The J-Talk Podcast

JTET - J2 Round 24 Review

After a full slate of midweek J2 games, Jon Steele and James Taylor strap in for a 20-minute roundup of all of the key moments from Round 24 of the second-tier season.

First of all, Jon guides you through six of the Wednesday night matches (including victory at last for bottom side Omiya, and a setback for promotion-chasing Tokyo Verdy).

After that, James covers the rest of the midweek thrills and spills, and also previews the Round 25 games coming up this weekend (all fixtures are on Sunday 9th July).

Hope everyone enjoys the show - thanks for the support for JTET and Big Pod as always!

JTET - J2 Round 23 / J3 Round 16 Review

No time to waste this week! With a full round of J2 fixtures coming up on Wednesday night (5th July), the JTET team has pulled together to bring you a full review of the weekend's action as quickly as possible.

No guest pundit/expert this week due to the quick turnaround, so in Part 1 (Start to 07:15) James Taylor looks back on a pair of J2 games from last midweek, plus half of the weekend slate (including a scare for leaders Machida at home to bottom side Omiya).

In Part 2, Jon Steele (07:15 to 15:00) takes over to run you through the remainder of the weekend J2 games (including a memorable night for Yamagata and Yoshiki Fujimoto in the Michinoku Derby against Sendai), as well previewing all of Wednesday's nights games in Round 24 (from 15:00 to 17:30).

After all that, Mike 'The Magic' Innes takes the reigns for Part 3 - he has all of the latest J3 news in 'J-Talk: Short Corner' (17:30 to Finish). Mike looks back on a fascinating weekend of J3 games in Round 16, and previews the Round 17 matches coming up next weekend into the bargain.

We're planning to put out a bonus mini-pod later this week to round up all of the midweek J2 action, so please stay tuned for that!

Episode 473 - J1 Matchday 19: Adios (& Arigatou) Andres

The curtain came down on the Andres Iniesta era at Kobe on Saturday night, and Alan Gibson guests to share his thoughts on Vissel's 1-1 draw with Sapporo (to 17:35) and the overall impact Iniesta had during his time at the Kansai club (to 33:00).

Then in Part 2 we review the rest of J1 Matchday 19, and look ahead to what shapes as a bumper round at both ends of the table this coming weekend.

J-Talk: Extra Time J2 Round 22 & J3 Round 15

We’re into the second half of the J2 season, and Jon Steele (part 1, to 10:45) and James Taylor (part 2, to 15:35) have a roundup of all of the matches from matchday 22. Then in part 3, James chats to Garry Irwin about Roasso Kumamoto’s season so far (to 30:50) and then preview the upcoming fixtures (to 33:40). As ever, Mike Innes has all the action from another entertaining round of J3 matches in J-Talk: Short Corner (33:40 to end).

Episode 472 - J1 Matchday 18

The second half of the J1 season kicked off with plenty of goals and some huge results at both ends of the table.

We begin with Japan's excellent performance against Peru last Tuesday, before beginning our top flight wrap up with Tosu's sweet, sweet revenge away at Shonan on Saturday night.

We then move on to the top three - F.Marinos terrific and Kobe clinical away from home at Hiroshima and Fukuoka respectively, though Nagoya were well below their best in the capital as the f$%&ing new manager bounce worked a treat for FC Tokyo (to 30:00).

Then its Cerezo's unexpected goalfest up in Sapporo, and big home wins for Kyoto and Gamba, before we finish with the two draws.

JTET - J2 Round 21 / J3 Round 14 Review

Fashionably late (or perhaps just in time) this week, JTET brings you up to date with all of the latest J2 & J3 action as usual.

In Part 1 of this episode, James Taylor looks back at the five J2 games played last Saturday (01:40 to 07:00). Then in Part 2, Jon Steele does similar for the four J2 games played on Sunday, as well as a nod to Shimizu & Iwata's Levain Cup games that took place on the same day (07:00 to 15:50).

Part 3 of the show (15:50 to 36:00) is a chat between Jon & special guest Lewis (@illusionofease on Twitter), a Tokyo Verdy supporter. As you might expect, Jon grilled Lewis on how the first half of the season has gone for the green half of Tokyo, and the boys also talked about what the rest of the 2023 campaign might bring. Lewis also helped Jon to preview all of the weekend J2 fixtures (Round 22) as well (36:00 to 45:40).

As usual, Part 4 (45:40 to Finish) is a must for J3 lovers, as Mike 'The Magic' Innes covers all of the latest J3 news (including one of the most amazing penalty awards of all time in the Fujieda v YSCC game).

Hope everyone enjoys the show, and thanks for your patience again this week!

Episode 471 - J1 Team of the (Half) Season

Its that time of year again, after a week's worth of polls, Jonny Nicol made a triumphant return to the pod to help us construct the J-Talk J1 Team of the (Half) Season.

We begin with a brief review of Japan's cruise over El Salvador (to 10:00), and a check on the Levain Cup quarter finalists (to 18:15), before discussing the managerial change at FC Tokyo (to 30:35) and the revival at Gamba Osaka plus some of the other first half of the season surprises (to 49:30).

Then we run through the poll results and pick our best XI through Matchday 17.

JTET - J2 Round 20 / J3 Round 13 Review

After another hectic J.League week (and a bit later than scheduled), a new JTET episode is turned loose on an unsuspecting and ill-prepared populace!

In Parts 1 and 2, James Taylor and Jon Steele take turns to review all of last weekend's J2 action (Round 20 of the season) - you'll hear James from 01:45 to 05:30 with 5 of the Round 20 matches, and Jon from 05:30 to 17:00 with the rest.

Then in Part 3, Jon sat down with special guest (and Omiya supporter) Steve Fryer (@ardija01talk on Twitter) for a deep dive into how the season has been going for the orange side of Saitama in 2023 (spoilers: not that well so far!). 

Jon and Steve talked all things Omiya from 17:15 to 49:00, then worked together to preview the upcoming weekend's J2 fixtures (Round 21) from 49:00 to 01:05:00.

In serious danger of J2 overkill, Part 4 sees the ever-reliable Mike 'The Magic' Innes switch things up with the 'J-Talk: Short Corner' mini-pod. 

Mike covers all of last weekend's J3 action (Round 13), and previews the upcoming Round 14, from 01:05:00 to the end of the show.

Thanks to everyone for the support, and your patience with the slow upload this week (real life got a bit too real for everyone this week)!

Episode 470 - J1 Matchday 17

The 2023 J1 season reached its halfway point on the weekend, and it was all change at the top, as defending champions Yokohama F.Marinos returned to the summit for the first time since Matchday 2 after they won an all-timer at home against Kashiwa, and long time leaders Kobe slipped to third after losing in ridiculous fashion at the death to Cerezo Osaka. Those games, plus Nagoya moving back up to second with their win over Fukuoka, lead off the episode (to 34:05).

Then we cover 1-0 home wins for Kawasaki and Kashima, 3-1 triumphs for Kyoto and Gamba Osaka, and the two draws to round out the podcast.

JTET - Emperor’s Cup Round 2 Review

After a hectic midweek of Emperor's Cup action, the JTET team are back for a special mini-pod to review the matches that had J2 and J3 participants involved.

In Part 1 (Start to 06:00), Jon Steele looks at a pair of ties that pitted a J2 side against JFL opposition (with contrasting fortunes), and a trio of all-J2 clashes.

In Part 2 (06:00 to 09:00), James Taylor has 5 more J2-on-J2 matches in review, including a 5-goal thriller for Kanazawa in their tie against high-flying Machida. 

James also runs you through all of this weekend's J2 fixtures (Round 20 of the season).

Part 3 (09:00 to Finish) is a J-Talk: Short Corner special, with Mike 'The Magic' Innes reporting on 8 fixtures that involved a J3 side on Wednesday night. 

Mike also has a full preview of this weekend's J3 slate (Round 13 of the season).

Hope everyone enjoys the show!