FC Ryukyu have equaled their greatest ever wining streak (5) dating back to 2018 when they defeated JEF United Chiba 2-1 on Saturday. The win moves FC Ryukyu into second place behind also undefeated Albirex Niigata. This was the first time FC Ryukyu ever beat JEF – ever scored against JEF- and played from behind all year. You may not consider a win against a team lower than Ryukyu in the standings as a significant achievement but considering the history between these clubs, and how that fits into this season, it was a huge win for Ryukyu.
Match Highlights
Man of the Match
Review of the Keys to Victory
Prediction
Talking Points
Match Day 5 in J2
Conclusion
1.Match Day 5 Highlights
2.Man of the Match
FC Ryukyu GK Junto Taguchi: While Tanaka’s efforts shouldn’t go unnoticed, neither should Taguchi’s efforts be lost in the box score. Taguchi made save after save in the first half to keep the score level and continued to pile up the big saves in the second half.
3.Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
1. Slay the Dragon. Likelihood 4. And they did. Ryukyu overcame a deficit for the first time all year and responded well in the face of adversity. The minor details matter in any season and this win was huge for Ryukyu for so many reasons. You cannot quantify this stat, but I want you to understand how important this win was for Ryukyu mentally to score, come from behind, and defeat an opponent they have never beat in two seasons. Only four more opponents to go in that category.
4.Prediction
Well I said we’d win by 1 goal at least. Season Record 3-0-2.
5.Talking Points
1. Playing as a unit. Ryukyu have shown a penchant this year for picking each other up when one member is having a bad day at the office. This week it was Chinen’s turn to have a forgettable movement, but both the team and then Chinen responded accordingly. Chinen slipped and allowed JEF to penetrate our defense, to which Okazaki also slipped on the turf though I am not sure where he was recovering to after he got to his feet, and then JEF finally had a wide-open shooting lane to score. Chinen, Yong Jick, and Numata more than made up for that early discretion with their defending at the end by clearing balls, blocking shots, closing down shooting lanes and marking men. Chinen will use this game as teaching lesson and will respond accordingly, don’t worry about him.
Photo Credit: J League. The Captain Uesato picking Chinen up after the game. Chinen responded well to an earlier mishap, evidence of the weight lifted off the teams shoulders from that win.
It should also be noted how the team responded to adversity. We already noted Numata, Yong Jick and Chinen in defense, but it was Tanaka in the attack. Ryukyu played from behind for all of 3 minutes before taking the lead for good within 5 minutes of JEF’s opening goal. Tanaka’s two crosses were met by Abe and Shintaro Shimizu and though the crosses were on target, the two forwards had a lot to do with them when they arrived. I spoke earlier in the week how it was good for Shintaro to play in the reserve games to get firing and it paid off this week. Abe for his part, is the best finisher in this league.
2. A game of missed opportunities. According to my count, JEF missed 6 golden opportunities to Ryukyu’s 3. Abe missed two early from tough bounces and being wrong footed, and also Ikeda missed a wide-open header early, but JEF had many great looks on net yesterday that ultimately sailed high and wide. The two misses by JEF near the end sealed their fate.
3. Send me everyone! JEF made a single substitution of 5 players at one time. I’ve never seen this and that had to be unsettling to a team when you replace half of the outfield players. Maybe it was an act of desperation in an attempt to equalize, but Higuchi was able to respond by also inserting Yong-Jick and allow both Uehara and Yong Jick to mark Salomon on all set pieces near the end.
4. I think the early cracks are visible on how to break down Ryukyu. I love Tanaka’s aggressiveness and assertiveness in the attack, but I think teams are starting to realize that attacking down the right, and left, might be this team’s Achilles heel. I am not saying that Tanaka cannot defend, or won’t, but that teams are starting to realize Ryukyu prefer to attack from the flanks, lack the thrust through the middle, and over commit at times down the sides may open up us in new ways. I have no clue how to remedy this as this puts all the pressure on the CBs and CDMs to cover the back when Ryukyu commit to the attack, but everything is working right now so no need to tinker with the formula for success.
6. Match Day 5 in J2
The Niigata battering ram continued along its path of destruction by dismantling Tokyo Verdy 7-0. The amount of goals scored by Niigata in that single game is more than 13 teams have scored all year in J2! It was kind of a disappointing weekend for some of the favorites as Nagasaki, Kofu, Kyoto, and Yamagata all lost.
With one more win FC Ryukyu will set the club’s single season record for consecutive wins. But that is no easy ask despite their opponent, Omiya Ardija, being one that Ryukyu have experienced many fortuitous results against in their short time in J2. Just like this week with Ryukyu needing to cross a major obstacle in JEF, Omiya too will be looking to exorcise some ghosts of years past against Ryukyu.
Would you have agreed to take the 15 points Ryukyu have earned at the start of the season if you knew it would pay dividends later when it comes to a relegation scrap? Do you know that FC Ryukyu are 1 of only 5 teams to win their opening 4 fixtures and not get promoted that year (2019)? Do you believe that 6 of 7 teams who opened the J2 season with 5 consecutive wins have gone on to earn promotion? I don’t want FC Ryukyu to be the second team in that stat to not to earn promotion. What do you believe about FC Ryukyu?
FC Ryukyu are off to a dream start in 2021 but much like 2019, JEF United Chiba will look to put a quick stop to Ryukyu’s momentum. I certainly did not see Ryukyu achieving four wins from four at the start of the season and was rather content when they had won three in a row to open the campaign. I think Ryukyu took advantage of a strong V-Varen Nagasaki side that are simply struggling to put all the pieces together at the moment but, Ryukyu also looked really good in doing so. However, JEF is another set of obstacles altogether as of all the teams in J2, JEF really has Ryukyu’s number.
Weather Forecast & Match Info
Match Day 4 Recaps
Team Previews
JEF United Chiba
FC Ryukyu
Keys to Victory
Prediction
Match Day 5 in J2
Conclusion
1. Weather Forecast & Match Day Information
No complaints here. Looks like a lovely day for football.
JEF United Chiba: Where to begin? A team that has a long history? Yes. A team that has a recent history of success against FC Ryukyu? Yes. An organization and fan base with lofty expectations due to that lengthy history but always seem to fall short of expectations? Yes. Has JEF looked good in the 4 games leading up to this match? Not particularly. Can we say the same thing every time leading up to FC Ryukyu facing off with JEF, and yet Ryukyu still manage to lose? Unfortunately yes!
JEF are quite possibly the longest running joke in J2 for some of their past antics but whenever they play Ryukyu all of that is thrown out the window. A side by side comparison shows us that JEF owns roughly the same amount of possession in their past 4 games that Ryukyu’s opponents achieved (54%). However, FC Ryukyu are out shooting JEF by nearly 4 shots per game with at least 2 more of those shots being on target.
JEF has begun 2021 with one win, two draws and one loss under second year manager Jong-hwan Moon. When JEF opened the season at home against Kofu they displayed a bit of lackluster defending that allowed Kofu the freedom of movement and space to grab the early opener. JEF responded with a goal in the second half when Keita Buwanika rose high above the Kofu defense to bury a header. JEF then conceded a late PK but the goalie was able to stop the shot to keep the score line level. JEF were able to grab the early lead the following week at Ehime when defender Daisuke Suzuki sent a thunderous header past the Ehime keeper. But JEF allowed Ehime to hang around all game and once again the defense let them down when they needed them the most.
On match day 3 Blaublitz Akita came to Chiba and absolutely put it on JEF winning 2-0. JEF missed some chances during their counter attacks but they had no idea on how to break down the Akita defense despite the lopsided possession totals favoring JEF 71/39. JEF grabbed their first win of 2021 when they traveled to Matsumoto Yamaga FC by eking out a 1-0 victory in some rather poor conditions.
Averaging less than a goal a game, JEF are not a particularly strong team when you look at their results to date. They’ve only played one game this year when they had less than 50% possession but they are not doing much when they do have the ball. Against Ehime and Akita they were able to muster 10 total shots in each contest but were held to 5 against the stronger Kofu and Yamaga sides. JEF neither controls games or imposes their will on their opposition. They simply hope for breakthroughs to put themselves level or into the lead.
There is little doubt that JEF will want to start fast against Ryukyu by controlling a majority of the possession and chances, but this plays directly into Ryukyu’s strength as they are content on striking teams on the counter. And I am not sure JEF has the firepower to catch up to Ryukyu if they push the score line above 1 goal on Saturday.
FC Ryukyu: The Ryukyu match with Nagasaki was bittersweet. First, Ryukyu looked good allowing the game to come to them and hitting Nagasaki on the counter. Second, they defended well as a unit. But in the end, Ryukyu lost Abe to injury, and have no idea on his status, which could derail the momentum Ryukyu have built up in their first four games.
A lot of talk coming out of the club by the players and manager emphasize that they are not really focused on trying to control games with large amounts of possession like they did last year. Instead, Ryukyu are content on hitting their opponents with counter attacks. This is where Abe will be missed the most as his holdup play as an outlet valve for the team has been phenomenal this year. A lot of Ryukyu counterattacks started and ended with Abe. I am not sure who will step up in his place as he is not easily replaceable. Shintaro Shimizu is the likely candidate as he is the youngest of the 3 remaining strikers that Higuchi dresses each week. There is also an outside chance that Higuchi moves Ikeda into the FWD role but that would mean dressing a new midfielder for the first time all season. And Ryukyu do not have many choices at the moment.
Ramon is likely out a few more weeks while he deals with a soft tissue injury and Nakagawa may not be match fit yet. The only healthy options are Yu Tomidokoro or Shunsuke Motegi. But neither is a true CAM so I think Higuchi needs to stick with Ikeda at CAM and make the adjustment at FWD. There are the remote possibilities of of swapping Shimizu and Ikeda, bringing Tanaka up to RM – pushing Koya to CAM – and starting Makito Uheara at RB. But Higuchi could just as easily dress Hitomi if he thinks that neither Shintaro, Akamine, or Uehara can withstand the rigors of 60 minutes in the starting role.
Ryukyu should remain unchanged behind the front four with Uesato, Koki, Numata, Tanaka, Chinen, and Okazaki. These guys have been great at closing down shooting lanes, stifling the opposition’s attack, and will once again be called upon to do so with what may turn out to be a muted offensive performance by Ryukyu on Saturday. And yet, there are even more injuries that Ryukyu need to contend with.
Dany Carvajal recently went under the knife to repair some stress fractures to his lower leg and will be away from the team for 3-4 months. This means that Tsumita becomes the backup to Taguchi and I hope that he can push Taguchi the way Dany did in practice as we cannot afford for Taguchi to become complacent between the sticks when there are some winnable games on the horizon.
The JEF United Chiba game doesn’t represent a ‘must win’ game in the true sense. It is more for the Ryukyu psyche than anything. JEF are one of six teams – Iwata being the other but Ryukyu have already beat them this year – that FC Ryukyu have never defeated during their time in the J2. You’ve probably heard me say this on a few occasions, to include the fact that they have never scored a single goal against JEF in their entire history, and that is what makes this game so important to Ryukyu. Even more so when you consider that Higuchi’s goal for the season is 80 points for the club. While Ryukyu are a long way off from that total right now, and in spite of the fact of JEF sitting well below Ryukyu in the standings, any points earned in this game will fall squarely inside the Points Over Expectation Table.
It isn’t always about defeating an opponent that is stronger than you on paper that determines the strength of a side. Sometimes it is overcoming the mental hurdles and past failures that can make all the difference. And while that variable isn’t easily quantifiable, it is vitally important for Ryukyu’s overall success.
4.Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen
1. Slay the Dragon. Likelihood 4. It doesn’t matter how JEF have performed the past 4 rounds. It doesn’t matter how Ryukyu have performed the past 4 rounds. Prepare better than JEF. Execute better than JEF. Show the mental resolve to dig this one out. Overcome the challenges that have plagued us in the past and slay this beast once and for all.
5.Prediction
I do not expect Ryukyu to go out there and light up JEF, as they’ve never done that before despite JEF doing some pretty calamitous stuff throughout the years. Predicting a win in spite of the records is even bolder but that is what I am going to do as this isn’t the same team from 2019 or 2020. 1-0 in favor of FC Ryukyu. It won’t be pretty but it will be effective. Season Record 2-0-2.
6. Match Day 5 in J2
Times are listed in JST
(3) Ventforet Kofu hosting (10) FC Machida Zelvia and (8) Montedio Yamagata against (9) Fagiano Okayama stand out as the two fixtures with the most top half, and promotion, implications this round. Not to be outdone, (4) Zweigen Kanazawa and (5) Blaublitz Akita, will look to continue their hot starts to 2021. This will be Akita’s first home game of the 2021 season and quite possibly their toughest fixture to date. Elsewhere there are some bottom of the table clashes that could have big impacts for these clubs late in the year.
No J2 action this weekend as the J-League International YouTube channel will broadcast a Levain Cup match between Tokushima Vortis and Oita Trinita.
In 2019, it was JEF who ended Ryukyu’s unbeaten run of 6 games to open the season. Then they defeated Ryukyu to open the 2020 season. You know all the history between these two clubs. Well then…
I wasn’t quite sure how to start this entry as it has been well over 120 days since the opening match for FC Ryukyu and I have seriously procrastinated on writing the Match Day 1 report. Partly because I wanted to see how things played out for the 2020 season and partly because I wanted to have something to write about on my blog in the event that everything dried up and the season was cancelled.
Well, it is time to get moving again as the season is set to resume in less than a week and the fixtures will come thick and fast for FC Ryukyu. If you would like to see what the 2020 schedule looks like, I wrote a piece on the newly revamped schedule earlier so please go check that out for all the new fixture dates and kickoff times for FC Ryukyu.
But in the meantime, sit back and enjoy the first Match Day Report of the 2020 season (120 days in the making so it better be good!)
Match Recap
Leading up to the opening match of 2020, many wondered if FC Ryukyu had addressed their defensive woes from 2019 as well as found suitable replacements for the strike duo of Koji Suzuki and Satoki Uejo. Having to strengthen at the back as well as at the front is not a great recipe for success but FC Ryukyu were the side that surrendered the most goals in J2 (81) last season and needed to replace the 29 goals vacated by Suzuki and Uejo’s departures.
Well, it took exactly 40 seconds to figure out the answer to the first question after JEF opened the scoring when Koki Yonekura split our defenders and pushed a header past Taguchi who was starting in place of the injured Dany Carvajal. That would be the only goal of the game which was a bit disappointing from a FC Ryukyu supporter perspective as it leaves us searching for the answer to the second question.
FC Ryukyu had the majority of possession this game and the best chance to score after the opening goal, yet failed to equalize. Ren Ikeda came close to leveling the match with a header that was just inches wide; Kawai created several chances with his speed and looked really good while both Tavares and Koki Kazama came close to scoring. The most frustrating part was when Kawai was taken down in the 18-yard box, in a clear foul, yet no PK was awarded allowing the game to end 1-0 in favor of JEF.
There was one moment of brilliance for FC Ryukyu this match and it occurred when defender Yong Jick cleared a wide open shot off the line from a misdirected Taguchi touch that resulted in a wide-open shot from distance by a JEF player. Yong Jick hustled back to clear the ball off the line while going crashing into the side netting which allowed FC Ryukyu to be down just one goal and not two.
Man of the Match
FC Ryukyu RBFelipe Tavares: There was much uncertainty surrounding the player from Brazil when he signed this offseason and was then thrust into the lineup while incumbent RB Torikai, worked his way back to full match fitness. Though it should be noted that Torikai was fit enough to make the bench for the match.
From my vantage point, I watched Tavares win corners for FC Ryukyu, become an asset on corner kicks and take on opposing players in defense. Corners won isn’t an official statistic but Tavares provided plenty of opportunities for FC Ryukyu to equalize while defending admirably this match.
Match Day 1 Prediction
I thought it would’ve ended 2-1 in favor of JEF, and though I predicted the winner correctly, FC Ryukyu were shut out against JEF for the third time in as many games. I’ll score that as a draw thus bringing my season total to 0-1-0.
Review of the Keys to Victory Against JEF
I mentioned in the Match Day Preview that I would associate a level of confidence to each of the keys to victory to indicate the likelihood that it may or may not occur during the match.
The Scale: 5- An almost certainty this will Happen 4-Fairly Certain it will Happen 3-Somewhat Certain it may Happen 2-Very Unlikely that it Happens 1- Requires a Miracle of Sorts
1. Stifle the JEF attack and do not expose the FCR goal keeper. Likelihood: 2. This one was blown apart within the first 40 seconds of the match. The defense did settle down the rest of the match and prevented any more goals from getting past Junto Taguchi on his FC Ryukyu debut.
2. Exploit the JEF back line. Likelihood: 4. FC Ryukyu had several quality chances this match, but none resulted in a goal. In fact they dominated the amount of shots and possession.
3. Capitalize on whatever opportunities are afforded by the JEF defense. Likelihood: 3. The score line indicates all you need to know about this one.
Match Day 1 Takeaways
Not all doom and gloom FC Ryukyu fans. Yes, we did not score and yes there are some serious concerns if we will be as free scoring as we’ve come to enjoy here in Okinawa. But the team never quit and they enjoyed so much possession in the JEF end of the pitch, and controlled large portions of the game over a team that some have tipped for promotion.
The new signings Tavares, Ikeda, Motegi, Numata, Yong Jick and Suzuki provide a lot of optimism going forward and as we all know; you cannot put too much stock into one match. It is likely that FC Ryukyu will need a few matches to gel since the season was interrupted and the players were just learning to play along side each other for the first time so expect some more of the early growing pains.
Maybe the biggest takeaway from this match is that it is highly unlikely we see crowds of that size, sitting in that close proximity, creating that great footballing atmosphere, any time soon. And that is pretty disappointing.
Should you care? Not sure. We all know what is in store for the 2020 season so we need not worry about relegation. We should concern ourselves with how FC Ryukyu will finish out the season with the second oldest squad in the J2 (27.9 is our average age for players), and one that isn’t rostering as many players as it has in past seasons (27 in 2020 compared to 35 in 2019). Until then, football is back, for now.
Match Day 1 around the J2
Some of the interesting matches included Renofa Yamaguchi shocking everyone’s promotion favorite, Kyoto Sanga FC, 1-0 and then Tokushima Vortis ripping apart Tokyo Verdy 3-0. Both newly promoted Kitakyushu and Gunma lost their opening fixtures with the newly demoted duo of Jubilo Iwata and Matsumoto Yamaga winning their innagural rounds.
There was only 1 draw on the day and that occurred between Machida Zelvia and Ventforet Kofu.
Conclusion
A quick glance of the table sees FC Ryukyu only above 3 teams: Verdy, Gunma and Montedio. All the teams that finished below FC Ryukyu in 2019 sit comfortably above them (after 1 game). It is hard to read too much into this considering that everyone’s last match occurred just over 4 months ago.
FC Ryukyu should be at, or near, full strength when the season resumes on June 28th but there are still plenty of questions that need answered before we can pass judgement on this squad and this season.
(and we just lost stating LM Shuto Kawai to an ankle ligament injury for at least a month)
I am glad that we’ll see Dany Carvajal back in net and have a full compliment of healthy defenders heading into the 2020 schedule gauntlet. But we still don’t know who will lead the line up front as this year’s talisman and we are down to 2 healthy strikers. We also need to see some better defensive performances from the back line and goalies this year so as to improve on the 6 total shut outs FC Ryukyu posted last season.
Well, the long drought of no football will quickly be behind us and I for one hope that the season can continue uninterrupted. It will be interesting to see if the larger clubs will be willing to loan out players as they’ve done in the past with the possibility of having to isolate players for weeks at a time who test positive for CV-19. Who knows, we may see FC Ryukyu dip into the summer transfer market and pull some prospects up from the J3.
But for now, stay safe and enjoy the return of football this weekend.
My oh my, the time has flown by this offseason. Nevertheless, here we are at the first Match Day Preview for FC Ryukyu in the 2020 season. Last year I found that Match Day Previews became much richer and more deeply involved as the season evolved over time. Of course, this is to be expected when story lines start to unfold, players get injured, teams experience a dip or rise in form and statistics allow us to conduct some level of critical analysis. But at the start of each season, teams are relatively unknown commodities and often playing together for the first time. Surely last season stands as a perfect example when FC Ryukyu got out on the front foot quickly with such a blazing start and took everyone by surprise.
The same notion holds true for 2020 as teams will spend the better part of a month learning to gel when game speeds increase and matches begin to count. By starting fast early last year, FC Ryukyu scored a major advantage over teams that struggled out of the gate. I am not sure we will catch many by surprise this year, and in fact, I think FC Ryukyu have a very tough opening 11 matches to begin the year. This could cause some early tense moments this spring as well as stressful ones come this fall.
With that in mind, we open the Match Day Previews for this season with a road trip to Chiba where FC Ryukyu will take on JEF United Chiba on the opening day of 2020. If you recall last year, JEF got the better of FC Ryukyu on two separate occasions. A 1-0 win in Chiba on the first Wednesday night game of the year back on April 3rd followed up by a 2-0 win in Okinawa at the end of July. The loss in July was number 4 in the midst of a 5-game losing streak for FC Ryukyu which really piled the pressure on the squad and the manager Higuchi. FC Ryukyu were in complete freefall at that time and were tumbling down the J2 table with each consecutive loss. But despite suffering setbacks to JEF along the way, FC Ryukyu would go on to finish higher than JEF in the J2 table in 2019.
But a lot has changed since these sides last met nearly 7 months ago. Players have changed teams, JEF has changed their manager and there are different expectations for both clubs heading into 2020.
Weather Forecast
JEF Chiba United
JEF made some wholesale changes to a side that finished 17th in the table on 43 points in 2019. Often the punch line of several jokes stemming from numerous howlers and blunders, JEF has addressed the GK position this offseason by signing a veteran player from J1. Shoto Arai (Kawasaki Frontale) will look to sure up the final line of defense for JEF that only mustered 11 clean sheets from 42 matches in 2020. It is not as if clean sheets tell the whole story as there were probably a couple of occasions where a goal was conceded that either leveled or titled matches for JEF last season after they had already conceded.
Kleber will lead the JEF line up front as he did for much of last season. Kleber will be partnered with either newly signed Keita Yamashita (Renofa Yamaguchi) or Takayuki Funayama. Kleber banged in 17 goals in his 38 starts last season with Yamashita and Funayama each chipping 11/12 respectfully. Keita is 9 years younger than Funayama and perhaps the new coach favors a more aggressive style of play, with more gut busting runs compared to last season, and that may favor the younger Keita. JEF also signed Alan Pinheiro from Tokyo Verdy, a 17-goal scorer from just 2 seasons ago, to add to their firepower up front.
I cannot speak volumes on the defenders that JEF signed this offseason but it seems a majority of the issues that plagued this side in 2019 may very well continue into 2020. All in all, this looks like a club that wants to execute a very aggressive attacking style of play and run the opponent into the ground. But can they can keep opponents off the score sheet?
FC Ryukyu
Last year’s opening day starters for FC Ryukyu included Koji Suzuki, Kazaki Nakagawa, Keita Tanaka, Yu Tomidokoro, Kazumasa Uesato, Koki Kazama, Taishi Nishioka, Ryohei Okazaki, Shuhei Tokumoto Kosuke, Masutani and Dany Carvajal. From that group, only 6 remain, and of those 5, only 2 are likely start the opening match of 2020. This is nothing new to the fans of Ryukyu as many of us have seen some violent roster churn every season for this club. The question now becomes, can FC Ryukyu survive or thrive with this new group of players?
Up top will be Takuma Abe or Shinya Uehara for FC Ryukyu. Either will be flanked by Keita Tanaka, Koya Kazama, Shuto Kawai or Shunsuke Motegi with recent college graduate, Ren Ikeda, possibly leading the charge from the #10 slot. The youngster believes he is in the poll position to start the year there and that would come as a big surprise considering he beat out the likes of Koya and others to take over the CAM role. But whatever, name brand recognition is nice, results are so much better. So, if he can indeed prove his mettle out there, then I am all for it.
FC Ryukyu has made whole sale changes to back line that conceded a J2 league leading 81 goals last season. Tokumoto, Masutani, Nishioka have departed and Ryohei Okazaki is out injured. In comes newly signed North Korean National Team Player, Lee Yong Jick, and on-loan defender from Tokushima Vortis, Daisei Suzuki. At full back there is Felipe Taveras (RB), signed from a Brazilian Club this offseason, as well as (LB) Keito Numata who transferred in from Zweigen Kanazawa to replace Tokumoto. If Tavares can produce, or Torikai can get healthy and return to his top form, defense could all of a sudden become be a hidden strength for this team. There is an off chance that Ryoji Fukui starts in place of Suzuki, as he was Highuchi’s preferred choice all last season when there was an injury anywhere cross the back 4, but Suzuki seems to have the demeanor you want in a CB and I hope he is in there come Sunday.
Finally, we come onto the goal keeping crew. With Dany out rehabbing from offseason surgery, FCR are left with some unproven options on the roster. Inose started one match for FC Ryukyu last year at Mito and Tsumita has never featured for the club at this level. Then there is Junto Taguchi who signed from Albirex Niigata but I believe hasn’t featured in a competitive match in well over year. The closest I could find was a loan spell at Fujieda MYFC. For a side that only kept 7 clean sheets in all of 2019 (all 7 from Dany) there are many questions and concerns heading into the season opener.
Going to add a twist for 2020 to this section and provide a level of confidence after each key to victory indicating the likelihood that I think it will happen. The scale below:
5. An almost certainty: 4 Fairly Certain: 3 Somewhat Certain: 2 Very Unlikely: 1 Miracle
1. Stifle the JEF attack and do not expose the FCR goal keeper. I think FC Ryukyu may have the advantage on defense (words I would have never uttered in 2019) so this is a real possibility and necessity on Sunday. I cannot speak to how Higuchi split the preseason reps between Taguchi, Inose and Tsumita but the last thing FCR needs to do is turn this game into a shooting gallery back there for our goalie. Likelihood: 2
2. Exploit the JEF back line. The JEF defensive unit, much like the FCR back line, is newly formed and learning to play together for the first time. This is probably the weakest link in the JEF side which should allow FCR to get some shots on net which leads to point #3. Likelihood: 4
3. Capitalize on whatever opportunities are afforded by the JEF defense. JEF’s goalkeeper is a step up from last year and a proven shot stopper so weak, ill-advised and off-target shots will not help FCRs chances of victory. Especially if we only have 2-3 quality scoring chances that day. Abe seems dialed in from the amount of pre-season goals he scored so hopefully he can bag a brace on the weekend and give FCR the win. Likelihood: 3
Match Prediction
JEF is stronger on the ends of the pitch at GK and FWD with FCR having the advantage through the middle (MF/DEF). JEF has 3 proven double-digit goal scorers from last year whereas FCR have none. FCR also lack the experience in goal compared to that of JEF. However, FCR are slightly stronger across the back line and loaded with talent through the MF.
Each side is orientated to the attack and therefore this game will boil down to who has the most cracks at the back. Unlike last year when FCR failed to fire in any of their matches against JEF, I think this year will be different. However, I also feel that JEF will capitalize on their opportunities more than FCR and therefore will edge out FCR on the opening day.
Match Day Prediction: JEF UTD Chiba 2-1 FC Ryukyu.
J Soccer Magazine also has a ton of information on these clubs as well as all the J League sides.http://www.jsoccer.com/new/j2
Check out the latest J2 podcast,J-Talk Extra Time Ep.121, on iTunes Podcasts as well as Podbean where Stuart and Jon cover the opening round of fixtures for J2 this weekend.@sushi_football & @J2KantoBites
Conclusion
It is truly anyone’s guess how the opening day fixture will play out as we’ve never seen these sides face each other with this current crop of players. Will the occasion be too much for Taguchi in net for FCR? Does FCR have the firepower to get into shootouts this season? Can the back line for FCR morph from a position of weakness in 2019 to one of strength in 2020? All good questions that will be answered in short order. But for now, let’s enjoy the opening fixture of the 2020 season as we’ve all waited long enough for it to finally come around.
We have made it to the last installment of the Mid-Season Review. This has been a great experience as a fan to look back and reflect on the half season while keeping an eye on the future. I wanted to provide a brief summation of the players who have featured for FC Ryukyu but please keep in mind, I am never privy to the strategy the manager employs each week or how the players perform while executing that strategy. I merely observe what I can see from the stands and from my TV screen. So, let’s close out the mid-season review with a bang.
Goal Keeper
#1 Dany Carvajal: Yeah, he’s pretty much been awesome. Don’t
think for one minute that because FC Ryukyu have only kept 3 clean sheets that
it is an indictment of Dany’s performances. See the MVP section below.
#23 Ryo Ishii: He was asked to step up and fill in when Dany
was hurt during a tough stretch of matches for FCR. He played really well
against Kanazwa and Kyoto and while those efforts may be overshadowed by Dany’s
performances to date, Ishii did his part to help this club.
Defender
FB #5 Tokumoto: Another young emerging player I fear FC
Ryukyu may lose this transfer window. It’s hard to assess any FC Ryukyu FB as
they are asked to play more like a WB than a FB this season. Tokumoto has
provided 3 nice assists and is developing into a one of the better LBs in the
J2. Currently recovering from an ankle and subsequent MCL injury.
#4 Okazaki: Started almost every match this year and is a
nice compliment to Masutani. Truth be told, I only key on defenders when they
make a mess of things, and in the case of Okazaki, he has only had that happen once.
Some of his mistakes may be covered up due to FCR scoring numerous goals or
winning games so I will need more time to assess this player. In the interim,
we need Okazaki to be a rock back there on defense.
#2 Masutani: A CB in the mold of Gary Medel from Chile. I’ve
been overly critical of this guy at times and that was just rash on my part as Masutani
brings a lot of aggressiveness to the FCR squad. He is good in attack with 1
goal to his name this season and can handle some of the larger, more powerful
strikers in the J2. I will say this, when he had to fill in for Nishioka at RB
due to injury, the FCR attack looked better. Consider that it was simultaneous
with the Nakagawa departure and though I think he may be better suited at FB, I
am a fan and not the Manager.
#3 Nishioka: 2 goals and 2 assists. Nishioka has missed some
time due to an MCL injury (not sure what caused him to miss upwards of 8 weeks)
and struggles at times with defending. Always seems to be in the right spot at
the right time for his goals. Displays toughness as evidence by playing through
a head injury but his game needs some fine tuning. Needs to have more
confidence in the attack, take on the opposition’s defenders near the 18-yard
box – much like when he was brimming with confidence against Yamaguchi with his
step overs – and feed Koji Suzuki quality crosses.
#33 Ryoji Fukui: The Swiss Army Knife for FCR. Versatile in
that he can play all 4 positions in defense and could possibly fill in at CDMF
as well. At times Fukui makes really well timed challenges but he also makes
some questionable decisions in defense. For example, he can turn his back to an
attacker, so as to invite a shot, which often leaves Dany or Ishii to deal with
the danger alone (Tokyo Verdy’s goal). Maybe the GKs have asked the defenders
to vacate the shooting lanes to better see the shots from distance but I will
never know for sure. Has decent speed to make up ground on attackers or get to
contested balls first. Have a sneaky suspicion that one of his challenges will
be rewarded with a Red Card some day and put FC Ryukyu up against it in a
match. Time will tell.
#16 Jumper Arai: Not enough game footage for an accurate
assessment.
Mid Field
#20 Uesato: Local lad, experienced player, 2 highlight reel
goals and team captain. Often lines up for FKs where, truth be told, I think
Tomidokoro could benefit from the added reps to get into a groove. It seems
Uesato prefers to shoot more than cross and maybe that’s due to the angle or
distance from which he’s taking the FKs. Scored in spectacular fashion against
Verdy and Gifu and is aiding with the development of the younger generation of
FCR players.
#8 Komatsu: Was in the starting lineup early and then has
faded. Possibly getting surpassed by talented players emerging.
#6 Kazama: Has a nice touch on FKs and CKs from his Central
Mid Field role. His performances have improved as of late and I hope that
translates into favorable results for FCR.
#19 Ochi: 2 goals from the man who is now Higuchi’s choice
at CAM. At least until someone is ready to take the job over.
#11 Keita Tanaka: Keita has been part of the fabric of this
team for so long. Tanaka is lethal finisher from the right, but much like Yu,
he needs to get some repetitions and get into a scoring groove. He’s scored only
once since rejoining the side but has had 3 other opportunities that either
required a nice save by GK or were just off the mark. FCR need to get this man
firing again as it will increase the potency of the FCR attack and open up more
space of Suzuki down the middle.
#10 Yu Tomidokoro: FC Ryukyu’s FK specialist. Yu has found
some tough sledding this season when it comes to FKs as he has netted only once.
He does have 2 goals and 3 assists and the FK goals will come with time and
reps. Needs to be given more opportunities on FKs. Remember, at his height,
defenses never knew when Yu was going to cross or shoot from the FK spot and
that is what made him so successful.
#28 Koizumi: The man featured in 6 games within a month
before doing a Houdini. He never scored but he flashed some real talent. His limited performance against Verdy was
something of an eye opener as he made some nice passes, hit the post and
displayed a bit of pace. He could very well be the 3rd piece to a
formidable FC Ryukyu MF with Uejo and Kawai in the near future. WHERE IS HE?
#7 Nakagawa: HAHAHA wouldn’t do it to you, too painful. Next!
#13 Kawai: Has one goal and 2 assists this season. Is
turning into a real playmaker for FC Ryukyu. Has another gear he can use to get
past defenders and is fine tuning his game with each performance, specifically,
his body & ball control while making cuts or getting up to speed. Maybe
replacing Nakagawa can’t be done with just one player but rather a combination
of players. If that is the case than Kawai’s introduction to the side is
starting to fill that void. Kawai’s speed really opens up the attack for FCR
and he has rightfully earned his spot in the starting 11.
Forwards
#14 Uejo: See Below, but seriously, I do not know why he
doesn’t start. Is it due to fitness, immaturity, health concerns or the
manager?
#21 Uehara: Has height, scored an important goal for FCR to
beat Niigata. Didn’t see much from him prior to his goal and less so after.
What happened? Injury?
#15 Wada: Played really well as a substitute versus Nagasaki
but hard pressed for playing time with the leading J2 goal scorer ahead of you
on the roster. His time will come.
#22 Gibo. I saw one appearance where Gibo displayed a lot of
hustle. Subbed into an attacking MF position but then was moved to a FB
position in the same game. He needs more playing time and I missed the Emperors
Cup match for FCR to see how he performed and what are his strengths and
weaknesses.
#9 Koji Suzuki: SEE BELOW.
Mid-Season MVPs
1A. Koji Suzuki. The man’s stats speak for themselves but if
you peel back the curtain a little more, you see that he has scored crucial
goals at very crucial times of matches for FCR. Yamagata, Yamagauchi, Kanazawa,
Omiya and Mito all come to mind. He is also one of the most unselfish strikers
I’ve ever seen. He puts in a shift every match. He does the hard work of hold
up plays, winning contested balls and drawing fouls from the opposition while never
complaining and rarely displays any outward frustration at his teammates. I
have no idea what compelled Zelvia to let him go but I do not care at this
point. He has proven to be an absolute steal in the transfer market.
1B. Dany Carvajal. Strong at the back and lethal up front is
what makes any team great. Yes, of course, strong through the middle is another
essential part but having the best striker and one of the best goal keepers in
the league on your squad is pretty good as well. Dany has been a revelation for
this side. He always seems to be in the right position, at the right time, to
make the right type of save. And let me tell you, there have been some
spectacular ones; against Omiya there were 2 to seal the win, the PK save
against Verdy, resisting the Reysol bombardment, Vortis, Yamaguchi, Mito and
list goes on and on. The FC Ryukyu front office did really well by signing Dany
this offseason.
2. Satoki Uejo. This man has come out of nowhere and turned
into quite the player. He has scored 6 times this season and is improving every
time he steps out onto the pitch. He has some signatures goals to his name;
Reysol, Vortis, Ehime, Nagasaki and Renofa (Emperor’s Cup). He also looks like
he has packed on some muscle the past few months in order to fight off larger
defenders. He needs to be out there every week for this side.
Looking Ahead
FC Ryukyu will play 10 games at home and 11 games on the road in the second half of the season. Within those 11 road games they will play 3 series of two consecutive road matches starting next week with Mito and Niigata. The next series is at the end of September with Machida and Fukuoka and finally to end the season against Ehime and Kofu. They also have 3 series at home where they will play consecutive home matches. The first wraps up this week with Okayama (started with Tochigi last week), the second is in August with Nagasaki and Yokohama and the third is at the end of August/early September with FC Gifu and Kagoshima. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the second half fixtures, make some predictions and then review the remaining fixtures for the bottom 4 clubs in J2.
Red denotes MUST WIN games for FCR.
It would be nice to see FCR earn wins against Tochigi and Ehime on the road as those 6 points could go a long way to helping secure J2 football for FCR in 2020. None of us know how the results will shake out considering we cannot predict the transfers in/out of clubs, injuries, managerial changes and plain old luck (good or bad). FC Ryukyu’s make or break month will be October with favorable matches against Avispa, Tochigi and Verdy. They need to be well clear of the relegation zone after that point because November could prove fatal if the road performances by FCR don’t improve. They face a surging Renofa side on the road, host a promotion seeking Kyoto side at home and wrap up the season with 2 road trips with a possible relegation battle against Ehime and potential promotion seeking side in Kofu. Even though I am targeting Ehime as a must win game for FCR, that will depend largely on FCR showing that they can win on the road when needed in the second half of the season.
With this in mind, lets look at teams who are currently sit 18-22 in the J2 table and examine their crucial months and critical match-ups in the second part of the 2019 J2 season.
#18 JEF Chiba United. JEF have a tough October where they face 3 sides who are likely going to be in the top 7. Depending on how those results play out, JEF could be dragged into the relegation battle. Their final match against Tochigi is huge for both sides.
#19 Kagoshima. The October and November schedule are not kind to Kagoshima. 3 road matches in October followed by a run of Kofu, Okayama, Reysol and Mito. They end on the road versus Fukuoka in another final match day matchup that could determine who gets relegated.
#20 Tochigi. The outcomes of their September fixtures will most likely determine their fate. They face FC Gifu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Ehime all in a row. That is a total of 4, 6-point match-ups in a row that could really doom any of those sides. As mentioned earlier, Tochigi end with JEF Chiba in what could be a win or go down to J3 match.
#21 Fukuoka. October and November are also not kind to Fukuoka. They are hoping that some of the sides around them perform poorly the rest of the year so as to give Fukuoka a chance at the end. Avispa end versus Kagoshima in a game we already mentioned that has massive relegation implications.
#22 FC Gifu. The schedule is kinder to FC Gifu in so much as there isn’t any one month remaining where they face multiple top sides in quick succession. The end of July/beginning of August will be rough on them but there are winnable games. But like Fukuoka, FC Gifu are hoping that things go terribly wrong for the few sides just above them in the table. Will it be the Vortis or Kofu match that ultimately dooms this side, or will it happen much sooner?
At the end of the day, FC Ryukyu need to go out there and handle their business without concerning themselves too much about the rest of the table. It is simple math for FCR: Beat the teams below you in the table especially those at the bottom, Get points off of teams just above you in the table, and win some games on the road. If they can do that, then they are going to be alright. I’d estimate that another 18 points are needed and FCR could achieve that any number of ways in the second half of the season.
I know I did not focus on which team may win the J2 title and which sides are likely to be promoted to the J1 in 2019 so I’ll save that for a later date.
Well folks, that is going to do it for the final installment of the FCR Mid-Season Review. I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. I’ll be adding two more entries this week with the Second Transfer Special of the year coming out on Thursday and the normal Match Day Preview coming out on Friday.
Well it was inevitable that FCR would have to lose at some
point this season. I don’t think any of us believed they could go 42 games unbeaten
but they way they approached the match should leave us all feeling very encouraged
moving forward.
On a crisp night in Chiba in which FCR had 51% possession, it was JEF who would emerge victorious with 1-0 win. As I mentioned in the match preview, it was a cagey affair that saw Koji Suzuki often involved in a few shoving matches throughout the game. FCR almost took the lead in the 13th minute when Masutani rose for a header that went over the JEF goal keeper and clanged off the crossbar. FCR had a few more chances that half but were done in by the nice movement of JEF in the 18-yard box just 10 minutes before half time.
Carvajal was called into action several times leading up the goal and he responded very well to each challenge. The JEF goal was a combination of nice passes and the FCR defenders not matching the runs of the attacking JEF players. Therefore, there was nothing Carvajal could’ve done to stop the shot. Fukui and Okazaki got crossed up near the top the box by Fukui’s missed challenge on the JEF player which meant that Okazaki had to track back to cover the space Fukui would have occupied. This also resulted in Masuatani, who was playing out of position at RB this match, to move a little closer to the CBs and narrow the FCR defense on the play. A quick pass to the left side of the box found a wide open JEF player, that Masuatani failed to track, who then sent a dangerous pass across goal that found #11 Hisato Sato, whose run was also not tracked by Okazaki because he himself was attempting to recover after the JEF play had pulled our central defenders apart. Truth be told, you could just feel that a JEF goal was coming as they started to increase the pressure on FCR after FCR had started so well.
FCR created some chances in the second half most notably from the play of Kawai who I pegged, albeit incorrectly, to start the mach. He made some nice passes and almost made something of his chance in the 80th minute but unfortunately the ball sailed over the top of goal. Could Kawai have passed it? Possibly, but we’ll never know. The match ended 1-0 and you could see that it meant so much for the JEF players who were seeking their first home win of the season.
Key Takeaways from the match for FCR: 1.) It was very encouraging to see that the atmosphere and occasion were not too big for FCR. What I mean by this is that FCR did not looked over-matched and didn’t “chase” the game as so many teams do when they are overwhelmed by their surroundings. FCR executed all well-organized attack across the front and it was far more balanced this match than the previous 6.
2.) FCR made some changes to the back line and personally I think this was a mistake on a short week. This is merely my opinion but I felt that on a short week it may have been better to keep the same back 6 we’ve played all season since it was a road game on a short week. The players swapped into the lineup probably got very little time to prepare with one another and forcing Masutani out wide, a position he may have played when he first came to FCR years ago, proved damaging. If this were a home game on a short week the change may have made sense because the squad could’ve had time to gel prior to the match and not concern themselves with traveling. I hope we have a better long-term solution when Nishioka is out of the lineup because like all players, Masutani will need his rest at some point.
3.) Suzuki was a beast out there and I am not sure what occurred
during his time with Zelvia against JEF but he definitely wanted a piece of the
JEF players. I appreciated his edge and I know it kept FCR competitive throughout
the match. I hope he’s out there for Reysol on Sunday.
4.) I am slightly concerned with the lineup choices for this match only because I don’t think we went all in or all out for the match. It was certain that some players had to be rested but FCR could’ve either targeted this match for 3 points or attempted to hold out for a draw. I am concerned because so many of our guys played a full 90 minutes and they will only have 3 days to recover for the Reysol match. Just my opinion but we should’ve gone all in vs JEF and rested some weary legs versus Reysol. It will be interesting to see how our attacking players respond this Sunday.
5.) Kawai is developing into a nice player. He plays with a bit of controlled, reckless, abandonment. His speed frightens teams and his movement is excellent in and around the box. I’d like to see him get more playing time in order to gain confidence and accuracy in his shot placement, but I also see his value in coming on late and running at tired defenses.
6.) Yu Tomidokoro is getting his power back. His FK takes are getting better each game as he regains the strength he lost due to injury as well as his confidence. We will be celebrating one of his patented FK goals very soon.
7) Be encouraged FCR fans, be very encouraged by the team’s performance. Yes, it was a loss, but it was by no means and embarrassing loss. FCR was involved in the entire game and created several chances late on. Know that, when needed, FCR can drive forward and create opportunities with their players and attacking mind set. Trust me, you’d rather have that feeling than one of knowing your team offers nothing going forward and that a 1 goal deficit could prove fatal for your squad.
That’s it for this week’s recap. I’ll post the match preview vs Reysol on Saturday and see you all on Sunday!
Match Day Info: 04/03/2019 (H) JEF United Chiba vs FCR (A) at
the Fukuda Denshi Arena Chiba Kickoff at 1900
Weather Forecast: Temperatures will be in the high 40s with no
rain expected and only a slight 8-10 mph wind all match. It will be cold so
dress accordingly.
The JEF Chiba United team that enters this match versus FCR is very different than the one who started the season with consecutive losses. They fired their manager after the Mito match and replaced him with Atsuhiko Ejiri who has since breathed some life back into this once proud club.
JEF United Chiba: 19th in J2 with 6 points.
1W3D2L. Current Form LLDDW
Earlier formations saw JEF in a 4-2-3-1 but Ejiri favors more of a 3-4-3 or 3-2-4-1 and is basically throwing all he can at the opponents to cover what should be considered a lackluster back line for Chiba.
The early run of fixtures for JEF this season witnessed awful play from their back line which largely put JEF at a disadvantage in these matches. There was also a lack of confidence when things didn’t seem to go their way but all that has changed with the new manager. In the short time since Ejiri has taken over at JEF, you can see a change in the style of play by JEF on the field and they are slowly beginning to regain their confidence. This is slightly worrying because in last weeks match preview I eluded to the notion that FCR was facing two opponents in a row who seemed to be in a bit of downward trajectory. I would argue now that this is not the case with JEF and FCR is going to face a very cagey opponent on the road who is playing as if there is nothing to lose.
I assume that expectations were very high for JEF and its players and so was the pressure to perform at the start of the season and you could see that in the way the team was performing. Now, they seem to be playing with a mentality of an animal backed into a corner who is forced to fight its way out of danger. They have slowly begun to regain their confidence beginning with the Mito match in Match Day 4. Despite this being the last game under the old regime, they played much better and were only done in by a very late goal. Whether it was known to the players at that time, that no matter what this was going to be the last game in charge by the out going manager or the players simply thought things couldn’t get much worse, JEF played with a real spring in their step.
JEF switched formations against Kyoto the following week by
dropping a defender in exchange for another mid field player. This immediately paid
dividends for JEF as it allowed them to create and take better chances on net.
However, the defensive woes that plagued JEF early on still exist and allowed
for Kyoto to jump out to the early lead. JEF was able to equalize late and nearly
pulled it out at the end before almost conceding the victory to Kyoto in stoppage
time.
JEF’s most recent match on the road versus Fukuoka saw them
achieve victory for the first time all season where Ejiri once again favored a 3-person
back line. JEFs attack must’ve been too much for Fukuoka who only had 2 shots and
2 corners all game. The game was a stalemate until the 80th minute
when #25 Yusuke Chajima beautifully struck a free kick that went around the
Fukuoka wall and stunned the keeper, who didn’t move from his spot.
Players to Watch: There is no one player that truly stands
out from this team and on the season JEF has scored 6 total goals from 6
different players. The entire front line that featured in JEF’s 4th
and 5th matches were dropped in favor of some players who haven’t started
since match day 3. Whether the manager viewed the upcoming fixtures against FCR
and Kanazawa as much stiffer tests and therefore decided to rest his players
against Fukuoko, or he was having to deal with injury, I think FCR can
reasonably expect a more attack minded club on Wednesday night with fresh legs.
FC Ryukyu: 1st in J2 14 points. 4W2D0L Current
Form WWWDD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1
FCR once again found themselves in a tough match requiring some late game heroics by #9 Koji Suzuki to earn a point at home, keeping the undefeated streak intact, and maintain their grip on the top spot in J2.
The game was definitely there for the taking but the ball just didn’t bounce FCRs way this match. Carvajal made a costly mistake early in the second half that occurs from time to time but he recovered quite well after that to save a tie for FCR late. #14 Uejo had a wide-open opportunity on net that was blocked by a Renofa defender in the 66th minute that could have leveled the match and possibly led to things turning out differently for FCR.
FCR subbed out Tanaka, Uejo and Tomidokoro in the match in what I am assuming is a move to conserve some energy for these players with the fixtures piling up quickly this week. #13 Kawai came on in place of Tanaka and proved to be the difference maker when his well-placed cross found the head of Koji Suzuki who then equalized for FCR in the 88th minute. Carvajal was called into action one last time with a nice save in the 90th minute and the game ended in a draw.
FCR created plenty of chances in the match and it was an encouraging sign for the club moving forward. When teams challenge FCR with a heavy focus on attack, it allows space and movement for the FCR midfield and attack going forward. When teams play a more defensive minded style that overloads the midfield, FCR struggles to break out and create chances. We will see how Yasuhiro Higuchi approaches this match up and what lineup he favors on such a short week in which FCR has traveled to the mainland.
Keys to FCR Victory: 1. Pressure the back line of JEF and
force them into making mistakes. The back line of JEF has seen several variations
and player combinations in the early part of the season. At times they seem
disorganized and lack communication with each other that has allowed opponents
to get in behind for chances on net. If JEF plays with the back 3 line and 3 to
5 attacking players up front I would expect FCR to have plenty of chances on
net.
2. FCR scores first. The JEF stadium is always packed with their supporters and I expect Wednesday night to be no different. As mentioned earlier, the team is slowly regaining confidence and their first win at home this season would be very uplifting for the club and their supporters. An early goal or more importantly, the first goal of the game, by FCR could help in several ways. It could quiet the JEF crowd and then make them grow restless with their squad, it may induce a sense of urgency on part of JEF to equalize quickly thus opening them up for quick counters by FCR and finally, it could calm the FCR nerves on the road in a tough atmosphere. Playing with a lead on the road is a lot easier than playing from behind and will certainly help relax the team.
3. Continue the attacking ways for FCR. Our best defense is our offense. We need whoever is occupying the CAM role to start forward thrusts at the JEF defense. Suzuki showed that he can finish if he is provided service while making runs into the box and the FCR FWD will require plenty of service in this match. FCR needs to create as many opportunities as they can with their attacking Mid Fielders and Striker as the weakest link the JEF team is the back line.
Match Prediction: Well as I stated in the Renofa Match Recap, if you can predict the lineup with better accuracy than me, I’ll make a charitable donation to an organization of your choosing in your name. There is one caveat, all submissions must be posted to this blog prior to 11 am Wednesday morning.
Well I am looking forward to mid-week football for FCR, granted it isn’t the Asian Champions League, but one day it will be. Please tune into DAZN if you subscribe or head somewhere to watch this match. I believe it will be a very pacey, end to end match, with opportunities by both sides that hopefully sees FCR emerge victorious. This match also has special meaning to me because it was one year ago that my son was born on April 3rd and I hope that adds a bit of luck for FCR, after all, he was born in the year they won J3 League!
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