Tag: okazaki

Match Day 4 Preview: (2) FC Ryukyu vs (10) V-Varen Nagasaki 3/20/21 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu will look to continue their fast start when they welcome in V-Varen Nagasaki this weekend. Ryukyu are in the midst of their longest winning streak in two seasons, while Nagasaki are looking to rebound from a rough start to the season. The match for FC Ryukyu is certainly their toughest to date, but at this point, a majority of the matches in the opening quarter of the season represent their own unique set of ‘firsts.’ First game of the year with a newly formed team; first road game; first game against a tougher opponent; first game against a weaker opponent; first game playing from a deficit; first game coming off a loss; and so on. Some may wonder if this Ryukyu side is for real. Well, we should have some idea at the end of this round.

  1. Weather Forecast & Match Day Info
  2. Match Day 3 Recaps
  3. Team Previews
    • FC Ryukyu
    • V-Varen Nagasaki
  4. Keys to Victory
  5. Prediction
  6. Match Day 4 in J2
  7. Conclusion

1. Weather Forecast and Match Day Information

Possibly the best weather forecast for Ryukyu this season. Slightly overcast, but the off chance it rains once again. Be prepared either way.

FC Ryukyu Match Day Information : The link will provide all the information you need if you plan on attending.

2. Match Day 3 Recap

Thespakusatsu Gunma 0-2 FC Ryukyu
V-Varen Nagasaki 1-1 Ehime FC

3. Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: When your team is on a 3-game winning streak, it is hard to find many faults as they’ve risen to the occasion every single time. Look no further than FC Ryukyu’s total time playing with a lead compared to playing from behind. 227 minutes played while leading, 64 minutes at an even score line, 0 minutes playing from behind. Granted, when you score two goals in the opening minute of two consecutive games that number is naturally going to be inflated. But they still kept Iwata and Gunma completely off the score sheet and prevented Renofa from scoring in the final 38 minutes.

All Stat Tables provided by @BlogGamba

In 2019, 5 of Ryukyu’s 13 wins came in the form of a shutout. That number jumped to 10 out of 14 in 2020. That can be attributed to the difference in the amount of goals conceded between those two seasons and so far Ryukyu are off to their best start defensively of any season in the J2. And that, as I stated in the first preview of 2021, will be the telling sign for the overall fate of the team this year. There is no doubt that Chinen benefited from his first season at the J2 level last year, and somehow, Okazaki has started to put it all together after what seemed to be a career trending in the wrong direction. At least for now we haven’t seen the poor judgement, consistently out of position play that plagued us at the back for much of the past few seasons.

Abe will continue to get his goals and eventually Ryukyu will start to dictate games from their mid-field, but for now, they are winning through defense. Even more so, they are winning with the same combination of players. Ryukyu remained roughly in tact through the transfer window despite the departures of Koizumi and Kawai that many expected and maybe, just maybe, these players have the experience required in Higuchi’s system to make some real noise in the J2 this year.

When you view the lineup each week you wonder how some of the better players are left off the bench, but I would argue that the sum of this team is much greater than the individual parts. In 2019, we had talented players in Suzuki, Nakagawa, and Uejo. In 2020, it was Abe, Koya, Koizumi and Kawai. But this side could never put it all together on both ends of the pitch. Perhaps the end of 2020 – with Taguchi, Tanaka, Okazaki, and Chinen starting – was actually the beginning of what Higuchi had hoped to create all these years. And now we are seeing the benefits of playing as team rather than a group of talented individuals.

V-Varen Nagasaki: I am happy to welcome in Daniel, author of the Nagasaki Blue & Orange Blog, for this week’s preview. Daniel has been one of the best English bloggers out there these past few years and his weekly previews/reviews are a must follow. So there is no better source on the state of Nagasaki and what we can expect from them this round.

Q. Great to talk with you once again my friend. I know things haven’t gone according to plan so far, but I guess that comes with the territory when there are high expectations surrounding the team. Personally, I think Nagasaki are too good of a team to be down for to long, and I also fear them busting out in a big way this week, but it seems they were a bit frustrated in the attack last week against Ehime. What do you think is holding them back?

A. Thanks for having me again, Geoff! Especially in the game against Ehime and even in the win against Kanazawa, the poor usage with our chances was the biggest issue. Had V-Varen won this game 4-1, I do not think anyone could have said that it was undeserved because we really were dominant for most of the game and only allowed Ehime to have four shots on target, of which two came in the moment they scored their goal. I am quite confident that we can turn this problem around as there are many decent offensive players in the squad and some of them (Edigar Junio, Ibarbo, Yamazaki) have yet to make an appearance this season.

What may be the bigger issue, is some of the decisions made by the new manager, Takayuki Yoshida. His substitutions have had a rather negative impact in every game so far. Against Niigata, players were all over the place, but not in the positions in which they have played their best football in the past. Against Ehime, we needed to score another goal and the team kept on attacking, but from the moment Caio and Togashi were subbed, V-Varen lost their momentum. I also wasn’t a big fan of the formation he used in Niigata.

Q. We are not even remotely close to the ¼ mark of the season, but what is your impression of Nagasaki through their first 3 games?

A. Overall, quite positive. Defensively, I think we may be even better than last season. The team was a bit unlucky in the situations that lead to Niigata’s and Ehime’s goals and in general, our opponents have had very few decent chances. Offensively, we just need to start scoring. The chances have been there already, the players just need to take them.

Q. I see that the formation changes week-to-week under Yoshida and that Luan has played across 3-MF positions already. This has to be somewhat unsettling for the players in the squad. In your opinion, is Yoshida attempting to bend the squad around his preferred 3-4-2-1, or is he coming around to utilizing the players that he inherited in their natural positions?

A. The formations used against Kanazawa and Ehime were quite similar – with four defenders and one target man up front. Just the midfield was arranged differently. Against Niigata, however, V-Varen started with five defenders and that meant that Yoshida replaced an attacking player with a central defender. Defensively, it worked well considering that Niigata only had a couple of chances from open play and they were shots from about 15-20 meters out, but offensively, the team was not able to really bother Albirex. Also, V-Varen have been very good defensively with four defenders (only 39 goals conceded last season), so I did not think it was necessary to weaken the offense just to have an extra defender on the pitch. And it became worse with all the substitutions in this game.

Luan started on the left, then moved into the center and finished the game on the right. Otake has played in right midfield or behind the striker for most of his career, but when he came off the bench against Niigata, he played on the left. Sawada, a winger, is very good going one-on-one and can take on several defenders, but Yoshida brought him on as left back and had him sit back as protection in case Albirex would go on a counter attack. Akino is a defensive midfielder and he is the best passer on the squad and has initiated many attacks with long balls, but he finished the game as central defender. Meanwhile, Shinzato, a central defender, played most of the second half as defensive midfielder.

None of this made sense to me and I was shocked by how the manager, who already spent last season with the team and should know the players’ strengths, just shifted them back and forth and into (for them) untypical positions. I hope the Niigata game is a one-off because to me it was chaotic. In the end, it all goes back to the question of whether a managerial change was necessary or not and if different tactics are needed. The team collected 80 points last season and finished with a goal difference of +27. I understand that every manager wants to implement his own ideas, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! V-Varen have a very decent squad and almost all key players remained at the club. If Yoshida can get his tactics sorted, we have a very good chance for promotion.

Q. Nagasaki is still waiting on some reinforcements who haven’t entered the country yet correct? Where do you think they will fit in?

A. As of now, all players, who are under contract, are there, but Edigar Junio and Victor Ibarbo arrived in Nagasaki relatively late and they have not been included in a matchday squad so far. Once he is ready to go, Edigar Junio should be our first-choice striker and from the comments I saw on Twitter, many in our community expect him to score 15-20 goals. As for Ibarbo, it is complicated. He was supposed to be one of the best players in the league as well, but last season only got six starts. I can only guess that he did not put in enough work in training to deserve more playing time, but he still made quite an impact with one goal or assist every 116 minutes of playing time. If he is ready to go to work, he is also a candidate for a starting role, but I think that is a big “IF”.

The club is also still trying to sign a winger called Wellington Rato from Brazilian Serie A team Atletico Goianiense and their president said last week, that V-Varen had matched the transfer/loan fee requested by Atletico, but a few days later he said that the deal was off due to a disagreement regarding the payment, which V-Varen apparently requested to split into two instalments. A few months ago, V-Varen were also trying to sign Winger Jaroensak Wonggorn from Thai League team, Samut Prakan City, but the clubs could not come to an agreement. However, last week there was news about V-Varen and a few J1 clubs, including Kashima, still being interested in him.

Q. Who has been the best Nagasaki player to date?

A. First name that comes to mind is Cayman Togashi. He works relentlessly and got his first goal of the season against Ehime. The second player is Luan and I think he will also play a big role throughout the season. He accumulated six goals and three assists last year while only playing 1084 minutes. That means he contributed a goal or assist every 120 minutes of playing time. In my Season Preview I mentioned him as candidate for team MVP and I think his ambition needs to be a candidate for league MVP.

Q. For some unknown reason V-Varen Nagasaki always seem to be a team that FC Ryukyu play well against. We’ve traded 3-2 home wins in 2019, then drew during the monsoon last year, and then ended with the 1-0 win in Nagasaki that dented your promotion hopes last year. In our case, we sometimes (on rare occasion) play up to our competition, but mostly we play down to lower competition. What do you think is the case when Nagasaki face Ryukyu?

A. What I noticed is that six of the seven goals FC Ryukyu scored against us in the past two seasons came in the 69th minute or later. V-Varen are not a team that concedes particularly many goals late in games, but even when we were up 3:0 in the first meeting of 2019, you guys still scored two beautiful goals in the final ten minutes and gave us quite a scare. Last season, when many teams just sat back against V-Varen and waited for counter attacks, FC Ryukyu were willing to take a risk and attack and they rewarded themselves with four points. So, I think that FCR just have a stubbornness and mental strength to them, which has helped them to surprise V-Varen and capitalize on their mistakes in the past four meetings between the two.

Q. What are your thoughts/predictions for this week’s game?

A. Before I started working on this preview, my prediction was a 1:0 win to Nagasaki, but because of what I just wrote in my reply to the previous question, I feel like we are going to need a two-goal lead in order to finally get an away win against you and that will be difficult. I expect both teams to have 15-20 strong minutes in each half and it is probably going to end in a 1-1 draw.

It was great to reconnect Daniel, I wish the best for you and your team this year -just not this week- and look forward to seeing Nagasaki in the thick of the promotion race. Cheers!  

Thank you, too, Geoff. I really enjoyed answering your questions and am looking forward to a decent game. Good luck to you guys for the rest of the season!

4. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Uesato/Koki/Ichimaru/Yu have to play one of their best defensive games of their life. Likelihood 2. V-Varen is extremely good at sucking defenders deep into their own box before finding an outlet pass to an unmarked player near the top. They also seem to have guys flying into the box from all directions when they are in possession at the opponent’s end. The outcome of this game hinges on our 2 central midfielders’ ability to track, and close down, those runs and crosses.

2. Be clinical in limited opportunities. Likelihood 4. Echoing what Daniel said about Nagasaki’s defense limiting their opponent’s scoring chances, Ryukyu will need to be lethal from limited chances. Ryukyu are not even close to maintaining the same levels of possession they enjoyed last year so quick counters, and finishing those counters, will be key. Hopefully all of those near misses the past few weeks will start to fall for Ryukyu.

5. Prediction

This is definitely a statement game for FC Ryukyu as well as a chance for V-Varen Nagasaki to right the ship. As Daniel mentioned, these two sides share a unique history especially when it comes to late goals scored by FC Ryukyu, but last week against Gunma was the first time all year that Ryukyu scored in the second half. Factoring in Daniel’s perspective for how Nagasaki are better defensively than last year, and limit scoring chances for their opponents, Ryukyu may have few scoring opportunities on Saturday. A 1-goal loss to Nagasaki would be considered respectable, any type of points earned by Ryukyu will fall into the green section of the Points over Expectation table I produce for each Match Report. I think Ryukyu put up a fight, but ultimately fall 2-1 to Nagasaki. Season Record 2-0-1.

6. Match Day 4 in J2

All times are Japan Standard Time

Another interesting round of fixtures with Niigata looking to extend their undefeated streak to 4 when they host Gunma, and then there are plenty of teams sitting just outside the top two who have a good shot at improving their position in the table based on their matchups this round.

J-League Int’l Free YouTube Broadcast: SC Sagamihara v Omiya Ardija

7. Conclusion

Thank you to Johnny (gambaosakaenglish.blog) and Daniel for their contributions to the preview this week. Their input has been invaluable and if you are not already following these two, you need to be.

Pretender or Contender? That is what we want to know about Ryukyu. Time to go out there and make a statement.

Match Day 1 Report: FC Ryukyu 1-0 Jubilo Iwata 2/28/21 #FC琉球

Intro

The J-League season kicked off in earnest this past weekend where FC Ryukyu hosted Jubilo Iwata in the opening fixture of 2021. Despite all the weather forecasts predicting a rather nice day to enjoy football, it was anything but with all the rain here in Okinawa. However, the wet weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the home crowd, or the team, as FC Ryukyu notched their first points, and first home win of the season by defeating Iwata 1-0 in front of 3,800 fans thanks to a Ren Ikeda first minute goal set up by none other than Keita Tanaka.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  4. Takeaways from Round 1
  5. Match Prediction
  6. Match Day 1 in J2
  7. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

https://www.transfermarkt.com/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3505171

2. Man of the Match

Junto Taguchi GK FC Ryukyu: The man was the sea wall that broke the unrelenting waves of the Iwata attack. 24 shots, 11 on target, and a little help from the framework. Junto continued the fine form he was in at the end of last season and despite my reservations, I think it is safe to say, he is the Ryukyu #1 GK moving forward.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Keep the foot on the Gas Pedal: Likelihood 3. Kind of hard to do this when they had less than 40% possession on the day. FC Ryukyu played on the back foot nearly all game.

2. Score from Set Pieces: Likelihood 2. Seeing how we created so few chances, from such little possession, there was only one clear cut chance to score from a CK, that Chinen sent wide.

4. Takeaways from Round 1

1. FC Ryukyu looked well organized at the back. This despite all the talk of attacking football by the manager. The combination of Okazaki and Chinen worked to perfection and Taguchi has probably earned DAZN first team honors this week with his performance. We will have to wait and see if this trend continues as I think when the game opens up to Ryukyu, so too will our defense to our opponents. The fact that Ryukyu were under constant pressure meant they had to compact their defense and play out from the back, but even then, the Ryukyu attackers didn’t help the cause with turnovers on their end that turned into quick counter attacks by Iwata.

2. Some of the questions surrounding the team were answered yesterday. First, Taguchi is the preferred #1 over Dany Carvajal at the moment. Second, and much to my dismay, Ikeda was given the nod over Nakagawa at CAM. We saw this early last year before Koizumi came on to usurp Ikeda, but Higuchi’s faith in Ikeda turned out to be correct as he was the lone goal scorer on the day. Third, Yong Jick was left out of the lineup and Chinen looked very good in his place. Finally, Higuchi dressed 3 reserve forwards in Uehara, Shintaro and Akamine. Considering the depth we have at MF, this was a bit of a shock. Maybe he expected to need the services of so many attacking players if Ryukyu were to chase the game, but that never happened.

3. We finally saw a Central Defender rise to meet a header on a CK. Chinen came close to pushing the score line to 2-0 on a set piece but it was sent wide. However, it was encouraging to see a central defender get involved on a limited number of set pieces, and I haven’t seen a header with that much aggression behind it in quite some time down here.

4. There were some missed chances that could’ve made all the difference yesterday. Ryukyu narrowly dodged some bullets when Iwata hit the woodwork, and Shintaro had a golden opportunity to seal the game late on for Ryukyu only to come up short. He took possession of the ball just inside the halfway line of Ryukyu, turned on the jets, and somehow made it all the way into the Iwata 18-yard box untouched and alone on goal. Unfortunately, the finish wasn’t nearly as spectacular as the setup, as the shot was stopped by the Iwata keeper. I guess we got a small glimpse into the streaky nature of this player.

5. Prediction

I thought this game would’ve ended 2-2, instead, it was 1-0 to FC Ryukyu. Season record 0-0-1.

6. Match Day 1 in J2

V-Varen Nagasaki asserted themselves early against Kanazawa, and then hung on late to win. Akita lost in their J2 debut match, as did Sagamihara, with the grudge match between Zelvia and Yamagata ending 1-1. Perhaps the warning signs are already there for Kitakyushu and Ehime as they were soundly beaten in their opening fixtures.

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/tabelle/wettbewerb/JAP2/saison_id/2020

7. Conclusion

It is always nice getting that first win, that first home win, and it is even better when it is on opening day. Iwata was a far better side in the attack yesterday, and thanks to a bit of luck, were kept off the score sheet. Iwata were one of the teams I mentioned in an earlier blog that FC Ryukyu had failed to beat, and would need to beat, if they wished to achieve the lofty target of 80 points. Time will tell and I will keep a log of all the points over, and under, expectation that Ryukyu net in 2021.

The win on Sunday has really put FC Ryukyu in a nice spot to take 9 points from their first 3 matches of 2021. A fast start, similar to the one we saw from Ryukyu in 2019, could provide the same type of cushion from those teams facing relegation come the end of the season. If memory serves me, FC Ryukyu are now undefeated in games that are broadcast on the J-League International YouTube channel dating back to 2019 with a 3-1-0 record. Well, job done and now it is on to Renofa Yamaguchi this Saturday.

FC Ryukyu Squad Review Part 1: Defense #FC琉球

This will be a 3-part series covering the defensive, mid field, and forward and goalie positions. I open this series by taking a look at the back line of FC Ryukyu. I will provide a brief synopsis for any player that featured for FC Ryukyu this year, as well as my thoughts on who we should try to retain at the end of each section. With that in mind, let’s get started.

The Center Backs

Lee Yong-Jick: Lee was the preferred 1st choice CB for Higuchi all season as indicated by his 37 starts, and 1 substitute appearance. CB is not Yong-Jick’s natural position and I suppose that is why he was often out of position, in addition to making some ill-advised, ill-timed challenges that quickly led to the opposition breaking on net with numbers. Yong-Jick’s most memorable moment occurred during his first ever game for the club when he prevented a 2nd JEF UTD Chiba goal from a Taguchi turnover, by sprinting back to his own net and heading the shot away.  Yong-Jick was also not much of weapon on set pieces despite his obvious height advantage. He scored 0 goals and provided 1 assist this year. I am not sure how the club is going to proceed with Lee in the offseason but I could see him returning for 2021.

Daisei Suzuki: Suzuki transferred to FC Ryukyu via a loan from Tokushima Vortis in the offseason but I believe that he joined on a permanent deal shortly after the season restart this summer. Suzuki appeared in 20 games while dealing with some injuries and drops in form. Make no mistake, Suzuki is a raw player and never really progressed in spite of all the playing time he received this year. Like Yong-Jick, he is prone to turnovers and mental mistakes. He does possess some aggressiveness and speed, but if he is to develop any further, he’ll need better coaching and probably some added muscle.

Tetsuya Chinen: Chinen is the fastest CB that FC Ryukyu have in the lineup. He is also the strongest, though a mid-season break with CV-19 took a bit out of him, which is to be expected. He is quick to close down players, can put in good challenges when called upon, and can score goals. His only knock is that he isn’t as tall as some of the other CBs in the league, but that can be overcome with his speed and technique.  If I were to tip a player that should be in the starting 11 next year, it would be Chinen so look for him to improve on the 11 appearances he made in 2020.

Ryohei Okazaki: Okazaki only featured 5 times for FC Ryukyu this year but that was due to lengthy absences stemming from multiple injuries. We all should remember Okazaki from 2019 and a lot of those memories were not that good. But Higuchi has faith in this player, and seems to think he can one day develop into an integral part of the Ryukyu defense. Like Suzuki, Okazaki needs better coaching and technique to progress or he will become more of a liability, than asset, in defense.

Ryoji Fukui: Fukui is your prototypical Swiss Army Knife in that he can play all 4 defensive positions. He still possesses a bit of speed to close down attackers, when chasing them that is, but his tackling always makes you hold your breath as it borders on reckless. Luckily, Fukui came out on top this year as he wasn’t sent off, but he had a few close calls. Fukui turned 33 this year so I am not sure how much longer he is going to be around.

The Full Backs

Keita Tanaka: The hands down 2020 comeback player of the year for the club, Tanaka was arguably one of our best players. Tanaka played in 34 games, added 2 goals and 6 assists, but it was his switch to RB on Match Day 5 that stands out as his biggest contribution. Ryukyu had plenty of talent in the midfield and it was always going to prove difficult to shoehorn in all of them barring injury. This type of switch will not work for every player, but Tanaka has the temperament, skill, and tenacity that few others possess. He is extremely aggressive in the attack and in defense, has a great shot, and is an excellent passer. His partnership with Koya down the right really allowed Higuchi’s attacking style to flourish. Tanaka has been a stalwart at FC Ryukyu for many years and I hope to see him again in 2021.

Keigo Numata: Signed from Kanazawa in the offseason, Numata had the task of replacing Tokumoto at LB. Numata ended up playing in 39 games where he scored 3 goals, at least two were from headers, and provided 6 assists. There were a few times where it looked like Numata’s fitness let him down, but that is expected with an older player who played nearly every minute of every game. Maybe with a lighter fixture schedule in 2021, Numata will be a little fresher and offer slightly more, but that is anyone’s guess.

Yuya Torikai: Yuya was the starting RB to begin the season but was eventually usurped by Tanaka. Torikai rejoined FC Ryukyu in the 2019 summer transfer window and bolstered the side in the midst of several poor results. This year, he wasn’t nearly as valuable and has become expendable with Tanaka’s emergence at RB. At 32, with a decline in performance and the talent at RB on the current roster, we may see his departure.

Makito Uehara: The younger Uehara is the best young prospect in defense for FC Ryukyu, and possibly the team. Uehara featured in 15 games and scored a thunderous goal against Omiya. Like several players requiring better coaching, Makito is raw but has far more skills and traits then those of his defensive counterparts. He is tall for a fullback, and has a nice burst to add to his long-distance speed. I don’t think he is a true fullback, as we never saw the touch that someone like Tanaka and Numata possess. Uehara, as I’ve said all year, could be a phenomenal central defensive mid fielder that could handle many of the stronger CBs in J2. He is good at tackling, strong enough to win contested challenges, and could win aerial battles. It would be a shame to let his talents become wasted behind the much better fullbacks of Tanaka and Tavares, so a switch to CDM could really benefit him and the club.  

Felipe Tavares: Signed from Brazil in the offseason, I though Tavares would push for a starting role. He did start the very first game of 2020, looked good in both the attack and defense, but then strangely disappeared from the lineup for well over 10 months. Thanks to Tanaka’s emergence as a crucial part to Higuchi’s attacking philosophy, I don’t think we’ll see Tavares making many starts outside of an occasional rest for Tanaka. I still think he needs to be rostered in 2021 as he can be an asset on set pieces, but he doesn’t not have the touch that Tanaka offers.

2021 Outlook

Keep: Tanaka, Numata, Chinen, Suzuki, Tavares, Uehara, and Yong-Jick. Yong-Jick never really figured out the CB role this year but he did stay healthy enough to play nearly every game. Maybe he’ll figure it out next year, but at age 30, it is unlikely. He, along with several other players, can probably be kept at relatively low wages, but that means we should be spending on some better defenders in the offseason. Tanaka and Numata are likely to open the season as our starting fullbacks with Tavares and Uehara as prospect players. We may one day see the partnership of Chinen and Suzuki at CB, but for now, they fall into the developmental category.

Let them Walk, or, Retain at low costs: Okazaki, Torikai and Fukui. Fukui offers limited upside but can play across multiple positions and fill in as injures mount. Torikai is likely to move on as he is well behind the other RBs currently rostered and 32 years of age. Okazaki has never developed into an effective CB and at 28, can be safely let go.

Gut Feeling: Despite the reduction in goals allowed from 2019 to 2020, defense is our top priority this offseason. The position can no longer be ignored for sake of attacking football. Yong-Jick, Okazaki, and Fukui will likely be retained as they are favorites of Higuchi. Suzuki, barring a return to Vortis, will also stay. FC Ryukyu have a strange way about them when it comes to foreign players so we could see the departure of Tavares for no reason. There seems little risk of losing Chinen, Uehara, and Numata, but any team could be keen to acquiring the services of Tanaka. His long standing history with the club may seem forgo any offers from other clubs.

That is it for our defenders. We will look at the midfield position in the second installment of this series, and hopefully I have that published before there are too many contract cancellations or renewals.

“Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained” Match Day 38 Report: FC Ryukyu 2-3 Omiya Ardija 10/27/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu lost a hard-fought battle to Omiya 3-2 this past Sunday at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. Though the boys were not able to earn a positive point on the day, take nothing away from their performance. They played really well against a side seeking promotion. I think we all need to have some expectation management for the remaining 4 matches this season when it comes to FC Ryukyu. We will probably be without Dany Carvajal due to his lingering ankle injury that he picked up against Yokohama, as it probably has never fully healed. Why else would he not be out there after playing the full 90 versus Tochigi SC? I am assuming he’s played through tremendous amounts of pain and setbacks to get FC Ryukyu to this point and it has just become to much. Maybe he picked up an injury during practice but I’ve seen too many of Dany’s type of injury in the NFL to believe anything less and feel he was rushed back to service without proper healing time. But we’ll await word from the club as to what actually occurred. In any case, he was an absolute warrior for this club this season. Also, FC Ryukyu are likely without a true RB for another 2 weeks until Nishioka returns. Shinji Ono may also not feature again for this side with his own ankle injury and that would be terrible. But do not fret, the team is relatively safe and as I’ve said on numerous occasions; it is time we get a look at some of the youth in the squad with the remaining fixtures as we are already playing the 2020 season. If you think we’re not, then you do not understand sports.

Match Recap

FC Ryukyu could not have asked for a better start. Within the first 90 seconds the boys were on the board following a beautifully taken Uesato FK. Uejo earned the FK at the 13 second mark, and I was shocked that Omiya was caught flat footed again. Finally, and you all know what I mean when it comes to Uesato’s FKs (usually blasts into the wall), this time Uesato curled it over the top leaving the Omiya GK no chance. A dream start for the side not expected to do much on the day. Now, there was definitely a feeling that FC Ryukyu would eventually concede but at least we wouldn’t be blanked on the day. Also, Omiya’s cracks were on full display, and though they may well be promoted, they’ll have a tough 4 weeks ahead to ensure automatic promotion.

courtesy of J.LEAGUE website.

Omiya did respond, albeit 16 minutes later, when a Fukui giveaway let to a goal from Delgado. Then to make matters worse, FC Ryukyu failed to properly clear the garbage in front of their net and in the 43rd minute, a shot curled past Ishii for a 2-1 Omiya lead. FC Ryukyu headed into half time down 2-1 with many in the stadium of thinking the flood gates were about to open.

FC Ryukyu again started fast and were rewarded with another quick goal. This time, it was the efforts of Kawai, whose speed proved too much for the Omiya RB. He easily rounded the RB and then sent a dangerous low hard cross across goal were a diving Yamada pushed it past the Omiya GK to level the match. I pretty much came out of my shoes, and the stands, screaming that this is what Kawai does, day in and day out, and needs to be in the lineup all the time.

FC Ryukyu did well to resist the remaining Omiya pressure and too be honest, FC Ryukyu controlled a large amount of possession in the remaining minutes. Bedlam nearly ensued when Uejo finally had his first free look on net, but unfortunately, his shot hit the post and bounced out of bounds. Then, as many were dreading, Omiya scored late. A cross from Shinozuka found a streaking Simovic, who was able to get a foot to the cross and redirect it past a diving Ishii. Then, out of nowhere, the heavens opened up and it began to poor outside. FC Ryukyu tried mightily but couldn’t respond to the late Omiya goal and thus lost 3-2.

courtesy of j.league website

Man of the Match

From FC Ryukyu’s website

#13 MF, Shuto Kawai. The man was simply awesome on Sunday. He needs to be a major part of FC Ryukyu’s 2020 plans, especially with the impending departure of Uejo, and we’ll really value/need his speed. He has now bagged 2 assists in 2 straight games and his speed, skill, and overall play is exciting to watch.

Match Day 38 Takeaways

1. An Omiya supporter, and friend of mine, said that Higuchi is too dogmatic when it comes to lineup selection and substitutions. My friend said he watched him at Omiya, prior to Higuchi’s trifecta at Yokohama, and he echoes my sentiments. Omiya made all 3 of their substitutions before FC Ryukyu made 1 this past match. We saw what Omiyta wanted to do, and had every opportunity to counter their moves with speed or skill, but instead we did nothing. In fact, we left the 3rd substitute on the bench once more. Are FC Ryukyu not monitoring fitness levels of the players? Do they not track how many top speed sprints and runs each player makes before he’s not at optimum output? Criminal and unforgivable as we should’ve brought on an extra player to provide defensive cover.

2. There is no hiding the fact that we could easily end the season on a 5-game losing streak. We have lost Dany for the year, Shinji might be on the shelf, we have a makeshift back 4; though Uehara did a great job as a replacement player-playing out of place- but what is going on in the locker room/training ground? If Higuchi prefers Uehara over any one of the defenders in the reserves, then why do we keep any of them on contract? Are they hurt? Are they not that good? Are the training tactics/techniques so brutal that FC Ryukyu have too many injuries to overcome consistently to roster a full lineup? FC Ryukyu cannot afford to continue along this path with what seems to be only 16 players available for any given match. There is an underlying issue here that I will never fully unearth and one that seems to be a cancer for this side.

Reviews of the keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Start fast & Build a Multiple Goal Lead: PASS: Yeah, we never got out in front but we got out to fast starts, twice in each half.

2. Do not conceded many set pieces: PASS. Omiya didn’t score from a set piece.

3. Pick your poison: PASS. Yes, Omiya pressed us early, then trailed off where FC Ryukyu took control. No issues here as the boys did what was asked and responded well to each Omiya tactic.

4. Win the battle down our Right and Win the Match: FAIL. The last goal from Omiya came from this spot. In fact, we gave Shinozuka a ton of space, and freaking respect as if he was something special, who promptly sent a cross into the 18-yard box, to which, Simovic easily got past Okazaki’s halfhearted attempt at a clearance. Okazaki should’ve dived and got his head in there and at the very least, drawn a foul.

5. Clean up the Garbage in the Box: FAIL. The second Omiya goal is indicative of not clearing rebounds and/or stopped shots properly.

6. The Contrarian Play: Many factors were against this ever occurring. The most evident being that we’re not privy to injuries for FC Ryukyu. But most importantly, there is zero testicular fortitude in the head coach to just go for it any given week.

Match Prediction

I said that 2-1 was respectable and 3-2 is even more so. FC Ryukyu never looked outmatched at any point. Chins up, heads up, as this was a great performance for a side up against it.

Recap of the Notable J2 fixtures on Match Day 38

Conclusion

OK, FC Ryukyu lost. That is an inescapable fact. However, I enjoyed the heck out of my last 2019 Home Match for FC Ryukyu. The walk to the stadium; pre-game flag hanging; talking to Mr. Mikami pre-match; interacting with fans; seeing Bando; meeting people from Omiya and other FC Ryukyu fans from the main land; talking to support staff of FC Ryukyu; watching a great game; and of course, cheering the boys on the way out as they were true warriors on Sunday.  It was all special. Good thing that I only have to wait about 120 days to experience that feeling again, but the season is not over, and I get to see the boys one more time in Kofu, which means the 120 is actually closer 96 days.  I enjoyed seeing Stuart and Dave, and interacting with so many Omiya fans. Must’ve caught many of the FC Ryukyu and Omiya supporters off-guard to see opposing team fans having such a good time together. Well, football should bring people together, not divide them.

So what is next? FC Ryukyu have Renofa Yamaguchi next week. FC Ryukyu had to come from behind to draw with Renofa in the midst of their 36-game home unbeaten streak back in March and then Renofa beat Ryukyu, in Yamaguchi, during the Emperor’s Cup. Renofa most recently came from behind to beat JEF 3-2 at home so this will be a good test for FC Ryukyu.

Oh, FC Ryukyu’s 8,000 fans this past week meant that we only need roughly 3,000 to make the 100k mark set by Mr. Mikami. Easily do able.

“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 4th 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 3rd 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!

“Hard Days Knight” Match Day 33 Report: FC Ryukyu 3-3 Montedio Yamagata 9/23/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu engineered a thrilling comeback against #2, Montedio Yamagata, this past Monday that also propelled FC Ryukyu back up to 15th place in the J2 table. The draw also keeps FC Ryukyu 8 points clear of the drop zone with 9 games remaining. It was a vital point considering that many results in the league did not go FC Ryukyu’s way this past weekend. Draws by Fukuoka, Chiba and Zelvia, coupled together with a Tochigi victory over Kagoshima resulted in FC Ryukyu dropping to 18th in the table at the time of kickoff. While many, including this author, didn’t give FC Ryukyu much of a chance at earning a positive result in the match, it was encouraging to see the side play much better than they did in the previous month.

First Half

The opening 15 minutes of the match saw FC Ryukyu and Yamagata trading chances but Yamagata’s were far more accurate than those of FC Ryukyu. Ishii, who started in place of the injured Dany Carvajal, was called into action twice in the first 11 minutes. On the flip side, Uejo’s two shots from distance, where way off target and never troubled the Yamagata keeper. In the 30th minute, FC Ryukyu achieved a breakthrough when they opened the scoring from on-loan striker, Hiroto Yamada.

Considering that Yamagata had shut out their opponent in half of their games this season, this was a significant goal. Hiroto got on the end of a long through ball by Yuya Torikai following a darting run through the Yamagata central defense. He then took a nice touch on the ball inside the 18-yard box, dragging the ball back across the defender while simultaneously pulling the Yamagata goal keeper out farther to cut down the shooting angle. Yamada then shot back across Kushibiki, who had all his weight on his right side, and Kushibiki could only extend an arm to the shot which deflected into the right corner of the goal.

The remaining 15 minutes or so of the half saw a surge in opportunities for Yamagata as they attempted to quickly equalize. Neither side would score despite Yu’s shot hitting the post in the 41st minute. The half would end FC Ryukyu 1, Yamagata Montedio 0.

Second Half

FC Ryukyu started quickly and nearly doubled their lead in the 47th minute when Koya was able to round the keeper but had his shot stopped by a diving defender. In fact, Koya had 2 more chances over the next 10 minutes to increase our lead but they were either blocked or saved. Yamagata then equalized in the 56th minute which proved to be one of the top goals scored in J2 for this round. The shot, similar to the one that Yamada scored, saw Ishii going one way when it was drilled in the opposite direction making it difficult for any GK to recover and then stop. Despite this goal, FC Ryukyu didn’t play like a side that was 13 spots below Yamagata in the table and in fact, they controlled large parts of the game and looked composed when countering the Yamagata attack. However, the real fireworks would occur in the last 15 minutes of this match.

“The Fireworks Show“

The “show,” got started in the 74th minute when Fukui rose for a cross on the Ryukyu net and his extended arm deflected the ball out of bounds. There was no initial call for handball on the pitch by the referee, but after some Yamagata calls for appeal and conferring by the officials, a PK was awarded. FC Ryukyu were very lucky to escape with just a PK call going against them considering that Fukui was already sitting on a Yellow Card. This game would’ve ended a lot differently had Fukui been shown his second yellow reducing FC Ryukyu to 10 men. Jefferson Biano stepped up and drilled the PK home for a 2-1 Yamagata lead. Yamagata then added to their lead from an Own Goal after another botched play by a FC Ryukyu center back. This time it was Okazaki’s turn to go sliding into a cross, that Ishii could’ve collected, but instead was redirected into the back of the net. Whether it was a lack of communication on the part of Ishii, or recognition of time, space and distance by Okazaki, it was 3-1 Yamagata with only 9 minutes and stoppage time remaining in the game.

It was now time for Shinya Uehara, who came on just 1 minute prior to the own goal, to make his presence felt for FC Ryukyu. FC Ryukyu were awarded a corner kick in the 83rd minute. On the ensuing cross, Uehara rode for a header and was fouled badly in the box. FC Ryukyu were awarded a PK, to which Koki Kazama stepped up and scored. If you recall from their previous meeting, FC Ryukyu were awarded a PK that Kushibiki first saved, then was yellow carded for coming off his line too quickly, and then Koji Suzuki scored on the second attempt. Whether or not that weighed heavily on the mind of Kushibiki, or he simply guessed wrong, he was sent the wrong direction by Koki who sent the shot home with some authority.

Just as it seemed as if this game where going to end 3-2 in favor of Yamagata, Yamada controlled nicely placed cross that he was able to pass to a waiting Uehara near the top of the box. Uehara then sent a blistering shot on net that just tucked inside the right post providing FC Ryukyu the 91st minute equalizer. Another one of those unbelievable moments as Yamagata had only surrendered 3 goals in a match twice all season, compared to the 8 times of FC Ryukyu. FC Ryukyu had one last chance to win the match when a rebound almost fell to a wide open Uejo in the box but he was a bit off balance and the ball bounced off his foot. Final score, FC Ryukyu 3-3 Montedio Yamagata.

Men of the Match

Normally this section is reserved for one individual but there were 3 standout performances on the night. First there is the FC Ryukyu goal keeper, Ishii. Despite the fact that FC Ryukyu conceded 3 goals, only 1 was from open play. The other 2 were a PK and an Own Goal. Ishii really played an excellent game and kept FC Ryukyu in this match up to the point where his central defenders let him down. He was making save after save and really frustrated the Yamagata attack on Monday night.

Hirota Yamada is credited with a goal and assist on Monday. It was his opening goal that allowed FC Ryukyu to play a little more relaxed while forcing Yamagata into an attacking style of play. It was also his crucial controlling of a cross and then subsequent assist to Uehara that gave FC Ryukyu the equalizer.

Shinya Uehara scored his second game tying goal in as many games. If you recall, he also earned the equalizer against Kanazawa on the road in round 32. Uehara was also the player who earned the late PK for FC Ryukyu when he was fouled rising to meet a cross.

Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Play with Reckless Abandonment: PASS, though, maybe not in the intended manner. FC Ryukyu displayed composure the entire match and actually forced Yamagata to play outside of their comfort zone. They often looked more physical than Yamagata and this may have surprised their opponents. The only part that was truly reckless was that of our defense.

Match Day Prediction

Yamagata 3-0. I truly enjoy getting these predictions wrong when it is a favorable outcome for FC Ryukyu and truly despise when I get them correct with less than favorable results. I am happy in this case.

Match Day 33 Takeaways

1. Let’s start with the bad. The central back pairing of Okazaki and Fukui was hard to watch on Monday. Fukui made a mistimed challenge in the 8th minute that resulted in a wide-open look on net for Yamagata requiring a tremendous save by Ishii. Fukui’s 36th minute challenge resulted in a yellow card and was one he shouldn’t have attempted. He then came out on another mistimed challenge that saw the Yamagata attacker pass the ball by him and into an open shooting lane that Yamagata was able to capitalize on for the score. He then committed an overt handball that he was very lucky not be carded on resulting in a PK for Yamagata. Okazaki committed the own goal and all the problems that have existed for the FC Ryukyu defense were on full display Monday. Teams are able to moves and pass seamlessly in and around our defenders. This is just the reality we live in for the remainder of this season and one that I hope is changed for next year.

2. The good. This lineup has really gelled nicely. It was very encouraging to watch midfielders making long passes to on rushing attackers and there will certainly be goals later on if they keep this up. Despite being on the receiving end of some heavy losses this season, FC Ryukyu looked very composed and very relaxed against a superior opponent. This is extremely important heading into a stretch of games where favorable results mean everything for this side. Just to reiterate, this side looks markedly better than the last few times I’ve seen them play and with a much more balanced and purposeful attack.

3. More of the good. Koya Kazama put in a phenomenal shift and it is easy to see why a seasoned J2 player like that is crucial to the success of FC Ryukyu this season. I’d love if we were able to keep him for next season.

4. We will end with the ugly. The Yamagata Striker, Shuhei Otsuki, was committing some ugly fouls early on that could’ve resulted in a yellow card. He was often seen leading with his arm/elbow into headers and then committed a blatant red card foul in the 59th minute. Granted, Shuhei looked as if he was fouled by the Ryukyu players but he then kicked Yuya Torikai in the groin area, right in front of the referee. The referee then awarded yellow cards to both players. This was a disgusting act and one that I hope doesn’t go unpunished by the league.

Conclusion

FC Ryukyu head into a stretch of 3 games out of 4 on the road. This would normally be concerning considering the FC Ryukyu road form, but there were a lot of encouraging signs from this side the past 3 weeks. FC Ryukyu have earned 5 points from a possible 9 and kept themselves out of the J2 basement. Also, the road games are against 19th placed Zelvia, 18th Fukuoka and 21st Tochigi. The lone home game is against Tokyo Verdy and therefore all of these fixtures could, and should, be considered winnable for FC Ryukyu. If they grab wins and draws then we can all relax heading into the last 5 rounds of the J2 season.

Player Photos and Game Recap are from the JLeague website. jleague.jp/en/match

Cover photo courteous of @tidashokudo

“Branch Breakers”Match Day 32: Zweigen Kanazawa vs. FC Ryukyu 9/14/2019

Intro

Welcome Back! I apologize for the lengthy gap but we all have commitments outside of FC Ryukyu right?. Anyways, in the time that I’ve been gone we’ve seen FCR lose twice and then win an all-important 6-point match against Kagoshima at home. The win brings FC Ryukyu within 8 points of the relative “safety zone” of 42 points that I’ve been touting the past few weeks. But make no mistake, those are going to be the toughest 8 points FC Ryukyu need to earn all season. This is a tall task for FC Ryukyu as they play 7 of their remaining games this season on the road.

Weather Forecast

Absolutely gorgeous. See the picture below.

Zweigen Kanazawa

Kanazawa come into this match having lost their last 2 matches in a row. Prior to these losses they had reeled off 6 straight matches without a defeat. An accomplishment FC Ryukyu haven’t achieved since their opening 6 matches of the season. When these two sides last met three months ago at the Tapista, FC Ryukyu earned a draw off the back of a Koji Suzuki 69’ minute goal (tears) after conceding an early goal to Zweigen. Zweigen are certainly looking to avenge that draw and aide their chances of promotion by moving within 3 points of the playoff zone with a win over FC Ryukyu. And as we all know as FC Ryukyu fans, targeting a win against FC Ryukyu when they visit your stadium is very bankable these days.

In Kanazawa’s last 5 matches they earned 3-2 wins over Machida and Niigata; a 2-1 victory over FC Gifu; and then suffered 2-1 and 3-1 defeats to Kagoshima and Mito. The run of sloppy play for Zweigen really began in the Niigata match where they were awarded their second PK in as many matches but also surrendered 2 PK opportunities to Niigata. Fortunately for Zweigen, Niigata were unable to score on the very late PK attempt by Leonardo that would’ve tied the game. Probably due to the ridiculously slow and elongated run up to the ball by Leonardo that was followed up by a rather poor shot on net.

Despite escaping the Niigta match with a win, the run of poor play by Kanazawa was just beginning. Please note, that when I mention poor play, it is not to the degree or scenes we’ve witnessed from FC Ryukyu the past few months. I am simply stating that things have become a little undone for Zweigen the past few weeks. This offers the smallest glimmer of hope for the traveling FC Ryukyu side who have been awful on the road all season but this is not an easy match by any means. 

Kanazawa lost 2-1 to Kagoshima after taking an early 1-0 lead and though they were tied with Mito at one point, they never really looked on the front foot for much of the match. What better way to break out of a 2-game losing streak than by welcoming a side that boasts the worst away record in J2.

FC Ryukyu

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. FC Ryukyu have only earned 6 points from a total of 42 possible points on the road this season. They haven’t earned a positive result on the road since a draw against Kyoto way back in June. FC Ryukyu have lost 9 out of their last 10 road games and suffered some heavy defeats along the way. And the most worrying sign heading into the last quarter of the season,, it has been 195 days since FC Ryukyu last won on the road. With so many road games ahead of FC Ryukyu, and the fact that we need to take our destiny into our own hands and not rely on our opponents losing beneath us, FC Ryukyu desperately need some points on the road.

There have been some sweeping changes to the FC Ryukyu lineup the past few weeks. Some good and some interesting. Most notably are the changes to the defense and mid-field. Torikai has replaced Nishioka at RB and Shinji Ono has slotted in next to Uesato in the CDM role to sure up, or provide direction, to the back line. Also, Uejo has moved into the CAM role behind the newly acquired striker, Yamada.  The lineup produced the 2-1 victory over Kagoshima so I’ll reserve judgement for after this match. I hope to see the return of Kawai to the reserves as I feel his speed, along with Ramon’s, could really trouble defenses later on in games.

Team Injuries

Zweigen Kanazawa: #24 DF Hasegawa Takumi looks to have torn his ACL late in August and may be one of the reasons why Zweigen has conceded so many goals the last 2 matches.

FC Ryukyu: None.

Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

1. Maintain a steady presence at the back. The last road game saw FC Ryukyu come apart rather quickly after taking an early 1-0 lead. 6 straight goals from Vortis was inexcusable but these things happen from time to time. Mark the runs of opposing attackers, clear the garbage from the front of the net and for god’s sake, close players down near the edge of the box.

2. Minimize the mental mistakes. We could insert this one every week but I haven’t been able to watch the team the last few weeks to know if they’ve overcome the numerous mistakes from games past so we’ll leave this one right where it is.

3. Cover the back line. Hopefully we can prevent long balls over the top that catch Fukui and Okazaki out and force them into rash challenges or mistakes. This means FC Ryukyu in turn need to play a bit of long ball themselves and allow players with speed to run underneath the passes. I hope that either, or both, Uesato or Shinji sit a little deeper and try to pick apart the Zweigen defense from afar while not allowing them to break against our back line.

4. Exploit the confusion and poor run of form in the Zweigen back line. Kanazawa often conceded some rather soft goals due to confusion and the best way to attack that is with speed. Does FC Ryukyu have enough speed in the lineup to round the Zweigen defenders that will create some space and time for Uejo and Yamada to shoot?

Match Prediction

Much like the last time I wrote a preview article when FC Ryukyu were on the road, I cannot sit here and say that FC Ryukyu will come out on top this week because the away record speaks volumes. I, along with all of you, would love to be pleasantly surprised at an FC Ryukyu victory and/or draw at this point. There is a chance that could occur tomorrow but I have said that way too many times to believe it anymore so we’ll go with a 3-1 defeat. The prediction aligns with the average amount of goals that FC Ryukyu score and concede during road games this season.

Conclusion

11 matches remain in the J2 season. FC Ryukyu will need to earn at least 8 more points to feel relatively comfortable about their chances of avoiding relegation. They will need to earn these 8 points from 7 road matches against some pretty strong sides. It is both as simple and as difficult as that. Good luck to all that attend and to FC Ryukyu, we need it.

“Numbers Game” Match Day 29 Preview: Tokushima Vortis vs FC Ryukyu 8/24/2019

Intro

174 days. That is the amount of time that has passed since FC Ryukyu last won a road game. 69 days. This number represents the number of days since FC Ryukyu last earned a point on the road. -11. FC Ryukyu have been outscored 17 to 6 in their past 5 road matches with 4 consecutive defeats. 11. That is the number of points between FC Ryukyu and the bottom of the table. 7. The number of points that separate FC Ryukyu from 21st placed Tochigi SC, who are in the relegation zone. 4. The number of points between FC Ryukyu and teams 18-20 in the J2 table (Kagoshima United FC, Avispa Fukuoka and FC Machida Zelvia). With 8 out of their remaining 14 games to be played on the road, this side needs to begin picking up some positive results while traveling away from Okinawa, or face the very real possibility of being relegated back to the J3.

Weather Forecast

Overcast with temperatures in the 80s and no wind should make for a pleasant viewing experience in Tokushima for the fans who attend.

Tokushima Vortis

Vortis have won 2 out of their last 5 matches where they dispatched Fukuoka and Kagoshima, and lost to Yamagata, Niigata and Kofu. Vortis are a typical mid-table side that beat the teams below them fairly regularly while normally losing to the ones above them. They were in some good form awhile back but that has seemed to escape them as of late. Vortis have only suffered 3 defeats at home all season but two of those have come within the past 3 home matches.

Similar to FC Ryukyu, Vortis lack a standout goal scorer. This may have been due to a transfer out of the club but I didn’t bother to research that notion. Against Yamagata they were awarded an early PK but then had the misfortune of having one of their best players, Kiyotake, sent off following a second yellow card for time wasting. After that they came apart in the second half and conceded 3 quick goals. Though Vortis went down early to Kagoshima, they scored two very late 1st half goals to take the lead. They then surrendered the lead shortly thereafter on a PK only to seem them strike back for 2 quick goals in the last quarter of the game to seal the win.

Vortis were simply destroyed by both Niigata and Kofu and suffered shutouts in both matches which may have been the result of Kiyotake’s suspension. Vortis were able to stop the losing streak this past weekend against Fukuoka when they walked away with the 1-0 victory.

FC Ryukyu

The numbers I put forth in the introduction paint a very ominous picture for the club. They really need points and there is a possibility of that this week at Vortis since they are not the same surging side we saw just a couple of weeks ago. I have said things similar to this in past entries when FC Ryukyu travel and the results are always the same. A loss, or what we now would gladly settle for, a draw. Teams really take advantage of our poor road form and the lack of points earned on the road have become a monkey on the back of this club. It will take some sort of miracle to shake it loose and get back to winning ways.

I offer this suggestion. Get rid of the 4-2-3-1 since we lack a true out and out striker and we are reeling from injuries as well as transfers at the back. There is no point in having Full Backs launch poor aimed crosses to players who are simply not there or not well suited for headers. Since we no longer have Koji, why not play a 3-man strike front with Uejo and Ramon flanking any of Uehara/Ono/Tanaka/Koya? Drop down to a 3-man back line with Okazaki, Nishikawa and Fukui and leave Okazaki and Fukui out wide to allow Nishioka the ability to push a little north of the half way line. Most importantly, figure out the 3 best midfielders to team with Uesato to complete the 3-4-3. I wish for Kawai, Koizumi and Komatsu but this is highly unlikely due to injuries and whatever else is occurring behind closed doors at the club.

Player Injuries

FC Ryukyu: Tokumoto and Ishii are still dealing with the same injuries from the last preview and are unlikely to feature today.

Tokushima Vortis: Vortis will be without the services of DF Diego, MFs Kano and Sisinio and FWD Sato. None have played a large role at the club this season so there should be no surprises in the regular Vortis lineup today.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Press the Vortis defense as it seems they suffer from the same problems that afflict the Ryukyu back line. Uejo’s, and Ramon’s speed will cause the Vortis back line some issues and attacking their flanks with speed should open up space for Koya and whatever false-9 forward is starting for FC Ryukyu today.

 2. Stop playing a high defensive line as Vortis will pick us apart with long balls over the top to Kiyotake and the Vortis front men. FC Ryukyu’s only defender with a little bit of pace is Fukui but if he is continually forced to make rash challenges, we are going to end up on the losing end of it at some point. Don’t put players like Nishioka – assuming Higuchi refuses to change his system – Fukui and Okazaki in dangerous positions that could alter the outcome of this match.

3. Start Ramon and other younger talented players. I think Yu needs a breather and to come off the bench with the hopes of chipping in a free-kick goal near the end. There are 14 games left and we are very near, if not already there, a “nothing to lose” point so why not ride the razors edge and see what we have in the reserves.

Match Prediction

I was correct for only the second time all season last week but I would love to be wrong this weekend. Unfortunately, you cannot bet on FC Ryukyu to achieve any positive results while traveling with likeliest of outcomes always being a loss. Tokushima Vortis 2-1.

Conclusion

FC Ryukyu have a golden opportunity today to put some separation between them and the bottom teams. The teams below FC Ryukyu all have difficult matches this week where we could see all of them losing.

(17) JEF United Chiba vs Ventforet Kofu (7)
(4) Yokohama FC vs Kagoshima (18)
(3) Kyoto Sanga FC vs Avispa Fukuoka (19)
(9) Fagiano Okayama vs FC Machida Zelvia (20)
(6) Montedio Yamagata vs Tochigi SC (21)
(22) FC Gifu vs Kashiwa Reysol (1)

If that were the case, and FC Ryukyu were to win today, then FC Ryukyu have really taken a lot of pressure off themselves as well as gained some confidence heading into a crucial stretch of matches at home against two of the bottom clubs in J2. This is easier said than done, as the road woes of FC Ryukyu are well documented and nearing “punch-line” territory. Another possibility is that all these teams, including FC Ryukyu lose and the status quo is maintained for another week.  In any event, good luck to those that attend and to FC Ryukyu today.

“Wet, Wild & WADA-full” Match Day 27 Report: FC Ryukyu 3 – 2 V-Varen Nagasaki 8/10/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu pulled off a come from behind victory this past Saturday night where they clawed back from one goal deficits twice to ultimately secure all 3 points. Despite the brutal weather, the fans spirits and more importantly, that of the team, were lifted with the crucial win at home. It’s no secret that FC Ryukyu have been struggling for points of late in the midst of a losing streak so let’s hope this result turns the corner for the team and they can begin stringing together some positive results.

Match Recap

I am not exaggerating when I say the weather was brutal. There was intermittent rain followed by gusts of wind and then heavier amounts of rain. This cycle continued up to the mid-way point of the second half. FC Ryukyu were controlling a vast majority of possession early on but it was Nagasaki who were getting the better chances. Nagasaki had far more opportunities this match compared to their previous 5 games when it looked like they were willing to sit back and hit teams on the counter. Nagasaki adopted a different approach against Ryukyu and it paid off straight away.

FC Ryukyu conceded a goal from a Nagasaki CK in which the perfectly placed cross made it over the top of the initial wall of FC Ryukyu defenders and allowed Goya to slot home his 14th goal of the season. I was worried that like previous matches for FC Ryukyu, when an opponent scored, there were more goals to follow. To FC Ryukyu’s credit, they responded well by answering the Nagasaki goal with one of their own only 5 minutes later.

The goal came from one of the new FC Ryukyu signings, Koya Kazama. On the goal, Koji passed to Koya who was at the right side of the box. Instead of continuing his run down the right, Koya ran back across the top of the box which really opened up the Nagasaki defense. Koji called for the ball back, and was wide open on net had he received the pass, but Koya opted to shoot with so much of the goal to aim at. His left footed shot ended up in the bottom left corner and FC Ryukyu were on the board.

It was not until the 75th minute when Goya bagged his second goal of the game from a Nagasaki counter that caught the FC Ryukyu defense off guard. Kamekawa of Nagasaki rounded Fukui, on what was some suspect defending, and found acres of space to work a cross into the 6-yard box. Kamekawa sent a perfectly placed, perfectly weighted cross to a wide open of Goya who proceeded to give Nagasaki the 2-1 lead.

FC Ryukyu responded once more with another highlight reel goal from Uejo. This man has had several of these types of goals this season and it is only a matter of time before we see him whisked away to a top-level club. Wada found a streaking Uejo down the right and Uejo sent an absolute rocket past the keeper and into the top left corner. FC Ryukyu were tied with about 5 minutes and stoppage time remaining. Then something miraculously happened, FC Ryukyu scored a third goal.

I say miraculously because FC Ryukyu had only scored a total of 2 goals combined in their 5 previous matches. The goal occurred deep into stoppage time when a 97th minute corner kick from Uesato found its way over the heads of the Nagasaki defenders where Wada was waiting at the back the corner. Wada was guarded but the ball took a fortuitous deflection of the Nagasaki defender who had his back turned to goal and Wada was able to send the shot past the rushing defenders and keeper for the 3-2 lead.

The goal was massive and the home crowd responded in kind. It was great seeing the players celebrate the goal as it proved vital for FC Ryukyu’s standings when so many teams below them produced favorable results as well this weekend.

Man of the Match

Well it would be just plain rude to not award Wada the man of the match since I titled the article based on his massive goal. However, he also provided an assist on the Uejo goal, earned the corner kick that he scored from and therefore is more than deserving of this award. Well done.

Review of the FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. FC Ryukyu to have large amounts of possession. PUSH. They did early on but so did Nagasaki, Nagasaki did hit FC Ryukyu on the counter but FC Ryukyu were able to light up the scoreboard, it was often, just not early as I’d suggested.

2. Take some shots/chances from distance as the Nagasaki goal keeper struggles with these types of shots. PASS, OH MY GOODNESS PASS! Koya’s shot from the top of the box and Uejo’s from just inside the box froze the Nagasaki goal keeper. Yu had a shot from distance that nearly put FC Ryukyu up 2-1 shortly after the Koya goal and Uesato sent a tricky shot from distance where the Nagasaki goal keeper strangely decided to stop it with his knees, despite the distance and time he had to judge the shot. But the icing on the cake, the cherry on top as they say, was the Wada goal from the Uesato cross. The Nagasaki GK made an attempt at clearing the ball and this allowed Wada the time to settle the cross and send the shot home. Had the GK not jumped, he may have been able to get back across the goal mouth and save the Wada shot.

3. FC Ryukyu to score more than 2 goals. PASS. Nothing more to add.

Match Day 27 Takeaways

1. It must be mentioned that the FC Ryukyu victory came at a heavy cost. First, Okazaki was subbed off at half time and we cannot assume it was due to poor performance. This is bad as FC Ryukyu have recently sent Masutani out on loan which means Fukui and Nishikawa are likely starting next week at CB. Nishikawa reminds me a lot of David Luiz in the limited time I’ve seen him play so we’ll reserve judgement for a later time.

Second, Koya Kazama went off injured in the 63rd minute. This is a shame as he was performing really well and the team looked better with him in the lineup. He seemed to injure himself attempting a tackle but did walk off under his own power. He was seen receiving treatment to one of his lower extremities and this could be anything from a rolled ankle, torn ligament or pulled muscle. We will have to wait and see any news of his injury.

Third, Tokumoto’s injury looked the worst when he was rolled up on by a falling Ibarbo early in stoppage time. He immediately clutched his left ankle and looked in obvious pain. He was stretched off and didn’t return. His ankle was caught underneath Ibarbo and turned outward so this could be any level of sprain that could sideline Tokumoto for 3-8 weeks. Hopefully nothing is torn or broken. Plus, we’ll now need a suitable replacement at LB if Fukui indeed needs to switch to CB.

Finally, and most regrettably, FC Ryukyu have sold Koji Suzuki to Cerezo Osaka on a full transfer. 15 goals and 2 assists along with tremendous hold play and total class are gone from the lineup. How will that be replaced?

Conclusion

We will do a transfer wrap up sometime next week after the Yokohama FC match. FC Ryukyu secured a vital win at a huge cost and the remainder of the season will be a very bumpy ride for the team, their fans and this island. Here’s hoping to continued success.

Photos are from FC Ryukyu and J.League websites.

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 3rd piece to a formidable FC Ryukyu MF with Uejo and Kawai in the near future. WHERE IS HE?

#7 Nakagawa: HAHAHA wouldn’t do it to you, too painful. Next!

#13 Kawai: Has one goal and 2 assists this season. Is turning into a real playmaker for FC Ryukyu. Has another gear he can use to get past defenders and is fine tuning his game with each performance, specifically, his body & ball control while making cuts or getting up to speed. Maybe replacing Nakagawa can’t be done with just one player but rather a combination of players. If that is the case than Kawai’s introduction to the side is starting to fill that void. Kawai’s speed really opens up the attack for FCR and he has rightfully earned his spot in the starting 11.

Forwards

#14 Uejo: See Below, but seriously, I do not know why he doesn’t start. Is it due to fitness, immaturity, health concerns or the manager?

#21 Uehara: Has height, scored an important goal for FCR to beat Niigata. Didn’t see much from him prior to his goal and less so after. What happened? Injury?

#15 Wada: Played really well as a substitute versus Nagasaki but hard pressed for playing time with the leading J2 goal scorer ahead of you on the roster. His time will come.

#22 Gibo. I saw one appearance where Gibo displayed a lot of hustle. Subbed into an attacking MF position but then was moved to a FB position in the same game. He needs more playing time and I missed the Emperors Cup match for FCR to see how he performed and what are his strengths and weaknesses.

#9 Koji Suzuki: SEE BELOW.

Mid-Season MVPs

1A. Koji Suzuki. The man’s stats speak for themselves but if you peel back the curtain a little more, you see that he has scored crucial goals at very crucial times of matches for FCR. Yamagata, Yamagauchi, Kanazawa, Omiya and Mito all come to mind. He is also one of the most unselfish strikers I’ve ever seen. He puts in a shift every match. He does the hard work of hold up plays, winning contested balls and drawing fouls from the opposition while never complaining and rarely displays any outward frustration at his teammates. I have no idea what compelled Zelvia to let him go but I do not care at this point. He has proven to be an absolute steal in the transfer market.

1B. Dany Carvajal. Strong at the back and lethal up front is what makes any team great. Yes, of course, strong through the middle is another essential part but having the best striker and one of the best goal keepers in the league on your squad is pretty good as well. Dany has been a revelation for this side. He always seems to be in the right position, at the right time, to make the right type of save. And let me tell you, there have been some spectacular ones; against Omiya there were 2 to seal the win, the PK save against Verdy, resisting the Reysol bombardment, Vortis, Yamaguchi, Mito and list goes on and on. The FC Ryukyu front office did really well by signing Dany this offseason.

2. Satoki Uejo. This man has come out of nowhere and turned into quite the player. He has scored 6 times this season and is improving every time he steps out onto the pitch. He has some signatures goals to his name; Reysol, Vortis, Ehime, Nagasaki and Renofa (Emperor’s Cup). He also looks like he has packed on some muscle the past few months in order to fight off larger defenders. He needs to be out there every week for this side.

Looking Ahead

FC Ryukyu will play 10 games at home and 11 games on the road in the second half of the season. Within those 11 road games they will play 3 series of two consecutive road matches starting next week with Mito and Niigata. The next series is at the end of September with Machida and Fukuoka and finally to end the season against Ehime and Kofu. They also have 3 series at home where they will play consecutive home matches. The first wraps up this week with Okayama (started with Tochigi last week), the second is in August with Nagasaki and Yokohama and the third is at the end of August/early September with FC Gifu and Kagoshima. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the second half fixtures, make some predictions and then review the remaining fixtures for the bottom 4 clubs in J2.

Red denotes MUST WIN games for FCR.

It would be nice to see FCR earn wins against Tochigi and Ehime on the road as those 6 points could go a long way to helping secure J2 football for FCR in 2020. None of us know how the results will shake out considering we cannot predict the transfers in/out of clubs, injuries, managerial changes and plain old luck (good or bad). FC Ryukyu’s make or break month will be October with favorable matches against Avispa, Tochigi and Verdy. They need to be well clear of the relegation zone after that point because November could prove fatal if the road performances by FCR don’t improve. They face a surging Renofa side on the road, host a promotion seeking Kyoto side at home and wrap up the season with 2 road trips with a possible relegation battle against Ehime and potential promotion seeking side in Kofu. Even though I am targeting Ehime as a must win game for FCR, that will depend largely on FCR showing that they can win on the road when needed in the second half of the season.

With this in mind, lets look at teams who are currently sit 18-22 in the J2 table and examine their crucial months and critical match-ups in the second part of the 2019 J2 season.

#18 JEF Chiba United. JEF have a tough October where they face 3 sides who are likely going to be in the top 7. Depending on how those results play out, JEF could be dragged into the relegation battle. Their final match against Tochigi is huge for both sides.

#19 Kagoshima. The October and November schedule are not kind to Kagoshima. 3 road matches in October followed by a run of Kofu, Okayama, Reysol and Mito. They end on the road versus Fukuoka in another final match day matchup that could determine who gets relegated.

#20 Tochigi. The outcomes of their September fixtures will most likely determine their fate. They face FC Gifu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Ehime all in a row. That is a total of 4, 6-point match-ups in a row that could really doom any of those sides. As mentioned earlier, Tochigi end with JEF Chiba in what could be a win or go down to J3 match.

#21 Fukuoka. October and November are also not kind to Fukuoka. They are hoping that some of the sides around them perform poorly the rest of the year so as to give Fukuoka a chance at the end. Avispa end versus Kagoshima in a game we already mentioned that has massive relegation implications.

#22 FC Gifu. The schedule is kinder to FC Gifu in so much as there isn’t any one month remaining where they face multiple top sides in quick succession. The end of July/beginning of August will be rough on them but there are winnable games. But like Fukuoka, FC Gifu are hoping that things go terribly wrong for the few sides just above them in the table. Will it be the Vortis or Kofu match that ultimately dooms this side, or will it happen much sooner?

At the end of the day, FC Ryukyu need to go out there and handle their business without concerning themselves too much about the rest of the table. It is simple math for FCR: Beat the teams below you in the table especially those at the bottom, Get points off of teams just above you in the table, and win some games on the road. If they can do that, then they are going to be alright. I’d estimate that another 18 points are needed and FCR could achieve that any number of ways in the second half of the season.

I know I did not focus on which team may win the J2 title and which sides are likely to be promoted to the J1 in 2019 so I’ll save that for a later date.

Well folks, that is going to do it for the final installment of the FCR Mid-Season Review. I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. I’ll be adding two more entries this week with the Second Transfer Special of the year coming out on Thursday and the normal Match Day Preview coming out on Friday.