Because the team made a demonstration of the ability to score goals which had been far and away the most in J2 and the stubborn defense which had conceded the fewest goals in J2, it was expected that the team would stir itself up in J1 after an interval of three years.
J2ダントツの得点力、J2最小失点の堅守を見せ付けただけに、3年ぶりのJ1では奮起が期待された。