5 Apr 2007(Thu)

April 3, 2007: Let's just call it the Nagoya Grampus Four -- for the time being at least.

After four rounds of the new J1 season, Grampus are sitting proudly at the top with a perfect 12 points, ahead of Gamba on goal difference.

And that is something to celebrate for the club in particular, and for neutrals around the country keen to see a new challenger, even so early in the campaign.

Nagoya's Dutch coach, Sef Vergoossen, puts the good start down to a good pre-season, and stability and continuity from last term.

Even so, Grampus have long-term injuries in Marek Spilar -- out for the year, according to Vergoossen at Mitsuzawa on Sunday -- and Atsushi Yoneyama, a stylish defender for Verdy but who could not establish himself in Frontale's land of the giants. (Even the ballboys are bigger than 'Yone' at Todoroki).

Can Grampus stay at the top?

Vegoossen said a top five position at the end of the season would be an excellent display by his team in the circumstances.

"We have 13-14 players, whereas the likes of Urawa, Gamba especially, Frontale and S-Pulse have 20-22 for the first team," he said.

"We have no magic team. We have a normal team who play with discipline and a good mentality. We have 13-14 players, and after that players are coming in with quality but without any experience."

They should have beaten Yokohama FC much more comfortably than 2-1 on Sunday, thanks to a flashing near-post header from Keita Sugimoto and a slow-motion, far-post finish from Kei Yamaguchi after a lightning raid up the right flank from Sugimoto.

Grampus played with a very well-organised 3-5-2, and a strong backbone of Masayuki Omori, Toshiya Fujita and Frode Johnsen.

Naoshi Nakamura and Keisuke Honda gave them width, and Yamaguchi and Kim Jung Woo some solidity in midfield, while Akira Takeuchi and Takahiro Masukawa played at the back, either side of Omori. It was Masukawa's excellent cross, whipped in from the left, that allowed Sugimoto to head Grampus level, and Nakamura's delicious pass up the right which released Sugimoto, who had timed his run behind the defence to perfection, to set up Yamaguchi's winner.

The Grampus fans were in fine voice behind the goal into which their team scored twice, and, let's face it, they deserve something to celebrate after some barren, post-Pixie years.

Fujita, now 35, is critical to Grampus Eight's season, not just for his ability and experience but also for his leadership and tactical brain. He may not cover the amount of ground he used to during his Jubilo heyday, but he knows where everyone should be and what they should be doing.

Good luck to Grampus. It's good for the game to see them up there.

ends