Month: December 2020

FC Ryukyu 2020 Season Review #FC琉球

This was FC Ryukyu’s second season in the J2, and while there were some lofty expectations for this club, mainly on the part of the fans, but also from some of the management, the improvements were minimal, and the direction of the club is not trending in the right direction. Remember, four teams from the J2 will be relegated in 2021, and though FC Ryukyu have found themselves well out of the danger zone these past two seasons, we are ceding too much talent each season to be anything more than hopeful dreamers.

Chart 1 illustrates the small improvements I mentioned in the introduction. Here we can see that FC Ryukyu vastly improved their goals conceded from 2019 (80) to 2020 (61). A positive sign indeed considering they were the worst team in goals allowed in J2 in 2019, whereas they finished 17th this year. Better defending? Possibly, Better Goalkeeping? Sure. But I attribute much of this to having a relatively settled back 4 compared to 2019. Tanaka and Numata were constants in the lineup, as well as Yong Jick. I don’t think Yong Jick is the long term answer at CB, but we at least have an exciting prospect in Chinen who will be called upon early and often in 2021. Tanaka’s presence on defense added a bit of aggressiveness that FC Ryukyu have lacked in the past and it was amazing to see the impact of Tanaka’s transition, both for the team, and in his individual play in 2020.

You can also glean from this chart that FC Ryukyu only made improvements in their total points, and goals scored, by +1 each. In 2020 FC Ryukyu scored 4 goals or more in 4 games compared to just once in 2019. Those four games (5-0,6-1,4-0 & 6-0) represent 36% (21 of 58) of all the goals scored by FC Ryukyu in 2020. In 2019, FC Ryukyu were kept off the score sheet 9 times, in 2020, that number jumped to 12. That is a bit alarming for a side that prides itself on attacking football. But FC Ryukyu doubled their total shutouts of their opponents from 5 to 10 in 2020. That really isn’t painting this team in the best light but it does mean that we were far better defensively this year than we may have initially thought.

Chart 2 takes a deeper look into the results from each of the past seasons. As mentioned earlier, FC Ryukyu did improve their point total this year, but did so with only 1 more win than 2019. FC Ryukyu may have won more games on the road in 2020 – which is an important marker for measuring a team’s success- but they also lost more games on the road compared to 2019. Match Day 2 in 2019 saw us win our first ever J2 road game, but it would take us until Match Day 35 of that year before we’d win another. While FC Ryukyu were more balanced in their road wins throughout the season this year, getting your doors blown off at Giravanz, Renofa, Machida and Tochigi – all games we surrendered 4 goals – isn’t that great. All told, FC Ryukyu surrendered 4 goals in a game on 5 occasions this year which matched their total from 2019.

In the end, all I can say is this; FC Ryukyu just took a different path to end up in the same place they did last year. 2019 started fast, whereas 2020 started slow for FC Ryukyu. Each each season had a bit of a slump between Match Days 16 and 30, and each had strong finishes; 2019 5-3-4; 2020 5-2-5.

FC Ryukyu 2020 MVP

MF Yoshio Koizumi: There was no better player in this side that put forth a consistent effort from game to game, and book end to book end this year. Sure, Koya, Abe and Tanaka each were close to earning this honor, but Koizumi was just scintillating to watch and stood out against so many of his peers. He will be sorely missed, but he was a joy to watch in his first full season at FC Ryukyu. Imagine how much better he could’ve been had Higuchi stuck with him in 2019 after his debut against Tokyo Verdy in early March when he flashed his talent for a brief moment? That certainly was enough to catch my eye.

FC Ryukyu 2020 Comeback Player of the Year

RB/MF Keita Tanaka: No doubt as to who this was going to be. Tanaka reinvented himself as a fullback and his contributions to this team were immense. Tanaka doubled his goals (2) and assists (6) tally from 2019 and was shockingly good in defense. It goes to show, talent will get you so far, but desire and effort can make all the difference.

The early candidates for this award next year are Shunsuke Motegi and Yu Tomidokoro. If we retain them of course. Motegi’s season was cut short by CV-19 and he looked extremely talented in his limited time early in 2020, and Kawai’s departure definitely opens the door for Motegi to take over the LM role. Yu, like Motegi, lost this past season to injury but the more departures at MF that FC Ryukyu suffer in the transfer window, the more Yu will be pushed back up the depth chart.

FC Ryukyu 2020 Young Player of the Year

GK Junto Taguchi: Not as young as you might like, but at 24, and recently signed for another season, Taguchi played really well in his starts for FC Ryukyu. Taguchi won 5 games, drew 3 times with 6 losses in his 14 appearances for FC Ryukyu while recording 5 shutouts. He is not as young as you may want in a prospect, but comparatively speaking, he offers some nice upside for FC Ryukyu moving forward and has caused quite a stir here in Okinawa by creating a bit of controversy at the GK position with the incumbent, Dany Carvajal.

The two players you need to watch next season that could win this award in 2021 are CB Tetsuya Chinen, and RB Makito Uehara. Chinen is not nearly as raw as Daisei Suzuki was in his starts this year, and plays with far more intensity and skill than Yong Jick. Only injuries and CV-19 prevented Chinen from becoming the #2 CB for FC Ryukyu this year. Uehara is another exciting prospect. He has size, speed, burst, tenacity, power and skill, but is probably better suited at CDM than RB with this team. That laser beam goal he scored against Omiya on Match Day 30 brought me out of my seat and put me on notice. We will need a replacement for Uesato soon, and Uehara certainly looks the part. It will largely depend on whether Higuchi, and the new strengthening coach, Takuya Jinno’s, can recognize what they could have in Uehara, and make the switch to CDM.

More Charts and Stats

Top 5 Games for FC Ryukyu in 2020

It would be easy to just add the biggest win totals for Ryukyu to this section, but there were several key games for FC Ryukyu throughout the year that didn’t finish with such lopsided score lines. Here are the top 5.

#5 Match Day 34: V-Varen Nagasaki 0-1 FC Ryukyu. A completely unexpected performance by FC Ryukyu against a superior side in Nagasaki that derailed their promotion hopes. The Ikeda to Koizumi, to Ikeda, to Kawai finish!

#4 Match Day 29: FC Ryukyu 2-1 Kyoto Sanga FC. Kyoto’s season wasn’t quite cooked at this point, but FC Ryukyu responded to a 4′ minute goal from Kofu by two of their own in the second half from Koya and Abe.

#3 Match Day 13: FC Ryukyu 2-2 Tochigi SC. FC Ryukyu were faced with the stiff prospect of cracking a Tochigi defensive back line that had surrendered the fewest goals in the league up to this point. Despite an early Tochigi goal, Dany Carvajal was in fine form before Shinya Uehara came on and equalized for Ryukyu. Tochigi SC responded shortly after that equalizer to push the score line to 2-1, before Uehara answered the call once more with another equalizer in the 87′ minute. Up to that point, Tochigi SC had only surrendered more than 1 goal once in their previous 12 games.

#2 Match Day 9: Fagiano Okayama 1-2 FC Ryukyu. FC Ryukyu had not won a game all season, and once again surrendered an early goal. Then Uesato nailed one from the dead ball spot with Abe adding the finishing touch in the 84′ minute to give FC Ryukyu their first win of 2020. On the road of all places.

#1 Match Day 20 FC Ryukyu 3-2 Mito Hollyhock. Yoshio Koizumi opened the game with a beautiful first half goal before two Mito second half goals. FC Ryukyu looked all but done before Uehara once again came on and scored 2 goals in the final 6 minutes. One of which was deep in stoppage time to give FC Ryukyu the victory.

Leaning forward into 2021

We are in the middle of the “exodus” part of the transfer season for FC Ryukyu were many of our talented players will depart for larger clubs, and larger contracts. In fact, we’ve already lost Koizumi (Urawa) and Kawai (Yamaga), while letting Shinji Ono and Yamaguchi (AC Nagano) sign elsewhere. These players will not be the last to leave, and I stated that we should all be prepared for the “catastrophic failure” event where we see Koya Kazama leave FC Ryukyu before the transfer window closes. Thus essentially ripping out our attacking midfield that contributed to so many goals in 2020 before we set foot on the pitch in 2021.

This is life as we know it as FC Ryukyu fans. We neither possess the money to retain, or sign, top talent in their prime. We simply find talent, nurture it, develop it, and then let it depart when we cannot afford it anymore. But maybe we shouldn’t look at these early departures as a bad thing. Those that have left, or will leave, never got this club above 16th place all season so maybe we know what we’re doing. There is no doubt that some of the departures are talented, Koizumi for sure, but they lacked other playmakers around them that would justify paying a high price to retain them at the cost of not filling the other holes in the lineup.

Conclusion

That ties a bow on the 2020 season for FC Ryukyu. After we find out all the comings and goings for 2021, I’ll write up a brief transfer summary next year. For now, stay safe, please be smart about how you conduct your daily lives in these unpresented times with CV-19, and enjoy your New Year celebrations responsibly.

FC Ryukyu Squad Review Part 3: Forwards and Goalies #FC琉球

The final installment of this series will look at the FC Ryukyu forwards and goalies. FC Ryukyu entered the year with only 3 strikers on the books, but never had more than 2 of them healthy at any one point. In goal, there was a 2-1 split for games played between Dany Carvajal and Junto Taguchi. But it was the decision to start Taguchi over Dany in 8 out of the last 9 games that really raised some eyebrows down here.

Forwards

Takuma Abe: Abe made 31 appearances, scoring 13 goals and adding 2 assists, before succumbing to some unknown injury that prevented him from completing the season. Signed from Vegalta Sendai in the offseason, there were many questions surrounding the then 32-year-old striker. Namely, had his skills diminished? Abe hadn’t reached double digit goals since 2012 when he was with Tokyo Verdy, but one thing we should understand about FC Ryukyu, more importantly, the system Higuchi employs, is that the man up top will have plenty of chances to score.

Abe scored in his second ever game for FC Ryukyu, and had two separate stretches where he scored in 4, and 3, games in a row. Prior to his unknown ailment, Abe had played in nearly every game for Ryukyu and looked to be on pace for +15, if not 20, goals. I stated at the beginning of the season that FC Ryukyu were extremely thin at FWD, and the sheer number of matches in such a short span certainly took its toll on Abe. Perhaps it wasn’t an injury that took him down, it could have just been a case of dead legs.

Whatever the case, Abe was in excellent form for this club in the games he did play. Besides scoring some fantastic goals; like he did against Fukuoka on Match Day 2 by going at it alone for 70 yards and beating Serantes; Match Day 12 with his signature left footed tap in; or his best game – and ultimately the last he’d score in- against Omiya with a brace where one was another left footed tap in from a long cross.

Shinya Uehara: Shinya, like Abe, was not on the roster for long spells of the season. When he did feature, it was always in a substitute role. This is a far cry from how he finished 2019 where he was filling in at RB, and playing the full 90’, due to so many injuries. But when Shinya did come on, he played the role of a “super sub” as his goals would tilt games in favor of FC Ryukyu.

Shinya notched a brace in 2 of the games he came on as a sub. And his penchant for scoring timely goals is incredible. Against Tochigi SC on Match Day 13, Uehara came on to score two times after the 75’ to level the game twice. Then against Mito on Match Day 20, he scored 2 goals in the final 6 minutes to give FC Ryukyu the win.

Takuya Hitomi: Like Ikeda, Hitomi joined from a University in the offseason but was sidelined for the better part of 8 months following knee surgery. He returned to the team on Match Day 24 but did not feature until Match Day 26. Hitomi scored his first ever goal for Ryukyu on Match Day 39 against Okayama, but was only ever included in the starting 11 once in 2020. But there is a bit of optimism surrounding this player as he possesses some nice traits, and flashed some talent in his limited opportunities. If anything, Hitomi looks more natural in the striker position than Ren Ikeda, and we may need Hitomi to start up there if FC Ryukyu hemorrhage a ton of talent in the offseason.

Keep: There is no question we need to keep all 3 of these players since FC Ryukyu have little depth at the position. Abe and Hitomi could split starts throughout the year to stay fresh, and we already know how effective Uehara is in brief appearances as an aerial threat and poacher inside the box. FC Ryukyu undoubtedly need to acquire a fourth striker in the offseason as none of these players showed they can stay healthy for a full season, but I feel Abe has plenty left in the tank for at least one more season at FC Ryukyu.

Goal Keeper

Coming into the season, Dany Carvajal was the clear first choice keeper for FC Ryukyu. Junto Taguchi was signed from Albirex Niigata to be the backup, but ultimately usurped Dany at the end of the season. The situation that FC Ryukyu faces moving forward at goalie has both good, and bad elements to it. There is nothing wrong with a little competition, but you also don’t want to take it too far where it engenders discontent among the ranks.

Dany Carvajal: Dany was not able to start the season for FC Ryukyu as he was still recovering/rehabilitating from ankle surgery in the offseason. He did return at the restart of the season and ended up playing in 28 total games. Dany began 0-1-2 in the first three games against Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, and eventual champions, Tokushima Vortis. That rough start prompted Higuchi to make a switch to Taguchi, who did not fare any better in his next two starts going 0-1-1.  

For the season, Dany’s record was 9 wins, 5 draws, 14 losses, while registering 5 shutouts. Unfortunately, none of those shutouts occurred against the top competition in the league as they were against, Verdy, Gunma, Renofa, and Omiya twice. Dany seemed to be relegated to the bench after the 2-0 loss to Zweigen on Match Day 38, and never featured again this year.

That was a bit harsh to stomach considering Dany played really well in some games, and at times, he was let down by the players in front of him. Both offensively, and certainly defensively. He also had a bit of bad luck on several occasions were shots were deflected, or tipped, which caused them to change direction, and get past him. Sure, these things happen to all goal keepers, but when the coach is waffling between who to start, and who to sit, these little things do not help.

Junto Taguchi: Taguchi had bounced around between 4 clubs before settling in at Ryukyu this year. Prior to joining Ryukyu, Taguchi only made 2 starts for Albirex Niigata in 2018, with zero appearances in all of 2019. He was the first-choice keeper at Fujieda MYFC in 2017 when he was on loan from Yokohama F. Marinos, where he recorded 6 shutouts in the J3.

Taguchi’s first game was one to forget. First, FC Ryukyu surrendered a goal within the opening 30 seconds of the match, not all Taguchi’s fault, but then he made a mental mistake which nearly cost Ryukyu. If it were not for Yong Jick, of all people, bailing Taguchi out after his giveaway, things could’ve ended much worse. Taguchi still had the trust of Higuchi when on Match Day 5 he earned the start and drew with Nagasaki. But after Match Day 6, Taguchi wouldn’t start until a rest day for Dany on Match Day 22.

Higuchi opted for Taguchi moving forward after Match Day 34, which was a bit strange considering that Dany had won 4 of the previous 7 games before this switch. But it was the Nagasaki game that was a turning point for both Taguchi, and the team. Taguchi would then go on to start in 8 out the last 9 games for Ryukyu earning a 4-2-2 record. He recorded 4 of his 5 total shutouts in that run, and I have to say, he looked good in doing so. If you’re wondering, Taguchi’s shutouts came against: Yamagata, Nagasaki, Verdy, Ehime and Mito.

The Way Forward: Dany is under contract through 2021. Taguchi just renewed his contract with FC Ryukyu today. Both are quality keepers, so there will be serious competition for playing time next year. It was hard to tell if Higuchi was attempting to play the “hot hand” with his selections at the end of the season, or, if he prefers Taguchi over Dany. Dany has definitely recovered from the ankle surgery, and was playing some inspired football at times, even when it seemed that others around were not. But Taguchi’s strong finish speaks volumes at this point. Here is the rub, as they say. FC Ryukyu doesn’t have the strongest defensive unit in front of these guys so it is hard to get a true gauge on just how good they both could be.

We all have seen what happens when the #1 GK goes down. Usually, it is a steep drop off in talent with the second choice, so FC Ryukyu are some what blessed with 2 keepers that can play at a relatively high level. It will be interesting to see how Higuchi selects his keeper for each match next year. And this is something to follow in the weeks leading up to the start of 2021.

Conclusion

That does it for the player series. I will be back after the Christmas break to wrap up the season as a whole. Please enjoy your Holiday, and I know that may not be easy in these difficult times. If you’re feeling alone, isolated, or depressed, please reach out to someone. And if you have no luck, feel free to reach out to me in my DMs on Twitter. I’d be happy to chat with you or even share a beer over Zoom.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all, Stay Safe.

@okinawaozzy

FC Ryukyu Squad Review Part 2: Midfield #FC琉球

Part 2 of this series will look at the FC Ryukyu midfield. Heading into 2020, midfield was considered the strongest positional group for this squad, and it didn’t disappoint as two of our best players, Yoshio Koizumi and Koya Kazama, highlight this section.

Yoshio Koizumi: There is no better place to start as Koizumi was hands down our best player in 2020. He was such an integral part of the attack, that his impending departure will seriously hurt this club for quite some time. Koizumi was a bit of an unknown heading into 2020 but quickly rose to prominence once given the opportunity to shine. His stats may not seem all that impressive when compared to fellow MF, Koya Kazama, but it was Yoshio’s contribution as a playmaker that really sets him apart from his teammates.

Koizumi possesses excellent balance, touch, and vision. He is strong in possession, creative, and can unlock any defense with his excellent passing. He also has quite a knack for goal as he finished third on the team with 6 goals. There are so many highlights of his passing that I cannot include them all. One of Koizumi’s best performances occurred against Tokyo Verdy when singlehandedly put on a clinic with 2 first half goals. It is a rarity that a club can have two excellent central attacking midfielders pass through their ranks in a short span of 3 seasons. But that is exactly what happened for FC Ryukyu with Koizumi and Kazuki Nakagawa. Koizumi is destined for greater things, and though it will be tough to see him leave, I look forward to seeing him ply his trade on a much greater stage.

Koya Kazama: Koya had a resurgent year after fully transferring to FC Ryukyu from FC Gifu this past offseason. Koya ended up leading FC Ryukyu in points with 10 goals and 6 assists. A majority of that scoring took place over a stretch of 2 games when he scored 3 goals and added 3 assists. But make no mistake, Koya was an integral part of the FC Ryukyu attack.

At the start of 2020, both he and Yu split time before Yu’s injury paved the way for a full-time role for Koya. Considering that he is three years younger than Yu, Koya should be starting at RM for the foreseeable future (hopefully). He is better in the attack than Yu, but he’s never asked to take freekicks like Yu. He may have the occasional rough patch from time to time, but he is veteran player that we need to keep.

Shuto Kawai: The fastest player in the squad lost a step this year when he suffered an early ankle injury. That injury resulted in a slow start for Kawai where he failed to register a point until match day 18. Though he didn’t have the breakaway speed that set him apart last year, Kawai still has an impressive burst and short distance speed to wreak havoc on defenses. Kawai scored 4 goals in 2020, of which two were of the winning kind. The screaming goal against Tokyo Verdy, and the one he snuck through and around the Mito defense, stand out as some of his best work. Kawai can set up so many goals with his speed by getting around the flanks of the oppositions defense which is evident by his 4 assists.

Ren Ikeda: Signed from Takushoku University this past offseason, Ren quickly found himself as the starting CAM behind Abe on opening day. That came to an end after the emergence of Koizumi in mid-July as Higuchi faced a similar problem as he did with both Koya and Yu. And that was, how can we get both Ren and Koizumi in the lineup at the same time? Ren made some occasional starts at CM with an injury to Koki, along with up top when both Abe and Uehara were out, but never looked comfortable making those adjustments. That resulted in Ren going through a dry spell of 28-games without a goal while seeing his playing time dwindle. He was able to snap that goalless streak on Match Day 40 and then went on to score in consecutive games for the first time all season.

I was never sure how a player would adjust to the J2 from the university level, but it didn’t seem to faze Ren. And is something FC Ryukyu should consider in this depressed income offseason with other signings. I don’t know where Ren fits in next year, barring numerous departures, as he is not the same type of player that Koizumi is, but many are not. He is likely to get another crack at the CAM role to open the year, but that will largely depend on the competition for the spot.

Kazumasa Uesato: The FC Ryukyu captain started, or dressed, in all 42 games for FC Ryukyu this year. A remarkable achievement for the 34-year-old Uesato who maintains a high fitness level. Often seen running laps after matches. Uesato serves a vital role for this team with his passing and defensive play in the central mid-field, but it is fair to wonder how much he has left in the tank. There is no doubt that FC Ryukyu are a better attacking unit when he is in the lineup, and he can still be called upon to take free kicks, but he is at the age where we could see him walk away, or be out right released. That is a harsh statement as he’s been quite good for the club the past two seasons, and we don’t really have an answer as far as who would replace him. It is just based on what I’ve seen from similar players in his situation around the J-League.

Koki Kazama: Koki missed roughly ¼ of the season due to injury but came back strong to finish the campaign. He pairs nicely with Uesato in the middle and it would be devastating to lose both of these players this offseason. Koki is not asked to score many goals, in fact, neither of the central midfielders are asked to do that. They are there to support the attack and cover the central defenders. However, Koki does take a fair number of free kicks, and he is quite good from the dead ball spot. If Koki departs, along with Uesato and Yu this offseason, Ryukyu will be hard pressed for free kick takers.

Mizuki Ichimaru: The lone summer transfer for the club featured in 28 games as both a starter and reserve. He only chipped in one assist but can play either role currently occupied by Uesato and Koki. @bloggamba and I had a conversion over Twitter where I said that the jury is still out on him as he never really impressed at all during his tenure at Ryukyu. @bloggamba replied, by stating that “Ichimaru was a highly rated player at Gamba, and can be good from the dead ball spot.” If that is truly the case, maybe another year at FC Ryukyu will finally unlock his potential. If we end up losing some of our players, we may be forced to put Ichimaru on free kicks.

Kazuki Yamaguchi: Brought in from Shonan Bellmare in the offseason, Yamaguchi was supposed to add the element of speed to the attack. Unfortunately, like so many of the players to round out this list, Yamaguchi suffered an injury midway through the season that derailed his season. He initially started down the right, but then bounced around between all 3 attacking midfield positions the rest of the year. If he is retained for 2021, it will be interesting to see if he battles it out with Ren for the #10 role, or takes over for Kawai if Shuto departs. I wouldn’t expect Yamaguchi to ever crack the double digits for goals, but he could have a role as speedy replacement playmaker late in games. His diminutive size puts him at a slight disadvantage, but it would be his speed and passing, if the latter develops, that could allow him to crack the lineup on a consistent basis.

Shunsuke Motegi: Motegi was one of the club’s biggest offseason signings when he joined from Mito this past winter. Many, including me, thought he would be lethal with Abe up top, as well as on set pieces. The lengthy layoff due to CV19 disrupted Motegi from getting into any consistent groove, and then to add insult to injury, Motegi himself caught CV-19 causing him to miss extensive time. Shunsuke only started three games after his return from CV19 in September, and was not on the bench the entire last month of the season. Something is not right with this situation, or his recovery. We saw Chinen return from his CV19 absence, but there must be some lingering affects from CV19 for Motegi that could jeopardize his playing career. That is a shame as he is a young talent, and certainly one FC Ryukyu will need to call upon in 2021.

Yu Tomidokoro: Yu only featured in 18 games before an injury ended his season. Yu started 7 games in 2020, at various midfield positions, but was clearly outplayed by some of the better midfield talent in the squad. He wasn’t even asked to take many free kicks, which as you may know, is his specialty. Yu is the longest tenured player at the club, and no one wants to see him leave. But Yu will have to fight extremely hard, at 30 years of age, to find his place in this squad next season.

Shinji Ono: Shinji made only one start for the club back in July, and it lasted all of 7 minutes before he picked up an injury that required 4 months to heal. He made substitute appearances throughout the season, but was never able to contribute anything meaningful in the form of goals or assists. There were a few close calls, but nothing every materialized. Failing to provide at least one assist was hard to watch as he still possess the vision and passing acumen to find open players, even when they aren’t quite open yet. Shinji may be more valuable to the locker room and training sessions than the actual pitch, so there is something to be said about keeping a player like him around for a few more seasons. Shinji made no mention of retirement, so I would expect him to return to this team in 2021.

Keep: Koya, Kawai, Yamaguchi, Koki, Ichimaru, Motegi, Yu, and Ikeda. I purposely left Koizumi off this list as he is likely to leave with the recent transfer rumors circulating around Japan. This situation is no different to the one FC Ryukyu faced last year with Uejo, so the only thing we should do is support Koizumi’s move, or celebrate his return. There is no one in this group that should be let go as FC Ryukyu require the depth and talent that these players offer.

If They Wish to Return: Uesato and Shinji. These are the two oldest members of the midfield corps, and as elder statesman of the league, it should be their choice as to whether they wish to return, or move on.

Catastrophic Failure: There is one scenario that I fear, and one that could very well come to fruition. And that is, we lose all three of Koizumi, Koya, and Kawai in the offseason. We already discussed Koizumi, but Koya played really well after a few shaky seasons, is still young, and has certainly caught the attention of other teams around J2 with his strong finish to 2020. Kawai was linked to a move away from FC Ryukyu in the early part of 2020, and he too could be lured away with a higher paying contract from another J2 team. This is an awful thought, and would absolutely cripple the FC Ryukyu attack, but it is not something we should take lightly.

****Update****

FC Ryukyu resigned defenders Tetsuya Chinen and Ryohei Okazaki on 12/22/20. They will also receive midfielder Ramon back from his loan spell at Gainare Tottori.

FC Ryukyu Squad Review Part 1: Defense #FC琉球

This will be a 3-part series covering the defensive, mid field, and forward and goalie positions. I open this series by taking a look at the back line of FC Ryukyu. I will provide a brief synopsis for any player that featured for FC Ryukyu this year, as well as my thoughts on who we should try to retain at the end of each section. With that in mind, let’s get started.

The Center Backs

Lee Yong-Jick: Lee was the preferred 1st choice CB for Higuchi all season as indicated by his 37 starts, and 1 substitute appearance. CB is not Yong-Jick’s natural position and I suppose that is why he was often out of position, in addition to making some ill-advised, ill-timed challenges that quickly led to the opposition breaking on net with numbers. Yong-Jick’s most memorable moment occurred during his first ever game for the club when he prevented a 2nd JEF UTD Chiba goal from a Taguchi turnover, by sprinting back to his own net and heading the shot away.  Yong-Jick was also not much of weapon on set pieces despite his obvious height advantage. He scored 0 goals and provided 1 assist this year. I am not sure how the club is going to proceed with Lee in the offseason but I could see him returning for 2021.

Daisei Suzuki: Suzuki transferred to FC Ryukyu via a loan from Tokushima Vortis in the offseason but I believe that he joined on a permanent deal shortly after the season restart this summer. Suzuki appeared in 20 games while dealing with some injuries and drops in form. Make no mistake, Suzuki is a raw player and never really progressed in spite of all the playing time he received this year. Like Yong-Jick, he is prone to turnovers and mental mistakes. He does possess some aggressiveness and speed, but if he is to develop any further, he’ll need better coaching and probably some added muscle.

Tetsuya Chinen: Chinen is the fastest CB that FC Ryukyu have in the lineup. He is also the strongest, though a mid-season break with CV-19 took a bit out of him, which is to be expected. He is quick to close down players, can put in good challenges when called upon, and can score goals. His only knock is that he isn’t as tall as some of the other CBs in the league, but that can be overcome with his speed and technique.  If I were to tip a player that should be in the starting 11 next year, it would be Chinen so look for him to improve on the 11 appearances he made in 2020.

Ryohei Okazaki: Okazaki only featured 5 times for FC Ryukyu this year but that was due to lengthy absences stemming from multiple injuries. We all should remember Okazaki from 2019 and a lot of those memories were not that good. But Higuchi has faith in this player, and seems to think he can one day develop into an integral part of the Ryukyu defense. Like Suzuki, Okazaki needs better coaching and technique to progress or he will become more of a liability, than asset, in defense.

Ryoji Fukui: Fukui is your prototypical Swiss Army Knife in that he can play all 4 defensive positions. He still possesses a bit of speed to close down attackers, when chasing them that is, but his tackling always makes you hold your breath as it borders on reckless. Luckily, Fukui came out on top this year as he wasn’t sent off, but he had a few close calls. Fukui turned 33 this year so I am not sure how much longer he is going to be around.

The Full Backs

Keita Tanaka: The hands down 2020 comeback player of the year for the club, Tanaka was arguably one of our best players. Tanaka played in 34 games, added 2 goals and 6 assists, but it was his switch to RB on Match Day 5 that stands out as his biggest contribution. Ryukyu had plenty of talent in the midfield and it was always going to prove difficult to shoehorn in all of them barring injury. This type of switch will not work for every player, but Tanaka has the temperament, skill, and tenacity that few others possess. He is extremely aggressive in the attack and in defense, has a great shot, and is an excellent passer. His partnership with Koya down the right really allowed Higuchi’s attacking style to flourish. Tanaka has been a stalwart at FC Ryukyu for many years and I hope to see him again in 2021.

Keigo Numata: Signed from Kanazawa in the offseason, Numata had the task of replacing Tokumoto at LB. Numata ended up playing in 39 games where he scored 3 goals, at least two were from headers, and provided 6 assists. There were a few times where it looked like Numata’s fitness let him down, but that is expected with an older player who played nearly every minute of every game. Maybe with a lighter fixture schedule in 2021, Numata will be a little fresher and offer slightly more, but that is anyone’s guess.

Yuya Torikai: Yuya was the starting RB to begin the season but was eventually usurped by Tanaka. Torikai rejoined FC Ryukyu in the 2019 summer transfer window and bolstered the side in the midst of several poor results. This year, he wasn’t nearly as valuable and has become expendable with Tanaka’s emergence at RB. At 32, with a decline in performance and the talent at RB on the current roster, we may see his departure.

Makito Uehara: The younger Uehara is the best young prospect in defense for FC Ryukyu, and possibly the team. Uehara featured in 15 games and scored a thunderous goal against Omiya. Like several players requiring better coaching, Makito is raw but has far more skills and traits then those of his defensive counterparts. He is tall for a fullback, and has a nice burst to add to his long-distance speed. I don’t think he is a true fullback, as we never saw the touch that someone like Tanaka and Numata possess. Uehara, as I’ve said all year, could be a phenomenal central defensive mid fielder that could handle many of the stronger CBs in J2. He is good at tackling, strong enough to win contested challenges, and could win aerial battles. It would be a shame to let his talents become wasted behind the much better fullbacks of Tanaka and Tavares, so a switch to CDM could really benefit him and the club.  

Felipe Tavares: Signed from Brazil in the offseason, I though Tavares would push for a starting role. He did start the very first game of 2020, looked good in both the attack and defense, but then strangely disappeared from the lineup for well over 10 months. Thanks to Tanaka’s emergence as a crucial part to Higuchi’s attacking philosophy, I don’t think we’ll see Tavares making many starts outside of an occasional rest for Tanaka. I still think he needs to be rostered in 2021 as he can be an asset on set pieces, but he doesn’t not have the touch that Tanaka offers.

2021 Outlook

Keep: Tanaka, Numata, Chinen, Suzuki, Tavares, Uehara, and Yong-Jick. Yong-Jick never really figured out the CB role this year but he did stay healthy enough to play nearly every game. Maybe he’ll figure it out next year, but at age 30, it is unlikely. He, along with several other players, can probably be kept at relatively low wages, but that means we should be spending on some better defenders in the offseason. Tanaka and Numata are likely to open the season as our starting fullbacks with Tavares and Uehara as prospect players. We may one day see the partnership of Chinen and Suzuki at CB, but for now, they fall into the developmental category.

Let them Walk, or, Retain at low costs: Okazaki, Torikai and Fukui. Fukui offers limited upside but can play across multiple positions and fill in as injures mount. Torikai is likely to move on as he is well behind the other RBs currently rostered and 32 years of age. Okazaki has never developed into an effective CB and at 28, can be safely let go.

Gut Feeling: Despite the reduction in goals allowed from 2019 to 2020, defense is our top priority this offseason. The position can no longer be ignored for sake of attacking football. Yong-Jick, Okazaki, and Fukui will likely be retained as they are favorites of Higuchi. Suzuki, barring a return to Vortis, will also stay. FC Ryukyu have a strange way about them when it comes to foreign players so we could see the departure of Tavares for no reason. There seems little risk of losing Chinen, Uehara, and Numata, but any team could be keen to acquiring the services of Tanaka. His long standing history with the club may seem forgo any offers from other clubs.

That is it for our defenders. We will look at the midfield position in the second installment of this series, and hopefully I have that published before there are too many contract cancellations or renewals.

Match Day 42 Report: (16) FC Ryukyu vs (19) FC Machida Zelvia 12/20/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu closed the books on the 2020 season with a 0-1 defeat to FC Machida Zelvia. The game itself was very uneventful, as you will be able to tell from the second half highlights. It was also unfortunate that Shinji Ono did not score his first goal for the club.

Match Highlights

Match Day Takeaways

1. FC Ryukyu were wildly off target with their shots yesterday. In fact, they only had two shots on goal all day. That is an awfully low number for this team considering their recent form. The closest FC Ryukyu came to scoring yesterday was a Tanaka shot that hit the post, and header that Koizumi couldn’t quite get down. All of them occurred in the first half as there was almost zero offense for Ryukyu in the second half.

2. Shinya Uehara made a return to the lineup. It was good to see the veteran return to the pitch but he wasn’t able to muster the super-sub performances we’ve seen throughout the year.

Match Day 42 in J2

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

Both Giravanz and Tochigi lost so there was no upward movement for these clubs on the last day. Avispa achieved the moral victory be defeating the champs at home, but all the glory goes to Tokushima Vortis.

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

Conclusion

Well that is it for 2020. There will be some news of player contract renewals, and cancellations, over the next few weeks for FC Ryukyu so I intend to do a season wrap up for the players before I do one for the team as a whole. Thanks for reading the weekly previews and reviews and I look forward to seeing you in just a few short months for the 2021 season.

“The Place I Belong” Match Day 42 Preview: (14) FC Ryukyu vs (19) FC Machida Zelvia 12/20/20 #FC琉球

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.”

Intro

The final game of 2020 is upon us. It took 301 days from February 23rd to reach this point, but we’ve made it. This season has been unlike any other in history with the 4 month pause in play, COVID-19 protocols and suspensions, rescheduled games, games without fans, and the number of mid-week matches every team had to play to complete the fixture list. FC Ryukyu will close out their season this Sunday afternoon against FC Machida Zelvia, a team they share a long history with dating back to their time in the JFL, the J3, and now the J2.

Match Day 17: FC Machida Zelvia 4-2 FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu were demolished 4-2 by FC Machida Zelvia the last time they met back in September. Zelvia stormed out of the gates with 4 first half goals before FC Ryukyu answered with an own goal, followed by their first actual goal in the 92′ minute. Ryukyu had no answer for Zelvia on a day when Kazumasa Uesato was asked to fill in at CB due to several injuries and CV-19 suspensions. Well, we are healthier at the back this time, and FC Ryukyu are on a bit of a hot streak at the moment.

Previous Match Highlights

FC Ryukyu 2-0 Mito Hollyhock
FC Machida Zelvia 2-3 Jubilo Iwata

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: Higuchi definitely wants to end the season with a win, which, would also extend the FC Ryukyu winning streak to three games in a row. FC Ryukyu have beaten Ehime FC and Mito Hollyhock by a score line of 8 goals scored, 0 goals conceded over their last 2 games and are surging at the moment. It is highly unlikely that we see the return of our leading scorer, Abe, or the inclusion of Makito Uehara in the lineup, but we will certainly see the curtain call for Shinji Ono in this game.

I would expect a very fast start for FC Ryukyu on Sunday as they will want to put themselves into a position to allow Shinji Ono the maximum amount of time to score his first goal for the club. Ideally, Ryukyu would like to have a two goal lead prior to the 60th minute to give Shinji at least 30 minutes, and several chances, to score in front of the home crowd.

We probably won’t see to much shake up to the FC Ryukyu lineup that has featured the last two games. There will be some combination of Yong Jick, Chinen, and Okazaki at CB; Numata and Tanaka in defense, with Tavares coming on later for Tanaka. In the CDM, we should see the return of Uesato to the captains role, and joining him should be Koki Kazama, who, is having some strong performances to close out the season.

The attacking four up front should be Kawai, Koizumi, Koya and Ikeda. Though we’d like to see how Hitomi would function with a strong supporting cast, the need to get out in front early may prevent Hitomi from starting. This brings us to the most tenuous position selection of recent weeks, goal keeper.

Dany Carvajal and Junto Taguchi have a 28/13 split for games started this year. In their last 5 starts; Dany has two wins, and three losses; while Taguchi has three wins, one draw, and one loss. When you peer into the numbers, Dany surrendered 6 goals in that span, but the team only scored 5 goals in his starts. Taguchi on the other hand, has surrendered 4 goals during a 13 goal outburst from Ryukyu. Taguchi has faced: Jubilo Iwata, Tokyo Verdy, Fagiano Okayama, Ehime FC, and Mito Hollyhock. While Dany has faced: Omiya Ardija, Ventforet Kofu, Renofa Yamaguchi, Avispa Fukuoka, and Zweigen Kanazawa. So the strength of opponents is definitely in favor of Taguchi

Both goalies have 5 shutouts this season with Dany averaging 1.57 goals against, and Taguchi at 1.36. Here is where it gets slightly interesting. In Dany’s starts, the team scores an average of 1.36 goals per game. For Taguchi, that number is 1.54. In Dany’s 28 starts, FC Ryukyu have been shut out 8 times. In Taguchi’s 13 starts, only 3 times. In fact, in games Taguchi started, the team has scored nearly half (20) of the goals they scored when Dany (38) started this season. I think luck plays a part when evaluating these two players as FC Ryukyu have faired far better offensively with Taguchi than Dany. Taguchi played well against Mito, but the schedule and results are weighted heavily in his favor.

Machida Zelvia: It must be tough to be an FC Machida Zelvia fan these days. In three of their past five games, they have surrendered three goals, and lost two games because of those leaks at the back.

Zelvia went 2-0-3 over their last five games. They started off with two straight defeats to Thespakusatsu Gunma and Montedio Yamagata, which represented two of the three games where Zelvia conceded at least three goals. Wild shooting, poor defending, and an a PK contributed to the Gunma loss. But against Yamagata, they started fast, took the lead twice, and then surrendered that lead in the 92′ and 94′ minute.

Machida followed up those two losses with consecutive 1-0 victories against Tokyo Verdy and Mito Hollyhock. The Verdy win came after a PK, and the Mito win was not all that inspiring so it was hard to draw anything from those games other than Zelvia responding to two heavy defeats.

The most recent game against Jubilo Iwata was a mirror image of the Yamagata game in that Zelvia would once again surrender a lead, and would do so in stoppage time. Machida at one point were up 2-0 before a 70′ goal provided the breakthrough for Iwata before a short corner with less than one minute left gave Iwata the victory.

For the season, Zelvia have been shut out 16 times, compared to 11 by FC Ryukyu. But unlike Ryukyu, Zelvia have only exceeded more than two goals scored in a game three times. One of those was against FC Ryukyu so there is that. Machida have also surrendered 3 goals or more in 4 of their last 6 games, as well as 8 games in total this season, which is good for about 20% of the time. Zelvia’s away record is not that great either as they have only won 4 games on the road all year, with the last win occurring back on Match Day 16 some three and half months ago.

The players to watch for tomorrow are also the top three scorers for Zelvia. Hirato, Ando, and Yoshio have all looked good in the last five games for Zelvia and represent the lion’s share of the team’s offense. Keeping them in check, something FC Ryukyu didn’t do the last time they played Zelvia, will be no easy task.

For more on FC Machida Zelvia, please see @fortressnuzama on Twitter.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu Shinji Ono Scoring His First Goal

I have no idea if this will be Shinji Ono’s last game for FC Ryukyu, or maybe ever, but we have to understand that the end is drawing near for this great player. There has been no bigger ambassador for the club, and what Shinji has done here in Okinawa to increase the exposure of FC Ryukyu, has been nothing short of remarkable. But there is something missing, something that can be replayed over, and over, and over again for news outlets and fans everywhere. And that is a goal.

If this truly is Shinji’s last game, then like all greats who exit the sport on their last game, there is the emotional pregame speech he will deliver to the team. In that speech he will thank the players, the staff, the coaches and applaud their efforts throughout his time at the club. He will tell some stories about his footballing life, and then make an impassioned plea to go out there and win one last time. I think, after hearing that speech, that every single player in that locker room will bust their gut to get the win, but more importantly, to get Shinji on the score sheet.

1. The lineup selection must be built to start fast, and finish stronger. Ren Ikeda will need to make the start at FWD, with Koizumi sitting behind him in the CAM. This combination, along with Koya and Kawai, can generate the lead we need – in a winning effort – to bring on Shinji. Make no mistake, a goal by Shinji in a losing effort will not be as memorable as one in which Ryukyu win. When it is time to make the substitutions, they need to be measured against the talent that can support Shinji. Koizumi needs to drop back behind Shinji and allow Ono to operate at the top of the box as the CAM. Hitomi is better at FWD than Ikeda as he knows where to be to support the attack by getting into the right positions so this will help as well. Kawai and Koya should only be subbed off if they are gassed, and in that event, Yamaguchi should come in on the left with his speed; while Tavares comes in for Koya; drops back to RB; and pushes Tanaka up top as he possesses a better touch in the attack.

2. Stretch Zelvia along the flanks and find the last pass back to Shinji. Koya and Tanaka have the best accuracy for picking out players. And Kawai can pull the defense apart with his speed, with Numata looking good on crosses these days. Koizumi can pick out anyone, with every type of pass, from anywhere on the pitch which means we should have to supporting cast to get Shinji open.

3. Feed him. Shinji cannot score if he is not given the chances. Don’t be dismayed by the shots he takes that are off target, or directly at the defense, as he needs to get a feel for the game and his shooting touch. He may have no more than 30 minutes to do this, so expect shots from every angle and distance imaginable.  

Match Prediction

If FC Ryukyu can win this game by more than 2 goals, they will finish with a positive goal differential for the first time in 2 years, as well as for the first time in J2. In that case, 3-1 to FC Ryukyu with the third and final goal coming from Mr. Ono sounds oh so good.

Match Day 42 in J2

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

All the fixtures will kickoff at 1400 JST which is the norm for the final match day. The two promoted teams will square off with Tokushima expected to lift the J2 Champions Shield. That is, barring a miraculous turn of events requiring Avispa Fukuoka to overturn a 14 goal differential with a victory by 8 goals. Letting your opponent lift the title at your home ground should be enough motivation for Avispa to make this a game.

Tune in for the lifting of the J2 Champions Shield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHSZRWLeXEs

Elsewhere, there will be some jockeying for final positions inside the table. Most notably are the games featuring (5) Giravanz Kitakyushu and (9) Tochigi SC. If other results go in favor of these two teams, we could see both finish inside the top 6, with Giravanz possibly finishing 4th. Quite an impressive set of results for a newly promoted side, and a team that finished 20th in the table last year. But then again, one just has to recall Avispa Fukuoka’s meteoric rise from 16th in 2019 to 2nd in 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDriek2a1vg

Conclusion

Country roads take me home, to the place I belong.

Okinawa!

FC RYUKYU!!

Take me home!!!

Match Day 41 Report: (11) Mito Hollyhock vs (14) FC Ryukyu 12/16/20 #FC琉球

Intro

There was a bit of history made last night:

-Yasuhiro Higuchi notched his 150th victory

-This was the 3rd coldest game ever played in the J-League at -3.1 degrees Celsius (if I interpreted that right). The second coldest was also played last night between Matsumoto Yamaga FC and Tokyo Verdy (-3.3C).

-FC Ryukyu achieved 50 points for the first time ever in J2

Match Day Highlights

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3468328

Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu MF Shuto Kawai: Kawai was a handful for the Mito defense last night and his efforts were rewarded with his 4th goal of the campaign. It was also one of the best goals FC Ryukyu has scored this year as Kawai managed to skirt it around and through the Mito defense.

Review of the Keys to Victory

Let’s just get some guys the playing time they need before 2021. Likelihood 2. Chinen, Yamaguchi, Ichimaru, Hitomi, and Tavares all featured last night. In some cases, it probably wasn’t enough, but the fact that they played is all that matters.

Match Day Takeaways

1. Koya and Ren stayed red hot last night, despite the slow start for FC Ryukyu. FC Ryukyu endured an opening 25 minute barrage by Mito before switching things up tactically, and taking control of the game. It was Koya, who won the ball in a dangerous area, that set up Kawai. An then there was Ren adding the second goal, more on that later. All of them continued the momentum they built up against Ehime FC last week with Koya now accumulating 6 points in the past 2 matches, while Ren has scored in back to back games for the first time all season.

2. Koizumi didn’t make the score sheet, but was the unsung hero for this team. His performance last night shows you the type of player he is, and the influence he can have on the game, despite not scoring. He broke up so much of Mito’s possession in defense, it disrupted the Mito attack and prevented them from getting into a rhythm.

3. I said we needed to see more of the players who haven’t featured heavily in the lineup this season, and we got just a bit yesterday. Ichimaru is an interesting player as he has never really stood out for this team, but there are places on a team for role players. Tavares had very little time to make an impact and Yamaguchi flashed his speed, but nothing else. Hitomi won a nice aerial battle, but wasn’t given any opportunities to score.

4. Ren Ikeda goes at it all by himself. And scored a spectacular goal. Ren received his pass from Koki at about 30-yards from goal, and then took it all the way down inside the 18-yard box, all the while surrounded by 7 Mito defenders. He then put a nice curled shot past the outreached arms of the goalie to seal the victory. See the photo below. (Thanks @iritettsu40 for the photo)

Match Day 41 in J2

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j2-league/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

Both Tokushima Vortis and Avispa Fukuoka achieved promotion to the J1 last night. Congratulations to them and their fans. Unfortunately, it is commiserations for V-Varen Nagasaki as their promotion dreams come to an end.

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

Conclusion

Given the travel and weather, this was a surprising result for the boys. Albeit, a welcome one, and also special one for Higuchi. There is only one game left in this turbulent season, so those that can attend, please do (Safely!). And for those that cannot, for what ever reason, please tune in and enjoy this team one final time, as this will be the last time that all of them are together.

“You Get What You Give” Match Day 41 Preview: (10) Mito Hollyhock vs (17) FC Ryukyu 12/16/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu got the better of Mito Hollyhock the last time these two sides met on Match Day 20. Koizumi scored a spectacular goal to open the game, but Mito responded with two of their own before Shinya Uehara’s late game heroics won it for FC Ryukyu in stoppage time.

Match Day 20: FC Ryukyu 3-2 Mito Hollyhock

It is unfortunate that this game will not feature two of the top scorers for each side as Mito’s Yamaguchi is out with a knee injury, and Takuma Abe hasn’t been seen in weeks. This will be Mito’s final home game of the year and they will certainly want to send the fans home with something special in the form of a victory.

Previous Match Highlights

FC Ryukyu vs Ehime FC (6-0)
Mito Hollyhock vs Machida Zelvia (0-1)

Team Previews

Mito Hollyhock: Mito seem to be one of those good, but not great, squads in J2. They’ve made some brief appearances inside the top 10 of the league table this year, but have not been able to put forth any consistent efforts to push higher than 9th. The fact that they lost Kazuma Yamaguchi, their leading goal scorer, to a devastating knee injury, meant they have had a lot of wind taken out of their sails.

Mito went 2-1-2 in their last five games with some notable wins, as well as forgettable losses. They surrendered the lead on two occasions to Giravanz Kitakyushu and Ehime FC resulting in a draw and a loss. Then followed that up with two hard earned victories over Jubilo Iwata and Tokushima Vortis.

Perhaps it was the emotional and physical toll from those two matches that saw Mito lose 1-0 to Machida Zelvia this past weekend. The Iwata game was played in some poor conditions with each team fighting hard to the end. Then there was the game against Vortis where Mito left everything on the pitch that included saving a potential game tying PK.

Unfortunately, Mito came out flat against Zelvia, who pounced on all the early opportunities resulting in a first half goal for the hosts. But make no mistake, Mito are the leading goal scoring team in J2, sitting on 67 goals scored, and can be relentless in the attack despite missing their talisman.

They also own one of the poorest goals against record, tied with FC Ryukyu at 60, so they are prone to breakdowns at the back. These are two fairly even matched sides, as indicated by the table below, so a slight advantage has to be given to the home side on a short week.

FC Ryukyu: While FC Ryukyu have enjoyed success against Mito at home, on the road is a completely different story. When FC Ryukyu traveled to Ibaraki last summer, it was with a depleted squad that saw our 3rd choice GK, Inose, making his debut due to an injury to Dany, and Ishii’s loan restrictions for playing against his parent club.

FC Ryukyu were soundly beat 3-1 that day, but that followed an earlier 1-0 win for FC Ryukyu in early 2019. That win by Ryukyu also came during a time when Mito was one of the best defensive sides in J2, allowing the fewest goals scored. So what should we look expect in the return match this year?

Against Ehime, FC FC Ryukyu saw the return of some players who had gone missing for quite some time. Namely, defenders Felipe Tavares, and Tetsuya Chinen. On the other hand, we still have no clue as to the disappearance of Takuma Abe and Shinya Uehara.

FC Ryukyu have managed to get by with Ren Ikeda, Takuya Hitomi, and even Yoshio Koizumi up top, and we should expect a similar set up tomorrow. Hitomi needs to see the pitch a lot the next few rounds as that will shape the management’s decisions regarding adding a striker in the offseason.

The midfield seems to be settled with Uesato, Koki, Koya, Kawai and Koizumi but we need to realize that one, or more, of those players will not be on the roster come 2021. Yamaguchi needs a solid performance and it would be nice to see Motegi return to the bench with a shot at a possible substitute appearance. These next 180 minutes will determine the fate of many players and we are running out of time to get a look at them.

In that same vein, FC Ryukyu need to get a longer look at Felipe Tavares, Tatsuya Chinen, and Makito Uehara. Seeing how two of them play the same position as Keita Tanaka, that may not be possible. I wish Higuchi would give Makito a shot at playing CDM next to Uesato for a few minutes, as he could learn from the veteran in some low pressure situations to end the season. As far as Chinen is concerned, he could be our 3rd, if not 1st, choice CB in 2021 and needs some reps these next two games.

The notion of knowing that we are just 2 points shy of our 2019 point total may cloud our judgement for getting some extended looks at the aforementioned players. But Higuchi literally has nothing to lose by playing these guys.

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 that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Normally this section outlines how FC Ryukyu could exploit their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. But considering that wins are more hollow than substantive these days, let’s just get some guys the playing time they need before 2021. Likelihood 2.

Match Prediction

I wouldn’t fault FC Ryukyu if they came out a little sluggish tomorrow considering the travel, and that the game will be played in near freezing temperatures. It is their last road game of the year, and much like Ehime FC last week, they may just want to get out of there and get back home as quickly as possible. With that in mind, this game has the potential to be a back-and-forth affair ending in a 2-2 score line.

Match Day 41 in J2

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

A win for (1) Tokushima Vortis over (15) Omiya Ardija seals promotion. (2) Avispa Fukuoka will need to win against (21) Ehime FC, and hope for a Vortis loss to keep their title hopes alive. (3) V-Varen Nagasaki draw the toughest opponent in round 41, as they host (4) Ventforet Kofu.

It doesn’t look like there is a free broadcast for the J2 in the midweek as the J-League International YouTube channel has opted for a J1 game instead.

Conclusion

I have come to enjoy several mid-week games this year, but hopefully we will be returning to a sense of normality with the fixture list in 2021. Ryukyu have played a total of 15 mid-week games in 2020, with 5 of their last 6 occurring on the road. I always hoped we’d see FC Ryukyu playing in December, but that was for the promotion playoffs, not match day 41.

Ryukyu will end their 2020 season road slate with this final trip North to Ibaraki, but they haven’t played in temperatures this cold since a game in Yamagata some 20 months ago. And though a win would be enjoyable, I guess “you get what you give” in these times.

Match Day 40 Report: (17) FC Ryukyu vs (21) Ehime FC 12/13/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Wow! A bit unexpected, but what a wonderful surprise yesterday when FC Ryukyu demolished Ehime FC 6-0 at home. FC Ryukyu scored 6 goals in a match for the second time this season and also took a major chunk out of their goal differential by dropping it down to -4. There is an outside chance, if things break right for Ryukyu in the final 2 matches, that FC Ryukyu could actually finish with a positive goal differential for the first time in 2 years.

Match Highlights

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3468327

Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu MF Koya Kazama: Koya scored the first hat trick for FC Ryukyu since Yuta Togashi (now at FC Gifu) back in 2017, and added 2 assists to finish with an incredible 5 points. Koya found himself in the right spot, at the just the right times and really needed a game like this to break out of that little funk he found himself in.

Review of the Keys to Victory

1. Hit Ehime with our speed. Likelihood 4. Yes. Koya’s first goal was set up by Kawai out running the Ehime defense.

2. Take Niwa out of the equation. Likelihood 2. He never really factored in this game and Ehime only registered 4 shots on net.

3. Do not switch off. Likelihood 3. FC Ryukyu definitely did not switch off as they kept their foot on the gas for the full 90 minutes.

Takeaways from Match Day 40

1. This was a match where everything clicked, and everything worked to perfection. FC Ryukyu simply dominated Ehime in every category that included a staggering 26 shots, of which 19 were on target. Ryukyu could have easily scored more on a day when it seemed that everyone in the starting 11 was getting on the score sheet.

2.Koizumi’s play was one again phenomenal, and it was his opening goal that provided the early breakthrough for this team. Not really looking forward to see where he signs this offseason, I just hope its for a J1 club in need of central playmaker.

3. There were some visible “sense of relief” moments on many of the faces of the Ryukyu players during this game. In particular, Ren Ikeda broke his 30-game scoreless drought with a thundering header and you could see an enormous weight being lifted off his shoulders in his post goal celebration. These little things near the end of the season matter so much to some players as the small boosts in confidence will carry them heading into 2021.

4. FC Ryukyu tried to get Shinji his goal, but couldn’t. It’s a bit of a shame that Ono couldn’t get on the score card in front of the largest home crowd of the season (3,246) and I really hope he can score one goal on the final home game against Machida Zelvia.

5. Felipe Tavares made his first appearance in over 9 months for the club. We also got some longer looks at Yamaguchi and Hitomi. Tanaka has been red hot as of late so its understandable why Tavares cannot crack the starting 11, but I hope we see a bit more of him before we end the year as I think he could serve a purpose with this team in 2021. Hitomi almost pushed the score line to 7-0 when his ambitious shot from range with the Ehime GK out position, but it bounced off the crossbar. It would be nice to see him get the start up top in the last two games of the year. Yamaguchi almost added an assist, and while he looked good in doing so, I think a majority of that can be attributed to how poorly the Ehime defense played.

6. I am not sure if we witnessed a player voicing his frustrations on social media for the first time here at Ryukyu, but something clearly upset Dany Carvajal before the lineups were released yesterday.

I am slightly concerned about this GK controversy that seems to be materializing in front of us.  

Match Day 40 in J2

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j2-league/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

The promotion race continues and it was a thrilling weekend of action for the neutral fans who tuned into the games for the top 3 sides. (1) Tokushima Vortis were stymied by (13) JEF UTD Chiba at home. The draw allowed both (2) Avispa Fukuoka and (3) V-Varen Nagasaki to make up some ground on the leaders as both sides won 2-0 on Sunday. I said in the last review, that if the loss to Mito by Vortis was anything more than a little stumble, they could lose out on the title when they travel to Fukuoka to end the season.

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

Conclusion

The result, while impressive, also occurred in front of the largest crowd this season which should help boost some ticket sales for next year. More on the sharp increase on season ticket prices in the offseason, but for now, this was a great result for the club and was very enjoyable to watch.

FC Ryukyu have two games remaining in 2020 and will play their final road game when they travel to Mito Hollyhock on Wednesday evening. Now only two points off their 2019 point total, FC Ryukyu have a realistic chance to surpass that total with some positive results over their final slate of games.

“It’s Alright and It’s Coming On” Match Day 40 Preview: (18) FC Ryukyu vs (21) Ehime FC 12/13/20 #FC琉球

Intro

In normal, non CV19 years, a bottom of the table clash would have a little excitement attached to the game as one, or both, teams try to stave off relegation. While that is not the case this year, this game should feature some goals, and heck, it is the prime time game on Sunday afternoon/evening for DAZN, so sit back and enjoy.

Match Day 7: Ehime FC 1-1 FC Ryukyu

These two teams drew 1-1 the last time they met back on Match Day 7 where a goal by Koya in the 69′ minute leveled the match after an earlier deflection just made it past the outstretched arms of Dany Carvajal. FC Ryukyu should have scored many more as they hit the post, crossbar, and side netting on an narrow miss from a Uesato FK. Abe also failed to score on his breakaway, but he really carried this team on his back to that draw as it was his intensity that led directly to the Koya goal.

Last Match Highlights

FC Ryukyu vs Fagiano Okayama (1-1)
*MD 34 Makeup Game Ehime FC vs. Ventforet Kofu (0-2)

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: When FC Ryukyu began this stretch of four home games in a row, there were some high expectations that they could win all four of these matchups, and their final home game, to close out the 2020 season. Prior to the match with Tokyo Verdy, FC Ryukyu were undefeated in their previous four home games with three wins and one draw. Well, things haven’t worked out as we might’ve hoped.

Things started off great with a 4-0 win over Tokyo Verdy but FC Ryukyu has gone on to lose 2-0 to Kanazawa as well as draw with Fagiano Okayama this past weekend. Granted, FC Ryukyu have been without their talisman, Takuma Abe, for quite some time, and a lot of changes to the lineup created some disjointed attacks in those games. But FC Ryukyu have a shot this week to right the ship when they face Ehime FC as they’ve been one of the worst teams in J2 this year.

I would expect the lineup this week to look much like the lineup we saw against Okayama beginning with Hitomi leading the line up top, and behind him their should be Kawai, Koya, Koizumi, Koki and Uesato. Higuchi may continue to deploy both Yong Jick and Okazaki, in order to get a longer look at Okazaki before 2021, and joining them should be Tanaka and Numata at fullback. At this point, we have to assume that Higuchi prefers Taguchi over Dany Carvajal in net as the recent track record indicates as much.

FC Ryukyu are 4-4-2 over their last 10 matches but the goals seem to occur in bunches as they’ve been shut out in 3 of those games. While Ehime FC do represent a “get right game” for Ryukyu, Ehime surprisingly have a better win rate away from home. It is good news for Ryukyu that Ehime have only shut out their opponent once in their past 15 games as FC Ryukyu prefer to start games fast by grabbing the early lead. But if FC Ryukyu cannot accrue an early lead with the play of their midfield, they will struggle for goals the remainder of the game.

In the last match preview I spoke extensively about FC Ryukyu needing to evaluate the talent in the reserves before the season ends. That was not the case last week as FC Ryukyu opted for trying to accumulate wins and points which means they need to see that mentality through to the end. It is a shame as we’ll have plenty of questions about this squad heading into 2021, combined with a depleted budget from CV-19, thus making roster decisions that much tougher on the management. We may, unfortunately, see the premature departure of some players who could flourish on other teams simply because we decided to improve our standing in a meaningless season instead of preparing for the future.

Ehime FC: Having already fired their manager, Ehime are listless and adrift at the bottom of the table with nothing but future employment left to play for. This team has been much worse this year compared to 2019 and two of their top three leading scorers are on loan from Sanfrecce Hiroshima which doesn’t provide much hope for this side heading into 2021.

Earlier in the season Ehime suffered through a patch of 10 games without a win but that wasn’t the worst as they endured further humiliation when they lost 5 games in a row. It is probably to nonene’s surprise when they moved on from their former manager after such results. If your trying to glean anything positive about this side in the preview, there is their away record – 21 of their 34 points earned on the road – and Ehime have surrendered two fewer goals than FC Ryukyu on the year.

Shockingly, Ehime won three games during the month of November, which represents nearly half of their total wins. In their last five games, Ehime earned victories over Niigata and Mito, followed by a very spirited draw with Omiya where they scored 3 goals inside of 4 minutes. But the goals have since dried up as they’ve been shutout in consecutive matches at home to Kyoto (0-1) and Kofu (0-2).

In a strange turn of events just last night, Ehime opted to release their leading scorer, Koki Arita, which leaves very little in the attack for Ehime outside of Shion Niwa who has scored three goals across the Niigata and Mito games.

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 that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Hit Ehime with our speed. Likelihood 4. Kawai and Koizumi are set to crush tomorrow as we know all too well about Taishi Nishioka’s inability to cover speedy wingers and midfielders in defense. Kawai has the speed to create acres of space in the Ehime defense and Koizumi needs to pick him out when he sees Kawai breaking around the edge.

2. Take Niwa out of the equation. Likelihood 2. He has been one of their best players the past few rounds, and now with Arita released, he’s the lone attacking threat on goal. He looks the part of a fine a striker, but not one that either Okazaki or Yong Jick cannot handle.

3. Do not switch off. Likelihood 3. While Ehime are not particularly threatening, when they are overlooked, they can strike back in a big way. The perfect examples of this was the recent game against Omiya when they scored 3 goals inside of a few minutes to level the match, as well as the game against Vortis earlier in the year when they hit 4 in a come from behind victory.

Match Prediction

I am feeling slightly more confident than usual this week so I think we see an exciting 3-1 win by FC Ryukyu.

Match Day 40 in J2

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j2-league/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

(1) Tokushima Vortis will secure promotion with a win over (13) JEF UTD Chiba. And they will win the J2 title if both Avispa Fukuoka and V-Varen Nagasaki lose on on Sunday. (2) Avispa Fukuoka need a lot of help to win the title as that will require Vortis to drop points before they meet, but can Fukuoka can strengthen their promotion push with a win and Nagasaki loss. That will be no easy task for Fukuoka this week as they face a resurgent (6) Kyoto Sanga FC side that has beaten 2 out of the top 3 sides in the table on their way to closing out the season. A win by Nagasaki over (12) Tokyo Verdy, coupled with a loss by Fukuoka, would see them overtake Avispa for the #2 position. It is also the free international broadcast this week.

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/tabelle/wettbewerb/JAP2/saison_id/2019
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Khq1RP5FBs

Conclusion

In the past few days Ehime have fired their manager and released their leading scorer, and are probably eagerly anticipating the end of the pain and suffering that 2020 brought them. This is game is a gift wrapped opportunity to grab our 13th win of the season in front of the home crowd. All we need to do is, “get it right back.”