Hooligan headquarters?

It's a heck of a machine... the computer that generates the J. League fixture list. How else would it know to schedule so many regional derbies on public holidays?

I'm not sure if there was a glitch in the computer down at J. League headquarters or someone is trying to kill two birds with one stone this weekend though, for why else would the J. League schedule Urawa Reds vs Gamba Osaka and Kashiwa Reysol vs Kashima Antlers on the same day?

Maybe the J. League is hoping that NHK can wrap up any hooligan-related incidents from both grounds in the same four-minute news wrap?

Of course, suggesting that the J. League has a bona fide hooligan problem is a bit like insisting that the English Premier League is the most exciting in the world. An interesting premise... but not entirely true. 

Nevertheless it'll be "strap on yer helmets, lads!" time for security forces at both Saitama Stadium and Hitachidai as four sets of the league's most volatile supporters go head-to-head to answer the question that has plagued many of us in Japan for quite some time: "which J. League club houses the most bone-headed supporters?"

The answer, as everyone knows, is Urawa Reds... but didn't Kashima Antlers fans give them a run for their money last season? I doubt Kashima fans will be bonking any Kashiwa Reysol players over the head with flag-poles this season, but Reysol probably could have avoided tempting fate by playing this game at the truly awful Kashiwanoha Stadium... even if their abysmal attendances this season don't warrant such a move.

Meanwhile at Saitama Stadium, Round 2 of the showdown between two of the league's most dislikeable clubs will see Urawa's new German coach Volker Finke pit his wits against the wily Akira Nishino in a fascinating duel of football minds. Let's just hope the game makes headlines for the football on the pitch, rather than the action in the stands.

Personally I'll be heading out to "Outsta" (is that what we're supposed to call it nowadays?) on Saturday night to catch two of the most out-of-form teams in the league go around. Shimizu S-Pulse may be out-of-form, but with the amount of injuries and suspensions Oita Trinita have been racking up, I wouldn't be surprised to see Oita's ridiculous Yertle-the-Turtle mascot running out at left-back for this one. 

Should be a clash of sizzling mediocrity, I'm sure... but with so many other big-time encounters taking place this weekend (Yokohama F. Marinos vs FC Tokyo, anyone?), I'm sure no one will begrudge Shimizu's long-suffering fans from flicking around the grounds on the tele, to tune in to what should be a fascinating round of J. League action.