(22) FC Ryukyu vs (2) Yokohama FC #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu are running out of time and opportunities to stave off relegation following a run of seven (7) games without a win in which they’ve failed to score even a single goal in their previous six (6) matches. Ryukyu will now face the toughest run in of fixtures for any of the bottom three (3) sides in J2 with matches against Kanazawa, JEF, Oita, and this week’s opponent, Yokohama FC. Two of those teams are inside the top six of the table with automatic promotion looking likely for Yokohama FC. Seeing how promotion has not been guaranteed just yet, expect YFC to play at full strength against a Ryukyu side that is on life support at the moment. Finally, we will be joined by the Yokohama FC Foreign Supporters Group this week to provide their perspective on YFC.

Weather Forecast & Match Day Information

Looking quite nice for our next to last home game.

Click>>> Match Day Info from FC Ryukyu

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: The chances of FC Ryukyu staving off relegation are getting slimmer each passing round. Whether you still believe there is a chance, or you have resided to the fact that relegation is going to happen, you need only look at the recent run of form of Ryukyu to see that the chances of escape are quite grim. Ryukyu have failed to score even a single goal in any of their last six (6) matches resulting in numerous crucial points dropped when points were (are) at a premium.

Do Ryukyu somehow find a rich stream of form to close out the season and somehow earn enough points to avoid the drop? Or do we expect just more of the same against much tougher competition to close out 2022? Do you believe that those teams around us in the standings will continue to lose while Ryukyu inch their way to safety? Do you think Iwaki FC won’t be granted a J2 license come seasons end thus resulting in only one (1) team in J2 being relegated? Very tough questions to grapple with as a Ryukyu supporter these days.

This by no means equates to disbelief in the players or should be construed as a lack of support to the team. It is simply looking at the facts. Many times this season I’ve seen plenty of FC Ryukyu supporters across social media vowing to do better following each match. But I would argue that we supporters do exactly what is expected and that is to show up every week. Especially in an environment devoid of any real atmosphere thanks to the slow rolling out of allowing cheering back at the stadiums by the J-League.

Sure, we can refrain from voicing our frustrations at the players following the match but seeing how supporters in the J-League have limited power, and an even more limited platforms to engage with the clubs, it makes voicing your frustrations challenging. It is not as if not showing up to home games would send a clear message to the club that the supporters are not happy as I doubt they would notice a few dozen fans missing from the stands with such low attendance levels any given week.

Perhaps it is a just a thing to not question those in charge and to let things play out as they may. But look at where that has gotten Ryukyu. Gone are the days when the club would engage with the head of the supporters thanks in large part to CV-19, which is likely still being used as an excuse. But there should be no hiding from how this season turned out nor the hard questions that need to be asked/answered. Questions that would probably get you banned from any post-game press conference.

While I have my own opinion on where I think FC Ryukyu will finish this season I still want to see this club win at least one (1) more game at home. It may not matter in the end but a win(s) would be for the fans that have only witnessed three (3) victories at home in the last calendar year. I think we all know that a majority of the supporters will be back next season, and we all know that is likely in J3, so therefore provide us as fans something uplifting to carry us through what will be an arduous offseason.

Now, onto the game at hand. FC Ryukyu will need to put Sadam Sulley back up top this week, after Nacho mysteriously left him on the bench all last week, as Yuki Kusano cannot feature against his parent from which he is on loan. It may not make a difference who is up top if FC Ryukyu cannot find a way to provide the strikers any service. I think it is high time we went back to Tanaka at RB to see if we can shake something loose and we really need Ren Ikeda to drive what will probably be a limited attack, with even more limited goal scoring opportunities, on Saturday.

Yokohama FC: This week we are joined by the Yokohama FC Foreign Supporters (@YokohamaFSG), who are brand new to the scene and who were kind enough to agree to answer a few questions about their origin and the state of YFC heading into the end of the season. As someone who ventured the same path a few years ago, I am really excited to welcome someone new into the fold and to provide them another forum to express their views on the club they love and support.

1. What brought you to the J-League and Yokohama FC (experiences as a fan here in Japan)? And what prompted you to start a Foreign Support group for the club?

“I’ve been casually following the j-league for a while, but with work commitments taking me in and out of Japan it’s been difficult to go see some games. Work has changed somewhat and it gave me the time to really focus on a team. I wanted to support a team that I could really get behind. While FC Tokyo is geographically the closest team I had more of an affinity with Yokohama since it’s my wife’s hometown.

Instantly the model of YFC was particularly attractive, as was the stadium. I’ve been going on and off to the stadium all this season. I’ve noticed a few foreign supporters but often been too shy or with my wife to approach them. So I thought I’d create a supporters group to try and gather us together. I’ll probably need to get over my shyness in person to let them know! So far in the world of Twitter it’s been really receptive, I just hope to be able to transfer that onto the terraces!”

2. YFC are in a strong position to make a return to the J1 next season. What do you think the club has learned from their relegation and possible quick return back to the top tier of Japanese football?

“I think the jump up to the J-league was a big learning curve for the club. The gulf in finance, and quality of players was stark. This year, I think our squad is more experienced and it’s so important to have that squad experience there. I think it’ll be a difficult task, and unless we get bought out or have a sponsor that doesn’t interfere with the structure, it would be difficult to compete with the bigger clubs. But I think we’re a plucky team and we certainly have the skills to make a good go of it. They remind me of those teams back in the UK – too strong perhaps for the championship but not wealthy/strong enough for the premiership either. I think the club will probably look at IT pragmatically, try to compete with the teams around us, and nick a few points against the stronger teams.”

3. Koki Ogawa has been brilliant this season and is leading the league in goals. What are some of the other players in the squad that have contributed greatly to YFS’s success this season? Your goalie, Svend Brodersen, took a nasty knock last week and suffered a concussion. How is he doing these days and would you expect to see him out there on Saturday? Any notable injuries or issues the squad is dealing with at the moment?

“Certainly Ogawa and Brodersen have been invaluable to us. Hasegawa has also been really good with his leadership too. Brodersen is doing well and feels completely fine, so I’d expect to be seeing him on the weekend. He really is a solid foundation for the team. No notable injuries, but that time of the year were they’re looking a bit leggy. We might be certain to get promoted but if we seriously mess up than there’s a possibility of the playoffs.”

4. YFC do have a set of tricky fixtures ahead of them to close out 2022. FC Ryukyu presents a bit of a trap game, though I wouldn’t go as far as to say we pose any real threat; followed by Oita Trinita fighting for a playoff spot; a bit of a resurgent Zweigen Kanazawa; and finally, Roasso Kumamoto who are also vying for a playoff spot. Do you think YFC can catch Albirex Niigata at the top of the table while keeping Fagiano Okayama at bay?

” I think it’s a really difficult end to the season. All those teams can be really tricky to play, because they all have a strong reason to get something from the game. At the moment Niigata and Okayama are looking really strong. I can’t imagine them dropping many, if any, points so the pressure on us is really strong. Especially we’ve, until relatively recently, had a run of rather mediocre games. The last home game against Kofu we looked leggy and lacked the finishing, while we kept giving the ball away unnecessarily. I’m a man city supporter back in the UK, and supporting them since Maine road days has given me a greater level of pessimism I’d imagine. We’re second for a reason and I think we can end the season strong! “

“With regards to your second point – I definitely think we’ve learnt a lot, but it’s hard to see us doing really well in that strong league – what do you think?”

Think it’s a progression at each level you move up, or down. When going up, survival first and foremost, and then incremental building towards to the top. When you go down, it is probably how you respond to the previous season’s failures and adjustments to the assumed financial losses/troubles at a lower level. In either case it’s really how the club management builds, or unfortunately, craters a team with their business, managerial, and personnel decisions. I think there’s enough players there at YFC to recall the struggles of J1 and you all could rebound much like Reysol did in 2020 after they won the J2 in 2019.

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. A fast start with multiple goals. Likelihood 0. How else can you beat one of the top teams in the table without knocking them back on their heels quickly and forcing them into making some mistakes. Multiple goals would be a drastic change of pace for this side but Ryukyu cannot sit back and absorb the pressure from YFC only to have a limited response in the attack. Need to go for it.

Round 39 in J2

Up Top: League Leaders (1) Albirex Niigata head out on the road to kick things off this round where they will face (7) Montedio Yamagata. Niigata will look to extend their lead at the top with Yamagata on the outside looking in at the promotion playoff zone at the moment as they are four (4) points behind (6) Vegalta Sendai.

Promotion Playoffs: (3) Fagiano Okayama, who have won eight (8) out of their last ten (10) matches head to (16) Zweigen Kanazawa who have turned things around following a shaky drop in form and who have now only lost once (1) in their last seven (7) games. Elsewhere it is (4) Roasso Kumamoto hosting (15) Blaublitz Akita and the abovementioned (6) Vegalta Sendai hosting (12) Tokyo Verdy.

The biggest game concerning those teams in and around the playoff zone is between (5) Oita Trinita, having only lost one (1) time in their last seventeen (17) games, and (8) V-Varen Nagasaki who, after reaching the playoff zone, have now lost three (3) of their last four (4) games. Nagasaki has to be viewing this match as a must win or it will likely end their promotion dreams yet again.

Down Below: (20) Thespakusatsu Gunma host (19) Omiya Ardija in what could be the final nail in the FC Ryukyu coffin if Gunma were to win, and Ryukyu were to lose. Come on Omiya! (21) Iwate Grulla Morioka will head to (14) Renofa Yamaguchi who demolished Gunma last week so let’s hope for a similar set of events to play out on Sunday in Yamaguchi.

Free J-League International Broadcasts: Well would you just look at that. FC Ryukyu vs Yokohama FC headlines the first of two free broadcasts this weekend in what could be Ryukyu’s final appearance on the J-League International YouTube Channel if they are demoted. Click>>> FC Ryukyu v Yokohama FC

The second match will showcase Vegalta Sendai at home versus Tokyo Verdy on Sunday. Click>>> Vegalta Sendai vs Tokyo Verdy

Conclusion

Simply put, FC Ryukyu must win this game, and the next, and the next after that. If Gunma extend their lead anymore over FC Ryukyu we will be relegated before we set foot on the pitch at the Fukuda Denshi Arena in Chiba. Despite the long odds facing Ryukyu I am looking forward to this match as it will be the first time that all members of my supporter group, the Ryukyu Army, will be attending the match at the same time. It is truly going to be a great weekend. I would also like to thank the Yokohama FC Foreign Supporters for their excellent contribution to the preview this week, please give them a follow on Twitter, and I wish them continued success throughout their J-League journey.

Now Come On Ryukyu, Let’s Fucking Do This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tochigi SC vs FC Ryukyu #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu were shutout once again drawing with Tochigi SC 0-0 on Sunday evening and have now earned just four (4) points from a possible twenty-one (21) in their last seven (7) matches. This collapse at the end has almost certainly sealed their fate as one of the two (2) clubs to be relegated back to the J3 for 2023. FC Ryukyu were on a nice run of form heading into Match Day 34 with Blaublitz Akita as Ryukyu had only lost once in their previous nine (9) games and were scoring multiple goals. I have no idea what has caused this unfortunate turn of events that has seen Ryukyu revert to their earlier form that plagued this club to begin the season. Despite some heroic efforts by Dany Carvajal to keep Ryukyu in matches, Ryukyu have been uninspiring in the attack this last quarter of the season.

Match Highlights

Review of the 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. Score a goal? Likelihood 1. Obviously I set the likelihood of this occurring to high for this game. That is now six (6) games in a row that FC Ryukyu have failed to score a goal. That is two more games than their previous streak of four (4) games without a goal which occurred back in 2014.

Match Day 38 Takeaways

1. I thought FC Ryukyu were aiming for a strong second half to possibly overpower what could’ve been a tired Tochigi team that played in the midweek with their initial lineup selection. Tanaka, Sulley, Hitomi, and Kelvin were all in the reserves but it was only Sulley who didn’t see a single minute of action last night. That is perplexing as it is vexing for one of the better players we currently roster. It made little difference as Ryukyu failed to do much in the attack and it seemed the side reached a point in the match where they figured it was better to get a point instead of all three points when Yong Jick was brought on as one of the last substitutes.

2. Tochigi wasn’t much better in the attack compared to Ryukyu if you just look at the stat sheet. But they created the more dangerous types of chances that could’ve led to goals where Ryukyu offered 1-2.

3. There was an interesting side note following the match when it appeared Lee Yong Jick had a bit of an outburst at some of the traveling supporters who voiced their frustrations at the team. First, I do not condone attacking the members of the team and calling them out. Sure, we are all frustrated and at times the team may need to hear that their efforts were not good enough on any given day but not knowing what was said, and having never witnessed something like this during my time as a supporter, it shouldn’t have come to the team and supporters turning on each other.

Second, this game was emotionally charged for everyone involved. The players certainly realized what was at stake, and realized what was lost when they failed to achieve the outcome that we everyone was hoping for. The fact that something like this happened only shows that both the fan(s) and Yong Jick were looking for a reason to voice their frustrations, and both showed their lack of emotional intelligence. If you are upset at how things have transpired and feel strongly enough to voice your concerns, do it in a healthy, productive manner. Granted, we as J-League fans may be quite limited in the ways in which we can send a message to clubs, but that shouldn’t prevent any of us from trying. If anyone is guilty of letting their emotions getting the best of them, it is the management who made an ’emotional decision’ to retain Kina in what should have been a clear ‘business decision’ to terminate him much earlier.

Finally, Yong Jick has been seen throughout this season voicing, and displaying a demeanor that really shows his displeasure at how Ryukyu were playing and earning results. That is great to an extent. The team definitely required some emotional leadership at times but at the end of the day we know it isn’t the fans out there achieving those results, it is the coaches and players. And if you’re upset, great, take it on the pitch and show us with your actions. All the posturing and harsh language means nothing if it cannot be backed up with results. And it hasn’t been backed up. I appreciate that everyone is out there trying and giving their best, perhaps it just isn’t good enough, and perhaps the best thing that can happen now is a total break and a complete rebuild at the club. I hope this stain on the club doesn’t distract the fans, or the leadership of this club, in fixing what was broken following the 2022 season.

Round 38 in J2

Up Top: (1) Albirex Niigata and (2) Yokohama FC both won this round to continue their push for automatic promotion. There was a scary moment during the YFC match when the YFC goalie, Sven Brodersen, was struck in the head from a diving Niigata player that eventually led to him being transported to a local hospital. The good news is he sustained no serious injuries but did receive a concussion.

Promotion Playoff Zone: (3) Fagiano Okayama had a ‘statement’ win over (6) Vegalta Sendai which should pretty much guarantee the side a slot in the playoffs as well as the top overall seed. (5) Roasso Kumamoto won again on the road to push themselves four (4) points clear of (5) Oita Trinita and nine (9) points clear from (7) Montedio Yamagata and (8) V-Varen Nagasaki. Oita scored a last second goal at home to defeat (17) Ventforet Kofu which sees them leap frogging Vegalta Sendai in the standings.

Down Below: (20) Thespakusatsu Gunma were demolished 1-6 at home to (14) Renofa Yamaguchi in a game which could’ve ended 1-8 had Renofa not struck the post and crossbar. (21) Iwate Grulla Morioka were defeated 1-3 by (16) Zweigen Kanazawa but the real story is that with so many things breaking (22) FC Ryukyu’s way this week, like it has at certain times this season, it was Ryukyu’s inability to garner a result that pretty much has sealed their fate for this year.

Conclusion

There are four (4) games remaining this season so those of you that haven’t had a chance to see Ryukyu in person, while they are in the J2, better get out there and do so before the curtain drops on what has become a bitterly disappointing campaign. When the dust settles after this season I just wonder what we will hear from club officials regarding the collapse, and who once asked us to remain patient as the season is long, and has many twits and turns. The season has been a long for us fans and we are not happy with the results, definitely not angry at the coaches and players, but do want answers and action from the management.

(18) Tochigi SC vs (22) FC Ryukyu #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu continue the long, slow, march to relegation this weekend when they travel to Tochigi SC. This match should’ve been one in which FC Ryukyu had finally pulled themselves out of obscurity and into relative safety, much like Omiya Ardija has done the past few weeks. This match represents the fifth game of what was supposed to be the “make or break” part of the Ryukyu season, which unfortunately, has broken FC Ryukyu. Ryukyu, having failed to score in any of their previous five (5) matches that included games against Mito, Akita, Gunma and Renofa – all of which were winnable games (must wins) – now find themselves six (6) points adrift from safety with only five (5) games remaining this season. The are too many things that need to break Ryukyu’s way to avoid relegation and I for one do not think that is going to happen.

Weather Forecast & Match Day Information

Looks good enough.

Click>>> Match Day 38 Information from Tochigi SC

Team Previews

Tochigi SC: It may come as shock to some, especially given the current state of FC Ryukyu, but Tochigi SC are one of the teams that FC Ryukyu holds a very good historical win rate throughout their history. In fact, Ryukyu have only lost twice (2) to Tochigi SC dating back to 2014. FC Ryukyu have won the last three (3) matches against Tochigi SC and one could only hope we make it four (4) in a row in Sunday.

Just like Ryukyu, Tochigi are winless in their last five matches but at least they’ve scored some goals and done enough to avoid relegation this season. In their last five (5) matches Tochigi drew with Thespakusatsu Gunma and then Yokohama FC, followed by consecutive losses to Vegalta Sendai and Omiya Ardija, and then drew 1-1 with V-Varen Nagasaki in the mid week.

Tochigi own one of the better goals conceded record in J2 despite their position in the table but that probably has more to do with them being the second worst team in the league when it comes to scoring goals. This game might not be the most pleasing on the eyes to watch but there is some serious weight and pressure behind it for FC Ryukyu and their fans. Ryukyu are desperate for goals and points, can this be the game that we finally see Ryukyu shrug off the goalless streak and build some sort of momentum heading into the toughest run of fixtures for any of the bottom three (3) teams?

FC Ryukyu: One of the stranger things about this sport is the added time at the end of each half. It somehow conjures up the idea, at least in my case, that whatever has transpired in the previous 90 minutes can somehow be salvaged at the very end, or also lost. Worse still it is that type of thinking when overlaid across a season that somehow leaves you hoping that there is still time to ‘right the ship’ and you begin working through all the various outcomes that ‘could’ occur to help save a team destined for relegation. Another example of how it is the hope that kills you in this sport.

FC Ryukyu could win out the remainder of the season and somehow avoid relegation as there is at least a very small chance of that occurring. But then you see that Ryukyu have failed to score a goal in five games after we lost Takuma Abe to a season ending injury. There is no amount of bargaining, pleading, or praying, that can save us now. Only goals, wins, losses by others, and simply put, a bit of good luck that has seemed to elude this club all year. There are several players that care greatly about the fate of this club but I am not sure if everyone on the squad, and in the front office, feels the same way. This depressing run of results has sucked the soul out of many of the club’s supporters and you just wonder what it has done to the members of this team.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that some are just hoping for a quick death and then to move on from Ryukyu and onto other clubs in the offseason. Perhaps after Ryukyu are officially relegated we will see a resurgence of performance from this team as they won’t have the pressures of relegation hanging over them, which was something it seems the team was never able to respond to most of the season. For me, that would be a slap in the face to all the fans of this club as it would show them that the team possessed the ability to do it all along, but just failed to do so when it mattered most.

I just cannot see a way in which Ryukyu earn half of their total points to date in these final fixtures. I guess what I am trying to say throughout this entire section is that I still haven’t come to grips with the reality that Ryukyu are relegated as I am duped into thinking that there is still a chance at survival. I guess I have only myself to blame and should just enjoy watching the game with my family, who gets so much joy out of watching their favorite players, and with my friends who have made the FC Ryukyu experience so much better for me these last nine years.

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. Score a goal? Likelihood 1. Can’t believe it has come to this but Ryukyu have created so few goal scoring opportunities these past few weeks and are in the midst of one of their longest goalless streaks in club history. Maybe the longest. Dany is keeping the team in every game yet getting little help in the attack as it seems Ryukyu may have only a single goal scoring chance in any given match. Playing with a lead could potentially lead to more opportunities but we haven’t seen that from this club in quite awhile.

Round 38 in J2

Up Top: (1) Albirex Niigata could extend their lead to six (6) points with a win at home over (19) Omiya Ardija coupled with a loss, or any slip up really, by (2) Yokohama FC who are on the road at (8) V-Varen Nagasaki. Nagasaki are looking to rebound from a disappointing midweek match against Oita when they only drew leaving them two (2) points off the promotion playoff zone.

Promotion Playoffs: In what is likely the best match up this week, (3) Fagiano Okayama host (5) Vegalta Sendai. Elsewhere it is (4) Roasso Kumamoto traveling to (10) JEF United Chiba and (6) Oita Trinita hosting (16) Ventforet Kofu. It seems Fagiano may have the top slot, and thus home field advantage in the playoffs, sewn up which means the other three (3) teams will be jockeying for position the remainder of the season. Hopefully Oita secures the last spot prior to their final match at Ryukyu when Ryukyu may need that win to pull off a miracle.

Down Below: Since the last time I wrote for this blog it was a 4/5 team race at the bottom. It is now down to just three (3) which could really turn into just two (Gunma/Iwate) if Ryukyu continue their poor run of form. (20) Thespakusatsu Gunma, who have one of the best run in of fixtures remaining, host (14) Renofa Yamaguchi who are fresh off their convincing 1-0 win over Ryukyu last week. (21) Iwate Grulla Morioka, also with a favorable set of fixtures to close out 2022, host (17) Zweigen Kanazawa. I watched Iwate earlier this week and there is still a lot of fight left in that squad. Can we say the same about Ryukyu?

Free J-League Broadcasts: There are two (2) broadcasts this round on the J-League International YouTube Channel with the first being (13) Tokyo Verdy hosting (7) Montedio Yamagata. Click>>> Verdy v Yamagata

The second match, the marquee match of this round, that will be played on Sunday will feature (3) Fagiano Okayama and (5) Vegalta Sendai. Click>>> Okayama v Sendai

Conclusion

Is this how things are supposed to end when teams get relegated? Would any of us Ryukyu fans feel any different had Ryukyu come close to avoiding relegation instead of where we are now with such a wide margin of defeat? I honesty do not know. Really all I can think about it is the final scenes in the 1989 film Glory where the 54th Massachusetts infantry regiment finally made it into the heart of Ft Wagner after seemingly insurmountable odds only to be blown off the ramparts by a cannon barrage. The last five goalless games has felt like that cannon barrage.