5 Mar 2007(Mon)

March 3, 2007: With the new J.League season about to kick off this afternoon, it's time for predictions.

Without further ado, here's my tip for the title: Gamba Osaka.

I am not just saying this because they battered Urawa 4-0 in the Xerox Super Cup, but because they look to have the most quality in terms of foreign players and, more importantly, Japanese.

They also play vibrant, attractive, well-organised football -- sort of a JEF United but with money.

The much-travelled Sidiclei is a rock at the back; Magno Alves has proved his goal-scoring quality with Oita Trinita and with Gamba last season; and new recruit Bare will be a handful for any defence. These three players know Japanese football well, and there are no risks for the management in terms of their performance.

Even though the face of Gamba, Miyamoto, has gone to Salzburg, coach Nishino still has plenty of options at the back, alongside Sidiclei and the stylish Yamaguchi. Reds, however, have the advantage over Gamba in this department, but this department only.

It's in midfield where Gamba look particularly strong.

Endo is admired around the league, and higher up than that, for his ball-playing abilities and the fact that he keeps possession. Troussier once described him to me as a Japanese Redondo due to his range of passing and long-range shooting.

The rejuvenated Myojin and the emerging Hashimoto provide stability in the engine room, and Kaji and Ienaga the width. This still leaves the clever Futagawa to pop up and use his creative flair and keep the chances coming.

The competition for places is fierce in this area, so no player can ever afford to let his form slip.

Up front, Bando is a livewire, and Gamba will not be short of goals with him, Magno Alves and Bare around.

Yes, they have the look of champions again, following their incredible success in 2005. All those who were at Todoroki on the last day of the season will never forget those amazing scenes, and Gamba came very close to repeating that title triumph last year.

It took Gamba a couple of years longer to emerge under Nishino than I expected, but they are here to stay in the championship race with all-round quality like that. For me they are the team to beat.

ends