Kyoto Preview

J1 restarts on Saturday evening, with a home game for Omiya Ardija against Kyoto Sanga. Both sides are in less than convincing form, although the Squirrels' collapse in the last three Nabisco Cup fixtures means that Sanga can probably go into the match feeling more confident of victory - in spite of the fact that they have not won themselves in their last five outings. Ahead of the game, it would be good to be able to talk about players, but Ardija club management having committed themselves to under fire coach Jang Wae Ryong means that this is difficult.

The focus of attention instead remains on whether or not Jang and the reaction to him of the Ardija supporters following on from the Wednesday night meeting. Omiya president Seigo Watanabe has indicated that any form of protest - or at least visual protest - against the Korean and against club management will not be tolerated. How will the Squirrels fans react to this? What impact will this change or redefining of the relationship between club and supporters impact upon the team?

It's as impossible to know the answers to these questions as it is to predict the Ardija line-up, bearing in mind Jang's own unpredictability and the injury list about which Watanabe and Haruo Yuuki spent so much time complaining. But we can be reassured that the coach puts out a team to win a match. Once again, then: it's over to you, Mr Jang.

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