I don’t think Popovic is as bad as is being made out. There’s been several times this season where he’s read the play perfectly and made last ditch tackles and blocks that have bailed JCP out.
Sanfreece Hiroshima are coming second in the J League. They were some high quality attackers that he was up against last night.
Kaya beat Eastern in the other game so you’d think one more win seals progression.
Well looking at the table they’re both one win behind us and 12 goals behind on GD. If we drop a game to either of them, they’ll need to beat a likely heavily weakened Sanfrecce to get through and hope we don’t win our last game. Definitely not impossible.
Easiest way to sort out that problem is just beat them both and get some momentum back heading into the KO rounds. 
We will win both games easily.
Yet has also received a NT call up. 
FA making Popa get him match fit for us.
The conspiracy knows no bounds.
Granted. However he’s largely been a culprit for being out of position, ball watching, being beaten or not defending well enough 1v1 for the goals we’ve conceded in the league.
He needs more mongrel and to be a bulldog at the back. He looks like an Aussie Bosschart without the grit or desire to mop up attacks or opposition players.
So an Aussie Petkovic then. 
Easts put it up Sanfrecce at home iirc
They also lost at home to Kayo-Iloilo.
I also dont think we should be too critical. We created as many good chances as they did. Their keeper had an outstanding day, and Redmayne made a couple of good saves too. Their goal was a perfect execution after a great cross.
I reckon they’re fairly unlikely to overturn their 12 goal disadvantage 