23 & 24 March: J-League 2 and Cup

[Napoleon Solo]

J-League Cup
23/03/08 04:00 Consadole Sapporo v Kawasaki Frontale 2.80 3.20 2.20
23/03/08 05:00 Jubilo Iwata v FC Tokyo 2.00 3.25 3.25
23/03/08 05:00 Oita Trinita v Albirex Niigata 2.30 3.10 2.75
23/03/08 06:00 Vissel Kobe v Nagoya Grampus 2.20 3.20 2.80
23/03/08 06:00 Tokyo Verdy v Shimizu S-Pulse 2.80 3.20 2.20
23/03/08 07:00 JEF Ichihara v Kashiwa Reysol 2.20 3.20 2.80
23/03/08 08:00 Kyoto Purple Sanga v Urawa Red Diamonds 3.00 3.20 2.10
24/03/08 05:00 Omiya Ardija v Yokohama F-Marinos 2.80 3.20 2.20

J-League 2
23/03/08 04:00 Cerezo Osaka v Vegalata Sendai 1.90 3.20 3.65
23/03/08 04:00 Roasso Kumamoto v Shonan Bellmare 3.00 3.25 2.10
23/03/08 04:00 Yokohama FC v Sagan Tosu 1.75 3.35 4.10
23/03/08 05:00 Ehime FC v Thespa Kusatsu 2.05 3.25 3.20
23/03/08 07:00 Sanfreece Hiroshima v Mito Hollyhock 1.25 5.25 8.50
23/03/08 09:00 FC Gifu v Tokushima Vortis 2.25 3.25 2.80

[ONEDUNME]

I love a good J Cup myself but I haven't got anything sensible to add to this thread.

We used to have quite a few decent tipsters with the Japanese footy didn't we?

I remember checking the results first thing on a Saturday/Sunday morning to see what I'd won on their tips.

for some more of the same.

[Napoleon Solo]

I remember Rashin, can't think who else popped in to help!

I do alright with the J-League, had a 5/1 winner last week. Didn't post it here but posted it in the tipster comp.

I'll do my best ODM, but I can't promise anything!

[ONEDUNME]

That will do for me mate. I'm with you.

[Napoleon Solo]

Yokohama FC v Sagan Tosu

A better price than I was expecting on Yokohama here, probably because of Sagan's two wins in two games, while Yokohama drew away to one of the main relegation candidates in the last round.

In fairness, Yokohama probably deserved to draw in the last round as they seemed to underestimate their opponents. I can't see them doing the same here, so if they play like they did in their first two games they should give a good account of themselves.

As mentioned, Sagan have two wins from their two games so far (missed one week as there are an odd number of J2 teams) but both have come at home and in both matches they've been very much outplayed by their opponents. Both the goals they've scored have been from mistakes by the opponents defence/'keepers.

Yokohama are more than capable of scoring, while Sagan really shouldn't trouble the Yokohama backline (defensive errors aside)!

Yokohama FC to beat Sagan Tosu @ 1.75 (Unibet) - 3 points

[Napoleon Solo]

Ehime FC v Thespa Kusatsu

Ehime have played well in all their games so far, even the 0-3 beating by the much fancied Sanfreece Hiroshima side.They roared into an early 2-0 advantage away to Tokushima in their last game and never looked troubled, adding a third goal late on.

Thespa have looked their best when at home, but are still without a win this season. A 0-2 defeat by Sanfreece in the first game actually contained some decent play from the Thespa team, but a 2-1 defeat at newly promoted Roasso Kumamoto was well deserved, despite having taken a lead. Their 0-0 draw at home to Yokohama FC was a well deserved point for Thespa, but there is a feeling that Yokohama underestimated their opponents on the day.

Ehime have played some decent football this season and have been far better than anyone expected. Thespa have done well at home despite a defeat and a draw, but they deserved their one away defeat to a newly promoted side who outplayed them for most of the game. Ehime should be too good for them.

Ehime FC to beat Thespa Kusatsu @ 2.05 (Unibet) - 2 points

[Napoleon Solo]

...and one game that I've missed out of the original list.

23/03/08 07:00 Ventforet Kofu v Avispa Fukuoka 1.80 3.30 4.00


Ventforet Kofu v Avispa Fukuoka

Ventforet have been just awful so far this season, scraping draws at home to relegation candidates FC Gifu and Tokushima Vortis before deservedly being beaten at Mito Hollyhock. They'll have to perform far better here if they're to stave off the challenge of one of their promotion rivals.

Avispa played well in their last game, but after going behind to an early penalty they were unable to find their way through a sturdy Vegalta Sendai back line. Their only other game was a home win over a very spirited and determined Mito Hollyhock.

As long as Kofu don't get their act together for this game, Fukuoka should be able to control the game. They're worth a small nibble at 3/1 to win the match, or a slightly meatier bet on the double chance, DNB or AH, should any bookies other than Unibet decide to offer odds.

Avispa Fukuoka to beat Ventforet Kofu @ 4.00 (Unibet) - 1 point
or
"Avispa Fukuoka or Draw" v Ventforet Kofu @ 1.82 (Unibet) - 3 points

or you could go for both if you're a greedy bastard!

[ONEDUNME]

Unibet are one of the few bookies I don't have an account with so I'll either open one (depending on if they have an offer on) or I'll look elsewhere.

[Napoleon Solo]

There are usually far more bookies with J-League odds. I don't use Unibet myself usually, but I obviously had to this time.

[ONEDUNME]

Fuck me Napoleon, do you ever sleep?

[MickeyPaul]

Nice work, Solo. Ta. I remember it being quite a struggle finding decent links for J-League and the ones I gathered have all since been lost.

ODM, Unibet currently have a £20 free bet offer on. It's impossible to find info on their site so I had to email them recently to check and received this:

We are currently offering a double up bonus up to the value of 20 gbp. If you are interested in this bonus kindly sign up to a Unibet account and deposit funds into it - Unibet

[Napoleon Solo]

Originally Posted by ONEDUNME

Fuck me Napoleon, do you ever sleep?

I try not to, "they" come in the night!

[Napoleon Solo]

Just in case anyone is betting on the cup matches, bear in mind that the Japanese national team are playing a World Cup qualifier this week so the following players will be missing from the ties:

Consadole Sapporo v Kawasaki Frontale
Eiji Kawashima (GK, Kawasaki Frontale)
Kengo Nakamura (Mid, Kawasaki)
Satoru Yamagishi (Mid, Kawasaki)

Jubilo Iwata v FC Tokyo
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (GK, Jubilo Iwata)
Yuichi Komano (Def, Iwata)
Naotake Hanyu (Mid, FC Tokyo)
Yasuyuki Konno (Mid, Tokyo)

Oita Trinita v Albirex Niigata


Vissel Kobe v Nagoya Grampus
Seigo Narazaki (GK, Nagoya Grampus Eight)
Keiji Tamada (For, Nagoya)

Tokyo Verdy v Shimizu S-Pulse


JEF Ichihara v Kashiwa Reysol

Seiichiro Maki (For, JEF United Chiba)

Kyoto Purple Sanga v Urawa Red Diamonds
Keita Suzuki (Mid, Urawa)
Yuki Abe (Mid, Urawa)
Naohiro Takahara (For, Urawa)

Omiya Ardija v Yokohama F-Marinos
Yuji Nakazawa (Def, Yokohama Marinos)
Koji Yamase (Mid, Yokohama)




Kyoto Purple Sanga v Urawa Red Diamonds

With the missing players, as well as their performances so far, Urawa Red Diamonds may be worth taking on yet again. They've not clicked yet this season and may find it tough against a Kyoto Purple Sanga team who've started the season quite well.


Kyoto Purple Sanga to beat Urawa Red Diamonds @ 3.35 (188Bet) - 1 point

[Napoleon Solo]