BARRY WRITES... With the last game of 2014 played, it's time to update my J. League all time league table.
Points are awarded as always, as follows. Continental cups are counted, but show-piece super cups not.
League title: 3 Points
League runners up: 1 Point
Cup win: 2 Points
Cup runners up: .5 Points
Relegation: -1 Point
Time spent in lower division: -.5 per year
So here we go. The ten most successful teams in J. League history:
1) Kashima Antlers 41.5
2) Yokohama F. Marinos 20
-) Jubilo Iwata 20
4) Gamba Osaka 19
5) Urawa Red Diamonds 15
6) Tokyo Verdy 11.5
7) S-PULSE 11
8) Nagoya Grampus 10
9) Sanfrecce Hiroshima 7.5
10) Kashiwa Reysol 7
The biggest change from last year is Gamba Osaka's fully deserved jump into 4th place, but Marinos also make a step into joint second by dint of Iwata's forthcoming second season J2.
So there you are. Make of it what you will, but I think it's a pretty decent reflection of the last 23 years.