11 Apr 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (April 9): Well, the experts were right again, weren't they?

One Saitama team among the early pace-setters; the other scrapping for points at the wrong end of the table...

Where the pre-season predictions fall down, though, is that it's little Omiya Ardija who have made the bright start to the new season, and mighty Urawa Reds in all sorts of trouble at the other end of the table.

It just goes to show how unpredictable football is around the world, even though, as the season wears on, Omiya and Urawa will surely move down and up, respectively.

Ardija have seven points from three league games, and they look to have spent wisely in the winter.

Just like the cherry trees, Fujimoto is in full blossom now that he's a first-team regular, and is responding to the challenge of leading a new team in J1. His experience and his confidence on the ball has been crucial in enabling Omiya adapt to life in the top flight after six seasons in J2.

Left-sided players seem to be hard to come by in most parts of the world, except Brazil and Wales, and Mikami has proved to be another solid signing, bringing balance on the left flank, behind Fujimoto.

Sakurai, ex-Reds and Verdy, started well with a great goal at Gamba, but has since been sent off and now he's injured.

No matter, new Brazilian recruit Christian is finding his form and fitness after a knee operation in September, and will be a danger to all teams with his aerial power in the box.

Fujimoto, Sakurai, Mikami and Christian...no wonder manager Toshiya Miura is full of praise for the technical staff who made the signings, as they have blended instantly into the team.

And so to Reds...

How Guido Buchwald must be wishing he could change places with Miura, at least in the current climate. No drama. No controversy. Just a few points in the bag, thank you.

Two 1-0 defeats, two red cards for Alpay, one 3-3 draw, one red card for Nene, in three games leaves Urawa in 17th place with just a point.

For today's massive game at home to Gamba, there's no Alpay (suspended), no Nene (suspended) and no Tulio (injured), so Tsuboi will be leading a makeshift defence against one of the brightest attacking teams in the league.

There could be a few goals at Saitama Stadium, and if more of them are into the Reds net than into the Gamba net, the Saitama natives will not be slow to show their disappointment.

The Omiya fans, meanwhile, will enjoy a nice day out at Niigata. For the time being they can relax after an encouraging start, but they know, deep down, that every point won now is another toward safety at the end of the season.

Yes, it's interesting times in Saitama at the moment.

ends