The J-Talk Podcast

Episode 494 - Emperor’s Cup Glory for Frontale

Kawasaki won the Emperor's Cup for the second time in their history on Saturday after prevailing in a penalty shootout against Kashiwa at the National Stadium, and in Part 1 of our final episode of the year Neil Debnam guests to commiserate with Reysol, but then celebrate another trophy under Toru Oniki, before our attention turns to what is sure to be a fascinating winter transfer window for Frontale (to 29:07).

Then in Part 2 we discuss the Japan squad for the New Years Day friendly against Thailand, some early offseason managerial and transfer moves and the permutations for the final round of ACL group stage games this midweek, before wrapping up another bumper year in the J.League and on the pod.

J-Talk: Extra Time – J2 Playoff Final & J3 Round 38

The curtain came down on the J2 season last Saturday, as Tokyo Verdy met Shimizu S-Pulse in the playoff final. Jon Steele was at the National Stadium to see it, and in part 1 of this week’s JTET he tells James Taylor all about it (start to 21:45). After that, James and Jon take a look at Ventforet Kofu’s exploits in the Asian Champions League, with their group finely poised heading into the final matchday next week (21:45 to 29:40). There’s also time for a quick chat about managerial news (29:40 to 37:15). Then, in J-Talk: Short Corner, Mike Innes rounds up the final day of a thoroughly entertaining J3 season (37:15 to end).

 

Thank you for listening throughout the season, and special thanks to Patreon subscribers for their support of JTET and J-Talk.

Episode 493 - J1 Final Day & Team of the Season

It was our great pleasure to welcome Sam Robson back to the pod for our blockbuster season wrap-up episode.

After a brief catch up with the great man we ran through all nine games from the final day of the season (to 1:04:08), before running through the Patreon poll results and piecing together the J-Talk J1 Team of the Season, before looking ahead to Saturday's Emperor's Cup Final between Kawasaki and Kashiwa.

J-Talk: Extra Time J2 Playoff Semi Finals & J3 Round 37

In part 1 of this week’s JTET, James Taylor and Jon Steele discuss the J2 playoff semi-finals (start to 14:00) and look ahead to the final (14:00 to 23:40).

 

In part 2, the fight for 2^nd in J3 is going to the final day – Mike Innes has all the details about the penultimate round of the season and a preview of the final day (23:40 to end).

 

Enjoy the final weekend of the season!

Episode 492 - Kobe Are J1 Champions

Vissel Kobe won the first J1 Championship in their history on Saturday afternoon, and Alan Gibson guests to talk us through a tense 90 minutes at the Noevir Stadium, and what this title means for the club, plus towards the end of Part 1 Alan shares his thoughts on how both Osaka clubs, Cerezo and Gamba, are shaping up under their current managers (to 43:45).

Then in Part 2 we run through the other eight games from J1 Matchday 33, highlighted by a difficult weekend for both Yokohama clubs, with F.Marinos seeing their title hopes dashed, and Yokohama FC all but mathematically confirmed relegated.

Episode 491 - High Fives All Round

Japan got their World Cup qualification campaign off to a very satisfying start during this international break, and we round up the 5-0 wins over Myanmar and Syria (not necessarily in that order) (to 16:45), before comparing notes on how the Asian Cup squad is shaping up, with some very difficult decisions looming for Hajime Moriyasu (to 31:00).

Then its back to J1 matters, as we hand out six more Player of the Season awards (to 53:40), and then wrap up the episode with an in-depth preview of the huge games coming at the top of the table (to 1:03:00) and in the Relegation Dogfight in J1 Matchday 33.

J-Talk: Extra Time J2 Playoff Preview & J3 Round 36

The regular J2 season may have ended, but some teams still have games to play: James Taylor and Jon Steele preview the playoff semi-finals and Kofu’s Asian Champions League game (start to 15:40), before chatting about some confirmed managerial departures (15:40 to 27:10).

 

We know that Ehime will be in J2 next year, but who will join them? The battle to finish 2^nd – or should that be not to finish 2^nd? – in J3 is in full flow, and Mike Innes has all the details in J-Talk: Short Corner (27:10 to end).

 

Thank you as ever to all our Patreon subscribers and listeners.

JTET - J2 Round 42 / J3 Round 35 Review

The JTET crew are back with another episode, keeping you up to date with all things J2 and J3!

To start things off this week, Jon Steele and James Taylor cover all of the J2 action from a dramatic final day of the regular season. Jon reviews the battle for second place and some of the 'dead rubber' fixtures (Start to 09:50), while James casts his forensic eye over the tussle for the last available Play-Off place, and the rest of the second-tier games (09:50 to 15:50).

After that, you'll hear Jon and James in conversation, sharing their views on how the season climax unfolded. The boys start with Mito v Shimizu (15:55 to 22:40), then discuss Tochigi v Iwata (22:40 to 28:15) and Omiya v Tokyo Verdy (28:15 to 35:30).

There was also time for Jon and James to chat about JEF Chiba v Nagasaki (35:30 to 42:00), and Yamagata v Kofu (42:00 to 49:50). After that, the boys (basically men at this point) look ahead to the Play-Off games coming up in a week's time (49:50 to 53:00).

Rounding things off in perfect style is Mike 'The Magic' Innes, who has all of the J3 latest for you (as ever) in 'J-Talk: Short Corner' (53:00 to Finish).

Thanks for all the support so far in 2023 - enjoy the show!

Episode 490 - Controversy Clouds Kobe’s Crazy Win

Kobe took another massive step towards their first J1 title on Sunday, but should their stoppage time winner at Saitama Stadium have stood? Jonny and Ben discuss the hugely contentious closing moments, from Shusaku Nishikawa's decision to go up for Urawa's set piece, to whether or not Yuya Osako's eagerness to collect Daiya Maekawa's punt upfield saw him stray offside, and whether or not the VAR crew checked the latter as thoroughly as they should have.

After all that madness we wrap up a run-of-the-mill home win for Yokohama F.Marinos against Cerezo Osaka (to 33:10), before we're joined by Jon Steele to chat about Yokohama FC, and their prospects of making a great escape after their terrific 3-1 away win over Tosu on Saturday (to 1:03:40).

Then we wrap up the rest of the relegation dogfight, and all of the other results from J1 Matchday 32.

JTET - J2 Round 41 / J3 Round 34 Review

Once again, all of the latest J2 and J3 news is wrapped up in a brand-new JTET!

We begin this week with James Taylor reviewing all of Sunday's J2 action (Start to 06:00), with Jon Steele taking over to cover the rest of the Round 41 games along with Kofu's thumping win over Zhejiang in the ACL on Wednesday night (06:00 to 18:35).

After that, James and Jon convened to discuss some of the big J2 talking points ahead of Sunday's huge final day. The gents focused on JEF Chiba, and the teams scrapping for the final Play-Off spot (Kofu, Yamagata, and Nagasaki) in this segment (18:40 to 41:45).

James and Jon then take a detailed look at the Round 42 fixtures (41:45 to 56:50), with a focus on the battle for the second automatic promotion spot, and the aforementioned tussle for 6th place.

After all that, there's the J3 latest in 'J-Talk: Short Corner' with Mike 'The Magic' Innes (56:50 to Finish), as Ehime edge inexorably closer to a return to the second tier (with Kagoshima or Toyama looking the most likely to grab second place).

Thanks for all of your support of JTET, and The J-Talk Podcast - enjoy the show!