Shimizu S-Pulse Full 2014 Fixtures

BARRY WRITES... 

Here it is, S-Pulse's full J1 and Nabisco Cup 2014 fixture list. Before, if you can believe it, the J. League's own website! Fortunately S-Pulse were on the ball and released the year's schedule around an hour ago. Converted into English, here you go. All home games are at Nihondaira unless stated. Weekdays in red signify a national holiday.

J. League

1) 3/1 (Sat) 2:00pm Nagoya Grampus v S-Pulse
2) 3/8 (Sat) 3:00pm S-Pulse v Yokohama F. Marinos
3) 3/15 (Sat) 3:00pm Cerezo Osaka v S-Pulse
4) 3/22 (Sun) 3:00pm Urawa Red Diamonds v S-Pulse
5) 3/29 (Sat) 3:00pm S-Pulse v FC Tokyo
6) 4/6 (Sun) 3:00pm Ventforet Kofu v S-Pulse
7) 4/12 (Sat) 3:00pm S-Pulse v Omiya Ardija
8) 4/19 (Sat) 2:00pm Tokushima Vortis v S-Pulse
9) 4/26 (Sat) 2:00pm S-Pulse v Vegalta Sendai
10) 4/29 (Tue) 3:00pm Kashima Antlers v S-Pulse
11) 5/3 (Sat) S-Pulse v Sagan Tosu
12) 5/6 (Tue) Albirex Niigata v S-Pulse
13) 5/10 (Sat) Sanfrecce Hiroshima v S-Pulse
14) 5/17 (Sat) S-Pulse v Vissel Kobe

World Cup Break!

15) 7/19 (Sat) S-Pulse v Kawasaki Frontale
16) 7/23 (Wed) Gamba Osaka v S-Pulse
17) 7/27 (Sun) S-Pulse v Kashiwa Reysol
18) 8/2 (Sat) FC Tokyo v S-Pulse
19) 8/9 (Sat) S-Pulse v Tokushima Vortis
20) 8/16 (Sat) Vegalta Sendai v S-Pulse
21) 8/23 (Sat) S-Pulse v Kashima Antlers
22) 8/30 (Sat) Sagan Tosu v S-Pulse
23) 9/13 (Sat) S-Pulse v Urawa Red Diamonds (ECOPA)
24) 9/20 (Sat) Vissel Kobe v S-Pulse
25) 9/23 (Tue) S-Pulse v Gamba Osaka
26) 9/27 (Sat) Omiya Ardija v S-Pulse
27) 10/5 (Sun) S-Pulse v Cerezo Osaka
28) 10/18 (Sat) Yokohama F. Marinos v S-Pulse
29) 10/22 (Wed) S-Pulse v Albirex Niigata
30) 10/26 (Sun) S-Pulse v Sanfrecce Hiroshima
31) 11/2 (Sun) Kawasaki Frontale v S-Pulse
32) 11//22 (Sat) S-Pulse v Nagoya Grampus
33) 11/29 (Sat) Kashiwa Reysol v S-Pulse
34) 12/6 (Sat) S-Pulse v Ventforet Kofu

Nabisco Cup

The group stage is comprised of a pool of seven teams. After six games the top two clubs go through to the quarter finals.

1) 3/19 (Wed) 7:00pm S-Pulse v Vegalta Sendai
2) 4/2 (Wed) 7:00pm S-Pulse v Gamba Osaka
3) No Game
4) 5/21 (Wed) 7:00pm FC Tokyo v S-Pulse
5) 5/24 (Sat) 2:00pm S-Pulse v Vissel Kobe
6) 5/28 (Wed) 7:00pm Sagan Tosu v S-Pulse
7) 6/1 (Sun) 3:00pm Kashima Antlers v S-Pulse

Fixture Day is Here!

Barry writes

On Friday January 31^st the J. League’s J1 fixtures for the 2014 will be revealed to a waiting public. Or rather, fans will discover their team's remaining 32 fixtures. The opening two weeks were made public some time ago. But come Friday evening at 5pm, or perhaps nearer 6pm?, fans can view the full footballing year ahead. Planning the coming months of away days and big home games is one of the joys of the closed season. Why then do I feel the J. League misses out on an opportunity, albeit relatively minor, of whipping up a little valuable publicity?

The opening two weeks fixtures released separately, without warning, and often leaked online early, is the beginning of the problem. Why the staggered announcement? By the time the full remaining fixtures are made public, again without warning or fanfare, again often leaked online in unconfirmable dribs and drabs, season ticket deadlines have passed. The impact on sales may be negligible, but some might be reluctant to shell out for a year’s commitment without a guarantee they can make their must-see games. Why even create that risk? 

Ensuring there's a little drama and excitement around the release of the fixtures would only serve to benefit all concerned. At the time of writing, the J. League homepage makes no mention of the date, let alone time, of this year's release. Via information gleaned across the web I’m aware of the date, and from experience, I know it won't be in the morning, but early evening. Vague? Just a bit. The steady trickle of leaked fixtures on Twitter are welcome, but does little to court the anticipation of supporters. 

Why don’t we set time and date well in advance, to fall before season ticket deadlines, and accompany it with an online countdown? Let’s maintain ultimate secrecy around the fixtures – all 34 weeks of them – to be revealed online, for example, on a Monday morning at 9am. The excitement of discovering how the year shapes up would be the talk of sports fans in offices up and down the country. Countless emails would be fired off as fans made preliminary away trip arrangements. The J. League would trend on Twitter as club hashtags went into overdrive.

It may not be the most pressing issue in Japanese football, but for many during the closed season, after new signings, the fixtures are the biggest thing to look forward to. Leaked information and rumours do anything but build up enthusiasm. I hope in future years the J. League will seize fixture release day as a chance to swamp their website with traffic and make the league, for a day during the off season, the talk of the sporting country.

Next Stop Higashi Shizuoka...

Barry writes

Alight here for Shimizu S-Pulse.

In a few years time, is that likely to be the announcement for trains passing through Shizuoka? Maybe, because S-Pulse's investigations into a location for a new stadium have highlighted an open piece of land beside Higashi Shizuoka JR station. When I say beside I mean slap bang next to. You exit the steps and you're there. It makes Sagan's ground seem a trek from the station.

While nothing is yet decided, two things we do know is that S-Pulse want to build a new home (I agree), and this city owned land is earmarked for development. So let me introduce Higashi Shizuoka. 

1 Shizuoka Station

2 Nihondaira Stadium

3 Shimizu Station

4 Miho Club HQ

5 Higashi Shizuoka Station

Since the turn of the century this part of town, a 30 minute walk, 3 minutes by train, or 6 by the local Shizutetsu Line, has been rapidly developed as a new commercial district. It was one of the areas put forward to house Shizuoka prefecture's world cup stadium, the ground that would eventually become Ecopa. Compare the middle of the two images below for how the area has come on in a few years:

 2004

2012

  1 Higashi Shizuoka Station

2 Huge Shopping Mall

3 Naganuma Station (local line)

4 Vacant Land

 
The JR station opened in 1998, and was constructed to be future proof with concourses and travellators more reminiscent of an airport. The station could certainly handle match day crowds. Coupled with major roads running either side of the station, no small amount of car parking, and the smaller local line station a five minute walk away, an infrastructure appears in place. The area is as central a spot as is possible, the polar opposite of Nihondaira. That many Shizuokan's can't find Nihondaira on a map is a restraint on S-Pulse's potential. The club are aware of this and eager to put it right.

My one concern with the land is the size. It has always struck me as too tight to fit a decent sized stadium.

150 metres in length, after the pitch you're left with around 20 metres for each end stand. Not impossible, but most modern stadia end stand footprints far exceed that. Indeed, Nihondaira's ends measure just under 30 metres in depth. Unless construction is designed to extend beyond the site's limitations it's hard to envisage the space being there.

But of course, I'm not an architect. I've not constructed a football stadium that wasn't made out of Lego. If there's a way it can be done, Japanese engineers will find a way.

The location is fantastic. In the the heart of Shizuoka, it's passed by the Shinkansen and would be seen by thousands of people every day. Like Nihondaira, it too boasts a view of Mt. Fuji. The huge Mark Is shopping centre is next door, as are several other food and drink establishments, providing fans with a post match reason to disperse gradually.

For the club's profile and position in the hearts and minds of the city's three quarters of a million residents it would provide an invaluable boost. Questions of funding, capital, and genuine feasibility are for the months to come, with the fate of the land set to be decided in March. Until then it's an unquestionably exciting future to ponder.

Who is the J. League's Most Successful Team? 2014

Barry writes

With the last game of 2013 played, it's time to update the Japan's all time league table.
Points are awarded as follows, with continental cups 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

Time spent in a lower division is counted for 2014, so here you go, the official list of Japan's most successful club teams:

1) Kashima Antlers 41.5
2) Jubilo Iwata 21.5
3) Yokohama F. Marinos 20
4) Urawa Red Diamonds 14
5) Tokyo Verdy 12
 -) Gamba Osaka 12
7) S-PULSE 11
8) Nagoya Grampus 10
9) Kashiwa Reysol 7
 -) Sanfrecce Hiroshima 7
11) FC Tokyo 5
12) Kawasaki Frontale 4.5

They didn't win anything this season for what feels like the first time in an age, but Kashima remain untouchable. The biggest change is back to back champions Hiroshima finally climbing into the top ten. Relegations have held them back so far, but two league titles is a huge achievement and is reflected in their jump up the rankings. Yokohama, who very nearly did the double this season, gain ground on Iwata. The the latter's relegation saw them drop points.

I seemed to have had Nagoya calculated one point short, so apologies and I've rectified that, although it makes no difference to the rankings. No increase for S-Pulse, but expect that to change next season! To quote the club's slogan from 2008, We Believe. :)

With the new league system from 2015 it'll be increasingly hard to calculate this table. In the 2 stage era of old, stage one and two played each other for the title. This gave us an understandable, if not perfect, way to decide the most successful teams. From 2015 we have three stages, with the third being comprised of anything up to five teams. The champions could easily be a team who finished second after 17 games, then bottom after the second 17. Yep, for all the other problems with the new system, it also screws up this table. What a shame.

2013's Top 5 Most Memorable Games

BARRY WRITES... 

With the 2013 season now passing into memory, the ten weeks until 2014 kicks off stretch out ahead of us barren and desolate. That being the case, we'll tick off the days by looking back, looking forward and keeping an eye on incomings and outgoings. In that respect, already covered on Twitter is the impending arrival from Utrecht of Toshiyuki Takagi's younger brother Yoshiaki. Should be an interesting development having two brothers in the squad. Going the other way, former youth team member Makoto Shibahara, who has been loaned out to FC Gifu this season, has been released. Follow us on Twitter for all the news as it happens.

But for now it's time for my pick of the season past! My top five most memorable games from 2013. It's no surprise that they all come from the latter end of the season. That's testament to the impact of our signings and the way the club dealt with the rocky start to the year. So, in reverse order, here we go!

5) S-Pulse 2-1 Nagoya Grampus
Game 25
September 14th 2013
Report

Our games with Nagoya have in recent years taken on the feel of a derby. What with Iwata now getting relegated this match up has the distinction of being the closest we'll have to a derby day, at least for 2014. Games with Kofu have never been anything special, and with Nagoya lacking their own local rivals, the Tokaido Showdown is set to fill in the gaps. This game was no exception, with the usual mix of needle and rough and tumble setting it off perfectly.

The result was the right one, but above and beyond the three points, it signalled the gelling of our summer time acquisitions. Honda, Omae and Radončić all starred as we came from behind to snatch victory in stoppage time. The late, late winner was the product of Radončić and Omae working together, something we watched with glee having suffered the disappointment of losing our much vaunted striker Bare earlier in the summer. Happy days in the late summer sun.

4) Oita Trinita 2-3 S-Pulse

Game 24
August 31st 2013
Report

This comes in at number four as much for the away day as for the game itself. The time spent down on Kyushu was full of excitement and adventure, and the match report reflected that. A special travelogue feature was the result of that long weekend.

Genki once again netted with a goal of some class, and Takagi and Muramatsu also got on the scoresheet. At 3-0 we threatened to take the soon-to-be-relegated Oita to pieces, but in the event it was the home team who rallied. Two goals in the last ten minutes gave us all a nervy end to endure, but we held out for the three points. Job done it was back into town for more local delicacies and, the following day, monkeys.  



3) S-Pulse 6-4 Sagan Tosu
Game 29
Saturday October 19th 2013
Report

There's memorable games and then there's straight up unforgettable ones. Who could have thought at 3pm that afternoon they were in for twenty-four shots, ten goals, and a red card? And that's just the bare bones of what went down. Not only did we draw level after going behind twice in the first twenty minutes, having taken a 4-2 lead we got pegged back to 4-4, suffering a sending off minutes later. Any spectator would have put money on the visitors to capitalise on their momentum and man advantage, but instead Hiraoka grabbed a rare goal and Sho Ito completed his hattrick.

It was 6-4 when the whistle finally went, and we all sat down dazed but happy. Some people who don't get football cite 0-0 draws and uneventful matches as a reason not to watch. Well, yeah, they happen. We've all sit through more than our share of turgid games wondering if we remembered to feed the cat or turn off the oven. Those matches are essential in paying your dues as a fan. Without them, you couldn't appreciate an incredible goal-fest, come-from-behind, man-down victory like this one. With thanks to Sagan Tosu for playing their part in one of my all time top ten Shimizu games.



2) S-Pulse 4-3 Kashima Antlers
Game 23
Wednesday August 28th 2013
Report

I'd arrived back from England the morning before and spent most the day struggling desperately not to pass out at my desk. At 5pm I'd even considered succumbing to jet lag, giving the game a swerve and heading home to crash on my futon. Near misses don't come much nearer. I dragged myself up to Nihondaira and to say I'm glad I did would be the understatement of the season.

Kashima are the old enemy. Both clubs founding J. League members and both ever present in J1 we've played them as much as anyone else. There's been some tasty meetings between us over the years, among the more recent being cup finals in 2011 and 2012. They came off better (ie, they went home with the cup) both times, so I take no small pleasure in us taking any kind of revenge. This game didn't look like being one of those opportunities for pay back, being 1-0 down in ten seconds, 2-0 five minutes later. A friend arrived at his seat shortly after Kashima had extended their early lead and I insisted he turn around and go home. Save yourself!

The 80 odd minutes that followed proved what most people already know: never listen to a word I say. A rip-roaring game which I recall in full detail on my report, but looking back it was an instrumental game in the revival of Takagi. Of course, old partner Genki's return had no small part to play, but the new team was showing its mental strength and character. What a game, and all under Nihondaira's floodlights. Into my top five all time Shimizu games, but what was to come in late October would have me thinking about my top one Shimizu experience...



1) Jubilo Iwata 0-1 S-Pulse
Game 30
October 27th 2013
Report

A Halloween nightmare for Jubilo as we, their bitter rivals, rolled into Iwata in full carnival mode with the express intention of relegating them. This is the type of scenario which comes around once or twice, if you're lucky, in a lifetime: the opportunity to put the final nail in your local enemy's coffin. The day's early results had gone such that a confirmed demotion was not possible, but a win for Shimizu would leave Iwata hoping for a miracle. It didn't come and they became a J2 team the following match day.

The tension surrounding the fixture had been building for weeks. All the weight attached to the game was magnified by the fact the game was not at Ecopa but at the newly renovated Yamaha Stadium, making it the first league game between us there in a decade. The new home end makes the stadium much more balanced, and should they have the opportunity to lose the gym behind the away and, they could further rebuild to make a ground to rival, dare I say it, Nihondaira in atmosphere.

That's in the future. The warm October afternoon we packed into the cramped stand behind the goal would be one of those rare occasions that lived up to the hype. A game I could easily watch again in it's entirety if only it was made available somewhere, it was the most tense, edgy, frantic, and ultimately enjoyable 90 minutes I've spent watching the boys in Orange. The 5-1 demolition of Iwata back in 2009 was it's own brand of epic fun, but for the backstory and meaning that went with this game, it comes out number one.

The much discussed banners rejoicing in Iwata's relegation were an essential part of what gave this day it's spice and sense of occasion. The biggest accolade though of course goes to the team which rose to the fight magnificently. Iwata simply did not want to lose. They fought for their supporters, for their pride and for their lives. That our boys came out on top was an amazing achievement. Iwata, though our rivals and foes, I pay them them the highest compliment for their part in this unforgettable game.

 

Number one of the season, number one of my S-Pulse life. The only way it could be topped would be by winning the title. And with that thought, roll on 2014!!!

S-Pulse 1-2 Kashiwa

BARRY WRITES... 

S-Pulse 1-2 Kashiwa Reysol
Takagi 10 ------------------ Ota 34
--------------------------------- Tanaka 83

Att 14185

December 7th 2013, 3.30pm
Nihondaira Stadium
Shizuoka city, Shizuoka prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Ishige
DF Muramatsu
DF Jong-a-Pin
DF Kawai

MF Honda
MF Takeuchi
MF Takagi

FW Radoncic (18, 72)
FW Ito (31)
FW Omae

Subs used

Miura on for Takeuchi (61)
Murata on for Takagi (84)

Report

And that brings the curtain down on the 2013 season. Apologies for not getting round to updating sooner. Life getting in the way as usual! The countdown to 2014 starts here. Can't wait. :)

Videos

Highlights.

Vegalta Sendai 1-2 S-Pulse

BARRY WRITES... 

Vegalta Sendai 1-2 S-Pulse
Wilson 54 --------------------------------------- Ito 15
------------------------------------------------------ Radončić 34

Att 17394

November 30th, 5pm
Yurtec Stadium
Sendai city, Miyagi prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki (95)

DF Yoshida
DF Sugiyama (75)
DF Jong-a-Pin

MF Ishige
MF Honda
MF Muramatsu
MF Takagi

FW Omae (93)
FW Ito
FW Radončić

Subs Used

Kawai on for Takagi (61)
Murata on for Ishige (81)
Takaki on for Yoshida (87)

Report

A hard fought and bruising affair (just ask Yoshida) with Sendai this evening. The game started at 100 mph, very open and both teams created clear chances. We took the initiative and were 2-0 up at the break. Sho stroked home a lovely strike on the 15 minute mark, and Radončić broke his mini-drought slamming home with no mess from the edge of the area. The second half saw Sendai a lot more in control, but we held firm and came home with all three points. This was our eighth win from the last eleven. Two defeats were against the current 1st and 2nd place, so pretty good form, all told.

At the top of the table we're set for a thrilling climax. Two teams are in with a shout of the title; Yokohama F. Marinos and Hiroshima. If Marinos win at rivals Kawasaki, they're champions. Apart from wanting to shaft their neighbours, Kawasaki will be going for an ACL spot, so you can expect fireworks. If Yokohama fail to win, Hiroshima can, with three points, pip them to the title. The defending champions are away to Kashima. Barring a 10 goal winning margin, the best Kashima can hope for is a 2nd placed finish, but will still be eager to secure their ACL berth. Again, expect fireworks.

It's in Yokohama's hands, but after today's capitulation in front of a record 62632 fans they'll need to rouse themselves for their biggest Kanagawa derby, indeed their biggest game full stop, in years. Hiroshima need to win and hope. This time next year it'll be us up there. Believe!

Videos

Highlights swiped by somebody off the TV.