WESTERN SYDNEY OUT OF FINALS CONTENTION FOR 2014/15

It's a write off! Wanderers fans prepare yourself, for there is no fairy tale ending to A-League season 2014/15.

In these dark days Wanderers fans have been surviving off the rumours of a player overhaul in the January transfer window. With loud noises surrounding a number of players, manager Tony Popovic was quoted in the Daily Telegraph today, fanning the flames, "Every player is contracted but we'll see what happens in January."

So Western Sydney can expect new recruits soon, but new recruits require time. Firstly there is integration into the playing group, then there is adapting to the playing style. Add to that the forming of on field combinations that can break open a defence.

No doubt the Wanderers need time but that is something they dont have. They face an equally desperate Central Coast today before taking on Melbourne Victory on January 6th.

Yes, the Asian Cup break will give new recruits much needed time to be integrated into the group. But Western Sydney simply have to win from this point on.

A-League ladder 01/01/2015

With Melbourne City in 6th (the last finals position) and on 16 points, the Wanderers with their two games in hand are 13 points adrift. That is simply too much to reel in when you consider they will have to negotiate the ACL from late February onward.

Only a miracle can turn this season around, and the Wanderers have surely used up all the divine assistance due to them, for a year or two at least.

TEN AND A HALF TIPS FOR A GREAT ASIAN CUP

1. For foreigners, Don't Tip! In Australia it's not regular practice to tip, and that's due to our generous wages. No doubt many tourists would have discovered this already, but please don't waste your money tipping, as I and all of Australia would hate to see an expensive trend start.

2. Be in Brisbane for the weekend of January 16th-18th. On Friday you can see Japan take on Iraq, and the following night witness Australia vs Korea Republic. This is as good as the Asian Cup will offer in the Group Stage.

3. Buy tickets to another Asian Cup game. They're so cheap, FFA is almost giving them away. If the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar had a depressing off field theme, it was the excess of empty seats. It's hoped Australia can delete those scenes from Asian Cup memories.

4. Don't catch the train from Sydney Airport to Sydney itself. It's outrageously expensive. If possible catch a taxi with friends to your accommodation. Taxis are also expensive but you can split the cost among friends or fellow travellers.

5. When in Sydney visit the Queen Victoria Building. To do this you can take a train to Town Hall station, and the majority of exits from the station place you right there in the building. There's shopping, coffee, sushi and more. Oh, and it's a really cool old building with a unique timber constructed elevator.

6. Hire a car. If you arrive in Sydney and want to catch the Japan vs Palestine match in Newcastle, I recommend this option over the train trip. We don't have Shinkansen or fast trains, and the Country Link train ride from Strathfield Station to Newcastle is certainly not cosy.

By hiring a car you'll have the chance to stop off at Gosford on the way to Newcastle. And despite my constant niggling of the Central Coast Mariners and Gosford in general, it's actually a great little holiday town.

7. Please don't be offended when customer service staff in shops throughout the country ignore you. This happens to everyone, local or visitor. Unfortunately in Australia the customer is only a distraction to store staff's conversations and social media activity.

8. Take in the Western Sydney Wanderers home game at Parramatta's Pirtek Stadium on January 6th. There is no other team that can match Wanderers for whole crowd participation. You can take a train to Parramatta station and the ground is just a ten minute walk from there. Mind you, you'll probably have to buy tickets at the away supporters end.

9. Once again,when in Sydney (excuse me but I'm local) be sure to take a train to Circular Quay Station. Yes, I am biased, but there is no better 'get off' location in the world for a train station. I know this will spark debate, so please feel free to send all correspondence to my twitter account lewdub@NaoetsuCafe.

10. If you visit any Australian beaches, please take care. Unfortunately many locals and tourists have lost their lives in the surf. Our beaches are beautiful, but they're also Dangerous.

10.5 If you're going to bet on the Asian Cup, don't bet on Australia. The Asian Cup could not have arrived at a more ill timed period in Australian soccer history. A spate of big name retirements, injuries to key youngsters, and a poorly timed systemic overhaul have all but scuppered the chances of the home team.

Good luck, and enjoy the lucky country.

EAST ASIAN SOCCER - NEWS ROUND-UP

Usami and Patric embrace.

In Japan Gamba Osaka completed the domestic treble, after defeating second tier Montedio Yamagata in the Emperor's Cup Final. 

Just one week earlier Gamba had captured the J-League title, and with little time to celebrate, the Kansai natives were facing an upbeat Yamagata club who had just won promotion to J1 for 2015. It didn't take long for Gamba's class to tell though, with in form Takashi Usami finding the back of the net in the 4th minute, before Patric doubled the lead in the 22nd minute. 

In the second half the underdogs jagged a goal to restore hope, but once again Usami asserted the authority of the J-League champions. The match ending 3-1, Usami with two goals and an assist.

Stunningly the man of the match was still ignored by national team manager Javier Aguirre. True, the Samurais have a wealth of attacking midfielders, but this blogger was not the only one shocked by his absence in Japan's Asian Cup squad.

ASIAN CUP SQUAD

Japan's national team was officially announced on Monday. See below -

In a scoop for the Newcastle region where the Japanese squad will be based during the tournament, a friendly was recently announced for January 4th. The Japanese will take on New Zealand's most famous club side, Auckland City in Cessnock, while also taking on local side Lambton Jaffas in a behind closed doors trial. The Kiwi team has been a regular representative for Oceania at the Club World Cup, and turned a few heads this year after defeating Algeria's ES Setif. 

GK - Eiji Kawashima, Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shusaku Nishikawa
DEF- Yuto Nagatomo, Masato Morishige, Kosuke Ota, Uchida, Maya Yoshida, Tsukasa Shiotani, Gotoku Sakai, Gen Shoji
MF- Yasuhito Endo, Yasuyuki Konno, Makoto Hasebe, Shinji Kagawa, Hiroshi Kiyotake, Gaku Shibasaki,
ATT- Yohei Toyoda, Shinji Okazaki, Keisuke Honda, Yu Kobayashi, Takashi Inui, Yoshinori Muto.

ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW ANNOUNCED

The 2015 Asian Champions League draw has been completed, though there are still some unknowns,

In a promoters dream Western Sydney Wanderers have been grouped with Chinese gargantuans Guangzhou Evergrande. 

Fans of both clubs will not have forgotten 2014's cage fight in the ACL quarter finals. The match saw Marcello Lippi enter the playing field at Parramatta, after two controversial red cards were handed out to superstars Zhang Linpeng and Gao Lin. 

Joining them in Group H is the J-League's most successful club, Kashima Antlers. The Antlers enjoyed a return to prominence in the J-League, inspired by the form of youngster Gaku Shibasaki. Just as mouth watering is the prospect of Koreans FC Seoul coming through the play-off phase to join the triplet of talent in Group H. FC Seoul featured in the 2013 ACL Final against Guangzhou, while in 2014 they crashed out to Wanderers in the semi finals.

GAMBA OSAKA SET TO WALK AWAY WITH STUNNING TREBLE

Patric lighting it up for Gamba Osaka.

They've won the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup, they now lead the J-League, and they're set to face second tier Montedio Yamagata in the Emperor's Cup Final. Though nothing is guaranteed in Japanese soccer, Gamba Osaka's treble is as good a certainty that 'the land of the rising sun can offer'.

Gamba Osaka's story is a tale of two seasons. Prior to the mid season break the blue half of Osaka were mired in the relegation zone, 14 points off competition leaders Urawa. During the World Cup though, 27 year old Brazilian Patric was signed. Along with the return to fitness of Takashi Usami whose first starting appearance was in round 12, the Brazilian led Gamba on an unimaginable run of form, that will ultimately lead to J-League glory.

Patric has picked up nine goals in his 18 J-League matches. The Brazilian taking no time to adapt, partly due to his previous experience in Japan in 2013. Unlike the svelte figure of most, this Brazilian has a physical presence (think Hulk). At 189cm Patric has been the perfect foil for the likes of Usami and Shu Kurata.

Though nothing should be taken away from Gamba Osaka, last Saturday will also be remembered as the final act in one of the J-League's great capitulations.

Urawa led the J-League from round 19; around the time title challengers Sagan Tosu inexcusably sacked their manager. Ironically it was the Kyushu club that broke Reds hearts last weekend, with a last gasp equaliser to allow Gamba Osaka to go top of the league on for and against.

Urawa had gone ahead early in the second half on the back of a penalty. As a result Sagan Tosu were down to ten men, and things were looking rosy for the Reds. But in a nightmarish finale, Japan's biggest club conceded a corner, and then, virtually conceded the title.

The twitter-sphere almost broke down in the aftermath. J-League fans the world over looked to commiserate, or with words annihilate. The highlight for me being Barry Valder's work.

Mind the profanities. 

Now, in what seems a foregone conclusion, Gamba Osaka is tasked with taking three points on the road at relegation consigned Tokushima.

Meanwhile, the Reds have to beat Nagoya while carrying the psychological baggage of seven days ago. It just won't happen.

But as per usual in the J-League there is a joker in the pack. For the title race is a 'three horse' race, with Kashima Antlers poised just two points from the summit and ready to pounce on any slip ups from the aforementioned.

CAN URAWA FINALLY PUT THE DOUBTERS TO REST?

Abe, Makino and Koroki are joined by an unknown Red.

This Saturday at 2pm Japan time, Urawa take on Gamba Osaka in the match that should end the argument over who will be this year's J-League champions.

With three matches remaining in the J-League, it's hard to deny Urawa their place as champions elect. They're currently five points clear of closest opponent Gamba Osaka and have led the competition for the past 13 rounds. The Reds had a shaky October, where they lost to Vegalta Sendai, and drew with Kofu and Kashima. But their win against Yokohama in the port city on 3rd November, could jolt the team in the right direction. Meanwhile, rivals Gamba gave up two points when they drew with Sendai in their most recent J-League fixture.

It's hard to believe that Gamba Osaka were in Japan's second tier last year, but five rounds into the 2014 season it was obvious. The blue half of Osaka was battling away in 14th position while city rival Cerezo Osaka was out of the boxes like an underfed greyhound. Gamba's rivals had gone on an off season spending spree that had this blogger so impressed I tipped them to be title challengers.

How wrong I was. Cerezo's early form went south, while Gamba turned a corner and have barely had their foot off the throttle. Since the mid season break in July, Gamba Osaka have won 13 of 17 J-League matches.

Poignantly, it was three rounds ago that the blue team did drop some points, and then again, unexpectedly against 14th placed Vegalta Sendai. It begs the question: Have Endo and co. peaked too soon? 

The above graph clearly illustrates how Gamba have stalked the Reds since round 27. But in round 30 the Kansai based team were within three points, now they lay five points away. Gamba simply must win today.

Critics of Urawa have branded them a reincarnation of the Sanfrecce Hiroshima outfit that Reds manager Mihailo Petrovic led until the end of 2011. The index of players that once wore violet but now sport red includes: Tomoaki Makino, Tadanari Lee, Ryota Moriwaki, Shusaku Nishikawa (GK), and Yosuke Kashiwagi, who elected to board the Shinkansen for Urawa before manager Petrovic. 

Perhaps most important of all Petrovic's recruits is Shinzo Koroki who actually arrived via Kashima. The 28 year old is top scorer for the Reds with 12 goals this season. 

Adding intrigue to today's clash is the injury cloud over Urawa's top scorer. Koroki was missing for the team's last J-League outing against Yokohama F Marinos, but the player himself was adamant he would get some game time even if he risked long term injury as a result. 

"I came to the Reds to help them win a championship. It would kill me if I couldn't even make the bench for the biggest game of the season with the title on the line," Koroki was quoted as saying in the Japan Times. 

Today we find out if Koroki and the other hand picked recruits can deliver Urawa's second J-League title.

JAPAN SIX, HONDURAS ZERO. THE EMPEROR STRIKES BACK?

Keisuke Honda gives the thumbs up

On Friday night Japan's Samurais thumped Honduras 6-0, in what was a welcome goal bonanza for the reigning Asian Cup champions. But was it a sign that the once mighty emperors of Asia had bounced back to their best? Surely a six goal drubbing in international football is a sign that something is drastically wrong with your opponent. Nevertheless, confirmation will soon come in Japan's next match, when they take on 2015 Asian Cup hosts Australia.

Australian fans know only too well the hidden truths that lie behind a 6-0 defeat. The Socceroos were victims of two in succession in 2013, when Brazil and then France thrashed an uninspiring and lazy Aussie outfit. Manager of the time Holger Osieck was under intense media scrutiny after qualifying the team for the World Cup, but not blooding enough youth players. 

Like Australia in 2013, Honduras are experiencing a rough patch. After a disastrous World Cup conceding eight goals and scoring one, the NAFFH signed Hernan Medford to manage the national team. Since then, Honduras have secured two wins from seven matches. Knocking off the might of Belize and Nicaragua. 

A humble manager, Javier Aguirre wasn't getting carried away after Japan's slaughter of Honduras. With an eye on the fixture list he said, "I want to take a good look at the 23 players I will take to the Asian Cup and want to beat Australia." At one stage in the Mexican's short reign it appeared the international career of Gamba Osaka's legendary midfielder Yasuhito Endo may have been over. But 'Yatto' was recalled on Friday night (along with Hasebe, Konno & Uchida), and unsurprisingly it coincided with a return to form for the Samurais.

Interestingly, Australia's first eleven is still very unsettled. In terms of squad the Socceroos have been hit with a wave of injuries since Ange Postecoglou's installment as manager, preventing the team from developing the cohesion that is required for his preferred style. In a tell tale sign of doubt during a Monday night press conference, Postecoglou said, "Regardless of what we do tomorrow night it’s all about the first game of the (Asian Cup) tournament."

In stark contrast, Aguirre said ahead of the Honduras and Australia friendlies, “These two games are not about what I can try out,  they’re about looking ahead to the Asian Cup and winning.”

So Osaka, the foodies capital is host to the Socceroos on Tuesday night. But it's more than likely  that Japan, with their reloaded (Brazil 2014) squad, will be making a meal out of the Aussies. 

JETS SET TO BLOW THE MARINERS OUT OF THE WATER

Captain Kew, boss Stubbins and Flores

The Jets have been the most disappointing A-League club over the last seven seasons. Since winning the A-League Champions title in 2007/08 the Jets have made the finals once (09/10) and finished 7th three times. In a ten team competition there is no consolation in finishing mid-table. Even worse, the club has had to witness derby rival Central Coast Mariners win a title in 2012/13 and watch as they dominate the derby fixture. 

This year the Jets are being touted as wooden spoon favourites. And it's no wonder, with new manager Phil Stubbins greeted by the departures of topscorer and A-League Golden Boot, Adam Taggart along with Josh Brillante, junior Socceroo Connor Chapman, James Brown, Emile Heskey, Craig Goodwin and captain Ruben Zadkovich.. But in Newcastle's favour is the signing of striker Jeronimo Neumann, Ecuadorian Edson Montano and former Mariner Marcos Flores.

The off season recruitment has been about finding goals. Last season the Jets scoring summary reads as: 34 goals in 27 matches. On closer investigation the statistics scream goal drought. Of the 34 goals, five came in a promising victory over Wellington, and 16 were provided by Adam Taggart. Thus, Neumann and Flores are vital signings, and favourite son Joel Griffiths should not be forgotten either. 

This week in the lead up to the derby Marcos Flores lit the flame by calling out the Mariners organisation. The midfielder was disappointed in the treatment dished out to him after his full knee reconstruction in the 2013/14 season. The 28 year old said, ". . . when you get hurt in that way you feel that you are going to get support and they didn’t (support me). After three years in this country I packed my suitcase thinking that I wasn’t going to come back."

Flores and that infectious attitude

But the Argentine is back, and he's just the antidote for a disjointed Newcastle attack. Despite the numerous Young Socceroos that Gary van Egmond had recruited to the club, the Jets appeared to be a team of individuals in 2013/14. If injury free Flores will provide the link between defence and attack, and his infectious enthusiasm should bind the team.

As for the derby, the odds are stacked against the Jets. They've won once in 16 visits to Central Coast and the Mariners haven't been beaten in the last five clashes with Newcastle. Add to that the fact the Jets crashed out of the FFA Cup in the first round, and you wonder about the intelligence of the above headline. But Newcastle are a club ready to blast off. There is just far too much class in the team for them to continue under performing. At $4.00 punters would be mad not to take the odds in the derby.