2019

Intro

174 days. That is the amount of time that has passed since FC Ryukyu last won a road game. 69 days. This number represents the number of days since FC Ryukyu last earned a point on the road. -11. FC Ryukyu have been outscored 17 to 6 in their past 5 road matches with 4 consecutive defeats. 11. That is the number of points between FC Ryukyu and the bottom of the table. 7. The number of points that separate FC Ryukyu from 21^st placed Tochigi SC, who are in the relegation zone. 4. The number of points between FC Ryukyu and teams 18-20 in the J2 table (Kagoshima United FC, Avispa Fukuoka and FC Machida Zelvia). With 8 out of their remaining 14 games to be played on the road, this side needs to begin picking up some positive results while traveling away from Okinawa, or face the very real possibility of being relegated back to the J3.

Weather Forecast

Overcast with temperatures in the 80s and no wind should make for a pleasant viewing experience in Tokushima for the fans who attend.

Tokushima Vortis

Vortis have won 2 out of their last 5 matches where they dispatched Fukuoka and Kagoshima, and lost to Yamagata, Niigata and Kofu. Vortis are a typical mid-table side that beat the teams below them fairly regularly while normally losing to the ones above them. They were in some good form awhile back but that has seemed to escape them as of late. Vortis have only suffered 3 defeats at home all season but two of those have come within the past 3 home matches.

Similar to FC Ryukyu, Vortis lack a standout goal scorer. This may have been due to a transfer out of the club but I didn’t bother to research that notion. Against Yamagata they were awarded an early PK but then had the misfortune of having one of their best players, Kiyotake, sent off following a second yellow card for time wasting. After that they came apart in the second half and conceded 3 quick goals. Though Vortis went down early to Kagoshima, they scored two very late 1^st half goals to take the lead. They then surrendered the lead shortly thereafter on a PK only to seem them strike back for 2 quick goals in the last quarter of the game to seal the win.

Vortis were simply destroyed by both Niigata and Kofu and suffered shutouts in both matches which may have been the result of Kiyotake’s suspension. Vortis were able to stop the losing streak this past weekend against Fukuoka when they walked away with the 1-0 victory.

FC Ryukyu

The numbers I put forth in the introduction paint a very ominous picture for the club. They really need points and there is a possibility of that this week at Vortis since they are not the same surging side we saw just a couple of weeks ago. I have said things similar to this in past entries when FC Ryukyu travel and the results are always the same. A loss, or what we now would gladly settle for, a draw. Teams really take advantage of our poor road form and the lack of points earned on the road have become a monkey on the back of this club. It will take some sort of miracle to shake it loose and get back to winning ways.

I offer this suggestion. Get rid of the 4-2-3-1 since we lack a true out and out striker and we are reeling from injuries as well as transfers at the back. There is no point in having Full Backs launch poor aimed crosses to players who are simply not there or not well suited for headers. Since we no longer have Koji, why not play a 3-man strike front with Uejo and Ramon flanking any of Uehara/Ono/Tanaka/Koya? Drop down to a 3-man back line with Okazaki, Nishikawa and Fukui and leave Okazaki and Fukui out wide to allow Nishioka the ability to push a little north of the half way line. Most importantly, figure out the 3 best midfielders to team with Uesato to complete the 3-4-3. I wish for Kawai, Koizumi and Komatsu but this is highly unlikely due to injuries and whatever else is occurring behind closed doors at the club.

Player Injuries

FC Ryukyu: Tokumoto and Ishii are still dealing with the same injuries from the last preview and are unlikely to feature today.

Tokushima Vortis: Vortis will be without the services of DF Diego, MFs Kano and Sisinio and FWD Sato. None have played a large role at the club this season so there should be no surprises in the regular Vortis lineup today.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Press the Vortis defense as it seems they suffer from the same problems that afflict the Ryukyu back line. Uejo’s, and Ramon’s speed will cause the Vortis back line some issues and attacking their flanks with speed should open up space for Koya and whatever false-9 forward is starting for FC Ryukyu today.

2. Stop playing a high defensive line as Vortis will pick us apart with long balls over the top to Kiyotake and the Vortis front men. FC Ryukyu’s only defender with a little bit of pace is Fukui but if he is continually forced to make rash challenges, we are going to end up on the losing end of it at some point. Don’t put players like Nishioka – assuming Higuchi refuses to change his system – Fukui and Okazaki in dangerous positions that could alter the outcome of this match.

3. Start Ramon and other younger talented players. I think Yu needs a breather and to come off the bench with the hopes of chipping in a free-kick goal near the end. There are 14 games left and we are very near, if not already there, a “nothing to lose” point so why not ride the razors edge and see what we have in the reserves.

Match Prediction

I was correct for only the second time all season last week but I would love to be wrong this weekend. Unfortunately, you cannot bet on FC Ryukyu to achieve any positive results while traveling with likeliest of outcomes always being a loss. Tokushima Vortis 2-1.

Conclusion

FC Ryukyu have a golden opportunity today to put some separation between them and the bottom teams. The teams below FC Ryukyu all have difficult matches this week where we could see all of them losing.

(17) JEF United Chiba vs Ventforet Kofu (7)

(4) Yokohama FC vs Kagoshima (18)

(3) Kyoto Sanga FC vs Avispa Fukuoka (19)

(9) Fagiano Okayama vs FC Machida Zelvia (20)

(6) Montedio Yamagata vs Tochigi SC (21)

(22) FC Gifu vs Kashiwa Reysol (1)

If that were the case, and FC Ryukyu were to win today, then FC Ryukyu have really taken a lot of pressure off themselves as well as gained some confidence heading into a crucial stretch of matches at home against two of the bottom clubs in J2. This is easier said than done, as the road woes of FC Ryukyu are well documented and nearing “punch-line” territory. Another possibility is that all these teams, including FC Ryukyu lose and the status quo is maintained for another week. In any event, good luck to those that attend and to FC Ryukyu today.

“Bittersweet” Match Day 28 Report: FC Ryukyu 1-3 Yokohama FC 8/17/2019

Intro

I apologize for the lengthy delay in getting the match day report out for this past week but I’ve been preoccupied with my favorite past time, fantasy football, as it is the height of American Fantasy Football Draft season. With that in mind, I’ll offer the following observations from the 3-1 defeat that FC Ryukyu suffered this past weekend to Yokohama FC.

The Good

12,000 people showed up to see the debut of Shinji Ono, and possibly Ramon, this past Saturday. It was the single largest crowd to ever attend an FC Ryukyu match. It is unfortunate that atop the list of the most attended matches in the club’s history will sit a 3-1 defeat.

The crowd was really into the match and it was truly great scenes surrounding the stadium as well as inside the grounds.

Uejo is starting to score with a regularity as he notched his second goal in as many games. His development throughout this season has been a remarkable thing to watch. I hope you all get to enjoy him over the remaining 6 home games as he is likely to leave this winter. It would not be a surprise to see Uejo on a J1 club next year but his current trajectory could likely take him out of Asia completely and put him somewhere in the lower tiers (though still higher than the J.League) of Europe.

The Bad

FC Ryukyu were ripped apart during a set piece for the first goal. Yokohama’s short corner pulled the defenders out of position and opened a shooting lane that Saito exploited by placing a well-aimed shot just inside the post. There was nothing that Dany could’ve done to save that shot.

Yokohama’s 3^rd goal was another master strike but only because the FC Ryukyu defenders allowed all sorts of time and space to Nakayama who sent it high into the top right corner.

Tomidokoro had an opportunity early in the second half but took an extra touch that allowed a defender to get into the way of Yu’s shot. Last year I think Yu would’ve let that rip from his initial starting point but instead a little lack of confidence saw him take an extra touch which ultimately closed the shooting lane.

The Ugly

The club was not prepared to handle that large of a crowd on Saturday night. It is not as if they had no prior indications and warnings that a larger than normal crowd was sure to attend. Long lines to enter the stadium is one thing, but 30-40-minute waits for food and beverages as well as empty vending machines is not the right way to sell the club to someone on their first ever experience at the stadium.

The defense. This is a real issue for FC Ryukyu as they’ve conceded the most goals in J2 and didn’t address the defense during the transfer window. The coaching decision to force fullbacks into attack and hold high lines means FC Ryukyu are extremely vulnerable to counter attacks and attacks that start with cheap giveaways. Okazaki’s turnover from a bad touch required just one pass from Yokohama to rip open the defense and concede the second goal of the night.

Conclusion

I hope that the club can pull in between 6-8,000 people for the remaining 6 matches as this will certainly help them financially in the long run. In the interim, they’d do well to scratch and claw a result away to Vortis this weekend and then return for 2 “must-win” games in a row against FC Gifu and Kagoshima.

“The Stuff of Legends” Match Day 28 Preview: FC Ryukyu vs. Yokohama FC 8/17/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu enters Match Day 28 in a much better mind set compared to the last few weeks. However, this is a “new look” FC Ryukyu side as the club was very active in the summer transfer window. Koji Suzuki, Ryo Wada and Masutani have departed while we welcome in Shinji Ono, Ramon and Yuya Torikai. Yokohama FC have 8 wins and 1 draw from their past 9 matches. They are in good form right now despite the slight wobble they had on the road versus Mito this past week. There are a lot of similarities between Yokohama FC and Reysol and we all know how that game turned out for FC Ryukyu.

Weather

I think you’d be surprised if I put anything other than “rain is expected,” but once again, rain is expected. Scattered thunderstorms with temps in the high 80s that will feel like the high 90s. You know the drill, ASSEMBLE THE PONCHO ARMY!

Yokohama FC

Yokohama have been nothing short of dominant these past 9 weeks. They came from behind against Tochigi, JEF Chiba and Yamaguchi to earn 2-1, 3-1 and 4-1 wins. All of these wins were in very convincing fashion. Yokohama FC can absolutely rip teams apart at the back with speed, crisp passing and excellent finishing. Domingues added a couple of FK goals in these matches and Ibba was just abusing the Yamaguchi back line.

Avispa Fukuoka really frustrated Yokohama at home but the visitors achieved the breakthrough in the 76^th minute. Fukuoka were unlucky in that they hit the post twice earlier in the match and a possible 3^rd goal went through the legs of the keeper and across the mouth of the goal. However, it was Fukuoka who made a mistake defensively and they paid for it.

Both Mito and Yokohama FC were unlucky in the last match as each had golden opportunities to take the lead but neither side could convert. This was a good game despite the 0-0 score line as both teams are in the top 6 and you knew there weren’t going to be many opportunities for either side.

FC Ryukyu

As mentioned in the introduction, this is going to be a new FC Ryukyu team for the remaining 15 games. The loss of Koji and his 15 goals will now put tremendous pressure on players like Uejo, Ramon, Shinji and Kazama to score goals. FC Ryukyu did nothing to address their defensive woes in the transfer window unless you count shipping Masutani to Okayama out on loan. We have 4 healthy defenders at the moment and it will be the first time that all 4 start together on the back line. Not a great prospect heading into a game against a free scoring side like Yokohama.

It is not a given that the momentum and euphoric feeling from the dramatic come from behind victory over Nagasaki will carry over into this game as several of those players will not be involved. Still, it is better to have won than lost when attempting to best a top 6 side who is a good run of form.

So, it will be interesting to see the lineup Higuchi chooses for this game, how the team plays together on the pitch and the timing of the substitutes tonight. The Tokumoto injury plus the fact that we do not have a dedicated striker on the side only strengthens the idea of switching to a back 3 and adding more firepower up front. FC Ryukyu may enjoy loads of possession since they now have some creative players up front, but who will be on the receiving end to finish these plays?

Injuries

FC Ryukyu: DF #5 Tokumoto is out for another 2-3 weeks from an ankle sprain. This was to be expected, and actually could’ve been a lot worse, after Tokumoto suffered a gruesome looking injury versus Nagasaki last week.

GK #23 Ishii is still recovering from a nasal/facial fracture he suffered a few weeks back.

Both MF #36 Koya Kazama and DF #4 Okazaki were subbed off early last week and I do not know if either will be match fit for today. There is the possibility both feature but I have no updates.

Yokohama FC: Not really dealing with any injuries to their main lineup this weekend.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Don’t give up too many FKs near the 18-yard box. Yokohama FC feature two of the best free kick takers in the league with Domingues and now Shinsuke. FC Ryukyu are decent at defending FKs but sometimes come apart after the initial shot is stopped, but not completely cleared from danger.

2. Do not make stupid mistakes on defense. Yokohama has been punishing teams when they commit too many defenders to the attack and/or when a defender makes a rash or ill advised challenge. This allows Yokohama to hit sides on the break and Domingues can really pick apart your scrambling back line. Just play sound football and do not over commit the FC Ryukyu defenders forward.

3. Attack Yokohama FCs flanks with speed. If there are any weaknesses to this Yokohama side it is their defense is not as tight as some of the sides above them in the table. They were exposed against JEF, Renofa, Fukuoka and Tochigi down the sides and this is where FC Ryukyu can benefit. Uejo and possibly Ramon’s speed may prove the difference.

Match Prediction

Yokohama are very strong side and I think their good form gets the best of this new look FC Ryukyu side 3-1.

Conclusion

I think there is the feeling among many Okinawan’s that this match will feature 3 icons of Japanese football, Shinji Ono, Shinsuke Nakamura and Kazuyosji Miura. First, I hope this really fills out the Tapista as we really need a bump in our attendance levels. Plus, the weather forecast is terrible so I wasn’t expecting a large turnout today anyway. Second, I hope fans are not disappointed if we do not see all 3 of these icons feature in the match as that would require some serious luck and choreography. Miura played 62 minutes and Shinsuke played the entire 90 minutes this mid-week in their Emperors Cup game. Keep in mind that Miura is 52 years old and hasn’t featured in a league game since March with Shinsuke primarily used as a late substitute. Also, Shinji Ono hasn’t featured in any match since March and is likely to either start and be subbed off by half time or come on with about 30 minutes to go in the game. I hope that Yokohama FC dresses their players for the fans but I doubt we see all 3 on the pitch at the same time. Regardless, see you out there and good luck boys.

“Wet, Wild & WADA-full” Match Day 27 Report: FC Ryukyu 3 – 2 V-Varen Nagasaki 8/10/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu pulled off a come from behind victory this past Saturday night where they clawed back from one goal deficits twice to ultimately secure all 3 points. Despite the brutal weather, the fans spirits and more importantly, that of the team, were lifted with the crucial win at home. It’s no secret that FC Ryukyu have been struggling for points of late in the midst of a losing streak so let’s hope this result turns the corner for the team and they can begin stringing together some positive results.

Match Recap

I am not exaggerating when I say the weather was brutal. There was intermittent rain followed by gusts of wind and then heavier amounts of rain. This cycle continued up to the mid-way point of the second half. FC Ryukyu were controlling a vast majority of possession early on but it was Nagasaki who were getting the better chances. Nagasaki had far more opportunities this match compared to their previous 5 games when it looked like they were willing to sit back and hit teams on the counter. Nagasaki adopted a different approach against Ryukyu and it paid off straight away.

FC Ryukyu conceded a goal from a Nagasaki CK in which the perfectly placed cross made it over the top of the initial wall of FC Ryukyu defenders and allowed Goya to slot home his 14^th goal of the season. I was worried that like previous matches for FC Ryukyu, when an opponent scored, there were more goals to follow. To FC Ryukyu’s credit, they responded well by answering the Nagasaki goal with one of their own only 5 minutes later.

The goal came from one of the new FC Ryukyu signings, Koya Kazama. On the goal, Koji passed to Koya who was at the right side of the box. Instead of continuing his run down the right, Koya ran back across the top of the box which really opened up the Nagasaki defense. Koji called for the ball back, and was wide open on net had he received the pass, but Koya opted to shoot with so much of the goal to aim at. His left footed shot ended up in the bottom left corner and FC Ryukyu were on the board.

It was not until the 75^th minute when Goya bagged his second goal of the game from a Nagasaki counter that caught the FC Ryukyu defense off guard. Kamekawa of Nagasaki rounded Fukui, on what was some suspect defending, and found acres of space to work a cross into the 6-yard box. Kamekawa sent a perfectly placed, perfectly weighted cross to a wide open of Goya who proceeded to give Nagasaki the 2-1 lead.

FC Ryukyu responded once more with another highlight reel goal from Uejo. This man has had several of these types of goals this season and it is only a matter of time before we see him whisked away to a top-level club. Wada found a streaking Uejo down the right and Uejo sent an absolute rocket past the keeper and into the top left corner. FC Ryukyu were tied with about 5 minutes and stoppage time remaining. Then something miraculously happened, FC Ryukyu scored a third goal.

I say miraculously because FC Ryukyu had only scored a total of 2 goals combined in their 5 previous matches. The goal occurred deep into stoppage time when a 97^th minute corner kick from Uesato found its way over the heads of the Nagasaki defenders where Wada was waiting at the back the corner. Wada was guarded but the ball took a fortuitous deflection of the Nagasaki defender who had his back turned to goal and Wada was able to send the shot past the rushing defenders and keeper for the 3-2 lead.

The goal was massive and the home crowd responded in kind. It was great seeing the players celebrate the goal as it proved vital for FC Ryukyu’s standings when so many teams below them produced favorable results as well this weekend.

Man of the Match

Well it would be just plain rude to not award Wada the man of the match since I titled the article based on his massive goal. However, he also provided an assist on the Uejo goal, earned the corner kick that he scored from and therefore is more than deserving of this award. Well done.

Review of the FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. FC Ryukyu to have large amounts of possession. PUSH. They did early on but so did Nagasaki, Nagasaki did hit FC Ryukyu on the counter but FC Ryukyu were able to light up the scoreboard, it was often, just not early as I’d suggested.

2. Take some shots/chances from distance as the Nagasaki goal keeper struggles with these types of shots. PASS, OH MY GOODNESS PASS! Koya’s shot from the top of the box and Uejo’s from just inside the box froze the Nagasaki goal keeper. Yu had a shot from distance that nearly put FC Ryukyu up 2-1 shortly after the Koya goal and Uesato sent a tricky shot from distance where the Nagasaki goal keeper strangely decided to stop it with his knees, despite the distance and time he had to judge the shot. But the icing on the cake, the cherry on top as they say, was the Wada goal from the Uesato cross. The Nagasaki GK made an attempt at clearing the ball and this allowed Wada the time to settle the cross and send the shot home. Had the GK not jumped, he may have been able to get back across the goal mouth and save the Wada shot.

3. FC Ryukyu to score more than 2 goals. PASS. Nothing more to add.

Match Day 27 Takeaways

1. It must be mentioned that the FC Ryukyu victory came at a heavy cost. First, Okazaki was subbed off at half time and we cannot assume it was due to poor performance. This is bad as FC Ryukyu have recently sent Masutani out on loan which means Fukui and Nishikawa are likely starting next week at CB. Nishikawa reminds me a lot of David Luiz in the limited time I’ve seen him play so we’ll reserve judgement for a later time.

Second, Koya Kazama went off injured in the 63^rd minute. This is a shame as he was performing really well and the team looked better with him in the lineup. He seemed to injure himself attempting a tackle but did walk off under his own power. He was seen receiving treatment to one of his lower extremities and this could be anything from a rolled ankle, torn ligament or pulled muscle. We will have to wait and see any news of his injury.

Third, Tokumoto’s injury looked the worst when he was rolled up on by a falling Ibarbo early in stoppage time. He immediately clutched his left ankle and looked in obvious pain. He was stretched off and didn’t return. His ankle was caught underneath Ibarbo and turned outward so this could be any level of sprain that could sideline Tokumoto for 3-8 weeks. Hopefully nothing is torn or broken. Plus, we’ll now need a suitable replacement at LB if Fukui indeed needs to switch to CB.

Finally, and most regrettably, FC Ryukyu have sold Koji Suzuki to Cerezo Osaka on a full transfer. 15 goals and 2 assists along with tremendous hold play and total class are gone from the lineup. How will that be replaced?

Conclusion

We will do a transfer wrap up sometime next week after the Yokohama FC match. FC Ryukyu secured a vital win at a huge cost and the remainder of the season will be a very bumpy ride for the team, their fans and this island. Here’s hoping to continued success.

Photos are from FC Ryukyu and J.League websites.

“The time is now, the place is here.” Match Day 27 Preview: FC Ryukyu vs. V-Varen Nagasaki 8/10/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu look to end their 5-game losing streak this Saturday when they square off with V-Varen Nagasaki at the “Tapista.” FC Ryukyu limp into this matchup after having suffered their 5^th consecutive loss which has also seen them lose 8 out of their last 9 games in all competitions. Nagasaki travel to Okinawa following 2 consecutive defeats in a row that has contributed to Varen’s recent form of losing 4 games in their last 6 matches. Much like last week, FC Ryukyu desperately need a positive result to stop this losing streak and to gain some distance between them and the relegation floor. As noted in previous entries, the teams below FC Ryukyu have been playing much better as of late and are closing the gap between them and FC Ryukyu. Will we see some of the new FC Ryukyu signings this week? Will we see an FC Ryukyu win? Something we haven’t seen in over a month.

Weather Forecast

Typhoon Lekima is leaving us with some rather terrible weather this Saturday but that should be of no surprise to any FC Ryukyu fan who lives on Okinawa. Rain is expected at every home match it seems as even though there was 0% chance of rain in the forecast the last home game, we ended up getting a little rain prior to kickoff. Well, it looks to be hot, wet and windy. Don’t you just love football?

V-Varen Nagasaki

As previously mentioned, Nagasaki are experiencing a dip in form themselves having lost 4-1 and 3-1 to Ehime FC and FC Gifu at home in consecutive weeks (not a great sign for FC Ryukyu as we’re targeting those games as winnable). Prior to those results, Nagasaki lost on the road to Mito 2-1 and then went on to defeat Kofu at home and Kagoshima on the road.

There were a couple of trends I saw in these matches: 1. Nagasaki would afford a lot of possession and opportunities to their opponent, 2. Nagasaki created very few chances of their own during these games and 3. Nagasaki almost seemed to rest their hopes on a “bend, don’t break” defense to the point where if the opponent failed to score, then Nagasaki would have a chance to win a tightly contested match with a low score line.

Maybe that means something or maybe it means nothing at all but these trends were pretty obvious during their past 5 games. Nagasaki have also brought in three J1 players during this transfer period and it looks as if Akino and Caesar will start in the Mid-Field with Ibarbo coming on late to spell one of the attacking forwards. Ibarbo will cause all sorts of issues for our defense late in the match and it will be interesting see what happens if there is a tight score line this Saturday.

FC Ryukyu

Since the start of June, 11 matches in total, FC Ryukyu have only managed 5 points out of a possible 33. That is 15% of the total amount of available points, a wining percentage of 9%, and positive outcome of 27%. Add in that FC Ryukyu have been outscored 11 to 29 during that stretch, suffered the aforementioned 5 consecutive losses, have lost 7 from the previous 8 J2 matches and now; you tell me, why is Higuchi still employed?

FC Gifu, Avispa Fukuoka, JEF United Chiba and Tochigi SC have all fired managers this season and yet FC Ryukyu continue to employ the services of an individual whose best days are well behind him. Higuchi’s refusal to change the system, questionable lineup selection and timing of substitutions all indicate that he is attempting to cover up a bullet wound with a Band-Aid.

There are 16 games remaining this season and FC Ryukyu need at least 14 more points to reach the relative safety mark of 42 points. Yet, Higuchi’s recent record indicates he will not get us close to that number. We need a serious change at manager to spark something with the players or risk sliding back down to the J3. Make no mistake, the teams beneath us in the table are playing much better and have reinforced themselves this transfer window. If you don’t believe me, watch their highlights and compare their tactics, game plans and results to that of FC Ryukyu.

FC Ryukyu have 8 home games remaining and 3 of them are this month. August (early Sep) is now the make or break part of the FC Ryukyu J2 season. Unfavorable results against a struggling Nagasaki side and lower teams FC Gifu and Kagoshima will be the death nail in the FC Ryukyu coffin.

Player Injuries

FC Ryukyu have back up GK # 23, Ishii out with what looks to be a broken nose or facial fracture that he picked up in practice this week. There may be more injuries this side is dealing with but the Ishii update is the one made public.

V-Varen Nagasaki have a couple of players out that were mainly used during their Levain Cup matches so their absence shouldn’t impact the normal starting 11 or bench reserves for Nagasaki tomorrow.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Nagasaki’s tendency to allow their opponent large amounts of possession plays directly into the overall (current) strategy/strength of FC Ryukyu. FC Ryukyu prefer to have loads of possession and play out from the back (as if we’re Real Madrid or something) but FC Ryukyu need to capitalize on their opportunities. Nagasaki will try to hit FC Ryukyu on the counter and FC Ryukyu really need to light up the score board early and often tomorrow. If FC Ryukyu can do that, then Nagasaki may have no answer and FC Ryukyu could walk away with all 3 points.

2. Take some shots/chances from distance as the Nagasaki Goal Keeper seems to have trouble stopping these types of shots. Tokushige either looks stunned and will freeze in place, or, will make a mess of things back there when there are these types of shots. Another strange phenomenon but one that shouldn’t be underestimated as it plays into the fact that FC Ryukyu currently lack creativity down the middle so let loose a few shots from distance tomorrow.

3. We will surrender a goal tomorrow, the stats indicate as much, but let’s score more than 2.

Match Prediction

“The stats don’t lie” is the famous quote and with that said, a 2-1 defeat for FC Ryukyu is the likeliest of outcomes tomorrow. Painful as that may be, refer to the side-by-side table above for further evidence as to why this outcome is the preferred choice.

Conclusion

I am as nervous, if not more nervous, than most of you for this coming weekend. FC Ryukyu have only taken 6 points on the road this season with only one of those points occurring in the last 10 road matches. That means home points are vital for FC Ryukyu’s safety. Since FC Ryukyu lost the unbeaten record at home, this side has begun to suffer some serious defeats that has seen them tumble down the table while having their goal differential being blown apart along the way. As much as I’d love to see FC Ryukyu earn 10 points from their next 4 home games, expectations have to be managed and that means that we need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

This is without a doubt, the worst it has been this year for this newly promoted club. Despite the best efforts by the players on the pitch, they are beaten well in advance of the game. They are simply being outmaneuvered tactically and out coached. Good luck boys. See you out there.

“Burn it all down, then build it back up” Match Day 26 Report: Kashiwa Reysol 5-1 FC Ryukyu 8/4/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu hit rock bottom on Sunday night when they were rocked 5-1 by J2 League leaders, Kashiwa Reysol, at the Sankyo Frontier Stadium. FC Ryukyu have now lost 5 in a row and 8 out of their last 9 matches in all competitions. The recent run of form continues to pile the pressure on this team and it’s manager and one has to ask,”have we finally reached the point where changes to personnel and the system are required?” I for one, would answer yes. There is a need to change the formation, change the players in that formation and change the manager to generate some sort of positive momentum and energy before this club finds itself at the foot of the table.

Match Recap

FC Ryukyu started out strongly in this match and there were was a brief moment when I felt that something might break FCR’s way and we could sneak outta there with a nice result. It was a fleeting thought since the Yu goal was overturned for off-sides and Koji Suzuki’s 15th goal this season was all but wiped out in a matter of minutes.

It only took Reysol 8 minutes after the opening Koji goal to equalize and then only 3 more additional minutes to take the 2-1 lead for which FC Ryukyu never recovered. There may have been some confusion between Dany and his defenders on the first goal but the second was a perfect example of excellent preparation on the training ground paying dividends during a match.

If anyone has studied tape of FC Ryukyu they would notice that we surrender a lot of goals during the ensuing chaos following the stop/semi clearance of the original shot/cross from a set piece. Cristiano made a run up that simulated he would take a shot but instead passed it length wise across the top of the box. The FC Ryukyu defenders immediately came out to close down the Reysol player but in doing so left several Reysol players wide open and on-sides inside the box. All it took was a quick pass to one of them who turned and shot from point blank range right past the diving Dany Carvajal.

FC Ryukyu were then ripped open at the back for the next 2 Reysol goals in the second half from a nice run by Olunga and deft little flick by Cristiano where Fukui may have accidentally played him on sides. It was yet another case of 2 quick goals in short succession by Reysol separated by only 4 minutes. FC Ryukyu’s best chance the remainder of the game came in the 74th minute when Nishioka had a wide open shot on net that he ended up sending into the side netting. To add insult to injury, or showing the ultimate respect by not letting up all match, Reysol added a 5th goal in the 90th minute when a diving Dany got down to hard shot but couldn’t parry it away from danger and it ended up in the bottom corner.

Man of the Match

Cristiano played a part in 3 of Reysol’s goals on Sunday evening. He initiated the opening goal from his throw in that caused the confusion in the Ryukyu defense, he was part of the previously mentioned set piece that pushed the score line to 2-1 and added a goal of his own to make it 3-1. The man was on fire on Sunday.

Review of FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

There were none in the preview so none therefore there are none to review. I predicted a 4-0 win for Reysol and I got the margin of victory correct.

Match Day 26 Takeaways

Higuchi tried to spark something, I guess, with his lineup choices of Komatsu, Song Sun and Fukui in place of Kazama, Tanaka and Masutani. Before we proceed further I have no idea what happened to Masutani or Kawai to know if they’re dealing with injuries or Higuchi has lost faith in them. Komatsu looked fine, Fukui was his normal self and Song Sun was largely invisible for most of the match.

When you’ve lost 8 of 9 and 5 in a row everything is magnified and criticized. Turnovers, poor passing/crosses, organization and game plan all played their part on Sunday night. For the year, FC Ryukyu have scored 2 goals from free kicks and only 4 from crosses by our Full Backs; 2 from Tokuomoto, 1 from Nishioka and 1 from Fukui. Why employ a 4-2-3-1? Our FBs are not providing the quality of service that Highuchi seems to feel is the remedy to the FC Ryukyu attacking woes. Instead, play a 3-4-3 and get the firepower out there and reduce the weak links one by one and generate some offense.

I will say that Tokumoto looked great in his first game back and was causing a lot of trouble out there but FCR put a lot of their attacking down the right side (something like 62% down the right compared to a 38% split between the middle and left side?).

In the days leading up to the Reysol match, and then early this week, it was announced that FC Ryukyu have signed 3 players. 2 on loan and 1 permanent signing. All 3 are attacking players, one is a young untested Brazilian with some knee problems, a 40 year old icon of the game and creative MF from FC Gifu who happens to be the younger brother of Kazama. While I’ll save my comments for the end of the transfer window, and reserve judgement for the end of the season, I think FC Ryukyu missed the mark with the signings.

First, two are loans and will/could possibly leave in January and one of them cannot play against their parent club, FC Gifu, which is a must win game for FCR. Second, I hope the player that is older than me can offer something besides a Public Relations move by the club. We need goals, creativity and maturity out there and if this pays off then maybe signing this player indicates a possible move to a player/manager role for FCR, which seems to be on the risethese days, ans is a way that also pushes Highuchi out this season.

Third, there is roughly 1 week remaining in this transfer window and FCR have yet to sign a defensive player. While it is true the attacking had dropped off after the Nakagawa departure, it was coming back but has since stalled. Offense was never really the issue for FCR, it was defense, and stopping the bleeding at the back.

Finally, I hope the FC Ryukyu faithful do not place all their hopes at staving off relegation on the shoulders of the newly acquired players. It is not fair to them and they are not miracle workers. They will all need time to adjust to the club, players and Okinawa before being integrated into the lineup and making any notable contributions.

Unfortunately, FC Ryukyu do not have the luxury of time. We have 4 home games between Nagasaki, Yokohama and then the 2 big “must wins” of FC Gifu and Kagoshima in a row in the coming 5 weeks. FC Gifu and Kagoshima are playing much better than the last time FCR played them, and they both beat us last time.

It should also be noted that Dany signed an extension through (to?) 2021 and that has been the best news this transfer window.

Looking Ahead

Nagasaki comes to town this Saturday and is largely being overlooked by most FCR fans as they anticipate the arrival of Ono from Sapporo the following week. The bottom line is FC Ryukyu need points, by hook or by crook, and it doesn’t really matter how they acquire them anymore.

“Brace Yourselves, Pain is coming.” Match Day 26 Preview: Kashiwa Reysol vs. FC Ryukyu 8/4/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu head to the Tokyo area to take on first placed Kashiwa Reysol who are currently on an 8-game unbeaten run in the J2. FC Ryukyu are sporting a 4-game losing streak and have lost 6 out of their last 7 matches. This match up is a far cry from the last time these 2 sides squared off in Okinawa on match day 8. Since that time, Reysol have gone on to win 9 matches, draw 6 times and suffer only 2 defeats whereas FC Ryukyu have drawn 4 times, lost 10 times and only won 3 matches. FC Ryukyu face an almost impossible task this weekend based on the two sides statistics and recent performances.

Weather Forecast

It is going to be hot. Temperatures may be in the 80s but it will feel like the upper 90s leading up to the match and high 80s/low 90s for most of the match. There is little chance of rain so stay hydrated people.

Kashiwa Reysol

Reysol are doing their best steam roller impression as they are absolutely flattening everyone in their path. 8 wins in a row in all competitions and they are doing it in style. It seems each of the past 8 weeks that either Cristiano or Olunga have scored and now their new signing, Matheus Savio on loan from Brazilian side Flamengo, is also getting in on the scoring action.

Reysol’s last five match results: 4-2 win over Kofu, 2-1 over Vortis after coming back to win, 1-0 win versus Kanazawa, 2-1 win over Tochigi after going down 1-0 and the 4-0 demolition of Okayama. Wow.

FC Ryukyu

I simply have no answers or reasons as to why FC Ryukyu are performing so poorly as of late. It is not as if this team has capitulated and they are doing all they can to stay in games and win matches. Unfortunately, I think they are being out coached and tactically out performed by many of their rivals. Higuchi’s false resolve and stead fast refusal to change the way FC Ryukyu prepare and execute matches has seen this side experience a series of devastating losses and results. Opponents are no longer shocked by FCR like they were earlier this season and can easily make the necessary in-game adjustments against FCR to grab all 3 points. This is not a failure of the players but a failure of the coaching staff to adjust and the players are dealing with the fall out and criticism.

Since we have no idea whose dealing with injures or dips in form, we cannot accurately assess the lineup or reserve choices for each match by Higuchi. We can critique his lineup selection, managerial decisions, and first choices off the bench though. Higuchi has preferred to make changes at the start of the second half recently and to me that signals that he has got the formation, starters and game plan all wrong from the beginning. He will then wait to make the 3^rd substitution despite being down by 2, and sometimes 3 goals, with well over a quarter or more of the match to play. The most egregious example of Higuchi’s mismanagement was his bringing on of Nishikawa, a defender, in the 85^th minute and then decision to push Okazaki up front for some added height. This indicates a last-ditch effort by a manager desperate to save his job.

Team Injuries

Kashiwa Reysol: #11 FW Yamazaki Ryohei has a torn hamstring (using the Google translate calls it separated meat-yuck!).

FC Ryukyu: #1 GK Dany Carvajal but no updates as to what is afflicting him. #13 MF Kawai Shuto didn’t feature at all last week and no updates. There are likely more but we have no idea.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

How can I even assume there are any? FC Ryukyu cannot exploit any weakness against any opponent at the moment and for them to grab any points tomorrow, it will take one of the following:

1. An absolute dip in form by Reysol that is the equivalent of diving head first off a cliff, very unlikely.

2. A miracle. Unlikely, but stranger things have happened and FC Ryukyu do play stronger teams a little tougher. Still, I put this happening at less than 1%.

Match Prediction

Kashiwa Reysol 4-0 FCR. Reysol are firing on all cylinders whereas FC Ryukyu are on fire and burning towards the bottom of J2.

Conclusion

Lets just get this over with and then focus on the next 2 home games as well as 3^rd home game this month against FC Gifu. I am hoping for the best, but expecting the worst so good luck to anyone that shows up (FC Ryukyu Kanto Supporters)!

Done Like Dinner! Match Day 25 Review: FCR 0-2JEF UNITED CHIBA 7/31/2019

Well, the much-anticipated match report. I have exactly 1 page of notes on this match, with spaces? WT heck? An absolute pillow fight that ended up like a stain on the mattress.

Match Summary

Nothing Significant, in fact, yeah nothing. 0-2 by pounding.

Man of the Match

That big boy from JEF that abused our back line, Kleber, 2 goals from a whimper back there on defense.

Review of the Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

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The Nothing to see here Match day 25 takeaways

Fudge it.

How about an F!@#$$% Result boys?