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Watching Football in Japan by Barry Valder

Right, now I can finally get on with my life!

S-Pulse 1-1 South China (Pre-season Hong Kong tournament) 3-1 on Pens

Barry writes

S-Pulse 1-1 South China 
Takagi 26 ------------------- Chan 66

S-Pulse win 3-1 on penalties

Line Up

GK Usui

DF Inukai
DF Hiraoka
DF Iwashita
DF Brosque

MF Muramatsu
MF Edamura
MF Ito

FW Takagi
FW Takahara
FW Omae

Takagi slots home to seal the shoot out

Happy New Year! S-Pulse progress (eventually) with a heavily experimental line up. The final of this little Hong Kong beano will be on the 26th, which is Thursday.

Which I'm here, new signing Yoshida has been included in the U23 squad for the upcoming February Olympic qualifiers.

2012 Asian Super Challenge Cup in Hong Kong

Barry writes

OK, then! Have been a bit busy with various stuff and not been updating as much as I'd like to. Well, here's the lowdown on the pre-season tour / tournament in Hong Kong. It's basically a team building beano to the continent to keep our team sharp and give them some experience against foreign opposition. We may even gain a few supporters in Hong Kong too. :)

January 23rd and 26th @ Hong Kong Stadium.

Teams:

South China AA
Guangzhou_R&F F.C.
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
S-Pulse

Games

Semi Final: S-Pulse v South China - Jan 23rd 18:30

Final: Jan 26th 20:30
or 3rd/4th place play off: Jan 26th 18:30

I'll keep you updated of the results as they happen. Good luck to our boys, and the supporters on their way to Hong Kong to cheer us on. Respect.

Ota: "I'll Either Go Abroad or Stay With S-Pulse" Then Signs With FC Tokyo

Barry writes

Either you've got a pretty horrendous grasp on geography, or you were just hustling Tokyo for a better offer, while playing your own supporters like a bunch of mugs.

If you're not with us, you're against us. Shut the door on your way out. Jong a Pin will take left back. You've managed to sour all the good memories. You won't be missed.

One Team, One Mission - Opening Two Weeks Fixture

Barry writes

Time for a round up. Been a bit busy finishing off the book, but while I have a few minutes. Our new slogan this year is One Team, One Mission. Our best one yet, and I bet Mr Ghotbi had a hand in it.

Other news, the opening two weeks fixtures were leaked this week. They will probably be:

Week 1) Away to Nagoya March 10th
Week 2) Home to Hiroshima March March 17th

Being Nagoya's opening weekend, it more than likely be played at the stunning Toyota Stadium. Worlds away from the dump that is Mizuho (no offence, Nagoya, but for supporters Mizuho is crap and you know it), we'll probably take a few thousand and I can't wait.

After that, home to Hiroshima.

Yamamoto to Sapporo / Nagai signs with Yokohama FC

Barry writes

As per the title really. Nagai, who was in danger of not finding a team, has signed with Yokohama FC. A better signing for Yokohama than it is for him, if truth be told. But good luck to him and maybe with his help the ex-Flügels can make a J1 challenge this year.

Rather more surprising was the transfer of Masaki Yamamoto to Consadole Sapporo. He was always a favourite of Kenta, but there's just not been the space for him under the new regime what with Ono, Ljungberg, Edamura, Brosque, Jong a Pin and Sugiyama all ahead of him for most of 2011. Not to mention the returning-from-injury Daigo, and you can see why he may have felt it time for new surroundings. He's been with us since he was in junior high, so thanks for everything and good luck, Masaki!

Watching Football in Japan - The Complete Guide

Barry writes

You know me - always like to have my fingers in several pies at once. Well, for the last 18 months or so I've been beavering away on a book aimed at both J. League virgins and old heads alike: a complete guide to all the 2012 top flight stadiums. Over 140 pictures, stadium access information and travel tips are packed into 70 full colour pages of Japanese football information. It's just coming to completion now, and will be available in February. Read more, and check out some sample pages at the website.

www.watchingfootballinjapan.com

It's the first time this information has been brought together in English in print form, and you're more than welcome to buy one come February. It will be available in the same way as our little UK Ultras book was, via Blurb to ship worldwide.