Thursday News Round-up

For those readers who aren't following GGOA on Twitter, here's a quick Thursday round-up of Squirrels news since the weekend. Frustratingly, the club still haven't made the major announcement about which Japanese players are going to be released from the squad, but there are a couple more definite departures: An Yong Hak has been let go, while reserve goalkeeper Daisuke Tada will not be kept on at Omiya at the end of his year-long loan from Cerezo Osaka. Neither of these can be said to be too much of a surprise: Tada didn't come close to any first team action and An was clearly not favoured by coach Jun Suzuki, given that he only rarely featured after the World Cup break.

As far as rumours go, reports in the Korean press suggest that there is a strong chance that Mato Neretljak has chosen to go back to the K-League and rejoin Suwon Samsung Bluewings, the club he played for prior to signing for the Squirrels two years ago. Suwon, beaten 5-0 by Ardija in a pre-season game back in February, ended the campaign in mid-table but suffered from something of a leaky defence, hence their interest in Mighty Mato. But in terms of incoming players there is no more solid information on the previously-reported story that former Urawa Reds midfield star Robson Ponte is an Omiya transfer target and still the only definite brand new squad member is teenage forward Shintaro Shimizu from Seibudai High School.

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