Bosnar Scores In Japan

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Japan-based Aussie Eddy Bosnar scored for J.League strugglers JEF United Chiba on Wednesday in a handy 2-2 draw at surprise highflyers Albirex Niigata.

Bosnar, who has played every minute of United's campaign so far this season, scored his first goal of the term early in the second-half of the contest.

The former Everton and Dinamo Zagreb defender headed home from a corner on 52 minutes after Albirex had taken the lead through Brazilian midfielder Marcio Richardes in the first-half following a fine move.

But United, who are likely to have a relegation battle on their hands this season, won a corner kick early in the second-half and the resulting cross tempted Albirex shot-stopper Takashi Kitano to come off his line only to be left flapping at air when Bosnar rose highest at the back-post and headed into an unguarded net.

Barely two minutes later though, Bosnar had his head in his hands after allowing Albirex hitman Hideo Oshima to outjump him and restore Niigata's lead.

Oshima's goal sent the Albirex crowd, one of the biggest in Japan, into raptures but the visitors would get the last laugh.

On 85 minutes, former Kashima Antlers forward Masaki Fukai did well on the left-wing to attract three defenders before passing to Tomi Shimomura who got in a cross which Daisuke Saito converted with his head.

The point doesn't really help United's cause as they slip down to 17th on the league table ahead of Saturday's visit of champions Kashima.

Kis And Hendo To Be Set Free

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English League One champions Leicester City are believed to be ready to let Australian pair Patrick Kisnorbo and Paul Henderson leave the club in the European summer.

The Mirror newspaper in the UK claims Leicester manager Nigel Pearson will allow the pair, who are both out of contract at season's end, to move on from Walkers Stadium.

Kisnorbo, 28, has had his season ruined by a pair of knee injuries which have reduced him to barely a dozen appearances for the Foxes this campaign.

Nevertheless the Australian, who last appeared for the Socceroos in the 2007 Asian Cup, could have a new home with Leeds United and Crystal Palace rumoured to be interested in the defender.

On the other hand, veteran goalkeeper Henderson, 33, may struggle to find a new home having battled groin problems for the latter half of the season.

Henderson may decide to call an end to his five-year English career and return to his homeland having not played in the Australian top flight since his Northern Spirit days.

'Grella's Best Has Yet To Come'

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Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has backed Australian midfielder Vince Grella to kick on and find the form which convinced Rovers to spend $10million on him last August.

Grella has had an injury ravaged time at Ewood Park since his off-season move from Torino but the Socceroo played arguably his best game for the club in Sunday's 2-0 win over Wigan.

When the Australia international was substituted with quarter of an hour to go on the weekend, he received a rapturous round of applause from the Blackburn faithful who appreciated his efforts in midfield.

And Allardyce believes Grella can now put his injury troubles at Blackburn behind him and begin to show the fans his best form.

"We've not seen the best of his passing abilities yet and the fitter he gets and the more he copes with the pace, the more we'll see his outstanding passing moves," the Rovers gaffer said.

"Obviously from a match-fitness point of view he's still a little short but his game against Wigan will lift him because not only did he play a big part in our victory, he came off without any injuries. He knows how difficult the Premier League is physically."

Grella, who played in Italy for a decade, is expected to line up again for Rovers when they journey to Eastlands to face Manchester City this Saturday in the Premier League.

Jones Targets Roos Jumper

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Goalkeeper Brad Jones has revealed he is gunning to be part of the Australian squad at the 2010 World Cup despite not playing for the Socceroos in almost two years.

The 27-year-old shotstopper is enjoying an extended run in goal with English club Middlesbrough and he told the Sunday Sun he hopes regular football helps enhance his national team prospects.

Now Jones has set his sights on former club teammate Mark Schwarzer's number one Socceroos shirt.

"If you don't look as far forward as you can to get to the top then it's not worth being here," Jones said. "I've had a run of games now, I feel I've done OK, and the next step I've got to look forward to is the national team."

Jones hasn't been involved with the Socceroos since the national team got together for matches against the Netherlands and Uzbekistan last September.

Prior to that though, Jones hadn't been involved in a Pim Verbeek's selected squad.

The Middlesbrough man's last, and only, match for the Socceroos was way back in June 2007 in an infamous friendly against Uruguay where Jones's error allowed the South Americans a late winner.

But Jones feels the fact he's now playing regularly with Middlesbrough in the English Premier League gives him a good shot with the Socceroos.

"First of all I've got to get in there on a regular basis, the national team manager (Verbeek) has been good and told me I've got to be playing if I want to get in the squad," he said. "That's all you need, honesty.

"He says he's not going to pick me if I'm not playing and that's absolutely fine, you know where you stand. The next step is to get in the squad and after that you obviously want to push to get a game.

"I've been patient behind Mark before and I might just have to do that a little bit longer with the national team."

Jones, who has played every game for Boro since late January, should get another chance to impress Verbeek when Middlesbrough host champions Manchester United in the league this Saturday.

Downes And Out For The Year

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Chesterfield Aussie Aaron Downes has revealed the severity of a knee injury which could keep him out of action until next year.

Olyroo Downes, 23, ruptured cruciate ligaments in his knee whilst playing for the English League Two club against Darlington earlier this month.

The AIS product, who played in most of the Olyroos pre-Olympic matches before missing the cut for the final squad, revealed the extent of the problem in an interview with Chesterfield's Spireites World TV.

"I went to see the surgeon on Thursday and he will perform the operation next Thursday. Then I will hopefully be back in seven to nine months time," Downes said.

"I won't be able to do too much for the first couple of months. It will be a case of just starting to get the leg moving again really.

"By the time the boys start pre-season, I should be getting on the treadmill and bike and doing some aerobic work. Hopefully then in three to four months time I should be running again and in five months I hope to be back in non contact training.

"If all that goes well I will hopefully be back in seven to nine months."

Downes, who has been a regular in defence for Chesterfield this season, was due to come out of contract at the end of the season but has recently agreed to a new two-year-deal to stay at the club.

The Australian defender spoke about the deal saying, "I am not going to lie, there was some interest from other clubs because I could have left on a free.

"But Chesterfield had already offered me a contract and that was the only firm offer on the table and as such I was always going to stay here.

"I was happy and grateful for the original offer and they have been fantastic to stand by the offer after my injury because some clubs wouldn't have done that."

Downes's Chesterfield, whose hopes of a playoffs spot were ended last weekend, face Bradford City on the final day of the League Two season this Saturday.

Porter May Miss His Farewell

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Gold Coast United signing Joel Porter may miss out on his farewell game for Hartlepool United after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday's 1-0 loss to Leeds.

Porter had to be substituted late for Hartlepool on Saturday, after sustaining a hamstring problem as a result of trying to tackle back as his side chased an equaliser.

The match, Porter's last in front of his home crowd at Hartlepool's Victoria Park before he joins Gold Coast, ended disappointingly for the Australian who has hit 23 goals for Pools this season.

Now the 30-year-old one time Australia international faces missing out on a final game with Hartlepool, who he has played more than 150 games for since joining in 2003.

To make matters worse, Hartlepool are still not mathematically safe from the drop in League One and Porter may have to watch on when Pools take on Bristol Rovers next weekend as they try to secure their status in the division.

Referring to Porter, along with teammate Michael Nelson who was also injured against Leeds, Hartlepool boss Chris Turner revealed, "At the moment it's difficult to say whether they'll be fit.

"We'll take a look at them over the next couple of days in training and then we'll see what's what as we approach the end of the week."

"Hopefully they will both be OK and can travel with us for the big game at Bristol Rovers next weekend."

Porter is set to return to Australia next month to join Gold Coast's pre-season which is rumoured to include matches in New Caledonia, Hong Kong and China.

Kilkenny Making Leeds Utd Tick

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Neil Kilkenny's fantastic finish to the season has been acknowledged again following a great display in Leeds United's grinding 1-0 victory at Hartlepool on Saturday.

The Beijing Olyroo has been one of Leeds's key men as they've stormed into the League One playoffs following a run of just one loss in fourteen outings.

Kilkenny, 23, only re-claimed his place in the Leeds first-team in February after a spell out of the side, but his return has coincided with the Whites surge.

After BBC Radio labelled Kilkenny man-of-the-match in Saturday's 1-0 victory at Hartlepool's Victoria Park, Leeds assistant coach Glynn Snodin was asked if he thought the Australian was a standout.

Snodin glowingly replied, "He has done since February, since I've been here. I like the kid as a player and as a lad.

"I think when he plays we play. He makes us tick, he sets us off, roughs and passes it.

"He starts us off at the tempo we want to play."

Leeds, and Kilkenny, are assured of a shot at promotion to the Championship through the play-offs and following a great second-half to this season, a step-up in standard could be just what the former Arsenal trainee needs to revive his international career.

Kilkenny hasn't played for the Socceroos since last June's World Cup qualifier dead rubber against China.

Prior to that Kilkenny's only other appearance for the senior team was in a pre-World Cup friendly against Liechtenstein in 2006.

The China match was the only time the Leeds midfielder has been involved in a squad under Pim Verbeek.

Chipperfield Extends Basel Stay

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Speculation about Scott Chipperfield's future has been put to bed after FC Basel officially announced the Socceroo has signed a contract extension with the Swiss club.

In recent months the 33-year-old Australian international had been heavily linked with a return home to play in next season's Hyundai A-League with his Basel contract due to expire this June.

But Chipperfield has decided to re-sign with Basel for a further season with a view to playing a part in Australia's likely 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa.

Therefore Chipperfield is officially tied to Basel until June 2010, before he could potentially be available for any A-League clubs to pursue his services, although by then he will be 34 years old.

The Socceroo had been in negotiations with new A-League franchise North Queensland Fury earlier this year whilst Newcastle Jets, Perth Glory and Central Coast were all reportedly interested in the former Wollongong Wolves man.

Chipperfield though had made it clear he felt moving back to Australia would harm his international career ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

But in March, Basel's Australian veteran told Swiss media, "Next season I would be a bench player, this is not my thing in the long-term. At FCB Valentin Stocker is the future."

The comment suggested Chipperfield felt his future wasn't at Basel but a recent run of great form, which has seen him score six goals in his last seven outings for Basel, has caused him to re-think that idea.

A move elsewhere in Europe wasn't ruled out by the Socceroo especially considering he trialled with German club Hertha Berlin in January.

But Basel's announcement confirms Chipperfield will remain at Sankt Jakob Park ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

In a statement released on the official FC Basel website, the club claimed Chipperfield's desire to be part of Australia's World Cup squad was a crucial factor in his decision to stay in Switzerland.

Kashima Antlers Still Team To Beat In J.League

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The Kashima Antlers are fast establishing themselves as the true giants of Japanese football having claimed their sixth J.League title in 2008.

The Ibaraki-based club are now chasing an unprecedented treble of consecutive domestic championships which would be a J-League first.

And while there aren’t any significant new faces at Kashima Soccer Stadium this season, the Antlers still retain the services of the J.League’s 2008 MVP and Golden Boot winner Marquinhos as well as national team stars like Takeshi Aoki, Shinzo Koroki and 20-year-old defender Atsuto Uchido, who ignored interest from Europe in the off-season to stay in Japan.

Perhaps the added distraction of the 2009 AFC Champions League could be considered a problem for Kashima this campaign but while boss Oswaldo Oliveira hasn’t spent big in the off-season, he has added a few useful squad members including Korean Park Joo-Hoo and exciting youngster Yuya Osako to ensure his players stay fresh.

So with the 2009 J.League just in it’s infancy, it is worth asking can anyone stop Kashima from creating Japanese history? Indeed, who are the contenders to take the crown from Oswaldo Oliveira’s men?

And the popular response to that question amongst Japanese football journalists is Asian champions Gamba Osaka, who seem to be going from strength to strength with manager Akira Nishino spending big in the winter to bring in several new acquisitions who he hopes will help the club better balance their domestic and continental ambitions with another AFC Champions League campaign underway.

Significantly Nishino has moved to improve his defence having conceded the fourth most goals in the J.League last season. Japanese national team backman Kazumichi Takagi arrives from Shimizu S-Pulse while Korean international defender Park Dong-Hyuk has moved from K-League club Ulsan Horang.

Down the other end of the park, Nishino has acquired another Korean star, Cho Jae-Jin, from Jeonbuk Motors whilst also adding Brazilian forward Leandro from Vissel Kobe.

Indeed, the impact of Gamba’s new additions in attack was obvious in the club’s first four fixtures of the 2009 campaign which saw them score fourteen goals in the J.League and Champions League cumulatively before a surprise 2-1 Kansai derby loss at Kyoto Sanga.

Nevertheless, Gamba have started the season brightly with Leandro already having six goals to his name, while star midfielder Yasuhito Endo is his usual self, creating plenty of danger and managing three strikes already too.

The question on Gamba though must be, whether or not they can juggle the Champions League and J.League in 2009. By all appearances Gamba, having started so well in the ACL, could be enjoying a long campaign in Asia this year.

One side who won’t be experiencing such distractions will be the massively supported Urawa Red Diamonds.

Following a miserable end to their 2008 campaign, which saw them finish down in eighth in the league after crashing out of the ACL at the semi-final stage, the Reds have replaced German manager Gert Engels with another German Volker Finke.

Finke, who served as the manager at SC Freiburg for over 15 years, becomes the fourth consecutive German manager at Saitama.

Nevertheless, the expectations remain high for the incoming boss, who despite not making much of an impact in the transfer market has already changed things at Urawa by making Keita Suzuki the captain instead of the incumbent Nobuhisa Yamada.

Indeed it seems the global financial crisis has affected Japanese football with Urawa’s usual transfer activities much quieter this off-season with major stakeholder Mitsubishi tightening things up. Elsewhere it seems Nissan-backed Yokohama F. Marinos and Hitachi-sponsored Kashiwa Reysol have been affected too.

Despite this, Urawa still retain the services of some of the finest footballers playing in Japan including superstar Marcus Tulio Tanaka, ex-Hamburg SV hitman Naohiro Takahara, Brazilian Edmilson, international goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki and former Bundesliga midfield ace Robson Ponte.

With these riches Finke has the stock to turns things around, it is just a question of whether or not he is the man to do it? And while Urawa have started the J.League season unspectacularly with a win, a draw and a loss, their key man Ponte has shown glimpses of returning to his best which would encourage all Reds fans.

Pundits have also pointed to Kawasaki Frontale and Nagoya Grampus as possible title candidates following impressive 2008 J.League seasons which saw both sides claim a place in the 2009 AFC Champions League after top three finishes domestically.

And Nagoya, led by former Arsene Wenger student Dragan Stojkovic, have begun their campaign well with two wins and a draw whilst being top of their Champions League group.

Stojkovic’s Nagoya could be the dark horses for the Japanese title, having traded in ageing Norwegian forward Frode Johnsen for last season’s J.League second top-scorer Davi from relegated Consadole Sapporo whilst also adding right-back Hayuma Tanaka from Yokohama.

Davi looks a fine signing having fired in 5 goals already this campaign but Nagoya will be hoping for more contributions from last season’s J.League Rookie of the Year Yoshizumi Ogawa along with Blue Samurai forward Keiji Tamada.

Kawasaki on the other hand have started their 2009 J.League campaign terribly having not yet claimed a victory despite a good start in the ACL.

Frontale, who stormed home at the end of last season to finish second in the J.League with their brilliant free-scoring football, have manager Takashi Sekizuka back at the club after health problems interrupted his tenure last year.

But it seems Sekizuka has some work to do if Kawasaki are to challenge for the title, as he needs to fix an occasionally frail defence which relies on brilliant young goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima too much while the boss must also help veteran Brazilian Juninho, who has clearly lost a yard of pace, find a new role for himself.

Some journalists have also suggested a few roughies including FC Tokyo, who’ve retained most of the squad which did well to finish sixth last season, along with Shimizu S-Pulse who have added firepower to their team in the shape of experienced pair Johnsen from Nagoya and Yuichiro Nagai from Urawa.

Nevertheless, both these two clubs have begun 2009 slowly with Shimizu, despite their added options in attack having managed just one goal in three matches so far.

On that note, the early indications from the three rounds of matches we’ve seen so far in the J-League for a surprise team could point to Albirex Niigata who proudly sit top of the competition at this stage.

Niigata, who are so well supported on the northwest coast of Honshu, have given their fans plenty of reason for hope this season with front trio Hideo Oshima, Kisho Yano and Pedro Junior looking dangerous and seeming more than good enough to replace last season’s top-scorer Alessandro who has returned back to Brazil.

Down the other end of the table, despite an incredible opening day 6-2 victory at Jubilo Iwata, newcomers Montedio Yamagata are favourites for the drop this season.

Yamagata’s fellow promotees Sanfrecce Hiroshima should be good enough to fend off a relegation battle having won the J2 League with an incredible 100 points and 99 goals scored last season signalling this is a team with a point to prove after being relegated from J1 in 2007.

Returning to Jubilo, who have such a glorious history in the J.League with three titles to their name, could also be favourites to go down having escaped relegation last season in the playoff and having had a woeful start to the new campaign which sees them bottom of the league after conceded 11 goals in their first 3 games.

Omiya Ardija where expected to struggle this season too following the departure of star Daigo Kobayashi to Norway but they’ve started reasonably while JEF United Chiba, who miraculously escaped relegation on the final day last campaign, may have a worrying season ahead after a slow beginning.

Nevertheless, returning to the fight for the 2009 J.League title as Kashima Antlers gun for a record third straight title, perhaps worth considering is the Japanese proverb ‘Nito wo ou mono wa itto wo mo ezu’ which means ‘Trying to do two things at once will make you fail in both’.

Indeed, maybe the distraction of the big prizemoney on offer in the AFC Champions League could have a say in who claims the 2009 J-League title. But for now, we’ll wait and see because as they say in Japan, ‘Seiten no heki-reki’, we could be in for a complete surprise.