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Post by travisbickle on Mar 30, 2012 9:38:20 GMT
Do you have any advice on what J-league clubs I should try to see when in Japan? What stadiums have the best atmosphere? I'm looking at Vissel Kobe, good or bad choice?
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Post by tuck on Apr 29, 2012 21:10:01 GMT
Heja Morten!
Vissel Kobe probably aren't the best club to see for a few different reasons. Basically they were taken over by one of Japan's richest (and most hated) businessmen several years ago. He changed the club's colours and uses them as a vanity project but bizarrely has refused to put enough money into them to ever field a decent squad. And as for atmosphere, they play out of a (admittedly very nice) 2002 World Cup ground which is never full. So since you're in that region, I'd look down the road to...
Gamba Osaka. I hate this club with a passion but big games are almost always sell-outs (at their crumbling Expo '70 Stadium, which is soon to be replaced). The ground is one of the worst in Japan but their fans make up for it by being some of the most passionate in the country. Of the Kansai clubs, these are probably the ones you should see.
Your other options in the region are Cerezo Osaka and J2 club Kyoto Sanga. Cerezo might be okay if they play a big club at Kincho on the day... otherwise they play out of the massive 2002 World Cup ground at Nagai (good for the derby with Gamba, bad for everything else). Just forget about Kyoto entirely. Great city, rubbish football team.
Having said that, the Kansai plain is a baseball region (you should go watch the Tigers play at Koshien). If you want to watch proper clubs go around you should take your pick from Shimizu S-Pulse, Urawa Reds (bleugh!), Vegalta Sendai or someone like that.
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Post by travisbickle on Apr 30, 2012 12:21:37 GMT
Already been over, ended up with FC Tokyo as they were the only one that fitted our schedule. Not really the best game or atmosphere, but still my first game outside Europe
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Post by tuck on May 1, 2012 5:02:54 GMT
Sheesh, I've really got to check back on here more frequently. :/
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