It's only been four years since the J. League adopted a single season format. Before that, all seasons except 1996 had consisted of two stages. It's a point well worth noting, and worth noting loudly and repeatedly, that had this year been a two stage system, your very own Shimizu S-Pulse would have won the second stage by two clear points:
J. League 2008 (Hypothetical) 2nd Stage Standings
P Team Pts W D L
01 S-Pulse 36 11 3 3
02 Kawasaki 34 10 4 3
03 Kashima 32 9 5 3
04 Oita 31 9 4 4
05 FC Tokyo 30 9 3 5
06 Yokohama 30 8 6 3
07 Nagoya 30 8 6 3
08 Chiba 28 8 4 5
09 Kobe 22 6 4 7
10 G. Osaka 21 6 3 8
11 Urawa 21 5 6 6
12 Omiya 21 6 3 8
13 Kyoto 17 4 5 8
14 Verdy 17 4 5 8
15 Kashiwa 17 4 5 8
16 Niigata 16 4 4 9
17 Jubilo 14 3 5 9
18 Sapporo 3 0 3 14
P Team Pts W D L
01 S-Pulse 36 11 3 3
02 Kawasaki 34 10 4 3
03 Kashima 32 9 5 3
04 Oita 31 9 4 4
05 FC Tokyo 30 9 3 5
06 Yokohama 30 8 6 3
07 Nagoya 30 8 6 3
08 Chiba 28 8 4 5
09 Kobe 22 6 4 7
10 G. Osaka 21 6 3 8
11 Urawa 21 5 6 6
12 Omiya 21 6 3 8
13 Kyoto 17 4 5 8
14 Verdy 17 4 5 8
15 Kashiwa 17 4 5 8
16 Niigata 16 4 4 9
17 Jubilo 14 3 5 9
18 Sapporo 3 0 3 14
Proof, if further proof be needed, that S-Pulse are the best team in the country! Urawa, who won the (hypothetical) first stage, would be our opponents in the play off for the championship. Given current form, (Urawa got destroyed 6-1 at home on the final Saturday) we would probably be lifting our first J. League title right about now. :)
Championes, championes! Ole ole ole!
