted back up to 3rd striker......UGGGH

Takuya Yamada is on trial at Yokohama FC...if he signs, it will be the third team that he helps go down to relegation in three years.

3-5-2= 3-0-0 Who would've thought that the system that caused so much disaster in 2005 would resuscitate the ambitions of this year's squad. It takes a brave man to rejigger his whole system in the middle of the season. Kudos to Rui Ramos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbpegYoQL8c
Highlight vs Tokushima

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruN5WXDED3Y
Highlight vs Avispa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRthkG8Xx9s
Highlight vs Shonan

BLOG IN 60 SECONDS: Avispa vs Verdy

Tomorrow is another fabulous midweek rumble, which drives down attendance and seems to bring out the worst in Verdy. Anyhow, the squad plays against Avispa Fukuoka, the team that started the 7 game shame spiral which dented the credibility of Rui Ramos and sent Kazuki Hiramoto on a one way ticket out of Tokyo.

The roles have seemed to reverse however as Fukuoka finds itself in a mini-slump, suffering a bad loss to lower rung Sagan Tosu and collapsing to Kyoto after staking a 2 goal lead at home.

Avispa will be without the services of Kiyokazu Kudo, who is serving a one game suspension and Australian import Alvin Ceccoli, who is banged up.

My guess for tomorrow

GK----------------------------------Yoshihara---------------------------------

DF------Tsuchiya-------------------Hagimura---------------Tomisawa----------

MF---------------------Sugawara---------------Sato----------------------------

MF-Hattori-------------------------------------------------------Hiroyama-----

MF-----------------------------------Diego--------------------------------------

FW-------------------Hulk--------------------------Yoshitake-------------------

Anybody catching the game, please send in a report!

Always outnumbered, Always outgunned: Verdy vs Shonan

When I first saw the name of this man in Verdy's starting 11, a sense of fear and dread overcame me. I was almost ready to leave the stadium. My views on Shigenori Hagimura have been well documented. When I later saw that the new formation would be 3-5-2 with Fukuda and Hattori playing a midfield role and Hagimura as the lone man in the middle, I thought, finally.....Verdy will lose 12-0 and the embarassment will be so great, Ramos will be on his way out........I'll stay for this, some cute girls are around me, it's a beautiful day as always at historic Kokuritsu and I got nothing else to do.

Well dear readers, the end of world is upon us.....Hell has truly frozen over and pigs are circling my roof in majestic flight................

I thought Shigenori Hagimura was the best player on the field.

Oh, I realize that Shinya Yoshihara stood on his head on a couple of beautiful saves and Hulk was the most dangerous player on the field, practically spoon feeding Tsuyoshi Yoshitake his first goal in a Verdy uniform. For my money, Hagimura performed the most consistent performance, consistently shutting down the runs by Adiel and the rest of the dangerous Shonan mids. Seriously, the only dangerous chances by Bellmare were handed to them by the inept officiating who ran Kensuke Fukuda on a foul second yellow call. 52 minutes of man down footy and for the lions share Verdy looked like the more dangerous squad.

And Hagimura was the anchor. Part of me died just saying that.

Surprisingly, the team looked far more effective with the lumbering Diego up top and Hiroyama dropped back into his more natural role of midfielder after Fukuda left.

I won't judge the squad by this performance harshly considering the ref wanted to decide it and failed......I will just applaud Ramos and the squad for a gutsy performance that was light years away from the disgrace of early May.

I still worry about a 3-5-2 with an erratic keeper and a central defender who is putrid but for today I will give the permed devil his due......his gameplan worked to near perfection. Next game is against Fukuoka on Wednesday......I won't be there.

Off Topic: Yokohama FC

I got a chance to see the debut of Kazuki Hiramoto for Yokohama FC yesterday. He looked strong, the decision making wasn't quite there but the runs were decent. A couple of other notable former Verdy men were in attendance. Shingo Nejime made a late appearance for the squad and did nothing. Jun Tamano didn't play. Kazu had a couple of nice dives for free kicks. Omiya man Yoshiyuki Kobayashi had a reasonable game with two shots and quality decision making throughout the game. Daigo and Naoto Sakurai were both out for Omiya. Yokohama FC goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno was competent in goal, unfortunately getting left out to dry on a header off a set piece.

2 shots total for team Kazu.

Today I will see another Kanagawa squad take on Verdy when Shonan hits the pitch. Rumors are circulating that Verdy has been heavily toying with a 3-5-2 formation.

Maybe this?

GK------------------------------------Yoshihara--------------------------------

DF------------Fukuda-----------------Tsuchiya--------------Hattori------------

MF----------------------Tomisawa--------------Sugawara-----------------------

MF--Ze Luis---------------------------------------------------------Kanazawa---

MF------------------------------------Diego--------------------------------------

FW----------------Hiroyama---------------------------------Hulk----------------

Killoran has left the building

For the second day in a row, Verdy has shed itself of a member of the 2007 dream team. Eugene Killoran, a 19 year old defender was released after appearing in no games in his year tenure. Killoran hasn't appeared in any practice games for the past month so the move was not completely shocking. It looks from his comments on Verdy's main site that he is currently focusing on school. Good luck Eugene and hopefully you can resume your career after college

Happy Birthday J League!

14 years ago today Kawasaki Verdy and Yokohama Marinos took the field to kick off what would become a new national phenomenon. Included in that opening lineup was current Verdy manager Rui Ramos, former Cerezo head man Satoshi Tsunami (who notched the first yellow card in J League history, Head Coash Tetsuji Hashiratani, and current Verdy sub Hideki Nagai.

19 minutes in, Brazilian import Mayer would notch the first goal in Verdy and J League history. Unfortunately, the squad would fall 2-1.

http://www.jsgoal.jp/special/2007anniversary/game_01.html

Happy Birthday to the J League and the birth of the New Yomiuri club