“The Fighting Pheasants” Match Day 14 Preview: Fagiano Okayama vs. FC Ryukyu

Match Day 14 Preview: (H) Fagiano Okayama vs. FC Ryukyu (A) at the City Light Stadium, Kickoff at 1700 5/19/2019.

Weather Forecast: Temperatures will be in the low to mid 70s with what looks to be rain early in the day and possibly continuing up to and through kickoff. Winds of 10-20 MPH are expected so this could be a very nasty, very messy match played out on a wet pitch. The rain is expected to end sometime in the early evening but I’d prepare for the worst and bring my wet weather attire for this game.

The match up this week features two evenly matched teams in Fagiano Okayama and FCR. Okayama return home after two weeks on the road that saw them lose both matches against Yamagata and Kyoto. FC Ryukyu on the other hand, are coming into the match having just handed Mito Hollyhock their first loss of the season which subsequently knocked them out of first place.

Fagiano Okayama: 12^th in J2 with 16 points 4W4D5L Current Form: DWDLL Typical Formation: 4-4-2

GF15 GA 16 = Goal Difference -1; Scored 11 goals at home while conceding 9 this season.

Home Record: 3W3D1L

Record against Common Opponents of FCR: (8 games) 2W2D4L

Fagiano where an interesting team to scout this week as I see a lot of similarities between them and FC Ryukyu. The teams are only separated by 4 points in the table, each has earned victories via shutouts only twice this year and they have both been kept off the score sheet only a handful of times. It would seem that this match will feature some scoring as each side scores and concedes plenty of goals.

In match day 10, Okayama was able to overcome a sluggish start and quick goal from a Vortis PK to win 2-1 behind goals from #9 Lee Yong Jae and #19 Hayato Nakama. Okayama nearly handed the match to Tokyo Verdy the following week when they gave up a late PK but Verdy were unable to convert the PK or follow on shot. Against one of the top seeds in J2 this year, Yamagata, Fagaiano conceded a first half goal but nearly pulled out the draw after #19 Nakama was able to win the ball back in the Yamagata end and send a cross to #9 Jae, whose header glanced off the crossbar. Fagainao’s last match against Kyoto saw them cede an early own goal to the hosts (though it wasn’t credited as such) followed by a very late goal in the 84^th minute that handed them a loss.

Okayama never looked out matched or outgunned in any of the 4 matches I reviewed for this preview. If anything, Fagaiano has started out a little sluggish only to come on later in matches and this is something that FC Ryukyu needs to exploit this week.

Okayama Players to Watch:

# 9 Lee Yong Jae FW. Leading Goal scorer on Okayama with 8 on the season, 6 in his past 6 matches and is the second leading scorer in J2 this year. Lee is a big, powerful forward that FC Ryukyu will struggle against. What separates Lee from other larger strikers in J2, like Jefferson Biaino from Yamagata and Olunga from Reysol, is his pace. His quickness was evident against Tokushima and when combined with his strength, makes Lee a formidable forward. Lee is also good at finding space in the defensive back lines of teams and can rise to meet crosses in the box. He is in top from right now coming into this match and FCR had better watch out.

#19 Hayato Nakama MF. Nakama is the second leading scorer on Okayama with 4 goals and one assist on the season. Together with Lee, these two represent 80% of the goals scored for Okayama on the year. Nakama is quite the playmaker with a very lethal left foot. In the four games I watched, he and Lee, are in synch with one another and seem to find the other often in the opponent’s end.

FC Ryukyu: 8^th in J2 with 20 points 5W5D3L Current Form: DLDLW Typical Formation: 4-2-3-1

GF 19 GA 15 Goal Difference of +4; FCR have scored 7 goals on the road and have conceded 9.

Away Record: 1W2D3L

Record Against Common Okayama Opponents: (8 games) 3W3D2L

FCR travel to the Okayama prefecture after having handed Mito Hollyhock their first loss of the season in a very tightly contested match. FCR were able to shut out an opponent for only the second time all season thanks in large part to the efforts by Danny Carvajal between the sticks. FCR scored early against Mito from an absolute bullet header from Koji Suzuki for his J2 league leading 9^th goal and he nearly doubled his tally shortly thereafter only to see his shot deflect over the top of the goal. Tokumoto nearly put the game out of reach late in the second half, which would’ve been a tremendous feat as Mito have yet to surrender multiple in goals in any game this year, but his shot hit the post and the resulting Tomidokoro rebound went high and wide. Nonetheless, FC Ryukyu earned a hard-fought win against the top team in J2 and secured that elusive 5^th win that has evaded FCR for the better part of 2 months.

FC Ryukyu will have some serious questions to answer this week after Okazaki picked up his fourth yellow card this year resulting in a one match ban. As I’ve mentioned on several occasions, the depth of the FCR back line is of great concern. Masutani has been forced to fill in the past 7 weeks at RB while Nishioka recovers from what I assume was an MCL, PCL or LCL sprain. I am not sure what FC Ryukyu’s plan will be for this week because we only have 3 healthy CBs, one of which is filling at RB, and haven’t tried any other player on the roster at RB in Nishioka’s absence. Does FCR slide Masutani back to his CB role and push #16 Arai into the RB slot, or, do they instead opt to start #30 Nishikawa at CB -who is always on the reserves for FCR matches – and keep Masutani at RB? These are tough questions for Higuchi to contemplate.

FC Ryukyu keys to victory:

1.) Stop the Okayama attack in the form of Lee and Nakama. Easier said than done in my mind. These two are wreaking havoc on the opposition as of late and in light of injuries and suspensions to the FCR back line, these two may prove fatal to FCR on the day. Nakama plays down the left which means he will run into either Masutani or Masutani’s replacement on Sunday. Nishiokoa was seen participating in warm ups last week but he had a large knee brace on. I doubt he is match fit and won’t be for another 2-3 weeks. I’d prefer that FCR start Masutani at RB as his speed should at least cover the quickness of Nakama. Nakama is a powerful player in his own right so Masutani must fight for positioning against Nakama at all times. I worry that so much of the FCR attack comes from our Right and Left Fullbacks that FCR could be severely punished on all counter attacks down the left.

As far as Lee is concerned, he must be marked on all set pieces. He can be seen taking some long runs into the box on set pieces to generate height and power for headers and FCR must get in the way of those runs. If you combine Lee’s ability to rise and meet headers with FCRs inability to defend set pieces, and now lack of height and experience at the back with Okazaki suspended, this seems like a recipe for disaster.

2.) Stretch the pitch laterally and pull the back line of the Okayama 4-4-2 apart. One of the easiest ways to create scoring opportunities against the 4-4-2 lineup is quick changes in direction. Tomidokoro, Tanaka and now Kazama up front need to be quickly passing it off down the flanks as this will create the mismatches in defensive coverage. From there, crosses into the box for Suzuki or over the central defenders to the other attacking Mid Fielders of Ryukyu should open up plenty of shooting lanes for the Ryukyu attack.

3.) FC Ryukyu need to start fast and get out to an early 2 goal lead. This will allow FCR to deal with the Okayama onslaught from Lee and Nakama and open up Fagiano for a 3^rd goal.

Match Prediction: Seeing how I am like 1-12 on the year so far with match predictions there really is no point in providing any educated guess. All I will say is that FCR could really benefit from their second road win of the season as the matches will get tougher from here on out for the boys from Okinawa. I like both teams to score and see this match ending 1-1.

For those of you staying in Okinawa to watch the match, please join me at the Arcade Resort Okinawa or Café Camp Nou (if it is open) to catch the game. Good Luck boys!

“Snake Charmers” Match Day 13 Review: FCR 1-0 Mito Hollyhock

FC Ryukyu was able to extend their J League Record home unbeaten streak to 28 in front of a crowd just shy of 4,000 against the top team in J2, Mito Hollyhock, this past Saturday at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. It was also a historic day as it marked the 350th match for Uesato as well as handed Mito it’s first loss of the season. As I mentioned in the match day preview, both teams were on a very different glide path; Mito were soaring while FC Ryukyu were tumbling down the table, and if FCR wanted to keep the record intact, a top-class performance would be required.

Mito came into the match having never surrendered more than one goal in any of the matches that they actually conceded a goal. They were undefeated and simply choked the life out of the oppositions teams attack. FCR, on the other hand, have yet to score more than one goal in a match since match day 6 against Renofa. Considering that FCR rarely keep a clean sheet – only one all season – the task of scoring two goals against the best defensive team in the league seemed a tall ask for the fledgling FCR attack.

FCR have started out matches fast ever since the Tokyo Verdy in match day 9 and look to control a lion’s share of the possession each week. In past matches the possession is maintained in our own half as the attack tries to break out and make its way down field. FCR are very good at maintaining possession and they usually execute this quite well. there is, however, one glaring problem. FCR cannot translate all this possession into goals. There are quality opportunities and shots on net but FCR haven’t put up a crooked number on the score board in quite some time.

FCR started out very fast against Mito and wanted that early goal that this team is so very accustomed to scoring. Again, this suites FCRs playing style as they want to force the opponent into making mistakes and start chasing the match. Mito are not the type of team that need to chase games as evidenced by their record so if FCR wanted to really open up the opponents on the day, then they would need that second goal.

FCR achieved a breakthrough in the 8^th minute when a perfectly weighted and placed cross from Tokumoto found a wide-open Koji Suzkuki who buried a bullet header for his J2 league leading 9^th goal. First, the set-up play and cross are exactly what FCR need more of in future matches; feed Koji “The Shredder” Suzuki and let him punish the opponent. Second, Suzuki’s header was top class. He could have chosen to send it straight into the net but instead opted for a powerful header low, that would bounce, into the right side of the goal that gave the keeper no chance. Finally, the fact that FCR scored first against Mito really buoyed the spirits of the boys and breathed some much-needed confidence into the squad.

FCR nearly doubled their lead when Suzuki was open in front of net on a low cross as he attempted a toe poke but it was deflected over the top of the net by the defender. It was a nice piece of defending by Mito but that would have been something to see a second goal that early by FCR.

Mito had a few chances of their own in the first half as FCR will always invite pressure and opportunities for the opponent to score. Danny Carvajal was there once again to answer the call and keep FCR relevant in matches as he has done so many times this year. Danny was able to save two good chances in the 16th and 26th minutes by Mito that would have leveled the match for the opponent and make life very difficult for FCR.

The first half would end with FCR leading 1-0 but they were definitely on the front foot.

The second half started out in similar fashion to the first with FCR creating a lot of chances. FCR were not able to unlock the Mito defensive wall and as every fan probably felt, there would eventually be a shift in momentum for Mito.

Mito have never really had to stretch themselves to chase a match, with the exception of match day 4 when they got a late equalizer against JEF in the 92^nd minute and therefore, Mito rarely panics. Why should they? They have the best defensive record in the league. When the Mito attack started to pressure FCR beginning in the 75^th minute, surely this was going to be the time when the FCR defense would collapse and allow a goal. However, that wasn’t the case, the FCR defense proved to be resilient yesterday and for only the second time all season, FCR shut out an opponent.

Prior to the change of momentum by Mito, FCR nearly doubled their lead late in the second half when Tokumoto made a very nice penetrating run near the 18-yard box after a turnover but his shot hit the post. This meant that the Ryukyu faithful would have to see out a very nerve-racking 20 minutes for the very elusive 5^th win of the season.

Key Takeaways: 1) FCR set pieces need an overhaul. FCR attempted too many short corners early that fooled no one. Also, Suzuki earned FCR a nice FK in a dangerous area in the first half but it was Uesato, not Tomidokoro, who took the kick. Yu is someone who teams cannot easily game plan for on set pieces with his ability to shoot or pass, unlike Uesato, who everyone who reviews any FCR game film knows will always opt to shoot. It is terrible how the coaches have used Tomidokoro this year on set pieces and since FCR are no longer generating multiple goals from open play, it is time they allowed Yu his opportunity.

2) The FCR attack. FCR has not been able to find a suitable replacement for Nakagawa in the CAM role and instead of changing their formation to suit the strengths of the players, they’ve opted to alter the strategy for who will finish off attacks in the opposition’s end. Here is a typical FCR set up play. First, we start with a pass from one of our central defenders to one of our defensive or holding mid fielders. Next, either of those players will look to get the ball to Tomidokoro or Tanaka who will then get the ball to either Suzuki or the CAM in the central areas. Third, our attacking forwards will pass back to either of the Left or Right Mid Fielders who will look for an on rushing RWB/LWB in the form of Tokumoto or Masutani. The last two players have taken a lot of the “quality” shots on net the past few weeks but are not the players we want finishing off plays. I can only hope this is a temporary solution to our CAM problem.

3) FCR have failed to score multiple times in a game for 7 weeks in a row. Maybe this could be taken with a huge grain of salt as Mito were the best defensive team in J2 but FCR needs to be scoring multiple goals against opponents near them in the table to secure the vital points to keep them in J2 next season.

In closing, this was HUGE win for the club this weekend. Many, including yours truly, tipped FCR to lose and see the streak come to an end. FCR has a very strange way of both playing up and down to the level of competition each week. FCRs record against teams at the bottom half of the table as of this writing is 3 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses with those losses occurring against teams that were at or near the foot of the table. Against opponents in the top half of the table, FCR have earned 2 wins and 3 draws, 2 of which, were on the road in tough conditions.

It is hard to make any sense of the FCR season to date after their blazing start and subsequent stagnation. I truly believe we are looking at the real FCR team, based on current squad and system, for the foreseeable future. This team, and Higuchi’s system of 4-2-3-1, requires a CAM that can strike fear in opponents with his ability to score or assist and FCR need to find that in the next transfer window. For now, let us all revel in this massive win and then prepare for a tough road match against Okayama.

“The Mito Boa Constrictor” Match Day 13 Preview: FCR vs Mito Hollyhock 5/11/2019

Match Day 13: (H) FCR vs Mito Hollyhock (A) at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium, Kickoff at 1800.

Weather Forecast: Partly Cloudy with temperatures in the mid-70s all match with a 5% chance of rain. Winds will be calm at 7-mph so all in all it should be comfortable all match.

The Mito “Boa Constrictor” is coming to town this week to take on FC Ryukyu who are looking to keep their home undefeated record intact. These two teams find themselves on two different trajectories at the moment. Mito are on an ascending track having not lost all season while also not surrendering more than one goal in any of their matches. FCR, however, on a downward spiral at the moment as the attack has failed to fire over the course of the last 9 matches which has seen FCR tumble out of the top 6 and into 9^th place.

Mito Hollyhock: 1^st in J2 on 26 points, 7W5D0L GF14 GA4 Goal Difference of +14 Current Form DWWDW

Typical Formation: 4-4-2

Record vs Common Opponents of FCR: 3W4D

The statistics for Mito are both impressive and staggering. As mentioned above, Mito are still undefeated this season and they have yet to surrender more than one goal in any of their matches. Here is a snapshot of the FCR opponent this week: 1.) Mito have earned 5 wins and 2 draws while playing away from home this season, 2.) Mito have scored 8 goals while conceding only 2 in all road matches, 3.) Mito have scored first in 8 of their matches and in only two instances did those games end in a draw after the opponent scored very late, 4.) Mito has conceded the opening goal of the match only twice all year and they were still able to earn a win and a draw in those games and most impressive, 5.) Mito have shut out the home team 5 times this season while traveling.

So, what does all this mean? Quite simply, Mito chokes the life out of the opponents attack similar to the way a boa constrictor does with their prey. It also means Mito never panics when they are playing from behind and they have the ability to see out tightly contested matches when they have a small lead. This really does not bode well for FC Ryukyu this week since the attack has gone missing since match day 4.

Players to Watch: #32 Atsushi Kurokawa MF & #14 Shintaro Shimizu are the joint top scorers for Mito with 3 goals each.

The entire Back Line of Mito and their GK. It will be something to see if the FCR attack can get going because we will then see an unstoppable force versus an immovable object.

FCR: 9^th in J2 on 17 points 4W5D3L GF18 GA15 Goal Difference of +3 Current Form DDLDL

Typical Formation: 4-2-3-1

Record vs Common Opponents of Mito: 2W2D3L

FCR is coming into the match having conceded two late goals on the road against the bottom team in the J2 table at the time, FC Gifu. FC Ryukyu were able to grab an early lead off of a nicely taken shot by Uesato but were unable to net a second goal for the remainder of the match. FC Ryukyu came close on several occasions by hitting the post early but the ball simply didn’t break the way it needed to for FCR on the day.

FCR maintain a perfect 3W3D record at home and they have scored 11 of their 18 goals this season at home while conceding 6 at the #fortressryukyu. As a reminder, FCR are now on their 27^th undefeated match dating back to 2017 but this is going to be one of the hardest tests so far to maintain that record.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory: 1.) Score multiple goals, something they have not done in 9 weeks and something that Mito has never done all season. We have no idea how Mito will react if they concede a second goal and possibly try and chase the game. Mito never panics and by jumping out to a 2 goal lead they may pull themselves apart at the back and allow FCR some running room. Mito are well coached and play really well at the back and it is a monumental ask of the FCR attack to score multiple goals against a superior opponent.

2.) FCR needs to throw everything it has at Mito all match and not worry about the result until it’s over. It is almost cliché to say that FCR will concede a goal in their matches but it is a very likely outcome. FCR should set themselves up to constantly bombard the Mito defense and run them ragged all game. This will open FCR to several counter attacks but a back line of 3, instead of 4, that doesn’t push wing backs up into the attack should be able to cover the Mito counter.

3.) Change the FCR lineup and set up. 3-4-3 with Uejo and Koizumi flanking Suzkui up front, Uesato and Tomidokoro down the middle and Tokumoto and Kawaii out wide. Come out firing with speed from the flanks, quality passes through the middle by Tomidokoro and penetrating runs into the box from Uejo and Koizumi.

4.) Stop mucking about on Free Kicks and Corners. Tomidokoro needs to be more involved in set pieces, period.

Match Prediction. It has proven very challenging the past few weeks to remain positive when it comes to predicting the outcomes of FCR matches. They have faced several inferior opponents yet they either drew or lost those games. The most likely outcome is FCR loses the match 2-0. I cannot see Mito conceding a goal despite the fact that FCR prides themselves on their attacking prowess. Unfortunately, this means the undefeated record will come to a close.

If what I am seeing on twitter is any indication, then I believe Bando will make an appearance at the stadium this week to cover the match. I hope he takes a tour of the grounds and meets and greets some of the fans either prior, during or after the match. See you all out there on Saturday night.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Golden Week Special #1: Reinventing the FCR Attack!

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

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

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

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

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

2. 3-4-3

Uesato would drop back slightly to support the back 3.

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

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

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

3. 3-3-2-2

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

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

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

4. 3-4-1-2

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

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

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

5. 3-2-3-2

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

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

6. 3-1-4-2

Allow some space for Suzuki and Uejo to run into.

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

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

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

7. 3-2-2-3

That;s a lot of firepower orientated forward.

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

8. 2-1-4-3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Set piece delivery from Tomidokoro or Uesato, That front line looks menacing to defend with Joao’s height up there.

Could prove difficult for teams to defend late in games and gives FCR a chance to equalize or win late.

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

1st Quarter 2019 Season Review for FCR.

We are officially past the quarter mark of the 2019 J2 season and I think it is a good time to reflect back on what FC Ryukyu has accomplished so far along with some of the standout performers in the club, the memorable moments for the team and where this club could improve moving forward.

There are 42 games in the J2 season so in order to break the season down into 4 separate quarters, we will say the first quarter includes the first 11 matches followed by 2 quarters of 10 matches each and then concludes with the 11 remaining matches of the J2 season.

FC Ryukyu currently sit 7^th in the J2 table with 17 points coming from 4 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses in 11 matches this season. FC Ryukyu have scored 17 goals and conceded 13 and are averaging just under 5,000 fans per game, most of who are being treated to some very exciting football along the way.

Not many people pegged FC Ryukyu to be in the position they are in right now, least of all me. FC Ryukyu has experienced some serious “highs” and “lows” of the early 2019 J2 season and below are the standout performers for FC Ryukyu as well as the 5 most memorable moments to date and some areas for improvement.

Koji Suzuki

The signing from Zelvia has been in top form so far this season. He currently sits at 8 goals in 11 matches and is the top goal scorer in J2 this season. Granted, he hasn’t scored since the Renofa match but he has been vital in starting counter attacks with his hold up play and is doing everything he can to help this team win.

Danny Carvajal

Danny has been a tremendous signing this season. He has singly handily kept FC Ryukyu in so many matches this year with his efforts between the sticks. One of his best performances to date was against Verdy where he stopped numerous shots on net and made a vital PK save that ultimately allowed FCR to earn a draw. We are lucky to have a player of his caliber on our team and need to provide some better defensive play in front of him so he can begin registering shut outs.

Satoki Uejo

Uejo has been a revelation this season and provided some much-needed spark after the loss of Nakagawa in the transfer window. He currently sits as the joint top 4 goal scorer in J2 with 4 goal. His volley against Reysol was terrific and earned FC Ryukyu a point as well as the J League record 26 home matches played without defeat record.

Going to rely on this emerging player the rest of the season

5. Opening Day: February 24^th 2019

It was a historic day for the club as they would play their first ever J2 game. The weather didn’t cooperate as it was overcast, then raining and windy but that wouldn’t dampen the spirits of the 7,385 fans who showed up to watch this special moment. The team repaid the fans dedication by achieving a 3-1 victory over Avispa Fukuoka behind a brace from newly signed Koji Suzuki. Since no one truly knew how FC Ryukyu would respond in the J2, it was so meaningful that their first ever match ended in a victory. This victory would start FC Ryukyu down a path of 4 consecutive victories in a row to open the J2 season.

4. The first and only road win to date. March 2^nd 2019

The match against Omiya was an amazing spectacle to witness and I am glad I was able to enjoy it firsthand. I tip my cap to the Omiya organization and their fans as it was one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever witnessed during my time as a football fan. Fresh off their first victory, FC Ryukyu came out blazing against Omiya Ardija. Tanaka opened the scoring early on a very nice take and then the second brace in as many games for Koji Suzki pushed the score to 3-1. FC Ryukyu were not done yet as Uejo netted his first goal of the season and FCR were flying with a 4-1 advantage thanks in large part to 3 assists from Nakagawa. Omiya made a late push to bring the match close at 4-3 before FC Ryukyu were able to see it out and hold on for their first ever, and last as of this article, J2 road win. The feelings of joy throughout the match in the FCR supporter end will be something I carry with me the rest of my time as a supporter of this club.

3. The Nakagawa Transfer March 15^th 2019

One of the most painful memories of this early season is the transfer of Kazaki Nakagawa to the Yokohama F Marinos. Nakagawa was an unbelievable player during his time at FCR. His 16 goals and nearly as many assists in J3 last season propelled FCR to the J3 title. His ability to unlock defenses and set players up for success like he did early in the year with Tanaka, Tomidokoro, Uejo and Suzuki really made the FC Ryukyu attack lethal. However, he is gone and we all wish him the best since he rightfully deserves his opportunity at the J1 level. His departure can be measured by the facts that in the 3 games FCR played with him this season, the club netted 9 goals whereas FCR has only managed 8 goals in the 8 games since his departure. FCR must find a suitable replacement fast to keep this team afloat in the J2.

This hurt the club and fans a lot but wish him the best

2. Late Game Heroics: Matches versus Renofa, Reysol, & Verdy.

In each of the three contests listed above, FC Ryukyu required some late game heroics to see out draws and net positive points. Most of the games, on paper, seemed winnable in my opinion but things rarely turn out as you expect. Against Renofa, FCR scored first behind Koji Suzuki’s 3^rd brace of the season. FCR then promptly conceded 2 goals and experienced playing from behind for the first time all year. However, Koji Suzuki would score an 89^th minute equalizer to bring FCR level and allow them to earn a point at home and maintain a 6-game unbeaten streak to start the 2019 season.

FCR would follow up that home performance with an incredible draw against a much larger club in Kashiwa Reysol after a mid-week defeat to JEF. Reysol are early favorites to win the J2 this season and this was be a huge test for the newly promoted side from Okinawa. FC Ryukyu proved resilient after the fast start by Reysol that resulted in an early goal for the visitors. FCR responded with a phenomenal volley from Uejo in the 82^nd minute to see out the draw and it sent the home crowd into a tizzy.

The final match mentioned here was against Tokyo Verdy on the road. FCR left it very late, 95^th minute in stoppage time, when Uesato scored a volley from a deflected clearance and earned FCR a point on the road. The match was a very tense affair and thanks in large part to a Carvajal PK save, FCR were able to muster some positive points away from home.

1. The Record April 7^th 2019 & continuing on still

How could it be anything but the record as the most memorable event to date for FCR? FC Ryukyu entered the match against Kashiwa Reysol requiring only a point to set the all time J League record for consecutive home matches without a defeat at 26. The record looked nearly impossible to achieve against a much stronger opponent but the home side was able to manage a draw after a tightly contested affair. This a huge piece of history for the club and its supporters and one that cannot go unnoticed. Some will argue that a majority of the games occurred against lesser competition in the J3, but I would counter with you can only play the opponent in front of you. FCR and all of Okinawa should be so proud of this record and it continues on still and is now currently at 27 matches after the draw against Zelvia this past weekend.

To wrap this up I think it is imperative we discuss some of the things that FCR may need to improve or change in order to see out the remainder of the 2019 J2 season outside of the relegation zone.

1. How the club is using Yu Tomidokoro.

Tomidokoro is a player known for his quality on FKs and accurate shots. He is never going to be the top goal scorer for FCR but he will provide plenty of service to the attacking players and offers tremendous upside on set pieces. If you recall from last season, he was nailing FK after FK for goals and it was a thing of beauty. This season is a much different story. Tomidokoro is rarely used on set pieces in and around the 18-yard box. Those duties are falling to Uesato and Kazama. Uesato opts to shoot from long range more than he does to provide service to our attackers and I don’t see much in the delivery from Kazama that leads me to believe he is better at taking those types of kicks compared to Tomidokoro. The bottom line is Yu needs to be taking a majority of the FKs and CKs in order to restore some of that swagger and confidence he had from last season which will ultimately lead to more goal scoring opportunities for our attackers.

2. A suitable replacement for Nakagawa in the Central Attacking MF role.

FCR hasn’t been able to find a suitable replacement up front since the departure of Nakagawa. It was always going to be unlikely that there would be a direct one for one replacement in our current lineup but at the very least, FCR needs to get someone behind Suzukui that can provide the same level of service Nakagawa once did, albeit, at a much lesser rate. I think a change in formation is required because that CAM role is so vital to a 4-2-3-1 and FCR simply doesn’t have an answer for the missing piece.

3. Change the formation from a 4-2-3-1 to more of 3-4-3, 3-2-4-1 or 3-5-2.

When you combine the loss of Nakagawa and the injury to Nishioka that has forced Masutani out wide, the FCR attack has gone missing the past 8 matches. I think FCR should experiment with a back line of 3 and get more players into the lineup such as Koizumi and Kawai. Maybe we should also get a strike partner up front with Suzuki so he isn’t forced to constantly drop back to assist on defense only to be the starting point for counter attacks that he can never join in on later.

4. Make some summer transfer window signings.

The summer transfer window for the J League begins July 15^th and runs through August 14^th. FCR should take a long look at the J3 talent that is out there as well as across the J2 for unused players and finally ask J1 clubs to loan out their unused talent. One player I think would be an interesting fit here at FC Ryukyu would be Joao Gabriel from SC Sagamihara. Having watched this player all last year I think there are several ways FC Ryukyu could employ him as a FWD. First, he is not a direct replacement for Suzuki but could help his fellow strike partner out by executing the holdup play that Suzuki does so well so as to allow Suzuki some free release as part of the counter attack. Second, he can be a player FC Ryukyu brings on late in matches than can provide some strength, height and tenacity. Gabriel plays with a bit of an edge and can make life very difficult for teams that are trying to win a match or see out a draw. His height would be beneficial for set pieces during both the attack and defense. Having a player that can help clear balls while defending leads or ties as well as the ability to rise up and meet set pieces for headers late would provide FC Ryukyu more opportunities to see out some low scoring affairs or win matches outright. Finally, if it looks like SC Sagamihara are not going to be promoted and are stuck in the middle of the J3 table this year, it’s worth the risk to sign a young player of his quality.

Using his height to reach out and bury a header

5. Improve the visibility of the club.

FC Ryukyu desperately needs to increase the visibility of the club both on island and off. They may be hamstrung by laws and regulations from the Okinawa City office but there are some small steps they could take to mitigate these hurdles. There are plenty of free marketing vehicles out there for the club and they need to maximize those outlets early enough to get more fans to stadium for the remaining home matches in 2019. Lastly, and I do not read enough of the JLeague news articles that are in the Japanese language to know for certain, but they could be one of the first clubs that is truly open and transparent in the J League. This would mean disclosing things such as finances, which they’ve done, player injuries with expected recovery times, player signing values, wages and issues surrounding the club. This type of transparency would appeal to much more than just the Japanese football fan and would allow to the club to generate more fans and followers on both a regional and global level.

It has been an amazing start to the season and I hope FC Ryukyu can reach the 42-point threshold to secure J2 football in 2020. I am sure there will be more memories throughout the remainder of the season and I look forward to sharing them with all of you.

Match Day 11 Preview: FCR vs Machida Zelvia

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

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

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

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

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

Typical Formation: 4-4-2

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

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

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

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

Zelvia Players to Watch:

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

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

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

FCR 6^thin J2 with 16 points 4W4D2L Goal Difference of +4 Current Form DLDDL

Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

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

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

FCR Keys to Victory:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Match Day 9 Preview: Tokyo Verdy vs FCR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you on Monday with the match recap.