: Hello Matsu, : Do you think Jubilo, JEF, Yokohama will all win their games this weekend? Can you send you predictions for these games and the ones that you thing will win this weekend?
This week is hard to talk about. Last week had a lot of factors that made the matches interesting (especially JEF - Jubilo), but this week the matchups, at least on paper, look like they wont be very competitive. On the other hand, the great thing about the J.League is that the matches which look like easy wins, on paper, often turn out to be wild upsets. So although I really dont think that any of the top three clubs can lose this week, I will try to suggest some scenarios in which the prospect of an upset might become more likely:
JEF United vs Shimizu S-Pulse: The Wingheads had a horrible first stage, and have sometimes looked absolutely pathetic in terms of their sloppy play and complete lack of a strategy. But considering how many of their players are former national team members, you can never tell what they might do. The most important consideration is that they were without their best attacking players for most ofthe year. Tuto (out due to a calf injury) has had his ups and downs but when he is on a roll his speed and ability to release shots quickly make him very dangerous. Ahn Jung-Hwan (who was out for three months to fulfill his Korean army service obligations) is also fast and clever at eluding markers. On the face of it, JEF should win this match even if it turns into a scoring contest. However, one of JEF's few weaknesses is the failure to pressure the ball in deep midfield. The team seems to take it for granted that they will score more than their opponents, so they tend to invest less energy on defence than they should. Since Milinovic, a key defender, will miss this match (accumulated yellow cards), S-Pulse need to come out with as much energy as they can muster, and try to score early. If Tuto and Ahn get off to a fast start, and build their confidence with an early goal or two, this one MIGHT be an upset.
Yokohama Marinos vs Gamba Osaka: Once again, this match SHOULD be no contest. Gamba have been playing awful on defence this season, whereas the Marinos offence is just starting to get organised and move into high gear. Nevertheless, Gamba have given Marinos trouble in the past, and they have a very tall and dangerous man up front in Magrao. Yokohama's only real defensive weakness is on high balls to the middle, so you can expect Gamba's offensive strategy to be based on quick runs down the wings and a cross into the box. If more than two goals are scored in this match, the Marinos will probably be the winner. Gamba will probably try to hang back on defence and look for chances to counterattack, but in a high-scoring match they probably dont have the firepower to compete. If they can keep Yokohama off the scoreboard for long enough,the Marinos may push forward and leave more room for counterattacks down the wings. For Gamba, the key is to keep Yokohama scoreless and hope for a goal or two on the counterattack. If the Marinos score first, though, the match will be effectively all over.
Jubilo Iwata vs Kashiwa Reysol This looks like the most lopsided contest of the three. It is hard to think of a scenario which would allow Reysol to be competitive. Jubilo will be very upset at being held to a draw last week, and they are sure to go for the kill right from the opening whistle. This match could be a real massacre. Then again, Reysol are a very young team with some exciting teenaged strikers. Jubilo are an old, experienced and veteran team. Normally this means that the experienced team wins, but if the match stays close and turns into a foot race, the youth and energy of Reysol will definitely give them an edge in the final 15 - 20 minutes of the match (especially on a hot muggy night in Tokyo). The first half of this match will probably determine whether it is a runaway or a close call. If Reysol are still level with Jubilo at half time (and particularly if they face the Shinanomachi end of National Stadium in the second half), it might turn out to be a very interesting finish. Having said that, my first impression is that Jubilo may have a 3 or 4 goal lead by half time.