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

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.