J1 League 2024 Team Guides
Kawasaki Frontale
Introduction
Kawasaki Frontale will play their 20th consecutive season in the J1 League this season. They have won the title 4 times with their last championship being in 2021
Since their current manager (Toru Oniki) took charge in 2017, they have enjoyed a golden era, winning not just league titles but also a number of domestic cups. They play highly attacking and attractive football and have an excellent youth academy. In the last couple of seasons, the team have faltered slightly with other teams improving and Frontale losing key players like Mitoma, Hatate and most recently Taniguchi.
2023 Season
Kawasaki finished 8th which was their lowest league position since 2012. The team struggled with injuries to key players including Marcinho, Damiao and Jesiel at the start of the year. Several players such as Mitoma, Hatate, Tanaka and Taniguchi had also left in recent years without being amply replaced (near impossible task I know)! New captain Tachibanada and usually very reliable maestro, Wakizaka also struggled at the start of the season and both were dropped.
The manager tried various methods/formations to try and kick start things and the second half of the season went much better especially in the cups. The team were formidable in the Asian Champions League going unbeaten in the group stages and being the first side to qualify for the knock out stages (these games are coming up in mid Feb and are covered on Sorare!) A rejuvenated Wakizaka returned to the setup and went on to be the teams main player with 15 league deceives.
The team also ended the year with silverware with a hard fought and somewhat fortunate win against Kashiwa in the Emperors Cup. With that win, they also qualify for the new ACL Elite competition which begins in the summer. Players such as Seko and youngster Takai showed glimpses of excellent quality and are expected to continue to grow at the club.
2023 Top Scorer: Yasuto Wakizaka
Squad Depth
Transfers in:
DF Yuichi Maruyama (from Nagoya)
DF Sota Miura (from Kofu)
DF Sai Van Wemeskerken (from NEC)
MF Yuki Yamamoto (from Gamba)
MF Ze Ricardo (from Goias)
FW Elisson (from Sao Paulo)
Transfers Out:
DF Kyohei Noborizato (→ Cerezo Osaka)
DF Yamane (→LAFC)
DF Kazuya Yamamura (→YFM)
MF Joao Simic (→Santos)
FW Daisei Miyashiro (→ Kobe)
FW Damiao (→ Released)
(Please note these are the main transfers as of 30/01/2024.
Squad depths for each team which are updated weekly can be found on Patreon here)
Notes
A busy window for Frontale! The biggest financial outlay was with the signing of striker Elisson. He will be the teams main forward and will replace the departing Damiao. We also saw the signing of a couple of Brazilian midfielders with Ze Richardo the most likely to make an impact this season. Yuki Yamamoto was an excellent signing that reinforces an already strong midfield. Yuki is a box to box midfielder who is also decent with set pieces. Though I am a huge fan of his, its not guaranteed he is a starter from the go as Oniki likes to slowly bring through new domestic signings.
The defense also underwent changes. Veteran defender Noborizato departed with young wingback Miura arriving. Miura was in high demand after impressing with Kofu last year. He also earnt his first cap with Japan over the winter and his crossing ability has already impressed during his eary days at Kawasaki. The biggest loss for the team imo was Yamane. He has been a mainstay at the club for many years, playing the majority of games and producing not only an attacking threat but also maintaining Kawasakis shape on their right side (where Ienaga isnt best known for tracking back!) Sai joined late on from NEC and though is below the level of Yamane, was an excellent pick up and his experience in europe will be an important asset to the team.
Key Players for Sorare
Name: Yasuto Wakizaka
Position: Midfield
L15: 63
Notes
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Main set piece taker for Frontale
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Key player and 2024 club captain
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Very consistent and elite level scorer with >55% of scores over 60pts in the past season which is comparable to Vanaken and Çalhanoğlu
Name: Marcinho
Position: Forward
L15 average: 51
Notes
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Injury hit season restricted his gametime. Now fully fit and firm starter with solid upside.
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In 2022 got 18 goals/assists from 30 games. A constant menace from the left wing
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Scores 60+ in 40% of games he starts
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Expected to partner up well with fellow Brazilian, new signing Ellisson (he has no card yet)
Name: Kento Tachibanada
Position: Midfielder
L15 average: 60
Notes
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Ended the season in terrific fashion, averaging 60+ points in 44% of games
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Stacks up v well with Wakizaka both in game and on SO5
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Particularly effective in the ACL where he averages 68 points.
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Slight risk of move to Europe though these links have cooled recently.
J1 League and Sorare
Kawasaki are one of only 2 teams that are still in the 2023 ACL and have qualified for the 2024 ACL! This means a guaranteed 8 more games utility for Sorare!
New to J1 League? I have done a review of the 2023 J1 League season and Sorare which can be found here
I have a Patreon service which offers:
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J1 League Squad Depth info for each teams (live document updated with transfers and news!)
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Calendar analysis for all leagues on Sorare
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Keeper tracker and defender rankings
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Predicted lineups and strategy info each GW in the J1 League
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Transfer Rumours and analysis
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Access to an Exclusive Discord Server
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Monthly giveaways including SRs, Rares and Limited cards!
More info about the Sorare Tactics Patreon can be found here !
Sorare Tactics Discord
Click above for the J1 League Sorare Discord channel, you can keep up to date with the latest info and get other peoples opinion in the community!
ALSO THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR!
I AM GIVING AWAY THE BELOW KAWASAKI RARE CARD. TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN RETWEET THE BELOW TWEET https://twitter.com/MatsuyamaSorare/status/1752303730152833083
WINNER WILL BE DECIDED BASED ON WHO RETWEETED BY 5th FEB 2024 AND THIS INFO DELETED :D