FC Ryukyu Squad Review Part 2: Midfield #FC琉球

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

****Update****

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

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

Intro

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

Match Recap
Man of the Match
Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
Match Day Prediction
Match Day 4 Takeaways
Match Day 4 in J2
Top Goals in Round 4
Conclusion

1. Match Recap

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

2. Man of the Match

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

3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

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

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

4. Match Day Prediction

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

5. Match Day 4 Takeaways

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

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

6. Match Day 4 in J2

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

7. Top Goals in Round 4

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

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

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

8. Conclusion

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

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

“Almost Famous” Match Day 42 Report: Ventforet Kofu 2-0 FC Ryukyu 11/24/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu ended their season on a bit of a sour note this past Sunday when they fell 2-0 to Ventforet Kofu. They nearly pulled of what would have been a very famous upset on the last day of the season but were never able to score. The loss results in an overall record of 13 wins, 10 draws and 19 losses for FC Ryukyu during the 2019 campaign. For Kofu, the win books them a ticket into the promotion playoffs where they will travel to Tokushima to take on a surging Vortis side.

Match Recap

Starting Lineup & Reserves: J League website

FC Ryukyu were simply unlucky. That is all I can say. While Kofu fired the opening salvo in the first minute of the match, the better side on Sunday was FC Ryukyu for much of the match. Uehara had a shot just inches wide that would’ve put Ryukyu out in front in 18^th minute. Fukui would’ve doubled their lead, or at least opened the scoring, 4 minutes later but his header hit the post. Uejo’s FK was just a matter of inches wide or Ryukyu would’ve leveled the match in the second half. Song Sun nearly found a wide-open Koizumi in the 85^th minute from a header he brought back across the mouth of goal but a Kofu defender beat Koizumi to the ball. Finally, Kawai made an excellent break down the left when he went past the Kofu defender with his speed and his shot, which was a tricky lofted one, required the Kofu keeper to tip it over the bar or it may have ended up in the back of the net.

That is a total of 5 goal scoring opportunities that FC Ryukyu had that unfortunately resulted in 0 goals. FC Ryukyu’s dominance was evident in the possession column as they had an astounding 70% in the first half and ended the match with 69%. Ryukyu did all they could to win this game and they put in quite a shift despite the scoreline.

Kofu had 3 highlights this game and 2 of them were goals. One on a deflection that found a wide-open Soneda and the other off a counter where Uejo was rushing to cover the back line with a very nicely taken finish by Soneda for his second. But these things happen in sports, more often than you would like. It’s not always the better performing, or stronger side, that prevails in every game. Kofu made the most of their opportunities and FC Ryukyu did not, it is as simple as that.

As an away fan, all we wanted to see was 1 FC Ryukyu goal. That is the most unfortunate part in all of this. FC Ryukyu were on the front foot for most of the match and looked the better side. They were not over-matched, not out played and definitely not outclassed. They were however, outscored.

Man of the Match

Ventforet Kofu. FW #11 Yutaka Soneda. Scored both goals against FC Ryukyu on Sunday.

Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Play Within Yourselves. PASS: There was nothing in the game that suggested FC Ryukyu had a poor performance. They were simply unlucky.

2. Frustrate Kofu. PASS: Kofu did not score until the added time of the first half and it was only after a deflection fell directly to a wide-open Kofu player. FC Ryukyu controlled the possession and tempo of this match.

3. Park the Bus. FAIL: But in a good way. FC Ryukyu’s game plan was definitely not to sit back, instead, they were attacking early and going for the win all game. Kofu had their first counter attack in the opening minute of the game and only a superb save by Ishii on the Utaka shot prevented Kofu from scoring. Kofu’s second goal stemmed from a counter attack but at that point FC Ryukyu were throwing all they could at Kofu so it is understandable.

4. Score. Fail: 2-0, enough said.

Match Day 42 Prediction

Guessed 4-1 and it ended 2-0. A respectable performance by the boys on the final match day of the year.

Match Day 42 Recap in J2

Yokohama FC earned the second automatic promotion spot with a 2-0 win over Ehime FC. Omiya’s draw at Kanazawa meant they would finish fourth. Yamagata’s shocking home loss to Zelvia means they drop down to the 6^th and final playoff spot as both Vortis and Kofu won to round out places 4 and 5.

Speaking of the shocking win by Zelvia, it staved off relegation for a side facing huge odds on Sunday with the hardest draw of all the possible relegation sides. Tochigi SC also pulled off a miracle by beating JEF on the road and climbing out of the relegation zone for the first time on over 3 months. In doing so, Kagoshima was forced down as they succumbed to Avispa 2-1. It is unfortunate that Kagoshima went down as they were the 2^nd J3 club from 2018 to be promoted along with FC Ryukyu. It’s also unfortunate because they are the first side to be promoted from J3 and relegated the very next season.

Conclusion

Despite the loss, the spirits of the traveling FC Ryukyu supporters was very high this day. In fact, I haven’t seen a crowd that lively since the Omiya match. There were definitely more supports there than I thought would actually show up and it is a testament to this club that so many people are willing to spend their hard-earned money to come see FC Ryukyu away from Okinawa.

While it is nice to reminisce about the past season, the J2 2020 season for FC Ryukyu starts now. There is less than 100 days between the closeout of the 2019 season and the opening of the 2020 season. FC Ryukyu are certainly going to lose some players this off-season and they will also be looking to strengthen the squad. I anticipate some players being released sooner, rather than later, and we should all monitor the website/twitter feed of FC Ryukyu for any new information.

Even with the busy off-season ahead of FC Ryukyu, there is still a lot of football left in the J2. There are the semi-finals of the promotion playoffs this weekend followed by the final either mid-week or the next weekend. Then there will be the remaining game between the winner of the J1 promotional playoffs and 16^th placed team in the J1 table. Not bad for a neutral fan whose season has just ended.

In the coming weeks I will release some end of the year articles as well as preview all the important matches remaining on the J2 fixture list. See you soon.

“Lucky #13” Match Day 41 Report: Ehime FC 1-2 FC Ryukyu 11/16/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu won their 4^th road game in a row – I still cannot believe I am typing that- in dramatic fashion with a 2-1 win over hosts Ehime FC. Ryukyu is undefeated in their last 6 road games with 4 wins and 2 draws dating back to the Kanazawa match in mid-September. FC Ryukyu moved up to 14^th in the table on 49 points but the victory meant more for the fans that it does for the overall outcome of season standings. FC Ryukyu have reached 13 wins and more importantly, will not lose more than half of their total contests in their inaugural J2 season. Truly a job well done.

Match DAY 41 Recap

As expected with two evenly matches squads, the game was back forth and rife with opportunities. FC Ryukyu made several changes to their starting 11 this week. First, they swapped Uehara for Song Sun at RB and then moved Uehara to striker as it seems Yamada was either suspended or hurt (or sent home from his loan spell). FCR also moved Tomidokoro back into the squad as Uejo served his 1 match ban for yellow card accumulation.

FC Ryukyu controlled a majority of the possession during the match, somewhere in the high 50% range and were afforded several opportunities early on. None of which were converted. In fact, it was Ehime FC who got on the board first with a 14^th minute goal from Kawamura. As I mentioned in the preview, FC Ryukyu needed to watch 2 play-makers in the Ehime side, #39 Shimokawa and #7 Kondo. It was a cross by Shimokawa into a dangerous area in front the of the Ryukyu goal that opened the scoring. I initially thought that Ishii should’ve done better, but after looking at the goal several times, there wasn’t much more he could do. He slid out at the correct time but the Ehime player made contact with him thus causing a deflection to fall into the path of the onrushing Kawamura, who easily rounded the pile of bodies in front of net and scored a wide-open goal. Could the ref have called interference with Ishii? Possibly, his angle and direction of slide would’ve allowed him to corral the ball had he not been interfered with but nevertheless, FC Ryukyu were down 1-0 early. Keep in mind, Ehime were shut-out in 4 of their previous 5 matches so this was a huge boost to this sides chances for earning a favorable result.

It would be way to harsh to criticize Song Sun on this play despite the wide real estate he afforded Shimokawa to make the pass. Song Sun is not an RB. In fact, he was seen drifting deeper and deeper into the attacking third early on this match. Of course, this is the tendency for a player who’s only played in the attacking mid-field role his whole career. You could see one of the central defenders of FC Ryukyu screaming at him to get out wide and cover Shimokawa but it was already too late when Song Sun recovered as the cross was delivered. Just like many of us that are asked to perform tasks outside of our normal work duties, Song Sun did the best he could in the limited training sessions and game time he had last week in preparing for this change of position. More damming to the side is the question of, what is going on at the training ground if we can only dress 3 healthy defenders the past 4 weeks?

I mentioned in the previous paragraph about #7 Kondo being the only other player FC Ryukyu should be mindful of during the match and boy did he make his presence known. He nearly doubled the Ehime lead in the first half when his pace allowed him to get past the Ryukyu defense on a counter with a clear break away on net. Luckily his finish wasn’t that spectacular or this game could’ve turned out much differently for FC Ryukyu. FC Ryukyu would head to half time down 1-0 but by no means were they over-matched.

FC Ryukyu upped the tempo in the second half and were knocking on the door for a goal to get them back in the match. The break through occurred in the 66^th minute when a Tokumoto cross found Uehara at the edge of the 6-yard box on the left side of the Ehime goal keeper. The cross itself was sent into a dangerous area with great precision but it was slightly short and took an awkward bounce. This actually proved fortuitous for FC Ryukyu as Uehara judged the cross exceptionally well and hesitated a bit when the Ehime defender kept moving forward. This resulted in a wide-open shooting lane for which Uehara hit one of his signature headers back across the goal keeper. In what seemed to be an eternity, the ball slowly bounced past the keeper and into the side netting just inside the right post of the Ehime goal. FC Ryukyu had equalized and Ehime were now back on their heels and reeling.

FC Ryukyu really dominated the remaining 20 minutes or so and were creating several dead ball opportunities. Unfortunately, none came to fruition and in fact, it seemed we squandered a majority of these chances with poorly taken kicks. FC Ryukyu had introduced both Koizumi, and Ramon into the side in exchange for Yu and Koya but this was counter to what i had hoped for in order to see what these players offer in an extend appearance. These are electric players with quickness, pace and in the case of Ramon, power. I really like the way the attack functions when these players are in the lineup and I hope we are starting to see the future 2020 attacking midfield for FC Ryukyu take shape.

In the 89^th minute, a pass from the golden locks of Koizumi, found a wide-open Kawai just atop the 18-yard box. Kawai showed great maturity and development by allowing the ball to roll across his body, dragging Okamoto across net to cut down the angle and then released a snap shot back across goal leaving the Ehime keeper no chance. Absolutely breathtaking and exciting. Too bad my infant son was sleeping as I could only let out a minor fist pump instead of an all out scream. Ryukyu were up 2-1 with only about 4 minutes in stoppage time remaining and in complete control. Ehime had one last gasp but nothing came of it and the boys from Okinawa were victorious once again.

Man of the Match

Shuto Kawai. His speed proved too much for Ehime FC as he was all over the place wreaking havoc. His goal, which was his second road-winning goal in a row, was a thing of beauty. Kawai has now amassed 2 goals and 2 assists in his last 5 games. He is, and needs to remain, the staring LM for FC Ryukyu in 2019 and beyond.

Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Finish in front of goal. PASS: Uehara and Kawai made up for some of the poorer efforts early on.

2. Work hard for set pieces. PASS/FAIL: FC Ryukyu had an abundance of set pieces in the latter stages of the second half but the deliveries were not good. Several players stepped up to take corners and the set pieces but nobody had any luck yesterday.

Match Day Prediction

I said 2-2 and it was close had Kondo from Ehime connected on that counter attack in the first half.

Match Day Takeaways

1. We did see some playing time for likes of Koizumi and Ramon but not nearly enough. I will maintain this stance even when we play Kofu next week as a win is merely a moral victory at this point. I wouldn’t care if we saw whole sale changes across the squad next week but I doubt that as we have few healthy defenders to begin with. Who knows, maybe we see Sanches out there next Sunday. And why not, there is nothing to lose but a meaningless remaining fixture.

2. Kawai is the real deal. If we can retain him, Koya and get the likes of Koizumi and Ramon involved for 2020 then I really like our chances for improving on a 14/15^th place finish in 2019. It will take time for that front 3 to gel but their combination of burst, pace, power and in the case of Koya, maturity, could be hugely beneficial for this club next season. Now we just have to wait on the transfer market to see what direction FC Ryukyu goes.

Around the J2 on Match Day 41

Kashiwa Reysol were officially crowned the 2019 J2 champions and will make an immediate return to J1 for the 2020 season. Congratulations to them and best of luck in 2020. I am not sure if teams in the J2 conduct the “guard of honor” when the champions walk out for their remaining fixtures in the season and know for sure it doesn’t happen in J3. Would be nice to see.

Yokohama improved their chances of automatic promotion with a 1-0 victory over Okayama whereas Omiya stumbled again drawing 1-1 with Niigata at home. Yokohama may get the auto promotion as they face Ehime at home with Omiya needing to beat Kanazawa on the road.

Yamagata, Tokushima, Kofu, Kyoto and Mito are all still in the hunt for a promotion playoff spot. Really wide open with a wild end of season weekend forthcoming. FC Ryukyu are certainly going to see a full Kofu squad go all out for the win next week. God I’d love to be spoilers for their season and you know exactly why.

Tochigi SC won 1-0 over Nagasaki but so did Kagoshima over promotion seeking side Mito in a shock result. If Tochigi win and Kagoshima lose next week, Kagoshima will be relegated. Both have favorable draws to end the season.

FC Gifu were officially relegated with their loss to Kofu and any of you who saw the video clip on twitter of the young Gifu fan crying truly understand what promotion and relegation means to a team’s fans. That is why all we ever ask as fans is that players go out there every week and put in a shift.

Conclusion

All in all it will be a very drama filled weekend to close out the J2 season. FC Ryukyu will play their final match away at Kofu, who themselves, are looking to book a ticket into the promotion playoff round. I said that I hoped FC Ryukyu could grab one more win to close out the season for their fans and they did just that this past Saturday. Now, be smart, put pride aside and get some younger players the much needed match day experiences against a stronger foe who is certainly going to go all out for the game. The 2020 season starts now.

“Fountains of Youth” Match Day 39 Preview: Renofa Yamaguchi FC vs. FC Ryukyu 11/03/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu enter match day 39 after suffering a 3-2 home defeat to Omiya Ardija. Despite the loss, FC Ryukyu looked very good in the match and it was a shame that the second largest crowd we’ve had all season, couldn’t see the side pull out a positive result. Renofa Yamaguchi enter match day 39 undefeated in their last 5 and looking to end the season on a positive note. It seems Renofa is finally earning points as many suspected they would’ve to start the season. It matters not, as they are too far from the promotion playoffs to get into the conversation. FC Ryukyu on the other hand, have secured themselves J2 football in 2020 thanks in large part to Kagoshima United FCs win over FC Gifu mid-week.

Yamaguchi Weather Forecast

Renofa Yamaguchi

As mentioned earlier, Renofa re undefeated in their last 5 games. 4 of those matches were against teams near the bottom of the table but they did have a nice 1-0 win over Kyoto on the road a few weeks ago. Renofa easily swept aside Fukuoka 2-0 and followed that up with a 1-1 draw against FC Gifu where Yamaguchi scored very late to break the hearts of the FC Gifu fans in attendance. They played surprisingly well against Kyoto and really choked out their opponents attack in that match. They then somehow allowed Kagoshima to dictate large parts of their match in which it ended in a goalless draw. Finally, Renofa defeated JEF 3-2 due the JEF Goal Keeper having another famous “JEF Howler” that proved to be the difference in the score line.

Really hard to scout a team that plays to the level of their coemption each week. This means they will play well against tougher sides but allow those beneath them in the table to stay in matches with a chance to defeat Renofa. I guess that’s the very definition of a mid-table side.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu are guaranteed J2 2020 football as they are 13 clear of the bottom 2 sides, Tochigi and FC Gifu, with only 4 games, and 12 possible points, remaining. FC Ryukyu should take a hard look at their reserves over the next 4 weeks to see what they have before entering the J League window transfer window in a few weeks. This will require some hard decisions and I am not sure the club is going to execute all of the following but here are my suggestions.

First, with Dany hurt and Ishii on loan from Mito, it is time we Inose and Tsumita playing time. Chances are that one of them is likely #2 in 2020. Match day experience will go a long way for goalies. Second, we need to get starting time for all the non-loan players in the side and that includes those that haven’t dressed in a match this season. There is no where to go for FC Ryukyu this year. We will likely finish around 15-17 in the table and while position is nice, it is not important. Instead, focus on trying to win the last home match against Kyoto next week and end the season in Okinawa on a high note for the fans and community.

But back to the matter at hand. We need to see more of Kim Song Sun, Kozumi, Ramon, Sanches and Gibo during the remaining fixtures. They have appeared periodically and then disappeared for even longer stretches of time.

Injuries

FC Ryukyu: Several; Dany, Shinji Ono and Torikai are all done for the season.

Renofa Yamaguchi FC: Reporting none of any significance.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. A win is nice, but I’d rather see players who rarely dress for FC Ryukyu feature in the squad this week.

2. Play your game. There is no secret to beating Yamaguchi.

Match Day 39 Prediction

Yamaguchi 2-1

Important Fixtures in J2 for Match Day 39

Seeing how I published the blog late this week, there were already some big games that took place. Omiya defeated Reysol, Mito beat Yamagata and FC Gifu are truly done with a 7-0 defeat to Vortis.

Conclusion

The season is winding down and while there is always pride to play for in the final games of the season, it is important to get those players who rarely feature the all-important match day experience. This will aide in lining up transfers for 2020 and allow the club to see the strengths and weaknesses of their bench. I will not be able to watch the game as I am traveling and unable to access DAZN so the match day report will based solely on the highlights I can watch on YouTube. Good luck to all that travel to Yamaguchi.

“Stemming the Orange Tide” Match Day 38 Preview: FC Ryukyu vs Omiya Ardija 10/27/2019

Intro

Fresh off their second consecutive road win, FC Ryukyu welcome 4^th placed Omiya Ardija to town on Sunday. Omiya, after having bested Verdy, Nagasaki and Mito, were shocked at home by Tokushima Vortis this past weekend. These two sides first met back on match day 2 where FC Ryukyu defeated Omiya 4-3. My how the fortunes of both sides have changed since then. FC Ryukyu would go on to win 2 more in a row, in addition to drawing 2 in a row, before they began their downward slide in the J2 table. Omiya on the other hand, weathered a slow start to the season and eventually rose into the promotion zone and are flirting with automatic promotion to the J1. I seriously doubt that FC Ryukyu will once again catch Omiya off-guard and this is will be another tough test against a formidable opponent at home for FC Ryukyu.

Weather Forecast

Cool temperatures with overcast skies and slight chance of rain. It will be a little windy so I’d bring the sunblock to prevent any windburn to your face if your sitting up high in the stands.

Recap of Match Day 2: 03/02/2019 Omiya Ardija 3-4 FC Ryukyu

On a cool, crisp, March afternoon in Saitama, FC Ryukyu had one of their most convincing wins and signature matches all season. A beautifully taken shot from Tanaka, a Koji Suzuki brace capped with Satoki Uejo opening his scoring account for the 2019 season gave FC Ryukyu 4 goals. Dany made some spectacular saves, especially late on, and Kazaki Nakagawa was the true star with 3 assists.

The scoring began with the Tanaka opener, followed by the equalizer from Omiya after Delgado redirected a shot over Carvajal. Then FC Ryukyu busted out for 3 straight goals in the opening 16 minutes of the second half to jump out to a 4-1 lead. Omiya were awarded a very late PK and then scored on quick counter in the first minute of stoppage time to bring the game to a 4-3. Dany made a great diving save to parry a shot away from danger later on and FC Ryukyu would hold on to win. A win that nobody saw coming.

There are many bittersweet memories from this match. First, it was a testament to Nakagawa’s skill and those 3 assists saw him as the top assist provider in J2 well after he departed for Yokohama F Marinos 2 weeks later. Second, Koji was happy and scoring at will and third, Uejo’s emergence was bubbling to the surface. Finally, it would ultimately take FC Ryukyu 16 more matches before they would win again on the road this season. For Omiya, they would respond with a win the following week, wobble slightly against Yamagata the next and then go on a run of 16 unbeaten that has since propelled them into the promotion battle. Oh, what could’ve been for this Ryukyu side. A side that since this Omiya match has seen no less than 6 changes to the starting lineup. Whereas Omiya has seen less than half of that total. It was one of the best footballing experiences I’ve had all season.

Omiya Ardija

Pace, Power and Height pretty much sum up Omiya at the moment. Omiya displayed a penchant for hitting teams on the counter over their last 5 games and they can quickly break out of their own end and into the opponent’s end with just a few passes. They can send long balls over the top that allow the attacking 3 to run underneath them bringing them past the oppositions defense and free on goal. Omiya were also lethal from set pieces, corner kicks in particular, where their height and power prove to be too much for opposing defenders. They can also press teams that attempt to play it out form the back if they feel this is a weakness of the opposition. They pressed Nagasaki in this manner and it resulted in a goal after a cheap giveaway in the Nagasaki end.

Even though Mito jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over Omiya, Ardija was able to fight back and score 3 goals against a team that doesn’t conceded many goals to begin with. They had some slight trouble against Verdy before converting 2 corner kicks to win 2-0 and they really made Nagasaki look like an average side in a convincing 3-0 victory. They were nearly beaten at the end by Yokohama FC when Yokohama hit the crossbar, but walked away with an important point on the road against a promotion seeking side. The only outlier in the past 5 games was the recent loss to Tokushima Vortis.

It was a back and forth contest between the 2 sides with Vortis opening the scoring from a play that seemed to catch Omiya flat footed. Omiya responded with a counter attack goal before Vortis once scored from a busted play after Omiya failed to clear. Omiya responded with a headed goal on a set piece but Vortis got the best of them at the end with a 3^rd goal.

All in all, Omiya represent a difficult challenge for FC Ryukyu this Sunday. Omiya surely want to continue their promotion push, and they may have revenge on the mind, after FC Ryukyu walked into their home ground and put 4 past them in convincing fashion earlier this year.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu responded really well after losing 5-1 to Tokyo Verdy at home by defeating Tochigi SC on the road 2-0. Two really well taken goals by Uejo, one with his left foot and one with his right foot, has put FC Ryukyu on 43 points, which is roughly 13 points clear of the drop zone. Though FC Ryukyu started the Tochigi match sluggish, they really turned it on in the last 25 minutes and Tochigi had no response. FC Ryukyu have now won 2 in a row on the road and are undefeated in their last 4 road matches. Quite a turnaround from a few months ago when FC Ryukyu were struggling mightily on the road and losing at home.

There was some shifting of the FC Ryukyu lineup this past week with Shinji Ono and Yu Tomidokoro being dropped for Shuto Kawai and Koki Kazama. However, FC Ryukyu face a real selection crisis this week as they will be without both their Right Backs, Torikai and Nishioka, who have both succumbed to injuries. Torikai picked up his ankle injury early in the first half against Tochigi, requiring Uehara to fill in at RB, and the injury will see him miss the remainder of the 2019 season. And possibly the start of the 2020 season as he rehabs a dislocated ligament. Nishioka suffered an ankle injury in training and he is scheduled to miss at least the next 3 matches. Which begs the question, who will FC Ryukyu start this Sunday at RB?

Though Uehara filled in admirably, he is certainly not the solution over the next 3 matches. Outside of Tokumoto, Okazaki and Fukui, FC Ryukyu have only 2 defenders with any match day experience this season. One of those, Arai, only featured for a few minutes on the very first match of the season. There has been no word on whether or not Shogo Nishikawa, the only other FC Ryukyu defender to feature in a match this year, has suffered an injury or is healthy enough to start. In either event, we will need both of them to be healthy and in the lineup on Sunday. That is, unless newly acquired Daniel Sanches is finally ready to make his debut? It’s really anybody’s guess at this point as to what Higuchi will do to fill the void at RB in Ryukyu the lineup.

Player Injuries

FC Ryukyu: Will be without both starting RBs in Torikai and Nishioka.

Omiya Ardija: No one significant to the starting 11. Two defenders who were hurt earlier in the season is all that is reported.

Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

1. Start fast and build a multiple goal lead. This worked the last time these two sides met and almost worked for Mito a few weeks ago. Granted Mito ended up losing and this a far different lineup for FC Ryukyu. Ryukyu really do not lineup well against Omiya with their speed up top, height at the back and ability to score from counters and set pieces. There will be goals tomorrow for sure, just hope we have more than Omiya do at the end.

2. Do not concede many set pieces. This is especially true of corner kicks where Omiya’s tree trunks; Delgado and Simovic, will certainly overpower their man marking.

3. Pick your poison. If we play out from the back, I expect heavy pressing by Omiya that forces Ryukyu into making mistakes and costly turnovers. If we attempt to play high up the pitch, we risk over exposing the makeshift back 4 of Ryukyu to the speed of the Omiya counter attack. No easy choice.

4. Win the battle down our defensive right side and we may win the game. I’d expect a heavy dose of crosses and attacks emanating from our right side, the Omiya left, against whoever is asked to fill in at RB on Sunday for Ryukyu. We will need some defensive help over the top from one of the Mid Fielders for the Ryukyu RB and this could mean large stretches of little possession for Ryukyu on Sunday.

5. Clean up the garbage in the box on both ends. Don’t allow needless shots on our goal from shots that are blocked or saved. On the flip side, Omiya has a hard time cleaning up the garbage in front of their own goal and conceded a couple of goals from this spot. Somehow Omiya concedes goals, loses matches and has small defensive lapses. This is the smallest of cracks in their armor but an exploitable one.

The Contrarian Approach: Start Kawai, Koizumi and Ramon and attack Omiya with speed early and often. Start Daniel Sanches and Okazaki at CB and have Fukui slide out wide to the Right.

Match Day 38 Prediction

The numbers indicate that Omiya is on a tear with 10 to 5 goals scored/conceded ratio over the course of their last 5 matches. Ryukyu haven’t scored nearly as many but they have kept a clean sheet in 3 of those matches. 2-1 Omiya would be considered a respectable score line on Sunday.

Link to Match Day Info on FC Ryukyu Website: http://fcryukyu.com/news/21400/

Plenty of useful info and the page can be translated into English. There are maps for free parking with shuttles to the match and a schedule of events for the match day.

Important Fixtures on Match Day 38

Conclusion

It looks as if the club is expecting a larger than usual traveling contingent of fans for this one and has adjusted the seating accordingly. This maybe due to the pre-match festivities where Bando will conduct one of his retirement ceremonies and the popular MONGOL800 band will perform just before kickoff. With that said, its probably best to get there early if you want a seat in the covered section. The club’s president, Mr. Subaru Mikami, tweeted that he’d like for the overall attendance numbers to hit 100,000 for the season and I think there will be a strong showing on Sunday somewhere in the vicinity of 7,000 to get us close to the mark.

But I am not there for the pre-match pomp and circumstance. I am there to watch my team one last time at home before I depart for a lengthy spell away from Okinawa. I will still be able to see the boys close out the season at Kofu but I want to enjoy all that has been at home this season. The drama, the thrills, the let downs, the come-backs and of course enjoying matches with all of my fellow FC Ryukyu fans and the players. With safety all but guaranteed for next season, I want to see the boys play loose, relaxed and carefree on Sunday. Omiya has more at stake than FC Ryukyu since we no longer need to hunt for results to ensure safety. FC Ryukyu are simply playing for pride, playing the role of spoiler against sides seeking promotion, but most importantly, playing for Okinawa and all the fans of this club.

So join me on the walk down the Bengara Boulevard and into Fortress Ryukyu one last time this season. Give em hell boys and make us proud. You always do!

“Verdy. Vidi. Vici.” Match Day 36 Preview: FC Ryukyu vs. Tokyo Verdy 10/12/2019

Intro

Normally I’d begin with some words about each side and what the outlook is for FC Ryukyu but I’d be wrong in not wishing all those affected by the typhoon slamming into mainland Japan. Stay safe, and I wish you the best from all of us here in Okinawa.

Now, down to business. FC Ryukyu come into match day 36 riding a 5-game unbeaten streak. A feat, which many us haven’t seen since the start of the season, that has propelled FC Ryukyu out of the danger zone and into a place many would consider “respectable” for a first year J2 club. Well, to hell with them I say! FC Ryukyu are all about breaking norms so keep pressing boys and aim higher. Never be content with the status quo.

Weather Forecast

Windy. 15 mph (24KMH) expected throughout the match.

Previous Meeting Recap

A very nice back and forth game during Match Day 9 where FC Ryukyu conceded in the first half, followed by Dany making an amazing PK save after bloodying his nose and ending with a Uesato cracking one-timer in the very depths of stoppage time to equalize. Tokyo Verdy 1-1 FC Ryukyu.

Tokyo Verdy

Tokyo Verdy enter this weekends fixture having lost 3 in a row. Something they have not done all season. When Verdy lost 2 in a row, they usually responded with a win or a draw so this is somewhat of an uncharted territory for the visitors. I am not quite sure what has happened to this once proud club, considering I was there in July when they fought back against Ehime and looked good in the process. Maybe a combination of transfers out or injures? The notable loss was that of FW Hayashi to Zelvia but he’s been replaced by #11 Paraiba and #31 Klebinho, who are both forces to be reckoned with and ones that will certainly test the FC Ryukyu back line.

Verdy went 1W1D3L in their last 5 matches. Paraiba had a bit of a coming out party when he announced his presence with authority against Yamaguchi where he contributed on all 4 Verdy goals that day. Verdy would’ve entered match day 36 riding a 4-game losing streak if it wasn’t for Niigata wasting golden opportunities in the last few minutes of their game that ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.

The current losing streak began with a 2-0 loss to Omiya where Verdy surrendered 2 goals from set pieces. Verdy then ran into the Kashiwa Reysol buzz saw losing 3-0 and culminating the losing steak with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Okayama.

FC Ryukyu

The 5-game unbeaten streak, with 2 of them being wins, speaks volumes for how this team has recovered from what looked to be a lost cause a few months ago. Sitting at 40 points and 11 points clear of the drop, FC Ryukyu need to see out a few more fixtures -albeit winnable or at the very least with opportunities to earn a draw – and they will be playing J2 football in 2020. The line is set at match day 38 if nothing changes from now until then.

This is not to say the side should relax and set the cruise controls. On the contrary, they need to press onward for a strong finish to drive up attendance while simultaneously getting a look at some of the youth we have in the reserves. A win, coupled with a loss by the bottom 3 this weekend, who all have much tougher match-ups than FC Ryukyu, would pretty much seal it and we can then all breathe a sigh of relief.

Injuries and/or Suspensions

FC Ryukyu: Possibly without the services of Shinji Ono following an ankle injury he picked up last week against Avispa Fukuoka.

Tokyo Verdy: Could be without one of their top scorers in Leonardo who was listed as injured with no timetable for return.

Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

1. Score from Corner Kicks. Easier said then done. I can appreciate your sentiments as FC Ryukyu have been lackluster from corners all season. However, Verdy surrendered at least 4 goals in their last 5 games from corner kicks so if we can get multiple chances, maybe we can crack that egg.

2, Hammer Verdy on the counter attack. This one requires some speed being in the FC Ryukyu lineup but Verdy have real trouble defending quick counter attacks. Kawai, Kozumi, Uejo, Ramon could all feast on these. Is Higuchi watching the same tape I am to see this vulnerability?

Match Prediction

Not the same Tokyo Verdy squad and a chance to win, do I? Or do I do the reverse psychology thing and predict an unfavorable outcome resulting in an actual favorable outcome? Don’t be scared right? FC Ryukyu 2-1 Tokyo Verdy.

Important Match Day 36 Fixtures in J2

Conclusion

There has been some noise and distraction from the proposed new FC Ryukyu stadium presser at the end of the week but let’s put all that behind us and focus on Verdy. The players cannot build the stadium, only the club and its management along with whatever businesses and investors bought stake in the club. If they fail us, so be it. The players have been the one constant all season and they have responded admirably to some serious adversity. Boys, bring it home, give Okinawa something memorable these last 3 home matches. Love Ya.

“Pest Control” Match Day 35 Preview: Avispa Fukuoka vs FC Ryukyu 10/5/2019

Intro

Avispa Fukuoka and FC Ryukyu square off this weekend in a crucial, 6-point relegation match at the bottom of the J2 table. It was FC Ryukyu who got the better of Avispa the last time these two teams met when they opened the J2 season in February. But this is a very different FC Ryukyu team who is traveling for the second week in a row and who has yet to earn a win on the road in quite some time.

Fukuoka’s lineup from that opening fixture has remained largely intact with the exception of an occasional injury or player being dropping to the bench. Whereas Ryukyu have made 5 changes to the starting lineup that bested Fukuoka 3-1 to start the season. Avispa enter match day 35 having secured 7 points from their previous 5 fixtures with FC Ryukyu bringing a 4-game unbeaten streak to the Kyushu prefecture. Only 2 points, and 2 positions in the table separate these two sides so this is going to be a massive bottom of the table tilt on Saturday.

Weather Forecast

The weather looks great with little prospect of rain.

Avispa Fukuoka

Avispa went 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses over the course of their last five fixtures. Their win against Ehime FC was quite impressive and seemed to be sparked by a spectacular save by their foreign goal keeper Serantes. Fukuoka scored 3 of the best goals I saw from them in the review and looked like a team that was getting ready to storm back up the table and out of the relegation scrap. However, they followed the Ehime victory with a 1-0 loss to Nagasaki. In a game where Fukuoka had a majority of chances, Nagasaki caught the Avispa back line napping with a surgical pass to Hirota Goya who scored his 18^th goal of the season.

Fukuoka rebounded nicely to win 1-0 on the road against another opponent seeking to get out of the relegation zone, Tochigi SC. Fukuoka where then lucky to earn a late draw against Okayama after on-loan FC Ryukyu defender, Masutani, fouled a Fukuoka attacker in the box and gave Avispa a PK to tie the match. Avispa’s most recent match against Renofa Yamaguchi ended 2-0 in favor of Renofa despite another highlight reel save by Serantes.

On paper and on film, FC Ryukyu and Avispa Fukuoka look like two very similar teams. Each have a strong goal keeper and both have questions in defense. Both teams can score some beautiful goals while also suffering through patches of goalless games and little creativity. Fukuoka, like FC Ryukyu, are prone to some mental mistakes with the occasional lapse of concentration at the back that can allow opponents to get on the front foot. The only real difference I see between the sides is that while FC Ryukyu have suffered some heavy defeats with score lines of +4 goals conceded, Fukuoka have not. However, Fukuoka have been shut out in many more matches this season than FC Ryukyu.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu are in the midst of their longest winning streak since the one they opened the season with that included 4 straight wins and 2 draws. Unbeaten in 4 and looking to separate themselves from the bottom 4, FC Ryukyu are desperate for a positive result on the road this weekend. It is no secret that FC Ryukyu own one of the worst, if not the worst, road records in J2 this season. 1 win, 5 draws, 8 points out of a possible 48 and no wins since match day 2 way back in March. Despite all of that, things are looking up for FC Ryukyu on the road.

FC Ryukyu have drawn their last 2 matches on the road that includes a come from behind draw at Kanazawa. While we all would’ve loved to see FC Ryukyu take all 3 points last week at 19^th placed Zelvia, an improvement in the road form is a welcoming sign heading into the last 2 months of the season. Keep in mind that FC Ryukyu play only 3 out of the final 8 matches at home so road points are massive. One reason for the new found success should be attributed to the change in the FC Ryukyu lineup. Shinji’s presence in the deep lying mid field, coupled with the presence of Koya Kazama in the attack, has provided the much-needed structure Ryukyu were missing during their rough stretch of games this summer. With that said, FC Ryukyu will need both of these players, along with Uejo, Koizumi, Kawai and Ramon, to be firing on all cylinders this weekend to secure all 3 points.

Injuries/Suspensions

Avispa Fukuoka will be with out #16 MF, Ishizu Daisuke this weekend as he tore his Right ACL back in early July. I do not know of any suspended players for Fukuoka this weekend.

FC Ryukyu are reporting no injuries or suspensions this week.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Exploit Avispa’s weakness at defending passes that emanate from the deep lying Mid Fielders. A majority of the goals I witnessed Fukuka concede for this review were of this nature. This was also a strength of FC Ryukyu against Renofa and Kanazawa but one which they failed to employ successfully against Zelvia. Shinji, Yu, Uesato, Koya and even Tokumoto and Torikai can all unlock the Fukuoka defense with precision passing through the central defense of Avispa.

2. Pressure the Fukuoka back line with quick passes in and around the top of the box. Avispa seem very disorganized at the back and often get caught ball watching. This often leads to opposing attackers being left alone and unmarked in the 18-yard box. This sets up well for the Ryukyu if they make quality runs and can find the open spaces between the Fukuoka defenders.

3. Finish off drives. Fukuoka have one of the best goal keepers in J2 in Serantes. The goal keepers’ performance this season is a large reason why Fukuoka are not farther down the table. Ryukyu will need to be clinical in front of goal even if they get behind the Fukuoka defense as this man has proven to be a stalwart in net.

4. Defend against Fukuoka’s tendency to attack down their right side. A majority of the attacks for Avispa in the 5 matches I watched were down the right side. The play that worked the best seemed to be the one where; their RWB would cross a pass over the immediate defender and CB; thus leaving the remaining CB to cover the run of the Fukuoka striker; and leave a slight gap at the top of the box for the CAM to pick up the ball and have a free look on net. Knowing that, it would require Uesato or Ono to track back and cover the top of the box to prevent any dangerous shots on net.

Match Prediction

I feel another 1-1 draw is on the horizon.

Interesting Facts

J2 Match Day 35 Fixtures of Note

Conclusion

These two evenly matched sides are producing some solid results in the short term that should help their long term prospects of staying in the J2 for 2020. Avispa are no slouches and could easily run the score up on Ryukyu tomorrow if the Okinawa side starts slow and never gets going.

However, a win is close to coming and it will feel like such a relief for this side when it does. But the sooner the better. Starting last week against Machida, FC Ryukyu’s next 4 road fixtures include; Avispa, Tochigi, Yamaguchi and Ehime. Certainly, a win can be found in there somewhere along with enough points to reach safety if FC Ryukyu can maintain their current form. Safe travels for all the FC Ryukyu fans heading to Fukuoka this Saturday and good luck to the boys.

“Status Quo Intact” Match Day 34 Report: Machida Zelvia 0-0 FC Ryukyu 9/29/2019

And the streaks continue! Machida Zelvia are still without a win at home and FC Ryukyu are still without a win on the road since March. Impressive or Depressing?

There really is not much to summarize from the 0-0 draw that played out this past Sunday. Both Zelvia and Ryukyu looked dominant during parts of the match and it really was a game of missed opportunities by both sides. Zelvia created some trouble for our back line and their best chance rang off the post. Ryukyu’s best chance came off a header where Uejo went horizontal on a shot that ended up being saved by the keeper. Had he struck the ball down there is a chance it could of crept by the keeper on the bounce but it’s hard to criticize a guy who’s making a tremendous effort from that height, with little prep time for where he wants to place the shot.

Man of the Match

Dany Carvajal. The FC Ryukyu GK kept a clean sheet for the 4^th time this season and the draw extended FC Ryukyu’s current unbeaten run to 4 games. Dany made some quality saves throughout the game and is large reason why FC Ryukyu were able to secure a point on the road. His good form will be key to the club’s success in the coming weeks.

Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Play the match exactly as you did against Yamagata. FAIL. FC Ryukyu failed to score against an inferior opponent on the road as has been the case many times this season. They created some opportunities but should’ve really departed Tokyo on Sunday with all 3 points.

2. Continue the penetrating runs and precision passing from our deep lying MFs. FAIL. Didn’t see much of this at all during the match. This could be attributed to Zelvia anticipating this type of play by Ryukyu and defending against it, or, FC Ryukyu not wanting to get caught on the counter. Either way, it was shame as the FC Ryukyu bench has some speed that can exploit defenses and is necessary for each game going forward.

Match Prediction

I said 1-1 and it ended 0-0. Not much else to say on that.

Key Takeaways from Match Day 34

1. FC Ryukyu are unbeaten in 4 and this their longest unbeaten run since the start of the season. That is huge as most of us were probably anticipating fits and spurts for points going forward. Mainly in the form of the occasional win but every little bit helps. But yeah, a win on the road would be oh so nice.

2. It almost felt if either side were playing “not to lose” this past Sunday despite some of the near misses. The Kazama substitution for Shinji – which is what has occurred nearly every match to date- seemed like Higuchi never really wanted to go for the win and expose himself or our defense. Kazama is one of the Ryukyu CDM and with Koizumi starting, and both Ramon and Kawai match fit, why not put in an extra attacker and try to get something out of this match?

3. Neither side was luckier than the other on Sunday. Zelvia hit the post and Ryukyu nearly won the match on the last play when a header from a CK was just wide of the Zelvia left post. Guess what I am trying to say is that both sides will fell as if they let 3 points slip away on Sunday.

Conclusion

FC Ryukyu’s October schedule includes an away match to 18^th placed Fukuoka this week, followed by a home game against Tokyo Verdy (13^th place), a trip to 21^st placed Tochigi SC and then their next to last home game this season against promotion seeking side Omiya Ardija. On one hand, there are plenty of revenge game narratives this month as FC Ryukyu beat 3 out of the 4 sides they face this month as well as earned a late game draw against Verdy from a spectacular Uesato shot. On the other, there is also plenty of opportunity for FC Ryukyu to solidify their place in the J2 for 2020 with some favorable results. 5 points from the 4 matches would put FC Ryukyu at 42 points which has been touted as the magic number this year. Of course, as you all know by now, all that needs to happen is for FC Ryukyu to win a game or two on the road.

Photo Credits

Cover: William Gallagher from the FC Ryukyu Kanto Area Foreign Supporters Group

Dany Carvajal from JLeague website

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.