Tag: Uejo

Golden Week Special #1: Reinventing the FCR Attack!

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

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

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

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

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

2. 3-4-3

Uesato would drop back slightly to support the back 3.

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

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

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

3. 3-3-2-2

Putting some serious thrust forward.

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

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

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

4. 3-4-1-2

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

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

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

5. 3-2-3-2

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

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

6. 3-1-4-2

Allow some space for Suzuki and Uejo to run into.

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

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

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

7. 3-2-2-3

That;s a lot of firepower orientated forward.

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

8. 2-1-4-3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 7th 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.

The Shredder

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.

One tough dude here

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 24th 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.  

Opening day weather sucked

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

Great time at Omiya

3. The Nakagawa Transfer March 15th 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 3rd 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 89th 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 82nd minute to see out the draw and it sent the home crowd into a tizzy.

Uesato 95th minute equalizer

The final match mentioned here was against Tokyo Verdy on the road. FCR left it very late, 95th 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 7th 2019 & continuing on still

The Record

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.

The man himself, and Yu

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 15th and runs through August 14th. 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.

could be a nice addition to FCR

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.

As good as it was early on.

Match Day 11 Preview: FCR vs Machida Zelvia

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

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

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

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

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

Typical Formation: 4-4-2

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

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

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

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

Zelvia Players to Watch:

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

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

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

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

Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

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

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

FCR Keys to Victory:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Match Day 8 Preview: FCR vs Kashiwa Reysol

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Match Day Recap: FCR 2 – 2 Renofa Yamaguchi FC 3/30/2019

FCRs first match of 3 in 8 days was another tightly contested battle that required a late goal by Koji Suzuki to secure a point. On a day that saw FCR dominate the possession, as well as the shots on net, FCR were unable to come away with the full 3 points.

FCR came out in their typical 4-2-3-1 with one notable change up front. Uejo started in the CAM role and Tomidokoro started out wide as he did earlier this season. Unfortunately for FCR, Renfofa employed the same CB paring from their last match that limited the freedom of movement in the back that so many of Renofa’s earlier opponents enjoyed.

Once again, the first 15 minutes of this match saw FCR starting slowly and affording Renofa all the early opportunities to take the lead. FCRs best chance in the opening half happened in the 18th minute when Uejo was set loose from a pass by Tanaka but he couldn’t get it past the GK while getting closed down by the Renofa DF.

FCR started the second half quickly by creating multiple chances on net followed by the opening goal of the game in the 52nd minute. This was the 6th time this season, and 6th in a row, that FCR scored first.  The play started with Uesato sending a cross field pass to Nishioka, who then did a very nice step over to get past the Renofa defense, and then sent a cross into the box. The cross landed near Tomidokoro, whose shot was deflected by the Renofa Defense but eventually ended up on the head of Suzuki. There have been multiple occasions this year when FCR was on the wrong end of deflected crosses/shots and it was nice to see us capitalize on the misfortunes of our opponent. This joyful feeling would be short lived as Renofa quickly equalized.

Just 4 minutes later Carvajal had a momentary lapse in judgement and casually turned the ball over to a Renofa FWD while attempting to fool the Renofa player,instead of clearing it. The Renofa player easily slotted it home in a wide-open net. In America, this would be called a “brain fart.” Renofa was able to add to their lead 2 minutes later when Nishioka made a horrible giveaway in the MF and then followed that up by failing to track the run of the Renofa FWD who was able to get past him and put a header past Carvajal.  This would be the first time all season that FCR would be forced to play from a deficit.

Uejo nearly tied the match in the 66th minute when a fortuitous bounce landed at his feet with only the Renofa defender on the line to beat for an equalizer. However, his shot went right to a defender and FCR was still down 2-1 requiring the boys to press for a goal.

When your football team is forced to play from behind, you always hope that the team has the ability to score. This is hardly the case with several teams in the J2 this year, and is a massive strength for the FCR team. I know that no matter what, FCR has the firepower and skill, to press for goals when called upon. This will inevitably lead to some matches where FCR will over commit and get caught out but also allow FCR to grab a late equalizers and winners. This could be considered the “Razors Edge.”

Strangely enough the coach opted to sub out Tanaka (70’), Uejo (76’) and Tomidokoro (88’) prior to the equalizer. This indicates to me that the JEF United match may see these guys as short-lived starters or late subs so as to save their energy for Kashiwa. Either way, Koji Suzuki’s second goal of the match, and 8th on the season, was an absolute gem.

Kawai, who came on for Tanaka, sent a beautiful cross into the box that Suzuki was able to run under and then put a header past the Renofa GK. This was definitely considered a “strikers’ goal” and was so massive for the squad and the 3,800 people that showed up for the match. From them on, Carvajal was called upon to make several nice saves to keep the draw intact.

Match Takeaways: FCR came close to taking the lead on several occasions but couldn’t capitalize. FCR also had some serious lapses in judgement when it came to defending and passing. Carvajal was guilty of the first blunder but Nishioka was very culpable on the second goal. If FCR wishes to do anything, mental errors need to be squashed as we need every single point we can get.

Looking back to my match preview article I hinted at a few keys for this game: 1. Suzuki should feast, and did with 2 goals! 2. FCR should control the MF and they did with 60% possession.  3.) The Renofa GK has an injury that FCR should exploit. FCR did not exploit as much as I was anticipating.  4.) This could be a trap game for FCR and it was. No doubt we should’ve taken 3 points so we are only left to wonder what could have been.

Well I hope the boys are already on mainland Japan and getting some rest for the quickly approaching fixture vs JEF. I am very interested in the starting lineup next match and will put this out there for any followers. If you predict the starting lineup with greater accuracy than me, I’ll make a $100.00 donation in your name to a charity of your choice. There are 11 players you need to select correctly on a short week so choose wisely. I’ll provide mine on Monday with the JEF match preview so please DM me on Twitter or post to this blog.

See you in a few days.

Match Day 6 Preview: FCR vs Renofa Yamaguchi FC


Match Day Info: 03/30/2019 (H) FCR vs Renofa Yamaguchi FC (A) at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium (Okinawa Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 1800.

This week’s match-up pits table toppers FCR vs bottom of the table Renofa Yamaguchi FC. The last time these two teams met was during the 2015 J3 season where Renofa beat FCR three times, outscoring the Bengara Boys 11-3, during their march to the J3 title. However, that is in the past and these are two different teams in the 2019 J2 season.

Overall Series Record: Renfoa Yamaguchi FC W3D0L0 – FCR W0D0L3

Weather Forecast: The rain should subside in the early morning giving way to partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 70s (22 degrees Celsius) for kickoff. There will be a 10-13 mph wind during the entirety of the match so bring a light jacket. There is only a 5% chance for rain during the game but having lived here for so long, the weather could change quickly so be prepared.  

Renofa Yamaguchi FC: 21st in J2; W1D0L4 Current Form: LLWLL Typical Formation 4-1-2-3

The start of the 2019 J2 season saw Renofa lose a hard-fought battle, 2-1, against Kashiwa Reysol at home. Renofa created several chances that game and from the limited highlights I saw on YouTube, it looked to be a very pacey end to end match. I am not sure of the circumstances surrounding the change at GK after this match but Renofa opted to drop #17 Yoshimitsu for #33 Yamada. To be honest, I didn’t see much justification for this so we have to assume that Yoshimitsu got hurt or has been outperformed on the training ground by Yamada.

Yamada’s first start against Kofu is one he would like to forget. He had two howlers that led to two goals for Kofu. The first was at the 2nd minute mark of the game when he was casually attempting to clear the ball from his own end and was closed down by Utaka of Kofu. Yamada really took his sweet time attempting to make this clearance and it allowed Yutaka to make up ground and deflect the ball into the back of the net. Kofu scored shortly thereafter when the two CBs were ripped apart by Utaka who then rounded Yamada and slotted it home. Yamada’s second blunder was similar to his first, he was attempting a clearance, was closed down by the Kofu player, slipped and sent the ball directly to a Kofu player on the edge of the box who easily shot past him and the Renofa player on the goal line. Kofu would score one more time, on what could’ve been called a hand ball, but it didn’t matter as the game was already out of reach for Renofa.

Match day 3 saw Renofa playing in their second consecutive match with a 5-2 score line, but this time they would be on the better end of the outcome against JEF United. JEF United didn’t do itself any favors at home as their GK had his own blunder that led to a Renofa goal and that was quickly followed by a JEF player being sent off for a very poor challenge. However, it took Renofa 33 minutes to add to their score line despite the man advantage. JEF was able to pull within 1 goal of Renofa before an 88th minute corner kick by JEF quickly went the other direction and Renofa scored. The play was one of those ones where JEF had committed so many men forward in hopes of tying the match but got caught on the break with their goalie way out of position because most of the JEF outfield players where in the box for the corner. The Renofa player took a long shot from just over the halfway line that bounced off the post and rolled back to the waiting Renfoa player who tapped it in. Renofa would score one more time at the feet of #4 Takai who scored a brace on the day.

Versus Ehime on Match Day 4 all the action took place in the first half. All 3 goals scored by both sides occurred within the first 36 minutes where Renofa conceded the first two on a PK and a breakdown at the back. Renofa’s goal was also a breakdown at the back by Ehime but other than that, there was not much in this game.

Finally, Renofa’s most recent match versus Tochigi was the first game this season that Renofa was unable to score. Tochigi capitalized on the 3rd PK given up by Renofa this season and that was is it as far as goals for this match. Renofa did make one major change to their lineup this game in that they dropped the Center Back pairing of #15 Doston & #13 Kusumoto in exchange for #49 Kikuchi & #2 Tsuboi. Doston and Kusumoto have been brutal all year and they were constantly being beat and exposed down the middle so it was obvious that the coach needed to make a change. While Renofa didn’t concede a goal from open play during the match, the CBs performed only slightly better than the original pair. There were a couple of occasions where the Tochigi forwards were able to get behind the Renofa CBs but nothing came of these opportunities.

Renofa Yamaguchi Players to Watch:

#24: Keita Yamahita FW. Leading goal scorer for Renofa with 3 so far this season. He had a brace against Kofu as well as one against JEF but he also moves very well in and around the 18-yard box. He’s probably the one-man FCR needs to mark throughout the match.

#4 Kazumi Takai MF: Second leading scorer on the team with 2. These goals came at the end of the match versus JEF so I wouldn’t read too much into it other than the man can finish when called upon.

#19 Masato Kudo FW. Has one goal so far this season and it was against Ehime. Kudo has started the last 3 matches and adds a nice attacking element to the Renofa front 3. He takes quality shots on net so FCR will need to keep a close eye on him in and around the box.

#7 Paulo Junichi Tanaka MF. Seems to be one of their best play-makers and also takes quality shots on net.

#33 Genki Yamada GK. Genki was wearing a knee brace or his knee or it was heavily taped this past match. If that is the case this week it is safe to assume his movement will be hindered and FCR needs to test him early and often. Hard shots that require him to get low may prove very beneficial to FCR.

#15 Doston & #13 Takumi Kusumoto CB. If one, or both, of these guys are in then FCR should feast. Their play was so bad over the first 4 matches that there had to be wholesale changes at the back with both being swapped out. Again, if they are in, then there will be goals.

FC Ryukyu: 1st in J2; W4D1L0 Current Form: WWWWD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

FCR comes in to this match as the overall leader in J2. They were able to earn a hard-fought point on the road against Yamagata while contending with harsh weather and long travel. FCR did not score from open play that match but rather relied on a twice taken PK by #9 Suzuki for their loan goal. Yamagata was able to equalize at the end of the match in the 88th minute in what could be called a busted play where the ball took several awkward bounces and deflections before it fell right on the head of a rising Yamagata player in the 6 yard box.

The prior 5 matches for FCR is really a tale of two teams. In the first 3 matches FCR scored 9 goals and their movement was excellent. Teams were finding life difficult handling the FCR thrust forward and it allowed the team many open running lanes and passing lanes. The last two matches however, the attacking prowess FCR once displayed has taken a back seat to a more controlled, defensive minded approach.

I don’t believe this was a tactical change on the part of FCR but rather just the way the past two opponents execute their game plan. Tokushima enjoys large spells of possession and Yamagata severely limits the amount of opportunities for their opponent. Both of those teams really crowded the MF and made it difficult for FCR to navigate out of that traffic and towards the net. This is not going to be the case with Renofa as there was nothing in the tape that I saw that indicates this team can stop the attack of FCR.

FCR Keys to Victory: 1. An absolutely unrelenting, unforgiving attack straight at the back line of Renofa. This game sets up very well for #9 Suzuki to feast in front of goal. However, that will require the FCR MF combination of #11 Tanaka, #14 Uejo and #10 Tomidokoro finding open passing lanes to set Suzuki free as well as provide quality service to the FCR striker. This can be done as the CBs are the weakest part of the Renofa defense. Renofa also concedes a lot of PKs because their defenders are out of position and are forced to make rash challenges to stop the pressure. Quick movements in the box by FCR could also prove fruitful.

2. Test the Renofa GK. I mentioned earlier that he may have an injury that could limit his lateral and/or vertical movement. Anyone who has played sports knows that there are some injuries you can play through but you will be limited physically and sometimes mentally out of fear of making the injury worse during the game. Press him every time he has the ball as he’s displayed his penchant for making bad decisions as well as turning the ball over way to easy.

Game Prediction: If FCR can control the pace of the game and continually test the Renofa GK then there is no reason FCR cannot win this game. FCR enters a very tough stretch of fixtures in a rather short period of time this week as they will play 3 matches within 8 days that includes traveling during the mid-week. This means the FCR manager must make a few tough calls in these games because the depth and talent of the FCR squad are sure to be tested this week.

I wrote earlier this week about sometimes getting ahead of yourself or setting expectations too high when viewing the fixture list. It is perfectly acceptable to do this as a fan because it’s just what we do, but for the club it is a very different story. As Ben Maxwell from “The J-Talk Podcast” (@JTalkPod) so rightly pointed out this past week,” the J2 is a marathon and not a sprint,” and therefore FCR cannot afford a trip-up this early that leads to them pressing for points and looking up to see that half the table has leaped over them in a matter of weeks. FCR probably has noticed that they are playing the bottom two teams in succession followed by the overall second place team in Kashiwa Reysol. The fixture lineup couldn’t be better but it will require not falling victim to the early “trap games” and then the titanic fixture next weekend.

Often there are times in sports when a far superior team falls victim to a lesser team because there is a much stronger team on the horizon. This is considered a “trap game.” This could occur because the powerful team has either overlooked or played down to the level of their competition and in the case of FCR, there are 2 such matches preceding the Kashiwa match. FCR needs to view each match separately and not as a combination of all three. It is critical that FCR continue to win points this early in the season and not concern themselves with the overall standings in J2.

Hopefully FCR can jump out to a big enough lead against Renofa and be able to rest certain key players. I have little doubt that there will be lineup changes over the first 2 matches because all 11 players cannot play all 3 matches. It comes down to a matter of where FCR thinks they can get maximum points versus their opponent. One strategy would be to target the Renofa and JEF matches and then rest players against Kashiwa so as not to risk injury. The other is to rest against JEF and come back with the same lineup against Kashiwa. Either works and it truly depends on the manager. As a side note, while JEF is bottom of the table and in turmoil with the recent managerial change, they could also bust out in a big way by taking advantage of the short week fixture at home against FCR. JEF had a lot of fight in their last match despite losing and I wouldn’t view them as “cellar dwellers” all season.

In closing, I want FCR to come out and pummel Renofa at home for the above reasons as well as because it would represent another historic moment for this club. 25 matches unbeaten at home is such an honor and would mean so much to FCR and its supporters. As always, I’ll be in the north end of the stadium right next to the England Flag so stop on over and say hi. See you at the #fortressryukyu!

Match Day 4 Recap: FCR 2 – 1 Tokushima Vortis 3/16/2019

FC Ryukyu did not disappoint the 3,500 fans with their performance on a very cool Saturday night at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. The result has once again thrust FCR to the top of the J2 table, prior to the remainder of the J2 matches today, but more importantly it has moved FCR one step closer to remaining in the J2 for the 2020 season.

FCR came out in their typical 4-2-3-1 formation and we welcomed back Masutani and Tomidokoro to the starting lineup. It was a very nice gesture by Nakagawa to say thank you to the fans and good bye prior to the match but it can’t be understated that his presence will be sorely missed throughout the season.

As expected, Tokushima got off to a fast start in their 3-4-3 formation, which lasted 2/3 of the first half. The opening 15 minutes provided a few moments of action when Tomidokoro was gifted a free shot on net by Vortis in the 7th minute when their goal keeper slipped on a free kick, however, Tomidokoro hit the post. Vortis had a tremendous opportunity in the 16th minute to take the lead but Okazaki made a well-timed slide tackle in the 6-yard box preventing an open shot on net. In the 30th minute Vortis almost took the lead again when they hit the post but after that the momentum swung in the direction of FCR.

FCR broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with another opening Uejo goal. Initially I thought it was a lovely little chip over the head of the keeper but after watching several replays, I see he was once again trying to send a cross into the 6-yard box similar to his goal against Ehime last week. I don’t care though as it put FCR up 1-0 heading into half time and it was a vital goal.

Vortis started out fast again in the second half and they were able to equalize in the 47th minute from a set piece. FCR defends well against the run of open play but seems to struggle from set pieces this season. This is something they can fix on the training ground but we’ll have to watch closely all year to see if they improve. It seemed inevitable that Vortis was going to score from a set piece in this game since FCR conceded 9 corner kicks and 16 free kicks throughout the match.

Both teams had some opportunities and chances from then on but it was FCR that again broke the deadlock in the 75th minute and went ahead. Kawai was able to get around the left side of the defense and take a hard shot on net that led to a rebound off the keeper followed by the thunderous tap in by Nishioka. He was visibly excited to score and it all but made up for his poor performance last week vs Ehime, as evidenced by his celebration.

The remaining 15 minutes of the match were very intense and Carvajal made some nice saves to see out the FCR victory.

Some Key Takeaways from the Match: 1.) I mentioned in the preview that we needed to apply pressure to Vortis when they are playing out from the back and it nearly paid off when Yu was gifted a golden opportunity early on that we couldn’t convert. 2.) As expected, we had to weather the early Vortis storm and it resulted in FCR scoring in the 34th minute. 3.)  I wrote that FCR needed to use speed to get cause problems to the Vortis defense down the left side, and it was Kawai who provided the much needed change of pace and attacking down the Vortis left side that resulted in the winning goal. 4.) Uejo seems to have hurt his foot when he scuffed a shot late in the first half and needed to be subbed off early in the second half. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery for this rapidly developing player. 5.) Kawai needs to use his speed more when taking on the opposing players. There were a few times when he had possession that he could’ve drawn some fouls or at least made life difficult for Vortis but he opted to pull up and pass. In the end it didn’t matter because he made it count when FCR needed the breakthrough. 6.) What may go unnoticed in this match, since he didn’t score, was the hold up play and passing in the box by Suzuki. The effort he put in to constantly battle the Vortis Center Backs and gain possession for FCR was outstanding. On a day where he only got free for a few shots it was his hold play and passing that set Kawai free down the left side for the winning play.

Well, that’s it from me as I head out on holiday. FC Ryukyu has a chance at writing their name into the J League history books next week on the road against Yamagata if they win. A fifth victory in a row by a newly promoted side will be the first time that feat has ever been accomplished in the J League. Teams that have had similar starts to their season as FCR have gone on to be promoted to the next league rather quickly a majority of the time; but before we get ahead of ourselves, please keep in mind that Yamagata will present the hardest challenge yet for the early FCR season. This will be no easy match for FCR so I hope a lot of FC Ryukyu fans on the main island of Japan show up to support our boys. Later!