Referring Cock Up Wrecks Game - Takahara Goal Disallowed Why?

Barry writes

Not even level - when Brosque nudged the ball on, Takahara was being played WELL onside by Alex. Horrific decision that wrecked an entire game.

It's clear Alex (No. 5) knew he was playing Taka onside by his hasty (but woefully too late) stepping up. To be fair, the ref's line of sight was blocked, but God only knows what the linesman's positioning was like to make such an elementary mistake.

Ineptitude

The goal in full.



Was this discussed on TV? No. Will the officials admit to the error? No. Will refereeing standards improve by sweeping horrendous mistakes under the carpet and / or simply pretending they didn't happen? No.

FOR SHAME.

VIPs from Yamada City

Barry writes:

Saturday's 3-3 thriller with Cerezo Osaka was host to 50 special guests from Yamada City, Iwate prefecture; a town almost completely destroyed in the March 11th tsunami. A number of junior high and high school students and family members, numbering around 50 in total, were presented with the invites by Takahara.

"Thank you Takahara, Thank you S-Pulse"

I glad they were given a crazily entertaining, maybe if not winning, game to enjoy, and I hope everyone went home with some good memories of Shimizu. You are truly welcome back any time. Nice job Takahara, and nice job S-Pulse.

S-Pulse 3-0 Omiya Ardija

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 3-0 Omiya Ardija
Edamura 48
Ono 54
Takahara 78

Att. 16768

Line Up

GK K. Yamamoto

DF Muramatsu (yellow 45+1)
DF Iwashita
DF Bosnar
DF Ota

MF Ono
MF Hiraoka
MF Edamura

FW Omae
FW Takahara
FW Takagi (yellow 90+3)

Subs Used

Brosque on for Ono (68)
M. Yamamoto on for Hiraoka (81)
Nabeta on for Takahara (85)

Report

No time, no time! I'll be honest with you. I drank too much before the game and don't remember with too much clarity the events which led to our first win in four. I'll have a quick go though from memory.

Kaito was recalled for Usui who had let in 12 in three games. Not all his fault by any means, but it can't do a keeper's confidence any favours. Takahara was back leading the charge and Edamura made a rare start.

The first half was bereft of too many chances, but it was Eda who opened the scoring right after the break. Ono, from another of Ota's excellent crosses, doubled the lead. Shinji found himself deep in the Omiya box, and with a couple oif deft steps lost his marker. From behind the goal I thought he' d hit is straight it straight at the keeper, but how could I doubt him? It was aimed perfectly through his legs.

At 2-0 Omiya really had us hanging on for a spell and we just couldn't hold onto possession. But for a cracking Kaito stop it would have been 2-1 and the way it was going a come back wouldn't have been unlikely. But we held on and a belter from Takahara put the game beyond reach for the visitors.

So a good result for sure, but still tempered by the last three games. New signing Jong-a-Pin was there and was seen chatting away to Ghotbi before the game. Maybe we'll see him as early as the Cerezo match next week.

Aaaah, time up! I'm off to Aichi for the day. Will do the Ghotbi says bit later or tomorrow or whenever. See ya!


Videos

Personal video uploads starting with Edamura:



Ono:



Takahara:

S-Pulse 2-1 Niigata

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 2-1 Niigata
Ono 57---------------------- Ishikawa 5
Takahara 90 -------------- Suzuki sent off (55)

Att. 13599

Line Up

GK Usui

DF Muramtsu
DF Hiraoka
DF Bosnar
DF Ota

MF Yamamoto
MF Edamura
MF Ono

FW Kobayashi
FW Takahara
FW Brosque

Subs Used

Omae on for Koboyashi (HT)
Nagai on for Ono (78)
Takagi on for Edamura (78)

Report

I'm bloody knackered, so I'm going to write this either Sunday or Monday. In a nutshell, Niigata were the most one dimensional team to come to Nihondaira this year, and despite taking an early lead, we always controlled the game. After the red card, Niigata's game plan was to keep nine men behind the ball with the Brazilian striker waiting upfield for long balls to hit us on the counter.

An S-Pulse moon was out

Tuesday update

Well, it's a bit later than I hoped, but I've had a busy weekend celebrating a UKU wedding (not mine!) and have finally just been able to sit down and write a bit more. As I mentioned, Niigata were not so good, but their goal was very well taken and they almost had two after we made a mess of a back pass.

With the man advantage we were always in control, save for a couple of the counter attack breaks. We just didn't seem able to create the killer chance. That was until a Takagi shot forced a corner, and another piece of perfect predatory positioning penetrated the Niigata defence. The goal, right on the stroke of the 90th minute sent us all barmy and Takahara was visibly loving it. If he keeps this up (and I think he just might) I might just forget he ever used to play for iwata.

We're up to sixth and face Cerezo on Saturday for a chance to climb into the top three. Ole!

Full time

By the way, out of our starting 11, EIGHT were natives of Shizuoka prefecture. Ota was the only non Shizuokan Japanese, and that is pretty impressive if you ask me.

" サイコーー！！"

Videos

Highlights.



Personal videos. First Ono's penalty.



Takaharaaaaa!!!!!!!

Urawa 1-3 S-Pulse

Barry writes:

Urawa 1-3 S-Pulse
Umesaki 80 -----------Bosnar 24, 86
-----------------------------Takahara 64

Att. 31921

Line Up

GK Usui

DF Tsujio
DF Iwashita
DF Bosnar
DF Ota

MF Ono
MF Hiraoka
MF Brosque

FW Omae
FW Takahara (Yellow 36)
FW Takagi

Subs Used

Edamura on for Ono (46)
Kobayashi on for Takagi (56)
Nagai on for Takahara (77)

Report

With goals from Bosnar (2!) and, of course, Takahara, we beat Urawa this evening. Everything will come Monday afternoon because I'm in a hotel in Yamanashi right now getting an early night ahead of my first half marathon. All I will say is GET IN!!! S-PULSE, YOU ARE BLOODY BRILLIANT!!! :))))))

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Well, I never got round to writing much more about this, but in summary it was a good result away from home with a fantastic second goal. A perfect diving header from Takahara after an equally perfect Genki cross. Naohiro is in great shape and if he keeps this up the doubters will be stuffed full of humble pie come December. When you consider he's only been starting as centre forward for the past five games, his recent haul is even more impressive.

It's been a little while, but we all know what he can do, and Bosnar's two free kicks were just unstoppable. Especially his second which must have been moving at some speed. Home to Kawasaki tomorrow under the lights. Looking forward to it. :)

Ghotbi Says

We were excellently organised and could control the game from start to finish. It's fantastic to give the fans a victory with some special goals. We showed our character after conceding to grab a third and wrap up the win.

Let's Talk About ME

If I can be self indulgent for a second, this is what I got up to this weekend (hence the delayed update to these pages).


13 miles before midday on a Sunday? Not something I'll be making a habit of, but might just do another half marathon in the not too distant future. :) I saw a couple of FC Tokyo shirts, a JEF United one and also an Omiya top. I mean to say I saw them as I was leaving them on a cloud of orange DUST. Go S-Pulse!

Videos

Extended highlights:



Bend it like Beckham? Nah, mate. BELT IT LIKE BOSNAR.

Ono Captain / Takahara and Bosnar Vice Captain

Barry writes:

As the title says, and as announced today. Well, the first part of it was a no-brainer, but the other two names are a slight surprise, but only because they're decisions not based on length of time at the club. This clearly is the post Kenta era, and having given it some thought, both thoroughly deserving of the opportunity. Both Takahara and Bosnar are worthy vice skippers, and good luck to them.

Go bananas for S-Pulse!

Takahara signs for S-Pulse

Barry writes:

News broke this morning of the capture of ex-national team forward Naohiro Takahara. The hugely popular player, who made his name playing for some second rate team in blue, plied his trade in Europe between 2001 and 2008. After an unsuccessful spell at the car crash of a club that was Urawa circa 08/09, he escaped from Saitama in July and has since been playing in Korea for Suwon Bluewings. He's bagged 4 goals in 12 games for the K. League side.

Takahara will no doubt be looking forward to playing alongside fellow Shimizu educated, Shizuoka lad Ono. In a stable, familiar, and most of all supportive environment, I'm confident we'll see a better side to him than what we saw in Urawa.

"There's only one team worth playing for in Shizuoka these days, and it sure as hell ain't Jubilo" the 31 year old wasn't quoted as saying. Read the official news release here.

Nishibe's Injury / Aoyama to YFM / Takahara? / Mystic Meg

Barry writes:

Nishibe is out for four weeks following his horrific collision last weekend. Should we make it through, will he be back in time for the cup final on New Year's Day? What am I, Mystic Meg?

Aoyama has signed for Yokohama F. Marinos.

Ex-scum striker Takahara is rumoured to be on the S-Pulse Christmas shopping list. Shizuoka lad born and bred, and Shimizu educated, it was always such a waste he got tempted to the dark side as a youth. We've all done things we regret. Will he find salvation in a bright orange t-shirt? Would certainly put some extra bums on seats and flog a few scarves.