Sorare Tactics

GW 1 J1 League Preview - Draft

Added 2024-08-15 20:01:01 +0000 UTC

We have 9 games for this wkend GW!

Game are all on Saturday which means we will get plenty of team news tomorrow (Friday)

A typhoon is due to hit the Tokyo area on Friday which could impact the following games:

Kashima vs Urawa

Machida vs Iwata

FC Tokyo vs Tokyo V

Kawasaki vs YFM

Shonan vs Kashiwa

My feeling is we should be ok but always hard to know with these things. Again, I will monitor and give the latest info before the deadline

Fixtures

J1 Table

More surprises at the top of the table with both Machida and Kashima losing. Hiroshima won their 4th game in row to jump up to third and are just 4 pts off the top of the table. With Kobe also winning, the title race is suddenly wide open.

Sapporo and Sagan battled to draws although remain in deep trouble. Kyoto lost to drop back into the bottom 3 with Iwata picking up a win. Things are very tight with Shonan the form team picking up a sublime win away to leaders Machida.

Main Point

Peixoto (Iwata), Uchida (Nagoya), Ogihara (Kobe), Nishikawa (Urawa), Shimamura (Kashiwa), Kida (YFM), Dresevic (Machida) are all suspended this GW
We have seen lots of transfers in the last couple of weeks! Best place to see these are here
Seko and Ominami (both Kawasaki) have been allowed to leave their clubs to complete transfers to europe clubs. Both will still be covered on SO5.
YFM keeper situation is sadly unclear! Manager has said he want it to be competitive. So far they have taken it in turns so more likely Popp here.
Hiroshima have won their last 4 games and the form team
Kawasaki have won 3 in a row and unbeaten in 8 games
Shonan have won 4 of their last 5 games and playing decent
FC Tokyo have picked up just 1 win in 6

Predicted Lineups

Important to note the %s used here. If no %, it means I see them as a starter and no known risks. For sorare, its about there scorer potential so check out KEY PLAYERS even subs have a way :)

When 75% or below - there is some risk involved. My main aim with these is to show where risk/potential DNPs are lurking.

I base these %s on info I read from various sources including comments from the manager and reading a lot of local Japanese news coverage/message boards. Saying that, there will always be unknowns including last minute injury/illness of a player etc.

Always do your own research when making picks. For SO5, it can make sense to take some calculated risks depending on the potential score and the rest of your team/prize pool.

Kashima vs Urawa

Kashima

Tired performance in 2-1 loss to Iwata.
Cavric is out injured, new signings made but likely make bench at best
Nakama missed last game but seen in training. In line to return to first team but some risk still there

Urawa

In general, having poor season given expectations as title contenders.
Ito has transferred to the Jupiler league
Nishikawa is suspended
All players are in training outside Maeda who was only in light training.
Manager impressed by Okubo and Sekine who are favs to start
Situation with Santana unclear. He had calf pain the last two games but also out of favour. Linssen is also an option to play
Some speculation that Nakajima may move to Tokyo Verdy in this transfer window

Machida vs Iwata

Machida

Top of the table. In relatively poor form including a loss last week
Sugioka is available to play after missing the last game
Dresevic is suspended.
Nakayama was signed and seen in training. Could come straight in at LCB
Other options including playing 3 at the back
Lots of options up front especially. Risk of changing things up after the defeat last/misfiring with goals recently. In general Oh Se Hun and Fujio pref choices.

Iwata

Won vs Kashima last week
Watanabe inline to continue after an impressive debut
Germain returns from suspension.
Kawashima situation remains unclear, Miura likely to continue in nets.

FC Tokyo vs Tokyo V

FC Tokyo

Team unstable, lots of changes in players and formation.
Tokumoto has moved to Nagoya on loan. Nakatomo likely replaces him this game. Kashif fitness unclear and also linked to move to Urawa
Trevisan and Kimoto seen in training. Remain risks for this game.
Doi went off with minor issue. After a 3-0 loss could see changes especially as this is a local derby so Morishige experience needed
Despite the heavy loss, Brandon should continue in nets imo

Tokyo V

Back to back losses
Morita played some mins from bench. Club being careful in using him
Hard to predict the setup in midfield. Could change if formation is 4 or 3 at the back
Will get training info Friday morning, will update based on that as usually has useful info.

Kawasaki vs YFM

Having poor season but have won 3 games in a row
Ominami and Seko not available as on verge of transfers out
Yamada has scored 2 goals in each of his last 3 games. On fire.
Likely keep to similar lineup as to the team thats won recently.

YFM

Lost against Kobe last game. First loss for new manager
Iikura came in for Popp. Manager has said its a competitive situation. Should see Popp come in again though still a risk and unclear situations sadly,
Matsubara went off at half time last game, a risk here. Nagato close to full fitness. Could see him at LB and Kato RB if Matsubara not ready.
Waiting on injury/training news on players like Yan. Will get this Friday before deadline.

Shonan vs Kashiwa

Shonan

In solid form. Great win away to Machida last week.
No known new injuries. Same lineup most likely.

Kashiwa

Drew 0-0 vs Gamba last week. Falling down table and into the relegation scrap
Sekine went off with an injury last game. TBC his condition. Atm is doubtful
Tezuka played some mins from bench last game. Pushing for a start.

Nagoya vs Hiroshima

Nagoya

Beat Tokyo Verdy 1-0 last game.
Ono out injured. Nagai only in partial training. Uchida out suspended
Morishima is available after suspension
Tokumoto has joined. Could come straight in as is match fit (depends on if registration complete etc)
Junker came on as sub last couple of games. Patric doing well up top so I have him fav to continue esp as Junker still rusty.

Hiroshima

3 wins in a row
Shiotani had back problems last game but was in full training this week and the manager has said hes fine to play
Kawabe made debut last game. Arslan scored 2 from bench. Unclear who starts here considering form and balance of side.
Sotiriou, MJ are injury doubt sand likely out.

Cerezo vs Kyoto

Cerezo

Lost to Hiroshima last week. In poor form
Capi is out injured
Kagawa is back in full training and pushing for a start
Nishio started at RB. Likely continue the same 4 at the back

Kyoto

Lost first game in 7 on Monday
Gu and Api went off injured then and concerns (TBC their condition)
Kawasaki has said hes ready to play. Still some doubts about his fitness. Rest of lineup should remain stable
This is a local derby

Kobe vs Gamba

Kobe

Impressive 2-1 away at YFM with Muto scoring both.
Thuler returns from suspension. Hatsuse and Honda both injury concerns
Kikuchi has done ok last few games, could feature but not guaranteed. Lots depends on players fitness
Hirose played at RB and can also play as LW or LB
Miyashiro in full training. Has been out for a while, could be getting mins from bench
Oghihara out suspended. Yamaguchi in light training and could feature. Morioka signed but unlikely to be match fit yet
Sakai in light training on Wednesday. Waiting on further news but i assume will be eased in
This is a local derby