Not much to surmise here folks, the Bengara boys started fast, and faded late, per the usual. The lack of concentration in defense has cost FCR dearly this year and may ultimately see them plummet to the foot of the J2 table and out of the league. Make no mistake, the manager Higuchi needs to start answering some serious questions when it comes to his lineup selection, formation choices, half time speeches and lack of results. I have seen this time and time again when a manager steps into a situation set up nicely by the outgoing manager and just bumbles it. Higuchi is bumbling it and so are the players.

FCR started out fast as we had hoped and netted and early goal from Uesato in the 20^th minute but could not get that all important second goal. FCR had several chances throughout the first half but the FC Gifu goal post proved to be the best defender early as Suzuki hit it at least once if not twice.

FCR came out fast in the second half as well but they lack some serious creativity when it comes to the final third of the pitch. It got so bad that once any FCR player received a ball in the box, they would take a wild stab at it an end up sending the ball out wide or way off target. One decent takeaway from the match was the shift Kawai put in at the end. He made excellent runs and good passes but also created a few opportunities for Gifu heading the other direction. It was smart to bring him on late but there are more pressing issues at hand for FCR.

Gifu was able to equalize in the 75^th minute from, once again, a set piece. Let me provide you this analogy for how FCR defends set pieces. FCR are like a little child who has lost their parents in Saan A and are hoping for the best possible outcome of someone bailing them out and leading them to safety. On the corner kick shortly after they conceded I saw nothing but FCR players standing around looking tired and lost. The second Gifu goal stemmed from FCR being shell shocked and lacking leadership at the back. Again, nothing positive to takeaway from this match as the result speaks for itself.

It is high time that Higuchi answer some tough questions and I hope these come up at press conferences as well as through the frustrated fan base.

1. Where has the FCR attack gone? FCR are averaging 1 goal a game but when you also average conceding 1 goal a game that is not good enough. You promised attacking football but haven’t adequately adjusted to the loss of Nakagawa, why?

2. FCR clearly doesn’t have a CAM that can direct traffic and create opportunities up front so what are you planning to do to solve this problem? Nothing you’ve done since the Nakagawa departure has worked. Time for a formation change?

3. Why are FCR always conceding late goals? Does this stem from a lack of concentration or coaching? Are the FCR fitness levels not where they need to be as players look exhausted and confused on set pieces and late in games? Do we not have adequate reserves who can provide some rest to our starters or do you not trust these off-season signings? This is far and away FCRs biggest problem and is direct byproduct of coaching wouldn’t you agree?

4. Why is FCR not employing Yu Tomidokoro to his strengths. Yu no longer takes free kicks or corners and Kazama and Uesato are not that great from set pieces. The latter opts to shoot more than he does to send crosses into the box from ridiculous long ranges and that is a waste. It is absolutely criminal how Tomidokoro is used this season and should be a determining factor if/when we let Higuchi go as manager in my opinion.

5. FCR concedes so many of their goals from set pieces, how do you coach that at practice? I appreciate you may remain attack focused but as we’ve seen, that attack is no longer there. It is painfully obvious that whoever runs the defending of set pieces part at practice needs to be fired. See all the points above for evidence. This is FCRs weakest link and second reason why they are where they are in the table after 12 weeks.

6. Defending is poor, rather, it is wretched. How does FCR intend to strengthen this glaring weakness in the transfer window?

7. What are FCR s transfer window plans?

8. FCR needs leadership at the back in order to help Carvajal, where or who will that come from?

Alright, enough venting for one night. FCR faces off against Mito Hollyhock next Saturday and this will be a massive test for the boys. Mito does not concede goals and now it seems that FCR cannot score goals. Troubling times ahead for the club.