2019

It was a memorable day for FCR this past weekend as they were able to secure a draw against a very tough opponent in Kashiwa Reysol and become the first club in the history of the J League to remain unbeaten at home for 26 consecutive matches. The historic moment was also witnessed by one of the largest crowds on record for an FCR match, 7,913, and I hope this is the catalyst that continues to bring more and more fans to the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. Not even the rain near the end of the match, despite me telling you in the preview that it wouldn’t rain, could dampen the spirits of the Ryukyu faithful who braved the early heat to witness history. It was a truly remarkable scene at the stadium.

FCR came out in their typical 4-2-3-1 that saw Tomidokoro start at CAM, Uesato returning to his CDMF position, Masutani again filling in for the injured Nishioka and Kawai getting his first start of the season at LMF. Despite my wishes for Reysol to rest key players with their mid-week tilt in the Levain Cup, they came out in full-force.

The match started out pretty much as expected with Reysol getting on the front foot and ultimately getting out in front. I stated in the match preview that I was hoping it would be FCR that got out to an early lead with a fast start but this wasn’t to be the case. A misdirection set piece was once again the undoing of FCR. In the 3rd minute, #9 Cristiano for Reysol sent a short, head level heighted cross into the box, that was able to be headed backwards in front of goal from the onrushing Reysol player and would land at the feet of #19 Gabriel that tapped it just over the outstretched arms of Carvajal who was tracking back across net. This type of misdirection header has caught FCR a couple of times this season. I cannot tell if it is a lack of concentration on our part by not tracking the runs of the opposing teams until the completion of the play or it is just one of those things that happens from time to time in football. Regardless, FCR found themselves down 1-0 for the second consecutive match and would now need to dig themselves out of this hole.

Reysol would keep up the pressure against FCR where in the 12^th minute a long range knuckle ball effort from Reysol really tested Carvajal. FCR had an opportunity to level in the 17^th minute when Masutani made a nice play on a ball inside the box by basically securing the ball and then jumping straight up in the air with it trapped between his feet over the Reysol defender. His pass found a wide-open Okazaki after he landed but unfortunately his shot sailed high over the bar. In the 31^st minute #18 Segawa was set free on net after splitting our central defenders but Carvajal was able to get a hand to the shot and parry it away from danger.

The remainder of the first half saw two more chances for FCR to level with the most notable coming from Tanaka. He tested one of the Japanese National Team Keepers in #23 Nakamura with a well-aimed shot to the top left corner of goal that Nakumara was able to get his hands on and maintain the 1-0 Reysol lead at half time.

FCR pretty much took over the possession battle in the second half as they began to press for the equalizer. Tomidokoro put a very hard shot on net from a Suzuki cross that was only saved because it was right at the keeper from that short of distance. Had that shot been placed anywhere to the left or right of Nakamura the match could’ve ended differently. The final nervy moment of the match for Carvajal came in the 64^th minute when Cristiano sent a dangerous shot across goal that Carvajal was able to push wide past the net.

The breakthrough for FCR occurred in the 82^nd minute when a Tokumoto cross found a wide open Uejo just outside the 6-yard box. It was one of those in between crosses where Uejo wasn’t going to commit to heading the ball and it was too high to be trapped at his feet followed by an attempt on net. Instead, Uejo struck it first time at waist level into the upper right side of goal to bring FCR level with about 7 minutes and stoppage time to play. The cross was well placed by Tokumoto but Uejo still had so much to do with it and the youngster responded tremendously well in the situation by stunning the Reysol keeper.

There were a few more opportunities for FCR near the end but they just couldn’t get the second past Nakamura and the match would end 1 all. The celebration began in the stands shortly thereafter and it was great to see the FCR staff put up a graphic on the screen indicating that FCR had set a new J League record. The team was also kind enough to walk around the entire stadium as well as come to the stands to thank the fans.

Takeaways from Match Day 8: 1.) FCR continued the trend of starting off slow and allowing their opponent to take several early chances, which ultimately cost them on the day. I am not sure if this is by design so our manager and team can see the expected shape and movement of the opponent or it just how FCR operates at the moment. 2.) To echo what Stuart, from @sushi_football, said on the @JTalkPod this week, FCR responded very well after coming off a tough road defeat and then face a very good opponent in Reysol. The lessons learned against JEF as well as the way FCR responded that match definitely paid dividends against Reysol this past week. This should definitely boost the confidence levels of the team that will hopefully see them win some tightly contested matches later this year.

3.) Carvajal was the real hero this match as his play both early on and later in the match afforded FCR the ability to level the game. He was under siege early on and it looked as if Reysol was going to add to their lead. Thankfully, Carvajal answered the call time and time again against the Reysol attack. 4.) FCR maybe lacking some depth at RB/LB if Masutani is forced to play there with the injury to Nishioka. The games are starting to pile up and injuries are due to occur throughout the season so it stands to reason that we will need to replace guys from time to time. However, sliding the starting CB over to a position he may have occupied during his early days at FCR won’t allow him to get the much-needed rest he deserves. It also means that we cannot rotate Okazaki or Fukui and risk not having a healthy back line for long stretches of the season. If possible, FCR needs to either activate and play some of the defenders on the roster so as to gain the necessary match experience at this level, or strengthen the squad in the transfer window and add some depth if the younger players are not the immediate answer.

5.) The fact that FCR was once again able to control the tempo of the match and create opportunities while down a goal bodes very well for the season. The way they responded against Reysol, a team that many pundits tipped to be the J2 winners this season, means that no matter the opponent, FCR will not be over-matched. Of course this depends heavily on the fitness levels and health of our players but for the time being, FCR has displayed the ability to go hunting for goals and has shown that they can respond under pressure.

FC Ryuyku’s next two matches are on the road against Tokyo Verdy and Kagoshima. Verdy are a much stronger team at home compared to the road as their record indicates. It will be a feisty affair that I hope FCR can see out for positive points. Kagoshima are a different story as they haven’t won since the opening day and have failed to score in their last 6 matches. Kagoshima now find themselves at the foot of the table and this is shaping up as a must win game for FCR in order to put some distance between them and the relegation zone. Until then, a big thank you to everyone that attended the match this past weekend as it was truly spectacular and I look forward to seeing you all again in a few weeks.

Match Day 8 Preview: FCR vs Kashiwa Reysol

Match Day Info: 04/07/2019 (H) FCR vs Kashiwa Reysol (A) at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium (Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 1600.

Weather Forecast: Excellent! Temperatures will be in the high 70s (25C) at kickoff and pretty much remain constant throughout the entire match. It is expected to be slightly overcast with a 5mph wind. If you are sitting in Section A, I strongly encourage bringing a hat and or sunglasses for when the sun breaks through the clouds as you’ll be looking directly into the sun.

Match Day 8 sees former J1 club, Kashiwa Reysol, make their first ever visit to the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. Match Day 8 is a culmination of 3 games in 8 days for both sides with each club entering the match from different perspectives. FCR lost its mid-week tilt against JEF United Chiba 1-0 while Kashiwa easily brushed aside V. Varen Nagasaki 3-0. This match will feature the #3 & #4 teams in J2 and was one I earmarked as a potential “thigh rubber” a few weeks back. This should be a very enjoyable match to watch so I hope to see a lot of people out there as I expect the Reysol fans to show in large numbers today.

Kashiwa Reysol: 3^rd in J2 with 15 points. 5W0D2L. Current Form WWLLW. Typical Formation 4-2-3-1.

Kashiwa required late goals against both Nigata and Kyoto to secure victory and they didn’t look particularly threatening in either case. Their loss to Okayama the following week at home could’ve turned out markedly different if any of the 3 shots that rattled the posts or crossbar had gone in, but ultimately, they allowed Okayama to hang around and push a late goal past them.

#26 Olunga for Reysol made his return to the lineup against Tokyo Verdy, a team which lost in the promotion/relegation playoffs last season to Jubilo Iwata. Verdy came out on the front foot and shell-shocked Reysol with 2 quick goals that were only 2 minutes apart in the first half. Reysol created a few more chances that match but they were not able to recover from the quick Verdy start or put one past the Verdy Keeper near the end of the game.

Against V.Varen Nagasaki, the other J1 cub that was relegated to J2 from last season, they looked much more lethal. The score line ended 3-0 in favor of Reysol but it could have ended much worse for Nagasaki as there was an offside goal called back for Reysol as well as several near misses that could’ve seen a score line closer to 6-0.

Players to Watch: #9 Cristiano FW. I can recall the first time I saw Reysol playing while living here in Japan was an Asian Champions League match back in 2015. Cristiano featured on that squad and ultimately that side made it to the quarterfinal of the ACL. My how the mighty have fallen and Reysol’s tumble out of the J1 should probably serve as a cautionary tale for many J League organizations. But back to Cristiano, he is the key play maker on Reysol. He is able to take part in both the build up of plays as well as finish plays off by putting well aimed shots on net. FCR would do well to know where he is at during all times.

#26 Olunga FW. He is a very tall, very powerful striker that will cause problems all day for FCR. As we’ve seen against other powerful strikers this season, think Baiano from Yamagata, FCR has a tough time dealing with their speed and power. I hope Okazaki and whoever else is at CB for FCR are well rested as this will certainly be a test. Olunga is 6’3” (1.90m) and he can rise really well for headers on set pieces so this will also challenge the FCR defense. Granted, his brace against Nagasaki saw some woeful defending by the guests and Olunga was able to freely roam the box and was unmarked on his headed goal.

#18 Yusuke Segawa MF. Segawa makes very nice runs in and around the 18-yard box and is an excellent complimentary piece to the aforementioned attackers for Reysol. He is powerful in his own right and will test both Tokumoto and Nishioka down the flanks all game. He has one goal on the season but has registered 24 shots in all competitions.

FCR: 4^th in J2 with 14 points. 4W2D1L. Current Form WWDDL. Typical Formation 4-2-3-1.

FCR is coming off their first loss this season after their mid-week match against JEF. The game featured several changes to the FCR lineup with the notable switch to RB for Masutani. FCR was unlucky to convert some of the chances they had for a goal but it was an encouraging performance by the boys on the road.

Considering this is the 3^rd game in 8 days for FCR there may be some lineup changes for this match as well. Uesato didn’t feature this past game and I hope it wasn’t due to injury. We will absolutely need him out there today to command the midfield for FCR. Tomidokoro and Uejo came off early against JEF so I fully expect to see them in the starting lineup today. I do not know if we will see both Suzuki and Tanaka start as they both played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday.

Keys to FCR Victory: 1.) Shock and Awe approach. If FCR can get out to an early lead it maybe all they need against Reysol. All of Reysol games this season have featured them either winning by shutting out their opponent or losing by failing to score. There is one exception but I am not counting the Levain Cup matches. In games that Reysol lost, they were unable to unlock the opponents defense and lacked a bit of creativity. An early lead could prove massive for FCR.

2.) FCR must play within themselves. If they are facing a deficit, FCR needs to approach the match in similar fashion to JEF. Reysol is not the best defending team, as some of their score-lines would suggest, and opponents have been able to get in behind the back line and create problems for Reysol. Depending on the FCR injures and lineup, Kawai’s speed down the flanks could prove troubling for Reysol and it will be interesting to see how we employ him this match.

3.) Full team effort on defense. Reysol has some serious firepower in Olunga, Cristiano and Segawa and while it is impossible to cover all 3 at any one moment, FCR would do well to have their MFs drop back in support of the Left and Right defensive backs. Tokumoto and Nishioka will be tested and we can certainly assume that Okazaki and either Fukui or Masutani will be dealing with Olunga which leaves Cristanio open as the CAM. Strong defensive play through the middle of the pitch will be key for FCR and we will need to limit the number of crosses into the box as Olunga’s height may prove too much for our CBs.

Game Prediction: Unlike some of Reysol’s previous matches in J2, I don’t believe this one will be a shutout and I see both teams scoring on the day. FCR may get lucky and see Reysol rest some of their notable players due to an approaching mid-week fixture in the Levain Cup but we will have to wait and see. Reysol has played two more games than FCR this season with the Levain competition and the only other time Reysol made wholesale changes to their lineup was the first round of the Levain competition back in early March. Personally, I’d love to see a player like Cristiano, who has featured in every minute of Reysol’s past few matches, take a rest today but again, we’ll have to wait and see.

I hope that the FCR faithful and Okinawa community show up in full force for this match as I fully expect the Reysol fans to turn up in large numbers. This will make for a great footballing atmosphere and exciting match. See you all out there!

FCR & Me: What it means to be a fan of the team.

A friend asked me to provide some reasons as to why FCR is great, I ended up going much deeper, but I hope that anyone who reads this appreciates my responses.

Alright, so you asked me for my opinion as to what has happened to make FCR so good, so here it goes.

FCR started out brutally in their fist year in J2 (2014). FCR finished W8D10L15 with a goal differential of -19 and it was just bad football in terrible temperatures. Some matches would finish with score lines of 7-1 against Zelvia or getting pounded 6-0 by the under-22 J League team which was just embarrassing. 2015 was slightly better but it was truly the year of 2016 that was a turning point for FCR.

2016 began what I would call the “Ryukyu Renaissance.” We had key elements on the squad; Tanaka, Park and Tomidokoro coupled with the managerial change from Noshirio Satsukawa to Kim Jong-Song that really began the drive up and out of the J3.

FCR would finish with a winning record and a positive goal difference. Granted it was 46 scored and 46 conceded for a goal difference of 0 but for the first time ever, FCR became competitive and the matches became meaningful. There was even one point in the season where FCR had a chance to go top of the table for the first time in their history against a strong Akita side. FCR was awarded a very late penalty, in the 3^rd minute of stoppage time which meant the PK would be the last play, and Tanaka stepped up to the spot as the leading FCR goal scorer on the season. Unfortunately, his shot was saved as he really didn’t get any power behind it and the game ended in a draw. I was so distraught from the loss that I couldn’t leave my seat in section S as I just couldn’t believe what happened considering we almost were top of the table for a day. My friends thought it was funny but this is what it means to be a true fan, you feel every loss and relish every win, you are as much a part of the team as the players and management and if FCR wants to achieve the lofty heights of J1 and the Asian Champions League, then they better start to plant and nurture these feelings for their fans.

2017 was the year that we started the push to the J2 but J3 teams failed to notice that FCR was for real, and that they were to be taken seriously. Everything was positive for the boys that year; winning record, positive goal differential and better performances on the pitch. FCR still made mistakes but these were lessons that needed to be learned if they wanted to succeed. FCR would also start to set the standard for performances at home as the undefeated at home streak began in September and is still intact to this day. One side note, Tomidokoro was just on another level that year, his FKs and goals were breathtaking. If you haven’t seen them then you need to Google these games. At the very least, Google the September 30 2017 match.

2018, nothing more needs to be said. Here are some things the “Bengara Boys” achieved that season. Scored 70 goals resulting in a +30-goal difference, dropped points in only 6 games the entire season, didn’t lose a single match at home all year. Early on there were some struggles on defense, most notably when we drew against the Tottori and Osaka after conceding late goals in what was largely considered statement games. I’m sure my cursing and ranting in English played no part in FCRs success that year but strangely enough the boys went on a tear after I lost my cool.

There was a point in the 2018 season in which the boys were just unbeatable, I mean, watching them week in and week out you could see that this was a team of destiny and no one was stopping them on their journey. Literally, as an FCR fan, you could sit down to watch a match and know the boys were going to score, and win. They lost at then end of April that year and wouldn’t lose again until mid-September. The just demolished everybody along the way to the J3 title.

November 3^rd 2018. This is one of the most special days in FCR history. It is the culmination of hard work by the team, excellent front office and coaching management and of course commitment by the fans. 8,500 Okinawans showed up to witness history. I must add this, with all due respect to the Golden Kings and their impressive achievements, football is the world sport and it is massive here in Asia compared to basketball. There is the Asian Champions League, not on par but just as important, as the UEFA Champions League, and I’ve personally attended several of these games in Korea to know that football is king here in Asia.

Back to the date of immortality, the boys came out firing and nothing that Thespa could do would stop FCR from lifting the J3 trophy that day. I recall watching that match with friends and just stating that I hoped that FCR would score early, which they did, as well as score often, which they also accomplished. The match was out of reach by the 70^th minute and it was an amazing feeling to watch the team you love, with the community of people you love, win a very important match and lift a very important trophy. I cried, I will not lie, it was an emotional moment because so much that I’ve already written about was tied into this one single glorious moment. The heartaches, the heat, the bad football, the almost moments of glory and the bitter defeats, all of it led up to the J3 Championship. But, if you are satisfied here, then you are mistaken, there is always more to achieve. I think sometimes that those of us who’ve played sports, at any level, feel that we can never be complacent and always need to achieve more and never appreciate all that we have right now. At the end of the day this is FCR and not some psychoanalysis by me so the bottom line is trophies and glory mean everything and I am along for the ride.

Finally, to your initial question as to what makes FCR great. First, the owner of this team deserves so much credit for his actions and patience. He has witnessed this team achieve unbelievable heights with unbelievable low attendance levels. Please, I implore all of Okinawa, come watch this beautiful football team in a great stadium with great people. If Okinawa doesn’t show up now to support FCR, you may as you’ve always suspected, be relegated to an afterthought by the people of “mainland” Japan.

Second, the players are amazing and should be treated as such. I have never once seen an FCR player out in town but you better believe if I have that opportunity that not only will I thank them, I’ll serenade them with my own special chant. People of Okinawa, these are professional athletes and human beings, give them your support, recognize their achievements and lift them up because they will do so much for you in return. I hope to see an FCR player out in town one day.

Third reason is the fans of FCR. Hiroaki is an example to us all and was so deserving of the honor to touch and lift the J3 trophy this past season. The man is the spirit and soul of this team and is someone I am so honored to call my friend. I’m grateful his English is far better than my Japanese and he bleeds Bengara Blood like no one on island. There are also the loyal fans that show up each and every week including the road games like our FCR family in Kanto! The Ryukyu Girls, wow do I miss them. Besides their obvious beauty they are very approachable and nice women who are very passionate about FCR and made every match great – bring them back! This team has such a massive opportunity to solidify itself amongst all Okinawan’s, here and abroad, and we need all of you to get behind the boys.

Finally, and the most special reason to me is this; we are all FCR. Put aside all of our differences that others may say exist or try to create, I am here standing shoulder to shoulder with my entire Okinawa family for one cause and that is FCR. I may only speak a little Japanese but I have been woven into the fabric of Okinawa society for 10 years and I want nothing but the best for everyone here and that means having a top-notch football squad. FCR has provided so many memorable moments in my life but here are a few for the readers. 1.) Watching them lift the Okinawa prefectural tournament trophy with my daughter and getting to take part in the team photo was awesome, 2.) 90 minutes of pure intensity in which we almost went top of the table versus Akita on a PK, 3.) watching the boys draw against Oita (almost won BTW) on the road on a televised game on Sky Sports back in 2016 at Camp Nou with Hiroaki (pre-DAZN) was outstanding followed by 4.), watching the inaugural 2017 game at the same bar and FCR earning a draw was also awesome. 5.) Tailgating with my American friends in the parking lot, 5.) Players autographs and meeting the heroes of Okinawa, 6.) the current winning streak the boys are keeping intact started on my birthday, 7.) my son – who was a miracle for my wife and I – was born in the same season that FCR became J3 Champions, 8.) The J3 Championship, 9.) The road match versus Omiya was out of this world and crazy I was so lucky to be there, and finally 10.) for every new memory and experience that is out there, join me, join us as FCR, you won’t regret it.

Match Day 7 Recap: JEF United Chiba 1 – 0 FCR 4/3/2019

Well it was inevitable that FCR would have to lose at some point this season. I don’t think any of us believed they could go 42 games unbeaten but they way they approached the match should leave us all feeling very encouraged moving forward.

On a crisp night in Chiba in which FCR had 51% possession, it was JEF who would emerge victorious with 1-0 win. As I mentioned in the match preview, it was a cagey affair that saw Koji Suzuki often involved in a few shoving matches throughout the game. FCR almost took the lead in the 13^th minute when Masutani rose for a header that went over the JEF goal keeper and clanged off the crossbar. FCR had a few more chances that half but were done in by the nice movement of JEF in the 18-yard box just 10 minutes before half time.

Carvajal was called into action several times leading up the goal and he responded very well to each challenge. The JEF goal was a combination of nice passes and the FCR defenders not matching the runs of the attacking JEF players. Therefore, there was nothing Carvajal could’ve done to stop the shot. Fukui and Okazaki got crossed up near the top the box by Fukui’s missed challenge on the JEF player which meant that Okazaki had to track back to cover the space Fukui would have occupied. This also resulted in Masuatani, who was playing out of position at RB this match, to move a little closer to the CBs and narrow the FCR defense on the play. A quick pass to the left side of the box found a wide open JEF player, that Masuatani failed to track, who then sent a dangerous pass across goal that found #11 Hisato Sato, whose run was also not tracked by Okazaki because he himself was attempting to recover after the JEF play had pulled our central defenders apart. Truth be told, you could just feel that a JEF goal was coming as they started to increase the pressure on FCR after FCR had started so well.

FCR created some chances in the second half most notably from the play of Kawai who I pegged, albeit incorrectly, to start the mach. He made some nice passes and almost made something of his chance in the 80^th minute but unfortunately the ball sailed over the top of goal. Could Kawai have passed it? Possibly, but we’ll never know. The match ended 1-0 and you could see that it meant so much for the JEF players who were seeking their first home win of the season.

Key Takeaways from the match for FCR: 1.) It was very encouraging to see that the atmosphere and occasion were not too big for FCR. What I mean by this is that FCR did not looked over-matched and didn’t “chase” the game as so many teams do when they are overwhelmed by their surroundings. FCR executed all well-organized attack across the front and it was far more balanced this match than the previous 6.

2.) FCR made some changes to the back line and personally I think this was a mistake on a short week. This is merely my opinion but I felt that on a short week it may have been better to keep the same back 6 we’ve played all season since it was a road game on a short week. The players swapped into the lineup probably got very little time to prepare with one another and forcing Masutani out wide, a position he may have played when he first came to FCR years ago, proved damaging. If this were a home game on a short week the change may have made sense because the squad could’ve had time to gel prior to the match and not concern themselves with traveling. I hope we have a better long-term solution when Nishioka is out of the lineup because like all players, Masutani will need his rest at some point.

3.) Suzuki was a beast out there and I am not sure what occurred during his time with Zelvia against JEF but he definitely wanted a piece of the JEF players. I appreciated his edge and I know it kept FCR competitive throughout the match. I hope he’s out there for Reysol on Sunday.

4.) I am slightly concerned with the lineup choices for this match only because I don’t think we went all in or all out for the match. It was certain that some players had to be rested but FCR could’ve either targeted this match for 3 points or attempted to hold out for a draw. I am concerned because so many of our guys played a full 90 minutes and they will only have 3 days to recover for the Reysol match. Just my opinion but we should’ve gone all in vs JEF and rested some weary legs versus Reysol. It will be interesting to see how our attacking players respond this Sunday.

5.) Kawai is developing into a nice player. He plays with a bit of controlled, reckless, abandonment. His speed frightens teams and his movement is excellent in and around the box. I’d like to see him get more playing time in order to gain confidence and accuracy in his shot placement, but I also see his value in coming on late and running at tired defenses.

6.) Yu Tomidokoro is getting his power back. His FK takes are getting better each game as he regains the strength he lost due to injury as well as his confidence. We will be celebrating one of his patented FK goals very soon.

7) Be encouraged FCR fans, be very encouraged by the team’s performance. Yes, it was a loss, but it was by no means and embarrassing loss. FCR was involved in the entire game and created several chances late on. Know that, when needed, FCR can drive forward and create opportunities with their players and attacking mind set. Trust me, you’d rather have that feeling than one of knowing your team offers nothing going forward and that a 1 goal deficit could prove fatal for your squad.

That’s it for this week’s recap. I’ll post the match preview vs Reysol on Saturday and see you all on Sunday!

Match Day 7 Preview: JEF United Chiba vs FCR

Match Day Info: 04/03/2019 (H) JEF United Chiba vs FCR (A) at the Fukuda Denshi Arena Chiba Kickoff at 1900

Weather Forecast: Temperatures will be in the high 40s with no rain expected and only a slight 8-10 mph wind all match. It will be cold so dress accordingly.

The JEF Chiba United team that enters this match versus FCR is very different than the one who started the season with consecutive losses. They fired their manager after the Mito match and replaced him with Atsuhiko Ejiri who has since breathed some life back into this once proud club.

JEF United Chiba: 19^th in J2 with 6 points. 1W3D2L. Current Form LLDDW

Earlier formations saw JEF in a 4-2-3-1 but Ejiri favors more of a 3-4-3 or 3-2-4-1 and is basically throwing all he can at the opponents to cover what should be considered a lackluster back line for Chiba.

The early run of fixtures for JEF this season witnessed awful play from their back line which largely put JEF at a disadvantage in these matches. There was also a lack of confidence when things didn’t seem to go their way but all that has changed with the new manager. In the short time since Ejiri has taken over at JEF, you can see a change in the style of play by JEF on the field and they are slowly beginning to regain their confidence. This is slightly worrying because in last weeks match preview I eluded to the notion that FCR was facing two opponents in a row who seemed to be in a bit of downward trajectory. I would argue now that this is not the case with JEF and FCR is going to face a very cagey opponent on the road who is playing as if there is nothing to lose.

I assume that expectations were very high for JEF and its players and so was the pressure to perform at the start of the season and you could see that in the way the team was performing. Now, they seem to be playing with a mentality of an animal backed into a corner who is forced to fight its way out of danger. They have slowly begun to regain their confidence beginning with the Mito match in Match Day 4. Despite this being the last game under the old regime, they played much better and were only done in by a very late goal. Whether it was known to the players at that time, that no matter what this was going to be the last game in charge by the out going manager or the players simply thought things couldn’t get much worse, JEF played with a real spring in their step.

JEF switched formations against Kyoto the following week by dropping a defender in exchange for another mid field player. This immediately paid dividends for JEF as it allowed them to create and take better chances on net. However, the defensive woes that plagued JEF early on still exist and allowed for Kyoto to jump out to the early lead. JEF was able to equalize late and nearly pulled it out at the end before almost conceding the victory to Kyoto in stoppage time.

JEF’s most recent match on the road versus Fukuoka saw them achieve victory for the first time all season where Ejiri once again favored a 3-person back line. JEFs attack must’ve been too much for Fukuoka who only had 2 shots and 2 corners all game. The game was a stalemate until the 80^th minute when #25 Yusuke Chajima beautifully struck a free kick that went around the Fukuoka wall and stunned the keeper, who didn’t move from his spot.

Players to Watch: There is no one player that truly stands out from this team and on the season JEF has scored 6 total goals from 6 different players. The entire front line that featured in JEF’s 4^th and 5^th matches were dropped in favor of some players who haven’t started since match day 3. Whether the manager viewed the upcoming fixtures against FCR and Kanazawa as much stiffer tests and therefore decided to rest his players against Fukuoko, or he was having to deal with injury, I think FCR can reasonably expect a more attack minded club on Wednesday night with fresh legs.

FC Ryukyu: 1^st in J2 14 points. 4W2D0L Current Form WWWDD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

FCR once again found themselves in a tough match requiring some late game heroics by #9 Koji Suzuki to earn a point at home, keeping the undefeated streak intact, and maintain their grip on the top spot in J2.

The game was definitely there for the taking but the ball just didn’t bounce FCRs way this match. Carvajal made a costly mistake early in the second half that occurs from time to time but he recovered quite well after that to save a tie for FCR late. #14 Uejo had a wide-open opportunity on net that was blocked by a Renofa defender in the 66^th minute that could have leveled the match and possibly led to things turning out differently for FCR.

FCR subbed out Tanaka, Uejo and Tomidokoro in the match in what I am assuming is a move to conserve some energy for these players with the fixtures piling up quickly this week. #13 Kawai came on in place of Tanaka and proved to be the difference maker when his well-placed cross found the head of Koji Suzuki who then equalized for FCR in the 88^th minute. Carvajal was called into action one last time with a nice save in the 90^th minute and the game ended in a draw.

FCR created plenty of chances in the match and it was an encouraging sign for the club moving forward. When teams challenge FCR with a heavy focus on attack, it allows space and movement for the FCR midfield and attack going forward. When teams play a more defensive minded style that overloads the midfield, FCR struggles to break out and create chances. We will see how Yasuhiro Higuchi approaches this match up and what lineup he favors on such a short week in which FCR has traveled to the mainland.

Keys to FCR Victory: 1. Pressure the back line of JEF and force them into making mistakes. The back line of JEF has seen several variations and player combinations in the early part of the season. At times they seem disorganized and lack communication with each other that has allowed opponents to get in behind for chances on net. If JEF plays with the back 3 line and 3 to 5 attacking players up front I would expect FCR to have plenty of chances on net.

2. FCR scores first. The JEF stadium is always packed with their supporters and I expect Wednesday night to be no different. As mentioned earlier, the team is slowly regaining confidence and their first win at home this season would be very uplifting for the club and their supporters. An early goal or more importantly, the first goal of the game, by FCR could help in several ways. It could quiet the JEF crowd and then make them grow restless with their squad, it may induce a sense of urgency on part of JEF to equalize quickly thus opening them up for quick counters by FCR and finally, it could calm the FCR nerves on the road in a tough atmosphere. Playing with a lead on the road is a lot easier than playing from behind and will certainly help relax the team.

3. Continue the attacking ways for FCR. Our best defense is our offense. We need whoever is occupying the CAM role to start forward thrusts at the JEF defense. Suzuki showed that he can finish if he is provided service while making runs into the box and the FCR FWD will require plenty of service in this match. FCR needs to create as many opportunities as they can with their attacking Mid Fielders and Striker as the weakest link the JEF team is the back line.

Match Prediction: Well as I stated in the Renofa Match Recap, if you can predict the lineup with better accuracy than me, I’ll make a charitable donation to an organization of your choosing in your name. There is one caveat, all submissions must be posted to this blog prior to 11 am Wednesday morning.

My predicted Lineup:

GK: Carvajal

LB/RB: Tokumoto & Jumpei Arai

CB: Koji Fukui & Shogo Nishikawa

CDM: Uesato & Komatsu

LMF: Ochi

RMF: Kawai

CAM: Uejo

FWD: Wada

Reserves: Ishii, Suzuki, Nishioka, Okazaki, Tanaka, Tomidokoro, Kazama

Well I am looking forward to mid-week football for FCR, granted it isn’t the Asian Champions League, but one day it will be. Please tune into DAZN if you subscribe or head somewhere to watch this match. I believe it will be a very pacey, end to end match, with opportunities by both sides that hopefully sees FCR emerge victorious. This match also has special meaning to me because it was one year ago that my son was born on April 3^rd and I hope that adds a bit of luck for FCR, after all, he was born in the year they won J3 League!

Photo credit goes to @pipu_ryukyu: ヤマキタ@FC琉球専用アカウント