GW455 - J1 League Lineups - FINAL (Patreon)

Hi all - I have updated the lineups and notes for each team.

Also included at the end is some SO5 analysis

Intro

J1 League wkend of fun is here!

The below are the fixtures coming up:

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.

Kobe vs Kashiwa

Vissel Kobe

• Current champions and won opening game
• Ide is confirmed out injured.
• Muto is in full training. Unclear if ready to start. Bench also possible so im personally not risking in any of my main teams.
• Likely same team as last week. Clean sheet and decent performance

Key SO5 Players - Hatsuse, Sakai, Yamaguchi, Muto, Osako

Set Piece Takers - Hatsuse, Yuruki, Osako

Kashiwa Reysol

• Drew first game. Hosoya missed penalty. Savio the key play as always
• Kinoshita was on bench last game. Pushing for start

Key SO5 Players - Koga, Inukai, Savio, Hosoya

Set Piece Takers - Savio

Nagoya vs Machida

Nagoya

• Lost 0-3 to Kashima in the first game
• Defenders Ha Chang Rae and Kawazura missed the last game with injuries. 
• Ha Chang Rae played in a recent practice game and should start here imo
• Yamagishi in training however some concerns remain if ready to start

Key SO5 Players - Langerak, Ha Chang Rae, Inagaki, Yamagishi, Junker,Yamanaka

Set Piece Takers - Yamagishi, Yamanaka, Inagaki

Machida

• Newly promoted as Champions in J2
• Sento is suspended.
• Shoji is injured and v unlikely for this game. Should return next week
• Na Sang Ho not seen in training. Having tests on muscle injury and v unlikely for this game. Fujio is the most likely replacement based on comments the manager made.
• Duke is close to full fitness and could start
• Erik is out injured. Usual starter ST

Kyoto vs Shonan

Kyoto Sanga

• Drew opening game
• Defender Suzuki surprisingly missing first game. No info yet.
• Unbeaten in their last 4 games

Key SO5 Players - Gu Sung, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Hara

Set Piece Takers - Kawasaki

Shonan

• Lost opening game to Kawasaki
• Changed to 4-4-2 formation. Not sure if this will continue, mixed noises coming out.
• Tomii started over SBK. I expect SBK to return this game but there are risks.
• A few options available in def and CM
• Lukian fav to start. A few options to partner him with Suzuki favoured last wk.

Key SO5 Players - SBK, Min Tae, Sugioka, Tanaka,Lukian

Set Piece Takers - Sugioka

Sagan vs Sapporo

Sagan

• Lost 2-1 to Niigata
• Ryan pref choice up front. Nakahara not in squad and no info yet
• Defense looked disjointed/weak. Kiumura is another option as CB

Key SO5 Players - Park, Yamazaki, Kawahara, Naganuma,

Set Piece Takers - Kawahara, Tezuka

Sapporo

• Drew 0-0 vs Fukuoka in the opening round
• Takagi had a late injury. Not seen in training yet so Sugeno most likely to continue
• Kondo picked up a injury and unlikely to feature
• Asano is close to full fitness and played in a practice game. Should start as RW
• Suzuki came on as a sub as not fully fit.  Kobayashii could continue/false 9 as the manager does this often

Key SO5 Players - Okamura,Asano, Suzuki

Set Piece Takers - Asano, Arano

Kashima vs Cerezo

Kashima

• Highly impressive 3-0 opening game win
• Chinen played as DCM and expected to continue here for time being
• Suzuki came on (with mask) as a sub. After such a solid performance last time, hints are the manager continues with same lineup/setup and Suzuki on bench
• Alternatively Doi makes way for Suzuki to play

Cerezo

• Drew 2-2 in opening game
• Shindo is injured and out. Funaki was pref choice for him last game.
• Fernandes, Tanaka and Noborizato impressed on debut.
• Same lineup as last week expected.

Key SO5 Players - KJH, Toriumi, Maikuma, Tanaka, Kagawa, Ceara

Set Piece Takers - Fernandes, Kagawa

FC Tokyo vs Hiroshima

FC Tokyo

• Drew 2-2 in opening game
• Hatano started first game. Looks like a competitive battle with Brandon. No clear fav imo
• Doi made debut at CB. Should continue with Trevisan
• Kashif went off with a minor leg injury.  Seen in training and should be ok.
• Ogashiwa played and scored in a training game. Still not a sure starter even when fully fit - lots of options
• Endo likely makes debut. Is fit and ready
• Ko not in squad and not much info
• Seen some concerns about Diego. Only joined training midweek but looked fine

Key SO5 Players -Trevisan, Matsuki, Diego

Set Piece Takers - Matsuki, Koizumi,

Hiroshima

• Highly impressive in 2-0 opening win with Ohashi scoring both
• MJ back in training but unlikely to start this game imo. They want to ease him back
• Same lineup as last game most likely to start again.

Gamba vs Niigata

Gamba

• Usami scored a beaut of FK to snatch a draw against Machida. Is in the running to start. Could be a striker or AM
• Jebali not in the squad last game and doubtful here
• Welton to be in the squad this match. Likely from bench. Alano to move to RW
• Rest of lineup likely similar to last game.

Key SO5 Players - Nakatani, Handa, Alano,

Set Piece Takers - Suzuki, Alano, Usami

Niigata

• Lots of options in most spots.
• Manager is known to change CBs almost every game! v hard to predict Michael Fitzgerald is a doubt. Endo and Chiba not in squad last game.
• Ota out injured

Key SO5 Players - Kojima, Fujiwara,Arai

Set Piece Takers - Takagi, Hasegawa

Urawa vs Tokyo Verdy

Urawa

• Well beaten by Hiroshima in the first game
• Manager said he was satisfied with the performance - points to limited changes here
• Okubo and Solkbakken both in full training and could feature. Bench most likely
• Hint that Maeda is in line to start after looking decent last game
• Rest of lineup I expect to be same as the first game

Key SO5 Players - Nishikawa, Scholz, Hoibraten, Ito, Matsuo, Santana,

Set Piece Takers - Scholz (pens)

Tokyo Verdy

• Newly promoted side
• Unlucky not to win first game after solid performance vs YFM
• Someno looked v lively upfront

Key SO5 Players - Someno, Hayashi

Set Piece Takers - Morita, Yamada

SO5

Stacks

Def

• Kobe (Hatsuse, Maekawa). 
• Urawa ( Scholz + Nishikawa)

Attack

• Kobe (Osako),
• Hiroshima (Ohashi, Mitsuta)

Full Team

• Kobe (Maekawa, Hatsuse, Yamaguchi, Osako, Thuler).
• Urawa (Nishimori, Scholz, Hoibratten, Ito, Santana)

Source: https://twitter.com/keirin_en

Threshold players

Things to watch out for!

Hatsuse (Kobe) - Topped the charts for GW1 for most crosses (10) and unlucky not to get assist. Him and Osako were one of the best combos last season

Fernandes (Cerezo) - On corners and created a lot of chances last week. Tough defense this GW. 

Ohashi (Hiroshima) - 2 goals and excellent game last week. Hiroshima looks like it suits him perfectly

Urawa Reds - Managers first home game. Should be a good indicator of where they are esp attacking wise after a disappointing performance last week