Tag: nishioka

Match Day 12 Preview: FC Gifu vs. FC Ryukyu 5/5/2019

Match Day 12 Info: 5/5/2019 (H) FC Gifu vs FC Ryukyu (A) at the Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium, Kickoff at 1800

Weather Forecast: Temperatures will be in the low 70s/High 60s for most of the match. Looks like it will rain prior to kickoff but only a 25% chance of showers during the match. Winds will be at 6-7 mph so it should be a nice cool evening to watch the final match of week 12 in the J2 league.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before.  FCR is on the road, against an opponent at the bottom of the table who does not score a lot of goals and lacks confidence. I’ve said that at least twice this season in prior match day previews only to see FCR eek out a draw or lose. The situation is no different against FC Gifu. Gifu, like Ryukyu, are targeting this match up for 3 points. Gifu would like to get out from the bottom of the table and FC Ryukyu would like to get that elusive 5th win and put an end to the tumble down the table they’ve been experiencing the past few weeks. Like @UeYuina and @becutechic in the cover photo, it’s all business this week for FCR.

FC Gifu: 22nd in J2 with 9 points, 2W3D6L Goal Differential of -4, Current Form LLLLD

Typical formation: 4-3-3 as a diamond and then a more traditional 4-3-3 vs Tochigi this past week.

FC Gifu started the season with 2 wins and a draw in their first 4 matches but since then have only been able to muster 2 draws in their last 7 matches. During that same 7 game stretch, FC Gifu has only scored twice while conceding 13 goals. Gifu are an even split at home with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses and those results came in that very same order this season.

From what I’ve seen on the game film, FC Gifu is a team who is starting to play as if they have nothing to lose. FCR has seen this before against Kagoshima and that “backed into a corner mentality” has gotten the best of FC Ryukyu this season on several occasions. The FC Gifu draw against Tochigi, that came on a late goal, may be the spark that generates some confidence in Gifu and emboldens them to take it to Ryukyu on Sunday evening.

Players to Watch: #14 Koya Kazama. He is the Gifu leading scorer with 2 goals this season.

#10 Ryan de Vries FWD. A large forward that Okazaki and Fukui will have to deal with during the match.

#16 Yu Togashi FWD. How could he not make the list? Always enjoy seeing former FCR players, especially those from the tittle winning season, so let’s hope he out there tomorrow. Strangely, he hasn’t featured in over a month and I don’t know if it is due to injury or he is unable to break into the starting 11 or the reserves.

FC Ryukyu 7th in J2 with 17 points, 4W5D2L Goal Difference of +4 Current Form LDDLD

Typical Formation: 4-2-3-1 but was a 4-1-4-1 this past week against Zelvia.

FCR has a chance to put some distance between themselves and the bottom of the table against an opponent in FC Gifu who has failed to fire the past few weeks. The match up against Gifu is the last “easy” match up for a while for FCR if you want to look at match ups based solely on the standings within the J2.  However, we’ve seen time and time again this season, that when FCR plays what could be considered an inferior opponent, FCR seems to breathe life back into those squads and not achieve the expected winning result. This game sets up the same way so many have this season and I hope FCR can come out firing to an early lead.

FCRs last match up saw them score very early on from a nice cross into the box from Tomidokoro that found a surging Masutani, who was able to generate some serious power behind the header. At last! Well, at least that is what I thought. FCR had finally scored first again and I thought that the attack maybe firing again. As we all know, that wasn’t the case and FCR saw out a draw against Zelvia after Machida began dictating play and netted the late equalizer.

FCR Keys to Victory: 1.) Score first and Score Often. It goes without saying that it is highly likely FCR concedes a goal in this match up as they’ve only kept one clean sheet all season. Therefore, FCR needs to get going and get going fast against Gifu. FC Gifu can be put out of their misery with some quick consecutive goals and its high time that Suzuki gets back to his scoring ways.

2. Harass the Gifu back line. For whatever reason, FC Gifu’s defense seems to lose concentration at the back and can go missing at the worst times. FCR needs to be making solid runs through the channels in the Gifu defense in order to confuse and pull the Gifu defense apart. This will lead to some breakdowns in coverage and communication for Gifu and should see an FCR attacker alone and open on goal.

3. Weather the FC Gifu strong start and remain calm if Gifu do score first. This game could see FC Gifu coming out to a blazing start and that means that FCR will once again be under pressure and rely heavily on Danny Carvajal to bail out the defense. FCR must utilize its Right and Left Mid Fielders to cover the Right and Left backs who get so deeply involved in the FCR attack. Gifu’s formation suggests that they will try to punch a hole right through the center of the FCR defense but this would be a mistake. FCR is strong through the center but rather weak on the flanks, and even more so now that Masutani is playing RB due to the Nishioka injury.

4. Let Koizumi start over Ochi and Kawai. FCR needs to see more out of Koizumi and this match up would be the perfect coming out party to introduce himself to the J League. Kawai’s speed is likely going to be needed at the end of the match so let’s save him and Tanaka as late subs.

Match prediction: At the end of the day I see FCR dropping points on the road. This could be either a draw or a loss, but I feel that a loss is more likely as FCR seems unable to handle the “caged animal” mentality by those teams at the bottom of the J2 table.

Let’s hope the Bengara boys can go out there and grab that 5th win and push their point tally a little closer to 42. The schedule is going to get a lot tougher for FCR in the coming months and this match up versus FC Gifu has to be treated as a must win for FCR.

Golden Week Special #1: Reinventing the FCR Attack!

Golden week special #1 will focus on the FC Ryukyu attack, or better yet, what has happened to the FC Ryukyu attack the past few weeks. We will examine some possible formation changes and see if FCR has the personnel to execute any of these proposals.

1. The FC Ryukyu 4-2-3-1.

You are probably accustomed to this formation now even though it has some of its pieces swapped out over the course of the first 11 games. The were only a couple of times this season when we got a glimpse of what could’ve been with this formation. The opening match against Avispa Fukuoka saw the lineup that Higuchi was hoping to run out each week. It featured the starting 11 above and cruised to 3-1 victory. Week 2 against Omiya saw the first change due to a Tomidokoro injury but no one really noticed as Nakagawa and Uejo were on fire that day.  We’d eventually get Tomidokoro back into the lineup but not before Nakagawa departed for Yokohama F Marinos. All in all, we had 1, just 1 match this season with the original 11 starting lineup.

In subsequent weeks FCR had to find replacements due to a Nakagawa transfer,
injuries to Uejo, Nishioka and Tanaka and the short week match up against JEF that required some much-needed rest for some of the starters. Because of all these factors FCR has only scored 8 goals over the last 8 matches compared to the 9 they scored in the first 3 games of 2019. Higuchi promised to continue the attacking style of play that FCR was so famously known for when he took over this off season, well now he needs to find a way to restore it to its former glory.

The remainder of this article will focus on some of the well-known formations that exist in football as well as those that may not, and how FCR could employ them. A football team cannot simply change their formation at a moment’s notice and expect it to net results right away. This is due in large part to the facts that the manager usually has a preferred style and sets his team up to support that style in addition to having conducted so much on the training ground in the preferred formation.  Keep in mind, this is the real world, not FIFA19, you cannot alter formations and starters and drop the difficulty settings to achieve the results you want. Instead, I am proposing that the club to take a hard look at the assets they have on hand, or could possess later, and really think about how to make the FCR attack lethal once more.

2. 3-4-3

Uesato would drop back slightly to support the back 3.

“Using a 3–4–3, the midfielders are expected to split their time between attacking and defending. Having only three dedicated defenders means that if the opposing team breaks through the midfield, they will have a greater chance to score than with a more conventional defensive configuration, such as 4–5–1 or 4–4–2. However, the three forwards allow for a greater concentration on attack. This formation is used by more offensive-minded teams.” Straight out of Wikipedia and sounds exactly like FCR. We rarely keep clean sheets so there should be little concern about conceding as it seems every team has been attacking our original 4-2-3-1.

I think FCR could set up with a back 3 of Fukui, Okazaki and Masutani. The MF would consist of Tokumoto on the left, Uesato slightly deeper as a holding MF, Uejo pushed slightly forward to control the attack and finally a player like Koizumi out wide to the right. Up front would see Tomidokoro, Suzuki and Tanaka. Tokumoto and Koizumi would bear the most responsibility when it comes to back tracking and assisting in defense but this seems logical as Tokumoto already plays in an RWB role in the current formation and Koizumi has not had a lot of playing time this season so his legs should be fresh. It is unrealistic to ask the skill players of Tanaka and Tomidokoro to take on the task that Tokumoto and Koizumi will play and Uejo has just become a full 90-minute match fit this past weekend. Since FCR conducts so much of their attack down the flanks anyways, we could run Tokumoto and Koizumi ragged for about 60-75 minutes before bringing on Kawaii, Nishioka or Ochi to keep the attack fresh. There are several variations to this formation that FCR could tinker with but I believe FCR should only bring a player like Kawai on later in matches so we can maximize his speed.

A more traditional 3-4-3 set up. Tanaka drops back to provide service to the attacking players. Koizumi comes in as RWB/RMF to provide a spark.

3. 3-3-2-2

Putting some serious thrust forward.

I have not seen much out there on this set up so I am not sure of all the nuances for players responsibilities but from the small visual representation here, it seems FCR would have to be very careful with possession in order to prevent too many counter attacks. Also, this formation may already exist under a different numbering system but boy do I like the way it forces FCR to lean into the attack.

I believe FCR would need to start with the speedy players and then alter or change their set up later in the match. This formation seems to send the message that you want to get out in front quickly in order to build a lead and then continue pounding the net until the players are exhausted.

I think in this formation we’d ask our back line to hold their positions and for players like Kawai and Tokumoto to “pinch” into the Central Mid Field areas when defending.

4. 3-4-1-2

This formation may see Tomidokoro providing better crosses/passes into the 18-yard box.

“3–4–1–2 is a variant of 3–5–2 where the wingers are more withdrawn in favor of one of the central midfielders being pushed further up field into the “number 10” play maker position.” Wikipedia again with this quote.

The last two formations have seen FCR put an additional forward up front to provide some relief to Suzuki. There is no doubt he is outstanding at the holdup play but someone needs to be making dangerous runs into the box so Suzuki can start finding open space in which to operate. By dropping Tomidokoro a little bit farther back I think FCR gains a play-maker that can put some very dangerous crosses and passes into the box.

5. 3-2-3-2

If FCR wanted to get out on the front foot quickly.

In this set up FCR would sacrifice some of the speed required for defending in order to put maximum pressure on the opposing defense. We would deplete the energy levels of Uejo and Tokumoto rather quickly as they’d have so much to do when tracking back on defense but this puts all of the FCR play makers forward in the attack.

6. 3-1-4-2

Allow some space for Suzuki and Uejo to run into.

Assuming we could cover and prevent all counter attacks with a back 3 and Uesato over top, FCR could play to its strengths by attacking from the flanks. By dropping Suzuki and Uejo back slightly from the more forward wingers in Tomidokoro and Tanaka, we may see better service into the box for our attackers. As evidenced by this past weekend, when Tomidokoro has time to pick out players in the box he can deliver and this formation will push him and Tanaka slightly wider to provide a little more precise crosses to Suzuki and Uejo.

The other option would be to swap Suzuki and Uejo out wide to where Tomidokoro and Tanaka were at in the previous formation. We know how lethal Tomidokoro and Tanaka are and this may free up some space for Suzuki and Uejo to create some mismatches running laterally into the box.

Allow Suzuki and Uejo to attack the 18-yard box from the flanks.

7. 3-2-2-3

That;s a lot of firepower orientated forward.

FCR would be asking Kawai and Koizumi to track back on defense while allowing Tomidokoro to pick out the runs made by Tanaka, Uejo and Suzuki up front. Assumption would be that Uesato still provides top cover to the back 3 and doesn’t get sucked into the attack without recovering back on defense.

8. 2-1-4-3

End of the match and FCR need an equalizer or the all important winner.

This formation is probably best reserved for some serious last-ditch efforts on net instead of how you want to start the match. 5 attackers are really 7 with the support provided by Tokumoto and Kawai down the flanks. Those two would need fresh legs to support all the defensive back tracking requirements so again this is probably best left to the end of matches when chasing an equalizer or winner. With that said, there are 5 of the best FCR players up front who can score from anywhere.

It was great experimenting with some of the formations FCR could employ with their current squad and I want to leave you all with one more. This one requires a transfer fee to be paid, contract to be signed and for those funds to be available.

So please bear with me as we travel down this fantasy path.

9. Defending set pieces with a player that has serious height.

Joao Gabriel is an interesting player for SC Sagamihara. He has all the traits you look for in an outfield player but if we think bigger than that, we see a player that can help see out tough match ups as well as provide chances at equalizing games or winning them very late. Keep in mind, Gabriel is not a direct replacement for either Suzuki or Wada, rather, he is there to provide a certain skill set that FCR desperately requires. It is obvious a lot of our matches will come to last minute equalizers, winners and losing goals so this guy could either prevent or provide those required services.

Imagine what it would be like defending corners or set pieces late with Joao’s presence. Suzuki could drop back into a counter attacking position,and since he is one of our best finishers, he should be the one getting on the end of counter attacks instead of having to start all of them.

Nothing like a little height at the back that can feast on high crosses sand clear them out of danger.

10. Set pieces late in games with the same player.

Instead of having to be pinpoint accurate with all the crosses coming into the box, FCR just has to be in the “general area.” What I mean by that analogy is that there is a lot more forgiveness in the errors of the cross if it is too high or off target with a player of Joao’s height roaming the area. FCR could be more inclined to send crosses into the box at higher elevations vice trying to maneuver into the box and attempt one more pass that may prove to be one more pass too many and derails our attack.

Set piece delivery from Tomidokoro or Uesato, That front line looks menacing to defend with Joao’s height up there.
Could prove difficult for teams to defend late in games and gives FCR a chance to equalize or win late.

Again, this was enjoyable but I don’t know if any changes will occur down here in Okinawa to revitalize our attack. Until the next time, enjoy your Golden Week.

Match Day 11 Preview: FCR vs Machida Zelvia

Match Day 11 Info: 04/27/2019 (H) FCR vs Machida Zelvia (A) at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium (Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 19:30.

Weather Forecast: Overcast with temperatures around 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22C) with 11 mph winds expected all game and only dropping down to 71 degrees (21.6C) by the end of the match. There is no rain in the forecast but I would double check the weather before leaving the house.

Match Day 11 sees FCR squaring off at home against old J3 rivals Machida Zelvia. You may recall that Zelvia gained promotion to the J2 after the 2015 season when they defeated Oita Trinita in a home and home series and were the first, and last, J3 team to achieve that feat. The J League has since done away with that format where now the bottom two from J2 and top 2 from J3 are automatically demoted/promoted (promotion still requires a J2 license).

FCR’s historical record against Zelvia is not great. They have only ever faced each other during the 2014 and 2015 seasons in the J3 with Zelvia holding the preponderance of victories at 5 to 1. In fact, Zelvia holds a 16-3 margin of goals scored compared to FCR during those years and I can vividly recall one of the hardest matches I’ve ever had to witness as an FCR fan here in Okinawa that came against Zelvia. It was during the 2014 season and Zelvia traveled to Okinawa City and lambasted FCR 7-1 on our home turf. One of those players responsible for a lot of that damage was Koji Suzuki who netted 19 goals and was the leading goal scorer in J3 that season. Well, all that has changed now as the teams are certainly different from 4 season ago and now it is FCR that has Koji “The Shredder” Suzuki up front leading the attack.

Machida Zelvia: 13th in J2 with 13 points 4W1D5L Goal Difference of -6 Current Form WLDWL

Typical Formation: 4-4-2

Zelvia come into match day 11 having just lost at home to Omiya whereas FCR is also coming off of a loss to Kagoshima last weekend on the road. Zelvia has doubled their goal tally on the season over the past 5 matches bringing their season total to 7, while only conceding 3 during that span compared to their first 5 matches where they allowed 10 goals. Zelvia has begun to solidify themselves at the back beginning with match day 5 against Kagoshima and have turned around an ugly start to the season.

Zelvia have a much better goal scoring record on the road compared to at home but they have also conceded a majority of their goals on the road. Across the 5 road matches Zelvia has played this year they are conceding about 1.5 goals per match. While that sounds promising for the prospects of FCR netting some goals, there was one outlier where Zelvia conceded 6 against Kanazawa early in the season. They have only conceded 1 in their last 3 road matches and I fear that FCR will find a clogged mid field with little space to operate against the Zelvia defensive lines.

I did not see much in the 5 Zelvia games I was able to review on DAZN that leads me to believe FCR should fear the Zelvia attack. It is obvious that they miss a player of Suzuki’s quality up front but that is not to say they don’t have some creative players of their own. What it boils down to is creating chances for those players and this seems to be a weakness of Zelvia this year. During the last five matches, Machida was able to secure victories against Ehime at home, Fukuoka on the road with their lone draw this season occurring against Kofu at home. The losses included the previously mentioned one against Omiya at home and one against Nigata on the road.

It looked like in their most recent victory against Fukuoka that Zelvia may have turned things around with their attack but that wasn’t the case against Omiya the following week where they generated very little. They were done in by a late Utaka goal against Kofu that ultimately led to the draw when they had a momentary lapse in judgment when playing the ball out from the back that resulted in a giveaway to Kofu and the equalizer. Starting with that Kofu match, Zelvia began making some wholesale changes to their lineup to which they continued to tinker with the lineup against Fukuoka. There were no changes to the lineup against Omiya and it is likely, barring any injuries that Zelvia may have picked up against Omiya or during this past week of practice, that FCR will face that same lineup this Saturday, .

Zelvia Players to Watch:

#9 Caymen Togashi FW. Togashi is the leading goal scorer this season for Zelvia with 2. He scored early in the season against Verdy and most recently against Fukuoka.

#32 Hiroki Todaka MF. Todaka’s lone goal this season came against Kofu where he was able to control the ball from a cross with his legs and then take another touch to gain some shooting space from the defenders and deliver a nice strike. He seems to create the most opportunities for Zelvia in the attacking end and despite his diminutive stature, he is a handful to deal with from what I’ve seen on tape. He reminds me of Togashi with his playing style and FCR cannot afford to allow Todaka too much time and space in or around the 18-yard box.

#18 Yuki Okada FW. Has provided 2 assists this season but is very lethal with his passing and is someone who can set players like Togashi and Todaka free on net.

FCR 6th in J2 with 16 points 4W4D2L Goal Difference of +4 Current Form DLDDL

Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

FCR is coming off a deflating road loss to Kagoshima especially since they had so many opportunities to score. The FCR attacks has slowed down mightily since the opening of the season where they were running roughshod over teams on their way to scoring 11 goals in their first 4 matches. FCR has only scored 5 goals in their last 6 matches while conceding 7 and it is obvious that more lineup changes are required to get the attack going again. FCR has had Uejo and Tomidokoro occupy the CAM role behind Suzuki but this has not proven to be effective after the Nakagawa transfer. For one thing, Uejo hasn’t been healthy enough to play a full 90 minutes since he injured his foot against Tokushima and it is baffling the way FCR is using Tomidokoro this year. Yu is lethal when coming in from the left side and unleashing his right foot. He is even in better on free kicks but FCR is selecting Uesato to take the long range FKs with Kazama taking the ones closer to the 18-yard box as we witnessed this past week. Tomidokoro needs to be taking more of these in order to regain the form we saw last season.

While FCR created many chances last week most of them were taken from support personnel and not our 4 attacking front men. Masutani had two golden opportunities but neither amounted to anything and Uesato took the very close FK in the Kagoshima box as a result of a back pass. If you go back to the Renofa match, you can see that FCR is requiring some very late goals to bring matches level. While this is great because it still has earned the squad some points, FCR needs to be getting out on the front foot and scoring first similar to the way they operated at the start of the season.

FCR Keys to Victory:

1.) FCR must overcome Zelvia’s 4-4-2 formation that will inevitably clog the mid-field area and make it difficult for FCR to create chances. As we’ve seen in FCR games this season when opponent’s pack the mid-field with players, FCR is really challenged to create opportunities. This started after we sold Nakagawa which means someone on the FCR squad needs to step up and take over that role. The best way to defeat the 4-4-2 is to make quick changes in direction across the pitch in order to create positional and numerical superiority against Zelvia. If done correctly, FCR should find some space to operate in, or at the very least, space to run into the channels created by dragging the 4-4-2 formation across the pitch in order to cover the mismatch.

2.) FCR needs to start fast, score early and score often. Zelvia has conceded a majority of their goals on the road this season whereas FCR has scored most of their goals at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. Zelvia have a 2-1 ratio for conceding goals on the road compared to home and the same can be said about FCR’s goals scoring with a 10-5 split that is also a 2-1 advantage at home. Something has to give in this match and FCR needs to be flying all over the pitch by making runs to pull the Zelvia defense apart. Hopefully there is a little “revenge narrative” for Koji Suzuki since Zelvia is his former club and they let him go this past off season. If Koji does score, I doubt that he will celebrate too much since he has spent his entire career at the club up to this season notching 65 goals during that time.

3.) FCR needs to make some lineup changes. I am not sure if we will see the return of Nishioka this week or if Higuchi will try and change the personnel behind Suzuki in an attempt to start generating more forward thrust. This is a perfect opportunity to get a player like Koizumi some playing time and see what he can do in the CAM role. He flashed some nice skills during the draw against Verdy and nearly equalized himself before Uesato brought the game level for FCR. Higuchi could also opt to start Tanaka, as long as he is not injured, in that role to see if he can provide the service that Suzuki desperately requires. I also think FCR needs to be bringing Kawai off the bench later in games so his speed can be used to its full extent by running against the tired legs of the opposing teams defense. This would require a healthy Tanaka and Uejo but is something I hope FCR will explore over the next 2 matches.

Match Prediction: I am split between two reasonable outcomes for this match. I think that this game could see both teams score as evidenced by their track records this season or see out a scoreless draw. First, we know how FCR doesn’t keep many clean sheets and how Zelvia is susceptible to conceding goals on the road that could lead to a 2-1 FCR victory. Second, on the other hand, the solidifying of the Zelvia defense over the past few road games in conjunction with the slowing down of the FCR attack, means we could easily see a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

Against common opponents this season both teams have achieved the same amount of points with Zelvia going 4W3L against those opponents compared to FCR’s 3W3D1L. This basically boils down to these two sides being very similar despite the differences in their overall statistics.

This is an important match for FCR to get going again for two reasons. First, there is only a 4-point difference between FCR and the 14th placed team in the J2 table. A loss on Saturday combined with some unfavorable results around the league could see FCR tumble further down the table. FCR needs to be earning 3 points at home against similar or inferior opponents to keep them out of the relegation scrap at the end of the season. Second, the schedule will get decidedly harder next month and FCR needs to get that elusive 5th win this week. A win that has escaped us since match day 4. FCR shouldn’t care about the top of the table this year as there is no need to concern themselves with promotion as they do not currently have a J1 license. The bottom of the table is of the greatest concern to FCR and therefore their focus should be on doing all they can to avoid that location.

I look forward to seeing all of you out there on Saturday and hopefully seeing our boys achieve victory. I believe there is a ceremony scheduled for Koji Suzuki and how fitting it occurs when Zelvia is in town. Good luck!

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 8th 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 33rd 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 42nd 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 92nd 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!

Match Day 9 Recap: Tokyo Verdy 1 – 1 FCR 4/13/2019

Well the “comeback kids” did it again this past weekend, and they did it in style. FCR was able to earn a draw against Tokyo Verdy at the Ajinomoto stadium behind a thunderous Uesato volley in the 95th minute in stoppage time. The 1-1 result ultimately dropped FCR to 6th in the J2 table at the weeks end but it is another vital point earned away from home for this newly promoted side.

Unlike the previous 8 matches FCR has played this season, the boys came out of the gate flying to open the match. FCR controlled a lot of the play and created several early chances. Masutani had a very nice shot on net but unfortunately it was directly at the Verdy GK. Tomidokoro was almost able to convert a header from a Tokumoto cross but the Verdy GK was once again up to the task. FCR’s best opportunity of the first half came when Keita Tanaka was set free in the right part of the Verdy 18-yard box and had a wide-open shot on net. If you recall, he converted a similar situation against Omiya by placing it low and hard back across the keeper but this time Tanaka opted for power that sent the shot high and wide of goal. 9 times out of 10 Tanaka will convert these opportunities but it just wasn’t the case today.

Verdy quickly responded with two chances of their own around the 32nd and 39th minute. A Verdy cross found a wide open #19 Junki Koike on the edge of the FCR 6-yard box who miss judged the bounce of the ball on the volley and sent it over the net. It didn’t matter though as Verdy would convert their next chance when a very penetrating run by Verdy went undefended, followed by a clever back heel to set up Kota Watanabe’s 39th minute goal. FCR looked lazy tracking back on defense and there were a few notable mistakes on the play. First, the FCR midfield afforded too much space and time to Verdy and when Kawai finally stepped up to challenge the Verdy player, he over committed and created a gap in the defense. The second one was when Fukui turned his back to the on rushing player assuming that he had defensive help in support and the Verdy player let rip with a very nice shot, through a wide-open shooting lane, that went past Carvajal to the right and into the back of the net.

The second half ended with Verdy up 1-0 but FCR was creating all the chances, however, they weren’t able to convert any of them. These things happen from time to time so it would be interesting to see how FCR would respond in the second half.

Things didn’t start out so great for FCR as they were allowing Verdy to dictate the flow of the game and nearly found themselves down 2-0 when Fukui made an unsuccessful rash challenge that sent #11 Hayashi free on goal with only Carvajal to beat. You knew the Verdy striker was going to attempt to round the keeper after Carvajal closed down the distance and you also knew it was one of those plays where if the FCR GK miss times the challenge, its surely a PK and possibly a sending off. Well, there was a PK following the Carvajal challenge as he brought down Hiyashi in the box but it was only a yellow card and Carvajal took the worst of it as he was bleeding profusely from his nose. Carvajal was able to continue and eventually ended up saving the PK to keep FCR in the match.

Danny has been a revelation for FCR back there this season and, in my humble opinion, is battling with Koji Suzuki for FCR MVP. I wish there were more shutouts for him but he is always in the right spot at the right time and you cannot fault the GK when the defenders in front of him don’t’ close down players to prevent shots.

FCR almost conceded another goal to Verdy shortly after the penalty kick, but once again Carvajal stepped up to block the shot with his chest and keep the score line at 1-0. Outside of a Tomidokoro chance that went harmlessly wide, there wasn’t much for FCR until stoppage time.

During stoppage time FCR would create 3 notable chances to tie the match. First, #28 Yoshio Koizumi sent a screamer on goal that went just wide of the post. Shortly thereafter Koji Suzuki had a chance to equalize but his attempted volley sailed over the bar. However, it was the FCR captain Uesato, who achieved the breakthrough for FCR in the 95th minute. There was a lot of extra time this half due to the Carvajal injury and that really helped FCR out as they were building a lot momentum leading up the goal.

Uesato was able to hit the ball first time after a Kawai shot was deflected by the Verdy defense, and then the clearance landed in front of Uesato, who hit it with power and placement past the diving Verdy GK. You could see how much the goal meant for Uesato ,and for FCR, but even more so for the FCR fans. You could hear our supporters cheering very loudly on the television and the place where I was watching the match erupted. It was a great moment and one I am glad to have shared with some new FCR fans.

The match would end 1-1 and push FCR up to 4th before the final results of the J2 were registered for the week’s matches.

Match Takeaways: 1.) FCR ended up with 54% possession on the day and dominated a lot of the open play. They were attacking the right side of the Verdy defense early, as I suggested as a key to success in the preview article, but the goal would ultimately come from the left side. In fact, they started attacking more down the left in the second half. FCR would also register 21 shots on the day with 14 of them on net. Nice to see these statistics from FCR and the goals will start falling eventually if they keep it up.

2.) It seems Higuchi is opting to start Kawai and then bring Uejo on in the second half of matches. Kawai definitely has speed to burn, and it can trouble the opposing team’s defenders, but Kawai needs to develop better ball control. There were a few times when he lost control in developing situations for FCR that would derail our attack. 

3.) FCR needs more work on the training ground for their set pieces. FCR had a lot of corner kicks in the first half and none of them amounted to any real chances. They were either too low and easily cleared by the Verdy defense or were unable to pick out any FCR players in the box. It is vital to the success of this team this season to start converting some of these CKs and the FKs just outside the 18-yard box.

4.) #28 Yoshio Koizumi had a good 20 minutes of play near the end of the match and it will be interesting to see if he is preferred to Kawai next week versus Kagoshima. He created a few chances in stoppage time and generally looked good on the ball during his first run out. He also isn’t afraid to shoot and nearly notched the tying goal for FCR. I’d like to see more of him before I get too far ahead of myself and suggest that he could be the potential Nakagawa replacement that FCR has been missing these past 5 weeks. Let’s also not forget FCR has another blossoming talent in Uejo and hopefully he’s match fit for a full 90 minutes next week.

5.) The overall depth of our back line is surely to be tested for the next few matches until Nishioka returns. Tokumoto looks tired and his crosses don’t nearly have the same height or venom compared to earlier in the season. FCR needs reliable reinforcements back there that can spell our starting 4 defenders because they are one injury away from having to answer some very though questions.

Well, I really enjoyed watching the match with some new friends and fans of FCR, especially Shimabukuro. I will see all of you later this week with the Match Day 10 preview. 

Match Day 9 Preview: Tokyo Verdy vs FCR

Match Day Info: 04/13/2019 (H) Tokyo Verdy vs FCR (A) at the Ajinomoto Stadium Kickoff at 14:00

Weather Forecast: Sunny with temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit (24C) at kickoff with slight 5 mph winds. Temperatures will stay near the high 50s low 60s all game and there is a 0% chance of rain at the time of this posting. It seems as if it will be cool but sunny so I’d recommend a light jacket and hat/sunglasses.

FCR will once again travel to the Tokyo area this time to take on Tokyo Verdy at the 49,000 seat Ajinomotoa stadium. Verdy share this stadium with FC Tokyo but don’t bring in nearly the same size of crowds as the J1 tenants. In fact, they are averaging around 4,300 per match but that also includes a home game played at a much smaller venue this past mid-week. FCR are coming off their historic performance against Kashiwa Reysol this past Sunday where they drew 1 all to become the all time J League leader in consecutive undefeated matches at home with 26.

Tokyo Verdy: 16th in J2 with 8 points. 2W2D4L Current Form LDWDL Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

Verdy are a strange team in that they can show flashes of brilliance at certain times but also display a penchant for losing their concentration at critical moments of the game. They responded rather quickly against Tochigi when the visitors were up 1-0 but then let the game slip away with 2 late goals to lose 3-2. They narrowly earned a draw against Tokushima on the road when a later corner was deflected in off the back of one of the Verdy players.

Verdy looked like a totally different team against Kashiwa Reysol two weeks ago as they pounced on the visitors for two early goals and ended up shutting out a good Reysol team 2-0 at home. Verdy then faced off against one of the early table toppers in Mito in the mid-week but this was a lackluster game that ended in a 0-0 draw.

Against J2 League leading Yamagata they nearly pulled off the upset on the road by taking the lead in the 44th minute only to concede in the 60th and 90th minute resulting in a 2-1 loss.

Players to Watch: #11 Ryohei Hayashi FW. He is their leading scored with 4 goals so far this season. He has a very dangerous left foot and has a penchant for heading balls into the back of the net. In the 6 games that I’ve seen his highlights, he moves effortlessly in the box, as well as around and in between the opposing teams’ defenders to create space for himself. He times his runs very well which almost seems to lull the opposing teams’ defenders to sleep before he quickly turns on the speed and gets past them and onto the end of a cross in the box. I feel Okazaki will have his hands full with Hayashi tomorrow.

FCR: 5th in J2 with 15 points. 4W3D1L Current Form WDDLD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

Emotions are riding high for FCR coming off their historic achievement this past weekend. I believe the late goal against Reysol will bolster their confidence and hopefully push them out to an early lead away from the friendly confines of Okinawa. Uejo’s 4th goal of the season was massive for the club and community but has also propelled him into the joint top 4 scorer in J2 this season. While his two prior goals may have been originally intended as crosses for Suzuki, this last goal left little doubt in anyone’s mind when he smashed it home on the volley.

FCR have failed to win in their last 4 matches but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are experiencing a drop off in performance. They have faced some tough teams over that stretch that includes drawing on the road against the current league leaders Yamagata, coming from behind twice to secure draws at home against Yamaguchi and Kashiwa and the tough loss during the shortened week where they nearly made something of the match against JEF.

FCR Keys to Victory: 1.) Attack the left side of Tokyo Verdy. In the matches I reviewed for this preview they were absolutely terrible down the left side of their defense. This means that either Tanaka, and hopefully a healthy Nishioka, can exploit Verdy with plenty of open space to send crosses into the box. For whatever reason, the Verdy defense down the left cannot organize itself and allows acres of space to opposing teams as well as ample opportunities to send shots and crosses into the dangerous 6-yard box. 2.) Take #11 Hayashi out of the match with good man marking and Verdy will have little to offer in the attack going forward. If FCR can keep a close eye on Hayashi and make life difficult for him then we should have no problem slowing down the Verdy attack.

3.) Dominate the possession and shots on net. The more FCR can pressure Verdy at the back the more chances that their defense will crumble and begin conceding goals. The Verdy defense is not that great but it is imperative FCR get on the front foot, shrug off any slow start and begin attacking. Tomidokoro could have a very nice game here by setting up Suzuki and our defenders with some well placed crosses into the box from the right side.

Match Prediction: I like both teams to score and for FCR to possibly upset the home side. We can expect, with a high degree of certainty anyways, that FCR will start out slow and allow their opponents some early opportunities. Verdy has capitalized on that once this season so it is crucial that FCR bend, but don’t break, on defense and then begin the attack on the Verdy defense.

Well good luck to Hiroaki Ikema, the FC Ryukyu Kanto region supporters and everyone else I haven’t mentioned that intends to show up to this match. Cheer the boys on as loud as you can and bring home the victory.

See you on Monday with the match recap.

So Now What?

Now that FCR has achieved the record of 26 consecutive home matches without defeat, the question becomes, what is next for this club? The question itself is vague in that “next” could mean so many things to different people. For example, next could refer to another J League or club record set by FCR, or it could simply refer to the future challenges facing FCR this season. For this entry, next will refer to the remaining fixtures for FCR this season and more importantly, identifying the potential pitfalls and opportunities in the schedule.

While it is very easy to get caught up in the romantic notion that FCR could somehow achieve the unthinkable and find themselves in contention for a J2 title or promotion to J1, the reality is much different. FCR needs a new stadium and practice facility in order to get a J1 license and they are a ways away from that point. The focus for FCR this season, as it always should have been even after their fast start, is to remain in the J2 for next year and establish a larger fan base for the future. I am sure many of you are tired of hearing me promoting this view point, but with no real chance for promotion to J1 coupled with the fact that we are the new boys on the block, this should be the benchmark for a successful season for FCR this year.

With that in mind let us now take a deeper look at the remaining fixtures for FCR broken down into 5 categories. The first category will include match days 8 & 9, second will see match day 11 though 20, third will start with match day 21 and end with match day 30, fourth category is match day 31 through 40 and the fifth and final category is match days 41 & 42. There may have been a better way to break these up but this breakdown will suit some of the points I make throughout this entry. As a side note, I will revisit the remaining fixtures for FCR throughout the season because the fortunes of teams are also likely to change over the course of the season. Teams that are at or near the top or bottom may no longer find themselves in those same spots later in the season with injuries also likely affecting a team’s performance and standing.

Season to Date:

Through 8 games this year FCR has seen a fast start of 4 wins from 4 followed by 3 draws and a defeat in their last 4 matches. The early part of the schedule has also been kind to FCR since they’ve just wrapped the first series of 3 games in 8 days with only minor injuries to the club as well as having already traveled to their farthest North (or east depending on your perspective) away match this season in Yamagata. This cannot be taken for granted as FCR will be spending many hours in the air this year and will be far and away the team that travels the most in all of the J League.

Category 1: Match Days 8 & 9.

FCR sit on 15 points from 8 matches and are roughly 1/3 of the way to what should be considered a relative safe amount of points to avoid relegation (42/43). They are the top goal scoring team in J2 and sit mid table when it comes to the amount of goals they’ve conceded compared to the rest of the teams. First up is Tokyo Verdy FC. Verdy are a strange side right now as it seems they “play to the level of their competition.” What I mean by that is they’ve lost to teams that are in the bottom half of the table and have beaten or drawn with sides in the top half. Verdy are also much stronger at home then on the road so this will be a real test for FCR. A point from this fixture would be massive for FCR. Next up is Kagoshima.

Our fellow J3 promoted side hasn’t fared as well as FCR this year in the J2. They haven’t won since the opening day, they have failed to score in their last 6 matches and are at the bottom of the table. However, one could make the argument that FCR maybe just the remedy that Kagoshma need to end their goal scoring drought as FCR have only kept one clean sheet all season. Regardless, this is a match that FCR must go and win on the road to further distance themselves from the drop zone. Kagoshima are ripe for the picking and anything less than 3 points from this match should be considered a failure. I say that because both these teams were pegged as the likely drop candidates at the start of the season and with one of them failing to fire, FCR must be lethal and put them to the sword early and often.

If FCR come away with 3-6 points from these two fixtures we will be sitting very pretty heading into the J2 grind. For this entry lets assume FCR go 1-1 in these two fixtures and sit on 18 points heading into match day 11.

Category 2: Match Days 11-20

As of this writing, this part of the schedule sees FCR play 3 teams in the top 6 of the table all at home. That is Mito, Kanazawa and Kofu. FCR only plays 2 teams in the bottom 6 of the table in Gifu and Nagasaki and they are both on the road. That means FCR plays 5 matches against the middle part of the table with 2 of those at home compared to 3 on the road.

First, FCR welcome Zelvia on match day 11 and their current away form is 1 win from 4. This is shaping up as a winnable game for FCR and one has to believe that there could be some revenge narrative to this game for Suzuki. Assuming that he’ll be up for this game, FCR need to take maximum points against an opponent that doesn’t travel well. Traveling to FC Gifu the following week sees FCR play a team that on paper looks strong at home with 2 wins and 2 draws from 4 matches, but those numbers are deceiving. FC Gifu hasn’t won since the 9th of March and have only scored once since that victory. This is another team in flux that FCR needs to target for maximum points. Mito come to town the following week and they are a team, at least early on it seems, that travels well. Mito haven’t lost on the road at all this season. Some pundits, like Stuart @sushi_football, claim that Mito are one of those sides that start very fast and taper off as the season drags on. This is match day 13 and could still be considered early in the season so therefor I am going to argue that FCR and Mito play to a hard-fought draw.

The next run of fixtures for FCR goes as follows: Okayama away, Nigata at home, Yokohama away, Kanazawa home, Kyoto away, Kofu at home and end with Nagasaki on the road. These matches are getting tougher and tougher to predict the farther out we get, but I am going to assume that FCR goes through a long spell of matches without a win, draws against Yokohama on the road and ends this category with a win on the road versus Nagasaki. That means FCR could taste their first home defeat since 2017 as well as suffer through a 7-game win-less streak starting with the Mito match. The Nagasaki match will prove crucial to the overall success for FCR this year if that Nagasaki squad cannot bounce back from their slow start and/or have a managerial change mid-season. That is a game to target for FCR because the upcoming 3rd category has an absolutely brutal run of fixtures for FCR.

So that would be a total of 11 points earned for FCR in this part of the season bringing their predicted total up to 29.

Category 3: Match Days 21-30

Before FCR can even get into this run of fixtures they first need to compete in the Emperors Cup on July 3rd. The Emperors cup has always been an enigma for me since I always wanted to see a larger J League Club come visit Okinawa but it was never the case. Thanks to Alan over at the @JSoccerMagazine, I was able to understand the scheduling process of the JFL for this tournament. While at the J3 level it was totally fine to target some of these games and start the regular lineup but I believe this will prove costly for FCR this season if they go this route. The J2 is the most important competition for FCR right now and the FCR squad is not large enough to support a “cup run” in any form this year. This was evident the last 2 weeks by having Masutani start at RB while the starting RB, Nishioka, recovers from injury. Depth is key for games outside of the J League and FCR just doesn’t have that right now but that shouldn’t matter. The Emperors Cup game comes 4 days after Nagasaki and 2 days before match day 21 against Tochigi. If we consider that FCR has to play Nagasaki and Yamaguchi (Emperors Cup Opening Round Fixture) on the road I hope the team stays on mainland and doesn’t travel back. However, the traveling squad isn’t nearly the size of the team here in Okinawa with all the reserves, since roughly only 16 players travel to away matches. That means FCR may start some of the regulars in the Emperors Cup. I wish they would just brush this competition off for this season by starting a bunch of reserves and focus on the J2 season. Time will tell I guess.

Apologies for my lengthy view on the Emperors Cup but I think it was slightly necessary to set the stage for this run of fixtures. This is about the “make or break” time for teams with championship aspirations and those who don’t want to be scratching and clawing for desperately needed points near the end. This part of the season is where the table will start to solidify with the stronger teams moving closer to the “North Pole” of the table and weaker sides stating to get dragged closer to the “South Pole.”

If FCR remains solely focused on the J2 season then I think they can string together a couple of wins starting with match day 20 though match day 22. I believe FCR can beat both Tochigi and Okayama at home in consecutive weeks. A draw is the most likely result against Mito as now they’ve hit the half way point of the season and could be experiencing a drop off in play. FCR will have another spate of 3 games in 8 days beginning with Nigata away, followed by JEF at home and then ending on the road versus Reysol. I think we may lose all 3 of those in a row. However, FCR should bounce back nicely with consecutive wins at home against Nagasaki and Yokohama, then experience a slight wobble against Tokushima on the road with a loss and finally earn a draw at home to a possibly revitalized FC Gifu.

14 points from 30 sees the predicted FCR total rise to 43! Benchmark achieved.

Category 4: Match Day 31-40

Assuming FCR can achieve the mark of relative safety at this point in the season, now would be a good time to allow some of the younger players on the squad to get some J2 experience. This is a very ambitious prediction because there is still almost 1/3 of the J2 season left but nothing that FCR has done so far should indicate that they will be needing to fight for points near the end. If not by this time in the season, then hopefully shortly thereafter, FCR should secure J2 football for 2020.

Considering this part of the season doesn’t begin until September 7th, a slew of things is likely to have occurred to all sides in the form of injures, transfers or terrible runs of play. But seeing how we are basing everything on the first 8 matches of the young season, we’ll continue as if things are the same.

The slate is as follows: Kagoshima at home, Kanazawa away, Yamagata at home, Zelvia and Fukuoka on the road, Tokyo Verdy at home, Tochigi away, Omiya at Home, Yamaguchi away and closes out with Kyoto at home.

I just want to talk about some notable fixtures in there for a moment. The Kagoshima match at home on match day 31 could be vital to both squads. Depending on their fortunes, either team could be viewing this match as way to stave off relegation and send the other into the drop zone. FCRs remaining fixtures for the season are not kind and that makes early season points so massive for the club. FCR ends the season against Omiya, Yamaguchi, Kyoto, Ehime and Kofu. FCR will also most likely be facing rejuvenated squads in Omiya and Yamaguchi and the early season success FCR had against those teams may be reversed later.

Assuming all is perfect up to this point, FCR could take 10 points from these games bringing the predicted total to 53.

Category 5: Match Day 41 & 42

At this point, we cannot say with any certainty that FCR has not sustained any major injuries to key players, sold some key players in a transfer window, advanced in the Emperors Cup to the point of playing 2-3 extra fixtures or earned the absolute minimum points to survive. With that in mind the most likely last chance at 3 points will occur on match day 41 against Ehime on the road. FCR play their final two matches of the 2019 J2 season on the road and this could be their last best chance at 3 points. I say that only in the event that Kofu is involved in the promotion battle for J1. Kofu could be battling for the number 2 spot in the J2 table for automatic promotion or jockeying for position in spots 3-6 for the promotion playoffs. Outside of Kofu having already secured promotion for 2020, this will be no easy game. If FCR survival came down to this match, well I am glad I will be there in attendance.

Predicted Season Total of 56. 15W 11D 16L slightly under .500 record, mid table, possibly top half of table.

While this was a fun little experiment there is absolutely no way of predicting what the J2 season has in store. Certainly no one thought FCR would have achieved this much success at this point in the season and there is so much more drama that needs to occur this year.

FCR are a good squad and have a very nice balance of players. They could certainly use some reinforcements in the transfer window but that will largely depend on revenue accrued throughout the season. FCR will also remain competitive in matches all season and will surprise us from time to time with their results, both good and bad but that’s to be expected of a team playing together for the first time in their first J2 season. The simple answer for FCR this year is to achieve maximum points from the teams you should beat, take points from the tougher sides when possible and don’t lose focus by playing down to an inferior opponent’s level resulting in dropped points. Remember, FCR cannot sprint up to the J1 as there are many actions that need to occur before that can happen. A successful, enjoyable season to grow the club and fan base is the goal.

Match Day 8 Recap: FCR 1 – 1 Kashiwa Reysol 4/7/2019

It was a memorable day for FCR this past weekend as they were able to secure a draw against a very tough opponent in Kashiwa Reysol and become the first club in the history of the J League to remain unbeaten at home for 26 consecutive matches. The historic moment was also witnessed by one of the largest crowds on record for an FCR match, 7,913, and I hope this is the catalyst that continues to bring more and more fans to the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. Not even the rain near the end of the match, despite me telling you in the preview that it wouldn’t rain, could dampen the spirits of the Ryukyu faithful who braved the early heat to witness history. It was a truly remarkable scene at the stadium.

FCR came out in their typical 4-2-3-1 that saw Tomidokoro start at CAM, Uesato returning to his CDMF position, Masutani again filling in for the injured Nishioka and Kawai getting his first start of the season at LMF. Despite my wishes for Reysol to rest key players with their mid-week tilt in the Levain Cup, they came out in full-force.

The match started out pretty much as expected with Reysol getting on the front foot and ultimately getting out in front. I stated in the match preview that I was hoping it would be FCR that got out to an early lead with a fast start but this wasn’t to be the case. A misdirection set piece was once again the undoing of FCR. In the 3rd minute, #9 Cristiano for Reysol sent a short, head level heighted cross into the box, that was able to be headed backwards in front of goal from the onrushing Reysol player and would land at the feet of #19 Gabriel that tapped it just over the outstretched arms of Carvajal who was tracking back across net. This type of misdirection header has caught FCR a couple of times this season. I cannot tell if it is a lack of concentration on our part by not tracking the runs of the opposing teams until the completion of the play or it is just one of those things that happens from time to time in football. Regardless, FCR found themselves down 1-0 for the second consecutive match and would now need to dig themselves out of this hole.

Reysol would keep up the pressure against FCR where in the 12th minute a long range knuckle ball effort from Reysol really tested Carvajal. FCR had an opportunity to level in the 17th minute when Masutani made a nice play on a ball inside the box by basically securing the ball and then jumping straight up in the air with it trapped between his feet over the Reysol defender. His pass found a wide-open Okazaki after he landed but unfortunately his shot sailed high over the bar. In the 31st minute #18 Segawa was set free on net after splitting our central defenders but Carvajal was able to get a hand to the shot and parry it away from danger.

The remainder of the first half saw two more chances for FCR to level with the most notable coming from Tanaka. He tested one of the Japanese National Team Keepers in #23 Nakamura with a well-aimed shot to the top left corner of goal that Nakumara was able to get his hands on and maintain the 1-0 Reysol lead at half time.

FCR pretty much took over the possession battle in the second half as they began to press for the equalizer. Tomidokoro put a very hard shot on net from a Suzuki cross that was only saved because it was right at the keeper from that short of distance. Had that shot been placed anywhere to the left or right of Nakamura the match could’ve ended differently. The final nervy moment of the match for Carvajal came in the 64th minute when Cristiano sent a dangerous shot across goal that Carvajal was able to push wide past the net.

The breakthrough for FCR occurred in the 82nd minute when a Tokumoto cross found a wide open Uejo just outside the 6-yard box. It was one of those in between crosses where Uejo wasn’t going to commit to heading the ball and it was too high to be trapped at his feet followed by an attempt on net. Instead, Uejo struck it first time at waist level into the upper right side of goal to bring FCR level with about 7 minutes and stoppage time to play. The cross was well placed by Tokumoto but Uejo still had so much to do with it and the youngster responded tremendously well in the situation by stunning the Reysol keeper.

There were a few more opportunities for FCR near the end but they just couldn’t get the second past Nakamura and the match would end 1 all. The celebration began in the stands shortly thereafter and it was great to see the FCR staff put up a graphic on the screen indicating that FCR had set a new J League record. The team was also kind enough to walk around the entire stadium as well as come to the stands to thank the fans.

Takeaways from Match Day 8: 1.) FCR continued the trend of starting off slow and allowing their opponent to take several early chances, which ultimately cost them on the day. I am not sure if this is by design so our manager and team can see the expected shape and movement of the opponent or it just how FCR operates at the moment. 2.) To echo what Stuart, from @sushi_football, said on the @JTalkPod this week, FCR responded very well after coming off a tough road defeat and then face a very good opponent in Reysol. The lessons learned against JEF as well as the way FCR responded that match definitely paid dividends against Reysol this past week. This should definitely boost the confidence levels of the team that will hopefully see them win some tightly contested matches later this year.

3.)  Carvajal was the real hero this match as his play both early on and later in the match afforded FCR the ability to level the game. He was under siege early on and it looked as if Reysol was going to add to their lead. Thankfully, Carvajal answered the call time and time again against the Reysol attack. 4.) FCR maybe lacking some depth at RB/LB if Masutani is forced to play there with the injury to Nishioka. The games are starting to pile up and injuries are due to occur throughout the season so it stands to reason that we will need to replace guys from time to time. However, sliding the starting CB over to a position he may have occupied during his early days at FCR won’t allow him to get the much-needed rest he deserves. It also means that we cannot rotate Okazaki or Fukui and risk not having a healthy back line for long stretches of the season. If possible, FCR needs to either activate and play some of the defenders on the roster so as to gain the necessary match experience at this level, or strengthen the squad in the transfer window and add some depth if the younger players are not the immediate answer.

5.) The fact that FCR was once again able to control the tempo of the match and create opportunities while down a goal bodes very well for the season. The way they responded against Reysol, a team that many pundits tipped to be the J2 winners this season, means that no matter the opponent, FCR will not be over-matched. Of course this depends heavily on the fitness levels and health of our players but for the time being, FCR has displayed the ability to go hunting for goals and has shown that they can respond under pressure.

FC Ryuyku’s next two matches are on the road against Tokyo Verdy and Kagoshima. Verdy are a much stronger team at home compared to the road as their record indicates. It will be a feisty affair that I hope FCR can see out for positive points. Kagoshima are a different story as they haven’t won since the opening day and have failed to score in their last 6 matches. Kagoshima now find themselves at the foot of the table and this is shaping up as a must win game for FCR in order to put some distance between them and the relegation zone. Until then, a big thank you to everyone that attended the match this past weekend as it was truly spectacular and I look forward to seeing you all again in a few weeks.

Match Day 8 Preview: FCR vs Kashiwa Reysol

Match Day Info: 04/07/2019 (H) FCR vs Kashiwa Reysol (A) at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium (Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 1600.

Weather Forecast: Excellent! Temperatures will be in the high 70s (25C) at kickoff and pretty much remain constant throughout the entire match. It is expected to be slightly overcast with a 5mph wind. If you are sitting in Section A, I strongly encourage bringing a hat and or sunglasses for when the sun breaks through the clouds as you’ll be looking directly into the sun.

Match Day 8 sees former J1 club, Kashiwa Reysol, make their first ever visit to the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. Match Day 8 is a culmination of 3 games in 8 days for both sides with each club entering the match from different perspectives. FCR lost its mid-week tilt against JEF United Chiba 1-0 while Kashiwa easily brushed aside V. Varen Nagasaki 3-0. This match will feature the #3 & #4 teams in J2 and was one I earmarked as a potential “thigh rubber” a few weeks back. This should be a very enjoyable match to watch so I hope to see a lot of people out there as I expect the Reysol fans to show in large numbers today.

Kashiwa Reysol: 3rd in J2 with 15 points. 5W0D2L. Current Form WWLLW. Typical Formation 4-2-3-1.

Kashiwa required late goals against both Nigata and Kyoto to secure victory and they didn’t look particularly threatening in either case. Their loss to Okayama the following week at home could’ve turned out markedly different if any of the 3 shots that rattled the posts or crossbar had gone in, but ultimately, they allowed Okayama to hang around and push a late goal past them.

#26 Olunga for Reysol made his return to the lineup against Tokyo Verdy, a team which lost in the promotion/relegation playoffs last season to Jubilo Iwata. Verdy came out on the front foot and shell-shocked Reysol with 2 quick goals that were only 2 minutes apart in the first half. Reysol created a few more chances that match but they were not able to recover from the quick Verdy start or put one past the Verdy Keeper near the end of the game.

Against V.Varen Nagasaki, the other J1 cub that was relegated to J2 from last season, they looked much more lethal. The score line ended 3-0 in favor of Reysol but it could have ended much worse for Nagasaki as there was an offside goal called back for Reysol as well as several near misses that could’ve seen a score line closer to 6-0.

Players to Watch: #9 Cristiano FW. I can recall the first time I saw Reysol playing while living here in Japan was an Asian Champions League match back in 2015. Cristiano featured on that squad and ultimately that side made it to the quarterfinal of the ACL. My how the mighty have fallen and Reysol’s tumble out of the J1 should probably serve as a cautionary tale for many J League organizations. But back to Cristiano, he is the key play maker on Reysol. He is able to take part in both the build up of plays as well as finish plays off by putting well aimed shots on net. FCR would do well to know where he is at during all times.

#26 Olunga FW. He is a very tall, very powerful striker that will cause problems all day for FCR. As we’ve seen against other powerful strikers this season, think Baiano from Yamagata, FCR has a tough time dealing with their speed and power. I hope Okazaki and whoever else is at CB for FCR are well rested as this will certainly be a test. Olunga is 6’3” (1.90m) and he can rise really well for headers on set pieces so this will also challenge the FCR defense. Granted, his brace against Nagasaki saw some woeful defending by the guests and Olunga was able to freely roam the box and was unmarked on his headed goal.

#18 Yusuke Segawa MF. Segawa makes very nice runs in and around the 18-yard box and is an excellent complimentary piece to the aforementioned attackers for Reysol. He is powerful in his own right and will test both Tokumoto and Nishioka down the flanks all game. He has one goal on the season but has registered 24 shots in all competitions.

FCR: 4th in J2 with 14 points. 4W2D1L. Current Form WWDDL. Typical Formation 4-2-3-1.

FCR is coming off their first loss this season after their mid-week match against JEF. The game featured several changes to the FCR lineup with the notable switch to RB for Masutani. FCR was unlucky to convert some of the chances they had for a goal but it was an encouraging performance by the boys on the road.

Considering this is the 3rd game in 8 days for FCR there may be some lineup changes for this match as well. Uesato didn’t feature this past game and I hope it wasn’t due to injury. We will absolutely need him out there today to command the midfield for FCR. Tomidokoro and Uejo came off early against JEF so I fully expect to see them in the starting lineup today. I do not know if we will see both Suzuki and Tanaka start as they both played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday.

Keys to FCR Victory: 1.) Shock and Awe approach. If FCR can get out to an early lead it maybe all they need against Reysol. All of Reysol games this season have featured them either winning by shutting out their opponent or losing by failing to score. There is one exception but I am not counting the Levain Cup matches. In games that Reysol lost, they were unable to unlock the opponents defense and lacked a bit of creativity. An early lead could prove massive for FCR.

2.) FCR must play within themselves. If they are facing a deficit, FCR needs to approach the match in similar fashion to JEF. Reysol is not the best defending team, as some of their score-lines would suggest, and opponents have been able to get in behind the back line and create problems for Reysol. Depending on the FCR injures and lineup, Kawai’s speed down the flanks could prove troubling for Reysol and it will be interesting to see how we employ him this match.

3.) Full team effort on defense. Reysol has some serious firepower in Olunga, Cristiano and Segawa and while it is impossible to cover all 3 at any one moment, FCR would do well to have their MFs drop back in support of the Left and Right defensive backs. Tokumoto and Nishioka will be tested and we can certainly assume that Okazaki and either Fukui or Masutani will be dealing with Olunga which leaves Cristanio open as the CAM. Strong defensive play through the middle of the pitch will be key for FCR and we will need to limit the number of crosses into the box as Olunga’s height may prove too much for our CBs.

Game Prediction: Unlike some of Reysol’s previous matches in J2, I don’t believe this one will be a shutout and I see both teams scoring on the day. FCR may get lucky and see Reysol rest some of their notable players due to an approaching mid-week fixture in the Levain Cup but we will have to wait and see. Reysol has played two more games than FCR this season with the Levain competition and the only other time Reysol made wholesale changes to their lineup was the first round of the Levain competition back in early March. Personally, I’d love to see a player like Cristiano, who has featured in every minute of Reysol’s past few matches, take a rest today but again, we’ll have to wait and see.

I hope that the FCR faithful and Okinawa community show up in full force for this match as I fully expect the Reysol fans to turn up in large numbers. This will make for a great footballing atmosphere and exciting match. See you all out there!

Match Day 7 Recap: JEF United Chiba 1 – 0 FCR 4/3/2019

Well it was inevitable that FCR would have to lose at some point this season. I don’t think any of us believed they could go 42 games unbeaten but they way they approached the match should leave us all feeling very encouraged moving forward.

On a crisp night in Chiba in which FCR had 51% possession, it was JEF who would emerge victorious with 1-0 win. As I mentioned in the match preview, it was a cagey affair that saw Koji Suzuki often involved in a few shoving matches throughout the game. FCR almost took the lead in the 13th minute when Masutani rose for a header that went over the JEF goal keeper and clanged off the crossbar. FCR had a few more chances that half but were done in by the nice movement of JEF in the 18-yard box just 10 minutes before half time.

Carvajal was called into action several times leading up the goal and he responded very well to each challenge. The JEF goal was a combination of nice passes and the FCR defenders not matching the runs of the attacking JEF players. Therefore, there was nothing Carvajal could’ve done to stop the shot. Fukui and Okazaki got crossed up near the top the box by Fukui’s missed challenge on the JEF player which meant that Okazaki had to track back to cover the space Fukui would have occupied. This also resulted in Masuatani, who was playing out of position at RB this match, to move a little closer to the CBs and narrow the FCR defense on the play. A quick pass to the left side of the box found a wide open JEF player, that Masuatani failed to track, who then sent a dangerous pass across goal that found #11 Hisato Sato, whose run was also not tracked by Okazaki because he himself was attempting to recover after the JEF play had pulled our central defenders apart. Truth be told, you could just feel that a JEF goal was coming as they started to increase the pressure on FCR after FCR had started so well.

FCR created some chances in the second half most notably from the play of Kawai who I pegged, albeit incorrectly, to start the mach. He made some nice passes and almost made something of his chance in the 80th minute but unfortunately the ball sailed over the top of goal. Could Kawai have passed it? Possibly, but we’ll never know. The match ended 1-0 and you could see that it meant so much for the JEF players who were seeking their first home win of the season.

Key Takeaways from the match for FCR: 1.) It was very encouraging to see that the atmosphere and occasion were not too big for FCR. What I mean by this is that FCR did not looked over-matched and didn’t “chase” the game as so many teams do when they are overwhelmed by their surroundings. FCR executed all well-organized attack across the front and it was far more balanced this match than the previous 6.

2.) FCR made some changes to the back line and personally I think this was a mistake on a short week. This is merely my opinion but I felt that on a short week it may have been better to keep the same back 6 we’ve played all season since it was a road game on a short week. The players swapped into the lineup probably got very little time to prepare with one another and forcing Masutani out wide, a position he may have played when he first came to FCR years ago, proved damaging. If this were a home game on a short week the change may have made sense because the squad could’ve had time to gel prior to the match and not concern themselves with traveling. I hope we have a better long-term solution when Nishioka is out of the lineup because like all players, Masutani will need his rest at some point.

3.) Suzuki was a beast out there and I am not sure what occurred during his time with Zelvia against JEF but he definitely wanted a piece of the JEF players. I appreciated his edge and I know it kept FCR competitive throughout the match. I hope he’s out there for Reysol on Sunday.

4.) I am slightly concerned with the lineup choices for this match only because I don’t think we went all in or all out for the match. It was certain that some players had to be rested but FCR could’ve either targeted this match for 3 points or attempted to hold out for a draw. I am concerned because so many of our guys played a full 90 minutes and they will only have 3 days to recover for the Reysol match. Just my opinion but we should’ve gone all in vs JEF and rested some weary legs versus Reysol. It will be interesting to see how our attacking players respond this Sunday.

5.) Kawai is developing into a nice player. He plays with a bit of controlled, reckless, abandonment. His speed frightens teams and his movement is excellent in and around the box. I’d like to see him get more playing time in order to gain confidence and accuracy in his shot placement, but I also see his value in coming on late and running at tired defenses.

6.) Yu Tomidokoro is getting his power back. His FK takes are getting better each game as he regains the strength he lost due to injury as well as his confidence. We will be celebrating one of his patented FK goals very soon.

7) Be encouraged FCR fans, be very encouraged by the team’s performance. Yes, it was a loss, but it was by no means and embarrassing loss. FCR was involved in the entire game and created several chances late on. Know that, when needed, FCR can drive forward and create opportunities with their players and attacking mind set. Trust me, you’d rather have that feeling than one of knowing your team offers nothing going forward and that a 1 goal deficit could prove fatal for your squad.

That’s it for this week’s recap. I’ll post the match preview vs Reysol on Saturday and see you all on Sunday!