Match Day 9 Preview: Tokyo Verdy vs FCR

Match Day Info: 04/13/2019 (H) Tokyo Verdy vs FCR (A) at the Ajinomoto Stadium Kickoff at 14:00

Weather Forecast: Sunny with temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit (24C) at kickoff with slight 5 mph winds. Temperatures will stay near the high 50s low 60s all game and there is a 0% chance of rain at the time of this posting. It seems as if it will be cool but sunny so I’d recommend a light jacket and hat/sunglasses.

FCR will once again travel to the Tokyo area this time to take on Tokyo Verdy at the 49,000 seat Ajinomotoa stadium. Verdy share this stadium with FC Tokyo but don’t bring in nearly the same size of crowds as the J1 tenants. In fact, they are averaging around 4,300 per match but that also includes a home game played at a much smaller venue this past mid-week. FCR are coming off their historic performance against Kashiwa Reysol this past Sunday where they drew 1 all to become the all time J League leader in consecutive undefeated matches at home with 26.

Tokyo Verdy: 16^th in J2 with 8 points. 2W2D4L Current Form LDWDL Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

Verdy are a strange team in that they can show flashes of brilliance at certain times but also display a penchant for losing their concentration at critical moments of the game. They responded rather quickly against Tochigi when the visitors were up 1-0 but then let the game slip away with 2 late goals to lose 3-2. They narrowly earned a draw against Tokushima on the road when a later corner was deflected in off the back of one of the Verdy players.

Verdy looked like a totally different team against Kashiwa Reysol two weeks ago as they pounced on the visitors for two early goals and ended up shutting out a good Reysol team 2-0 at home. Verdy then faced off against one of the early table toppers in Mito in the mid-week but this was a lackluster game that ended in a 0-0 draw.

Against J2 League leading Yamagata they nearly pulled off the upset on the road by taking the lead in the 44^th minute only to concede in the 60^th and 90^th minute resulting in a 2-1 loss.

Players to Watch: #11 Ryohei Hayashi FW. He is their leading scored with 4 goals so far this season. He has a very dangerous left foot and has a penchant for heading balls into the back of the net. In the 6 games that I’ve seen his highlights, he moves effortlessly in the box, as well as around and in between the opposing teams’ defenders to create space for himself. He times his runs very well which almost seems to lull the opposing teams’ defenders to sleep before he quickly turns on the speed and gets past them and onto the end of a cross in the box. I feel Okazaki will have his hands full with Hayashi tomorrow.

FCR: 5^th in J2 with 15 points. 4W3D1L Current Form WDDLD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

Emotions are riding high for FCR coming off their historic achievement this past weekend. I believe the late goal against Reysol will bolster their confidence and hopefully push them out to an early lead away from the friendly confines of Okinawa. Uejo’s 4^th goal of the season was massive for the club and community but has also propelled him into the joint top 4 scorer in J2 this season. While his two prior goals may have been originally intended as crosses for Suzuki, this last goal left little doubt in anyone’s mind when he smashed it home on the volley.

FCR have failed to win in their last 4 matches but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are experiencing a drop off in performance. They have faced some tough teams over that stretch that includes drawing on the road against the current league leaders Yamagata, coming from behind twice to secure draws at home against Yamaguchi and Kashiwa and the tough loss during the shortened week where they nearly made something of the match against JEF.

FCR Keys to Victory: 1.) Attack the left side of Tokyo Verdy. In the matches I reviewed for this preview they were absolutely terrible down the left side of their defense. This means that either Tanaka, and hopefully a healthy Nishioka, can exploit Verdy with plenty of open space to send crosses into the box. For whatever reason, the Verdy defense down the left cannot organize itself and allows acres of space to opposing teams as well as ample opportunities to send shots and crosses into the dangerous 6-yard box. 2.) Take #11 Hayashi out of the match with good man marking and Verdy will have little to offer in the attack going forward. If FCR can keep a close eye on Hayashi and make life difficult for him then we should have no problem slowing down the Verdy attack.

3.) Dominate the possession and shots on net. The more FCR can pressure Verdy at the back the more chances that their defense will crumble and begin conceding goals. The Verdy defense is not that great but it is imperative FCR get on the front foot, shrug off any slow start and begin attacking. Tomidokoro could have a very nice game here by setting up Suzuki and our defenders with some well placed crosses into the box from the right side.

Match Prediction: I like both teams to score and for FCR to possibly upset the home side. We can expect, with a high degree of certainty anyways, that FCR will start out slow and allow their opponents some early opportunities. Verdy has capitalized on that once this season so it is crucial that FCR bend, but don’t break, on defense and then begin the attack on the Verdy defense.

Well good luck to Hiroaki Ikema, the FC Ryukyu Kanto region supporters and everyone else I haven’t mentioned that intends to show up to this match. Cheer the boys on as loud as you can and bring home the victory.

See you on Monday with the match recap.

Match Day 8 Preview: FCR vs Kashiwa Reysol

Match Day Info: 04/07/2019 (H) FCR vs Kashiwa Reysol (A) at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium (Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 1600.

Weather Forecast: Excellent! Temperatures will be in the high 70s (25C) at kickoff and pretty much remain constant throughout the entire match. It is expected to be slightly overcast with a 5mph wind. If you are sitting in Section A, I strongly encourage bringing a hat and or sunglasses for when the sun breaks through the clouds as you’ll be looking directly into the sun.

Match Day 8 sees former J1 club, Kashiwa Reysol, make their first ever visit to the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. Match Day 8 is a culmination of 3 games in 8 days for both sides with each club entering the match from different perspectives. FCR lost its mid-week tilt against JEF United Chiba 1-0 while Kashiwa easily brushed aside V. Varen Nagasaki 3-0. This match will feature the #3 & #4 teams in J2 and was one I earmarked as a potential “thigh rubber” a few weeks back. This should be a very enjoyable match to watch so I hope to see a lot of people out there as I expect the Reysol fans to show in large numbers today.

Kashiwa Reysol: 3^rd in J2 with 15 points. 5W0D2L. Current Form WWLLW. Typical Formation 4-2-3-1.

Kashiwa required late goals against both Nigata and Kyoto to secure victory and they didn’t look particularly threatening in either case. Their loss to Okayama the following week at home could’ve turned out markedly different if any of the 3 shots that rattled the posts or crossbar had gone in, but ultimately, they allowed Okayama to hang around and push a late goal past them.

#26 Olunga for Reysol made his return to the lineup against Tokyo Verdy, a team which lost in the promotion/relegation playoffs last season to Jubilo Iwata. Verdy came out on the front foot and shell-shocked Reysol with 2 quick goals that were only 2 minutes apart in the first half. Reysol created a few more chances that match but they were not able to recover from the quick Verdy start or put one past the Verdy Keeper near the end of the game.

Against V.Varen Nagasaki, the other J1 cub that was relegated to J2 from last season, they looked much more lethal. The score line ended 3-0 in favor of Reysol but it could have ended much worse for Nagasaki as there was an offside goal called back for Reysol as well as several near misses that could’ve seen a score line closer to 6-0.

Players to Watch: #9 Cristiano FW. I can recall the first time I saw Reysol playing while living here in Japan was an Asian Champions League match back in 2015. Cristiano featured on that squad and ultimately that side made it to the quarterfinal of the ACL. My how the mighty have fallen and Reysol’s tumble out of the J1 should probably serve as a cautionary tale for many J League organizations. But back to Cristiano, he is the key play maker on Reysol. He is able to take part in both the build up of plays as well as finish plays off by putting well aimed shots on net. FCR would do well to know where he is at during all times.

#26 Olunga FW. He is a very tall, very powerful striker that will cause problems all day for FCR. As we’ve seen against other powerful strikers this season, think Baiano from Yamagata, FCR has a tough time dealing with their speed and power. I hope Okazaki and whoever else is at CB for FCR are well rested as this will certainly be a test. Olunga is 6’3” (1.90m) and he can rise really well for headers on set pieces so this will also challenge the FCR defense. Granted, his brace against Nagasaki saw some woeful defending by the guests and Olunga was able to freely roam the box and was unmarked on his headed goal.

#18 Yusuke Segawa MF. Segawa makes very nice runs in and around the 18-yard box and is an excellent complimentary piece to the aforementioned attackers for Reysol. He is powerful in his own right and will test both Tokumoto and Nishioka down the flanks all game. He has one goal on the season but has registered 24 shots in all competitions.

FCR: 4^th in J2 with 14 points. 4W2D1L. Current Form WWDDL. Typical Formation 4-2-3-1.

FCR is coming off their first loss this season after their mid-week match against JEF. The game featured several changes to the FCR lineup with the notable switch to RB for Masutani. FCR was unlucky to convert some of the chances they had for a goal but it was an encouraging performance by the boys on the road.

Considering this is the 3^rd game in 8 days for FCR there may be some lineup changes for this match as well. Uesato didn’t feature this past game and I hope it wasn’t due to injury. We will absolutely need him out there today to command the midfield for FCR. Tomidokoro and Uejo came off early against JEF so I fully expect to see them in the starting lineup today. I do not know if we will see both Suzuki and Tanaka start as they both played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday.

Keys to FCR Victory: 1.) Shock and Awe approach. If FCR can get out to an early lead it maybe all they need against Reysol. All of Reysol games this season have featured them either winning by shutting out their opponent or losing by failing to score. There is one exception but I am not counting the Levain Cup matches. In games that Reysol lost, they were unable to unlock the opponents defense and lacked a bit of creativity. An early lead could prove massive for FCR.

2.) FCR must play within themselves. If they are facing a deficit, FCR needs to approach the match in similar fashion to JEF. Reysol is not the best defending team, as some of their score-lines would suggest, and opponents have been able to get in behind the back line and create problems for Reysol. Depending on the FCR injures and lineup, Kawai’s speed down the flanks could prove troubling for Reysol and it will be interesting to see how we employ him this match.

3.) Full team effort on defense. Reysol has some serious firepower in Olunga, Cristiano and Segawa and while it is impossible to cover all 3 at any one moment, FCR would do well to have their MFs drop back in support of the Left and Right defensive backs. Tokumoto and Nishioka will be tested and we can certainly assume that Okazaki and either Fukui or Masutani will be dealing with Olunga which leaves Cristanio open as the CAM. Strong defensive play through the middle of the pitch will be key for FCR and we will need to limit the number of crosses into the box as Olunga’s height may prove too much for our CBs.

Game Prediction: Unlike some of Reysol’s previous matches in J2, I don’t believe this one will be a shutout and I see both teams scoring on the day. FCR may get lucky and see Reysol rest some of their notable players due to an approaching mid-week fixture in the Levain Cup but we will have to wait and see. Reysol has played two more games than FCR this season with the Levain competition and the only other time Reysol made wholesale changes to their lineup was the first round of the Levain competition back in early March. Personally, I’d love to see a player like Cristiano, who has featured in every minute of Reysol’s past few matches, take a rest today but again, we’ll have to wait and see.

I hope that the FCR faithful and Okinawa community show up in full force for this match as I fully expect the Reysol fans to turn up in large numbers. This will make for a great footballing atmosphere and exciting match. See you all out there!

Match Day 7 Preview: JEF United Chiba vs FCR

Match Day Info: 04/03/2019 (H) JEF United Chiba vs FCR (A) at the Fukuda Denshi Arena Chiba Kickoff at 1900

Weather Forecast: Temperatures will be in the high 40s with no rain expected and only a slight 8-10 mph wind all match. It will be cold so dress accordingly.

The JEF Chiba United team that enters this match versus FCR is very different than the one who started the season with consecutive losses. They fired their manager after the Mito match and replaced him with Atsuhiko Ejiri who has since breathed some life back into this once proud club.

JEF United Chiba: 19^th in J2 with 6 points. 1W3D2L. Current Form LLDDW

Earlier formations saw JEF in a 4-2-3-1 but Ejiri favors more of a 3-4-3 or 3-2-4-1 and is basically throwing all he can at the opponents to cover what should be considered a lackluster back line for Chiba.

The early run of fixtures for JEF this season witnessed awful play from their back line which largely put JEF at a disadvantage in these matches. There was also a lack of confidence when things didn’t seem to go their way but all that has changed with the new manager. In the short time since Ejiri has taken over at JEF, you can see a change in the style of play by JEF on the field and they are slowly beginning to regain their confidence. This is slightly worrying because in last weeks match preview I eluded to the notion that FCR was facing two opponents in a row who seemed to be in a bit of downward trajectory. I would argue now that this is not the case with JEF and FCR is going to face a very cagey opponent on the road who is playing as if there is nothing to lose.

I assume that expectations were very high for JEF and its players and so was the pressure to perform at the start of the season and you could see that in the way the team was performing. Now, they seem to be playing with a mentality of an animal backed into a corner who is forced to fight its way out of danger. They have slowly begun to regain their confidence beginning with the Mito match in Match Day 4. Despite this being the last game under the old regime, they played much better and were only done in by a very late goal. Whether it was known to the players at that time, that no matter what this was going to be the last game in charge by the out going manager or the players simply thought things couldn’t get much worse, JEF played with a real spring in their step.

JEF switched formations against Kyoto the following week by dropping a defender in exchange for another mid field player. This immediately paid dividends for JEF as it allowed them to create and take better chances on net. However, the defensive woes that plagued JEF early on still exist and allowed for Kyoto to jump out to the early lead. JEF was able to equalize late and nearly pulled it out at the end before almost conceding the victory to Kyoto in stoppage time.

JEF’s most recent match on the road versus Fukuoka saw them achieve victory for the first time all season where Ejiri once again favored a 3-person back line. JEFs attack must’ve been too much for Fukuoka who only had 2 shots and 2 corners all game. The game was a stalemate until the 80^th minute when #25 Yusuke Chajima beautifully struck a free kick that went around the Fukuoka wall and stunned the keeper, who didn’t move from his spot.

Players to Watch: There is no one player that truly stands out from this team and on the season JEF has scored 6 total goals from 6 different players. The entire front line that featured in JEF’s 4^th and 5^th matches were dropped in favor of some players who haven’t started since match day 3. Whether the manager viewed the upcoming fixtures against FCR and Kanazawa as much stiffer tests and therefore decided to rest his players against Fukuoko, or he was having to deal with injury, I think FCR can reasonably expect a more attack minded club on Wednesday night with fresh legs.

FC Ryukyu: 1^st in J2 14 points. 4W2D0L Current Form WWWDD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

FCR once again found themselves in a tough match requiring some late game heroics by #9 Koji Suzuki to earn a point at home, keeping the undefeated streak intact, and maintain their grip on the top spot in J2.

The game was definitely there for the taking but the ball just didn’t bounce FCRs way this match. Carvajal made a costly mistake early in the second half that occurs from time to time but he recovered quite well after that to save a tie for FCR late. #14 Uejo had a wide-open opportunity on net that was blocked by a Renofa defender in the 66^th minute that could have leveled the match and possibly led to things turning out differently for FCR.

FCR subbed out Tanaka, Uejo and Tomidokoro in the match in what I am assuming is a move to conserve some energy for these players with the fixtures piling up quickly this week. #13 Kawai came on in place of Tanaka and proved to be the difference maker when his well-placed cross found the head of Koji Suzuki who then equalized for FCR in the 88^th minute. Carvajal was called into action one last time with a nice save in the 90^th minute and the game ended in a draw.

FCR created plenty of chances in the match and it was an encouraging sign for the club moving forward. When teams challenge FCR with a heavy focus on attack, it allows space and movement for the FCR midfield and attack going forward. When teams play a more defensive minded style that overloads the midfield, FCR struggles to break out and create chances. We will see how Yasuhiro Higuchi approaches this match up and what lineup he favors on such a short week in which FCR has traveled to the mainland.

Keys to FCR Victory: 1. Pressure the back line of JEF and force them into making mistakes. The back line of JEF has seen several variations and player combinations in the early part of the season. At times they seem disorganized and lack communication with each other that has allowed opponents to get in behind for chances on net. If JEF plays with the back 3 line and 3 to 5 attacking players up front I would expect FCR to have plenty of chances on net.

2. FCR scores first. The JEF stadium is always packed with their supporters and I expect Wednesday night to be no different. As mentioned earlier, the team is slowly regaining confidence and their first win at home this season would be very uplifting for the club and their supporters. An early goal or more importantly, the first goal of the game, by FCR could help in several ways. It could quiet the JEF crowd and then make them grow restless with their squad, it may induce a sense of urgency on part of JEF to equalize quickly thus opening them up for quick counters by FCR and finally, it could calm the FCR nerves on the road in a tough atmosphere. Playing with a lead on the road is a lot easier than playing from behind and will certainly help relax the team.

3. Continue the attacking ways for FCR. Our best defense is our offense. We need whoever is occupying the CAM role to start forward thrusts at the JEF defense. Suzuki showed that he can finish if he is provided service while making runs into the box and the FCR FWD will require plenty of service in this match. FCR needs to create as many opportunities as they can with their attacking Mid Fielders and Striker as the weakest link the JEF team is the back line.

Match Prediction: Well as I stated in the Renofa Match Recap, if you can predict the lineup with better accuracy than me, I’ll make a charitable donation to an organization of your choosing in your name. There is one caveat, all submissions must be posted to this blog prior to 11 am Wednesday morning.

My predicted Lineup:

GK: Carvajal

LB/RB: Tokumoto & Jumpei Arai

CB: Koji Fukui & Shogo Nishikawa

CDM: Uesato & Komatsu

LMF: Ochi

RMF: Kawai

CAM: Uejo

FWD: Wada

Reserves: Ishii, Suzuki, Nishioka, Okazaki, Tanaka, Tomidokoro, Kazama

Well I am looking forward to mid-week football for FCR, granted it isn’t the Asian Champions League, but one day it will be. Please tune into DAZN if you subscribe or head somewhere to watch this match. I believe it will be a very pacey, end to end match, with opportunities by both sides that hopefully sees FCR emerge victorious. This match also has special meaning to me because it was one year ago that my son was born on April 3^rd and I hope that adds a bit of luck for FCR, after all, he was born in the year they won J3 League!

Photo credit goes to @pipu_ryukyu: ヤマキタ@FC琉球専用アカウント

Match Day 6 Preview: FCR vs Renofa Yamaguchi FC

Match Day Info: 03/30/2019 (H) FCR vs Renofa Yamaguchi FC (A) at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium (Okinawa Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 1800.

This week’s match-up pits table toppers FCR vs bottom of the table Renofa Yamaguchi FC. The last time these two teams met was during the 2015 J3 season where Renofa beat FCR three times, outscoring the Bengara Boys 11-3, during their march to the J3 title. However, that is in the past and these are two different teams in the 2019 J2 season.

Overall Series Record: Renfoa Yamaguchi FC W3D0L0 – FCR W0D0L3

Weather Forecast: The rain should subside in the early morning giving way to partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 70s (22 degrees Celsius) for kickoff. There will be a 10-13 mph wind during the entirety of the match so bring a light jacket. There is only a 5% chance for rain during the game but having lived here for so long, the weather could change quickly so be prepared.

Renofa Yamaguchi FC: 21^st in J2; W1D0L4 Current Form: LLWLL Typical Formation 4-1-2-3

The start of the 2019 J2 season saw Renofa lose a hard-fought battle, 2-1, against Kashiwa Reysol at home. Renofa created several chances that game and from the limited highlights I saw on YouTube, it looked to be a very pacey end to end match. I am not sure of the circumstances surrounding the change at GK after this match but Renofa opted to drop #17 Yoshimitsu for #33 Yamada. To be honest, I didn’t see much justification for this so we have to assume that Yoshimitsu got hurt or has been outperformed on the training ground by Yamada.

Yamada’s first start against Kofu is one he would like to forget. He had two howlers that led to two goals for Kofu. The first was at the 2^nd minute mark of the game when he was casually attempting to clear the ball from his own end and was closed down by Utaka of Kofu. Yamada really took his sweet time attempting to make this clearance and it allowed Yutaka to make up ground and deflect the ball into the back of the net. Kofu scored shortly thereafter when the two CBs were ripped apart by Utaka who then rounded Yamada and slotted it home. Yamada’s second blunder was similar to his first, he was attempting a clearance, was closed down by the Kofu player, slipped and sent the ball directly to a Kofu player on the edge of the box who easily shot past him and the Renofa player on the goal line. Kofu would score one more time, on what could’ve been called a hand ball, but it didn’t matter as the game was already out of reach for Renofa.

Match day 3 saw Renofa playing in their second consecutive match with a 5-2 score line, but this time they would be on the better end of the outcome against JEF United. JEF United didn’t do itself any favors at home as their GK had his own blunder that led to a Renofa goal and that was quickly followed by a JEF player being sent off for a very poor challenge. However, it took Renofa 33 minutes to add to their score line despite the man advantage. JEF was able to pull within 1 goal of Renofa before an 88^th minute corner kick by JEF quickly went the other direction and Renofa scored. The play was one of those ones where JEF had committed so many men forward in hopes of tying the match but got caught on the break with their goalie way out of position because most of the JEF outfield players where in the box for the corner. The Renofa player took a long shot from just over the halfway line that bounced off the post and rolled back to the waiting Renfoa player who tapped it in. Renofa would score one more time at the feet of #4 Takai who scored a brace on the day.

Versus Ehime on Match Day 4 all the action took place in the first half. All 3 goals scored by both sides occurred within the first 36 minutes where Renofa conceded the first two on a PK and a breakdown at the back. Renofa’s goal was also a breakdown at the back by Ehime but other than that, there was not much in this game.

Finally, Renofa’s most recent match versus Tochigi was the first game this season that Renofa was unable to score. Tochigi capitalized on the 3^rd PK given up by Renofa this season and that was is it as far as goals for this match. Renofa did make one major change to their lineup this game in that they dropped the Center Back pairing of #15 Doston & #13 Kusumoto in exchange for #49 Kikuchi & #2 Tsuboi. Doston and Kusumoto have been brutal all year and they were constantly being beat and exposed down the middle so it was obvious that the coach needed to make a change. While Renofa didn’t concede a goal from open play during the match, the CBs performed only slightly better than the original pair. There were a couple of occasions where the Tochigi forwards were able to get behind the Renofa CBs but nothing came of these opportunities.

Renofa Yamaguchi Players to Watch:

#24: Keita Yamahita FW. Leading goal scorer for Renofa with 3 so far this season. He had a brace against Kofu as well as one against JEF but he also moves very well in and around the 18-yard box. He’s probably the one-man FCR needs to mark throughout the match.

#4 Kazumi Takai MF: Second leading scorer on the team with 2. These goals came at the end of the match versus JEF so I wouldn’t read too much into it other than the man can finish when called upon.

#19 Masato Kudo FW. Has one goal so far this season and it was against Ehime. Kudo has started the last 3 matches and adds a nice attacking element to the Renofa front 3. He takes quality shots on net so FCR will need to keep a close eye on him in and around the box.

#7 Paulo Junichi Tanaka MF. Seems to be one of their best play-makers and also takes quality shots on net.

#33 Genki Yamada GK. Genki was wearing a knee brace or his knee or it was heavily taped this past match. If that is the case this week it is safe to assume his movement will be hindered and FCR needs to test him early and often. Hard shots that require him to get low may prove very beneficial to FCR.

#15 Doston & #13 Takumi Kusumoto CB. If one, or both, of these guys are in then FCR should feast. Their play was so bad over the first 4 matches that there had to be wholesale changes at the back with both being swapped out. Again, if they are in, then there will be goals.

FC Ryukyu: 1^st in J2; W4D1L0 Current Form: WWWWD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

FCR comes in to this match as the overall leader in J2. They were able to earn a hard-fought point on the road against Yamagata while contending with harsh weather and long travel. FCR did not score from open play that match but rather relied on a twice taken PK by #9 Suzuki for their loan goal. Yamagata was able to equalize at the end of the match in the 88^th minute in what could be called a busted play where the ball took several awkward bounces and deflections before it fell right on the head of a rising Yamagata player in the 6 yard box.

The prior 5 matches for FCR is really a tale of two teams. In the first 3 matches FCR scored 9 goals and their movement was excellent. Teams were finding life difficult handling the FCR thrust forward and it allowed the team many open running lanes and passing lanes. The last two matches however, the attacking prowess FCR once displayed has taken a back seat to a more controlled, defensive minded approach.

I don’t believe this was a tactical change on the part of FCR but rather just the way the past two opponents execute their game plan. Tokushima enjoys large spells of possession and Yamagata severely limits the amount of opportunities for their opponent. Both of those teams really crowded the MF and made it difficult for FCR to navigate out of that traffic and towards the net. This is not going to be the case with Renofa as there was nothing in the tape that I saw that indicates this team can stop the attack of FCR.

FCR Keys to Victory: 1. An absolutely unrelenting, unforgiving attack straight at the back line of Renofa. This game sets up very well for #9 Suzuki to feast in front of goal. However, that will require the FCR MF combination of #11 Tanaka, #14 Uejo and #10 Tomidokoro finding open passing lanes to set Suzuki free as well as provide quality service to the FCR striker. This can be done as the CBs are the weakest part of the Renofa defense. Renofa also concedes a lot of PKs because their defenders are out of position and are forced to make rash challenges to stop the pressure. Quick movements in the box by FCR could also prove fruitful.

2. Test the Renofa GK. I mentioned earlier that he may have an injury that could limit his lateral and/or vertical movement. Anyone who has played sports knows that there are some injuries you can play through but you will be limited physically and sometimes mentally out of fear of making the injury worse during the game. Press him every time he has the ball as he’s displayed his penchant for making bad decisions as well as turning the ball over way to easy.

Game Prediction: If FCR can control the pace of the game and continually test the Renofa GK then there is no reason FCR cannot win this game. FCR enters a very tough stretch of fixtures in a rather short period of time this week as they will play 3 matches within 8 days that includes traveling during the mid-week. This means the FCR manager must make a few tough calls in these games because the depth and talent of the FCR squad are sure to be tested this week.

I wrote earlier this week about sometimes getting ahead of yourself or setting expectations too high when viewing the fixture list. It is perfectly acceptable to do this as a fan because it’s just what we do, but for the club it is a very different story. As Ben Maxwell from “The J-Talk Podcast” (@JTalkPod) so rightly pointed out this past week,” the J2 is a marathon and not a sprint,” and therefore FCR cannot afford a trip-up this early that leads to them pressing for points and looking up to see that half the table has leaped over them in a matter of weeks. FCR probably has noticed that they are playing the bottom two teams in succession followed by the overall second place team in Kashiwa Reysol. The fixture lineup couldn’t be better but it will require not falling victim to the early “trap games” and then the titanic fixture next weekend.

Often there are times in sports when a far superior team falls victim to a lesser team because there is a much stronger team on the horizon. This is considered a “trap game.” This could occur because the powerful team has either overlooked or played down to the level of their competition and in the case of FCR, there are 2 such matches preceding the Kashiwa match. FCR needs to view each match separately and not as a combination of all three. It is critical that FCR continue to win points this early in the season and not concern themselves with the overall standings in J2.

Hopefully FCR can jump out to a big enough lead against Renofa and be able to rest certain key players. I have little doubt that there will be lineup changes over the first 2 matches because all 11 players cannot play all 3 matches. It comes down to a matter of where FCR thinks they can get maximum points versus their opponent. One strategy would be to target the Renofa and JEF matches and then rest players against Kashiwa so as not to risk injury. The other is to rest against JEF and come back with the same lineup against Kashiwa. Either works and it truly depends on the manager. As a side note, while JEF is bottom of the table and in turmoil with the recent managerial change, they could also bust out in a big way by taking advantage of the short week fixture at home against FCR. JEF had a lot of fight in their last match despite losing and I wouldn’t view them as “cellar dwellers” all season.

In closing, I want FCR to come out and pummel Renofa at home for the above reasons as well as because it would represent another historic moment for this club. 25 matches unbeaten at home is such an honor and would mean so much to FCR and its supporters. As always, I’ll be in the north end of the stadium right next to the England Flag so stop on over and say hi. See you at the #fortressryukyu!

Match Day 5 Preview: Montedio Yamagata vs FCR

Match Day Info: 03/24/2019 (H) Montedio Yamagata vs FCR (A) at the ND Soft Stadium (Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture) Kickoff at 1400

Well here we are folks, FC Ryukyu on the road in the Yamagata prefecture chasing history. This will be a tough test for FCR this week as they face a very good squad in Montedio and have to do so in less than optimal conditions.

Weather Forecast: The forecast calls for snow earlier in the day followed by 40-degree temperatures with a 13 mph wind at kickoff. The weather will get colder throughout the game and there is a 40% chance of snow, so if you’re planning on attending, bundle up with warm clothes.

For those of you that don’t know, FCR is on the verge of completing an historic first for the J League. FCR would be the first team ever to win 5 consecutive matches after being promoted. Teams that have come close to this record, 4 wins in a row, have also gone on to be promoted to the next tier in Japanese football in a short time. However, this Yamagata squad will present a very difficult challenge to FCR this week and when you factor in very cold conditions on the road, FCR has a large number of obstacles to overcome.

Yamagata Montedio: 5^th in J2 W3D0L1; Recent Form: LWWW. Formation: 3-4-2-1.

The start of the season saw Montedio play their first 3 matches on the road. They lost their opening match to FC Gifu 2-0 and then have gone on to win all three of their matches and shutting out their opponents each time in those games. The past few weeks have seen Yamagata severely limit the opportunities of their opponent and that is worrying trend for an FCR side that has conceded a majority of possession to their opponents the past few weeks.

Against Gifu they almost jumped out to an early lead but were unlucky when they hit the post. Early in the second half the Gifu GK made a fine save when he was called into action by a well taken shot from #4 Kai Miki. Montedio made two costly mistakes shortly thereafter when they were playing it out from the back as well as losing possession in their own half that resulted in two goals for FC Gifu.

Yamagata was able to convert two set pieces for goals on the road against Yokohama FC on a day in which it seemed, at least from some highlights, that Yokohama had a majority of the possession and chances. However, two well placed set pieces by #4 Miki found #11 Sakano resulting in two goals. The first took a deflection off the Yokohama defender but the second was a very clean header in the box.

Montedio’s match against Machida Zelvia was their third consecutive match away from home. Side note, I have enjoyed watching the promoted teams of Zweigen Kanazawa, Renofa Yamaguchi, Machida Zelvia, Oita Trinita and Tochigi throughout the years as promoted J3 clubs, but that discussion is for a later time. Yamagata almost got on the scoreboard inside the first 2 minutes when #4 Miki once again delivered a dangerous ball into the box that #13 Shuhei Otsuki steered just wide of the net. A breakdown at the back by Machida, followed by yet another dangerous cross by #4 Miki, resulted in the first goal by #6 Takumi Yamada in the 20^th minute. Early in the second half, Yamagata almost scored from a corner and should’ve been awarded a PK for the defenders use of his hand and arm while on the touchline. Montedio’s second goal came off of a nice little play where #14 Takuya Honda was able to control a cross with two little flicks of his right boot, followed by #6 Tatsuhiro Sakamato running past the sleeping Zelvia defenders and then slipping it past the GK ,who was probably expecting his defenders to deal with that softly hit ball in the box. Yamagata’s third and final goal, unsurprisingly, came from a corner kick delivered by #4 Miki that found #9 Jefferson Baiano at the edge of the 6-yard box after a deflection. Baiano then delivered a very powerful header past the keeper.

Montedio finally had their first home game of the season against Omiya Ardija on match day 4. Yamagata once again found themselves in a position to take an early lead when #9 Baiano’s hold up play resulted in #10 Haruya Ide taking a very nice shot in which the Omiya GK had to make a quality save. The only goal of the game came from a PK when #9 Baiano overpowered the Omiya defenders and was dragged down inside the box with the ball. He converted the PK despite the Omiya GK getting his hands on it as it squeezed underneath him into the net. Omiya nearly tied the game during extra time in the first half but Yamagata were saved when the Ardija FW hit the post after rounding the keeper on a deflection. Omiya had two more chances on net late but it was the fine save by #21 Masatoshi Kushibiki off an Omiya header that secured the victory for Yamagata.

The worrying trend, at least from my vantage point, is that Yamagata only allows a few opportunities for their opponent to strike. FC Gifu was able to convert cheap giveaways into goals but Yokohoma FC were very wasteful with their opportunities considering they had the most chances of any of the teams I watched vs Yamagata. Machida Zelvia’s attack went missing for long periods of time and simply fell asleep the remainder of the match. Omiya had 3, maybe 3.5 chances but only really tested the keeper twice.

Players to Watch from Montedio Yamagata: #4 MF Kai Miki: Has a very nice shot but most importantly, he is top quality on set pieces. He delivers very nice, and very dangerous, set pieces and corners. #11 FW Toyofumi Sakano, scored both of Yamagata’s goals against Yokohama from set pieces provided by Miki. #9 Jefferson Baiano: Powerful FW that has scored in consecutive matches.

FC Ryukyu: 1^st Place in J2; W4L0D0. Recent Form: WWWW. Formation 4-2-3-1.

The local lads are riding high and carrying some serious momentum into their 5^th match of the season. FCR’s most recent victory saw them having to dig out a hard earned three points from a tough Tokushima Vortis side at home. Every week of the J2 season presents a new challenge to FCR but their early string of victories, and the manner in which they won them, has to be instilling a sense of confidence so desperately required for newly promoted sides.

FCR welcomed back both Masutani and Tomidokoro to the starting lineup last week and it was great to see them out there in the Bengara Red and Gold. Both looked a little rusty from their time away and it’s great they got that out of their system heading into a tough match up this week. I haven’t received any updates as to the status of Uejo after he was subbed off early in the second half against Tokushima from what looked to be a foot injury stemming from a scuffed shot.

Keys to FCR Victory: Really only two things can be said: 1.) FCR must maximize the limited opportunities Yamagata allows and 2.), FCR cannot not give up too many set pieces and corners. Unfortunately, FC Ryukyu’s’ style of play naturally tends to invite pressure by giving up set pieces and corners at the rapid rate. For those of us that have been following FCR all year it is evident that set pieces have been our Achilles heel. #4 Miki from Yamagata is lethal from set pieces and corners and I fear that when you combine #9 Baiano’s power in the box, it may be too much for FCR to handle.

Maybe the key to unlocking Yamagata should be changing the FCR lineup slightly to a 4-3-2-1 formation whereas FCR starts Fukui and Okazaki at center back so we have height, speed and power to deal with Yamagata’s height and power, and then FCR inserts another CDMF that can stop attacks as well as begin counter attacks. I doubt this will happen but will check the starting lineups, like all of you, at about 40 minutes prior to kick off to see how FCR is set up.

If there is a slight weakness to the Yamagata Side it may be their central defenders because it seems that the chances most sides got against Yamagata came from that area. This means #9 Suzuki must make hard runs against these two and then ask very tough questions of the Montedio goal keeper with well-aimed shots on net. The Yamagata GK hasn’t been asked to do much the past couple of weeks so FCR must be surgical when in the Montedio box. We have scored the most goals so far in J2 and if FCR hope to achieve a favorable result against Yamagata on the road, this trend will certainly need to continue.

Game Prediction: As evidenced by my last few entries I am not great at game predictions. As was the case for the last two matches, FCR has surprised me along with their opponents. With that in mind, I offer the following tiers of results for this match up.

Tier 4 Catastrophic Failure: FCR is absolutely demolished on the road from set pieces and the goal margin is greater than 2 in favor of Yamagata.

Tier 3 Respectable Result: FCR loses the match by only 1 goal. This could come in any form and would demonstrate resolve on the part of FCR as well as adding to their steep learning curve of the J2.

Tier 2 Favorable Outcome: FCR draws this match with any score line. Positive points on the road in a tough setting against a tough team is always great. Possibly sets up another historic moment for FCR the following week.

Tier 1 Historic Moment: FCR wins and sets a new J League record, massive for the club and community of Okinawa, enough said.

That’s it for Match Day 5. Come on BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Match Day 4 Preview: FCR vs Tokushima Vortis

Match Day Info: 03/16/2019 (H) FCR vs Tokushima Vortis (A) at the Tapic Stadium (Okinawa Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 1800.

Welcome everybody to the Match Day 4 preview. This week we see FCR taking on Tokusima Vortis at home. FCR is riding high with a 3-game winning streak while Tokushima is reeling from a recent loss at home to Omiya.

Weather Forecast: One word, Perfect! Kickoff will see temperatures around 64 degrees with a slight Northeast wind between 8-10 miles per hour for most of the match and no rain in the forecast. Temperatures will stay in the mid 60’s all game so a light jacket is probably all you need.

Tokushima Vortis: 14^thin J2 W1D0L2, Current Form LWL

Typical Set Up: Depends on where you do your research. On the JLeague website, it lists them as always setting up in a 3-5-1 but on the DAZN broadcast it has fluctuated every week this season; Started 4-1-2-3, then 3-4-2-1 and the last match was more of a 4-5-1.

Tokushima seems to be searching for the right combination at the back. They switched goal keepers after the first match, and rightfully so, as his poor play directly contributed to 3 of Kagoshima’s goals. Also, against Kagoshima, they were very disorganized at the back. Despite erasing both of Kagoshima’s leads in the game, the Tokushima defense let them down once again for a late winner.

Against Gifu in their second match they were much better in the attack but had two horrible giveaways in their own box from free kicks that almost resulted in Gifu scoring. #13 Kiyotake made an acrobatic kick in the last minute of extra time, on what was a very chaotic play, to give Tokushima their first victory.

Tokushima once again started out fast against Omiya but they were unable to score. They asked some questions of the Omiya keeper early on but ultimately it was a very nice take by Babunski from Omiya that handed Vortis their second loss of the season.

Players to Watch: #13 MF Koki Kiyotake. He’s their leading goal scorer and has a very quick powerful shot from distance. He needs to be marked and dealt with when roaming the MF as he’s not afraid to shoot from distance. #3CB Jordy Buijs. He’s not on the list because of his superb defensive skills, but because of his offensive skill. He won a ball against Kagoshima at the center circle, carried it all the way to nearly the top of the box; and I guess Kagoshima assumed he wouldn’t shoot but he unleashed a tremendous shout with pace, accuracy and a curl that beat the keeper. So FCR shouldn’t be encouraging him to take any shots is what I am saying.

FC Ryukyu: 1^st in J2 W3D0L0, Current Form WWW, typical formation 4-2-3-1

FCR is bringing some serious momentum into this match after taking maximum points from all 3 games this season. They have displayed the ability to win at home despite the fact that we didn’t have a majority of the possession as well as the ability to win big on the road in a tough atmosphere.

Similar to Tokushima attempting to get the right combination at the back, FCR has been forced to change their lineups each of the past 2 matches. This is mostly due to injures to Tomidokoro and Masutani but now they will face an uphill battle to replace one of the top goal scorers from J3 last season and a player I was very excited to watch develop. Unfortunately, FCR has sold (assuming that’s the case but I never see anything on JLeague transfers) Kazaki Nakagawa to the Yokohama F Marinos. He will be sorely missed and I wish him all the best but that begs the question, who will take his place as the attacking central midfielder?

My suggestion would be to slide Tanaka into the CAM role and put #13 Kawai into the Left Mid Field position. We saw what Kawai did late on vs Ehime FC last week and I believe his speed could cause real trouble for Tokushima at the back. Tanaka is an excellent service provider for through balls and passes and he’s probably the best player to take over that role until Tomidokoro returns.

With that in mind we’d still assume to see Tanaka flanked by #14 Uejo as the Right Mid Field with the leading J2 League Goal scorer, #9 Suzuki, up front. That would leave #20 Uesato and #6 Kazama as our two holding Central Defensive Mid Fielder. At the back, barring any injuries, is #3 Nishioka, #4 Okazaki, #5 Tokumoto and #33 Fukui. This line was solid last week and I hope that continues because it is so vital to have a cohesive unit back there that is just stopping all attacks and clearing the danger away from goal.

Danny Carvajal will once again man the posts for FCR and what an outstanding signing he has been. The clean sheet last week was amazing and the man continually puts himself in the right place at the right time to stop the shots. We’ll once again require his strong performance to bring home the three points.

Keys to the Match: 1. Weather the early attacking storm from Tokushima. They will likely start fast and create a few chances within the first 20 minutes of the match.

2. Close down their attacking Mid Fielders when they have the ball outside the top of the box. The Tokushima MFs are not afraid to shoot from distance or outside the box. FCR can not allow them space even 30 yards out as they have no fear striking from that distance or greater distances. I believe this is due to the fact that Vortis hasn’t created a lot of chances, nor provides any good crosses or service, to their strikers.

3. Attack from our Left side, the Vortis Right side on Defense. This is a weak spot for Vortis and FCR should do everything they can to exploit them out there. Use Kawai’s speed and get behind the Vortis defense. While they scramble to deal with that pressure, its most likely that an FCR player will be unmarked in the box and get a free shot on net.

4. Pressure the back line of Vortis and take lots of shots. Vortis is usually disorganized at the back and has made several lineup changes meaning, the players are still getting to learn to play as a unit. Applying pressure from Free Kicks or when Vortis tries to play out from the back may see FCR get a cheap takeaway in the Vortis end that they can convert into a goal or two. While the Goal Keeping play has improved the last two matches, the Vortis keeper can be beat rather easily so long as we keep the shots at the posts and not down the middle.

FCR should just continue to attack, attack and attack the Vortis defense and GK. If Uejo, Kawai and Suzuki can find some space in the Vortis end with Tanaka unlocking the defense to set them on the way to goal, then FCR should easily beat Tokushima at home.

Game Prediction: Goals, hopefully more for FCR than Vortis. See you at the match in Section A with the big England Flag, you can’t miss me!

Match day 3 Preview: FCR vs Ehime FC

Match Day Info: 03/10/2019 (H) FCR vs Ehime FC (A) at the Tapic Stadium (Okinawa Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 1600.

Weather Forecast: Rain throughout the day with a slight break near kickoff. Expect overcast skies and intermittent showers throughout the match. Temperature will be in the high 60s (Fahrenheit) with 15mph winds expected. So bring a rain jacket and umbrella if you’re sitting in Sections A or S and you don’t want to get wet.

Ehime FC 7th place in J2 at time of blog. W1 D1 L0. Typical Formation 3-4-2-1.

The last two matches for Ehime were both at home and it’s really a tale of a bit of bad luck and bit of good luck for Ehime during those games. First vs JEF United Chiba they were unlucky to be awarded a PK for an absolutely blatant handball in the box and therefore that match ended in a 0-0 draw. Agaisnt Tokyo Verdy they were lucky not concede late in the match when Tokyo Verdy hit the post twice.

As a whole this team seems to be improving over the course of the first two games. Wild, errant shots on net declined and they began to enjoy large chunks of possession vs Verdy.

Ehime FC Players to monitor: #8 Naganuma RMF. Very quick player who can create and take chances very well. We cannot give him a ton of time and space in our end or else he will make life very difficult for FCR tomorrow. #10 Kamiya LFW. Improved from the first match to the second where he was constantly getting free to run across the front of the box and take shot on net. #19 Fujimoto LMF. Scored the only goal on the season for Ehime FC with a very nice take. He held off the Verdy CB very well and powered to the center of the box and then drilled one past the keeper.

FCR 3rd Place in J2. W2 L0 D0. Formation 4-2-3-1

We will once again look to capitalize on any Ehime FC mistakes as we did our last two opponents. Last week we found a serious weakness in Omiya’s left side since about 75% of the chances we created throughout the match came from that side. We will once again need strong play from #11 Tanaka on the right, leading J2 goal scorer #9 Suzuki, with #7 Nakagawa creating chances and #5 Tokumoto stopping counter attacks down our left side.

Prediction: I don’t really do these nor know where to begin since this is the inaugural J2 season for FCR. The bottom line is FCR needs to continue their fast start in the league before the grind of the J2 and all its fixtures catch up to us. Since it seems both teams favor a counterattacking style, this game may see long spells of possession by either side in the middle third of the pitch resulting in not much else other than time wasting. Hopefully FCR can continue their attacking ways and break through the Ehime FC defense early and convert one or two chances. A 0-0 draw is just as likely as a 2-1 outcome so I’ll go with the latter since goals are fun.

FCR desperately needs to secure full home points early in the season so let’s cheer them on and stay dry. See you at the match in Section A!