[News] Morishita and Toyoda Join Sanga

First new faces at Sanga. Shun Morishita (DF, 22, in the picture) joined from Jubilo, while Yohei Toyoda (FW, 23), who has scored 11 goals last season in J2 at Montedio Yamagata and was part of the Japanese expedition to Beijing Olympics. According to Nikkan Sports he declared that “As soon as I have heard Kyoto wanted me, it took me seconds to decide.” He will replace Yutaka Tahara who was allegedly bound for Adelaide United, but is so far is still without a contract.

[News] Relief, at least: Yanagi Stays!

Some oxygen for us, Kyoto Sanga FC fans: Yanagisawa has renewed his contract for an undisclosed fee, in the end tut in the end the negotiation were successful, as communicated today by Sanga’s official website. More good news: veteran Brazilian defender Sidiclei and Masushima (in the picture) the latter on loan from FC Tokyo, will stay in the old capital next season. Some sources report Sidiclei confessing it will be his last year as a professional.

[News] Ridicule Raise in Salary for Yanagi: "I Can't Say I Will Stay"

After he single-handedly kept Kyoto Sanga FC in J1 with 14 goals, Atsushi Yanagisawa probably expected something more than a 2,000,000 yen increase. The club proposed in fact a 62,000,000 yearly salary for 2009, only slightly higher than last year’s. “At these conditions -said a clearly upset Yanagisawa- I can’t say I will stay.” But manager Hisashi Kato did not seem worried. “Yanagisawa will remain at Sanga, there’s no problem” (www.japanesesoccer.net).

No doubts this is appalling news. Should Umemoto let Yanagisawa go, Sanga fans would start a revolution that no coming of Toyoda or Diego might calm down... We're waiting for POSITIVE developments as soon as possible!

[News] Offer for Diego Formalized

Sanga have made an official offer for relegated Tokyo Verdy’s Brazilian talent Diego (MF, 24) who has scored 11 goals keeping hopes alive for his fans, until the end of the season, when multiple suspensions deprived Verdy of its most effective player. In Hisashi Kato’s plans, Diego would team up with Paulinho and Yanagisawa, giving Sanga the fire-power they missed this year.

[News] Offer's Out for Montedio's Toyoda

Kyoto Sanga FC has made a formal offer for Montedio Yamagata’s striker Yuhei Toyoda. This season, the 185cm, 23 year old has scored 11 goals in J2 in 23 games. He was also a member of the Japanese National team at Beijing Olympics. The negotiation is ongoing. Sanga hopes to bring to Kyoto Toyoda to replace Yutaka Tahara, who has been been released and is now tipped to join Adelaide United of Australia.

[News] Tahara going down... to Adelaide?

Oretachi no Kyoto has received tips from both Japanese and Australian sources that former Sanga's Yutaka Tahara is ready to transfer to Adelaide United, in Australia. The team is participating to the Club's World Cup in these days, and has lost the ACL final to Gamba just a few weeks ago.

[News] Fernandinho As Well Cut From Roster

With Fernandinho released and Morioka retirning, seven of the actual squad have been released. Ataliba a very likely 8th. In the meantime, Sanga seems interested in Verdy's Diego. A 11-goals worth midfielder would surely be a great addition to the team.

Fernandinho has joined Sanga half-way through teh season with a very epculiar "excuse." He wants to be close to his church, which is located in Osaka. Ruling out a transfer back to Gamba, we might expect him to look for employment at Vissel, Cerezo or perhaps even J2's newbies Fagiano Okayama. Shimizu has released him as well, he is at the moment a free agent. he contributed to Sanga's season with three goals, and plenty of convincing performances, but with the return of Paulinho his space would be probably very limited. Best of luck!

[Game Result] Kyoto Sanga-Shimizu S-Pulse 1-3

Typical way to send off a filled up stadium, but -- ok... We stayed up. Lots of comments, evaluations and analysis coming, seriously. Stay tuned.

[News] Head Coach Kato to Stay for Next Season, Morioka Becomes Coach too

Coach Kato has ferried the team up to J1 last winter, and managed to keep it up this season. He will be the coach for next season as well, trying to guarantee to Kyoto at least the 15th place, that would mean a third season in J1, a record for the club. While quite a few fans are not enthusiastic about Kato's soccer, I believe he still is the right person for a club and a team that must really keep its feet on the ground. The J.League system is getting gradually more demanding, and the struggle of clubs such as Cerezo Osaka and Avispa Fukuoka should teach how hard it is to achieve and resist in J1.

In the meantime Morioka has announced his retirement. Sadly he was not given the opportunity to play in the season's last game, but at least a lucky coincidence allowed him to celebrate with both Sanga and his former S-Pulse fans.

It is unlikely he will stay at Sanga: first of all his role might overlap with that of Akita, already a former defender coaching the top team, but also it seems that there is no much love between Coach Kato and Morioka, an impression confirmed by the fact that the veteran has seen the field only for 245 minutes in 7 games--while Kyoto defender conceded embarrassing goals such as the first one versus S-Pulse.

In any case, a huge "otsukare" to Morioka, and good luck wherever he will decide to coach. I till hope it is Sanga.

[News] Sayonara to Tahara (And Six More...)

As usual, the day after the season is virtually over, the axe falls on the neck of a bunch of unfortunate players (in the picture). So far Sanga has revealed that seven of the actual roster will not see their contracts renewed for 2009. The most unexpected and prestigious departure will be that of Yutaka Tahara (26), who has collected 157 caps and 33 goals at Sanga. He would have been an ideal substitute for this team, but perhaps he has different ideas and would like to play more regularly. We'll miss his sporadic, super-acrobatic goals, plus eternal gratitude for the two goals in the irekae-game versus Hiroshima.

Others departing are: Tentoku Noborio (25), at the moment on loan at Tokushima; Takashi Hirajima (26), still on loan at Cerezo; Yuki Okubo (24) king of ahirstyle, but overall an inconsistent defender; Daishi Kato (25) another brilliant talent who lost himself in the meanders of J1; Toshiya Ishii (30); and Taka'aki Tokushige (33), an important player in 2007, and a former JFL top-scorer.

More are expected to leave. In particular, I'll be surprised if Fernandinho and Ataliba's contracts are extended. Hirai and Morioka as well, might prefer a place where they can see the field more often. Finally, I am wondering what will be the destiny of Nishino and Hayashi. besides the latter's crucial goal at Omiya, the two had an overall squalid season, showing some impressive game only in the Satellite League and in midweek scrimmages against crapoly teams.

Coach Kato is expected to stay in charge for one more year, while Sidiclei seemingly said that the next will be his last season in soccer.