Introduction
There is no way to sugar coat the result. FC Ryukyu were outplayed in every facet of the game and were left completely decimated by Kitakyushu on Saturday. I for one was expecting a similar type of result, in favor of FC Ryukyu that is, and thus left flabbergasted with the outcome. There really is no excuse for allowing 4 goals inside of 45 minutes. and this leaves many of us to wonder, how could a side play so well in their previous two matches only to come completely unhinged against a perceived lesser opponent? This leads to two important questions. Where was the attack and possession we’ve become so accustomed too this year? And what needs to change so this doesn’t happen again?
- Match Recap
- Man of the Match
- Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
- Match Day Prediction
- Match Day 3 Takeaways
- Match Day 3 in J2
- Top Goals from Match Day 2
- Conclusion
1. Match Recap
Sloppy. That is the only word that can accurately describe FC Ryukyu’s performance this weekend. There were dozens, literally not figuratively, of turnovers by FC Ryukyu and they occurred in all areas of the pitch. Turnovers derailed our forward momentum, disrupted our buildup play, ended all of our attacks, and provided Giravanz with short attacking vectors in our end.
If you only glanced at the score line it would be natural to assume that our GK was not up to par this match, but that was not the case. Dany stood on his head for most of the game, making save after save to keep FC Ryukyu in the competition, before the levy finally broke.
2. Man of the Match
FC Ryukyu GK Dany Carvajal: I cannot stand to re-watch this match to pick out a player from Kitakyushu who may have been the ideal choice so instead I’ll say it was Dany Carvajal. He made some great saves in the first half to keep the score line level while we limped throughout the match.
3. Review of the Match Day 3 Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
1. Isolate/Mark MF Daigo Takahashi. Likelihood 2: He didn’t make the score sheet but with all the turnovers by FC Ryukyu I really couldn’t tell how he influenced the match on Saturday.
2. Capitalize on set pieces. Likelihood 4: We certainly did not score nor did we create many chances to put us in a position to score.
4. Match Day Prediction
I said, albeit foolishly, that FC Ryukyu would win 3-0 and instead we got pasted 0-4.
Overall yearly record drops to 0-1-2 with a loud thud!
5. Match Day 3 Takeaways
1. FC Ryukyu are unsettled, and at times, out of sorts at the back. All four of Kitakyushu’s goal came right through our central defense. The same problem that plagued us for much of 2019 is rearing its very ugly head once again. Highuchi stuck with Fukui at CB and I am sorry, we are not a good defensive side when he is in there. Since we have no idea what prompted the switch from Higuchi it is even more vexing. Maybe someone with a better tactical eye for the game than me can say whether or not our central defenders were constantly out of position, making poor decisions on where to cover, and when to leave their man, which constantly left Dany exposed.
It is time to give Suzuki, or Okazaki, another crack at the starting CB role as it is clearly not working with the current CB pairing.
2. Turnovers killed us this game. FC Ryukyu played so poorly this match that it was like watching a completely different team from the prior weeks. Some of the turnovers can be attributed to early season mishaps and some as things that will naturally happen during any given match, but most were inexcusable. These turnovers meant that FC Ryukyu could never generate any real threat on the Kitakyushu goal.
3. The lineup needs an overhaul. There are many points here so it is best that bulletize them:
– FC Ryukyu really miss Kawai’s speed down the left. Koya is a fine player in his own right but we don’t have the ability to get in and around the opposition’s flanks right now without Kawai.
– Abe is starting to feel the same pain that Koji Suzuki experienced last year. He can become isolated up top when we cannot make accurate passes, nor maintain possession, in the attacking half of the pitch to put him in goal scoring opportunities.
– Yamaguchi is probably better suited as a FWD than a CM and needs to relieve Abe or Uehara this year. Yamaguchi works his butt off but maybe he isn’t the player to fill the role vacated by Nakagawa some 18 months ago. I also think it is time Ren Ikeda had another shot at orchestrating our attack as Motegi, Kawai, Koya, Yu and Tanaka are better players with a mid-field general. What do we have to lose at this point?
– Torikai had a very rough outing last match and that happens from time to time but I think we are a better attacking team with Tavares at RB. Look at the small sample size we have and you can see that Tavares generated more in the attack than Torikai while defending at a high rate. I’m sure we will see Tavares again with such a tight fixture schedule.
– CBs Suzuki, or Okazaki at the very least, should be starting over Fukui. I appreciate Fukui’s versatility to play all 4 defensive positions, which warrants a position on the bench each match, but we need a solid CB pairing moving forward. Yong Jick and Suzuki did well against JEF to open the season but since then there has been a steady decline in performances at the back. Just look at all the space that Kitakyushu had to operate with in our own end. How on earth can players be that wide open to receive a cross or take shots?
6. Match Day 3 in J2
Some interesting result this past weekend. JEF and Ehime’s impressive road wins by 3 goals each has propelled those two sides into the top 3. Ehime’s start of 2020 reminds me a lot of how FC Ryukyu started last year. Tons of goal in both directions with some exciting results.
The Niigata and Kanazawa goal fest was fun to watch. It seemed most of the goals from open play that game either took a deflection or had some weird bounce/element too them. Neither of Tokushima, Kyoto, Jubilo or Okayama could get past each other as the two games that many were watching to see if anyone could make a statement all ended in 1-1 draws.
Omiya remains top after beating last placed Gunma with V-Varen Nagasaki joining them after an impressive come from behind win over Kyushu rivals Avispa Fukuka.
7. Top Goals from Round 3
This week featured some well taken Free Kicks as well as some powerful headers, but there can only be 3!
#1 Taishi Taguchi from JEF UTD Chiba freezing the Mito goal keeper. (@ the 1:40 mark)
#2 Jun Suzukui from Avispa Fukuoka also making the difficult look easy from a free kick. (@ the :30 second mark in this clip)
#3 Atsushi Kurokawa’s header to start the scoring in Omiya. Watch the set up where he creates some space for himself and then sends a diving header past the Gunma keeper.
8. Conclusion
Anyone who follows a sports team knows that there are times throughout the year when your team lays an egg. It sucks, it hurts, and it often leaves you wondering how the team will respond. Unfortunately for FC Ryukyu, that egg couldn’t have occurred at a worse time as they were looking to notch our first win and now face four teams over the next three weeks that are all in the top half, top 7 actually, of the J2 table.
Should we be concerned? Yes. Is there anything that can be done? Yes, change the lineup. More importantly, should we worry? No. Since there is no fear of relegation in 2020 FC Ryukyu should keep one eye on the future while trying to maximize the talent they have on this years roster. We all know that some of these guys won’t be around in 2020, and if we struggle for results this season – which would erase any notions of promotion – then it is imperative we give the younger players more playing time.
With that, let’s closeout one of the worst performances we’ve seen from FC Ryukyu in quite some time and look forward to hosting Tokushima Vortis next Saturday (with fans!).
Stay strong.
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