9 May 2004(Sun)

This season is going to be very different at the bottom of the first division.

Instead of the bottom two teams being relegated to J2, a new format is needed to ensure a smooth transition from 16 teams to 18 in the top flight for 2005.

This means that only the 16th-placed team at the end of the current campaign is in danger of going down...and only then if they lose a play-off to the team that finishes third in the second division. The top two in J2 will be promoted automatically, as usual.

Several teams in J1 will be breathing a sigh of relief over this new format.

Notably the two who were promoted from J2 last season: Albirex Niigata and Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

This season gives the pair a bit of breathing space to adapt from J2 to J1, as the main target is to avoid the 16th position.

Of course they will be aiming higher, but, after eight rounds, both teams have won only once in the league so far this year.

Sanfrecce have seven points from a win and four draws, and Albirex have six, thanks to three draws as well as one win.

At the very bottom of the table, though, is Cerezo Osaka, with only four points, having lost six of their games.

Last year ended on an optimistic note for Cerezo as they reached the Emperor's Cup final, only to lose to Jubilo Iwata at National Stadium on New Year's Day.

But then they ran into managerial problems, and their season hit a low on Wednesday with a 2-1 home defeat to Sanfrecce.

Another team that is in trouble early on is Kashiwa Reysol.

I really thought they would have a good season this time. They have a good blend of youth and experience, and a trio of talented Brazilians, especially Dudu, who was a star of the FIFA World Youth Championship in the UAE last November/December.

But after winning their first two games, they have collected only one point from a possible 18, and on Wednesday slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Gamba Osaka.

As Jubilo have opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the table, the fight to avoid 16th place could be more interesting in the coming weeks.

ends