Category: Match Recaps

Match Day 12 Recap: (22) T.Gunma vs (18) FC Ryukyu 8/16/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu managed to scrape by Gunma with a 1-0 victory this past Sunday night on the heels of another Takuma Abe goal. The game itself lacked many of the fireworks that some Ryukyu fans were expecting though the local Maebashi municipality was kind enough to put on an actual fireworks display about 5 minutes before half time.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Key to Not Losing
  4. Match Day Prediction
  5. Match Day 12 Takeaways
  6. Round 12 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 12
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

2. Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu MF/RB Keita Tanaka: He worked his tail off last night and provided the excellent cross to Abe who scored our only goal. Well deserved.

3. Review of the Key to Not Losing

1. Put some crooked numbers on the scoreboard. Likelihood 4: We won so we should not be to disappointed but I seriously thought we’d score more than 1 goal. Ryukyu came close in the second half with another chance for Abe but he was caught wrong footed by the cross.

4. Match Day Prediction

I predicted 2-1 and it ended 1-0 thus earning a draw and improving to 1-3-8 on the year with my predictions.

5. Match Day 12 Takeaways

1. The schedule. Fatigue is starting to set in and it is detracting from the level of play we’ve been come accustomed to in the J2. The fixture list gives no breaks and the lack of depth in the squad due to injury and CV-19 suspensions are starting to show. No play was more indicative of the times then Torikai receiving a pass and was basically alone on net with a defender is semi-close proximity. Instead of going for it and attempting a shot, he pulled back on the reigns and looked for support and to pass the ball backwards. There is no choice but to suck it up and press on as there is no rest in the schedule anytime soon.

2. Substitutes. Seeing how we have no information on several players condition we don’t actually know what is going with Koizumi, Tavares, and now Uehara. FC Ryukyu have now dressed a special designated player and two U-18/U-16 players the last 3 matches but the younger two have yet to feature. I am not sure if they are there strictly for emergencies but Higuchi opted to not use all of his subs once again. Maybe he felt that would detract from the performance and alter the result but with the crammed fixture schedule, even a few minutes of rest for the incumbents could pay off in the long run. We need to be using all the subs we have available as I cannot see 8 out of the 11 players in the squad playing every minute of every match over the next month and a half.

3. Gunma’s ease of access. Gunma had no problem getting in and around our defense last night as they were constantly stretching us apart and opening up wide open shooting lanes. Luckily most of their shots were not well aimed but there were some very, very, close calls. That was definitely not the same Gunma team I saw in their highlights with all that possession and shots so one has to wonder what happened to our defense against one of the lowest scoring teams in the league.

4. Lack of service for Kawai. Ryukyu have a very talented player in Kawai as his speed brings different element to the attack. Unfortunately, he was never able to get going on Sunday and we need to start getting him more involved as he was one of our best players in 2019.

5. Debut of a player. Uehara Makito, or Uehara Shepard as it is translated through Google, made a brief appearance last night when he came on for Ren Ikeda in the 93rd minute. He did nothing spectacular last night but I was more impressed by some of his physical traits. First, he has nice size at 182cm and looks to have more muscle on his frame compared to that of our two starting CBs, Yong Jick and Suzuki. He showed some really nice burst on one of his initial touches and he has some decent speed for a big man. He was legging one out down the middle and we opened his gate he was outpacing the defender by a wide margin. I want to see more of him and would love to see him in more of CDM role than CB but he seems athletic enough to play both.

6. Round 12 in J2

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

It looks as if the goals have dried up for both Ehime FC and Albirex Niigata. Some surprising upsets for JEF, Yamaguchi, and Kanazawa.

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

7. Top Goals from Round 12

#1 An extremely tasty chip/dink/lob from distance by “The Bald Eagle” Disaro of Kitakyushu (0:56)

#2 The backwards bicycle kick at the death by Tsukagawa from Matsumoto (0:00)

#3 Takuma Abe’s 4th goal in as many games from a beautiful cross by Keita Tanaka (3:10)

8. Conclusion

It is hard to be disappointed with any win, especially one in which you shut out the opponent. But I guess when you were expecting much more and it didn’t go that way, you are left with a bit of a bad taste in your mouth. It would be foolish at this point to blame it on a lack of effort by the players as they are giving everything they got in a situation that none are accustomed too. FC Ryukyu will have played 18 matches in the span of 71 days once October 3rd rolls around which is almost the equivalent of a World Cup tournament inside of a month, for three months straight. I think we should all expect performances like this moving forward and hope that all the players, not just from FC Ryukyu, survive this brutal schedule.

Not rest for the weary as we welcome in Tochigi SC this Wednesday in another closed door match thanks to COVID-19.

Match Day 11 Review: (18) FC Ryukyu vs. (7) Ventforet Kofu 8/12/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Have you ever let a soda/pop/cola sit out for a long time and then tried to drink it? It lost its carbonation or fizz right? The same thing could be said about FC Ryukyu’s attack on Wednesday. Kofu Manager, Akira Ito, made a gamble when he left many of his best players at home and it simply paid off. FC Ryukyu were denied their first home win of the season by once again failing to fire in front of goal.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  4. Match Day Prediction
  5. Match Day 11 Takeaways
  6. Round 11 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 11
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

2. Man of the Match

Ventforet Kofu Akira Ito: Dude gambled on a less than full strength lineup and got the win.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Own the Flanks. Likelihood 4: Not even close. Kofu defended well, learned their lessons from previous matches and we failed to break them down.

2. Defend set pieces with some tenacity. Likelihood 2: Nope! Kofu’s first goal came from a CK.

4. Match Day Prediction

I said 2-1 to Ryukyu, could’ve been, but it was 2-1 Kofu. 1-2-8.

5. Match Day 11 Takeaways

  1. I often wondered why we couldn’t pick Yong Jick out on CK/Set Pieces but it is not a matter of bad delivery. Oh no sir. It is a case of pure desire, or the lack there of. Watching him on set pieces on both ends of the pitch it is obvious that he either gives zero effort, or is incapable of joining in on the fray. This “Gentle Giant” is becoming more of a liability more than an asset.
  2. FC Ryukyu struggled to break down the Kofu defense. The trend of pulling up and out on the attack continued and resulted in a lackluster 7 shots on Wednesday. Only 1 of those registered on goal and that was Abe’s PK. Whatever the formation, these guys need a sense of aggressiveness instilled in them., and some creativity to break down the opposition’s defense. Higuchi even stated as much in the post match magazine for FC Ryukyu.

6. Round 11 in J2

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

Not much to update as not many changed position but there were some exciting matches that came down to some last minute goals.

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

7. Best Goals Round 11

There were some nice ones in this lot. But there can only be 3. And good thing as there are ads every 3 minutes in this video.

#1 Omiya’s Oyama from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay downtown. (1:08)

#2 Junihino for Kyoto with a quick turn and perfectly weighted chip from distance. (0:00)

#3 Jubilo’s Ito with his own long-range effort.

8. Conclusion

Well, not much else to add. Regroup and move on. See you soon.

Match Day 10 Review: (16) Tokyo Verdy vs (17) FC Ryukyu 8/8/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Apparently a week of training that was interrupted by the sudden CV-19 outbreak inside the squad did the team some good. Ryukyu traveled to Tokyo this past Saturday with little preparation and won a very cagey affair from a late Takuma Abe penalty kick to push their undefeated streak to 4.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory
  4. Match Prediction
  5. Match Day 10 Takeaways
  6. Round 10 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 10
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

A back and forth affair with neither team producing much in the oppositions end.

2. Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu FWD Takuma Abe. You could make a case for Dany Carvajal as he kept a clean sheet but was aided by the fact that Verdy never really threatened the Ryukyu net. Tanaka was doing all the “little” things right on Saturday by creating and snuffing out attacks as well. But in the end it goes to Abe who once again showed his lethal finishing abilities, and mental resolve, after having his PK attempt delayed for 10 minutes before calmly sending the keeper in the wrong direction.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory

1. This game will likely be decided in the last 15 minutes. Likelihood 4: Think the highlights reinforce this point.

2. Attack the flanks with speed. Likelihood 4: I am going to say we did not do this consistently enough as there were only about 2, maybe 3 times, I saw Ryukyu try to set the edge by using speed to get past the Verdy defense.

4. Match Prediction

Went with a 2-2 draw and it ended 1-0 for Ryukyu. Gladly take the L with my prediction this round. 1W-2D-7L to date.

5. Match Day 10 Takeaways

The Good. FC Ryukyu looked very good in the build up play during this game and nearly took the lead on several occasions. Abe is so vital to our success that any missed time on his part will derail the teams momentum. Ikeda’s development into a quality player is coming along nicely and he will only continue to get better. Keita Tanaka has a relentless motor, was excellent in both the attack and defense, and gives 110% effort every single time he is out there. Finally, the 4-1-4-1 is working well and I see no need to change the set up until we get some healthy players back in training.

The Bad. While the game was a near even split between the two sides, many of our attacks simple petered out near the 18-yard box. Too often we would see Ryukyu attackers on the flanks pulling up to pass the ball back thus allowing Verdy to get defenders back into position. I understand that there are times when pulling back is warranted, but I’d like to see more aggressiveness from our players and try to push past the edge defenders. At the very least, there is the possibility of winning a corner. Even if you don’t, it is the same as turning the ball over to the opposition somewhere in their own half which is what we saw on Saturday.

The Ugly. Shohei Takahashi’s foul on Uehara on the penalty area was nothing more than a display of a lack of emotional maturity. Chances are that Uehara may have fouled Shohei, but that does not mean he is allowed to commit a dangerous act by kicking his studs into and across another player. Shohei was lucky to just receive a yellow and equally as ugly was the actions by the Verdy players after the blatant foul was confirmed by the referee and his staff. The match was delayed for a good 10 minutes and that is something that I have never seen outside of games with VAR.

6. Round 10 in J2

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

There was a lot to enjoy this round as there was goals galore and two come from behind victories with high score lines. In fact, there were a total of 33 goals scored this round. Finally, it was Tokushima Vortis who handed top seed V-Varen Nagasaki their first defeat of the season.

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

7. Top Goals from Round 10

#1 Akira Silvano Disaro’s blast for Kitakyushu. (9:30)

#2 Shuma Mihara from Ehime as he takes a great first touch from a rebound and then sends a screamer down range. (3:10)

#3 Utaka from Kofu. Not for any one of his goals, just the sheer volume (x4). (starts at 1:04)

8. Conclusion

The early season set backs and tough results that once created a lot of doubt have now turned into valuable lessons that FC Ryukyu are applying each week. It is not often that FC Ryukyu win low scoring games where they do not concede as they’ve only manged to win 17 out of the 215 J-League games since 2014 in this manner. That’s roughly less than 8% of all their games. On the other hand, Ryukyu have conceded 3 or more goals in a match 34 times, or 16% percent of the time. 14 of those lopsided score lines have occurred since Ryukyu entered the J2 and it would be a welcome sight to see them reduce the number of heavily conceded games to around 2-4 each year.

Up next for FC Ryukyu is Ventforet Kofu. A team that snapped the 36 game home unbeaten run in 2019 with a heavy 5-2 defeat. They also beat Ryukyu 2-0 on the last match day of 2019 to make their way into the J2 playoffs but FC Ryukyu had a patch work lineup in place after suffering numerous injuries at the end of 2019. Kofu have only lost once since the restart and they come to Okinawa sporting a 5 game winning streak. It will be another tough test for FC Ryukyu on Wednesday evening but one I am looking forward too.

Match Day 9 Report: (17) Fagiano Okayama vs (21) FC Ryukyu 8/1/20 #FC琉球

Intro

What a relief! FC Ryukyu finally grabbed their first win of the 2020 campaign, thus putting to bed the streak of 258 days since FC Ryukyu last won a match. The win comes at a heavy cost though as Koki Kazama went off injured in the 6th minute due to knock on his knee. It is likely he will be joining Shinji Ono on the sideline for quite some time as he was seen sporting a brace and crutches in the post match photo. But FC Ryukyu looked good in the match as they dominated Okayama in every single offensive category.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory
  4. Match Prediction
  5. Match Day 9 Takeaways
  6. Match Day 9 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 9
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

2. Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu FWD Takuma Abe: He was involved in both goals for FC Ryukyu as he drew the foul that Uesato scored from a FK, and he pounced on the rebound that put FC Ryukyu in front 2-1. He was something to watch on Saturday with his excellent hold up play and breakouts on the counter attacks.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory

1. It all starts in the Locker Room. Likelihood 3: This one almost didn’t happen as Higuchi reverted back to the 4-2-3-1 instead of sticking with the 4-1-4-1 that worked well against Iwata. However, the team came out and played really well despite conceding an early goal. The look of relief, and belief, on all their faces after the game sums this up nicely.

2. Substitutes and their timing are Key. Likelihood 3: Unfortunately, FC Ryukyu suffered another injury to one of their CM in Koki Kazama. Uesato came on early but Higuchi made only 2 more changes in the 70th minute and opted to leave a majority of the team out their the whole match. The 92nd minute changes did not really mean anything other than getting guys some limited game time to stay fresh.

3. Create some chaos in the Okayama Defense. Likelihood 4: This one was crucial as it was Abe’s goal after a punched save from a Tanaka shot that caught the Okayama defenders flatfooted.

4. Match Prediction

Like Ryukyu, I finally got the first W of the year with my 2-1 scoreline prediction. W1-D2-L6.

5. Match Day 9 Takeaways

1. FC Ryukyu have now been bitten hard by the injury bug and are facing a selection crisis. The injuries to Koki and Ono, along with the sudden departure of Lee Ji Seong back to Korea, have shrunken the ranks of available players for Higuchi to build his lineup. Ryukyu have 9 healthy MFs on the roster as I expect the reason Motegi didn’t feature against Okayama was merely due to maintenance, not injury, but keep in mind that Tanaka’s primarily been an LB the past few weeks.

If Higuchi sticks to the 4-2-3-1, that will put a heavy tax on the current crop of MFs whereas a 4-1-4-1, may provide some level of rest for the squad. Of course, reintroducing Tavares, Numata, and Torikai could relieve some of the pressure and there is a possibility that Fukui could be called upon to serve in the CDM role vacated by both Ono and Koki’s injuries. We also have Chinen, and possibly Okazaki, to call upon for extra defenders.

FC Ryukyu should be strongly compelled to dip into the transfer market and sign 3-4 players on loan before it is too late and they are forced to dress some of the youth and special designated players.

2. While the game of “paper, rock, & scissors” between Yu and Uesato seemed like a funny moment, I hope that is not the preferred method for determining who takes free kicks. Uesato did comment after the game that he saw how the Okayama wall was constructed and that a left footed shot was preferable to that of Yu’s right. It was a good call as he scored our first dead ball kick of the season.

3. I am not sure why we have such a hard time picking out Yong Jick on set pieces? It could be a combination of poorly taken corners/free kicks or that Yong Jick isn’t aggressive enough to put himself into position to take a header. I mean, the man is usually the tallest player on the pitch and you merely need to be within his vicinity with the placement of your attempt.

4. FC Ryukyu will probably have the fewest number of clean sheets of any J2 team this season but Dany has been playing some inspired football the last three games. He made some quality saves on Saturday and even stopped the initial shot from an Okayama player that got in behind our defense. Unfortunately, the blocked shot fell at the feet of a wide-open Okayama player that easily slotted it home but there was nothing anyone could have done about it. I think the stronger Dany gets with each game, the more likely it is we can pull of some victories in some low scoring affairs.

5. Shuto Kawai’s return to the team was a welcome sight and it will be exciting to watch the way he integrates with Koizumi, Ikeda and Motegi moving forward.

6. Koizumi has some of the best balance I’ve seen in a player. He is constantly knocked around and in the middle of fracases all the time but still remains upright and in control of the ball. He will be the engine that drives the Ryukyu attack from now on.

6. Match Day 9 in J2

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

Omiya v Fukuoka was called off after a suspected case of CV19 was confirmed at Avispa Fukuoka. Kitakyushu continue their ascent to the top while Gunma shocked everyone, including JEF, with a last second goal.

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

7. Top Goals from Round 9

#1 Uesato’s FK that found its way over the wall and into the net off the near post. (0:23)

#2 Keiya Nakami’s bullet shot from distance that left the Kitakyushu keeper stunned. (2:15)

#3 Pitbull’s (not the one you’re thinking of) chip over the Kanazawa keeper for the Mito win in the 94th minute. (4:08)

8. Conclusion

Well, we got that all important first win the books and now it is time to march on. We may have to become accustomed to long stretches of games without any wins this season but the most important thing that came out of the match on Saturday is the belief within the locker room that they can win. It is especially impressive to get that win on the road on a short week though there is something to be said about Okayama not fielding their strongest side due to injury. Such is life and these are the breaks teams need from time to time. Up next is a trip to Tokyo Verdy for FC Ryukyu after a nice six day break between games.

Match Day 8 Report: (21) FC Ryukyu vs (10) Jubilo Iwata 7/29/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Another game, another draw for FC Ryukyu. We’ve pushed the win less streak to 8 games this season but as a whole, the performances we see each week by FC Ryukyu are improving. Therefore, we should be encouraged moving forward despite the numbers in the points and win columns.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory
  4. Match Day 8 Prediction
  5. Match Day Takeaways
  6. Round 8 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 8
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

Another hard earned, heart breaking draw for FC Ryukyu. Goals from set pieces by Iwata wiped out the lovely goals from open play by Ikeda and Uehara. It was unfortunate that the final goal of Iwata came after a blatant foul on Tanaka, and even more unfortunate that Uesato tipped it in to the back the net after he got a foot to the shot.

2. Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu MF Ren Ikeda: Ren added his second goal of the season yesterday but he also put in a very workman like performance while in defense. The same could be said about Koizumi and Dany who is playing inspired these days.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory

1. Play relaxed: Likelihood 2. I would say that they did. Jubilo had a massive amount of possession, and FC Ryukyu never pressed to go out in front or recover from a deficit. They simply let the game come to them and capitalized on the opportunities presented to them.

4. Match Day 8 Prediction

I said 2-1 to Iwata and it ended 2-2. 0-2-6 for the year.

5. Match Day 8 Takeaways

1. The New Formation: FC Ryukyu switched to a 4-1-4-1 last night and I must say, they looked much better than they have the past 5 weeks. Yes, Jubilo out possessed us by a very wide margin, but the defending was far better. Jubilo was often frustrated by blocked shooting lanes which forced them into long range desperation shots that Dany was easily able to track and stop. In fact the two Iwata goals came from set pieces. I am glad the switch has been made as it will allow some rest for the players as we move forward.

2. The timing of our substitutions was a bit off: It was evident during last nights game that FC Ryukyu need to rest Numata at some point. This would probably mean Fukui is back in the lineup but Tanaka has shown that it really doesn’t matter who plays the FB roles these days.

3. Uehara is lethal in the air and valuable asset if he can get service: We’ve seen this out of him before but he struggles with the ball at his feet. He is best used in brief spells where he can make an immediate impact which means we are still in need of a 3rd striker soon.

4. The refereeing was abysmal: This obviously sounds like something a fan would say after their team was done in by a bad call near the end that drastically changed the outcome of the match. While the team cannot dwell on what happened, as they need to focus on Okayama in less than 48 hours, we as fans can. There were a few missed calls from the refereeing crew last night but none more blatant than Tanaka being shoved out of bounds on the touch line which rewarded Iwata with the CK that they equalized on. There are countless times you that you see this same exact play in leagues around the world, and it is called a foul in favor of the defender almost all the time. The shove was pretty blatant and caught on film. You have to wonder what the ref and his crew were focused on at that moment. Granted, Iwata did not score on that play and FC Ryukyu still had the ability to defend the CK, but we all know how it ended. It is hard enough to end a win-less drought when you are struggling for form. Its even harder when the refs act as a 12th man for the opposition.  Enough said on that.

Maybe you see it differently.

5. You should be excited as a FC Ryukyu fan for the abundance of youthful talent in the squad. Ikeda, Koizumi, Yamaguchi, Suzuki, and Motegi are a tremendous foundation from which to build. They all require some polishing but that will come with more game time. Throw in the recent contract extension of Dany Carvajal through 2022 and we may see a much better squad next year.

6. Round 8 in J2

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

Nagasaki remains top; Giravanz continues to surprise; and Kyoto are struggling for wins. Also, it seemed like this round had a lot of late goals to change the outcome of several matches.

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

7. Top Goals from Round 8

#1. Takumu Kawamura from distance. (4:13)

#2. Stefan’s chip from long range (2:18)

#3. Junya Osaki’s deflection (1:04)

8. Conclusion

FC Ryukyu head out for a 2-game road trip starting with Okayama Fagiano on Saturday. This will mean that many FC Ryukyu fans will get to see Uejo and Tokumoto facing their old team for the first time.

The performances by Ryukyu have been getting better, now it is time the results started to go our way. Despite not winning this season, the current win-less drought is not similar to the one we were experiencing at this point last year. We still need to score more than one goal per game, but I think that we will see more multiple goal games very soon. As it stands, FC Ryukyu close out July with an 0-3-3 record. Good enough for 21st place in the table. I’ll see you tomorrow with the Match Day 9 preview against Okayama.

Good luck and stay safe.

Match Day 7 Report: (17) Ehime FC vs. (21) FC Ryukyu 7/25/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu traveled to Ehime on Saturday and earned only their third point of the season after a 1-1 draw. Ryukyu remain at the bottom of the J2 table and are still searching for their first win this season. The hard part of all of this is that Ryukyu had several opportunities to get that win, but when shots are just inches wide, it only compounds the growing frustration among the players and staff. In any given season there will always be narrow misses and games that slip away. But when you’re in the midst of a win less drought, desperately seeking a win, those narrow misses have far greater impacts to the squad more than they do the overall standings. Look no further than how Koya Kazama reacted after the final whistle when he brought his hand to his face, and sunk his head into his lap. The effort is there, the results are not. And it is taking a heavy toll on the team.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  4. Match Day 7 Prediction
  5. Match Day 7 Takeaways
  6. Match Day 7 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 7
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

Both teams had great opportunities to win the game, especially FC Ryukyu. The 3 near misses starting with Uesato’s FK inthe 78th minute; Uehara being caught wrong footed from an awkward bounce 8 minutes later, and Yu’s whisker wide miss deep into extra time nearly saw Ryukyu pull this one out.

2. Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu GK Dany Carvajal: The man was playing inspired last night. Possibly due to his drop to the bench for the previous two matches, and was the reason we walked away with a point on Saturday. He made save after save in the opening half that kept us in the game. The goal he did concede was not even his fault as the ball was deflected and changed directions, but he nearly got to it anyways.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

Exploit the Ehime “Brain Farts.” Likelihood 3: The only real “brain fart” I witnessed on Saturday was that of FC Ryukyu on a set piece. After one of our players fell down in an attempt to get the ball back inside the 18-yard box, Ehime were gifted a breakaway on net that led to their only game of the game.  

4. Match Day 7 Prediction

I thought we would have gone up there and put on a similar performance we saw the past two rounds. We did not, and it ended 1-1. I predicted 3-1 in favor of Ehime so my overall record now sits at 0-2-5.

5. Match Day 7 Takeaways

1. Shinji Ono started on Saturday but could not finish the game due to an injury to his right knee in the 5th minute. From what I saw, it doesn’t look good as he was able to put some weight on the leg, but it didn’t look like he could get up to full speed or make any lateral cuts. I would expect a lengthy spell away from the club as he rehabs the knee, and if it is one of the Posterior, Medial, or Lateral ligaments of the knee that was damaged, we may not see Shinji for the remainder of the year. Let’s hope it is not serious.

2. I said in the preview that all I wanted to see was a better performance from the team regardless of the final outcome. And all in all, it was a better performance by Ryukyu. We expected Ehime to have a large number of shots as they are a much better attacking side this season compared to last year, and Ryukyu weathered that storm quite well. It was only the unfortunate set of circumstances on a set piece for Ryukyu that led to the Ehime goal that prevented us from earning our first win.

3. When the team is reeling, and results are waning, you always look for someone in the squad to put the team on their back and pull them up. For me, that is what Abe did on Saturday. There came a point in the match when he looked to take control of the game single handily and do it all himself. However, this is a double-edged sword since sometimes you can lose sight of the larger picture much like missing a player that is wide open on a 2 on 1 situation. But I cannot fault Abe for that as he is our most clinical finisher and he probably scores that goal 9 times out of 10. Unfortunately, we saw the 1 time that he didn’t. But make no mistake, his efforts shortly thereafter set the scene for our equalizer.

4. FC Ryukyu need a better plan for squad rotation heading forward. Uesato, Numata and Abe have played nearly every minute of every game since the restart and they are showing signs of wear and tear. Shinji Ono’s injury will pave the way for some of our younger players to get some playing time but as we’ve seen with Tanaka at RB, maybe we need to put Yamaguchi in at LB to allow Numata some down time. Plus, we need a 3rd striker from somewhere. Hopefully when the summer transfer window opens up, Ryukyu can sign a few players on loan.

5. I tweeted out prior to the match that I thought this was one of the strongest lineups that FC Ryukyu had put out since the restart. I would’ve liked to see how the pairing of Ono and Abe played out but unfortunately the injury bug bit us and we may never see it. I was shocked to see that we opted to dress 2 defenders (Torikai & Fukui) on Saturday which meant Yamaguchi was dropped from the reserves. While Fukui may not be the greatest defender in the squad, his versatility to play all 4 positions means we could load up on young, fast, and fresh legs on the bench. In that same vein, Higuchi waited way too long to bring on Koizumi at the end; not use his 5th substitute; and took Koya and Motegi – the pair that scored our only goal – out of the match a little too quickly. Motegi is only 24 and should have the stamina to play the full 90 and he is one of our best players in the attack.

6. Match Day 7 Around J2

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

In the much-anticipated match up between Nagasaki and Kyoto, it was Nagasaki getting the better of Kyoto 1-0 which maintains their 4-point lead at the top over Omiya who also won 1-0 on Saturday. Kitakyushu and Fukuoka also won which pushed them farther up the table.

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

7. Top Goals from Round 7

1: Akira Toshima from Omiya gets the goal but the whole buildup leading to it, with numerous one touch passes was nice. (1:14)

2: Niigata’s Shion Homma’s rocket shot from outer space (1:00)

3: Daisuke Ishizu of Fukuoka chest down the ball nicely and then delivered a missile. (3:00 mark)

8. Conclusion

We’ve picked a good year to be flailing at the bottom as there is no relegation. But there are problems that require change and a bit of good fortune. The players are pressing hard for that first win and as each defeat and draw pile up, the tension and pressure increase exponentially. It does not matter if Ryukyu win their first game and then go on another 10-game losing streak. All they need right now is the belief that they can win.

Match Day 6 Report: (18) Renofa Yamaguchi vs. (22) FC Ryukyu 7/18/20 #FC琉球

Intro

I am not exactly sure where to begin. FCR were blown to bits 4-1 on Saturday by Renofa Yamaguchi and the team, as a whole, looks lost. If you wish to read something happier, then please refer to the FC Ryukyu magazine they publish as this review will not be pleasant. Mistakes were made, players look clueless, and FCR are adrift at the bottom of the table. Luckily for us, this is a lost season in that we get a free pass from relegation but yesterday’s performance was nothing short of depressing.

  1. Match Day 6 Highlights
  2. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  3. Match Day Prediction
  4. Man of the Match
  5. Match Day 6 Takeaways
  6. Round 6 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 6
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Review

No words needed. Simply watch the highlights.

2. Review of the Match Day 6 Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Score from set pieces. Likelihood 2: We did! Granted it is was a rebound/deflection/own goal but we did.

2. Attack, attack, attack. Likelihood 4: We did, but with no creativity or results to show for it.

3. Match Day 6 Prediction

I (foolishly) assumed that FC Ryukyu would go out and earn a 2-1 victory. Instead, they surrendered 4 goals for the second consecutive time on the road. My record now stands at 0-2-4.

4. Man of the Match

Renofa Yamguchi MF Kazuma Takai. He was simply too much for FC Ryukyu to handle on Saturday.

5. Match Day 6 Takeaways

1. Confidence. You either have it, or you don’t. And right now, FCR have none. The 50,000-foot view shows us that everyone of them yesterday had no idea where to be and no idea what to do when they got there.

When you watch us make runs at the opposition’s defense, only to stop; turn around; and pass the ball backwards, you can tell that no one is making aggressive runs, has the confidence to take on a defender with the possibility of winning a free kick, or has any support. Why is that?

There are glimmers of hope with Koizumi, Ikeda, Motegi, Abe, but for the most part, FCR are simply relying on luck to score at this point.

2. Abe is excellent at hold play but receives zero service inside the 18-yard box. Outside of Koizumi’s pass that found Abe last week, none of our crosses find our attackers. In fact, they are usually not well aimed and are easily cleared by the opposition. If we cannot be accurate on crosses into the box, why stick to a formation with a lone striker?

3. It was obvious that goalie wasn’t the area that required a change to spark change in the results. It is, and has always been, the back line. Watching Yong Jick head out to mark an attacker, while no one fills the gap, only to have the pass – as he wasn’t closed down properly – find a wide open Renofa attacker is poor. You can see this on Renofa’s first goal yesterday.  

Suzuki had another slip up yesterday but that doesn’t bother me as he is truly giving 100% out there and his craft will only improve with time. But watching Torikai hell bent on earning his walking papers in the first half, with so many stupid fouls and poor passes, was inexcusable. He commented in the FCR mail magazine that the game was “fun.” Last time I checked, getting drubbed 4-1 is not fun, but that speaks to the mentality, and culture, of the organization right now. For me, he is earned the right to train with the reserves as we have far better options at RB in Tanaka and Tavares.

4. Uesato is normally our best passer but he was off his game on Saturday. He looked tired and in need of a break, but we cannot afford to take him out of the lineup. Uesato has played every minute since the restart and he needs a rest. Shinji, Koki and Uesato need to rotate with each other so as to remain fresh before they all break down.

5. The recent online magazine published by FCR also stated the obvious that we “need to score more goals and not concede as many.” Great, and since it seems unlikely that any reporter will ask them how they intend to do that, I’ll offer this suggestion. Drop one CM; turn the RB/LB into Wing Backs – which will create more flexibility for substitutes with our current squad – as Yamaguchi could spell Numata, and get some speed into the lineup. It’s not like our Full Backs actually defend so quit pretending that we need a back four. Play a back 3 with 3 CBs, and allow more rotations for our midfielders to run at tired defenses late in games.

6. Koizumi, Ikeda, Motegi and Suzuki are far from polished products, but they have massive potential. They require time and coaching, and I fear they may not get either of those as Higuchi’s time is drawing close to an end. The season is not headed in the right direction and therefore, we need to see what we have in our youth prospects.  Let’s see more of Chinen in place of Yong Jick and even Lee Ji Seong at CDM. What else do we have to lose at this point?

7. It seems we have a coaching problem. How else can you explain why we concede with such regularity, score so infrequently, and struggle on both sides of the ball for set pieces? The system is not working. I for one do not believe that we don’t have the right players to make it work, and since you will not fire your players, something has to change with the coaching and tactics.

It is so hard to watch these guys every week displaying slumped shoulders, looks of bewilderment, and massive amounts of frustration. Has Higuchi lost the most important thing for any organization? The confidence of the locker room.

6. J2 Match Day 6

Kofu defeating Omiya at home 1-0 allowed Nagasaki to increase their lead at the top by four points after their come from behind win over Okayama. Kyoto was able to defeat Ehime with two quick goals from Peter Utaka and Kitakyushu’s win streak came to an end against Jubilo.

7. Top Goals from Round 6

  1. Shuhei Tokumoto’s one-timer against Nagasaki (6:40)
  2. Kai Matsuzaki’s top corner curler for Mito (6:20)
  3. Cesar’s decisive winner against Okayama (7:18)

8. Conclusion

Not much else to say at this point. FC Ryukyu head back up to mainland for a tilt with Ehime FC next Saturday and it is anyone’s guess on how that will turn out. We now have the real possibility of remaining win-less until August, and some could argue, only having a handful of wins all seasons. We need to stop focusing all of our attention on the pitch, and start looking at the staff and management as to why things are going so horribly wrong. Granted, that is not easy, but what you see every week on TV is a direct reflection of all aspects of the club.

Match Day 5 Review: (22) FC Ryukyu vs. (1) V-Varen Nagasaki 7/15/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu earned a draw last night against the top team in J2. The game itself was a very messy affair as it was raining for most of the match with the heaviest part occurring during the second half. Not how we wanted to show off Okinawa and FC Ryukyu to the international viewers on YouTube, but you cannot control mother nature.

  1. Match Review
  2. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  3. Man of the Match
  4. Match Predictions
  5. Match Day 5 Takeaways
  6. Around the J2 on Match Day 5
  7. Top Goals from Round 5
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Review

FC Ryukyu had plenty of chances to put this one away yesterday but ultimately failed to do so. Overall, the performance from both the offense and defense was much better and I have to assume that comes from the introduction of several changes in the lineup. On the bad side, there were also numerous errant passes, that had they connected, this review would have been much different. While we will get that from time to time, and the weather certainly didn’t help, hopefully that can be tightened up in the coming weeks so as to produce some better results.

Suzuki and Ikeda, returned to the lineup for the first time since match day 1 and so did Taguchi in net. Suzuki looked good out there yesterday and despite the fact that he missed on the cross that Nagasaki scored on, I don’t want to over-analyze it or see him lose any of the intensity he displayed last night.

Tanaka’s role as the starting RB came as a bit of surprise but he did quite well. I know I was all over Higuchi at the end of the match as it felt that another opportunity had slipped away, but his changes revitalized the lineup and the young players are really starting to shine.

Don’t forget to check out Daniel’s review of the match over at the Nagasaki Blue & Orange Blog!

https://nagasakiblueorange.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/match-report-fc-ryukyu-1-1-v-varen-nagasaki/

2. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Do not press Nagasaki, rather, use the counter attack to generate goals: Likelihood 3. Nope, we went right at them. But it didn’t matter as we looked good in the attack and the lone Nagasaki goal was from a set piece.

2. Do not hold a high defensive line: Likelihood 2.  Nope, in fact, it was an awkwardly shaped back line as Tanaka thrust forward more than he dropped back to cover the CBs. There were a few times when an a pass was cut off for Tanaka and Nagasaki had a huge amount of space to run into. I guess, you live by the sword, you die by the sword.

3. Man of the Match

RB (?) Keita Tanaka FC Ryukyu: Tanaka was a force to be reckoned with last night as he was creating chance after chance and contributed on Ikeda’s goal with an assist. He sent a few dangerous crosses through the Nagasaki 6-yard box that unfortunately went unanswered which would’ve changed the outcome of this match. I look forward to seeing Tanaka, who I deemed at the start of the season in February, as FC Ryukyu’s comeback player of the year this season.

4. Match Day Predictions

I said 3-0 in favor of Nagasaki and Daniel said 2-0. It ended 1-1 thus dropping me to 0-2-3 on the year.

5. Match Day 5 Takeaways

It is hard to be either upset or optimistic at this point. FC Ryukyu are the only team in J2 that has not won a game this season and they have yet to score multiple goals in a game, or maintain a clean sheet.

1. Keita Tanaka looked good at RB and it definitely showed on the score sheet. Why not drop the two full backs and replace them as wingers and play with a back 3? We would then need to drop a CMF but that could provide some serious thrust forward. FC Ryukyu had 15 shots last night, of which 13 found the target, so the idea of having 2 additional attackers vice 4 defenders seems better suited for these times.

2. All told, Higuchi made six changes to the lineup on Wednesday with the aforementioned Tanaka at RB; Suzuki back in at CB along side Yong Jick; swapped the starting MF positions of Koya and Motegi; rested Abe for Uehara, and swapped Dany Carvajal for Junto Taguchi in net. Personally, I don’t think that Dany was the problem these past few weeks. You saw how few shots Taguchi faced (5) with a better offense in front of him, not to mention a solid defender in Suzuki. We will see how Higuchi rotates the two keepers this year but Suzuki and Tanaka must be in the lineup moving forward.

3. Ren Ikeda notched his first goal for FC Ryukyu last night and that was a welcome sight. I was glad to see both him and Suzuki in the lineup as I think they, along with Koizumi and Motegi, could form a very nice youthful core at FC Ryukyu.

4. Uehara did not get many opportunities this game and the ones that he did, you could tell he needs more, or less, game time. It is evident we need a third striker soon as Abe cannot be expected to play in every game, even as a sub.

6. Around J2 on Match Day 5

I guess you could say this round had a large amount of upsets in that some of the lower teams in the table achieved some surprising results. Gunma’s win over Yamagata on the road; Tochigi upsetting top seed Omiya; Fukuoka defeating Jubilo and you can even throw in the FC Ryukyu and Kitakyushu draws. I wonder if all these mid-week games will really shake up the table, especially in August and November when there are so many fixtures, with so little rest in between.

Had to use the one from Transfermarkt as no time to build my own. But their’s is far better. Maybe I’ll just do this, if they approve it.

7. Top Goals from Round 5 in J2

There were some thunderous headers this round but here are the three I picked out as the best goals from this round.

#1 Daichi Tagami’s FK against Zelvia (5:40)

#2 Miyasaka’s Knuckleball against Yamagata (0:00)

#3 Haruya Ide’s Curler against Kofu (4:20)

8. Conclusion

It’s coming. That is all I can say at this point after five FC Ryukyu matches. More goals will start to drop, the defense may start to shore up with Suzuki, and the young guns on this team may start producing the results that many of us have hoped for. The past five games, 4 most recently, would test any of the teams in the J2 with the strength of those opponents. For now, FC Ryukyu get a little respite as they travel North to take on Renofa Yamaguchi on Saturday followed by Ehime FC the following weekend. Let’s hope that the impact from these past four matches will only strengthen FC Ryukyu as they navigate the upcoming fixtures.

One final note. I got to enjoy the match with my father who lives in the U.S. thanks in part to the J-League broadcasting the game on their international YouTube channel. I really enjoyed that as it has been some time since we’ve done that and I was glad that he was able to watch the team that I support. But I was also a little disappointed that the club’s Twitter account didn’t bother to retweet, or advertise, the international broadcast. It was basically a free marketing product that may have gone unnoticed if not for the team’s loyal following. I mean, even the Nagasaki account retweeted the J-League advert.

Match Day 4 Report: (21) FC Ryukyu vs. (3) Tokushima Vortis 7/11/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Another match, another disappointing result for FC Ryukyu as they lost 3-1 to visitors Tokushima Vortis on Saturday. The loss drops FC Ryukyu to 21st in the table and sees them with one of the worst goal scoring differentials in the league. Still with more questions than answers at this point, FC Ryukyu will need to quickly rebound from this loss as they face the number two side in V-Varen Nagasaki on Wednesday night.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  4. Match Day Prediction
  5. Match Day 4 Takeaways
  6. Match Day 4 in J2
  7. Top Goals in Round 4
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

FC Ryukyu made a few changes to the starting 11 with Koya returning to LM; Koizumi in at CAM; and Chinen making his debut at CB. FC Ryukyu started the match pretty fast as there were two nice shots by the Kazama brothers that nearly broke the mold. Unfortunately, a deflected shot got past Dany to open the scoring before Abe pegged one back with another highlight reel goal. FC Ryukyu pressed hard for a winner but after Chinen slipped, allowing his man to get round him and get alone on goal, the game was all but over.

2. Man of the Match

Tokushima Vortis FWD Masaki Watai. His first goal was all that was needed to seal the victory on Saturday and then he added a second just five minutes later.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Frustrate the Vortis Attack. Likelihood 2: Did not happen as they out shot, out scored and out possessed FC Ryukyu last week. The deflected shot and slip by Chinen are sort of excusable but Vortis put themselves in so many good opportunities to win it really didn’t matter in the end.

2. Generate some offense. Likelihood 3: FC Ryukyu did accomplish this on Saturday and I think the combination of Koya and Koizumi could definitely pay off in the near future.

4. Match Day Prediction

I said 2-0 to Vortis and it ended 3-1 leaving me with another draw and an overall record of 0-2-2.

5. Match Day 4 Takeaways

1. Koizumi was electric in the #10 role and has rightfully earned his place among the starting eleven for FC Ryukyu moving forward. He was a constant threat to the Vortis defense which opened up the offense for the first time in weeks. His assist on Abe’s goal was a thing of beauty.

2. Another multiple goal conceded game is worrisome. FC Ryukyu have 5 CBs on the roster and they need to find a combination that works in addition to reviewing the tactics they currently deploy in defense.

6. Match Day 4 in J2

Kitakyushu shocked everyone on Friday night when they traveled to Okayama and defeated the hosts 2-0. Kyoto won their match up over Fukuoka 2-0 and Nagasaki and Omiya both remained top after their wins.

7. Top Goals in Round 4

#1 Kazuma Yamaguchi of Mito Hollyhock (3:33 mark)

#2 Lukian from Jubilo Iwata (4:45 mark)

#3 Takuma Abe from FC Ryukyu (2:30 mark)

8. Conclusion

Once again there is another bitter pill to swallow for fans of FC Ryukyu. Maybe no one expected FCR to win this match, let alone earn a point, but yet there were times when it seemed that they could have. That little sense of false hope is enough to drive you mad and make you wonder if things will get better any time soon. Well, there is a real possibility that FCR may not notch their fist win until August and even that is coming into question now as we simply cannot score, or defend, with any conviction. And now the schedule becomes a factor to contend with as well.

We have our first of fifteen mid-week games this season in two days and it happens to be against an undefeated opponent in V-Varen Nagasaki. On a short week, with little prep work and rest, means it will be anyone’s guess how this team will respond after two straight losses. If we cannot score from open play, off of set pieces or defend our own goal, then we may have to settle in for a string of disappointing results for the foreseeable future.

Match Day 3 Report: (15) Giravanz Kitakyushu vs. (21) FC Ryukyu 7/04/2020 #FC琉球

*Standings in parentheses were prior to Sunday’s results and reflect were the two sides were in the table after Saturday 07/04

Introduction

There is no way to sugar coat the result. FC Ryukyu were outplayed in every facet of the game and were left completely decimated by Kitakyushu on Saturday. I for one was expecting a similar type of result, in favor of FC Ryukyu that is, and thus left flabbergasted with the outcome. There really is no excuse for allowing 4 goals inside of 45 minutes. and this leaves many of us to wonder, how could a side play so well in their previous two matches only to come completely unhinged against a perceived lesser opponent? This leads to two important questions. Where was the attack and possession we’ve become so accustomed too this year? And what needs to change so this doesn’t happen again?

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  4. Match Day Prediction
  5. Match Day 3 Takeaways
  6. Match Day 3 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Match Day 2
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

Sloppy. That is the only word that can accurately describe FC Ryukyu’s performance this weekend. There were dozens, literally not figuratively, of turnovers by FC Ryukyu and they occurred in all areas of the pitch. Turnovers derailed our forward momentum, disrupted our buildup play, ended all of our attacks, and provided Giravanz with short attacking vectors in our end.

If you only glanced at the score line it would be natural to assume that our GK was not up to par this match, but that was not the case. Dany stood on his head for most of the game, making save after save to keep FC Ryukyu in the competition, before the levy finally broke.

2. Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu GK Dany Carvajal: I cannot stand to re-watch this match to pick out a player from Kitakyushu who may have been the ideal choice so instead I’ll say it was Dany Carvajal. He made some great saves in the first half to keep the score line level while we limped throughout the match.

3. Review of the Match Day 3 Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Isolate/Mark MF Daigo Takahashi. Likelihood 2: He didn’t make the score sheet but with all the turnovers by FC Ryukyu I really couldn’t tell how he influenced the match on Saturday.

2. Capitalize on set pieces. Likelihood 4: We certainly did not score nor did we create many chances to put us in a position to score.

4. Match Day Prediction

I said, albeit foolishly, that FC Ryukyu would win 3-0 and instead we got pasted 0-4.

Overall yearly record drops to 0-1-2 with a loud thud!

5. Match Day 3 Takeaways

1. FC Ryukyu are unsettled, and at times, out of sorts at the back. All four of Kitakyushu’s goal came right through our central defense. The same problem that plagued us for much of 2019 is rearing its very ugly head once again. Highuchi stuck with Fukui at CB and I am sorry, we are not a good defensive side when he is in there. Since we have no idea what prompted the switch from Higuchi it is even more vexing. Maybe someone with a better tactical eye for the game than me can say whether or not our central defenders were constantly out of position, making poor decisions on where to cover, and when to leave their man, which constantly left Dany exposed.

It is time to give Suzuki, or Okazaki, another crack at the starting CB role as it is clearly not working with the current CB pairing.

2. Turnovers killed us this game. FC Ryukyu played so poorly this match that it was like watching a completely different team from the prior weeks. Some of the turnovers can be attributed to early season mishaps and some as things that will naturally happen during any given match, but most were inexcusable. These turnovers meant that FC Ryukyu could never generate any real threat on the Kitakyushu goal.

3. The lineup needs an overhaul. There are many points here so it is best that bulletize them:

– FC Ryukyu really miss Kawai’s speed down the left. Koya is a fine player in his own right but we don’t have the ability to get in and around the opposition’s flanks right now without Kawai.

– Abe is starting to feel the same pain that Koji Suzuki experienced last year. He can become isolated up top when we cannot make accurate passes, nor maintain possession, in the attacking half of the pitch to put him in goal scoring opportunities.

– Yamaguchi is probably better suited as a FWD than a CM and needs to relieve Abe or Uehara this year. Yamaguchi works his butt off but maybe he isn’t the player to fill the role vacated by Nakagawa some 18 months ago. I also think it is time Ren Ikeda had another shot at orchestrating our attack as Motegi, Kawai, Koya, Yu and Tanaka are better players with a mid-field general. What do we have to lose at this point?

– Torikai had a very rough outing last match and that happens from time to time but I think we are a better attacking team with Tavares at RB. Look at the small sample size we have and you can see that Tavares generated more in the attack than Torikai while defending at a high rate.  I’m sure we will see Tavares again with such a tight fixture schedule.

– CBs Suzuki, or Okazaki at the very least, should be starting over Fukui. I appreciate Fukui’s versatility to play all 4 defensive positions, which warrants a position on the bench each match, but we need a solid CB pairing moving forward. Yong Jick and Suzuki did well against JEF to open the season but since then there has been a steady decline in performances at the back. Just look at all the space that Kitakyushu had to operate with in our own end. How on earth can players be that wide open to receive a cross or take shots?

6. Match Day 3 in J2

Some interesting result this past weekend. JEF and Ehime’s impressive road wins by 3 goals each has propelled those two sides into the top 3. Ehime’s start of 2020 reminds me a lot of how FC Ryukyu started last year. Tons of goal in both directions with some exciting results.

The Niigata and Kanazawa goal fest was fun to watch. It seemed most of the goals from open play that game either took a deflection or had some weird bounce/element too them. Neither of Tokushima, Kyoto, Jubilo or Okayama could get past each other as the two games that many were watching to see if anyone could make a statement all ended in 1-1 draws.

Omiya remains top after beating last placed Gunma with V-Varen Nagasaki joining them after an impressive come from behind win over Kyushu rivals Avispa Fukuka.

7. Top Goals from Round 3

This week featured some well taken Free Kicks as well as some powerful headers, but there can only be 3!

#1 Taishi Taguchi from JEF UTD Chiba freezing the Mito goal keeper. (@ the 1:40 mark)

#2 Jun Suzukui from Avispa Fukuoka also making the difficult look easy from a free kick. (@ the :30 second mark in this clip)

#3 Atsushi Kurokawa’s header to start the scoring in Omiya. Watch the set up where he creates some space for himself and then sends a diving header past the Gunma keeper.

8. Conclusion

Anyone who follows a sports team knows that there are times throughout the year when your team lays an egg. It sucks, it hurts, and it often leaves you wondering how the team will respond. Unfortunately for FC Ryukyu, that egg couldn’t have occurred at a worse time as they were looking to notch our first win and now face four teams over the next three weeks that are all in the top half, top 7 actually, of the J2 table.

Should we be concerned? Yes. Is there anything that can be done? Yes, change the lineup. More importantly, should we worry? No. Since there is no fear of relegation in 2020 FC Ryukyu should keep one eye on the future while trying to maximize the talent they have on this years roster. We all know that some of these guys won’t be around in 2020, and if we struggle for results this season – which would erase any notions of promotion – then it is imperative we give the younger players more playing time.

With that, let’s closeout one of the worst performances we’ve seen from FC Ryukyu in quite some time and look forward to hosting Tokushima Vortis next Saturday (with fans!).

Stay strong.