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.
- Weather Forecast
- Match Day 8 Recap: FC Ryukyu
- Match Day 8 Recap: Fagiano Okayama
- Team Previews & Injury Report
- Keys to Victory
- Match Prediction
- Round 9 in J2
- 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.
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.
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!
ryukyuarmy.com 
I thought Okayama would be much stronger this season than they are. They really seem to be missing Nakama down the left wing.
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