World Cup Break

Gifu go into the break surprisingly in 9th place but still with their BYE to go.
They have won seven and lost ten. Still 9th place is deceiving for the team.. they should be lower, and their form of late has been very average.
Kurata's "zone defence" has seen the defenders struggling to adjust, whereas the forwards are seeing less and less ball. As a spectator the games are often boring as a result.
Still there is hope after a 5 week break!

J2 Table

42 Kashiwa Reysol (24)
34 Ventforet Kofu (14)
31 JEF United Chiba (15)
29 Avispa Fukuoka (14)
28 Sagan Tosu (3)
26 Tochigi SC (8)
26 Roasso Kumamoto (-3)
23 Tokushima Vortis (-2)
21 FC Gifu (-10)
20 Tokyo Verdy (2)
20 Ehime FC (-1)
20 Consadole Sapporo (-4)
20 Mito Hollyhock (-4)
19 Oita Trinita (-1)
19 Yokohama FC (-2)
13 Kataller Toyama (-14)
12 Fagiano Okayama (-12)
10 Gilabantz Kitakyushu (-13)
10 Thespa Kusatsu (-14)

It's still early days but you could probably pencil in Kashiwa for promotion already. Kofu too, are picking up after a slow start and look a clear second place.
The third place looks likely to be fought between Chiba and Fukuoka going on current form.
Sagan, Tochigi, Kumamoto, Tokushima and Yokohama, if they get their feet out of their arses, could all challenge for the third spot but on current form look just out of touch.
All of the teams from Gifu down already look like they will be fighting for a top 10 finish and not much more.
Still, just over half a season to go and anything can happen..

R18 vs Fagiano Okayama

FC Gifu 1-0 Fagiano Okayama (ht 1-0)

A great goal by Nogaito to start the game off in the third minute.
After that the game was Okayama's...
Fortunately for Gifu their strikers are worse than ours!

R17 vs Yokohama FC

Yokohama FC 2-0 FC Gifu (ht 1-0)

Again Gifu were unable to convert their pressure...
Defence was in ruins...

R16 vs Tochigi SC

Tochigi SC 2-0 FC Gifu (ht 0-0)

Gifu again dominated but were unable to convert the pressure. A shocking call by the ref (blowing the whistle to stop a free kick, but allowing Tochigi to play on and score while the Gifu players were waiting for the ball to be reset) ultimately cost Gifu any chance of getting points from the game.

R15 vs Mito Hollyhock

FC Gifu 1-0 Mito Hollyhock (ht 0-0)

Gifu finally get back on board with a great loop shoot goal to Shimada. Gifu dominated for the first time in a while...