tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16639242848361230582024-02-19T16:46:48.890+09:00An S-Pulse BlogBarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.comBlogger635125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-21391865437929718072022-03-05T22:43:00.060+09:002022-03-06T04:26:50.126+09:00New S-Pulse Stadium - Ready for 2026 BARRY WRITES... Time to crack those party poppers! News broke on Friday of plans for a new 25k+ stadium in the heart of Shimizu. Should all go according to plan, it's to cost ¥20 000 000 000 (£131,615,810, €159,448,413, US$174,210,148) will be financed by the city, prefecture, local business and donations, and be ready by 2026.For comparison, G. Osaka's Panasonic Stadium, seating 40k and Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-55803762300400193612022-03-01T04:57:00.010+09:002022-03-05T04:05:51.116+09:00Shimizu Impulse? Falling for the J. League BARRY WRITES... This is a piece I wrote back in 2013 for a football website. A lot has changed since then, in the J. League, for S-Pulse, and for myself (and I'm sure for you!). That website is no longer around, so I'm posting it here to make sure it's not lost to time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 2003, and Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-27229657071700155852022-02-26T23:43:00.029+09:002022-02-27T02:56:56.598+09:00Jubilo Iwata 1-2 S-Pulse (Shizuoka Derby 1, 2022) BARRY WRITES... It's been a whiiiiiiile. 18 months. Time flies! It was inevitable that this site's usage would fall off as Twitter took over, but it's still a bit of a shame. Reviews of random games over the years are a great little time capsule (that crazy Kashima 4-3, having gone 2 down after 6 minutes? Don't mind if I do!), and you just don't get that scanning old tweets. Twitter Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-32347979001888135692020-08-30T18:55:00.007+09:002020-08-30T19:07:20.027+09:00Kawasaki Five-O BARRY WRITES... Let's not beat ourselves up too much about this one. As a Brighton fan, when we play away at Liverpool or Man City we know we're often on a hiding to nothing. The wealth and power gap of some leagues fortunately doesn't exist in Japan, but that's not to say some teams aren't a lot better than others. Kawasaki are currently very good, and we're currently one of the others.&Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-15073675427390298352020-08-27T02:09:00.024+09:002020-08-27T08:03:01.236+09:00So long, Tese (and the Yokohamas) BARRY WRITES... All things considered, Tese joining Niigata on loan was not a huge shock, but it's sad to see him go. It's no exaggeration to say in his time with us, the Korean has become one of S-Pulse's best. He's strong, he's a goal scorer, he's a leader, he's principled, and he's passionate. He's also one charming mofo. When I was lucky enough to receive a video greeting from players Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-47944248781742438412020-08-12T03:33:00.012+09:002020-08-27T00:18:24.806+09:00What Arano Said BARRY WRITES...
If you read our previous
post, you'll know I was far from enamoured with the way Arano carried on. I've been watching football a long time, but was genuinely
surprised at his behaviour. Rough challenges and a bit of
needle is one thing, but there's a level of fair play
than generally underpins professional sport. What the Sapporo man did was ugly and childish.
Kaneko didBarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-48996093041803712922020-08-10T06:32:00.057+09:002020-08-10T23:53:04.542+09:00Urawa 1-1 S-Pulse 3-1 Sapporo - Back of the Net! BARRY WRITES... Urawa 1-1 S-Pulse It's getting better man! Away at Urawa (speaking from memory now - it was a week ago) was a game of two halves. We may easily have gone in at half time with the lead, but didn't. Wastefulness in front of goal has been a bit of an issue this season, and it almost cost us another game. Almost, but didn't! We've been pretty great from set plays, and so it wasBarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-59818923265761083782020-07-28T00:24:00.031+09:002020-07-28T02:59:48.775+09:00S-Pulse 4-2 Oita - Socially Distancing in the Rain BARRY WRITES...
I may be wrong, but the last time I remember an S-Pulse game being stopped because of the weather was away at Sendai, 2012. Check out the sky at 1:15 in the afternoon:<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-GB
JA
X-NONE
Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-42567480006485971812020-07-23T01:06:00.011+09:002020-07-23T21:56:47.765+09:00Sagan Tosu 1-1 S-Pulse - de Geaja-vu BARRY WRITES... Did Umeda's balls-up for Tosu's equaliser remind anyone of de Gea's on Sunday? A low shot the keeper should deal with, but didn't. Fair play to him, he's a 21 year old lad (22 tomorrow - HBD!), who's not long made his professional debut. He'll be more annoyed than anyone, so chin up Umeda! Saved! Oh...You might say we were unlucky not to add a second, but the phrase "few and far Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-53593461073885238662020-07-18T23:00:00.009+09:002020-07-18T23:54:03.562+09:00Kobe 3-1 S-Pulse - NO RELEGATION IN 2020 BARRY WRITES... Have I mentioned yet that there's no relegation from J1 this season? While much good rarely comes from a pandemic, that is one tiny Coronabonus for three J1 teams. 600k lives lost, but you know. Every cloud.The first 45 was very even, and there really wasn't much to choose between the two. Given we're of relatively modest means and are in transition, while Kobe are in what, year Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-19966695954643561872020-07-14T05:23:00.012+09:002020-07-14T23:24:48.425+09:00S-Pulse 1-2 G. Osaka - DON'T PANIC BARRY WRITES... Two posts in a week? I'm not sure these pages can handle all this activity! Sunday saw the return of supporters at Nihondaira, albeit in a limited capacity. Clubs are allowed 50% of their stadium or 5000 fans, whichever is less. Our official total was 4131, so not "full", but above average amongst J1 teams. This, in tandem with restrictions on behaviour that may spread contagionsBarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-83553672268015811962020-07-11T06:28:00.025+09:002020-08-11T01:38:03.083+09:00J. League in the Covid-19 era - S-Pulse vs G. Osaka BARRY WRITES... <!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-GB
JA
X-NONE
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-28024469845025544432020-07-05T23:26:00.002+09:002020-07-06T19:54:12.178+09:0024 hours in the life of an S-Pulse fan - 2012 Nabisco Cup Final BARRY WRITES...
This is another piece which was previously only available via J. Soccer Magazine. I blogged about the cup final back then of course, but that day is now a little bit of S-Pulse history. Nearly eight years old, it's time to publish this here for posterity.
It comes with a few pictures not seen at the time, and breaks down another typically manic 24 hours following Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-91076920633216748232020-07-03T20:17:00.006+09:002022-02-27T00:34:09.330+09:00LOST POST: All we are saying, is give us a roof!LOST POST ALERT!
The following has been sat in draft form for over a decade. Think it's safe to say I'll never get around to finishing it.
It's a sprawling think piece from 2008, and clearly a product of its time. Things have changed since then. My knowledge may have been lacking, some thoughts may have missed the greater context, info may now be outdated, and it might just be a load of waffle.Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-21561240412015794572020-07-03T03:57:00.002+09:002020-07-06T22:39:49.438+09:00The Story of a Promotion - S-Pulse 2016 BARRY WRITES...
This piece was previously only available via J. Soccer Magazine. Why not go check it out?
Here I recap the year in spent in J2 while it was still fresh in the memory, and the joyous final day where we clinched our return to the top-flight.
It's now a little piece of S-Pulse lore, so here it is, free to view, illustrated with some pictures from the time.
In Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-59606071443691188952020-07-02T23:40:00.001+09:002020-07-02T23:44:57.148+09:00LOST POST: One More Win<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-GB
JA
X-NONE
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-10470439334267356062016-05-29T21:39:00.002+09:002022-02-28T05:38:44.664+09:00S-Pulse 8 (Eight) - 0 Gunma BARRY WRITES...
S-Pulse, you never fail to surprise me.
Given our recent turgid form, who saw this coming? Nobody, that's who.
Ladies and gentlemen, you just witnessed S-Pulse history: our largest ever win. That's also the J. League records equalled for most goals scored without reply, and the biggest margin of victory. As for J2, that's the biggest victory of all time.
What a game. Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-90854232282274439952016-03-09T21:40:00.002+09:002022-02-28T05:39:01.510+09:00Season 2016 Highlights BARRY WRITES...
I really should have thought of doing this as soon as highlights became available officially on YouTube a while back. Better late than never. I'll update this after each game.
1) S-Pulse 0-0 Ehime FC
February 28th 2016
2) V-Varen Nagasaki 0-3 S-Pulse
March 6th 2016
3) S-Pulse 0-0 Matsumoto Yamaga
March 13th 2016
4) S-Pulse 0-2 Sapporo
March 20th 2016
5) Yamagata Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-52131335347730597112016-03-01T20:35:00.001+09:002016-03-01T20:46:33.386+09:00Hi J2, Nice to Meet You! (S-Pulse 0-0 Ehime) BARRY WRITES...
4 subscribers? Hell yeah, I'm a YouTuber now.
With thanks for all the feedback. Very much appreciated. This little project was decided upon almost as I walking to the shuttle bus, so for something so off the cuff, I think it turned out OK.
Following encouraging comments, a follow up for the Matsumoto home game on March 13th in now in pre-production (ie: I'm thinking Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-23174790097308118762016-02-20T21:05:00.002+09:002016-02-21T02:27:38.434+09:00Up on Year Number 9 BARRY WRITES...
While trying to think up a '9' related header for this post, the only thing that kept repeating in my mind was Bryan Adam's late 90s soft rock classic. As a result, this post is best enjoyed as it was composed: the Groover from Vancouver providing the background beats.
So anyway, why 9? Because, believe it or not, 2016 marks the ninth year we've been doing this.
Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-85302163476446144732016-01-07T23:06:00.002+09:002016-01-08T07:11:31.676+09:00The Ten Best Performing Teams in J. League History BARRY WRITES...
A recent Brazilian publication reminded me to update our annual J. League club ranking. Their list, while using a different points system, ultimately came out eerily close to our own. I've reproduced it below.
First, a few quick points. I'm now calling the list the best performing teams. Reason being, my ranking isn't just about trophies. If you finish the league 2nd thenBarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-8006362480425453042015-10-17T16:17:00.003+09:002022-02-28T05:52:12.579+09:00RELEGATED BARRY WRITES...
With the predictability of night following day, S-Pulse have been relegated. The inevitable result of 12 months of turgid, directionless football, and management decisions which amounted to wanton self destruction.
S-Pulse’s Darkest Hour
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
0
2
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-87652902480009280372015-08-01T11:08:00.001+09:002015-08-01T11:43:51.339+09:00Oenoki Out - Tasaka In BARRY WRITES...
Resigned? Sacked? Mutual consent? The official line is he stepped down, and there's no reason to dredge through this episode any further.
Shizuoka Newspaper. Official announcement to come
The writing had been on the wall ever since Tasaka was brought in as "head coach". That Oenoki chose now to call it a day, right after an away win in Yokohama, suggests to me Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-18711476585849942872015-05-12T12:58:00.003+09:002015-05-12T14:12:22.079+09:00On The Road Again - Away Days in Japan BARRY WRITES...
How does an away day in Japan compare with England? It’s been a pleasure finding out.
WHEN ARE THE FIXTURES OUT?
Observe any football fan when the new season’s schedule is published and you’ll witness the same ritual. The long, barren off months are forgotten as he scours the list, pen in hand, circling the major dates. The match closest to his birthday. The Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663924284836123058.post-20361475281672339802015-04-29T20:40:00.005+09:002015-04-30T06:37:11.116+09:00P25 W5 D5 L15 BARRY WRITES...
Losing a lead after the score stood 3-0 at 85m is infuriating. Obviously. What makes it worse is not just we'd lost five in a row before this. Nor how we chose to invite a team on to us who, but for taking some very real chances, had pretty much matched us first half. Or even that Yamagata had scored just two goals all season but were today allowed to more than Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980037699448365282noreply@blogger.com4