15 Jan 2004(Thu)

An interesting match in 2004 would be Kyoto Purple Sanga against Nagoya Grampus Eight.

What must surely be the best attack in J2 against one of the best defences in J1.

Of course it won't happen, unless they meet in the Emperor's Cup at the end of next season.

But the transfer activity of both clubs in the winter break suggests they are aiming high in 2004.

After signing the South Korean goal machine Choi Yong Soo from JEF United Ichihara, Purple Sanga have managed to hold on to both Kurobe and Matsui.

That's a pretty formidable attack in J2, with the aerial power of Choi and Kurobe and the silky skills of Matsui.

Their route back to J1 looks straightforward: by air, not on the ground.

And while opposing defences will be ready for this, it doesn't mean they will be able to stop it.

As for Grampus, they have followed up the signing of the veteran Akita from Kashima with the young Purple Sanga defender Kakuda.

Despite being released by Kashima after 11 years' sterling service in Ibaraki, the Akita deal is one of the best pieces of business during the winter.

His presence alone will inspire the rest of the team, and his never-say-die attitude will sort out the men from the boys in Nagoya's well-paid but under-achieving squad.

This is what Nagoya have needed for a long time, a rough, tough Japanese leader who is not prepared to settle for second best.

Purple Sanga, too, have shown they are prepared to spend big to get back into J1 at the first time of asking.

But it makes you wonder why they didn't do this a year ago after winning the Emperor's Cup.

At that time they made a huge, expensive mistake with the signing of an unfit Ko Jong Soo.

Manager Gert Engels was against the Ko deal, complaining that the only new signing was a DVD player to help in match preparation!

ends