J. League Results 16/09/07

Saturday 15 September / Sunday 16 Sept

Urawa Reds increased their lead at the top of the J-League again to four points over their main rivals Gamba Osaka. Gamba lost 0-2 at home to a resurgent Yokohama F Marinos while Urawa beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima in front of a season high 22,675 spectators at Hiroshima's Big Arch Stadium.

Shimizu S-Pulse are third after a 2-0 home win over struggling Ventforet Kofu.

Ardija, still struggling after the sacking of Dutch coach Robert Verbeek at the mid-season break went down 0-2 to Jubilo in front of only 8,432 fans.

In other games Grampus beat Antlers 3-0 in Nagoya and JEF United won 4-2 at home to Vissel Kobe. Kawasaki Frontale and Oita Trinita drew 2-2. Yokohama FC look doomed to immediate relegation as they are now 10 points adrift of Ventforet and Ardija after losing at home to FC Tokyo 0-2. 40,574 loyal fans saw Albirex Niigata capitulate in the second half to Reysol losing 1-2.

In J2, Kyoto Sanga continue to close the gap on slumping front-runners Sapporo Consadole, while Rui Ramos' Verdy are making good progress in 4th after a poor start to the season.

J1

Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2 Urawa Reds 4
Yokohama FC 0 FC Tokyo 2
Kawasaki Frontale 2 Oita Trinita 2
Gamba Osaka 0 Yokohama F Marinos 2
JEF United 4 Vissel Kobe 2
Albirex Niigata 1 Kashiwa Reysol 2
Shimizu S-Pulse 2 Ventforet Kofu 0
Nagoya Gampus Eight 3 Kashima Antlers 0
Omiya Ardija 0 Jubilo Iwata 2


Leading Positions

Reds P25 Pts 55
Gamba P25 Pts 51
S-Pulse P25 Pts 47
Antlers P25 Pts 45
Reysol P25 Pts 43
Marinos P25 Pts 42
Albirex P25 Pts 41


J2

Consadole P37 Pts 72
Kyoto Sanga P37 Pts 69
Vegalta P37 Pts 65
Verdy P37 Pts 62


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J. League Results 25/08/07

Saturday 25 August / Sunday 26 August

Urawa Reds increased their lead at the top of the J-League to four points over arch-rivals Gamba Osaka. Gamba were on the receiving end of a 4-1 draw hiding away to Kawasaki Frontale while Urawa beat FC Tokyo in front of 46,951 fans at Saitama Stadium.

Kashima Antlers stay third after a 2-1 home win over bottom club Yokohama FC.

Ardija, still without a win after the sacking of Dutch coach Robert Verbeek at the mid-season break went down 5-0 in Nagoya where veteran midfielder and former Japan international Toshiya Fujita scored his 100th J-League goal for Grampus.

The second largest crowd of the weekend, 39,912, saw Albirex Niigata slump 2-0 to Shimizu S-Pulse who leapfrog the hosts in the table going into 4th on goal difference.

In J2, Kyoto Sanga came back from a 3-1 half-time deficit to beat their nearest challengers for the second automatic promotion place, Avispa 4-3 and stay nine points adrift of runaway leaders Sapporo Consadole.

J1

Urawa Reds 3 FC Tokyo 2
Kawasaki Frontale 4 Gamba Osaka 1
Kashima Antlers 2 Yokohama FC 1
Oita Trinita 2 Vissel Kobe 0
Kashiwa Reysol 1 JEF United 0
Jubilo Iwata 2 Ventforet Kofu 1
Albirex Niigata 0 Shimizu S-Pulse 2
Yokohama F Marinos 2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2
Nagoya Gampus Eight 5 Omiya Ardija 0


Leading Positions

Reds P22 Pts 49
Gamba P22 Pts 45
Antlers P22 Pts 42
S-Pulse P22 Pts 38
Albirex P22 Pts 38
Marinos P22 Pts 36

J2

Consadole P33 Pts 71
Kyoto Sanga P33 Pts 62
Avispa P33 Pts 56
Vegalta P34 Pts 56




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J. League Results 15/08/07

J. League Results 15/08/07
Wednesday 15 August

Urawa Reds closed the gap at the top of the J-League to just a single point after a 1-0 win away to Gamba Osaka. Yuichiro Nagai scoring the only goal on the hour mark. Antlers are now third following a 3-1 home win over JEF United.

With temperatures hovering around 35 degrees centigrade August is a tough month for the players and Yokohama FC will be sweating more than most as they are now seven points adrift at the bottom of the table.

The sacking of Robert Verbeek has not brought a turn-around in Omiya Ardija's season and they are second from bottom after their latest reverse - 3-1 at home to Vissel, for whom Yoshito Okubo netted to confirm his position as the leading Japanese scorer in J1.

In J2, Consadole now have a 10-point lead over the chasing pack of Kyoto Sanga, Avispa and Vegalta.

Gamba Osaka 0 Urawa Reds 1
Kashima Antlers 3 JEF United 1
Omiya Ardija 1 Vissel Kobe 3
Kashiwa Reysol 2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0
Kawasaki Frontale 1 Yokohama F Marinos 2
Jubilo Iwata 5 FC Tokyo 2
Yokohama FC 0 Ventforet Kofu 2
Oita Trinita 3 Shimizu S-Pulse 4
Albirex Niigata 4 Nagoya Gampus Eight 0

Leading Positions

Gamba P20 Pts 44
Reds P20 Pts 43
Antlers P20 Pts 36
Albirex P20 Pts 35
Marinos P20 Pts 32

J2

Consadole P31 Pts 68
Kyoto Sanga P31 Pts 58
Avispa P31 Pts 53
Vegalta P32 Pts 52

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J. League Results

Sunday 6 May

After ten rounds of the 2007 J-League season Gamba Osaka despite being held 1-1 at home to S-Pulse. Urawa Reds were also held by lowly Ardija 1-1, so may be life is looking up for Omiya's new Dutch coach Robert Verbeek.

In J2, Montedio are the new leaders just above Consadole. Verdy produced an unexpected 1-4 thrashing of Sanga in Kyoto to keep coach Rui Ramos in employment.

Yokohama FC 0 Vissel Kobe 3
Gamba Osaka 1 Shimizu S-Pulse 1
Oita Trinita 1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2
Omiya Ardija 1 Urawa Reds 1
Albirex Niigata 3 Ventforet Kofu 1
JEF United 1 Kashiwa Reysol 1
Jubilo Iwata 1 Nagoya Gampus Eight 0
Kashima Antlers 1 Yokohama F Marinos 1
Kawasaki Frontale 5 FC Tokyo 2


Leading Positions

Gamba P10 Pts 21
Reds P10 Pts 19
Frontale P10 Pts 18
Reysol P10 Pts 18
Jubilo P10 Pts 18


J2

Montedio P13 Pts 27
Consadole P13 Pts 27
Avispa Fukuoka P12 Pts 24
Vegalta Sendai P13 Pts 23
Bellmare P13 Pts 21
Kyoto Sanga P13 Pts 20

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J League Results 23/4/07

Saturday / Sunday 21 & 22 April

After seven rounds of the 2007 J-League season Gamba Osaka are back on top. Nagoya Grampus move back to second ahead of Frontale who ended Reds' amazing 25 straight home game winning streak. Yokohama FC lost again - this time 0-1 at fellow strugglers FC Tokyo.

In J2, Consadole and Vegalta and lead Avispa and Montedio.

FC Tokyo 1 Yokohama FC 0
Urawa Reds 1 Kawasaki Frontale 2
Ventforet Kofu 3 Kashiwa Reysol 2
Shimizu S-Pulse 1 Kashima Antlers 2
JEF United 1 Omiya Ardija 0
Nagoya Gampus Eight 2 Vissel Kobe 0
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0 Albirex Niigata 0


Gamba Osaka 5 Jubilo Iwata 2
Yokohama F Marinos 5 Oita Trinita 0
Leading Positions

Gamba P7 Pts 16
Grampus P7 Pts 15
Frontale P7 Pts 14
Reds P7 Pts 14
Reysol P7 Pts 13
S-Pulse P7 Pts 12


J2

Consadole P10 Pts 21
Vegalta Sendai P9 Pts 19


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J-League

J League Results 16/4/07

Saturday / Sunday 14 & 15 April

After six rounds of the 2007 J-League season last year's champions Urawa Reds are back in top spot. Reds beat previously undefeated Reysol 2-0 in front of 35,000 fans at Tokyo's National Stadium. Gamba Osaka lost to Albirex 2-1 and are in third place. Nagoya Grampus continue to slide after their bright start to the season losing 1-0 to Ardija. Yokohama FC lost again - this time 0-1 at home to Antlers and are now bottom of the J-League.

In J2, Vegalta and Consadole lead Sanga and Avispa as Ruy Ramos' Verdy begin to slide.

Omiya Ardija 1 Nagoya Gampus Eight 0
Vissel Kobe 2 JEF United 1
Yokohama FC 0 Kashima Antlers 1
Albirex Niigata 2 Gamba Osaka 1
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2 Ventforet Kofu 2
Jubilo Iwata 1 Yokohama F Marinos 0

Oita Trinita 0 FC Tokyo 0
Kashiwa Reysol 0 Urawa Reds 2
Kawasaki Frontale 2 Shimizu S-Pulse 1
Leading Positions

Reds P6 Pts 14
Reysol P6 Pts 13
Gamba P6 Pts 13
Grampus P6 Pts 12
S-Pulse P6 Pts 12
Jubilo P6 Pts 12


J2

Vegalta Sendai P9 Pts 19
Consadole P9 Pts 18
Kyoto Sanga P9 Pts 16

J League Results 9/4/07

Saturday / Sunday 7 & 8 April

After five rounds of the 2007 J-League season Reysol and Gamba Osaka are the only teams with unbeaten records. Grampus lost their 100% record with a 3-2 defeat at home to Sanfrecce and drop to third. Gamba were held at home to Reysol. Yokohama FC lost heavily again - this time 4-0 away to JEF and have now conceded 14 goals, the most in the J-League.

In J2, Vegalta and Consadole lead Verdy and Sanga and the race for promotion looks to be forming into a battle between these four teams.

Gamba Osaka 2 Kawasaki Frontale 2
Nagoya Gampus Eight 2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3
Ventforet Kofu 4 Vissel Kobe 3
FC Tokyo 1 Albirex Niigata 3
Kashima Antlers 0 Omiya Ardija 0
Urawa Reds 2 Jubilo Iwata 1
Yokohama F Marinos 0 Kashiwa Reysol 2

JEF United 4 Yokohama FC 0
Shimizu S-Pulse 2 Oita Trinita 2


Leading Positions

Reysol P5 Pts 13
Gamba P5 Pts 13
Grampus P5 Pts 12
S-Pulse P5 Pts 12
Reds P5 Pts 11
Jubilo P5 Pts 9


J2

Vegalta Sendai P7 Pts 15
Consadole P7 Pts 14
Verdy P6 Pts 13
Kyoto Sanga P7 Pts 12

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Nabisco Cup Results

Wednesday 21 March

The 2007 Nabisco Cup kicked off yesterday with holders JEF winning on the road in Kobe.

Group A
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0 Gamba Osaka 3
Vissel Kobe 1 JEF United 4

Group B
Kashiwa Reysol 2 Shimizu S-Pulse 1
Yokohama F Marinos 0 Omiya Ardija 1

Group C
Oita Trinita 1 Yokohama FC 0
Jubilo Iwata 2 FC Tokyo 2

Group D
Ventforet Kofu 2 Nagoya Gampus Eight 1
Albirex Niigata 3 Kashima Antlers 1


J2

Verdy 2 Cerezo 0
Avispa 1 Vegalta 2
Sanga 0 Vortis 0
Consadole 0 Bellmare 0
Ehime 1 Hollyhock 1
Thespa 1 Sagan 1

Verdy P4 Pts 10
Vegalta Sendai P4 Pts 10
Consadole P4 Pts 7
Kyoto Sanga P4 Pts 6




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J. League Results

Saturday / Sunday 10 & 11 March

After two rounds of the 2007 J-League season perennial underachievers Nagoya Grampus lead the race on goal difference. In an emotional Yokohama derby, Yokohama FC (re-born from the defunct Yokohama Flugels) defeated Yokohama Marinos - the team that swallowed up the Flugels, with an early goal from Hayakawa. Kashima Antlers, one of the J-League's most successful teams, languish at the bottom without a point along with JEF United, Ventforet Kofu and Omiya Ardija.

In J2, Verdy and Vegalta are the two teams with a 100% record.

Ventforet Kofu 0 Nagoya Gampus Eight 2
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1 Kashiwa Reysol 1
Jubilo Iwate 2 Oita Trinita 1
Omiya Ardija 0 FC Tokyo 2
JEF United 1 Shimizu S-Pulse 3
Yokohama FC 1 Yokohama F Marinos 0

Kashima Antlers 0 Gamba Osaka 1
Albirex Niigata 2 Urawa Reds 2
Vissel Kobe 1 Kawasaki Frontale 1

Leading Positions

Grampus P2 Pts 6
S-Pulse P2 Pts 6
Gamba P2 Pts 6
Reysol P2 Pts 4
Sanfrecce P2 Pts 4
Reds P2 Pts 4
Frontale P2 Pts 4

J2

Verdy P2 Pts 6
Vegalta Sendai P2 Pts 6
Fukuoka Avispa P2 Pts 4
Kyoto Sanga P2 Pts 4

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Playing with one’s health

I’m a little bit down at the minute. I’ve been carrying around a few pound of overweight and i’m struggling to find any real direction. I need to talk to a professional; I need to ‘Talk to Frank’.

Mr Lampard is in the perfect position to help me through this crisis; a win for the champions over a woeful Wigan will lift my spirits at a mental 2/9.

The wife is also in therapy; she’s been seeing a wily shrink for a number of years. The good doctor fancies Bolton to beat Man City at 4/5. If you’re after a second opinion, I concur.

My love-life has improved dramatically since the wife began her treatment; I make the most of the two hours that she’s out of the house. I’m getting stuck into the 3/1 about Watford holding Liverpool to a draw.

Henrik Larsson has been labelled the new Eric Cantona; i look forward to him putting on seven stone and scissor-kicking Cockneys. Of course that’s just a joke, putting on weight can lead to health problems. Henrik proved the difference between Man U and Villa a week ago, another United win appeals at a seagull-trawling 2/7.

I was genuinely surprised to read that Cristiano Ronaldo has been enjoying liaisons with a Hollyoaks star; he doesn’t look the type to get involved with an actress. The Portuguese love machine can find the net at 13/8.

I’m a real technophobe; I just hate the repetitive beats. My computer says that Sheffield United represent value at 17/10 to see off Pompey at Bramall Lane.

I’ve been suffering from panic attacks lately; possibly brought on by the wife almost finding my ‘special’ DVD’s. Luckily, I’ve now hidden them in a place where she’ll never find them; the kitchen. I’m tucking into the 10/11 about Arsenal beating Blackburn.

It’s no coincidence that Arsenal’s results have improved since Arsene Wenger whipped out his ‘Beast’. Julio Baptista practically beat the Scousers on his own in midweek; the new improved Gunners can win by two clear goals at 5/2.

It was refreshing to see Phil Neville apologise for Everton’s abysmal performance against Blackburn; I hope Neville Neville will now hold his hands up to his two mistakes.

Everton tried to claim that their surrender was due to the poor shape of the ball, they’re hoping for a triangular one against Reading. The Royals can leave Goodison with a point at a shapely 9/4.

The wife didn’t enjoy our honeymoon; well she did for 64 seconds. The honeymoon period is well and truly over for Alan Curbishley, West Ham’s collapse at Reading was the greatest capitulation since the last war that the French were momentarily involved in.

Curbs has labelled his under-achieving team ‘the Bentley brigade’. I think they’re a racing certainty to see off Fulham at 6/5; unless they choke.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, I’m coming round there tooled up. Opposing Newcastle’s decimated squad has hit me where it hurts recently; Spurs will right this heinous wrong at 4/5.

The wife has been diagnosed as a schizophrenic, and I don’t care for either of them. I do like the 7/4 about Middlesbrough seeing off Charlton.

This week’s accer is so persuasive, Frank Lampard has finally agreed to a meet-up. Bolton, Man Utd, West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham are the selections, the payout is a multiple-chinned 16/1.


Copyright (c) Gerry McDonnell & soccerphile.com

New Year Same Old Stories

Ahn Returns




It’s that time of the year again when it feels like half of the K-League is on the move. The close season in Korea is a frantic affair and at times hard to keep up with.

The fate of Ahn Jung-hwan has been the big story of the new year so far. Precisely a year ago, the “Lord of the Ring” was in the process of turning down a trial with Blackburn Rovers. Instead he headed to MSV Duisberg who were then in the Bundesliga.

After relegation, Ahn was released from his contract but since August has been without a club. On the wrong side of 30, his options are not likely to increase and he finally decided to return to the K-League on January 9 when he signed for Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

The three-time champions who already boast international stars such as Kim Nam-il, Cho Won-hee, Baek Ji-hoon and Song Chong-guk, took some time to close the deal with the ex-Perugia, Yokohama, Shimizu and Metz striker.

``We met with Ahn and his agent for the negotiation several times. There was huge difference at first over contract terms, but our talks has recently moved forward further,’’ Suwon club boss Ahn Ki-heon told Yonhap news agency.

``Ahn’s side has yielded a lot in the contract term including the annual salary. We are positive we could bring him unless there is significant disagreement during the rest of the talks.’’

A week later, Ahn signed and was given the number ten shirt. Now the challenge is to win back the red shirt of the national team.

Seoul Life

FC Seoul have released Portuguese midfielder Ricardo Nascimento -the 34 year-old playmaker spent two years in the capital, becoming a firm favourite with the fans. He returns to his homeland’s top flight to join struggling Desportivo das Aves.


Passing in the opposite direction was the club’s new manager. Senol Gunes arrived on January 6. The capital was sitting under a few inches of snow by the time the ex-Turkey coach returned to Korea for the first time since participating in the 3rd/4th play-off game at the 2002 World Cup.

“Thanks to those who came to meet me despite the bad weather,” he said. “My first impression of the fans is a good one.”

“Of course the most important thing is victory but I will try to give fans football that they can love.”

“I still have a good feeling from the 2002 World Cup. Turkey and Korea got good results. The two nations are brothers and that is one reason why I decided to come here.”

At a press conference in the bowels of Seoul World Cup Stadium 48 hours later, the 54 year-old made all the right noises and promised entertainment and results for fans.



The two Lees

A constant story since the summer has been that of Lee Young-pyo. The versatile Spurs star lost his place at the start of the new season and was a whisker away from joining AS Roma at the end of August. At the last minute however, the 29 year-old changed his mind and decided to stay in North London.

The reason for the change of heart has been kept close to the chest of “Chorongi” who had to deny in a press conference that his deep religious beliefs were behind the decision.



Stories in Italy also talked of financial reasons and pressure from Sky Sports on the player not to reduce Korean interest in the Premier League by leaving it. It sounds about as likely as reports of Chelsea interest in the defender.

Fortunately for the player, he has since won back his place in the team but the rumours still abound that he could soon swap England’s capital for its Italian counterpart. Supposedly in the first week of the New Year, Roma asked for a loan and then a full transfer.

Lee will stay put but the same can’t be said of 2002 and 2006 World Cup team-mate Lee Chun-soo. The 2005 K-League MVP said in December that he was ready to leave Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I and the K-League.

Yokohama Marinos and Urawa Reds in Japan fancy the winger who hit six goals in two and a half games in last August’s East Asian Champions Cup held on the archipelago.
As documented on here before, Lee is eyeing Europe – especially England. There has been little mention of possible moves for the winger since the transfer window opened.

It remains to be seen if that is good news or bad.

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Premier League Odds

A short version of Walker’s Word this week covering only the televised fixtures. Charlton Athletic could be even more cut off from the pack by Saturday lunch time while Newcastle could pull away from the drop zone on Sunday afternoon writes David Walker.

Saturday 25 November

Charlton Athletic vs Everton
Even the introduction of new manager Les Reed could not inspire Charlton to victory last weekend as they slumped 2-0 at Reading. They face tough opposition in Everton who themselves have won just two in their last eight league games since beating Liverpool 3-0 back in September. However, Everton keep things tight and have been involved in four 1-0 results in their last four games and will frustrate the rock bottom Premiership club. The Toffees have not won at The Valley since 2001 with the Addicks recording two wins and two draws since but this record could change on Saturday.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Everton @ 7/5 (Paddy Power)
AH: Everton level ball @ 19/20 (Bet356)
OU: Over 2.5 goals @ 5/4 (VCBet)

Bolton Wanderers vs Arsenal
Bolton have been the scourge of Arsenal in recent seasons, beating them twice last season in both the league and FA Cup and also the season before. They have secured 1-1 and 2-2 draws in the campaigns before that with Arsenal not winning at the Reebok Stadium in the Premiership since 2002. There is some bad blood between the two sides and Arsenal could be in danger of losing further ground on Chelsea and Manchester United this weekend. Despite a fantastic recent home record against the Gunners, the bookmakers are offering fantastic odds on a win for Sam Allardyce’s side.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Bolton @ 5/2 (Ladbrokes)
AH: Bolton + ½ @ 17/20 (Bet356)
OU: Under 2.5 goals @ 8/13 (VCBet)

Sunday 26 November

Newcastle United vs Portsmouth
The league table could be turned on its head for this contest as Newcastle could pull away from the relegation zone with a win. Portsmouth are flying high in third place at the moment but have already been beaten 3-0 at St James’ Park this season in the Carling Cup. The Magpies have won two out of three league meetings in the North East, with a draw in between a couple of years ago. Glenn Roeder’s side have had a dreadful run of late, but will be buoyed by two battling away draws, especially at Arsenal last weekend.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Newcastle @ 13/10 (Paddy Power)
AH: Newcastle – ¼ @ 21/20 (Bet356)
OU: Over 2.5 goals @ 5/4 (VCBet)

Manchester United vs Chelsea
The top of the table clash sees Chelsea three points behind Manchester United who have won their last seven league matches since their 1-1 draw with Reading back in September. Chelsea also come into this match strongly, having won five of their last six league matches, the blip being a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham three weeks ago. Both sides lost in the Champions League this week, perhaps with one eye on this weekend’s game. United won this fixture 1-0 last season, but have only beaten Chelsea four times in 14 Premiership fixtures at Old Trafford. A draw won’t particularly help either side’s title ambitions but it won’t be the end of the world either.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Draw @ 21/10 (UK Betting)
AH: Chelsea level ball @ 9/8 (Bet356)
OU: Under 2.5 goals @ 8/13 (VCBet)

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Iain Dowie wins the sack race

Charlton Athletic manager Iain Dowie has won the dubious award of being the first coach of the Premiership season to lose his job.

The former Northern Ireland international striker was shown the door at the Valley after only 12 league and 3 League Cup games, a poignant contrast to the previous incumbent Alan Curbishley's 15 years in charge of the Addicks.

Dowie's departure seems premature, particularly after he had led Crystal Palace to the semi-final of last season's Championship play-offs, but Charlton find themselves bottom of the Premiership with only two wins and more importantly a £10 million summer spree that seems to have backfired.

Charlton chairman had spoken at Alan Curbishley's departure of his desire for a British coach, "because we are a British club" and Dowie was approached, along with Peter Taylor, Billy Davies and Phil Parkinson.

But the former Southampton and West Ham forward failed to inspire his team to victories, despite a track record as a motivator at Crystal Palace. Dowie introduced new methods to his players, including playing cricket, swimming and self-help manuals but unlike another young British manager beloved of innovative ideas, Watford's Aidy Boothroyd, Dowie's new order was not matched by results on the pitch.

The whispers have been that not all the Charlton players were enamoured of Dowie's methods, yet US international Cory Gibbs, who has yet to debut for the Addicks following a knee injury, told me otherwise only a week ago.

"Iain has been great," he said. "He looks into the players and sees how they are and how they are feeling and treats everybody equally. His attitude towards me and the team has been great so I am looking forward to playing for him.

We have just had a very unlucky start; there have been games we played with ten men. We had a streak of 3 or 4 games at the beginning of the season where we had 8 to 9 men injured at one time. It was just really unlucky."

Despite the arrival of the wily Andy Reid from Tottenham, whose midfield creativity has compensated somewhat for the loss of central cogs Danny Murphy and Alexi Smertin, Charlton's squad looked threadbare when a string of key men got injured early this campaign and the team find themselves bottom of the pile with eight points from twelve matches and the equal worst away record and goal difference in the top flight.

Relegation appeared a real possibility for a club that had become content with a stable mid-table mediocrity. When a board that had salivated at the prospect of a slice of next season's £1.7billion Premier League TV deal and had spent like never before to make sure they had a seat at the table, saw the trap door opening beneath them, they pressed the panic button.

Dowie is a man well-liked in football circles, with even his former nemesis and Palace chairman Simon Jordan backing him in his hour of misfortune.

"I think parting company with someone after 12 games is very early and is not what support is about," Jordan said. "Support is about supporting people in adversity, unless they are really going the wrong way."

Dowie is still one of the best home-grown coaches around and is sure to re-surface before long, perhaps in the Championship, where Charlton may find themselves anyway next season.

(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile

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English Premier League Betting

Old rivalries and derby matches galore will be played out across two days this weekend. Expect bottom clubs Charlton and Watford to do each other no favours at The Valley on Saturday, while Sunday could produce upsets at Old Trafford and the Riverside Stadium at large odds writes David Walker.

Saturday 21 October

Wigan Athletic vs Manchester City
Last season these teams were involved in a ding-dong Boxing Day encounter which finished 4-3 in Wigan’s favour. At the moment, Manchester City are fairing better than Paul Jewell’s side in the league, in 12th position on nine points compared to 17th and five points but with two inconsistent teams, home advantage could prevail
Walker’s Word
1x2: Wigan @ 13/10 (UK Betting)
AH: Wigan – ¼ @ 41/40 (Bet365)
OU: Over @ 5/4 (VCBet)

Charlton Athletic vs Watford
It’s the battle at the bottom of the Premiership as last placed Charlton tackle London rivals Watford, themselves just one place and one point better off. This will be a match that neither side want to lose and as a result could end in a draw which won’t benefit either of them.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Draw @ 12/5 (VCBet)
AH: Watford + ½ @ 9/10 (Ladbrokes)
OU: Over @ 11/10 (Bet365)

Chelsea vs Portsmouth
One for the big hitters who will plough into Chelsea at odds on. Despite Portsmouth’s lofty position in the league in which they are just three points behind Jose Mourinho’s side there will only be one winner. For those of you who don’t want to bet on Chelsea at short odds, taking Portsmouth on the handicap or backing under 2.5 goals could be profitable at a better price.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Chelsea @ 1/4 (Betfred)
AH: Portsmouth + 1 ½ @ 4/5 (Bet365)
OU: Under @ 4/5 (VCBet)

Everton vs Sheffield United
After a run of four matches without victory, Everton will see this match against the struggling Blades as a must win. Neil Warnock’s side are just outside the relegation zone in 16th, but are unbeaten in their last two matches. The bookmakers fancy an Everton cakewalk but it won’t be as easy as the odds suggest.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Everton @ 4/7 (VCBet)
AH: Everton – 1 @ 28/25 (Ladbrokes)
OU: Under @ 4/6 (Bet365)

Aston Villa vs Fulham
Both Aston Villa and Fulham are enjoying life in the top half of the table after several seasons in the doldrums but the smart money will be on the home side this weekend. Martin O’Neill’s side are not only unbeaten this season but they have won four of the last five encounters against Fulham at Villa Park, apart from last season which finished goalless.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Aston Villa @ 8/11 (Paddy Power)
AH: Villa – ¾ @ 43/40 (Bet365)
OU: Under @ 8/11 (VCBet)

Sunday 22 October

Manchester United vs Liverpool
The jewel in the Premiership fixture list this weekend is undoubtedly United vs Liverpool. Top of the table United tackle stuttering Liverpool who have dropped points against Bolton and Blackburn in their last two matches. However, there could be an upset on the cards. Liverpool have won three of their last six visits to Old Trafford by a single goal and United have already lost at home to Arsenal this season.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Liverpool @ 7/2 (VCBet)
AH: Liverpool + ½ @ 43/50 (Ladbrokes)
OU: Over @ 7/5 (Bet365)

Blackburn Rovers vs Bolton Wanderers
This derby fixture is often very tight with few goals to cheer. It finished goalless twice last season and produced two 1-0 away wins the season before. In fact, this encounter has produced home and away draws in three of the last five Premiership seasons and that is not a trend I would want to back against.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Draw @ 11/5 (Coral)
AH: Bolton + ¼ @ 4/5 (Bet365)
OU: Under @ 4/7 (VCBet)

Middlesbrough vs Newcastle
In the North East derby Middlesbrough will have their work cut out against Newcastle. Middlesbrough have not beaten Newcastle for three seasons at the Riverside Stadium, with recent results finishing in two wins for the Magpies and a 2-2 draw sandwiched in between. Neither side has any form of note, which makes the odds on Glenn Roeder’s side all the more tempting.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Newcastle @ 19/10 (VCBet)
AH: Newcastle level ball @ 9/8 (Bet365)
OU: Over @ 11/10 (VCBet)

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United
The second London derby of the weekend sees struggling Spurs against relegation threatened West Ham. The bookmakers fancy a home win but it’s worth pointing out that this encounter has produced only five Premiership wins for Spurs in 11 matches played so the odds on about them does not look too appealing, despite how poorly the Hammers have faired in recent weeks. A tight match is expected, with six of the last eight league meetings finishing with two goals or fewer.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Draw @ 12/5 (VCBet)
AH: West Ham + ½ @ 43/40 (Bet365)
OU: Under @ 4/6 (Bet365)

Reading vs Arsenal
After a sluggish start to the season, Arsenal are finding their rhythm and will no doubt be paired together with Chelsea in numerous double bets this weekend. Considering Reading took points of Manchester United and kept Chelsea to within one goal at the Madejski Stadium this season the odds on Arsenal are not tempting. However, an interesting statistic is Reading have lost to Arsenal in all five competitive games ever played between the pair and unsurprisingly an away win is the expected result.
Walker’s Word
1x2: Arsenal @ 8/15 (Betfred)
AH: Arsenal – 1 @ 47/40 (Bet365)
OU: Over @ Evens (VCBet)

English Premiership Betting


David Walker is the resident tipster at a popular free bets website. Feature Walker's Word on your own website, blog or forum for free each week.

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Japan Football Results

Japan Football Results
Urawa Reds increased their lead at the top the J-League to 3 points after a 2-0 win at home over JEF on Saturday while Gamba Osaka lost 3-2 for the second week in succession, this time at Jubilo.

The momentum seems to have swung towards Urawa with only eight games remaining. Brazilian striker Washington notched his 18th goal of the season from the penalty spot in the first period and Marcus Tulio Tanaka wrapped up the win with a second half header for the Reds.

At the bottom Kyoto Purple Sanga, Avispa Fukuoka and Cerezo Osaka are fighting it out to avoid the bottom two automatic relegation spots.

Saturday 7 October

Nagoya Gampus Eight 1 FC Tokyo 2
Urawa Reds 2 JEF United 0
Albirex Niigata 1 Yokohama F Marinos 0
Jubilo 3 Gamba Osaka 2
Kawasaki Frontale 2 Oita Trinita 1
Cerezo Osaka 1 S-Pulse 1
Avispa Fukuoka 2 Kashima Antlers 1
Venforet Kofu 1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0

Fri 6 October

Kyoto Purple Sanga 1 Omiya Ardija 1

Leading Positions

Reds P26 Pts 58
Gamba P26 Pts 55
Frontale P26 Pts 51
S-Pulse P26 Pts 48
Antlers P26 Pts 46

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Gamba Osaka defeated one of their closest rivals Frontale Kawasaki in emphatic fashion to stay top of the J-League table, three points ahead of nearest challengers Urawa Reds, who edged S-Pulse at Saitama Stadium in front of a full house.

Frontale are now in 3rd place - a distant 8 points adrift of Gamba - and surely out of contention.

Shimizu S-Pulse remain in 4th but their 1-0 loss to Reds virtually puts paid to their title hopes.

At the bottom Kyoto Purple Sanga and Cerezo both lost as Sanfrecce put some breathing space between them and the bottom three after a 1-0 home win against Omiya.

Saturday 23 Sept

Jubilo 2 Oita Trinita 3
Gamba Osaka 4 Kawasaki Frontale 0
Avispa Fukuoka 1 Cerezo Osaka 0
JEF United 2 Kyoto Purple Sanga 0
Yokohama F Marinos 2 Nagoya Gampus Eight 1
Urawa Reds 1 Shimizu S-Pulse 0
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1 Omiya Ardija 0


Leading Positions

Gamba P24 Pts 55
Reds P24 Pts 52
Frontale P24 Pts 47
S-Pulse P24 Pts 44
Antlers P23 Pts 42



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Pim Verbeek interview

When were you offered the job?
We started talking seriously around the World Cup, before the game against Togo. At the time, we had the first meetings because officially Advocaat told the KFA on 15th June that he was leaving. I think that was three or four days after the Togo game. Before that he had a meeting with the KFA and told them that he would definitely leave the Korean national team.
That is when they came to me and said “he is leaving and we would like to go on with you.”

What was your reaction?
To be honest, my plan was to go to Europe. I had been away from my family for so long and I had more or less decided to go back to Europe and spend at least five or six months there and see what is happening.
Then this came and my family knows very well how much I like it in Korea and what I think about Korean football so they could understand that this was an offer I could not refuse. This is perhaps the only foreign job I would take because I know the country so well. I really think we can have great success.
It’s an obvious question but what are the main differences between being the assistant and head coach of South Korea?
Working with Hiddink and Advocaat is not so difficult because they give you all the freedom to organize the training sessions, to prepare team meetings and analysis and things like that. In the end, they take the final decision. You can have so many ideas yourself but in the end you always have to go to somebody who makes the final decision.
The good part is that with Hiddink and Advocaat, I never had a problem with the line-up, selection or whatever. You do a lot of the work but you never had the responsibility, that’s the biggest difference. If we win, I am responsible. If we lose, I am also responsible but that’s just a feeling.

How about the day-to-day things, the social side?
You know I always refuse interviews because of the limited time we have and also because I wanted to first have some results, know the players better and people know me better before I start talking about what the plans are.
The second part is that it is not so easy to go outside any more. Is that a big problem? For me it’s quite a big problem to be honest. I’d like to be outside and see something of the Korean culture and be among the people -drink a cup of coffee and visit a nice place. It is not so nice any more to go out and if I go out I wear a hat and sunglasses and that works but… it’s good that I have already seen a lot of Korea as now I spend my spare time inside.

The price you pay…
Yes, I knew that. I saw it with Hiddink and Advocaat. I always thought that that is the least interesting part of the job. I understand that everyone wants pictures and autographs and I try to co-operate as much as possible but it keeps you more inside and away from the social side than I like.

Has that aspect changed a lot since you became head coach?
It’s very strange. I was already here nine months and people recognize you and they say hello and take pictures but the moment they knew I was the new head coach, it was like I had scored ten goals in the World Cup!
It’s very strange but it keeps my feet on the ground because it has nothing to do with me but it’s all about my position. As the national team coach I am on television more than I was before. It’s not because I am a nice guy or because of my blue eyes but because I am the national team coach.

You are popular in Korea but after a few bad results, that could change. Are you prepared for that?
That’s the responsibility you take. I have the idea that the coaching staff and me do everything to make the team better and the players better and to win games. So as long as I have the feeling myself that I have done everything I can then I will accept everything. I have no problems at all with that. I started my coaching career in 1987 so after 19 years, nothing surprises me.
I didn’t come here to be the most popular and nice guy in Korea, I am here to get results from the national team and build up the national team.

The situation is different than the last two times you were here. Then, everything was focused on the World Cup but now there is a real chance to start from scratch.
Yes, it’s very different. We have a short-term plan and a long-term plan. I have tried to mix both but it depends a little bit on the results. It would have made my plans a lot easier if we had already qualified for the Asian Cup because then we could look toward the Asian Games, the Asian Cup and the Olympics but still now we need to get a point from the last two qualifying games.
It’s not easy to go to Iran and you know in football that everything is possible. People say “it’s only Syria at home” but in football everything is possible. We have to concentrate and bring in the best team we can find. This is no time for taking risks because that is what I’ve heard from left and right that some people still think that I don’t take enough risks.
I am not here to take risks. I am here to bring in the best players or bring in those who have a future and bring them in at the right moment like I did last week with Choi Sung-kuk. He had a very good training camp and is doing very well at Ulsan.

Who are these people who say you don’t take enough risks?
There are always people around in every job who think they know better than you – what you should and shouldn’t do. I don’t care about that as I think that is a strong point of football also. Everybody has an opinion; everybody speaks about it and is blaming players, coaches or referees. I am not stressed about it.
In answer to your question though I am trying to qualify for the Asian Cup and give young players a chance to show what they can do and also give the young players a chance to train with the best players we have in Korea. For every young player to train and play with people like Seol Ki-hyeon, Lee Young-pyo and Park Ji-sung is great and not only in training as they hear so many stories about how it is in Europe and how you can get there.

What is the main difference between you and Advocaat?
Advocaat was here for the World Cup and everything was geared towards that. He didn't have time to think about the long-term development of the game and the players but wanted good results – that was his job – though he did help young players like Lee Ho, Kim Dong-jin and Cho Won-hee.
He always wanted good results, even in friendlies because it not only helped confidence but because he knew that in Korea, results mean everything. I think that sometimes it is more important to give young players a chance in a friendly but Advocaat’s job was the World Cup. I have more time.
In the friendly games I will use some players and let them get some experience because that is the only way that they will become better players. It is also possible to make mistakes. I think that people in Korea have some problems to accept that, they think that if you are a national team player then you cannot make mistakes.
Last Saturday (in the 1-1 draw with Iran in which Iran scored in the last-minute to earn a 1-1 draw) we brought in one of the youngest and most talented young goalkeepers that we have in Korea (Kim Young-kwang). He played two very good games for us and we had no complaints at all. He did very well in training and he’s involved in one goal. I think there are three other players involved in that situation who made the first three mistakes. But people ask ‘why didn’t he play Woon-jae?”

In that situation where a mistake leads to a goal, what do you say to the players after a game?
After the game I didn’t say anything because I know from my experience that there is too much emotion. If you win there is a lot of emotion but it’s different but last week the level of disappointment was so high for everybody.
Nobody expected that we would concede a goal – nobody, because they had no chances at all. I told the players that I would say what I wanted to say on the next day. First you have to let the emotion slide away and then the next day they are more open to what I have to say.

So what did you say?
Of course, it was all to do with concentration, like it was in the World Cup. Without blaming Choi Jin-cheul but we knew exactly how Switzerland take the free-kicks and the corner kicks. When they take a free-kick and their most important player scores a goal then it has to do without concentration.
At that moment we were chasing the game and the consequences of losing concentration and playing for themselves are serious. Nam-il said that to the media, I never knew it but he said it anyway and I think everybody agreed with it and even the players agree. We showed them video analysis and we showed them what we didn’t do well. It’s nothing to do with the result but if you want to be a better team we need to avoid things like that.

So you agree with what Kim Nam-il said? (the new captain criticized overseas players such as Seol Ki-hyeon and Park Ji-sung for not playing for the team)
I fully agree. The players agree also with me. I can understand because I have been in Korea a long time already. The moment some players get the ball, the fans go crazy so the players always want to show how good they are and they want to entertain. I told them “do that when it is 6-0” and even then I think you should still play for the team.
We gave examples when everybody was there, I know it’s not really Korean style to confront players with what they did wrong but they know me well enough to know that we have to learn from our mistakes.
I’m not hiding. I think that everybody can make mistakes but you have to be alert and aware enough to know that you have made a mistake and the next time you should not make a mistake. If you make the same mistake three times and then you’re out.
The European-based players are used to getting criticised by the coach. I think I was fair; I showed them and didn’t say anything stupid after the game by yelling or shouting. That’s useless.

What about the World Cup? What were your thoughts on the team’s performance in 2006?
We still think and everybody thinks that the players could have done better. That’s easy to say but afterwards you need to find out what the problems are. For me it was easy because we had too short preparation time – that’s one.
Secondly, the players who are the most important players in your team at that moment, all of them came unfit – through an injury or not playing games for their clubs for the last four, five or six months.
For example Ahn Jung-hwan, Seol Ki-hyeon, Park Ji-sung –he came with an injury, he missed the first three weeks and he is a key player for us. So, the pressure and responsibility fell on the shoulders of players who are not the kind of players who can take it.
We knew that because of the lack of preparation that the players would get better as they played more games and we were 100% sure that it we reached the second round then the players would get much, much better – Park Ji-sung was much better in the final game than he was in the first or second game. He hadn’t played for four weeks. That was bad for him, the pressure on his shoulders was so big, he’s playing in Europe and everybody expects so much. You know how many commercials they made over here.
That was one of the most important reasons why we didn’t go to the second round. The first game we were under a lot of pressure, everybody expects us to win against Togo but it’s the first game for a lot of players in the World Cup. In the second game against France, we did much better and against Switzerland it’s all or nothing.
We gave an unnecessary goal away then you know you have to score a minimum of two.

What about the second Switzerland goal?
I still think it’s offside but I’ve seen so many times in football than a goal is 100% offside for one referee and the next referee doesn’t even look at it. I think that nobody knows what the exact rules are.

Many in Korea felt that the tactics and formations were too defensive, especially against Togo when Korea were leading 2-1 and against ten men and Switzerland, what would you say to that?
I don’t agree – at all. The only thing that matters in the first game is winning -three points. It was the same situation last week against Iran. We are winning 1-0 and the three points are very important. You can do two things and say ‘OK, we are going for 2-0 and then the game is finished but if that is not possible you say ‘OK, take the three points’.
I still think that Togo was dangerous in the counter-attack so why make it stupid for yourself and allow them a chance to make it 2-2? Three points is most important. Even with the next game against France, we always knew from the start that the Swiss game would be the most decisive game.
It’s easy to say three games afterwards that we should have scored more goals –if, if, if. Afterwards, I also know exactly what went well and what went wrong. I have no problems if people think that way but only one person makes the decision.

It’s been an interesting couple of weeks for some of Korea’s players. For example, you omitted Ahn Jung-hwan from the Iran squad as he is currently without a club. What advice would you give to him to get back in the national team?
He knows also that he was gambling. He must have been gambling, I am not involved and I am not his agent but I am 100% sure that there were some teams interested in him and probably they were not at the level he had in mind to play at for the rest of his career.
That’s gambling – he took a risk to wait for a better possibility. Everybody is responsible for his own decisions and I think this is the wrong decision. I am sure that he thinks the same. Even if he doesn’t play in the biggest league in the world he is still playing football and he is still at an age where he can play for another two or three years. Put yourself in one of those leagues and if you score 20 goals in one of those so-called ‘minor leagues’ then you are still an interesting player.

What are the chances of him playing for the national team again?
At this moment –absolutely zero. There is no chance. I really like him as a player because he is a player that can decide any game. I was really thinking about using him in the Iran game because even in the last 15-20 minutes, he can do a job and score a goal.
It is impossible. I can’t defend my decision to the outside world to take a player without a club who hasn’t played a game for two months. Secondly, I knew that Jung Jo-gook was playing well in Seoul and if you leave out a talented player like Park Chu-young saying that he’s not playing so well then how can you select a player without a club?
I can still think about his qualities but you can’t take a player who is not playing and has no future.

If he joins a team, it doesn’t matter so much what kind of team and what kind of league, as long as he’s playing football?
Yes, for me it doesn’t make a difference. There are no players in Korea at the moment with his qualities. Jo-gook is a good player for the future but we don’t have players like Ahn who can decide the game out of nothing. He is an experienced player and really wants to play in the Asian Cup.

Why do you think he has such problems with his club career?
If I am the coach of a club then I would look at his resume and to be honest, he didn’t have so many appearances in France and then he went to Germany and played twice in five months. He is 30 years old and coaches start thinking that maybe he isn’t one of the cheapest players and then they think he’s too risky.
I still think that for a lot of teams that he can be an interesting player. If any coach calls me I will tell him Ahn’s qualities.
I would also say that he was not lucky in Germany. He arrived at a bad time. The moment he arrived in Duisberg, the team started winning without him. For a new player, that’s a disaster, it’s good for the club but not for the player. I understand the coach, he’s winning without Ahn so why change?
He was unlucky because I spoke with the director and the coach before they bought him. I explained to them exactly what kind of player he is and they said that desperately needed a type like that – they were so positive and so enthusiastic so they took him but then they started winning without him, then it’s difficult.
For us he was a starting member but he didn’t show in the three weeks before the World Cup that he was fit enough, mentally fit enough and that he was sharp enough to start in the World Cup.
It was the same with Seol Ki-hyeon. I think nobody in England could foresee that Seol is playing as well as he is doing now. If you look at his time with Wolves, especially the last six months, he was never in the team. Could you have told anybody that a player who couldn’t play in a second division team in England is now one of the most attractive players in the Premiership?

How about Lee Chun-soo? He had a chance of a trial in England but he turned it down.
I didn’t know that until last week. I haven’t spoken to him about it but I can understand as he wants to go abroad.

Would he do well in England?
I think Chun-soo can play in any game, anywhere in Europe because he has many special qualities though he still has a lot to learn. A lot of coaches and teams would be very happy to have a player like that who is left and right footed, he can score goals and he can score free-kicks. He’s willing to work for 90 minutes. A fit Lee Chun-soo is for any team, except perhaps the top three in the big leagues, a good player.
Many Dutch teams would be very happy to have a player like him. The only problem is that we don’t have the money to have a player like Lee Chun-soo. That’s a pity because I still think that the Dutch league is for any player, especially from Asia, to show themselves and get used to the European level, is a good league.

Also there was Lee Young-pyo and his near move to Roma, what was your take on that?
I saw him play for Spurs recently in the right-full back position. I saw that the left full-back they bought from Lens in France was doing a very good job. I think that Young-pyo also knows that the left-sided position will not be easy for him.
I don’t know. I spoke to him and said “if you your future is at Spurs then you have to focus on the right full-back position because I think the left back is doing a good job.”
I have no idea why he didn’t go to Roma. He told me that it had nothing to do with his religion. But what the real reason was, he said ‘I will keep it to myself.”
Spurs bought a new right-back, a very promising, talented, right full-back ..

And expensive…
And expensive and I know the coach is really happy with his new signings but I also know that he was really willing to keep Young-pyo. I don’t see many players who can play left-back and right-back and have such a fantastic mentality.

How about Park Chu-young, do you think too much pressure was placed on his shoulders too quickly?
Yes – we knew that last year. Even last year we had our doubts but every ball he touched was a goal – he had the golden touch. Everybody knows also that after such a year it will be difficult – not only now but it already started in March.
From March to the World Cup he didn’t do well but we took him because he still had something special – he’s fast, he’s hard-working and he can score goals. We had our doubts before the World Cup?

What kind of doubts?
He wasn’t playing well; he didn’t score goals any more. He started not to play for the team but to go for his own chances which if you are feeling well is good but if you are not feeling well then you have to look a little bit more for your team-mates.
It was difficult for a 20 year-old player to continue at the same level. It’s not bad at this time for him to be out of the squad line-up and return to do what he’s always done, scoring goals for his club and getting his confidence back.
I’ve always said that we can use him for the next few years because he is one of our promising players. The question is how long he will stay in the deep hole that he is in at the moment. He knows – he’s intelligent. That’s the good part, he’s not acting as a star – at all. He just hangs around with the other players, working hard in training. The difference is that last year that everything he touched was a goal but this year it is going over and wide and to the goalkeeper.
One problem is that he is not a player for a three-striker system. He’s a two-striker system player where he has a free role and can run everywhere and be dangerous in front of the penalty area. So we have to change our system and use his qualities or he has to change.

Also Lee Eul-young has retired from the national team…
He said to me in the training camp that “there are so many good players – it is time for them now, they are good enough and getting better all the time, I want to focus on my own club.”
I told him that I respected what he said. I still think that technical-wise that he is one of our better players; he never makes a mistake when he has the ball. I said to him: “stay with us this week and let the young players learn from you.” He said no problem.
I respect his decision and I think he is right. The younger generation is growing very fast. He had a great career, he played in two World Cups and he played in Europe. He was a technical and very intelligent player.

Will the team miss him?
He is not a starting member any more because the younger players are coming. Everyone knows about the qualities of Baek Ji-hoon, Jung-woo, Lee Ho so they all have to fight and Doo-heon is showing himself. We have some 16 or 17 year-old players in FC Seoul, we have Oh Beom-seok who can play in several positions so it would have been difficult for Eul-yong to be a starting member but I always like that kind of player to help the younger ones. Especially in training, players like Ji-hoon can learn a lot from him.

What are your plans for the rest of the year apart from qualifying from the Asian Cup?
We're focusing on the Asian games. We have to make a quick decision about the Asian Games selection.

Are the Asian Games a big deal?
I think so. If you look at the possible selection then there are a lot of national team players, the more international experience they get, the better it is. A lot of these players will be in line to play in the Asian Cup and if you look at their age then they in 2010 they will be around 27 and the main part of the national team. Even if it isn’t the highest quality tournament, you still have to play international games and I like to have the team together.
But first we must qualify for the Asian Cup.

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Read an interview with Pim's younger brother Robert Verbeek, presently coach of J-League Omiya Ardija for the 2007 Season.

Robert Verbeek Interview

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J. League Results

Gamba Osaka stay top of the J-League table ahead of Urawa Reds and Frontale Kawasaki after the team's 2-0 win over Oita Trinita in Kyushu. Shimizu S-Pulse remain in 4th despite a 2-1 defeat to Kashima Antlers.

Kyoto Purple Sanga won 1-0 at home to Tokyo FC but remain in the bottom 3. Cerezo won at home 3-2 to JEF.

Saturday 16 Sept

Oita Trinita 0 Gamba Osaka 2
Cerezo Osaka 3 JEF United 2
Nagoya Gampus Eight 3 Albirex Niigata 1
Yokohama F Marinos 3 Avispa Fukuoka 1
Urawa Reds 2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1
Kyoto Purple Sanga 1 FC Tokyo 0
Kashima Antlers 2 Shimizu S-Pulse 1

Leading Positions

Gamba P23 Pts 52
Reds P23 Pts 49
Frontale P22 Pts 47
S-Pulse P23 Pts 44
Antlers P23 Pts 42




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Incheon United Coach Jang Woe-Ryeong

The monsoon season of 2006 was the wettest and longest in the living memory of even the oldest South Koreans. The sight of the rain cascading off the roof and on to the empty seats at the home of the second-youngest Korean professional team was a depressing testament to that.

Some of those 52, 179 blue plastic chairs had been occupied the night before as Incheon United drew 0-0 with Daegu. It was the latest blank for United in a 2006 that, for the home team, has seemed as gloomy and interminable as the month of July and the bowels of the World Cup arena had the stale air of a dank basement. The next season – weather or football – can’t come quickly enough.

Incheon’s coach Jang Woe-ryeong could be found in his basement office, a large room that provided a glimpse of the sodden pitch and while it had the feel of a boxer’s locker room; it was adorned with paraphernalia from another sport.

The 47 year-old is one of the most recognizable figures in Korean football, fans are accustomed to seeing him standing in front of the dug-out sporting his trademark white baseball cap. Without it he still looks youthful and cheery despite the team’s mediocre tenth place (out of 14) in the first half of the K-League.

“Our pre-season was so short and we had little time to train together,” he explained. “The foreign players arrived late. We chose to train in China but it was a mistake as many players were injured at the time.”

The K-League is separated into two stages, the first finished in May, with a gap of three months between. During that time, clubs amuse themselves with the much-maligned Hauzen Cup competition – Incheon finished last.

“We didn’t care much about the competition,” shrugged Jang. “The reason we participated is that it gives a chance for our young players and older players to improve their teamwork.”


The struggle in 2006 has come as a disappointment after an impressive 2005 season in which the west coast club finished as runners-up. That feat was all the more impressive because the club came into existence only in 2004.

It seems longer but it is only 30 months since United burst into life in a blaze of publicity and excitement. Silver-haired German coach Werner Lorant arrived to oversee a squad that looked more than useful especially with the addition of Turkish international star Alpay.

Three months later as the K-League’s first stage ended with Incheon in last place. Alpay and Lorant soon disappeared. Jang was the assistant during that turbulent baptism, returning to Korea after five years coaching in Japan.

“There were many new players,” he recalled, “both foreign and Korean and naturally they had communication problems. At first, even the Korean players had problems communicating with each other under the new coach.”

The capture of the 2002 World Cup star and Premier League regular Alpay was a real coup for the club. He was not only the star player at Incheon but the biggest name in the K-League. According to Jang, his talent matched his reputation but …“he lacked a little professionalism. He is a good player…but he made no attempt to become part of the team.”

In the summer of 2004, Jang became coach. His philosophy was simple. Incheon would be united in more than just name.

“We focused on improving our communication,” said Jang. “Most Korean players lack communication skills on the field, they don’t talk much to each other… they go through school and university where there’s a strict hierarchy between older and younger players.”

The situation immediately improved. The second stage saw the team finish fourth.

In 2005, United collected the most overall points in the season, earning a place in the championship play-offs which saw defeat in the final at the hands of ulsan Hyundai Horang-i.

Consequently, expectations were high at the start of 2006. Prior to its commencement, the coach talked of the importance of qualifying for the Asian Champions League.

“Joining the Champions League would be good for the young players, it would be a good learning experience for them.

“It’s a big goal but bigger goals are better than small ones.”

In the meantime, Jang is encouraging his young players to learn from the foreigners that make their way to the Munhak Stadium. Unlike most other K-League teams with their Brazilian fancies, Incheon imports players from the Balkans – Serbs and Croats have featured strongly in the infant years of the club. In the past weeks, two international players have arrived – one Macedonian the other Bosnian.

“The chairman has many contacts and knowledge in that region,” smiled the coach by way of explanation. “I also have experience in working with East Europeans players. Compared to Brazilians, they are good at communicating and don’t make any problems.”

One of the signings debuted the night before, ‘satisfactorily’ according to Jang. For the sake of Incheon fans, the two need to settle in quickly as the second stage of the K-League kicks off on August 23.

All football fans in the country are hoping for a better second stage than first as the K-League is increasingly perceived as a competition with a number of fundamental problems.

“There are many ways to improve the league,” says Jang, sipping his green tea which matches part of his bright t-shirt. “The KFA, coaches and players need to open channels of communication.”

I asked about the frantic schedule that the K-League inflicts on its members.

“The administration has made the problem and needs to solve it. When it makes the schedule, it needs to focus on the K-League only but that doesn’t happen. It focuses on the needs of the national team.”

“Footballers need to train and play and we need to analyze the results. Hopefully, in the next game players can use what they have learned. If we have another game so soon then we have no time to do anything.”

Improving things is what Jang does. Despite a poor season so far, he is still one of Korea’s highest-rated coaches and wants to go higher.

“I want to be national team coach after the 2010 World Cup.”

Better to have big goals than small ones.

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The Player, The Coach and His Boss

So Wayne Rooney is going to the World Cup but do Manchester United want him there?

Absolutely no chance, is the answer. Rooney's scan declared the bone healed but as with all complex fractures the bone is only one part of the story and Sir Alex Ferguson is desperate for the player to remain in Manchester and rehabilitate. But FIFA rules stipulate that the national team takes precedent and Rooney rejoined the England squad.

After all the media speculation, wrangling and sackings Wayne Rooney will be part of England's World Cup squad no matter how much Fergie dislikes it. The most talented Englishman of his generation is at the centre of a fierce club versus country row, which threatens to obliterate relationships between the national FA and the land's biggest team. The argument, which came to a boil inside a private health clinic in Cheshire last night, centres on how fit Rooney actually is. United believe that he has not healed sufficiently to take part in the tournament, while England are desperate to gamble of the Red's prize asset.

In the end the FA insisted on calling in a FIFA doctor to pronounce that the player could be part of the squad and under FIFA rules United has no choice but to release the player. It also prompted a furious phone call between Sir Alex Ferguson, who is looking after the interests of Manchester United, and Sven Goran Eriksson who desperately trying to salvage his reputation in the motherland of football.

So victory to the FA then? Certainly that is the mood inside the camp if Leif Sward, the England doctor's, arm waving, fist pumping triumphalist return to Germany is anything to go by. The player is delighted, naturally, that he's part of the squad - even if it is against the advice of at least some of the medical community

But the presence of Manchester United's lawyers inside the medical centre while the results were being assessed is an ominous sign. This is a row that could get ugly, very ugly. United are already backing Charleroi's case against the Moroccan FA, in which they are claiming compensation for a player injured on international duty that could have a significant impact on how litigious the Manchester club gets. The ultimate scenario being that Wayne Rooney re-fractures the bone and is out for a considerable length of time prompting United to seek millions in compensation.

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