FC Ryukyu play their third mid-week game of the season, but this time it is at home versus JEF United Chiba. FC Ryukyu have lost 3 games in a row in addition to losing 5 out of the last 6. JEF have lost 3 of their past 6 matches with the most recent loss occurring last week at home against Yokohama FC. This is definitely a ‘must win game’ for both sides. A win for FC Ryukyu will not propel them any higher up the table but it will stave off, at least for now, being drug into the relegation scrap. The same could be said about JEF with the notable exception that a win will allow them to leap frog FC Ryukyu in the standings. There is also another aspect to this match for FC Ryukyu. If FC Ryukyu fail to win at home to a lesser opponent, will it finally be the end to Higuchi’s time as manager? We shall see.
Weather Forecast
Looks like a nice forecast but it will be muggy and hot.
JEF United Chiba
On paper and on film these two sides look identical. The same things that plague FC Ryukyu also plague JEF. They lost to Zelvia and Yokohama at home from poor defending on set pieces. They drew away to the surging Vortis side in a game where I saw zero JEF attacking highlights in the second half. The so called, “parking the bus” technique maybe eschewed among some footballing fans but it got the job done that night for a point. They went down very early to FC Gifu on the road, battled back to take the lead and then ultimately let the victory slip away from a late equalizer. However, JEF followed that performance up with a resounding 3-0 win at home versus Fukuoka.
JEF are a side that can beat the teams in and around them in the table and perform decently on the road. They score a majority of their goals from the 2 forwards and if you can eliminate the amount of counter attacks, you can probably choke the life out of the JEF attack. FC Ryukyu also need to be careful on defending set pieces as Funayama has been quite good from them as of late.
FC Ryukyu
FC Ryukyu desperately require a win ahead of 3 matches in a row against top 8 sides and a Vortis side that looks very different from the team FC Ryukyu faced in week 4. FC Ryukyu are surrendering a ridiculous average of 2.40 goals conceded per game over their last 5 matches. They do fare better at home but I fear a quick goal by JEF could really put FC Ryukyu up against it. The disbelief that things are not going their way is creeping in which is only aided by the bad luck they’ve experienced. The deflection in the Mito game and the misses from point blank range versus Niigata in the second half are eroding this team’s confidence. A win here at home against JEF would be the perfect remedy.
Player Injuries
FC Ryukyu: GK #1 Dany Carvajal – No word to what is
afflicting the starting GK but assume he’ll be out of this match on a short
week. DF #5 Tokumoto – He played about 30 minutes of the last match so maybe we
can assume he’ll be starting this game.
JEF United Chiba: MF #6 Tasaka Yusuke – Right ACL injury and
is out for 6 months. Has been hurt since beginning of May.
FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory
Normally I would lay out where a team looks vulnerable, where to attack a side, what to watch out for in defense or what type of play to execute. None of that matters when your team is slumping and needs to bust out of it in a big way. FC Ryukyu faced a similar situation a few weeks ago when Tochigi came to town so I am hoping that a short week in which JEF has to travel to Okinawa and deal with the heat will assist FC Ryukyu in grabbing all 3 points at home.
Make no mistake, with the way FC Ryukyu are playing on the road, this is a must win game. FC Gifu and Kagoshima stand out as the remaining winnable home games for FC Ryukyu this season with two games against Yokohama and Verdy that may decide the fate of this team. Nagasaki, Yamagata, Omiya and Kyoto also come to town but these are all top 8 sides that will be vying for promotion. Wins over JEF and the aforementioned Gifu and Kagoshima will add 9 points to our tally and put us roughly 5 points (5 draws) away from relative safety.
There is no doubt that FC Ryukyu can beat a side like JEF
and much like the last time these two sides faced each other, it was JEF that
was struggling with confidence. FC Ryukyu will need to go out there Wednesday
night and execute. It is as simple as that.
Match Prediction
Until FC Ryukyu puts a stop to the hemorrhaging at the back,
you’ve to err on the side of caution and predict at least 2 goals from any opponent.
While that is a real possibility without Dany Carvajal in net, I think FC
Ryukyu win this back and forth, cagey affair, 3-2.
Conclusion
There is so much pressure surrounding this team right now and that doesn’t help the players or the club. FC Ryukyu have never been a side that has changed a manager mid-season, at least not since they’ve entered the J.LEAGUE in 2014, but this isn’t the J3 anymore. FC Ryukyu can get demoted and that would be catastrophic to their hopes and dreams of playing in the J1. This sport, more than most, is very harsh on managers/coaches who do not perform. Rarely do you see mid-season coaching changes in other sports, and keep in mind, when those teams do make a change they do not fear being relegated from the current top level. This is a must win game for Higuchi, if he doesn’t win this game, FC Ryukyu need to consider (and should already be doing so) moving on and finding a suitable replacement that can re-energize this club and keep them in the J2 next season.
Another road game for FC Ryukyu, another road loss. This one
was particularly brutal as Niigata were a side that have been beaten at home
and were a side that FC Ryukyu had bested earlier this season. However, the
poor run of play by FC Ryukyu continued as they ended up surrendering 4 goals
on the night in route to a 4-0 pasting. The result begs the question, is
Higuchi the right man for the FC Ryukyu job?
Game Recap
After witnessing this game first hand at the Rycom mall with about 100 FC Ryukyu fans and locals, it is just too hard to sit here and watch the full 90 minutes again in order to write a detailed report of what went wrong and what went right. Needless to say, all the things that have plagued FC Ryukyu over the past 10 weeks or so is becoming more and more noticeable with each passing week. Turnovers, wasteful shots, defending and bad luck all played their part last night.
The match started with the spectacular/obligatory Kazama wide open shot at the top of the 18-yard box that was sent way off the mark. Maybe none of the FC Ryukyu attackers were in a spot to receive a pass, or Kazama just didn’t see them, but Kazama once again sent an early opportunity shot into the oblivion and beyond (not even in the same postal code as Niigata).
It took Niigata only 7 minutes to score the first goal of the game on what could be considered a case of bad judgement on the part of Ishii. Along with a bit of bad luck. Ishii came out to meet a cross with a punch but it was deflected off of Uesato and into the net. The second Niigata goal came from a PK in the 44th minute. It may have been prevented had we defended better or Ishii made more of a commitment to come out and collect the ball. Francis took a heavy touch past our defender and sent the ball within range of Ishii. Maybe the earlier indecision was weighing heavily on the mind of Ishii so he didn’t want to risk another blunder and ended up fouling Francis. FC Ryukyu certainly had their chances in the first half, but it was unfortunate that the ball just didn’t bounce their way from the two Uejo opportunities. In any case, FCR were down 2-0 at half time and had no answers against Niigata.
The second half saw an early goal by Francis that pushed the lead to 3-0 and whatever opportunities came FC Ryukyu’s way after the 3rd Niigata goal can only be attributed to the fact that Niigata let up. It was unfortunate that Suzuki didn’t get on the score sheet despite a couple of wide-open shots in front of net but it was indicative of the night and the bad luck. One nice thing though was Kawai looked very good and needs to be paired with Uejo to start matches. FC Ryukyu had 4 chances this half that could’ve altered the game or at the very least, proven beneficial to their yearly goal difference tally. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be yesterday. The fourth and final goal by Niigata did nothing put push the FC Ryukyu goal difference on the year to -6. A stat that may very well determine the fate of this team near the end of the season.
Man of the Match
3 Goals last night, could’ve been 4 or more.
#13 MF Francis. The man finished with a hat trick on the
night and was unstoppable. He created and finished several opportunities for
Niigata and proved too much for the FC Ryukyu defenders. A great solo performance
to earn his side all 3 points.
Review of the FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory
1. Execute all the little things correctly. FAIL, see the
score sheet.
2. Exploit Niigata’s weakness at defending set pieces. FAIL,
see the score sheet.
3. Place well aimed shots on net and crash the box with
attackers. FAIL, see the score sheet.
4. Stop the bleeding at the back. FAIL & in glorious
fashion. FC Ryukyu were averaging 3.0 goals conceded the past 5 weeks but
instead they opted to up the ante by allowing 4 on the night.
5. Start Uejo. PASS. Side looks better when he’s in there. Kawai
and Uejo are not natural replacements for one another so both should be
starting with fresh legs and speed to burn.
Match Day 24 Takeaways
1. FC Ryukyu are the worst team in the league right now. FC Ryukyu are playing like the worst team in the league right now. Too many goals and not enough answers. This team is only being saved by the fact that the teams below them are also losing each week. After watching the past week’s highlights of the teams below FC Ryukyu, its obvious this side is playing without any confidence and looks worse than the sides beneath them. This is worrying as FC Ryukyu need around 14-16 points for safety and that means at least 3-4 wins with approximately 2-5 draws. I am not sure where the results will come from as it looks like FC Ryukyu cannot beat anyone at the moment.
2. The tactics FC Ryukyu employ are not working. Teams can afford to allow FC Ryukyu all the possession they want as they do not fear ceding a goal to FCR and can wait to hit FCR on the break.
3. Defending. I am not sure if this the byproduct of the tactics and formation but 23 goals conceded in 10 games or most recently, 12 goals in 5 games, is INSERT YOUR OWN ADJECTIVE. Tokumoto did feature in this match so maybe he’ll get the full 90 minutes this Wednesday night.
4. The hung heads, slumped shoulders and disbelief is starting
to set in for the players. I commented in the preview that I hadn’t seen any of
that yet, but it was on full display yesterday. It is unfortunate as the team
is putting in a shift in attack but things are not breaking their way at the
moment. With every missed opportunity and goal conceded, the team’s confidence drains
a little more and disbelief takes hold.
Conclusion
It’s unlikely that FC Ryukyu part ways with manager Higuchi in the short run up to a mid-week, must win, home game against JEF. However, there are not many winnable games left on the schedule for FC Ryukyu and failing to win against JEF Chiba United should be the final swansong for Higuchi. If not, FC Ryukyu risk returning to the J3 and losing more than just the crowd that departed the public viewing at half time at the Rycom mall this past weekend.
I salute these folks that travel to watch FC Ryukyu go 1W3D8L on the road this season with 11 straight weeks of zero wins.
Cover Photo Credit: @sho69463528 ; Kanto Supporters Photo Credit: @basuke_sakkaa JLeague Stat Line, Game Summary and Franics photo courtesy of https://www.jleague.jp.
The FC Ryukyu “Road Show” continues this week with the boys from Okinawa visiting the Denka Big Swan Stadium in Niigata for a mid table clash. FC Ryukyu are coming off their third road loss in a row and will look to finally end their winless drought against Niigata. Niigata on the other hand, are also looking to get back to winning ways at home after suffering a loss to Yokohama FC which was then followed up with 2 all draw against Renofa Yamaguchi. Both sides could really use the win, so this should be an entertaining game to watch.
Weather Forecast
It looks to be another wet, rainy atmosphere for a game. Bring stuff to stay dry.
Albirex Niigata
Albirex have surrendered the opening goal in each of their last 5 matches. However, they’ve gone on to earn 2 wins and a draw during that span so all that means is that this team is resilient. Kanazawa was able to get out in front of Niigata and then retake the lead after Niigata tied the game. Kagoshima looked the better side when they took the early 1-0 lead but ended up surrendering 3 goals, albiet 2 of them taking some strange deflections, for the loss. Omiya jumped out on the front foot but couldn’t crack the Niigata back line for a second and it ultimately cost them points as Niigata scored twice to win their second consecutive match in a row. Niigata would end this 5 game stretch with a 2-0 loss at home versus Yokohama FC followed by a 2-2 draw with Renofa Yamguchi where Niigata, despite surrendering the opening goal, scored twice to take the lead, but let it slip away by allowing a very late equalizer to the hosts.
FC Ryukyu
146 days. That is the amount of days that have passed since FC Ryukyu have last won a road match. It was always going to be a tall task to beat Mito on the road, which was made even more difficult due the fact that FC Ryukyu’s #1 & #2 GK were sidelined. Despite all that, FC Ryukyu still controlled 61% of the possession against Mito and created some nice opportunities to get on the score sheet. Unfortunately, Mito were more clinical with their limited opportunities and went into halftime up 2-0 and I for one thought this game was going to turn ugly. FC Ryukyu battled back for a quick goal in the second half but when the game transitioned to faster paced back forth match, it was FC Ryukyu that conceded the third goal instead of hitting the equalizer.
It is not all doom and gloom though from the FC Ryukyu camp. Yes, they were soundly beaten by Okayama the week prior but they did manage to win a ‘must-win’ game versus Tochigi 2 weeks ago. They battled back against Nagasaki late and if anything, it displays a penchant for never giving up. The slumped shoulders, dropping heads and disbelief at results that plague so many of the teams in poor form has not hit the Ryukyu camp and that is an encouraging sign. All we need now is for some positive results to go their way and for FC Ryukyu to snap out of this slump.
FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory
1. Execute all the little things correctly. This starts with cutting down on turnovers and producing better passing in the opponents third of the pitch. FC Ryukyu are a side that can control the pace of the game with their large amounts of possession but can get hit quickly on the break when they needlessly give the ball away. FC Ryukyu are missing that final pass or two that can unlock an opponents back line and they’d do well to find it today.
2. Exploit Niigata’s weakness at defending set pieces. Niigata let in a few goals from set pieces the past few weeks and it seems to be an area in which they do not defend well. FC Ryukyu on the other hand, need to be better at their set pieces. Masutani scored off a Corner Kick against Mito but FC Ryukyu really need to capitalize on any Free Kicks near Niigata’s 18-yard box. The set pieces do not have to be shots on net as quick changes in direction from headers off of lofted crosses could pull the Niigata defense apart and create a shooting lane.
3. Place well aimed shots on net and get as many attackers
into the box as we can. FC Ryukyu had a lot of shots against Mito but many
missed the mark. Generate some shots from the flanks that require the goal keeper
to make a save and possibly push out a rebound to an open FC Ryukyu player or
at the very least, set up more set piece opportunities.
4. Stop the bleeding at the back. Averaging 3 goals conceded over your last 5 matches is a recipe for disaster. It is likely that we see Ishii or Inose in net today but the problem doesn’t start with our goal keepers. FC Ryukyu cannot bomb the defenders forward in hopes of creating a numerical advantage in the attack as this leaves them wide open for counter attacks. Instead, we need a little bit of creativity in the mid field that can allow our defenders to sit back and defend instead of holding a high line.
5. Uejo needs to be in the starting lineup.
Match Prediction
The fact that FC Ryukyu are hemorrhaging 3 goals a game doesn’t bode well for their chances this week despite Niigata’s 5 losses at home and -1 goals scored/goals conceded ratio. The recent form of FC Ryukyu indicates that they will concede one, two and most likely 3 goals this match against Niigata, but if they can put a stop to the bleeding at the back, then FC Ryukyu have a shot at points today. The most likely result is another 3-2 loss on the road.
Conclusion
I for one am tired of opponents circling the FC Ryukyu fixture on their home calendar as an easy 3 points. However, until FC Ryukyu actually produce a win on the road, you cannot blame our opponents for thinking they can get all 3 points or at the very least, 1 point. FC Ryukyu haven’t had a favorable match-up on the road since the FC Gifu game back in early May and today’s game against Niigata, a side they’ve already beaten this year, offers a glimmer of hope. In the end, the boys will have to go out there and get the job done, and that wont come easy.
I am jealous for all that are attending this game as Niigata really packs them in at the Denka and averages nearly 15,000 spectators for home games. Hopefully FC Ryukyu can silence that crowd and walk out of there with some points.
4 matches in 8 days. FC Ryukyu at home, the Tamagawa Derby, Tokyo Verdy vs Ehime and FC Ryukyu vs Mito Hollyhock in Mito. To all of you who live in mainland, you are lucky to have so much football at your disposal. I saw some amazing football in great venues with great atmospheres this past week. I must admit, the F.C. Tokyo vs Kawasaki Frotnale match was the crown jewel of this adventure, but each match was special.
Saturday July 20th 2019 FC Ryukyu vs Okayama Fagiano
For those that regularly follow my post on Twitter or have
accidentally clicked on my Blog link, you know how this one turned out. FCR had
possession, but never scored and Okayama walked all over us.
Sunday July 21st 2019 FC Tokyo vs Kawasaki Frontale the “Tamagawa Derby”
This match “recharged the soul.” First, I met a great group of guys; Neil, Bob and Matt. All loyal Frontale fans who, just bring it each week and I love their gold chains. Second, I can relate to Neil’s superstitions about where to sit and what to wear, bust most importantly, the order and timing. Third, I honestly thought it would be a bit more “festive” on the way to the pitch but Japanese fans are so respectful. There was no doubt where I was going to sit, the single best experience I’ve had in J1 football with any team was Kawasaki, so it was an easy choice. All eyes on FC Ryukyu, but I’ll turn an eye to our brethren up there when I can.
I entered the stands and wow. The Kawasaki supporters were blasting the FC Tokyo faithful out of the stadium. I think it was 49k maybe more in the Ajinomoto stadium but it was packed and was so uplifting to watch football in that atmosphere. Those that read this and see packed stadiums every week, congrats, those of us that don’t, it is something to behold.
Kawasaki did the job as they beat the home side 3-0 and it wasn’t even that close. Songs, beers, friends and football. It was just awesome.
Saturday July 20th 2019 Tokyo Verdy vs Ehime FC
Weather suggested it would rain all night so I wore pants. It never rained and felt like 1,000 degrees inside the Ajinomoto on Saturday night. However, I enjoyed some really great football. Verdy went down 2-0 early to Ehime and it looked as if Ehime were going to walk away with the match. But…..Verdy answered with 2 goals of their own and then the eventual winner. The 3-2 score line was enjoyable to watch as a neutral and it was an amazing back and forth game.
Sunday July 21st 2019 Mito Hollyhock vs FC Ryukyu
First, let me start by saying that the drive through the Japan country side was amazing. I really needed that and it was breathtaking. Second, I met more fans than I expected to thanks to the scheduling of a far away road match for FC Ryukyu fans on a Sunday evening. Third, hats off to Mito supporters and fans; straight class and I am envious at how good you guys do it. The match went as expected in that FC Ryukyu tried but didn’t win. No need to recap the game for those of us that lived it or read the summary anywhere. In closing, I returned home by driving through downtown Tokyo. The tolls were brutal but it was so much fun. I swear, it felt like being on one of the video games I played when I was younger. The music selection I chose in conjunction with the scenery was just surreal.
Whats Next?
FC Ryukyu away vs Niigata, that is what’s next. But not for me. I’ll be enjoying this one from the comfort of my home.
FC Ryukyu suffered their second defeat in a row, and their fourth in their past 5 games, but it still left them 14th in the table. Getting any sort of positive result against Mito was always going to be a tall ask of the traveling FC Ryukyu side but was made even more difficult when FC Ryukyu were forced to make a drastic change at GK. One must assume that an injury/illness to the incumbent, Carvajal, kept him off the roster in addition to Ishii being unable to play against his parent club who loaned him to FC Ryukyu this season. That meant that 3rd choice keeper, Inose Kosuke, would get the start for FC Ryukyu.
First Half
Despite the weather report from Saturday, the rain held off and it was a crisp evening in Mito. Mito wasted no time getting in behind our central defenders and tested Inose early in the 2nd minute but Inose made a fine save from the well taken shot. Mito continued their fast start when in the 4th minute a FK required Inose to be called into action once more. FCR had a chance early as well when Kazama found himself with acres of space to operate, along with several FCR attackers in the area, but he opted to shoot and sent the ball wide of the mark. FCR looked good in the attack but it was ultimately Mito would get on the score sheet first when a header from a cross was deflected into the back of the net. There wasn’t much Inose could do from the lucky deflection but nonetheless, FCR were down early on the road to a superior opponent.
Mito doubled their lead from another header later in the
first half. On the play, there seemed to be a little confusion between the FCR
defenders as there was a large gap that Shichi Takaaki was able to exploit and
hammer home the second goal of the night. FCR had a chance to get one score
back when a turnover by Mito saw Ochi with a free run and look on net. However,
Ochi’s shot from the top of the box was right at the keeper at a decent height
that made for an easy save. He had the whole goal to work with and he could have
gone low and hard to the opposite side or top shelf that probably would’ve
resulted in a score. Regardless, FCR went into half time down 2-0 and it looked
very worrying for the guests despite there incredible 61/39% possession over Mito.
Second Half
Higuchi made an immediate change when he brought Uejo on in
place of Ochi to start the second half. Uejo’s presence made an immediate
impact for FC Ryukyu as he was using his speed to get on to the end of long
passes and was making some very dangerous runs at the Mito net. FC Ryukyu
grabbed a goal in the 56th minute from a very nice header from
Masutani on a corner kick but it turned out to be the only score of the game
for FCR. The game had a frantic pace after the Masutani goal and turned into a
dangerous game of chicken between the teams to see who would blink first. Ultimately
it was FCR as they allowed Mito to score off a turnover where Ogawa Koki
chested the ball down nicely and then calmly blasted it past Inose for a 3-1 Mito
advantage.
FCR would have a few more chances from FKs but nothing close to the opportunities they enjoyed in the first half. FC Ryukyu ended the match with 61% possession but was out shot 16/11 where Mito put 11 of those shots on net compared to the FCR 7. It was a day marked by turnovers and mental errors.
Man of the Match
DF #7 SHICHI Takaaki Mito Hollyhock. Played a solid game
from his FB position. Directly contributed to 2 of Mito’s goals when it was his
header that was redirected by Kurokawa for the first Mito score and his header
for the second. Exploited the FC Ryukyu defenders on set pieces in the box and
offered up some fine efforts on FKs and in defense.
Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu.
There was only one and it was for everyone to win their
individual battles. Some did, some did not. This is a team sport and the team did
not get the job done on Sunday. FAIL.
Match Day 23 Takeaways
1. I have never played football at a high level. I played
baseball through college and have watched multiple sports all my life.
Therefore, while I cannot accurately define the tactics and individual assignments
of players in every match, I can determine when there are mental errors and
sloppy play. In my experience, these items are directly associated with
coaching. For example, I counted 20 FC Ryukyu turnovers and 16 incidents of mental
errors during Sunday’s match. I did not count plays where FCR players were
attempting to get a pass through to an attacker in the opponent’s end.
Turnovers were scored as: heavy first touches that got away from an FC Ryukyu player,
not knowing where the opposing teams’ defenders/players where when in
possession and then being dispossessed, passes directly at opposing players
with no FC Ryukyu player within 3 meters of where the ball ended up, and
needlessly kicking the ball out of bounds. Mental errors were categorized as: failing
to recognize, and then pass to, open FCR attackers near the opponents 18-yard
box, wasteful FK opportunities, failing to kick the ball out of bounds to
prevent an attack by opting to pass/round the Mito player which resulted in a turnover
or CK, and finally, losing control of the ball while in possession from either
a lack of hubris or heavy touch. None of these things are irreversible, in
fact, all can be coached, reinforced and practiced over and over again so as to
be reduced in a given match. Turnovers and the occasional mental mistake are
always going to happen in any match, I am merely advocating a reduction in the
overall number through coaching and mentoring.
2. There were some interesting managerial decisions this
past weekend that I believe deserve a deeper look. First, FC Ryukyu were forced
into some lineup changes due to injuries and loan regulations but that isn’t
the real story. I do not speak Japanese and I am not a member of the team to
know why Higuchi opts to bring Uejo off the bench every match instead of
starting the talented youngster, but his impact is undeniable. His presence
opened the match up for FC Ryukyu that ultimately allowed Masutani to score
from a set piece. Unless there is some evidence to suggest Uejo cannot sustain
a full 90 minutes, I have no idea why the second leading scorer on our team
sees limited action each week. Second, FCR had plenty of opportunities to do
something from set pieces yet nothing materialized. Yu is probably the best FK
taker in the squad yet he has been afforded limited opportunities on set pieces.
Not much more to add here. Finally, why did Higuchi wait until the 1st
minute of stoppage time to make the 3rd and final sub for FC Ryukyu
despite being down by 2 goals with a little over a quarter of the match to
play? This one baffled me since he should’ve subbed on fresh legs to run at the
tired Mito defenders and allow the new player time to adjust to the game and possibly
make a play or two. Instead, I think Kim Song Sun touched the ball once, maybe
twice, in the limited action of stoppage time. This seemed like a useless
gesture to get a player some game time despite having another talented player
in Koizumi on the bench.
3. Higuchi’s managerial style. It seems that opponents are
able to make in-game adjustments that Higuchi cannot either see or respond too
quickly enough and therefore but this side at a disadvantage. FC Ryukyu have
talented players, but are we getting the most out of them? Are we executing the
same game plan every week when it is necessary to adjust, and tailor, the
lineup and tactics? The most talented players for FC Ryukyu are up front and they
are the ones that need to be taking the high priority shots each week. Are we
doing enough to set them up for success?
4. Confidence. No doubt that the boys needs a confidence
boosting result, and they need it quickly. A positive result (win) against
Niigata next week would go a long way to boosting this sides confidence.
Hopefully, we’ll see Nishioka, Kawai, Yu and Uejo taking on the Niigata
defenders in and around the box and playing like they did some weeks ago.
Conclusion
FC Ryukyu are nearing a point where they will have no other
choice but to change or risk falling into a relegation battle and possibly out
of the J2. FC Ryukyu currently sit 8 points clear of the relegation zone but
that is only a matter of 3 results not going their way. Consider that FC Ryukyu
have conceded 20 goals in their past 8 matches and are averaging nearly 3.00
goals conceded each week over their past 5 games. Change could occur in many
forms; change in tactics, change in personnel selected for the starting 11, change
with some transfers into the club or a managerial change. FC Ryukyu haven’t won on the road since Omiya,
106 days ago, so why not play as if you have nothing to lose next week versus
Niigata. We’ve seen how Kagoshima, FC Gifu, Renofa, and JEF Chiba did when they
employed those tactics against FCR.
Weather Forecast: What did you expect? It seems the rainy season is either in full swing or just ending in mainland Japan so it will be another rainy, wet, terrible day to watch football. Thank goodness its on the road and not at home. Pack your towel, FC Ryukyu poncho and a change of clothes for your long commute back home if you plan on attending.
FC Ryukyu heads to the Ibaraki Prefecture this Sunday evening to take on 5th placed Mito Hollyhock in what seems to be a logistical nightmare for any traveling FC Ryukyu fans. Thank you very much J. LEAGUE scheduler for this one (the last train to depart Mito for Tokyo leaves at 1800). In their first matchup this season, FC Ryukyu got the better of a strong Mito side 1-0 at home but the fortunes of both teams have changed since that evening in May. FC Ryukyu’s recent form has been below par seeing that they’ve only won once in their past 5 matches and are conceding almost 3 goals a match. Mito, has also seen their once formidable defense that started so strongly this season begin to develop several cracks. This could largely be attributed to the departure of CB ITO Makito to Yokohama F Marinos in June, and since then, Mito have conceded nearly the same amount of goals they did during their previous 18 matches.
The statistics paint a very bleak picture for FC Ryukyu but that seems to be the case most weeks outside of the teams directly below FC Ryukyu in the table. Mito have only lost once at home all season where they own an impressive 0.70 goals against average. FC Ryukyu’s road struggles are well documented and now that FC Ryukyu are conceding 2.00 goals on average on the road, this seems like a tall ask to get any sort of favorable outcome tomorrow night for FCR. FC Ryukyu faced a similar challenge when Mito visited them at home earlier this year but FC Ryukyu are a different side at home and they’ve only had one positive performance in their last 5 road matches.
Mito Hollyhock
Mito are coming off a win that was preceded by 3 straight draws and a loss. Mito couldn’t quite breakdown the strong defensive side in Yamagata and suffered a 1-0 loss. Mito followed that up with a disappointing draw at home to Yokohama FC after Yokohama went down to 10 men early in the match and then allowed Yokohama to equalize later in the match despite the advantage.
Mito then had games on the road versus Kyoto and Kanazawa in which they went up early, conceded two goals and then fought back to earn draws. They ended this 5-game stretch with a rather impressive performance at home against Nagasaki but nearly gifted the visitors a draw at the end by allowing Nagasaki a couple of close chances.
Mito still retains a lot of the same traits we saw at the beginning of the season that made them so successful. They don’t chase games despite being behind on the scoreboard and rely heavily on a stout defense to keep them in many of their matches. As mentioned earlier, the defense is developing cracks and can be gotten at with quality set pieces but for the most part, the 4-4-2 set up Mito employs will make life very difficult for FC Ryukyu. As we’ve seen throughout this season, FC Ryukyu lacks a bit of creativity to break down sides who use this formation.
FC Ryukyu
FC Ryukyu have won only once in the past 2 months and are really struggling to arrest their slide down the J2 table. FC Ryukyu may not break out of this funk until later this month when they host JEF Chiba United at home on a Wednesday night because we can not assume that FC Ryukyu will gain any positive points on the road despite the quality of their opponent. We really need to see some signs of life from the boys over the next 2 weeks in their consecutive road games as it would prove massive for their hopes of staying in the J2 next season. Like many sides below them in the table that have a month with a nice stretch of favorable games, FC Ryukyu’s doesn’t occur until October and there are no guarantees that those opponents will be in the same form they are in now when we face them.
FC Ryukyu’s recent match against Okayama was very disappointing and FCR really struggled to create any opportunities up front. I believe they only had one shot on net, and that was the Uesato FK on the final play of stoppage time, but someone mentioned that DAZN said we had 2. Regardless, that is not what you expect from a team that strives to be on the attack and hunting for goals. The careless turnovers and lack of quality passing really deflated the FCR attack in the opponent’s half and FCR lacked creativity near the 18-yard box. Too many times it seemed as if the FCR midfielders would pull up and pass back instead of pressing the attack or trying to run past the defenders. I am not sure if that is attributed to fatigue, lack of speed or lack of anyone else in the attack making any runs or movements that would entice a pass from one of our players.
FC Ryukyu are at a point where an uplifting performance maybe the spark that ignites a nice run of games as well as put some distance between them and the bottom of the table. It is now 140 days and 9 matches since FC Ryukyu last won on the road.
Injuries
FC Ryukyu: Tokumoto-Still delaing with an MCL injury he
picked up recovering from a soft tissue ankle injury. Another few weeks away
from returning to the lineup.
Mito Hollyhock: Unknown, the website I usually use is now
saying I am restricted from accessing that info and I am not sure where else to
look.
Keys to an FC Ryukyu Victory
1. Only one. Someone has to step up, put this team on their back and have one of their best performances of the season to see out an FC Ryukyu victory. Koji Suzuki and Dany have done so much this year but what I am referring to is someone like Kawai, Yu, Kazama, Uejo, Tanaka, Wada or Uesato who just takes the game over. Someone needs to be aggressive in both the attack and defense, motivates the players around him by example so they will perform at their very best, is surgical with his passing to unlock the defense and is lethal in front of goal. If FC Ryukyu gets that type of Herculean performance out of someone tomorrow, we may very well see this side right the ship and get back on track. If we don’t, the beatings will most likely continue until moral improves.
Match Prediction
Mito 2-1. Impossible to predict positive FC Ryukyu outcomes on the road until something changes.
Conclusion
This game, as well as the remaining road matches for FC Ryukyu, comes down to every man doing their part to win their individual battles. Mito are not invincible and are possibly slowing down after their blazing start to the season. But at the same time, FC Ryukyu are struggling for form and are looking for someone to step up and lead them out of this dark period and back into the light. Who will that be?
Apologies for those who were expecting this match day report to be published the day after the match, as is usually the case, but I was traveling and much like the title; there wasn’t much to see in the game.
FC Ryukyu were defeated 2-0 at home and it quite honestly looked like one of, if not the, worst games they’ve played all season. They allowed a quick goal to Lee in 2nd minute of play and he followed that up with another in the second half off a header. I didn’t bother to watch the entire replay on DAZN but I found myself asking on Twitter if FCR had any shots on target on Saturday (they did, the 94′ minute shot form Uesato that hit the post). It was just one of those games where the team and fans need to erase it from their memories and move on. With that said, lets quickly review the keys to victory and match day takeaways and get outta here.
Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory Review
Set the Tone: FAIL. Well, FCR enjoyed some nice possession but didn’t do anything with it. FCR repeatedly broke into Okayama’s third but had no idea where to go with the ball or what to do with it in possession. FCR really needs an aggressive, tactical CAM up there to get the attack firing. I hate the run in, pull up, pass and then the attack fizzles out.
Execute a balanced attack: FAIL. As evidenced by the lack of goals but FCR were wasteful in possession, most noticeably in their final passes near the Okayama goal. On this day, crosses and passes where off target too many times. Crosses often sailed high and wide over the on rushing FCR attackers and the turnover issue I thought we may have overcome as once again risen into prominence. Not much more to add, clean it up and let’s move forward.
Defend in Packs: FAIL. Okayama did what they wanted, when they wanted and how they wanted near our goal.
Match Day 22 Takeaways
The crosses from the flanks were particular bad today. I’ll chalk that up to a bad day at the office but there are some worrisome signs. Crosses were off target, often at the wrong height and resembled something of an act of desperation on the part of the FCR full backs. They knew they needed to cross but just sent balls into the box with the hopes it would find someone.
FCR continually struggle against teams who can execute a nice 4-4-2 formation. The lack of creativity is worrisome, as it has been since Match Day 4. FCR attackers carried possession into the Okayama area and then because they either refused or couldn’t take on the Okayama defenders, they instead opted to pull back and pass the ball off. This would entail lead to a turnover or just simply end the FCR attacking play. I hope this changes as the guys need to have some confidence and make the runs at the opposing defenders or they need to make room for those that are willing and able.
Weather Forecast: FINALLY! A great forecast for today’s match. Partly cloudy, temperatures in the high 80s with plenty of humidity, but most importantly, no rain!
The second half of the season gets underway today in Okinawa where 13th placed FC Ryukyu take on 10th place Fagiano Okayama. Okayama got the best of FC Ryukyu the last time these two teams met when they were awarded, and then converted, a PK. FC Ryukyu are coming of an uplifting 3-0 victory at home over Tochigi SC last week and Okayama visit the Tapista riding a 2-game win streak. This should be a very entertaining match today as both teams have similar attacking styles and the 2 leading scorers in the J2 face off once more. It was Lee Yong Hae who got on the score sheet the last time they squared off; will it be Suzukui’s turn today?
Fagiano Okayama
Okayama came from behind at home last week to defeat
Kagoshima with 2 very late goals. Kagoshima dictated a lot of the game up till
the end when a bad call by the referee awarded Okayama a PK that ultimately sealed
the fate of Kagoshima. Prior to that match, Okayama had their doors blown off
by Yokohama FC 5-1. The Okayama defense was ripped to shreds several times by
the quick, long through balls by Yokohama and that seems to be a good way to
get behind the Okayama defenders.
They drew twice against Renofa and Machida with 1-1 score
lines where they let both these games slip through their fingers. Their
defending let them down again despite one of the best goals scored in J2 this
season by Okayama. Takeda hit an absolute rocket shot from the top of the box
that found the top corner of the goal but that wasn’t enough against Renofa.
Make no mistake, Okayama have the fire power to score goals
but they are not the strongest side when traveling or facing teams in the
bottom half of the table. While this isn’t to be considered a “must win” game for
FCR, it is an opportunity to grab a win against a side that is near FCR in the
table and could help offset some unfavorable score lines later this season against
stronger sides. FCR are just a better team when they play at home and therefore
have a real shot at grabbing all3 points today.
Fagiano Players to Watch
#9 FW Lee Yong Hae: 12 goals this year but hasn’t scored in
his last 2 games. Scored the last time these 2 sides met and is a tall, strong,
quick striker that FCR had a real hard time dealing with in the first match.
#19 MF Hayato Nakama: 6 goals scored this season. Forms a
very nice strike partnership with Hae and has provided him so excellent service
this year.
#7 FW Seiya Nakano: Third leading scorer on Okayama with 5
goals. Used primarily as a substitute and provides a nice punch when coming off
the bench.
FC Ryukyu
The boys finally decided to put an end to the 3-game losing
streak by completely dismantling the Tochigi side last Saturday. FC Ryukyu
controlled the pace of the game, were lethal in front of goal and really choked
out the Tochigi SC attack. That type of effort is again going to be required
for FC Ryukyu to grab all 3 points today as Okayama are a much better side than
Tochigi.
FC Ryukyu will need Kawai to stretch the defense and allow
players like Yu, Ochi and especially Suzuki to find the running/shooting lanes
for goal scoring opportunities. If FC Ryukyu take the same approach to defending,
they did last week but not holding a high defensive line, then we can limit the
amount of counterattacks by players like Hae and Nakama. The Okayama defense is
nothing special and can be unlocked with quick, accurate passing. If nothing
else, it is likely that FC Ryukyu will draw plenty of fouls in and around the
Okayama box with this type of play and then we could let Yu, Kazama and Uesato
do their thing on FKs.
It is really simple math for FCR; score, defend, reduce
turnovers and you will win. FCR needs to build a little bit of consistency
moving forward and this is a great match to continue a nice run of form.
Injuries
Fagiano Okayama: #10 FW Mineiro – had a sprained MCL but it
looks as if he is past the estimated recovery window of 6-8 weeks.
FC Ryukyu: #5 DF Tokumoto – recovering from an MCL sprain he
picked up while rehabbing from an ankle sprain. Another 3 weeks away from
returning to the lineup.
FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory
1. Set the tone. Okayama undoubtably have two serious
playmakers in the squad but that is about it. The Okayama GK is average and the
defense is like wet toilet paper, effective at times but not the preferred
method.
2. Execute a balanced attack. Stretch Okayama from either side
and don’t concentrate all your efforts on one side. Okayama can be beaten
through the middle and down the flanks so use Kawai’s speed and Yu’s passing to
free up Suzuki in front of goal. Uesato and Kazama should look for nice long
through balls to let Suzuki run at the Okayama goal.
3. Defend in packs. Wolves hunt in packs and FCR should
start defending the same way. FCR are good enough to be venomous on the counter
but need to reinforce the back when under siege. All kidding aside, this isn’t
the time to get cute, defend like you did against Tochigi and everything will
be alright.
Match Prediction
The numbers are there for everyone to see. FC Ryukyu are a
home team as is Okayama. Okayama is not the same team when traveling as evidenced
by the amount of goals they concede. 2 goals could once again prove the difference
for FCR on the day. FCR 2-2 Okayama.
Conclusion
This is big game for FC Ryukyu as they were able to get two
weeks in a row at home and that should recharge a lot of the guys since they were
not forced to travel. FC Ryukyu head out o the road for 2 games starting next
week and a win here would serve them really well. This should be an up and down
match that hopefully see’s Okayama tire in the second half since they are not
acclimatized to the heat/humidity here in Okinawa. It should be a great day to
watch football so hopefully like Okinawa community will come out in full force
for this game.
The second transfer special for the season focuses on players from the J1 that have yet to crack the starting 11 for their respective teams on a consistent basis, with some prospects throughout Asia and a review of some select names from the last transfer special.
I need to give a lot of credit to the @J-TalkPod, @FRsoccerSam and @mcintinhos for providing me the list of J1 players as well as their breakdowns from yet another excellent Podcast. I would have never known about some of these players if it wasn’t for them so thank you very much boys.
Review of Transfer Special # 1 Targets.
It is unlikely that FC Ryukyu will dip into the transfer
market to acquire any European, South American or North American players this
window. Considering that FC Ryukyu operate on a limited budget, half season
loans are the most enticing method to reinforce the squad this summer. While I
can dream of FC Ryukyu signing a Japanese footballer (Ryo Miyaichi) who is
currently plying their trade in Europe at a pretty high level, it is more
realistic for FC Ryukyu to focus on the talent here in Japan and Asia in the
interim. There is plenty of footballing talent languishing on benches in the J1
as well as emerging in the J3. There is also plenty of talent that can be found
throughout neighboring countries. Remember, there is no limit to the number of
ASEAN country players a team can roster, only foreign players. This provides FC
Ryukyu with a little more flexibility when selecting potential targets as well
as an opportunity.
ASEAN Prospects
1. Nguyen Quang Hai: Vietnam. Plays for Hanoi FC. MF. Everything I’ve seen or read about this player is that he is one of the best footballing prospects in Asia. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in 2018. Quoted as having blistering pace and impeccable technique. At only 22 years old, this guy makes for an enticing prospect. Won’t be available for long.
2. Curt Dizon. Philippines. Plays for Ceros-Negros. Left
Winger/FWD. A big strong forward who has a very nice left foot. Slightly older
for a prospect and hasn’t faced the strongest of competition yet is an
internationally capped player for the Philippines having been capped 16 times
with one goal to his name.
3. Supachok Sarachat. Thailand. Plays for Buriam United. MF.
Will be a tall ask of FCR to afford a player from a club that consistently
plays in the Asian Champions League. 13 goals and 3 assists this season.
4. Eakkinit Punya. Thailand. Currently plays of ChIangmai FC
on Loan from Singha Chiangrai United. MF. 3 goals and 3 assists this season.
He’s under contract until 2023 with his parent club but worth a shot for a
20-year-old prospect.
J3 Prospects
When I first wrote about which J3 players to target back in
early May, it was to reinforce the position of CAM and FB due to the Nakagawa
transfer and injuries to the FC Ryukyu squad. Not much has changed for FC
Ryukyu in that they are still searching for the Nakagawa replacement up front
and could quite possibly lose Tokumoto to a Russian Premier League club this
summer. That would leave FC Ryukyu with very little depth in defense as they
only feature 5 players within J2 matches on a consistent basis.
FC Ryukyu have a tall striker named Uehara but he has made only a limited appearance for the club, though he has scored a crucial goal. At the time of the first transfer entry, FC Ryukyu were conceding goals late on in matches in addition to conceding a lot of goals from set pieces. I thought a player of Jao Gabriel’s height and distemper could serve FC Ryukyu well when games needed a result or leads needed to be preserved. A perfect example of this line of reasoning is Uehara’s rising header against Niigata to seal the win late versus Niigata. Well if fitness is an issue for Uehara, I think it would be prudent to bring in a player like Gabriel and see what he can offer this side.
1. Natsuki Mugikura. Iwate Grulla Morioka. LB. I never heard of this guy prior to logging onto J-Stats to see who’s leading the J3 in assists. Well, it is Mugikura. His tape is electric. The ball seems to be shot out of a cannon when it leaves his left foot. He delivers quality set pieces and you really need to watch the game tape from his last 2 matches against Gamba Osaka U-23 and Kitakyushyu. If there is even the remote possibility that Tokumoto is out the door then he FCR need to sign Mugikura before he’s picked up by another club. Only 23 years old. Watch his highlights and watch the delivery he provides on set pieces.
2. Jao Gabriel. SC Sagamihara. FW. Jao hasn’t scored since
the time of the last transfer entry and has played sparingly the past 4 games.
Possibly recovering from an injury. I will echo what I said in earlier entries
about those things you cannot teach in Football, height and speed. Jao may
never crack the starting 11 on a consistent basis but he could provide the
much-needed punch or protection at the end of matches. If his playing time is
being reduced over at Sagamihara, then FCR maybe able to get him on the cheap.
J1 Loan Targets
I really need to thank the boys one more time for these
entries. I’ve grappled with the tough question of “why would FCR want to take a
player on loan?” First, is it to add depth to the squad? Is it to fill a
pressing need or void? Is there someone they’re interested in signing long term
to the club? And then you must lay that acetate over the current squad and ask,
“Would we hinder the development of any of our younger players by bringing in
additional loan signings this summer that may reduce our current players’ game
time?”
To be honest, the biggest area of concern is the defensive
depth of FC Ryukyu. We saw early on how Masutani filled in for Nishioka for
about 8 matches and now how Fukui is filling in for the injured Tokumoto. Arai and
others on the squad have rarely gotten a chance to play and even the Emperor’s
cup match featured Okazaki starting at CB. I’ll never know if it’s because the
reserve players are hurt, or they are just not ready to play at this level. In
either case, FC Ryukyu could use some defensive reinforcements, specifically,
at the FB position.
FC Ryukyu has some very exciting young players in the MF. Uejo is best suited on the flanks, Kawai as well, with Koizumi taking on the CAM role in the 4-2-3-1. Ochi currently starts at CAM so this seems like an area that if FCR are going to make a move for someone, it may come at the expense of the players listed at the start of the paragraph. So, we have one of those dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t situations. FCR may acquire a talented player that helps them the remainder of the season but they may not be able to keep that player and risk losing out on valuable developmental time for our own prospects.
There are a couple of key points to close out this transfer
blog. First, the parent club for any
loan player needs to continue to pay the wages of the player while on loan at
FCR, or at least pay a majority of the player’s wages. FCR is essentially providing
a venue for talented players at larger clubs to gain valuable first team
experience in exchange for the parent club paying the wages. If FCR has the
scouting infrastructure in place, they’d do well to get those players who are
likely out of contract next season and possibly out of favor with club in hopes
of signing them to a deal for 2020.
Second, I am not sure if anyone at FCR uses wyscout but it
seems like a very valuable resource for scouting football talent. I do not know
the size and structure for the FC Ryukyu scouting department but wyscout looks
like it can handle a lot of the heavy lifting for a team who resources are
constrained. Heck, I may even sign up for an account. (http://wyscout.com)
Finally, and most importantly, FCR needs to look at
countries like Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia for talented footballers that
most Japanese clubs may ignore based on stereotypes and cultural bias. There
are untapped reserves of talent throughout Asia that will reward clubs that are
brave enough to sign these players. FC Ryukyu could close the gap on their
better resourced, better established peers quickly by showing a little faith
and signing talented players from these countries. Bridging the language and
cultural gaps may prove difficult at first but shouldn’t be enough of a reason
to dissuade FCR from making signings that will ultimately benefit the club. FCR
has done this in the past when they signed Wan Zack Haikal and Nazirul Naim Che
Hashim from Malaysia in 2013.
We’ll have the 3rd installment of the Transfer
Special after the window closes to review any new signings by FCR this summer.
If not, than we will reconvene at the end of the year to look at what areas of
need for FCR.
We have made it to the last installment of the Mid-Season Review. This has been a great experience as a fan to look back and reflect on the half season while keeping an eye on the future. I wanted to provide a brief summation of the players who have featured for FC Ryukyu but please keep in mind, I am never privy to the strategy the manager employs each week or how the players perform while executing that strategy. I merely observe what I can see from the stands and from my TV screen. So, let’s close out the mid-season review with a bang.
Goal Keeper
#1 Dany Carvajal: Yeah, he’s pretty much been awesome. Don’t
think for one minute that because FC Ryukyu have only kept 3 clean sheets that
it is an indictment of Dany’s performances. See the MVP section below.
#23 Ryo Ishii: He was asked to step up and fill in when Dany
was hurt during a tough stretch of matches for FCR. He played really well
against Kanazwa and Kyoto and while those efforts may be overshadowed by Dany’s
performances to date, Ishii did his part to help this club.
Defender
FB #5 Tokumoto: Another young emerging player I fear FC
Ryukyu may lose this transfer window. It’s hard to assess any FC Ryukyu FB as
they are asked to play more like a WB than a FB this season. Tokumoto has
provided 3 nice assists and is developing into a one of the better LBs in the
J2. Currently recovering from an ankle and subsequent MCL injury.
#4 Okazaki: Started almost every match this year and is a
nice compliment to Masutani. Truth be told, I only key on defenders when they
make a mess of things, and in the case of Okazaki, he has only had that happen once.
Some of his mistakes may be covered up due to FCR scoring numerous goals or
winning games so I will need more time to assess this player. In the interim,
we need Okazaki to be a rock back there on defense.
#2 Masutani: A CB in the mold of Gary Medel from Chile. I’ve
been overly critical of this guy at times and that was just rash on my part as Masutani
brings a lot of aggressiveness to the FCR squad. He is good in attack with 1
goal to his name this season and can handle some of the larger, more powerful
strikers in the J2. I will say this, when he had to fill in for Nishioka at RB
due to injury, the FCR attack looked better. Consider that it was simultaneous
with the Nakagawa departure and though I think he may be better suited at FB, I
am a fan and not the Manager.
#3 Nishioka: 2 goals and 2 assists. Nishioka has missed some
time due to an MCL injury (not sure what caused him to miss upwards of 8 weeks)
and struggles at times with defending. Always seems to be in the right spot at
the right time for his goals. Displays toughness as evidence by playing through
a head injury but his game needs some fine tuning. Needs to have more
confidence in the attack, take on the opposition’s defenders near the 18-yard
box – much like when he was brimming with confidence against Yamaguchi with his
step overs – and feed Koji Suzuki quality crosses.
#33 Ryoji Fukui: The Swiss Army Knife for FCR. Versatile in
that he can play all 4 positions in defense and could possibly fill in at CDMF
as well. At times Fukui makes really well timed challenges but he also makes
some questionable decisions in defense. For example, he can turn his back to an
attacker, so as to invite a shot, which often leaves Dany or Ishii to deal with
the danger alone (Tokyo Verdy’s goal). Maybe the GKs have asked the defenders
to vacate the shooting lanes to better see the shots from distance but I will
never know for sure. Has decent speed to make up ground on attackers or get to
contested balls first. Have a sneaky suspicion that one of his challenges will
be rewarded with a Red Card some day and put FC Ryukyu up against it in a
match. Time will tell.
#16 Jumper Arai: Not enough game footage for an accurate
assessment.
Mid Field
#20 Uesato: Local lad, experienced player, 2 highlight reel
goals and team captain. Often lines up for FKs where, truth be told, I think
Tomidokoro could benefit from the added reps to get into a groove. It seems
Uesato prefers to shoot more than cross and maybe that’s due to the angle or
distance from which he’s taking the FKs. Scored in spectacular fashion against
Verdy and Gifu and is aiding with the development of the younger generation of
FCR players.
#8 Komatsu: Was in the starting lineup early and then has
faded. Possibly getting surpassed by talented players emerging.
#6 Kazama: Has a nice touch on FKs and CKs from his Central
Mid Field role. His performances have improved as of late and I hope that
translates into favorable results for FCR.
#19 Ochi: 2 goals from the man who is now Higuchi’s choice
at CAM. At least until someone is ready to take the job over.
#11 Keita Tanaka: Keita has been part of the fabric of this
team for so long. Tanaka is lethal finisher from the right, but much like Yu,
he needs to get some repetitions and get into a scoring groove. He’s scored only
once since rejoining the side but has had 3 other opportunities that either
required a nice save by GK or were just off the mark. FCR need to get this man
firing again as it will increase the potency of the FCR attack and open up more
space of Suzuki down the middle.
#10 Yu Tomidokoro: FC Ryukyu’s FK specialist. Yu has found
some tough sledding this season when it comes to FKs as he has netted only once.
He does have 2 goals and 3 assists and the FK goals will come with time and
reps. Needs to be given more opportunities on FKs. Remember, at his height,
defenses never knew when Yu was going to cross or shoot from the FK spot and
that is what made him so successful.
#28 Koizumi: The man featured in 6 games within a month
before doing a Houdini. He never scored but he flashed some real talent. His limited performance against Verdy was
something of an eye opener as he made some nice passes, hit the post and
displayed a bit of pace. He could very well be the 3rd piece to a
formidable FC Ryukyu MF with Uejo and Kawai in the near future. WHERE IS HE?
#7 Nakagawa: HAHAHA wouldn’t do it to you, too painful. Next!
#13 Kawai: Has one goal and 2 assists this season. Is
turning into a real playmaker for FC Ryukyu. Has another gear he can use to get
past defenders and is fine tuning his game with each performance, specifically,
his body & ball control while making cuts or getting up to speed. Maybe
replacing Nakagawa can’t be done with just one player but rather a combination
of players. If that is the case than Kawai’s introduction to the side is
starting to fill that void. Kawai’s speed really opens up the attack for FCR
and he has rightfully earned his spot in the starting 11.
Forwards
#14 Uejo: See Below, but seriously, I do not know why he
doesn’t start. Is it due to fitness, immaturity, health concerns or the
manager?
#21 Uehara: Has height, scored an important goal for FCR to
beat Niigata. Didn’t see much from him prior to his goal and less so after.
What happened? Injury?
#15 Wada: Played really well as a substitute versus Nagasaki
but hard pressed for playing time with the leading J2 goal scorer ahead of you
on the roster. His time will come.
#22 Gibo. I saw one appearance where Gibo displayed a lot of
hustle. Subbed into an attacking MF position but then was moved to a FB
position in the same game. He needs more playing time and I missed the Emperors
Cup match for FCR to see how he performed and what are his strengths and
weaknesses.
#9 Koji Suzuki: SEE BELOW.
Mid-Season MVPs
1A. Koji Suzuki. The man’s stats speak for themselves but if
you peel back the curtain a little more, you see that he has scored crucial
goals at very crucial times of matches for FCR. Yamagata, Yamagauchi, Kanazawa,
Omiya and Mito all come to mind. He is also one of the most unselfish strikers
I’ve ever seen. He puts in a shift every match. He does the hard work of hold
up plays, winning contested balls and drawing fouls from the opposition while never
complaining and rarely displays any outward frustration at his teammates. I
have no idea what compelled Zelvia to let him go but I do not care at this
point. He has proven to be an absolute steal in the transfer market.
1B. Dany Carvajal. Strong at the back and lethal up front is
what makes any team great. Yes, of course, strong through the middle is another
essential part but having the best striker and one of the best goal keepers in
the league on your squad is pretty good as well. Dany has been a revelation for
this side. He always seems to be in the right position, at the right time, to
make the right type of save. And let me tell you, there have been some
spectacular ones; against Omiya there were 2 to seal the win, the PK save
against Verdy, resisting the Reysol bombardment, Vortis, Yamaguchi, Mito and
list goes on and on. The FC Ryukyu front office did really well by signing Dany
this offseason.
2. Satoki Uejo. This man has come out of nowhere and turned
into quite the player. He has scored 6 times this season and is improving every
time he steps out onto the pitch. He has some signatures goals to his name;
Reysol, Vortis, Ehime, Nagasaki and Renofa (Emperor’s Cup). He also looks like
he has packed on some muscle the past few months in order to fight off larger
defenders. He needs to be out there every week for this side.
Looking Ahead
FC Ryukyu will play 10 games at home and 11 games on the road in the second half of the season. Within those 11 road games they will play 3 series of two consecutive road matches starting next week with Mito and Niigata. The next series is at the end of September with Machida and Fukuoka and finally to end the season against Ehime and Kofu. They also have 3 series at home where they will play consecutive home matches. The first wraps up this week with Okayama (started with Tochigi last week), the second is in August with Nagasaki and Yokohama and the third is at the end of August/early September with FC Gifu and Kagoshima. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the second half fixtures, make some predictions and then review the remaining fixtures for the bottom 4 clubs in J2.
Red denotes MUST WIN games for FCR.
It would be nice to see FCR earn wins against Tochigi and Ehime on the road as those 6 points could go a long way to helping secure J2 football for FCR in 2020. None of us know how the results will shake out considering we cannot predict the transfers in/out of clubs, injuries, managerial changes and plain old luck (good or bad). FC Ryukyu’s make or break month will be October with favorable matches against Avispa, Tochigi and Verdy. They need to be well clear of the relegation zone after that point because November could prove fatal if the road performances by FCR don’t improve. They face a surging Renofa side on the road, host a promotion seeking Kyoto side at home and wrap up the season with 2 road trips with a possible relegation battle against Ehime and potential promotion seeking side in Kofu. Even though I am targeting Ehime as a must win game for FCR, that will depend largely on FCR showing that they can win on the road when needed in the second half of the season.
With this in mind, lets look at teams who are currently sit 18-22 in the J2 table and examine their crucial months and critical match-ups in the second part of the 2019 J2 season.
#18 JEF Chiba United. JEF have a tough October where they face 3 sides who are likely going to be in the top 7. Depending on how those results play out, JEF could be dragged into the relegation battle. Their final match against Tochigi is huge for both sides.
#19 Kagoshima. The October and November schedule are not kind to Kagoshima. 3 road matches in October followed by a run of Kofu, Okayama, Reysol and Mito. They end on the road versus Fukuoka in another final match day matchup that could determine who gets relegated.
#20 Tochigi. The outcomes of their September fixtures will most likely determine their fate. They face FC Gifu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Ehime all in a row. That is a total of 4, 6-point match-ups in a row that could really doom any of those sides. As mentioned earlier, Tochigi end with JEF Chiba in what could be a win or go down to J3 match.
#21 Fukuoka. October and November are also not kind to Fukuoka. They are hoping that some of the sides around them perform poorly the rest of the year so as to give Fukuoka a chance at the end. Avispa end versus Kagoshima in a game we already mentioned that has massive relegation implications.
#22 FC Gifu. The schedule is kinder to FC Gifu in so much as there isn’t any one month remaining where they face multiple top sides in quick succession. The end of July/beginning of August will be rough on them but there are winnable games. But like Fukuoka, FC Gifu are hoping that things go terribly wrong for the few sides just above them in the table. Will it be the Vortis or Kofu match that ultimately dooms this side, or will it happen much sooner?
At the end of the day, FC Ryukyu need to go out there and handle their business without concerning themselves too much about the rest of the table. It is simple math for FCR: Beat the teams below you in the table especially those at the bottom, Get points off of teams just above you in the table, and win some games on the road. If they can do that, then they are going to be alright. I’d estimate that another 18 points are needed and FCR could achieve that any number of ways in the second half of the season.
I know I did not focus on which team may win the J2 title and which sides are likely to be promoted to the J1 in 2019 so I’ll save that for a later date.
Well folks, that is going to do it for the final installment of the FCR Mid-Season Review. I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. I’ll be adding two more entries this week with the Second Transfer Special of the year coming out on Thursday and the normal Match Day Preview coming out on Friday.
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