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.
- Weather Forecast
- Match Day 6 Recap: FC Ryukyu
- Match Day 6 Recap: Ehime FC
- Team Previews & Injury Report
- Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
- Match Day 7 Prediction
- Match Day 7 Around J2
- 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.
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.
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!
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