21 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu played their first of six games in the 2021 J Elite League this past Sunday and I was fortunate enough to attend. Ryukyu will play another 5 games in a round-robin home and away tournament against Nagasaki, Kagoshima United FC and Avispa Fukuoka inside Group C. The opening game ended in 1-1 draw with two first half goals from both sides but I was more excited to see some of the players on the team that haven’t featured for Ryukyu this season.

Brief History on the J Elite League

Prior to this year I had no idea that there was even a ‘reserve’ league in existence for the J-League, but that was based on the fact that FC Ryukyu never participated in this type of tournament before. The only history I can find about any ‘reserve tournament’ existing for the J-League was from 1993-2009 before taking a lengthy break until 2016, followed by the J-Satellite League in 2018 and 2019, and finally the creation of the J Elite League in 2020. However, the 2020 season as cancelled due to the Coronavirus.

The League is designed on the premise of developing players under the age of 21, those within a team’s youth academy, and for the reserve members of each team. This year’s League will feature 14 clubs within 3 groups that are broken up geographically in a round-robin tournament from March 8 – November 30. Each club must have at least 3 U-21 participants in each match and they can make up to 7 substitutions each game through three substations not counting any made at half time. Plus the ‘concussion’ substitution rule change is in effect for the league.

Their was a cash incentive paid out to the top 6 sides of this tournament in 2018/19 but I am not sure if that system is still in place for 2021. As far as I can tell, there isn’t an official section of the J-League website that is dedicated to posting the results of each match or the overall standings. As for now, all you have to go on is the press releases from each of the clubs participating in the tournament. More information about the League can be found in the links below this section.

Official J-League Release J League Reserve League Wiki FC Ryukyu Official Release

Match Day 1 Recap

Luckily V-Varen Nagasaki posted a video for this match to their official YouTube Channel

Talking Points

1. These matches obviously benefit the reserve players more than the academy players but this game couldn’t have come at a better time. Most of the starting 11 for Ryukyu were either bench players from previous matches or players you would expect to feature in the event of an injury to a starting member. And it was good to get these guys “match experience” with FC Ryukyu facing a bit of an injury crisis at the moment.

You may have seen that Dany Carvajal will be out for a few months while he deals with a stress fracture to his lower leg. Though Taguchi has a stranglehold on the starting GK position, I am sure the competition for the starting role at practices will fall off with Dany out and Ryukyu are left with only 1 other GK with any J2 experience, Inose. However, it was Tsumita who got the start over Inose on Sunday. Perhaps they want to see what they have in Tsumita moving forward or perhaps he has earned the #3 GK role for Ryukyu.

Shintaro Shimizu leveled the score with a thunderous strike and his contributions to the first team will be vital in the event Abe misses time due to injury. There has been no word on the status of Abe following his exit due to injury this past Saturday and I truly do not expect the club to release any unless it is serious enough to warrant a lengthy absence. In my opinion, that leaves Shintaro as the likely candidate to start at FWD for Ryukyu. He mas made appearances this season but could be asked to play a lot more in the coming weeks.

It is a shame there are only five more of these games throughout the year as you would want these reserve players to get as many match minutes as possible in the event they are called up. Still, I think Ryukyu made the right call to join this league with the number of players they have on the roster so as to evaluate what they have at any given moment and more importantly by season’s end.

2. It was a telling sign to see who didn’t dress for this match. In particular, Ramon and Nakagawa. There is chatter amongst the Ryukyu supporters that Ramon is dealing with a minor injury that won’t keep him out for long, but the rumors surrounding Nakagawa are more concerning. Some of the supporters said that Nakagawa arrived in “rough shape” to Ryukyu this offseason. This could mean anything from a nagging injury requiring a rehabilitation and strengthening period or just being out of football shape from not featuring on a regular basis for the better part of two seasons. I hope Nakagawa is progressing in his efforts to return to the pitch as he can provide a huge boost to the attack when match fit. He may need to return sooner rather than later in the event Ikeda is asked to fill in up top for the injured Abe.

We also didn’t see RB Tavares or MF Sawada in this match and there has been no word on their status to date.

3. Yong-Jick looks to be a better CDM than CB. When Murase came on for Ichimaru, Yong Jick moved forward into the central mid fielder role and he looked more comfortable, more in control, and was better positioned defensively than I’ve seen from him in the past. Ryukyu’s only other center backs on the roster are Fukui and Murase so they don’t have the luxury of depth at the position to make the switch permanent, but it may provide some flexibility for Ryukyu moving forward. I would have rather seen Makito Uehara make the move to CDM this game but I understand why it is important to get him some game reps at his listed RB position.

4. Shunsuke Motegi looked good in his first full match in quite some time. Ryukyu currently dress four forwards each match but I don’t think that is sustainable. Motegi was a very good player before coming to Ryukyu and his inclusion into the top team could prove vital in the case of Shintaro moving into the starting FWD role.

5. FC Ryukyu and the fans should be very excited for what they have in both Reo Yamashita (LB) and Koki Yushin (MF). Both players had a really good game against this level of competition and the future looks really bright for the 16-year-old Yushin. He more than held his own out there and I was surprised to find out he was that young and playing that well against some of the senior players from Nagasaki. Yushin’s development could move forward rapidly if he sees regular action in the remaining games of this tournament.

Reo Yamashita played well enough to at least warrant consideration in the Ryukyu top team if Numata is injured or requires a rest day. Yamashita is the only other LB on the roster and despite not having played a single minute at this level of competition, the college player looks like he could withstand some of the rigors of the J2. There is still a steep learning curve he needs to navigate but he displayed plenty of confidence and skill in his first match.

6. It is hard to assess where the level of this competition is compared to the J2 and J3 leagues. First, most of the players in the lineup were veterans of the J-league so I cannot say that it was any less than the level of J2, or any more than J3. Second, I think there were only about 4 youth players that featured between the two sides so it was not as if we were seeing the likes of the U-23 sides from years past or the famous all Japanese U-23 side from the inaugural J3 campaign of 2014. Finally, it is the exact type of competition needed to keep reserve players fresh while allowing youth players to gain valuable match experience at the current level of their parent club.

Conclusion

This was my first time watching a reserve team match for FC Ryukyu and I thoroughly enjoyed the day out with my son in a relaxed setting. I am not sure how many of these match recaps I will be able to write for the reserve games as the information surrounding this tournament is sparse and the match reports following the games even less so. Hopefully I can get to the remaining home matches to provide some more insight in the future but that will largely depend on when the matches are held and if fans are allowed to attend.

The 2021 FC Ryukyu Squad Preview #FC琉球

Members of the team are currently taking their PCR tests ahead of the opening of training camp in just a few days so let’s take a look at the players FC Ryukyu will deploy in the upcoming season. Keep in mind, Ryukyu could still sign a few players in the days leading up to camp, or even after, as well as send some of the players out on loan.

Goal Keeper

Name	Age	Career Games Started	Years at the Club
Dany Carvajal	32	65 (J.League Only)	3
Junto Taguchi	24	37	2
Kosuke Inose	20	1	3
Keisuke Tsumita	27	8	6

Dany Carvajal became the incumbent starter after he arrived at FC Ryukyu from Mito Hollyhock in 2019, and he played some remarkable football before an ankle injury, that ultimately required offseason surgery, derailed his 2019 campaign. Dany followed up his inaugural season at Ryukyu by starting in 28 of 42 matches in 2020. But a strange turn of events led to his demotion at the end of 2020 where he only played in 2 of the last 10 games. I presumed that Dany was under contract with Ryukyu through the 2022 season, but that wasn’t the case when his contract was renewed at the beginning of the month. I believe Dany will open the season as the starter and could have a resurgent 2021 campaign.

Junto Taguchi signed from Albirex Niigata last offseason and quickly found himself in the starting role with Dany out injured. Taguchi hadn’t started any games in 2019 and the rust was evident in his first game where he surrendered an early goal and committed a nearly fatal turnover. Taguchi was able to recover from that rough opener and then found himself the 1st choice keeper to close out the 2020 campaign. The battle between him and Dany for the Ryukyu #1 GK spot will be the most hotly contested position battle in this squad all year.

Kosuke Inose has only ever featured one time for FC Ryukyu. And that was back in 2019 when he filled in for an injured Dany, and ineligible Ishii, against Mito Hollyhock where Ryukyu lost 3-1. Inose shouldn’t trouble Dany or Taguchi for playing time this year and is likely to avoid a loan out of the club.

Keisuke Tsumita has been with FC Ryukyu since 2016 but has never featured in a match since his inaugural season. A mere depth piece in the event that we lose the top 3 GKs, I wouldn’t expect any appearances for Tsumita outside of a reserve appearance in a cup competition. He is a strong candidate for a loan move.

Defenders

Name	Pos.	Age	Career Goals	Career Assists	Years at the Club
Keigo Numata	LB	30	15	21	2
Reo Yamashita	LB	22	0	0	1
Lee Yong Jick	CB	29	18	7	2
Tetsuya Chinen	CB	23	1	1	2
Ryohei Okazaki	CB	28	0	1	3
Yusuke Murase	CB	22	0	0	1
Keita Tanaka	RB	31	45	28	6
Yuya Torikai	RB	32	37	33	3
Felipe Tavares	RB	26	0	0	2
Makito Uehara	RB	22	1	0	2
Ryoji Fukui	DF	33	9	5	3

Keita Tanaka was without a doubt one of the most important players for FC Ryukyu in 2020. He reinvented himself as an RB which in turn rejuvenated the Ryukyu attack. Tanaka enjoyed his best statistical season in the past 3 years when he scored 2 goals and added 6 assists. Those were the most assists he’s contributed in any campaign and he has an absolute stranglehold on the starting RB position heading into 2021.

Lee Yong Jick signed from Tokyo Verdy in 2020 Lee went on to start, or feature, in 38 of FC Ryukyu’s 42 games in 2020. I was excited to see FC Ryukyu add a player with his height, but Yong Jick failed to score from a set piece, or open play, which is perplexing. As a whole, I don’t think FC Ryukyu were great from set pieces in 2020, but I rarely saw Yong Jick attempt to stick his head in there while towering over the competition. Yong Jick was also plagued by some shaky play in defense that resulted in several goals for the opposition. He will enter 2021 as one of the starting 2 CBs for FC Ryukyu.

Ryohei Okazaki signed for FC Ryukyu in 2019, and similar to Yong Jick, contributed little on set pieces while becoming a liability in defense. Okazaki featured sparingly in 2020 while he recovered from a multitude of injuries, and I cannot fathom why Higuchi has so much faith in this player. Both he and Yong Jick are nearing 30 and haven’t turned into the defensive force that many believe they could be. CB is undoubtedly the weakest link in the team heading into 2021. It sure would be nice to see two of our tallest players become more involved on set pieces, but I am hesitant to believe they actually will.

Keigo Numata joined Ryukyu in 2020 from Zweigen Kanazawa and took over for the talented Tokumoto who departed for Okayama. Numata, like Tanaka, enjoyed one of his finest seasons on record. In fact, his 3 goals and 7 assists were the most points in a single season for Numata. Keigo featured in 39 contests in 2020 but there where visible cracks at times, specifically in his fitness. This is understandable considering the role our full backs fulfill in Higuchi’s 4-2-3-1, plus we had no true back up to provide any rest for Numata. I would expect Numata to have another good campaign next year as our starting LB.

Yuya Torikai returned to FC Ryukyu in the summer of 2019 and was the starting RB for Ryukyu in 2020 before a drop in form, and the emergence of Tanaka, saw Torikai drop completely out of the lineup. Torikai has only amassed 5 points in the past 4 seasons combined and he didn’t add a single point last season. Torikai’s contract renewal should be viewed as nothing more than a depth signing in the event of several injuries to our back 4. He can also fill in at MF/Winger is needed so his versatility is what keeps him around.

Makito Uehara was a special designated player for FC Ryukyu back in 2020 but will compete for playing time with both Tanaka and Tavares in 2021. He was unknown to many of us until he announced his presence with a thunderous goal against Omiya Ardija. Makito has many of the traits you like to see in a defender but is still a little raw and needs more playing time to refine his craft. I’ll say this again for thousandth time, I think Makito could be an absolute beast if he was able to switch to a CDM role instead of trying to compete for playing time in a packed RB depth chart.

Felipe Tavares came to FC Ryukyu from Sociedade Esportiva do Gama in Brazil’s Serie D last year. Tavares ended up starting the first game of the season for FC Ryukyu at RB where he put in a decent shift, created several chances and dead ball kicks, and nearly scored from a set piece when his header hit the frame. After that performance, along with the lengthy break in the season, Tavares all but disappeared until a few cameo appearances near the end of 2020. He will find it difficult to usurp Tanaka, or even leap frog Makito, on the depth chart, but I think he could develop into a fine player for Ryukyu. Heck, he was more involved on set pieces in his lone start than any of our CBs the past 2 seasons.

Tetsuya Chinen is someone we all need to keep a close eye on in 2021. He has the frame, attitude, and desire that you covet in a CB, despite the fact that he is smaller than your prototypical central defender. He has better burst and long distance speed than the incumbents, is far more aggressive, and isn’t afraid to stick his nose in tough areas to win contested balls in the air. I am very excited about his long term prospects here at Ryukyu and when either Yong Jick or Okazaki falter, or are injured, Chinen will be the next man up at CB. He has already matched both Yong Jick’s and Okazaki’s point totals from the past few seasons in fewer than 12 games.

Ryoji Fukui is one the most versatile players on the FC Ryukyu roster. Fukui can fill in at so many positions across the back line, as well as in the MF, which is why he remains on the team in 2021. You always need to hold your breath when Fukui goes in for a challenge, and he can be consistently caught of position when defending, but he is rarely injured which must be why Higuchi keeps him around. Fukui will appear when injuries or suspensions warrant it.

Yusuke Murase & Reo Yamashita join FC Ryukyu from college, and like Ren Ikeda and Tetsuya Chinen in the past, could find their way into playing time in their first year at the club. FC Ryukyu have been able to find talent in the unlikeliest of places in the past, and while these two have a long road ahead of them for playing time, it is not unfathomable that they get their chance. I haven’t seen any film on either of these players but both are intriguing.

Central Mid Fielders

Name	Age	Career Goals	Career Assists	Years at the Club
Kazumasu Uesato	34	30	20	3
Koki Kazama	29	27	30	3
Mizuki Ichimaru	23	1	15	2
Lee Ji Seong	22	0	0	2

Kazumasa Uesato is the current captain of FC Ryukyu and despite his age, is also one of the most important players on the current roster. Uesato doesn’t possess the speed he once had, but he still has precision passing, lethality in free kicks and directs the attack from his central mid field role. It is a shame we could never sign a player of Uesato’s caliber in his heyday, and while this could very well be his last year at Ryukyu, his offseason signing was so vital to the success of this team.

Koki Kazama has signed on for his third season at Ryukyu, and while last year was marred with injury and a drop in playing time, he, along with Uesato, play a crucial role in the attack as well as on set pieces. Both Koki and Uesato will have a hard time fending off Ichimaru, but based on recent history, Koki is likely to start along side Uesato at CM to open the year.

Mizuki Ichimaru is at the crossroads of his career. Mizukui was a product of Gamba Osaka’s youth system as well as having brief stints at FC Gifu, the Gamba Osaka U-23s, and a loan to Ryukyu, before joining FC Ryukyu permanently this year. The big question is; can he finally put it all together and become the highly touted player he was thought to be? Well, there is no better place to figure that out than Ryukyu, and Ihcimaru will certainly get his shot in 2021. He is only a few solid performances, and free kicks, away from taking one of the CM spots permanently.

Lee Ji Seong is an unknown commodity. Signed in 2020 with a little hype, he never dressed and could very well take the same path of so many other players we’ve signed who will never feature. He certainly has the temperament for a CM, but he returned home in the middle of the lay off due to CV19, understandably, and was never seen again until the final team photo in December. I am not sure if the language barrier plays a part in his apprehension to stay, but that too is also understandable. Maybe if things were different he could flash but there is no indication he will be with the team for 2021. To be honest, I never know the length of the contracts we ink with college players so he could be under terms for a while longer. Does anybody outside of J1 know honestly know?

Attacking Mid Fielders

Name	Pos.	Age	Career Goals	Career Assists	Years at the Club
Koya Kazama	RM	27	41	30	3
Yu Tomidokoro	LM/RM	30	33	36	9
Shunsuke Motegi	LM	24	14	9	2
Ren Ikeda	CAM	23	4	3	2
Koki Kiyotake	CAM	29	48	23	1
Kazuki Nakagawa	CAM	25	21	15	4
Ramon	RM	22	0	3	2
Sho Sawada	RM/LM	17	0	0	1

Koya Kazama was the leading scorer for FC Ryukyu in 2020. Koya reached double digit goals for the first time in his career, and he also registered the most assists (7) he has had in any given season. Koya was the first Ryukyu player to score a hat-trick in a game since Yu Togashi in 2017. It was really great news that FC Ryukyu were able to retain the services of Koya after such a stellar season and he could be in for an even bigger season this year.

Kazaki Nakagawa returns to FC Ryukyu on loan from Kyoto Sanga FC and will immediately challenge for the central attacking midfield position vacated by Yoshio Koizumi. Those familiar with Ryukyu know the history and accolades that Nakagawa achieved during his first 3 years at Ryukyu. They will also recall the shock and disappointment of his departure in early 2019 after leading Ryukyu to a 3-0 start while adding 3 assists. Nakagawa has only played in 20 games since his departure, so he will need some time to regain his top form.

Shunsuke Motegi had a rough past season due to COVID-19. Motegi joined Ryukyu from Mito Hollyhock in 2020 with much fanfare and promise. Motegi featured in 8 games prior to testing positive for CV19 where he scored one goal, and added one assist. However, Motegi only appeared in 13 games after returning from CV19, but only started in three of them while failing to register a point. Hopefully Motegi is fully recovered and ready to take his place in the starting 11 at LM.

Koki Kiyotake joins FC Ryukyu after scoring 3 goals in 20 games for Tokushima Vortis in 2020. Kiyotake will immediately challenge for the starting CAM role, and similar to Nakagawa, is only a few seasons removed from his best statistical output. Koki scored double digit goals in back to back seasons at Kumamoto and JEF, and came close to hitting the 20 point mark. One thing we’ve seen from players that have lost their place at their former clubs and then go on to join Ryukyu, is that they can have a bit of a late career renaissance. When Ryukyu made their thrust up and out of J3 in 2018, it was on the backs on three excellent MFs. Could this be the case in 2021 with Koya, Nakagawa and Kiyotake?

In Ren Ikeda’s first season at Ryukyu, he scored 4 goals and added 3 assists. It was an up and down season for Ren as he initially started out as the CAM before losing that job to Koizumi. Ren scored 2 goals within his first 8 games but then went on a stretch of 18 games without a single point, and 32 games without a goal. Ren was asked to fill in at multiple positions across the MF as well as at FWD last season so this most likely left him unsettled and unable to get into any rhythm. He faces a massive uphill battle to regain the starting CAM role and I am not sure he can unseat any of the starters on the flanks. If Ryukyu remains injury free up to the summer transfer window, a loan move away from Ryukyu may do him some good.

Mr. Ryukyu, Yu Tomidokoro, returns for his 9th season with the club. Yu has struggled to crack the starting 11 on a consistent basis since Ryukyu joined the J2, and a hamstring injury ended his 2020 season after appearing in 16 games without scoring a single point. Yu is two seasons removed from his best ever statistical season but I am not sure he will ever get back to those lofty heights. Yu was unquestionably the best spot kick taking player Ryukyu has ever fielded, but is rarely asked to take free kicks these days. Even when he was healthy in 2019, he took so few kicks compared to Uesato and Koki, but did score an absolute cracker from the spot. Yu will likely feature as a substitute for most of the season, but there is a chance he could challenge Motegi for the starting LM spot.

Ramon came to FC Ryukyu in the summer of 2019 when the team was in desperate need of reinforcements. Ramon started 2 games, played in 9 total games, and added 2 assists in the fall of 2019. Ramon was then loaned to Gainare Tottori for the entire 2020 season, but played sparingly before a hamstring injury ended his season. From what I saw of Ramon in 2019, he is a powerful player who is not easily moved off the ball, and he reminds me a lot of Koizumi with his style of play. If Ramon stays with Ryukyu in 2020, I think he has a real shot at making an impact and possibly forcing his way into the lineup.

Sho Sawada joined FC Ryukyu in November of 2020. If he stays with the senior team, he will be the youngest player at 17, and would be the youngest player to ever play for the club. I have nothing more on this player other than, in the brief history of FC Ryukyu, they have signed one other player from Spain. His name is Kazaki Nakagawa.

Forwards

Name	Age	Career Goals	Career Assists	Years at the Club
Takuma Abe	33	73	37	2
Shintaro Shimizu	28	32	11	1
Shinya Uehara	34	35	20	3
Takuya Hitomi	23	1	0	2

Takuma Abe will return for his second season at Ryukyu after scoring 13 goals and adding 2 assists. This was the first time since 2012 that Abe reached double digit goals and it looked as if he would push for more goals before a very strange set of events saw Abe miss the final 7 games of the season. Perhaps this was due to fatigue from playing in nearly every match up to that point, but no news was released by the club to indicate that Abe was dealing with any ailment. Abe looked really good during last season and is still a very potent player. He scored several highlight reel goals last season and the same will be expected of him in 2021.

Shintaro Shimizu joins FC Ryukyu after spending 2020 with Fagiano Okayama where he scored 3 goals in 24 games for the club. Shimizu has bounced back and forth between Omiya Ardija, Mito Hollyhock and Fagiano Okayama since he came into the league in 2013 and his best ever year was 2019 with Mito when he scored 8 goals and added 2 assists. Shintaro doesn’t have any single season that can compare with Abe, but he also doesn’t have nearly the same amount of games played. Perhaps Shintaro can make something of himself here at Ryukyu like so many others have done in the past. But it certainly helps having another experienced, and younger, striker in the squad.

Shinya Uehara returns for his 3rd season at Ryukyu, and his 13th season overall. Uehara scored the most ever goals in a single season for his career last year at Ryukyu. His 6 goals, and 3 assists, was the most points he’s accumulated in any season since 2013 and though he is not asked to play the role that Abe fulfills, Uehara plays a vital role in the side. Uehara is an excellent late game sub that can get himself into scoring position and contribute meaningful goals. The Mito and Tochigi games stand out from last year and there were the goals he scored against Niigata, Yamagata, Kanazawa, and Fukuoka in 2019. It is truly amazing to go back and see the timing of Uehara’s goals since he’s joined Ryukyu and I would expect more of the same from him in 2021. That is, if he can stay healthy, something Uehara has struggled with during his time at Ryukyu.

Takuya Hitomi signed with FC Ryukyu from Rissho University in 2020. Hitomi missed a large part of the season while recovering from knee surgery before appearing in 9 games and scoring 1 goal. There is a lot to like about this player, but he is the future for this team, not the present. He needs time to mature against this level of competition so I would expect Hitomi to fulfill a reserve role with an occasional spot start in cup competitions. Keep in mind, that both Abe and Uehara have dealt with injuries this past year so Hitomi’s path to playing time isn’t nearly congested as some of the other younger prospects on the team.

Early 2021 Season Predictions

Team MVP	Koki Kiyotake (CAM)
Comeback Player of the Year	Shunsuke Motegi (MF)
Top Young Player of the Year	Tetsuya Chinen (CB)

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

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

Forwards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Goal Keeper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all, Stay Safe.

@okinawaozzy

FC Ryukyu Squad Review Part 2: Midfield #FC琉球

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

****Update****

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

FC Ryukyu Squad Review Part 1: Defense #FC琉球

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

The Center Backs

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

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

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

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

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

The Full Backs

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

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

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

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

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

2021 Outlook

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

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

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

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

Injury Updates

Well once again we face the reality of not knowing what players are currently injured – other than waiting until the starting 11 and reserves are announced pre-match – so we have to assume some injuries have carried over from last week and what to expect moving forward.

# 2 Masutani Kosuke CB: Absent from the starting 11 and reserves against Ehime F.C., I am not sure what injury he has picked up. I was there to see him finish out the match vs Omiya and he looked fine so he must’ve taken a knock in training or picked up an injury. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery because we will need all hands on deck in the back for the grueling J2 campaign.

# 33 Fukui Ryoki CB: Was dealing with some serious lower leg cramps near the end of the match vs Ehime FC and had to be subbed off in the 93’. This shouldn’t be a major issue going forward as his match fitness should improve over time along with playing a full match. In his defense, he was all over the pitch making play after play so getting worn down like he did while assisting in maintaining a clean sheet is totally understandable. Hydrate and stretch big man and hopefully we see you out there against Tokushima as that is a nice pairing at CB for FCR with Okazaki.

#4 Okazaki Ryohei CB: He seemed to take a nasty knock in the match and stayed down clutching his lower right leg. Despite Tokumoto signaling that either a trainer or change was required while standing over him, Okazaki was able to see out the match. He didn’t display any noticeable limp or loss of lateral movement or speed but we’ll see how he progresses throughout this week and if he’s in the starting 11/reserves next week. We really can’t afford to be dealing with too many injuries at the back this early as each of the players I’ve mentioned so far have been pretty solid for FCR.

#10 Tomidokoro Yu MF: Probably the injury update that most FCR fans want to read about. I was lucky enough to speak with Tomidokoro at this week’s match when he walked by me heading to the stands for a community relations event. I asked if he was doing alright and he replied with a “yes.” I asked him what was his injury and he pointed to his foot. This could indicate anything from an ankle sprain, soft tissue injury, plantar fasciitis or footballer’s ankle. Here is the good news, he was not walking with any noticeable limp, moved up and down stairs with ease, raised and lowered the injured foot with no issues.

Of course I had to ask when he would return to the lineup, to which he replied, “one week.” This is encouraging news because whatever ailed him has had time to heal and begin the strengthening process and will allow him to return to practice and ultimately match fitness. It seems FCR will be without his service for at least one more week and barring any setbacks in training, we’ll see him out there against Montedio Yamagata.

Well that’s all for player injury updates. I simply lucked out by being in the right place at the right time to hear directly from the player as to what was afflicting him. I hope there are no repercussions for the players engaging the fans and being as candid about their injuries as Tomidokoro was, but I’m grateful that he was and hope we have greater visibility on the match fitness of all the FCR players.

Injury Updates

Would love to know what player injuries FCR is currently dealing with for the squad.

I was surprised last week when Tomidokoro was absent from the squad at Omiya. Didn’t see anything reported. Did it happen via match or training? What was mechanism of injury? How long will he be out?

Are JLeague teams not required to report injuries? How do we get injury updates on our players and the opposition?

The squad for 2019

Wish I would’ve wrote this as my first post but hopefully this helps with those of you wondering what is what with this years squad.

GK: Carvajal: New signing and looking very promising

DF: Tokumoto; Developing into a great LB/LWB. Surprising vertical on headed balls and very aggressive on DEF with nice crosses in attack. His development since J2 is nothing short of outstanding.

DF: Okazaki: new singing. Much needed height at the back for FCR.

DF: Masutani; A player in the mold of Gary Medel from Chili; speed and aggressiveness make up for his lack in height. Also another FCR product from J3 for many seasons, shaping up to a quality CB

Tanaka: An Okinawa favorite. Set this club on their trajectory 4 seasons ago. Plays with an edge (aka don’t take no crap), will conduct a “professional foul” from time to time, lethal finisher (except for PKs – love ya bro but i had a heart attack when we didn’t convert that one 4 years ago to bring us top of the J3 table in extra time). The exact type of player FCR needs right now who possesses experience and quality. Appreciate his loan spell in 2017 and return in 2019. An FCR Legend ladies and gentlemen so please enjoy.

Uesato: A signing that may go unnoticed but this man is the MF general. His face is familiar to me and not sure where he started but do not care he’s fighting with FCR now. Passes are precise and can unlock opposing Defenses. Again , another quality signing and someone who will most likely give us 3-4 wins this season.

Nakagawa: This dude is on a serious trajectory. I’m afraid FCR will lose him like we did Togashi this off season. He is already displaying maturity and poise at the Attacking MF position that is very exciting. Dude was near the top of J3 for goals scored last season and I bet he’s near the top of J2 for chances created/scored this season. Please don’t sell!!!!

Tomidokoro: Ladies and gentlemen, this is the face of the FCR Franchise. Absolutely unstoppable with his FKs and the soul of this team. He won’t score the most goals but he’ll net the most important ones. Kids couldn’t have a better role model.

Suzuki: Finisher, finisher finisher. You always want the leading scorer of your squad to be the Striker. Last year we didn’t but we scored so many goals from open play and FKs by MF that it didn’t matter. Simply put, the man has a nose for goal and finishes. I’m guessing 26 goals on the year.