Month: July 2020

Match Day 9 Preview: (17) Fagiano Okayama vs (21) FC Ryukyu 8/1/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu travel North this Saturday to take on Fagiano Okayama. A team that FC Ryukyu lost to twice last year and have yet to register a goal against. Also of note, FC Ryukyu will be facing Satoki Uejo for the first time this season after his departure from the club. For Fagiano, there were high expectations for a club that splashed a ton of cash this off-season on their signings but so far the return on investment has not paid off. For Ryukyu, they are still searching for that elusive first win.

  1. Weather Forecast
  2. Match Day 8 Recap: FC Ryukyu
  3. Match Day 8 Recap: Fagiano Okayama
  4. Team Previews & Injury Report
  5. Keys to Victory
  6. Match Prediction
  7. Round 9 in J2
  8. Conclusion

1. Weather Forecast

Maybe some early rain but otherwise a comfortable evening to enjoy some football.

2. Match Day 8 Recap: FC Ryukyu

2-2- Draw against Jubilo Iwata.

https://fcryukyublog.home.blog/2020/07/30/match-day-8-report-21-fc-ryukyu-vs-10-jubilo-iwata-7-29-20-fc%e7%90%89%e7%90%83/

3. Match Day 8 Recap: Fagiano Okayama

1-1 Draw with Kyoto Sanga.

4. Team Previews & Injury Report

Fagiano Okayama: There was no denying that Fagiano had aspirations of reaching the J1 this season with the big name, and possibly big money, signings they made this off-season. However, all has not gone according to plan.

They have only won twice this season with some very regrettable draws to restart the campaign. Not to mention they could (and should) be without some of their big name signings for this fixture. As FC Ryukyu fans, you are well aware of the fact that Okayama signed, Uejo, Tokumoto and Masutani from us this off season in addition to signing Paulinho from Matsumoto; two goal keepers from Kawasaki Frontale; and Shintaro Shimizu from Omiya Ardija. When coupled together with their very talented striker, Lee Yong Jae, it made for a very nice attack for Fagiano. However, goals have been hard to come by as of late and Uejo has failed to fire this year. Factor in the Paulinho injury and you have a team that resembled FC Ryukyu when Nakagawa was traded away and the goals dried up.

Over their last five matches Okayama are 1-1-3 and have been outscored 2 to 1 (3/6) in that span. The loss of the Paulinho is really being felt through the middle which is only exacerbated by the absence of Tokumoto at LB. There has been no indication of an injury to Tokumoto but he hasn’t featured in the lineup since match day 6. To Tokumoto’s credit, he has 1 goal and 1 assist this season and was looking in fine form prior to whatever injury he picked up.

Yong Jae is the leading scorer for Okayama (3) but Uejo has yet to find the back of the net. He has created plenty of chances for Fagiano but none of his shots have fallen. I could see him ending his goalless drought against FC Ryukyu on Saturday as it feels like he is due for a goal after watching the past 5 matches for Okayama.

Speaking of those matches, it is evident that all the talent they bought up top cannot cover the cracks in defense at the back. Sound familiar? Okayama may pack the box in defense with their 4-4-2 formation but they often let attackers get free around them and have trouble clearing the deflected shots in the 18-yard box. While I am not sure on the amount of possession they have averaged during the past five games, I am sure that they prefer paying a nice long through ball, or ball over the top of the opposition’s defense, as many of the attackers are very adept at turning these long passes into breakaway opportunities.

If this were a completely healthy Okayama side that FC Ryukyu were facing on Saturday I would have some serious trepidation and concern. However, it is anything but, and while I can easily assume Okayama will feel confident facing a side that has yet to win, I think they are ripe for the picking and can be done in by Ryukyu.

Fagiano Okayama Injuries & Suspensions: There are some notable ones. MF Paulinho has torn his right quad/hamstring and is out for at least another 5 weeks. FWD Miniero is in the middle of an 8 week injury to his left knee. And then there is the odd disappearance of LB Tokumoto as no injury has been reported but he hasn’t appeared in some time. Finally, long time FC Ryukyu defender Kosuke Masutani is still sidelined from a hip issue he suffered in the interim period of the 2020 season.

Match Day 8 Starters for Both Clubs

FC Ryukyu: A change to the formation was finally enacted by Higuchi who may have been prompted to do so after the injury to Shinji Ono thus leaving only 2 healthy CMs in Uesato and Koki Kazama. Whatever the case, the new 4-1-4-1 finally put our greatest strength in the lineup and it was evident early on that this is the way forward for Ryukyu.

Granted, Ryukyu did not have much possession against Iwata, but they did limit the free shots on net from dangerous areas and if anything, better defending will lead to more goals for FC Ryukyu. Okayama may very well come out and dominate Ryukyu in the possession category tomorrow, but they are struggling for creativity up top with FC Ryukyu starting to gain some momentum in that department.

Chances are we some changes to the side that faced Iwata but the formation change at least provides more flexibility in the personnel selection for Ryukyu. Tanaka has proven time and time again, that a true Full Back is not required to play what is actually a Wing Back position in Higuchi’s set up. Numata is also need of some serious rest before he picks up a stress injury and I wouldn’t mind seeing one of the younger MF players give him a break.

If Hiuguhi can find the right mix of starters and substitutes tomorrow, Ryukyu can snatch that first victory.

FC Ryukyu Injury & Suspensions: Shinji Ono suffered an injury to his Right MCL which will keep him out of the lineup for the next 2 months. Higuchi intimated in one of the recent FC Ryukyu email magazines that Kawai may have returned to training but is not match fit. Fingers crossed that Kawai is match fit and can put in a limited shift at the end of tomorrow’s game.

5. Keys to Victory

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely it happens 1- Requires a Miracle to happen

1. It all starts in the Locker Room. Likelihood 3: First there is the conviction to stick with the 4-1-4-1 by Higuchi. Then there is the personnel selection as some players are in need of rest. Finally, it is the belief that you will win as it is no longer a question of whether or not Ryukyu can compete, it has become a question of their mental toughness and resolve.

2. Substitutes and their timing are Key. Likelihood 3: When Okayama quickly figures out that their game plan is not working, and introduce some fresh legs, Higuchi must be prepared to counter. The inverse is also true but for now we’ll focus on Ryukyu foiling Okayama’s plans tomorrow. Though I may regret saying this, starting with fresh legs at RB/LB and not needing to bring on defensive subs late is probably key.

3. Create some Chaos in the Okayama Defense. Likelihood 4: The first shot does not necessarily need to be a goal each time but FC Ryukyu need to be prepared to pounce on all rebounds as the Okayama defense finds itself flatfooted.

6. Match Prediction

Going for broke on this one. Fagiano are missing some key offensive pieces and are susceptible to break downs at the back. FC Ryukyu score multiple goals for the second time all season and come away with the 2-1 victory.

7. Round 9 in J2

Oddly, there is only one game scheduled for Saturday night and both Ryukyu and Okayama drew that short straw. While all games are “thigh rubbers” for Ryukyu fans these days, the true “thigh rubbing” match of Round 9 falls to (2) Omiya Ardija hosting (3) Avispa Fukuoka on Sunday. The other one of note is (9) Kyoto Sanga FC welcoming in (8) Machida Zelvia as there seems to be some troubling brewing inside the Kyoto ranks due to their sluggish start.

8. Conclusion

Neither side thought that they would find themselves at their current spot in the table at this point in the season. But it doesn’t matter. Both have a chance to “get right” this Saturday and I feel that FC Ryukyu will be the one walking off the pitch with heads held high and smiles across their faces on Saturday. You see, we’ve come to learn one important thing about FC Ryukyu during this tumultuous stretch of adversity. They never give up. Now it is time they set things straight.

Come on Lads!

Match Day 8 Report: (21) FC Ryukyu vs (10) Jubilo Iwata 7/29/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Another game, another draw for FC Ryukyu. We’ve pushed the win less streak to 8 games this season but as a whole, the performances we see each week by FC Ryukyu are improving. Therefore, we should be encouraged moving forward despite the numbers in the points and win columns.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory
  4. Match Day 8 Prediction
  5. Match Day Takeaways
  6. Round 8 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 8
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

Another hard earned, heart breaking draw for FC Ryukyu. Goals from set pieces by Iwata wiped out the lovely goals from open play by Ikeda and Uehara. It was unfortunate that the final goal of Iwata came after a blatant foul on Tanaka, and even more unfortunate that Uesato tipped it in to the back the net after he got a foot to the shot.

2. Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu MF Ren Ikeda: Ren added his second goal of the season yesterday but he also put in a very workman like performance while in defense. The same could be said about Koizumi and Dany who is playing inspired these days.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory

1. Play relaxed: Likelihood 2. I would say that they did. Jubilo had a massive amount of possession, and FC Ryukyu never pressed to go out in front or recover from a deficit. They simply let the game come to them and capitalized on the opportunities presented to them.

4. Match Day 8 Prediction

I said 2-1 to Iwata and it ended 2-2. 0-2-6 for the year.

5. Match Day 8 Takeaways

1. The New Formation: FC Ryukyu switched to a 4-1-4-1 last night and I must say, they looked much better than they have the past 5 weeks. Yes, Jubilo out possessed us by a very wide margin, but the defending was far better. Jubilo was often frustrated by blocked shooting lanes which forced them into long range desperation shots that Dany was easily able to track and stop. In fact the two Iwata goals came from set pieces. I am glad the switch has been made as it will allow some rest for the players as we move forward.

2. The timing of our substitutions was a bit off: It was evident during last nights game that FC Ryukyu need to rest Numata at some point. This would probably mean Fukui is back in the lineup but Tanaka has shown that it really doesn’t matter who plays the FB roles these days.

3. Uehara is lethal in the air and valuable asset if he can get service: We’ve seen this out of him before but he struggles with the ball at his feet. He is best used in brief spells where he can make an immediate impact which means we are still in need of a 3rd striker soon.

4. The refereeing was abysmal: This obviously sounds like something a fan would say after their team was done in by a bad call near the end that drastically changed the outcome of the match. While the team cannot dwell on what happened, as they need to focus on Okayama in less than 48 hours, we as fans can. There were a few missed calls from the refereeing crew last night but none more blatant than Tanaka being shoved out of bounds on the touch line which rewarded Iwata with the CK that they equalized on. There are countless times you that you see this same exact play in leagues around the world, and it is called a foul in favor of the defender almost all the time. The shove was pretty blatant and caught on film. You have to wonder what the ref and his crew were focused on at that moment. Granted, Iwata did not score on that play and FC Ryukyu still had the ability to defend the CK, but we all know how it ended. It is hard enough to end a win-less drought when you are struggling for form. Its even harder when the refs act as a 12th man for the opposition.  Enough said on that.

Maybe you see it differently.

5. You should be excited as a FC Ryukyu fan for the abundance of youthful talent in the squad. Ikeda, Koizumi, Yamaguchi, Suzuki, and Motegi are a tremendous foundation from which to build. They all require some polishing but that will come with more game time. Throw in the recent contract extension of Dany Carvajal through 2022 and we may see a much better squad next year.

6. Round 8 in J2

https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

Nagasaki remains top; Giravanz continues to surprise; and Kyoto are struggling for wins. Also, it seemed like this round had a lot of late goals to change the outcome of several matches.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

7. Top Goals from Round 8

#1. Takumu Kawamura from distance. (4:13)

#2. Stefan’s chip from long range (2:18)

#3. Junya Osaki’s deflection (1:04)

8. Conclusion

FC Ryukyu head out for a 2-game road trip starting with Okayama Fagiano on Saturday. This will mean that many FC Ryukyu fans will get to see Uejo and Tokumoto facing their old team for the first time.

The performances by Ryukyu have been getting better, now it is time the results started to go our way. Despite not winning this season, the current win-less drought is not similar to the one we were experiencing at this point last year. We still need to score more than one goal per game, but I think that we will see more multiple goal games very soon. As it stands, FC Ryukyu close out July with an 0-3-3 record. Good enough for 21st place in the table. I’ll see you tomorrow with the Match Day 9 preview against Okayama.

Good luck and stay safe.

“I Still Believe” Match Day 8 Preview: (21) FC Ryukyu vs (10) Jubilo Iwata 7/29/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Time for the second of fifteen mid-week games for FC Ryukyu. This week Ryukyu welcome in Jubilo Iwata fresh off their 2-0 loss to Tokushima Vortis this past Saturday with FC Ryukyu returning to Okinawa after their 1-1 draw in Ehime.

Jubilo will be looking to climb back up the table at the expense of an FC Ryukyu team who are currently lacking confidence and wins. It is likely that we see many teams drop points during these mid-week fixtures as the season progresses and I hope that this is the week that FC Ryukyu exorcise their demons, and grab that first win of the year.

  1. Weather Forecast
  2. Match Day 7 Recap: FC Ryukyu
  3. Match Day 7 Recap: Jubilo Iwata
  4. Team Previews & Injury Report
  5. Keys to Victory
  6. Match Prediction
  7. Match Day 8 in J2
  8. Conclusion

1. Weather Forecast

Nice weather is finally in the forecast for a change.

2. Match Day 7 Recap: FC Ryukyu

A hard-fought draw that nearly was a win if we didn’t hit the woodwork, narrowly miss a FK and have the last shot on net just squeak wide after rolling across the mouth of goal.

https://fcryukyublog.home.blog/2020/07/27/match-day-7-report-17-ehime-fc-vs-21-fc-ryukyu-7-25-20-fc%e7%90%89%e7%90%83/

3. Match Day 7 Recap: Jubilo Iwata

Ran into the Vortis buzzsaw and paid the price.

4. Team Previews & Injury Report

FC Ryukyu: The pain and frustration of not winning is written all over the faces of the team. Each missed shot, missed opportunity, and conceded goal feels like a millstone around the neck of a drowning team. It is certainly not from a lack of trying as all the players are giving maximum effort in search of that elusive first win. So why are they failing?

I would venture to guess that it is a mix of the current system and a bit of bad luck. In the two years under Higuchi, I have never seen him make any changes to the 4-2-3-1 formation. I am sympathetic to the fact that a change to the system is no easy undertaking, or a solution to your current problems. But I do not feel we are leveraging our greatest strength at FC Ryukyu; the quality and depth of our mid field players.

I wrote a piece on Sunday about switching over to a 3-4-3 so please check that out if you wish to read more details pertaining to the argument for a change in the current system. In the meantime, let’s see if FC Ryukyu can defeat a team that is looking quite average for just having come down from the J1.

FC Ryukyu Injuries & Suspensions: MF Shinji Ono is likely out for a while and we are waiting for the injury diagnosis for his right knee. Still no word on Shuto Kawai’s return.

Jubilo Iwata: I guess you could say that Jubilo lost to the teams you’d expect them to loose too; drew with a team that you’d expect them draw; and beat the teams you’d expect them to defeat. They have 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses over their last five games with an even 5/5 goals scored, goals conceded record. In other words, average.

But that is still far better than what FC Ryukyu have achieved up to this point. The eye test sees a team that has the same type of struggles FC Ryukyu are experiencing when it comes to scoring and conceding and nothing in the past 5 Jubilo matches really jumps off the screen. They failed to score against Okayama when Fagiano went down to 10 men; they made a costly mistake against Fukuoka (ala Daisei Suzuki vs Renofa); they had a PK saved against Giravanz; and they had no answer for Vortis this past weekend.

If anything, FC Ryukyu need to be concerned with Lukian who is Jubilo’s leading goal scorer bagging 3 goals in his past 4 games. Since his brace against Renofa, Lukian looks to be getting into a nice rhythm and he definitely seems like the type of player that out central defenders will struggle to contain on Wednesday.

Jubilo Iwata Injuries & Suspensions: None to the incumbent starters though they reported an injury to one of their defenders, Kentaro Oi, this week. He hasn’t featured since the opening day in February so nothing really to report.

5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely it happens 1- Requires a Miracle to happen

1. Play relaxed: Likelihood 2.  If Ryukyu press too hard without success, the pressure will mount and then mistakes will be made. I doubt we are going to stop Jubilo from scoring tomorrow so it is best to not place any additional pressure on the already slumped shoulders of this team. Few are expecting us to win, therefore, play with a little bit of reckless abandonment and enjoy yourselves.

6. Match Day 8 Prediction

This one feels like it could end in a 1-1 draw but i’ll err on the side of caution and say that Jubilo win 2-1.

7. Around J2 on Match Day 8

All the games kickoff at 1900 this week so some of you will have some tough choices as to which one(s) you are going to watch. The tasty ones seem to be (8) Kitakyushu vs (3) Tokushima; (11) Zelvia vs (13) Matsumoto and (8) Kanazawa vs (2) Omiya.

8. Conclusion

So many of the past entries displayed a negative tone with FC Ryukyu in the midst of a win less drought since the restart. If anything, the players need our support, a boost of confidence and to get the monkey off their back with a win. For a team like us, in places like this, we need all the hope we can get. Personally, “I still believe” in the potential of this team and hope that a change in their fortunes comes quickly.

Match Day 7 Report: (17) Ehime FC vs. (21) FC Ryukyu 7/25/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu traveled to Ehime on Saturday and earned only their third point of the season after a 1-1 draw. Ryukyu remain at the bottom of the J2 table and are still searching for their first win this season. The hard part of all of this is that Ryukyu had several opportunities to get that win, but when shots are just inches wide, it only compounds the growing frustration among the players and staff. In any given season there will always be narrow misses and games that slip away. But when you’re in the midst of a win less drought, desperately seeking a win, those narrow misses have far greater impacts to the squad more than they do the overall standings. Look no further than how Koya Kazama reacted after the final whistle when he brought his hand to his face, and sunk his head into his lap. The effort is there, the results are not. And it is taking a heavy toll on the team.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  4. Match Day 7 Prediction
  5. Match Day 7 Takeaways
  6. Match Day 7 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 7
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

Both teams had great opportunities to win the game, especially FC Ryukyu. The 3 near misses starting with Uesato’s FK inthe 78th minute; Uehara being caught wrong footed from an awkward bounce 8 minutes later, and Yu’s whisker wide miss deep into extra time nearly saw Ryukyu pull this one out.

2. Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu GK Dany Carvajal: The man was playing inspired last night. Possibly due to his drop to the bench for the previous two matches, and was the reason we walked away with a point on Saturday. He made save after save in the opening half that kept us in the game. The goal he did concede was not even his fault as the ball was deflected and changed directions, but he nearly got to it anyways.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

Exploit the Ehime “Brain Farts.” Likelihood 3: The only real “brain fart” I witnessed on Saturday was that of FC Ryukyu on a set piece. After one of our players fell down in an attempt to get the ball back inside the 18-yard box, Ehime were gifted a breakaway on net that led to their only game of the game.  

4. Match Day 7 Prediction

I thought we would have gone up there and put on a similar performance we saw the past two rounds. We did not, and it ended 1-1. I predicted 3-1 in favor of Ehime so my overall record now sits at 0-2-5.

5. Match Day 7 Takeaways

1. Shinji Ono started on Saturday but could not finish the game due to an injury to his right knee in the 5th minute. From what I saw, it doesn’t look good as he was able to put some weight on the leg, but it didn’t look like he could get up to full speed or make any lateral cuts. I would expect a lengthy spell away from the club as he rehabs the knee, and if it is one of the Posterior, Medial, or Lateral ligaments of the knee that was damaged, we may not see Shinji for the remainder of the year. Let’s hope it is not serious.

2. I said in the preview that all I wanted to see was a better performance from the team regardless of the final outcome. And all in all, it was a better performance by Ryukyu. We expected Ehime to have a large number of shots as they are a much better attacking side this season compared to last year, and Ryukyu weathered that storm quite well. It was only the unfortunate set of circumstances on a set piece for Ryukyu that led to the Ehime goal that prevented us from earning our first win.

3. When the team is reeling, and results are waning, you always look for someone in the squad to put the team on their back and pull them up. For me, that is what Abe did on Saturday. There came a point in the match when he looked to take control of the game single handily and do it all himself. However, this is a double-edged sword since sometimes you can lose sight of the larger picture much like missing a player that is wide open on a 2 on 1 situation. But I cannot fault Abe for that as he is our most clinical finisher and he probably scores that goal 9 times out of 10. Unfortunately, we saw the 1 time that he didn’t. But make no mistake, his efforts shortly thereafter set the scene for our equalizer.

4. FC Ryukyu need a better plan for squad rotation heading forward. Uesato, Numata and Abe have played nearly every minute of every game since the restart and they are showing signs of wear and tear. Shinji Ono’s injury will pave the way for some of our younger players to get some playing time but as we’ve seen with Tanaka at RB, maybe we need to put Yamaguchi in at LB to allow Numata some down time. Plus, we need a 3rd striker from somewhere. Hopefully when the summer transfer window opens up, Ryukyu can sign a few players on loan.

5. I tweeted out prior to the match that I thought this was one of the strongest lineups that FC Ryukyu had put out since the restart. I would’ve liked to see how the pairing of Ono and Abe played out but unfortunately the injury bug bit us and we may never see it. I was shocked to see that we opted to dress 2 defenders (Torikai & Fukui) on Saturday which meant Yamaguchi was dropped from the reserves. While Fukui may not be the greatest defender in the squad, his versatility to play all 4 positions means we could load up on young, fast, and fresh legs on the bench. In that same vein, Higuchi waited way too long to bring on Koizumi at the end; not use his 5th substitute; and took Koya and Motegi – the pair that scored our only goal – out of the match a little too quickly. Motegi is only 24 and should have the stamina to play the full 90 and he is one of our best players in the attack.

6. Match Day 7 Around J2

https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

In the much-anticipated match up between Nagasaki and Kyoto, it was Nagasaki getting the better of Kyoto 1-0 which maintains their 4-point lead at the top over Omiya who also won 1-0 on Saturday. Kitakyushu and Fukuoka also won which pushed them farther up the table.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/tabelle/wettbewerb/JAP2/saison_id/2019

7. Top Goals from Round 7

1: Akira Toshima from Omiya gets the goal but the whole buildup leading to it, with numerous one touch passes was nice. (1:14)

2: Niigata’s Shion Homma’s rocket shot from outer space (1:00)

3: Daisuke Ishizu of Fukuoka chest down the ball nicely and then delivered a missile. (3:00 mark)

8. Conclusion

We’ve picked a good year to be flailing at the bottom as there is no relegation. But there are problems that require change and a bit of good fortune. The players are pressing hard for that first win and as each defeat and draw pile up, the tension and pressure increase exponentially. It does not matter if Ryukyu win their first game and then go on another 10-game losing streak. All they need right now is the belief that they can win.

Time to Change the FC Ryukyu 4-2-3-1 Formation. #FC琉球

While we wait for kickoff of the Sunday evening fixtures, I wanted to voice an opinion of mine that I’ve carried for quite some time. And that is, “why don’t we change the current formation of 4-2-3-1 into something that better suits the strengths of this 2020 FC Ryukyu team?”

Higuchi has never once made a change to the starting formation during his time in charge and while it could be said that he has made some ‘in-game’ adjustments to the squad when required; it is usually a case of too little, too late. So, what can be done?

First, I think we are not leveraging the greatest asset of this team; the midfield talent. We have a very nice mix of youthful exuberance, and veteran wisdom, in this year’s squad and it is a difficult choice each week to select the starting 11. But this leads me to my second point.

Drop the 4-2-3-1 for a 3-4-3. Our recent opponents Ehime FC have done well at this, and this would allows us to pack the midfield with as much attacking talent as we can muster while providing brief periods of rest. I should reemphasize that we lost Shinji Ono for probably an extended period of time this week and that leaves no natural substitute for either Uesato or Koki Kazama in the CDM roles.

So why not drop one to keep them both fresh? My third point would be if we started Yong Jick, Suzuki and Chinen at CB, we could still keep Fukui in reserve to fill in, or start at CB as needed to create a better rotation for our back line.

Fourth, if we moved Numata, Torikai, Tavares, Tanaka, and possibly Yamaguchi into more of wing back role, we could keep players fresh while still creating massive amounts of thrust forward. Think that won’t work? Just look at how ex-FC Ryukyu RB, Taishi Nishioka is thriving at Ehime FC when he is used in both the traditional RB spot as well as that of RW.

Fifth, if we are dead set on using a lone striker up top, it is best to surround him with speed and talent. Since our mid field is loaded with talent, and once Kawai returns, you have numerous options in Yamaguchi, Koizumi, Yu, Ikeda, Koya, and Motegi. Not to mention that Uesato can still marshal the attack from his CDM role while not needing to worry about scrambling back to cover 2 CBs since 3 sit behind him.

Finally, as these fixtures begin to pile up, it is imperative we rotate the squad to keep players fresh so as too avoid fatigue and injuries. The current 4-2-3-1 is not working despite the loads of possession we may enjoy each week as we are lacking a bit of creativity near the 18-yard box to make it all count.

In that case, why not overwhelm the defense with more attacking players that quickly change the direction of the attack as well as create space for players to occupy?

Anyways, just my thoughts and rambles heading into next week’s match.

“Down in a Hole” Match Day 7 Preview: (19) Ehime FC vs. (22) FC Ryukyu 7/25/20 #FC琉球

Intro

251 days. That is how long it has been since FC Ryukyu last won a competitive football match. That win also happened to come against Ehime FC on the road last year near the end of the season. However, things are much different for both sides as Ehime are much improved while Ryukyu’s current struggle for form has seen their fortunes reversed from last year. We may very well witness another blowout this Saturday barring some major improvements during the layoff between matches for FC Ryukyu.

  1. Weather Forecast
  2. Match Day 6 Recap: FC Ryukyu
  3. Match Day 6 Recap: Ehime FC
  4. Team Previews & Injury Report
  5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  6. Match Day 7 Prediction
  7. Match Day 7 Around J2
  8. Conclusion

1. Weather Forecast

Maybe another wet one with a few showers being called for tomorrow.

2. Match Day 6 Recap: FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu controlled large portions of the game, but Renofa Yamaguchi were more clinical in front of goal with their opportunities.

https://fcryukyublog.home.blog/2020/07/20/match-day-6-report-18-renofa-yamaguchi-vs-22-fc-ryukyu-7-18-20-fc%e7%90%89%e7%90%83/

3. Match Day 6 Recap: Ehime FC

Ehime played Kyoto tough though they ended up losing 2-1.

4. Team Previews and Injury Report

Ehime FC. Ehime started fast after the restart by winning 2 games in a row over Tokushima Vortis and Renofa Yamaguchi, and they did so in convincing fashion. They came back from 3 goals down to defeat Vortis 4-3 and then crushed Renofa 3-0 the following week. Since that Renofa match, it has been tough sledding for Ehime.

The goals dried up against stiffer competition but Ehime still performed well during the course of their current 3-game losing streak. Defeats to V-Varen Nagasaki, Fagiano Okayama and Kyoto Sanga FC have derailed the once promising start to their season, though they were a bit unlucky versus Kyoto as they had two late chances to equalize.

FC Ryukyu will see a familiar face in Taishi Nishioka tomorrow and the man has been in bang form since the restart. I believe he has had a hand in 5, if not more, of Ehime’s goals since June. His crosses look deadly and he is scoring goals from inside the opponents 18-yard box with his ability to always find himself in the right place, at the right time. We saw much of the same at the start of last year for Ryukyu by Taishi before his form quickly fell off and he fell out of favor with the current regime. Well he has found a new lease on life and taking every advantage of it.

Ehime get a nice change of pace this week when they welcome in bottom side FC Ryukyu and will look to get back to their winning ways. Nothing stops a losing streak and goalless drought like the worst team in the league visiting your home ground.

Ehime FC Injuries and Suspensions. None to report from their starting 11 or subs they’ve used this season.

Starting Lineups from Match Day 6

FC Ryukyu. Not much to preview. FC Ryukyu have been constantly shuffling their back line and GK in an attempt to stop the bleeding. FC Ryukyu are also struggling for goals at the moment which makes for a lethal combination. While Ryukyu can generate some forward thrust, there is a lack of creativity that seems to stall our attacks once they reach the 18-yard box.

I cannot explain why this phenomenon occurs, only that I hope it goes away soon. Last week I thought the breakout for this side was going to take place. Obviously, it didn’t, and my only hope this week is that the overall performance of the team improves, regardless of the outcome.

FC Ryukyu Injuries and Suspensions: Still no word as to when, or if, Shuto Kawai has returned to training.

5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

Maybe I should change the title for this section to, “Keys to Scoring and Not Conceding” for FC Ryukyu.

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely it happens 1- Requires a Miracle to happen

1. Exploit the Ehime “Brain Farts.” Likelihood 3: As I mentioned earlier in this article, Ehime have played decent over the course of their past 5 games with the occasional mental lapse and error. The so called “brain fart.” If FC Ryukyu can exploit these, while not making many of their own mistakes, then Ryukyu have a chance at earning a point tomorrow. Make no mistake, FC Ryukyu do not have the firepower to get into a shootout with Ehime so it is imperative we capitalize on any opportunities afforded to us.

6. Match Day 7 Prediction

FC Ryukyu are hemorrhaging an average of 2.6 goals per game over their last 5 and I don’t see that changing tomorrow against Ehime. I believe our hosts will take this one 3-1.

7. Match Day 7 Around J2

This round has some pretty titanic match-ups with 4 teams inside the top 5 squaring off against one another. The biggest one being (1) V-Varen Nagasaki hosting (3) Kyoto Sanga FC.

8. Conclusion

A win sure would be nice as FC Ryukyu currently find themselves “down in a hole” at the bottom of J2. And it is a massive hole they need to dig out of as well. As @J2KantoBites so rightly said on the latest installment of the J-Talk Extra Time podcast, “it is bleak for FC Ryukyu fans when you look at the teams that FC Ryukyu were expected to be surrounded by in the table and there is a realistic possibility that we could finish 15 points behind them come seasons end.”

Nothing to it, but to do it I guess!

Match Day 6 Report: (18) Renofa Yamaguchi vs. (22) FC Ryukyu 7/18/20 #FC琉球

Intro

I am not exactly sure where to begin. FCR were blown to bits 4-1 on Saturday by Renofa Yamaguchi and the team, as a whole, looks lost. If you wish to read something happier, then please refer to the FC Ryukyu magazine they publish as this review will not be pleasant. Mistakes were made, players look clueless, and FCR are adrift at the bottom of the table. Luckily for us, this is a lost season in that we get a free pass from relegation but yesterday’s performance was nothing short of depressing.

  1. Match Day 6 Highlights
  2. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  3. Match Day Prediction
  4. Man of the Match
  5. Match Day 6 Takeaways
  6. Round 6 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 6
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Review

No words needed. Simply watch the highlights.

2. Review of the Match Day 6 Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Score from set pieces. Likelihood 2: We did! Granted it is was a rebound/deflection/own goal but we did.

2. Attack, attack, attack. Likelihood 4: We did, but with no creativity or results to show for it.

3. Match Day 6 Prediction

I (foolishly) assumed that FC Ryukyu would go out and earn a 2-1 victory. Instead, they surrendered 4 goals for the second consecutive time on the road. My record now stands at 0-2-4.

4. Man of the Match

Renofa Yamguchi MF Kazuma Takai. He was simply too much for FC Ryukyu to handle on Saturday.

5. Match Day 6 Takeaways

1. Confidence. You either have it, or you don’t. And right now, FCR have none. The 50,000-foot view shows us that everyone of them yesterday had no idea where to be and no idea what to do when they got there.

When you watch us make runs at the opposition’s defense, only to stop; turn around; and pass the ball backwards, you can tell that no one is making aggressive runs, has the confidence to take on a defender with the possibility of winning a free kick, or has any support. Why is that?

There are glimmers of hope with Koizumi, Ikeda, Motegi, Abe, but for the most part, FCR are simply relying on luck to score at this point.

2. Abe is excellent at hold play but receives zero service inside the 18-yard box. Outside of Koizumi’s pass that found Abe last week, none of our crosses find our attackers. In fact, they are usually not well aimed and are easily cleared by the opposition. If we cannot be accurate on crosses into the box, why stick to a formation with a lone striker?

3. It was obvious that goalie wasn’t the area that required a change to spark change in the results. It is, and has always been, the back line. Watching Yong Jick head out to mark an attacker, while no one fills the gap, only to have the pass – as he wasn’t closed down properly – find a wide open Renofa attacker is poor. You can see this on Renofa’s first goal yesterday.  

Suzuki had another slip up yesterday but that doesn’t bother me as he is truly giving 100% out there and his craft will only improve with time. But watching Torikai hell bent on earning his walking papers in the first half, with so many stupid fouls and poor passes, was inexcusable. He commented in the FCR mail magazine that the game was “fun.” Last time I checked, getting drubbed 4-1 is not fun, but that speaks to the mentality, and culture, of the organization right now. For me, he is earned the right to train with the reserves as we have far better options at RB in Tanaka and Tavares.

4. Uesato is normally our best passer but he was off his game on Saturday. He looked tired and in need of a break, but we cannot afford to take him out of the lineup. Uesato has played every minute since the restart and he needs a rest. Shinji, Koki and Uesato need to rotate with each other so as to remain fresh before they all break down.

5. The recent online magazine published by FCR also stated the obvious that we “need to score more goals and not concede as many.” Great, and since it seems unlikely that any reporter will ask them how they intend to do that, I’ll offer this suggestion. Drop one CM; turn the RB/LB into Wing Backs – which will create more flexibility for substitutes with our current squad – as Yamaguchi could spell Numata, and get some speed into the lineup. It’s not like our Full Backs actually defend so quit pretending that we need a back four. Play a back 3 with 3 CBs, and allow more rotations for our midfielders to run at tired defenses late in games.

6. Koizumi, Ikeda, Motegi and Suzuki are far from polished products, but they have massive potential. They require time and coaching, and I fear they may not get either of those as Higuchi’s time is drawing close to an end. The season is not headed in the right direction and therefore, we need to see what we have in our youth prospects.  Let’s see more of Chinen in place of Yong Jick and even Lee Ji Seong at CDM. What else do we have to lose at this point?

7. It seems we have a coaching problem. How else can you explain why we concede with such regularity, score so infrequently, and struggle on both sides of the ball for set pieces? The system is not working. I for one do not believe that we don’t have the right players to make it work, and since you will not fire your players, something has to change with the coaching and tactics.

It is so hard to watch these guys every week displaying slumped shoulders, looks of bewilderment, and massive amounts of frustration. Has Higuchi lost the most important thing for any organization? The confidence of the locker room.

6. J2 Match Day 6

Kofu defeating Omiya at home 1-0 allowed Nagasaki to increase their lead at the top by four points after their come from behind win over Okayama. Kyoto was able to defeat Ehime with two quick goals from Peter Utaka and Kitakyushu’s win streak came to an end against Jubilo.

7. Top Goals from Round 6

  1. Shuhei Tokumoto’s one-timer against Nagasaki (6:40)
  2. Kai Matsuzaki’s top corner curler for Mito (6:20)
  3. Cesar’s decisive winner against Okayama (7:18)

8. Conclusion

Not much else to say at this point. FC Ryukyu head back up to mainland for a tilt with Ehime FC next Saturday and it is anyone’s guess on how that will turn out. We now have the real possibility of remaining win-less until August, and some could argue, only having a handful of wins all seasons. We need to stop focusing all of our attention on the pitch, and start looking at the staff and management as to why things are going so horribly wrong. Granted, that is not easy, but what you see every week on TV is a direct reflection of all aspects of the club.

“Somethings Got to Give” Match Day 6 Preview: (20) Renofa Yamaguchi vs. (22) FC Ryukyu 7/18/20 #FC琉球

Intro

What fun times we’ve had so far! Near misses and blow out losses. That is how I would sum up both sides performance over the past 3 weeks. Both sides are win less since the restart with Renofa having surrendered 11 goals compared to FC Ryukyu’s 9. Renofa has scored twice as many goals, while facing similar type of opponents as FC Ryukyu, so both sides will be looking to end their win less drought come Saturday. The question becomes, who wants it more?

  1. Weather Report
  2. Match Day 5 Review: FC Ryukyu
  3. Match Day 5 Review: Renofa Yamaguchi
  4. Team Previews & Injury Report
  5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  6. Match Day 6 Prediction
  7. Around J2 on Match Day 6
  8. Conclusion

1. Weather Report

Another wet forecast is in the offering for this match.

2. Match Day 5 Review: FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu earned a draw against V-Varen Nagasaki this past Wednesday. Watch the video clip and then read my review of the match.

https://fcryukyublog.home.blog/2020/07/16/match-day-5-review-22-fc-ryukyu-vs-1-v-varen-nagasaki-7-15-20-fc%e7%90%89%e7%90%83/

3. Match Day 5 Review: Renofa Yamaguchi

Renofa Yamaguchi were decimated 4-0 by Tokushima Vortis mid-week.

4. Team Previews & Injury Report

Renofa Yamaguchi

FC Ryukyu got the better of Renofa last season as they drew with them once, and defeated them on a beautifully taken shot by Kawai in the return leg. Renofa did beat FCR in the Emperor’s Cup that year but neither sides fielded their top team so I am not counting it. As far as this year is concerned, Renofa are coming off three straight losses to Vortis, Iwata, and Ehime. In those three games they have been outscored 9-1.

That is very different from how they started out this season. They defeated Kyoto 1-0 at home in February and then drew with Okayama at the restart. Renofa looked very spry in those games and maybe the long layoff between matches is the reason why.

On paper, and to the naked eye, there is not much difference between these two teams. Both are plagued by the same problems in defense; both have faced a very tough slate of games of late; and both have a poor goal difference. I said the same exact words heading into the Kitakyushu game and we all know how that turned out, so this doesn’t really buoy my confidence.

Renofa, like Ryukyu, are targeting this game for a win. And why not? FCR are currently at the bottom of the table and struggling for goals. However, as I’ll mention in the next section, Renofa may be without two of their better players on Saturday which could provide a slight edge to FC Ryukyu.

That is not to say they still don’t have talent that can score as Kazuma Takai is very capable of scorning from anywhere on the pitch. Whereas Ryukyu look to be turning things around, in the case of Renofa, they seem to be headed in the opposite direction. Renofa looked flatfooted against both Vortis and Ehime and though they were able to score against Jubilo, they allowed a considerable amount of free looks on net. The same thing we’ve been railing about when it comes to closing down attackers and clearing dead ball kicks in Okinawa applies directly to Renofa.

As I said, if I showed an outsider these highlights in black and white, they probably couldn’t tell the difference between these two squads with their past results and performances.

Renofa Yamaguchi Injuries & Suspensions: FWD Iuri. Not many details on what is afflicting him, he is just listed as injured. This is kind of big news as he is their leading goal scorer with 2 goals, and has accounted for half their goals scored this season. Maybe that is why the Renofa attack dried up after he was subbed off in the 35th minute mid-week?

There is also a possibility that starting MF, Takahiro Ko, will be sidelined after he too was subbed off early in the Vortis match. He took a nasty knock from a rash challenge and wasn’t able to continue despite trying to gut it out for a few minutes.

Anticipated Lineups for each side. Interesting enough, Renofa also started a MF at RB last week in an attempt to generate some offense.

FC Ryukyu

This match could be considered a little break in the schedule for FC Ryukyu if you simply looked at the standings. However, nothing can be taken for granted these days in Okinawa as FC Ryukyu are still in search of their first win. As I mentioned in the match day 5 review, FC Ryukyu are also looking for their first shutout and first multiple goal game this year. There is a possibility that it could happen on Saturday evening but FCR haven’t proven that they are capable of either at this point.

The low point for FC Ryukyu this season came after the 3-1 loss to Tokushima Vortis last weekend as it was on the heels of a 4-0 loss to then, bottom side Giravanz Kitakyushu (21 at the time) 4-0. A change had to be made and Higuchi did just that with six changes to last weeks lineup. The question is, did it work?

I would venture to say that it did. The offense looked much better and the defense only surrendered a goal from a set piece. Thanks in large part to the play of Keita Tanaka at RB, Daisei Suzuki at CB, Koizumi at CB and the re-introduction of Ren Ikeda to the lineup, FC Ryukyu generated 17 shots against Nagasaki.

But shots and possession will not win games, goals, and the prevention of goals, do. Maybe FCR are slow starters and it will take a few more games for them to find a rhythm and grab some wins. If you believe that, then FC Ryukyu look primed to bust out in a big way in the very near future. If you believe that they lack the finishing power at the top, then it is likely that FCR continue to pile up draws and losses with very few goals scored.

I for one believe the breakout is coming. Some of the shots will start finding creases in the defense and space around goalies. I also feel that the defense will slowly shore itself up and start choking out the attacks of our opponents, much like we saw against JEF all those days ago.

It should also be noted that last season, Higuchi rarely made changes to the lineup, both when it was and wasn’t working which was a bit frustrating, and I see very little change to the side that drew against Nagasaki tomorrow. I am basing this on the fact that FC Ryukyu have a full week between fixtures following this match and Higuchi wants to notch that first win very badly.

If past performance is any indication of future outcomes, then we could be in trouble. But again, I think FC Ryukyu will overcome the self-induced pressure of seeking their first win by taking down Renofa on their home ground tomorrow.

FC Ryukyu Injuries & Suspensions: We are now past the timeline FCR put out for Kawai to return from his injury. There has been no word on his health at the time of this entry and even if he did return, it is likely he’ll need two weeks to gain back strength and match fitness. But if he is healthy, and is in the lineup, then look out.

5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely it happens 1- Requires a Miracle to happen

1. Score from set pieces. Likelihood 2: Renofa looks very lethargic when it comes to defending set pieces and corners and I think we could have a distinct height advantage over them. Generate these opportunities and end the drought of zero goals from set pieces once and for all.

2. Attack, attack, attack. Likelihood 4:  Renofa’s defense will allow the same time and space we as FCR afford many of our opponents. Now is the time to get the shots on net and not just at comfortable heights for the keeper to save. Renofa is also susceptible to the counter attack from what I saw against Ehime and Vortis.

6. Match Prediction

It may not be the prettiest match up this week to watch, but I think FCR can dig out their first win this year in a gritty 2-1 victory. From my vantage point, FC Ryukyu are sort of surging while Renofa are reeling. Renofa has every right to assume they’ll walk away with all three points on Saturday as FCR’s road form is not that great, and they too are coming off some tough results. But I feel FC Ryukyu has the firepower to score whereas Renofa are missing some key pieces to their attack due to injury.

7. Match Day 6 Around J2

Not many fixtures jump off the page this week. The biggest one of them all seems to be (7) Fagiano Okayama hosting (1) V-Varen Nagasaki. Other than that, maybe the (10) Jubilo Iwata taking on (8) Giravanz Kitakyushu looks tasty.

8. Conclusion

Just your typical, bottom of the J2 Table, grudge match this weekend. And of course, the wet weather will only further complicate things. FC Ryukyu are desperately seeking their first win and Renofa need to break their losing streak so “something has to give.” With that said, let’s get after it!

Match Day 5 Review: (22) FC Ryukyu vs. (1) V-Varen Nagasaki 7/15/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu earned a draw last night against the top team in J2. The game itself was a very messy affair as it was raining for most of the match with the heaviest part occurring during the second half. Not how we wanted to show off Okinawa and FC Ryukyu to the international viewers on YouTube, but you cannot control mother nature.

  1. Match Review
  2. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  3. Man of the Match
  4. Match Predictions
  5. Match Day 5 Takeaways
  6. Around the J2 on Match Day 5
  7. Top Goals from Round 5
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Review

FC Ryukyu had plenty of chances to put this one away yesterday but ultimately failed to do so. Overall, the performance from both the offense and defense was much better and I have to assume that comes from the introduction of several changes in the lineup. On the bad side, there were also numerous errant passes, that had they connected, this review would have been much different. While we will get that from time to time, and the weather certainly didn’t help, hopefully that can be tightened up in the coming weeks so as to produce some better results.

Suzuki and Ikeda, returned to the lineup for the first time since match day 1 and so did Taguchi in net. Suzuki looked good out there yesterday and despite the fact that he missed on the cross that Nagasaki scored on, I don’t want to over-analyze it or see him lose any of the intensity he displayed last night.

Tanaka’s role as the starting RB came as a bit of surprise but he did quite well. I know I was all over Higuchi at the end of the match as it felt that another opportunity had slipped away, but his changes revitalized the lineup and the young players are really starting to shine.

Don’t forget to check out Daniel’s review of the match over at the Nagasaki Blue & Orange Blog!

https://nagasakiblueorange.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/match-report-fc-ryukyu-1-1-v-varen-nagasaki/

2. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Do not press Nagasaki, rather, use the counter attack to generate goals: Likelihood 3. Nope, we went right at them. But it didn’t matter as we looked good in the attack and the lone Nagasaki goal was from a set piece.

2. Do not hold a high defensive line: Likelihood 2.  Nope, in fact, it was an awkwardly shaped back line as Tanaka thrust forward more than he dropped back to cover the CBs. There were a few times when an a pass was cut off for Tanaka and Nagasaki had a huge amount of space to run into. I guess, you live by the sword, you die by the sword.

3. Man of the Match

RB (?) Keita Tanaka FC Ryukyu: Tanaka was a force to be reckoned with last night as he was creating chance after chance and contributed on Ikeda’s goal with an assist. He sent a few dangerous crosses through the Nagasaki 6-yard box that unfortunately went unanswered which would’ve changed the outcome of this match. I look forward to seeing Tanaka, who I deemed at the start of the season in February, as FC Ryukyu’s comeback player of the year this season.

4. Match Day Predictions

I said 3-0 in favor of Nagasaki and Daniel said 2-0. It ended 1-1 thus dropping me to 0-2-3 on the year.

5. Match Day 5 Takeaways

It is hard to be either upset or optimistic at this point. FC Ryukyu are the only team in J2 that has not won a game this season and they have yet to score multiple goals in a game, or maintain a clean sheet.

1. Keita Tanaka looked good at RB and it definitely showed on the score sheet. Why not drop the two full backs and replace them as wingers and play with a back 3? We would then need to drop a CMF but that could provide some serious thrust forward. FC Ryukyu had 15 shots last night, of which 13 found the target, so the idea of having 2 additional attackers vice 4 defenders seems better suited for these times.

2. All told, Higuchi made six changes to the lineup on Wednesday with the aforementioned Tanaka at RB; Suzuki back in at CB along side Yong Jick; swapped the starting MF positions of Koya and Motegi; rested Abe for Uehara, and swapped Dany Carvajal for Junto Taguchi in net. Personally, I don’t think that Dany was the problem these past few weeks. You saw how few shots Taguchi faced (5) with a better offense in front of him, not to mention a solid defender in Suzuki. We will see how Higuchi rotates the two keepers this year but Suzuki and Tanaka must be in the lineup moving forward.

3. Ren Ikeda notched his first goal for FC Ryukyu last night and that was a welcome sight. I was glad to see both him and Suzuki in the lineup as I think they, along with Koizumi and Motegi, could form a very nice youthful core at FC Ryukyu.

4. Uehara did not get many opportunities this game and the ones that he did, you could tell he needs more, or less, game time. It is evident we need a third striker soon as Abe cannot be expected to play in every game, even as a sub.

6. Around J2 on Match Day 5

I guess you could say this round had a large amount of upsets in that some of the lower teams in the table achieved some surprising results. Gunma’s win over Yamagata on the road; Tochigi upsetting top seed Omiya; Fukuoka defeating Jubilo and you can even throw in the FC Ryukyu and Kitakyushu draws. I wonder if all these mid-week games will really shake up the table, especially in August and November when there are so many fixtures, with so little rest in between.

Had to use the one from Transfermarkt as no time to build my own. But their’s is far better. Maybe I’ll just do this, if they approve it.

7. Top Goals from Round 5 in J2

There were some thunderous headers this round but here are the three I picked out as the best goals from this round.

#1 Daichi Tagami’s FK against Zelvia (5:40)

#2 Miyasaka’s Knuckleball against Yamagata (0:00)

#3 Haruya Ide’s Curler against Kofu (4:20)

8. Conclusion

It’s coming. That is all I can say at this point after five FC Ryukyu matches. More goals will start to drop, the defense may start to shore up with Suzuki, and the young guns on this team may start producing the results that many of us have hoped for. The past five games, 4 most recently, would test any of the teams in the J2 with the strength of those opponents. For now, FC Ryukyu get a little respite as they travel North to take on Renofa Yamaguchi on Saturday followed by Ehime FC the following weekend. Let’s hope that the impact from these past four matches will only strengthen FC Ryukyu as they navigate the upcoming fixtures.

One final note. I got to enjoy the match with my father who lives in the U.S. thanks in part to the J-League broadcasting the game on their international YouTube channel. I really enjoyed that as it has been some time since we’ve done that and I was glad that he was able to watch the team that I support. But I was also a little disappointed that the club’s Twitter account didn’t bother to retweet, or advertise, the international broadcast. It was basically a free marketing product that may have gone unnoticed if not for the team’s loyal following. I mean, even the Nagasaki account retweeted the J-League advert.

“S.O.S.” Match Day 5 Preview: (21) FC Ryukyu vs. (2) V-Varen Nagasaki 7/14/20 #FC琉球 #vvaren

Intro

FC Ryukyu have their first of fifteen mid-week matchups this Wednesday as they welcome in joint table toppers V-Varen Nagasaki. We are also lucky enough to have Daniel (@LakerByNature) from the Nagasaki Blue & Orange Blog (https://nagasakiblueorange.wordpress.com/) provide this week’s Team preview for Nagasaki.

  1. Weather Report
  2. Match Day 4 Review: FC Ryukyu
  3. Match Day 4 Review: V-Varen Nagasaki
  4. Team Previews & Injury Report
  5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  6. Predictions
  7. J2 Fixtures
  8. Conclusion

1. Weather Report

It is not a favorable weather report for this tilt. Looks to be very windy, very rainy and there is the danger of possible delays due to lightening. Bring a poncho, garbage bags for your stuff, and a change of clothes for your trip home as you will most likely be soaked once it is over.

2. Match Day 4 Review: FC Ryukyu

Ryukyu lost 3-1 at home to Tokushima Vortis. You can watch the highlights – or low lights depending on your perspective – below, or click the link for a deeper analysis with the Match Day 4 review I posted yesterday.

https://fcryukyublog.home.blog/2020/07/13/match-day-4-report-21-fc-ryukyu-vs-3-tokushima-vortis-7-11-20-fc%e7%90%89%e7%90%83/

3. Match Day 4 Review: V-Varen Nagasaki

Two late goals to earn a 2-0 win over Ehime FC for our guests this past weekend. Highlights below as well as a link to V-Varen Nagasaki Blog that has a very good Match Day 4 review.

https://nagasakiblueorange.wordpress.com/2020/07/11/match-report-v-varen-2-0-ehime-fc/

4. Team Reports & Injuries

V-Varen Nagasaki. Below is a Q&A I conducted with Daniel for this weeks team preview.

Q: Nagasaki are coming three straight wins to open the season over some pretty good opponents. What has changed at the club from last year to now?

D: Last year was mostly a rebuilding year for the team as so many key players, and the manager, Takuya Takagi now with Omiya, left the club and it was hard to replace that type of quality. Many supporters expected V-Varen to make it back to J2, and were flirting with the playoff spots for quite a while, but in the end, the quality was missing and the new manager, Makoto Teguramori, struggled as well. However, in the 2019 summer transfer window, the club made some good loan signings and those players either extended their loan spells or made their moves permanent at Nagasaki this year. Additionally, the club added several good defensive players during the winter and our defense looks much improved from last season. Also, Teguramori moved away from his conservative 4-4-2 and the team looks much more comfortable holding the ball and controlling the midfield this year.

Q: Who are the players to watch out for on Wednesday? Tell us a little about some of the signings that Nagasaki brought in as well as about some of the foreigners that feature in the squad.

D: There are many players to watch out for, but I have been most impressed with Hiroki Akino and Masaru Kato, who have dominated the central midfield the past few games. Akino joined last summer on loan from Shonan Bellmare then made a permanent move to Nagasaki this year, and is now the team captain while Kato arrived in the summer on loan from Albirex Niigata. Offensively, Luan was a huge signing for Nagasaki. He is a Brazilian midfielder/forward who was a starter for Atletico Mineiro for many years and won the Copa Libertadores in 2013. Ronaldinho was on that team, too. Then you have Victor Ibarbo who arrived last summer on loan from Sagan Tosu and I could not believe that he opted to stick around on a permanent deal this season. He has one goal and three assists in 78 minutes of playing time this season and should become a starter soon. The other two foreigners are CB Freire, who joined from Shonan Bellmare as well and midfielder Caio, who is on loan from Kawasaki Frontale. Both have been on the bench the last couple of games, but are more than capable of filling in for the starters.

Daniel’s V-Varen Nagasaki Blog

Q: With the crammed fixture schedule soon to be upon us, do you feel that Nagasaki have the depth in their squad to continue piling up the results and make a serious push at promotion in 2020? And, how often has Makoto Teguramori rotated players these past few games?

D: I think V-Varen must have one of the deepest squads in J2 in terms of quality. Especially in midfield and in the attack. There are multiple players that the manager can use without sacrificing quality. His tactics have been quite interesting since the restart. He kept several top players on the bench and when he brought them on in the second half, they delivered decisive results for Nagasaki. I am referring specifically to Ibarbo, Togashi, Caio and Yoshioka. Also, players like Yohei Otake and Keiji Tamada, two of Nagasaki’s best players last season, have not made the matchday squad since the restart despite being fit. Teguramori also made use of the increased number of substitutions and has used all five subs against Giravanz and Ehime with four against Avispa Fukuoka. It will be interesting to see how he continues to utilize the squad in the coming weeks. He said that Ibarbo will start sooner or later as he is just too good, but V-Varen have been winning, so he is not in any hurry to change his approach.

Q: What is your take on the way the J-League handled re-opening the season as well as bringing fans back into the stands?

D:  I think they have done pretty good and I was impressed by how well the supporters followed the rules. Obviously, it is not easy to; go to the stadium, have your temperature checked, maintain social distancing, wear a mask for the entire game, and remain silent, but those are the rules the J-League put in place. Everyone can decide whether they want to go to the games and follow the rules or watch from home. It is very important that the supporters at the stadium are careful and also considerate. I can’t help wondering how that would work here in Europe?

Q: Last one. What is your prediction for Wednesday’s match?

D: I think FC Ryukyu could be a dangerous team, but they seem to have a lot to figure out at this point, especially on defense. V-Varen, on the other hand, looked very comfortable defensively in the past few games and have many players who can create chances. So, my prediction is FC Ryukyu 0-2 V-Varen Nagasaki. Good luck for the game!

You can also read Daniel’s preview of the match here: https://nagasakiblueorange.wordpress.com/2020/07/13/preview-j2-matchday-5-with-geoff-osborne/

V-Varen Nagasaki Injuries & Suspensions: None to any of the incumbent starters or reserves.

Lineups & Subs from Match Day 4 with subs

FC Ryukyu. Eight goals conceded with only two scored over the past 270 minutes for FC Ryukyu. For FC Ryukyu fans, this is an all too familiar site as we had to endure long spells of this last summer which ultimately led to FCR tumbling down the J2 table. For now, there is nowhere to go but up as we are only 1 point above Gunma in the standings.

So where do we begin? First, we need to keep Koizumi and Koya in the starting 11 as they’ve added a nice element to our much maligned attack. Second, we need a change in defense and this could be in the form of both Daisei Suzuki at CB and Felipe Tavares at RB. Or, we may also see a change with Chinen and/or Fukui replacing Yong Jick.

Third, start Shinji Ono in place of Koki and see if FC Ryukyu can start out on the front foot for a change by generating some larger early leads. Fourth, We cannot afford to play a high defensive line when pressing in the attack, or chasing deficits, as this creates too much space for other teams to operate. I am not sure if there is a way to conduct a balanced approach to the match, despite being behind, but when we press, the flood gates really open up.

While all of this could happen, with the crammed fixture schedule, it is likely we see more changes and more combinations than we normally would have. This will make “getting into a groove” a difficult prospect for Ryukyu but it is what it is at this point under these circumstances. In any event, change is needed in both personnel and tactics as whatever we have been doing up to this point, has simply not worked.

FC Ryukyu Injuries & Suspensions: LM Shuto Kawai is still recovering from an ankle injury and possibly set to return to training in the coming week(s).

5. FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely it happens 1- Requires a Miracle to happen

1. Do not press Nagasaki, rather, use the counter attack to generate goals: Likelihood 3. Chances are Nagasaki will enjoy large amounts of possession tomorrow which may require sitting back and parking the bus by FCR. They should prepare to use the speed of Abe up top to break out of the defense and quickly transition into the attack.

2. Do not hold a high defensive line: Likelihood 2. Doubtful, because as soon as FCR fall behind, they throw everything, and everyone into the attack. If you recall from last week, it was Uesato who was sprinting back to cover the attacking forwards of Vortis and that didn’t end well.

6. Match Day 5 Prediction

I went with FC Ryukyu losing 3-0 while @LakerByNature said 2-0 to the hosts. Seems another loss is in store for the boys from Okinawa.

7. Match Day 5 in J2

The biggest draw this Wednesday is a surging Kitakyushu hosting Kyoto Sanga FC. A true statement game for Giravanz while Kyoto will want to keep pace with Omiya and Nagasaki who both have easier match ups this week, and with both expected to win.

8. Conclusion

This past weekend we witnessed the return of fans to J-League stadiums. It was great to see so many people attend the match under such different circumstances than just four months ago. However, it seems as if the guidelines put forth by the J-League, and the clubs, were rarely adhered.

I am sympathetic to the fact that remaining silent, stoic and controlling all outward signs of emotion are difficult in a venue that is set up to support said items, but we as fans run the risk of losing the ability to watch live games at the grounds if this behavior continues.

Social distancing, clapping, whistling and celebrating needs to be curtailed before it is too late. Part of the blame lies with the clubs and league for not enforcing these measures but we all need to play our part in this difficult time. Try your best out there this week to avoid these types of behavior while enjoying the game you love, so others may continue to enjoy it as well.

Once again I’d like to thank Dan for his contributions to this week’s entry and he can be found at both @LakerByNature and @V_Varen_EN on Twitter as well as at the Nagasaki Blue & Orange Blog on WordPress https://nagasakiblueorange.wordpress.com. And don’t forget to check out the latest pod casts from the boys over at the J-Talk Pod and J-Talk Extra Time this week.

As far as FC Ryukyu are concerned, they need to go out there and find their identity and get back some swagger as we currently find ourselves in the “Same Ol’ Situation” we did at this point last season.

Stay safe and good luck!