The J-Talk Podcast

Welcome to the end of year bumper J2 review with Jon Steele & Stuart Smith! Because it was such a big task, we enlisted the help of @GoGoOmiyaArdija - the voice of the Squirrel Nation - to help us assign grades to teams. 

This is the first of two parts, and we go over the top half of the J2 table, taking in: 

- Nagasaki

- Jubilo

- Kyoto

- Niigata

We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it! If you're not following Mike, you can do so at @GoGoOmiyaArdija

You should also be following us: 

- Stuart: @sushi_football

And consider supporting us on Patreon, where you get more in-depth analysis, early access to podcasts and exclusive Patreon only stuff: patreon.com/jtalkpod

Thank you - and enjoy!!

The top two in J1 will slug it out in the Emperor's Cup Final on New Year's Day, and our correspondents from Kawasaki and Gamba Osaka, Neil Debnam and Jonny Nicol, guest to review their respective 2-0 semi final wins, and look ahead to the big day on the big stage at the National Stadium.

Jon Steele brings you all the things you need to know from last weekend's final day of J2 action, including:

- Manager news from Tokushima & Nagasaki

- Who signed off in style?

- What's going on at Tokyo Verdy? 

- Some transfer news

- A brief look at the Tennouhai semi-finals

Thank you to all of you who listened, supported and interacted with us all season long. All that is left is to wish you all Season's Greetings, and a happy & healthy holiday season!! 

Nagano Parceiro and SC Sagamihara.

Two teams, but only one remaining promotion spot available meant there were going to be tears of joy for one team, tears of despair for the other.

Join Stuart Smith & Jon Steele as they sort through the wreckage of an extraordinary final day in J3, and offer thanks for the people that helped make the season possible. 

As always, thank you for your support! If you want to consider supporting what we do here, consider becoming a Patreon - go to: www.patreon.com/jtalkpod

We go large on the final episode of the J1 season, beginning with last Wednesday's Matchday 33 games - in which Gamba Osaka locked up second spot - before moving on to some early offseason managerial changes and rumours (to 22:20).

Then its full steam ahead to Saturday's final round of the season, which saw Nagoya seal third and Cerezo Osaka fourth, while we also wrap up Kawasaki's otherworldly campaign and all the records they have obliterated in 2020, before reviewing each and every game (to 1:13:30).

Then in Part 3 we hand out Player of the Season awards for Nagoya, Gamba and Kawasaki, Sam presents his J1 Team of the Season and we hand out the ultimate honour - The J-Talk J1 Player of the Season.

Jon Steele rounds up the midweek J2 action, as J1 promotion is confirmed for Tokushima and Fukuoka.

Other topics include new stadiums, orange balls and players wearing tights - it must be winter!

And just like that, the J1 season is almost over! On this week's episode we begin with a look back on gut-wrenching ACL exits for both Yokohama F.Marinos (last Monday in the Round of 16) and Kobe (in Sunday's semi final), then from the 13:20 mark begin our look back at the seven top flight games from Saturday - highlighted (?) by yet more perplexing officiating in Nagoya's 0-0 home draw with Yokohama FC. Cerezo Osaka also lost ground on second placed Gamba when they were held 0-0 at home by Kashiwa, then we cover the only two teams to win on Saturday, Kashima and FC Tokyo, before wrapping up the other three draws (to 48:17).

Next up are Player of the Season gongs for Hiroshima, Tokyo, Kashima and Cerezo, before we look briefly at what's to come on Wednesday, and the final round of the season on Saturday.

It is the business end of the season, and there are some huge games in the Japanese second & third tiers. Jon Steele & Stuart Smith are here with your weekend football guide, including: 

- Tokushima could be crowned champions on Sunday

- Fukuoka & Nagasaki are in an almighty scrap for the second promotion spot

- The top four in J3 lock horns, with Nagano-Gifu arguably the game of the season. Will Nagano seal promotion, or can Gifu take it to the final day? 

Thank you for all support, your messages, your feedback, comments, questions throughout the season. We really do appreciate all of them. 

Stay safe, and enjoy the football!!

On this week's episode we begin with our now weekly look at ACL goings-on over in Qatar, with this podcast recorded in between Kobe's and Yokohama F.Marinos' Round of 16 games on Monday night - Kobe are through to the quarter finals but F.Marinos will join FC Tokyo on an early flight home after their loss to Suwon (to 7:50).

Then Jonny Nicol returns to chat about Gamba Osaka's vital 2-1 away win at Shonan on Sunday, a particularly gutsy result considering their untimely injury list (to 32:45).

In Part 2 we discuss the other five games from the weekend (to 49:00), before continuing our J-Talk Players of the Season series with Oita, Urawa, F.Marinos and Kashiwa on the docket this week.