FC Ryukyu Mid Season Review: Part 3

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 3^rd 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.

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.

Stadium Hopping in Japan: 3 matches in 4 days!

It has been an enjoyable past few days where I got to experience different football stadiums throughout Japan. While I have only visited four stadiums outside of Okinawa, each one has been a great experience that has created lasting memories. In this entry I will cover the Shiranami Stadium where Kagoshima United FC play, the Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium for Kawasaki Frontale and finally the NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium where I witnessed Yokohama F Marinos play a recent Levain Cup match.

Also, please see the excellent blog by Lost In Football, lostinfootballjapan.com (@LiFJapan) for more reading on visiting stadiums throughout Japan. These are very good reads for someone who has’t attend a match outside of their home stadium.

Outside the main entrance at Kagoshima’s Shiranami Stadium.

I think the Shiranami stadium has one of the best backdrops in all of football. Sakurajima, an active volcano here in Japan, sits directly behind the stadium and when you are watching Kagoshima on DAZN it is readily visible, or if you are in attendance, you can get a great photo of Sakurajima in the background.

There are many similarities between the way Kagoshima and FC Ryukyu set up the outsides and insides of their respective stadiums. I suppose that makes sense since both are newly promoted teams with smaller operating budgets compared to the more seasoned clubs of J1 & J2. For instance, there are a large number of food vendors contained to one side of the stadium, usually the main entrance, and limited vendors inside the grounds. FC Ryukyu does have a food and beverage vendor inside the A Section of their stadium that services both home and away fans, but the Shiranami stadium does not. This made it cumbersome when wanting to grab water, soda, beer or food on that hot day because you were forced, as an away fan, to walk a great distance to the vendors away from your entry gate. There was also the issue that there was no hand soap in the bathrooms at the stadium. This is something that I’ve brought to the attention of FC Ryukyu since it is a minor health issue when there are food vendors using those facilities and not washing their hands and then proceed to serve food items.

Inside the stadium we were greeted with some nice local Shochu samples and a very raucous home support section. Shiranami stadium is another one of those track & field/football pitch combinations but the high vantage point we had in the away section provided a nice view. It was really hot during the match and I assume like FC Ryukyu, Kagoshima will be playing their matches during the summer months at much later start times. If not, that could make for a difficult atmosphere for visiting teams not accustomed to such heat. Even though FC Ryukyu lost 1-0, it was a great experience overall and one I look forward to attending in the future.

View from the away team supporter section at Kagoshima.

The next match I was able to attend was the Asian Champions League Group Stage match between Kawasaki Frontale and Ulsan during the mid-week. Ulsan was the last team I got to see in this competition last year when I traveled to their stadium and saw them play Shanghai SIPG. The scenes surrounding the Todoroki Stadium was great as there were flags flying off of light poles and nearly everyone was dressed in the Blue and Black of Kawasaki. I bought this ticket directly from the J League website and it was actually quite easy. There was a little information you are required to fill out but they accept foreign credit cards and the ticket was waiting for me at the Will Call.

View looking back from the way I walked to the stadium. Food and Drink vendors. Nagasaki pork burger was great!

View as I walk to Will Call to pick up ticket outside the Kawasaki Stadium.

It was a little tough navigating where my seat was since I had never been to this stadium, but unlike most stadiums where there was open seating, this time you were assigned an actual seat number. A gentleman was kind enough to direct me to my seat and it was ideally situated between the home supporters’ section and the back of the goal. The people sitting in my vicinity were great, and especially more so after I showed them some of the pictures of me in all my FC Ryukyu regalia, and they enjoyed the fact that I had traveled so far to support their club.

The game was awesome for a neutral as there were 3 first half goals followed by some late game drama that saw Kawasaki end the match with a draw. Ultimately it may have knocked them out of the ACL and that’s a shame since they are the current champions of Japan.

The sights and sounds emanating from the supporter’s section were top notch. I heard many of the same songs that the FC Ryukyu supporter section sings during a match and when there are so many voices singing loudly in unison it really enhances the overall atmosphere. Since this was the first time that I’ve seen a J1 Team in the flesh, it will be very hard for me not to keep an eye on their standing and highlights for the remainder of my time here in Japan.

I concluded my 3^rd match in 4 days with the Levain Cup Group Stage Match between Yokoham F Marinos and Shonan Bellmare at the NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium. This was not the main ground that Yokohoma play in and I wonder if its by design since mid-week matches maybe more sparsely attended than those on the weekend. Therefore, if you have less seats to fill, the stadium looks fuller. Only 5,100 people attended this game but the stadium felt full. Navigating to the stadium proved a bit troublesome for me and is something I feel needs to be fixed prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I am unfamiliar with the Japanese rail and bus system and there were times where I was confused on where to go and how to avoid major delays. The last leg included taking a bus and it was the most difficult part, because unlike the trains that were listed on Google by platform, I had no idea what line to stand in to grab the numbered bus I needed to get to the grounds. It was just by chance that a bus pulled up that was heading directly to the stadium and I made it just in time for kickoff.

I also purchased this ticket via the J League website and unlike the ACL match where I had to pick the ticket up, this was delivered electronically as a “QR” code to my phone. However, it didn’t indicate which entrance I needed so I wasted a little time “gate hopping” until I found the right one. Again, if you’re more familiar with the stadium and seating then this may not be the case, but for the neutral outsider whose only language is English, it was slightly challenging.

I could not have asked for a better seat though as I was only 3 rows up from the pitch and this smaller venue was not a track & field/ football pitch combination. I really love that feeling of being so close to the action and though there wasn’t a ton of space between each seat, it was a spectacular view. The Yokohoma support section was in full voice throughout the match and they sounded great. Shonan also had a large contingent of supporters show up and it was great to watch the match inside the match between each supporters’ section. Whenever Shonan could be heard, usually during a break in the signing of Yokohama, or when there was a break in the match, the Yokohama supporters would immediately spring into action and break out in song so as to drown out the noise emanating from the other supporters.

Shonan Bellmare supporters showing up in full force for a little local derby.

The match was special for me as well as I was hoping to catch a glimpse of both Park and Nakagawa, former FC Ryukyu players now with Yokohama, but neither appeared in the match. Park is out with a nasty injury to his orbital bone and Nakagawa was an unused substitute on the day. I thought there were going to be more goals as neither teams’ defense looked particularly effective yet most of the chances that either side created were wasted on the day. Marinos did pull out the victory after they converted a saved PK but it wasn’t the goal fest I was hoping to see.

I did get to see Nakagawa and give him a shout, that included FC Ryukyu being mixed in, and he smiled, waved and went about his business. It was nice to see the tradition of Marinos fans where they raise some umbrellas after the team wins and sing some song that I am unfamiliar with. The people sitting around me must’ve wondered what the hell I was doing but I didn’t really care. Those same people were friendly throughout the match and very gracious in allowing a large American to move past them to his seat. I really loved the small stadium as well as the proximity of the fans to the pitch. I really hope that this is what FC Ryukyu is planning for their new stadium in Naha in the future. A 15,000-seat stadium with no track would be so welcoming and ideal for the club.

Former FC Ryukyu man, Nakagawa. You can see one of the umbrellas carried by the players after the match.

There are not too many negative things I can say about any of the stadiums I visited this past week outside of the lack of hand soap at both Kagoshima and Yokohama. But after using the public transit system restrooms during my travels, I see this is a systemic problem out here. I would also add, that at no time as an away fan, did I ever feel threatened or concerned for my safety during the match. This speaks highly of the Japanese people as there is absolutely no place in football for violence among the fans inside, outside or surrounding the stadium. The fact that most home fans are glad to see away supporters show up, especially from great distances like Okinawa, is why I try to reciprocate the same inviting and welcoming experience when I see away fans visit Okinawa.

I would encourage anyone as both a supporter of a J league side or as a neutral to attend a match away from your home stadium. It is great to see a game in another town as well as experience a little bit of the culture depending on the time you allotted. I hope to get to a few more matches this year and will certainly write about my experiences and provide some photographs.

Match Day 10 Recap: Derby Day! Kagoshima United FC 1-0 FCR 4/21/2019

The comeback kids unfortunately could not do it again this weekend against Kagoshima United FC in the newly touted “Western Japan Derby.” FCR failed to score for only the second time all season and it was a particularly hard loss for FCR as at the start of the match Kagoshima was at the foot of the table and had failed to score in their previous 7 matches. As I eluded to in the match preview, I felt that the Kagoshima goalless drought was due to end against FCR but I wholeheartedly believed that FCR would walk away from that match with all 3 points. However, as we all know now, that just didn’t happen.

Masutani got the start once more in the RB position due to a lingering injury to Nishioka. I still have no idea as to the mechanism of the injury or the length of time he’s expected to miss but, in any case, it seems Masutani has reacquainted himself with his former RB/LB position and is performing very admirably. Kawai also got the start over Uejo but more on that later.

The game started out very fast for both teams with each having an early opportunity to grab the lead. FCR nearly scored after Kawai won the ball back in the Kagoshima end but Tanaka wasn’t able to get a boot on the ball from the Suzuki pass. Not sure if Tanaka should’ve attempted to head that ball but the height of the ball was awkward in that it was too low for a header, unless he dove at it, and too high to take a touch or strike in stride. Kagoshima quickly followed that up with a chance of their own where a very dangerous cross from the right went straight through our defense and across the mouth of the goal. Luckily, no Kagoshima players were able to get on the end of that ball.

FCR had a Suzuki goal disallowed for an off-sides call in the 8^th minute and the replay angle doesn’t really lend itself well for me to say that the call was correct or incorrect by the linesman. Kagoshima had two chances to score shortly thereafter but their first shot was right at Carvajal and the second header by Nildo sailed over the bar. It was then FCRs chance when in the 33^rd minute Masutani had the first of two really good chances to give FCR the lead. His first shot went straight at the keeper after having acres of space down the right and making a penetrating run into the Kagoshima box. The second made the Kagoshima dive for a save in the 42^nd minute but he may have done well to pass the ball instead of shooting in that situation. The only other notable first half moment was that Tanaka was subbed off for Uejo and I couldn’t tell if it was from injury or the FCR game plan wasn’t working. Regardless, having bumped into Tanka at the airport he said he is OK so we’ll see this Saturday if that holds true.

The second half started out with a bang when one of the rarest plays in football occurred. The Kagoshima goal keeper spilled an easy save and as the FCR players where crashing into the box, one of the Kagoshima defenders touched the ball with his foot and sent the ball back to the GK. This is known as a “back pass” and the infraction results in a free kick for the opposition from the spot where the foul was committed. Uesato lined up just outside the 6-yard box while all 11 of Kagoshima’s players were spread across the width of the goal. Unfortunately his shot was saved by the large blue wall that rolled out of the goal like a wave crashing on shore. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to get elevation on the shot but failed to achieve it because of the distance and angle was too great, or he was hoping to find a seam in all that carnage. I was under the impression that he should’ve aimed as high as he could and struck the ball with as much power as he could muster. I know I wouldn’t want to put my face or head in front of a rocket shot from that distance but oh well, chance wasted and the score remained 0-0.

Suzuki had one more decent chance on net for FCR but Kagoshima started to generate some momentum near the end and they were able to score in the 92^nd minute in stoppage time to secure the 1-0 victory. It was a huge win for the club and their supporters as it has been a long time since that side achieved a favorable result. On the other hand, it left all the FCR supporters who traveled to the match completely dejected and in disbelief that we got nothing out of that game. In games where the FCR opponent was near or at the bottom of the table in J2, they have failed to achieve any victory and in fact have lost twice in those games. You have to be able to beat the teams beneath you and not play to the level of your opponent if you want to succeed in this league. FCR has two favorable match ups on the horizon before they get into a very rough stretch of fixtures with some very good opponents.

There are some troubling signs emerging for FCR from this match and it doesn’t bode well for the team moving forward. FCR has only managed to score 5 goals over their last 6 games compared to the 11 they notched in their first four matches of the season. They have also conceded 7 goals during this stretch resulting in 4 ties and 2 losses. FCR has lost the momentum they had at the start of the season and they need to find it quickly before we join Kagoshima down there at the bottom as the honeymoon period is officially over for FCR in the J2.

FCR has also not found a sustainable solution to the void created by the Nakagawa transfer. Uejo and Tomidokoro, while excellent players in their own right, are not who we need orchestrating the FCR attack. FCR is relying on crosses and attacks from the wings with players like Tokumoto and now Masutani to generate some chances but we need a CAM who can penetrate and unlock the central defense of opponents. This will allow Suzuki to find space in the defense and make those free runs into the box where he can get onto the end of passes instead of hoping for a well-placed cross from the flanks. We want our attacking forwards to be taking the majority of chances on net and not the guys who are designed to provide them the service. The only options I see is either pushing Tanaka into the CAM role and allowing Uejo and Tomidokoro to play out wide or give Koizumi the start and see what he can do up there. If he doesn’t work out, we could always make the change at half time and bring on Uejo. It is also telling that we are bringing on Uejo late in games vice having him start. Either the injury is not fully healed and therefore he can only push himself for a limited time or this is the manager’s strategy. Personally, bringing on Kawai late with his speed and reckless abandonment is far better than giving him the start but the manager has to account for injuries that his players are dealing with and that we have no knowledge on or about as fans.

Well, I am going to go enjoy some mid-week Asian Champions League and Levain Cup games while in Tokyo so if you’re in the area, I’ll be at the Kawasaki ACL match on Tuesday and the Yokohama F Marinos match on Wednesday. Later!

Have to admit, it is one of the best backdrops to a stadium in the J League!

Derby Day! Match Day 10 Preview: Kagoshima United FC vs FCR

Match Day Info: 04/21/2019 (H) Kagoshima United FC vs FCR (A) at the Shiranami Stadium Kickoff at 1300

Weather Forecast: partly cloudy with temperatures around 76 degrees (25C) with a 0% chance of rain. Should be great weather for football.

This week’s match up features the two J3 promoted teams from last season in what some – mainly me – are billing as the “Western Japan derby.” Here are my reasons why this could be considered a derby day: 1.) There is plenty of history between these two squads coming out of the J3, 2.) FCRs old manager is now the current manager of Kagoshima, 3.) Even though these teams are in different prefectures, they are not that far away from each other geographically (see the photo), and finally, 4.) Because there are so many great derby’s featuring two teams with the color scheme of red and blue. For example, Arsenal and Tottenham, AC Milan and Inter Milan and of course Manchester United and Manchester City. While we are a long way off from being considered in the same breath as those previously mentioned, it is good for both teams and their fans to develop a but of a rivalry that will enhance the match-ups each season. Now onto the preview.

Kagoshima United FC: 22^nd in J2 with 4 points, 1W1D7L Current Form LLLLL

Typical Formation: They employed a 4-1-4-1 for a long time but switched to a 4-2-3-1 this past week.

Often there are times in sports where a team will experience a poor run of results that seems to have no end in sight. It usually starts out with a few unlucky breaks in matches and then begins to morph into something much worse. You’ll start to see the wind taken out of the teams sails with every missed opportunity and every goal conceded and then players will start exhibiting disbelief and heads will begin to drop. I believe Kagoshima is in one of these slides right now but if you just looked at the box scores you wouldn’t see the whole picture.

Kagoshima hasn’t scored in 7 weeks, since match day 2, but they have come so close on several occasions. Things are just not breaking Kagoshima’s way and that has led them down the path to the bottom of the J2 table. The matches against Machida and Mito can simply be summed up as unlucky. They nearly equalized against Machida late but the ball wouldn’t drop for them and then only lost to Mito on an own goal.

Kanazawa really thrashed them at home 3-0 and this is probably the first match this season where you could see the doubt, frustration and disbelief starting to appear in the Kagoshima demeanor on the pitch. The late second goal by Omiya the following week really crushed the spirits of the Kagoshima squad as almost all of their heads were hung and the players just stopped in place with that bewildered look of “when will it stop?”

Last week’s match against Renofa had so much on the line for both teams as each found themselves at the bottom of the table. I am going to assume that the pressure was immense for both squads but more so for Kagoshima as everyone expected them and FCR to be in this very same position at the start of the season. For Renofa it’s a little different because many still believe this is a good team that will rebound at some point and begin their climb up the table. This was definitely a match that Kagoshima felt they could have won and they nearly did just that.

The switch to a 4-2-3-1 saw an increased amount of chances for Kagoshima and they were certainly testing the Renofa GK. #10 Rei Yonezawa had an excellent opportunity on a break away to end the goal drought and allow Kagoshima to play with an advantage for the first time in quite some time. However, his shot was stopped by the Renofa GK and then you could see the disbelief all over his face. Of course, the inevitable happened where very late in the game the Kagoshima GK switched off for a moment and didn’t secure the ball properly and it slipped out of his hands as he was sliding inside the 18-yard box. A Renofa player controlled the ball and shot it past the sliding Kagoshima defenders to take a 1-0 lead with only about 1-minute left in regulation. The goal was massive for both sides as you could see relief in the Renofa player’s and more of the same disbelief in Kagoshima. Kagoshima had two very late chances with one nearly dropping, but once again, they were unlucky.

Players to Watch: #10 FW Rei Yonezawa is a nice playmaker for Kagoshima and if he is given time and space, he can test Carvajal. #32 MF Taku Ushinohama has created some nice shots on net in the few games I watched. #13 GK Ahn Joon Soo, I assume he is the preferred GK for Kagoshima as he slid right back into the lineup after the Kanazawa match up. He seems to have lapses in judgement and concentration which has directly contributed to two goals this season.

FCR 6^th in J2 with 16 points, 4W4D1L Current Form DDLDD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

FCR is coming of yet another emotional, late point grabbing performance this season. They were able to secure the draw against Tokyo Verdy from a very late goal by Uesato despite looking like the better squad on the day. FCR has conceded first half goals their past 3 matches and has been forced to play “catch-up” which is a far cry from the start of the season where FCR was scoring first and forcing the other teams into that role. While the performances by FCR have been commendable as of late, it is high time that they get back to wining ways and beat an opponent lacking confidence on the road this week.

Keys to FCR Victory: 1.) Play relaxed as the home squad has all the pressure in the world on their shoulders. An early goal will be a dagger through the heart of that team and FCR must be ruthless. 2.) FCR must maintain their composure in what could be a very feisty affair. I expect Kagoshima to throw everything they have at FCR in hopes of ending their scoring drought and possibly earning a point on the day. FCR should just focus on their game plan, create opportunities up front and stifle the Kagoshima attack.

3.) Attack. FCR needs to continue their attacking ways and test the Kagoshima GK. I’ve mentioned that he can be a bit lackadaisical at times and that means FCR should just bombard him with shots. I do not know who has traveled with the squad but lets hope the boys are well rested with the extra day and the tired legs we saw last week are just a distant memory. 4.) Do not breathe life into the Kagoshima squad, crush it! A first goal will be massive for Kagoshima so FCR must not allow that to happen.

Match Prediction: Well nothing solves a scoring drought like a match against FCR. While that may seem a bit harsh to say, FCR has only kept one clean sheet all season and if you think about our style of play the past few seasons, we score as well as concede a lot of goals. Granted this is a different team now but it’s very likely that FCR allows a goal here. With that in mind I think FCR could leave Kagoshima with all 3 points by a 2-goal margin.

Well, I am looking forward to attending my second road match of the season and cannot wait to get to the stadium on Sunday and meet everyone who traveled to the game.