FC Ryukyu Updates in English

Intro

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

Match Recap

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Man of the Match

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

Review of the FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

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

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

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

Match Day 27 Takeaways

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

Photos are from FC Ryukyu and J.League websites.

Intro

FC Ryukyu look to end their 5-game losing streak this Saturday when they square off with V-Varen Nagasaki at the “Tapista.” FC Ryukyu limp into this matchup after having suffered their 5^th consecutive loss which has also seen them lose 8 out of their last 9 games in all competitions. Nagasaki travel to Okinawa following 2 consecutive defeats in a row that has contributed to Varen’s recent form of losing 4 games in their last 6 matches. Much like last week, FC Ryukyu desperately need a positive result to stop this losing streak and to gain some distance between them and the relegation floor. As noted in previous entries, the teams below FC Ryukyu have been playing much better as of late and are closing the gap between them and FC Ryukyu. Will we see some of the new FC Ryukyu signings this week? Will we see an FC Ryukyu win? Something we haven’t seen in over a month.

Weather Forecast

Typhoon Lekima is leaving us with some rather terrible weather this Saturday but that should be of no surprise to any FC Ryukyu fan who lives on Okinawa. Rain is expected at every home match it seems as even though there was 0% chance of rain in the forecast the last home game, we ended up getting a little rain prior to kickoff. Well, it looks to be hot, wet and windy. Don’t you just love football?

V-Varen Nagasaki

As previously mentioned, Nagasaki are experiencing a dip in
form themselves having lost 4-1 and 3-1 to Ehime FC and FC Gifu at home in
consecutive weeks (not a great sign for FC Ryukyu as we’re targeting those
games as winnable). Prior to those results, Nagasaki lost on the road to Mito
2-1 and then went on to defeat Kofu at home and Kagoshima on the road.

There were a couple of trends I saw in these matches: 1.
Nagasaki would afford a lot of possession and opportunities to their opponent,
2. Nagasaki created very few chances of their own during these games and 3.
Nagasaki almost seemed to rest their hopes on a “bend, don’t break” defense to
the point where if the opponent failed to score, then Nagasaki would have a
chance to win a tightly contested match with a low score line.

Maybe that means something or maybe it means nothing at all but these trends were pretty obvious during their past 5 games. Nagasaki have also brought in three J1 players during this transfer period and it looks as if Akino and Caesar will start in the Mid-Field with Ibarbo coming on late to spell one of the attacking forwards. Ibarbo will cause all sorts of issues for our defense late in the match and it will be interesting see what happens if there is a tight score line this Saturday.

FC Ryukyu

Since the start of June, 11 matches in total, FC Ryukyu have
only managed 5 points out of a possible 33. That is 15% of the total amount of
available points, a wining percentage of 9%, and positive outcome of 27%. Add
in that FC Ryukyu have been outscored 11 to 29 during that stretch, suffered
the aforementioned 5 consecutive losses, have lost 7 from the previous 8 J2
matches and now; you tell me, why is Higuchi still employed?

FC Gifu, Avispa Fukuoka, JEF United Chiba and Tochigi SC
have all fired managers this season and yet FC Ryukyu continue to employ the
services of an individual whose best days are well behind him. Higuchi’s
refusal to change the system, questionable lineup selection and timing of substitutions
all indicate that he is attempting to cover up a bullet wound with a Band-Aid.

There are 16 games remaining this season and FC Ryukyu need
at least 14 more points to reach the relative safety mark of 42 points. Yet,
Higuchi’s recent record indicates he will not get us close to that number. We
need a serious change at manager to spark something with the players or risk
sliding back down to the J3. Make no mistake, the teams beneath us in the table
are playing much better and have reinforced themselves this transfer window. If
you don’t believe me, watch their highlights and compare their tactics, game
plans and results to that of FC Ryukyu.

FC Ryukyu have 8 home games remaining and 3 of them are this month. August (early Sep) is now the make or break part of the FC Ryukyu J2 season. Unfavorable results against a struggling Nagasaki side and lower teams FC Gifu and Kagoshima will be the death nail in the FC Ryukyu coffin.

Player Injuries

FC Ryukyu have back up GK # 23, Ishii out with what looks to be a broken nose or facial fracture that he picked up in practice this week. There may be more injuries this side is dealing with but the Ishii update is the one made public.

V-Varen Nagasaki have a couple of players out that were mainly used during their Levain Cup matches so their absence shouldn’t impact the normal starting 11 or bench reserves for Nagasaki tomorrow.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Nagasaki’s tendency to allow their opponent large amounts
of possession plays directly into the overall (current) strategy/strength of FC
Ryukyu. FC Ryukyu prefer to have loads of possession and play out from the back
(as if we’re Real Madrid or something) but FC Ryukyu need to capitalize on
their opportunities. Nagasaki will try to hit FC Ryukyu on the counter and FC
Ryukyu really need to light up the score board early and often tomorrow. If FC
Ryukyu can do that, then Nagasaki may have no answer and FC Ryukyu could walk
away with all 3 points.

2. Take some shots/chances from distance as the Nagasaki
Goal Keeper seems to have trouble stopping these types of shots. Tokushige
either looks stunned and will freeze in place, or, will make a mess of things
back there when there are these types of shots. Another strange phenomenon but
one that shouldn’t be underestimated as it plays into the fact that FC Ryukyu
currently lack creativity down the middle so let loose a few shots from
distance tomorrow.

3. We will surrender a goal tomorrow, the stats indicate as
much, but let’s score more than 2.

Match Prediction

“The stats don’t lie” is the famous quote and with that
said, a 2-1 defeat for FC Ryukyu is the likeliest of outcomes tomorrow. Painful
as that may be, refer to the side-by-side table above for further evidence as
to why this outcome is the preferred choice.

Conclusion

I am as nervous, if not more nervous, than most of you for
this coming weekend. FC Ryukyu have only taken 6 points on the road this season
with only one of those points occurring in the last 10 road matches. That means
home points are vital for FC Ryukyu’s safety. Since FC Ryukyu lost the unbeaten
record at home, this side has begun to suffer some serious defeats that has
seen them tumble down the table while having their goal differential being
blown apart along the way. As much as I’d love to see FC Ryukyu earn 10 points
from their next 4 home games, expectations have to be managed and that means
that we need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

This is without a doubt, the worst it has been this year for
this newly promoted club. Despite the best efforts by the players on the pitch,
they are beaten well in advance of the game. They are simply being
outmaneuvered tactically and out coached. Good luck boys. See you out there.

Intro

FC Ryukyu hit rock bottom on Sunday night when they were rocked 5-1 by J2 League leaders, Kashiwa Reysol, at the Sankyo Frontier Stadium. FC Ryukyu have now lost 5 in a row and 8 out of their last 9 matches in all competitions. The recent run of form continues to pile the pressure on this team and it’s manager and one has to ask,”have we finally reached the point where changes to personnel and the system are required?” I for one, would answer yes. There is a need to change the formation, change the players in that formation and change the manager to generate some sort of positive momentum and energy before this club finds itself at the foot of the table.

Match Recap

FC Ryukyu started out strongly in this match and there were was a brief moment when I felt that something might break FCR’s way and we could sneak outta there with a nice result. It was a fleeting thought since the Yu goal was overturned for off-sides and Koji Suzuki’s 15th goal this season was all but wiped out in a matter of minutes.

It only took Reysol 8 minutes after the opening Koji goal to equalize and then only 3 more additional minutes to take the 2-1 lead for which FC Ryukyu never recovered. There may have been some confusion between Dany and his defenders on the first goal but the second was a perfect example of excellent preparation on the training ground paying dividends during a match.

If anyone has studied tape of FC Ryukyu they would notice that we surrender a lot of goals during the ensuing chaos following the stop/semi clearance of the original shot/cross from a set piece. Cristiano made a run up that simulated he would take a shot but instead passed it length wise across the top of the box. The FC Ryukyu defenders immediately came out to close down the Reysol player but in doing so left several Reysol players wide open and on-sides inside the box. All it took was a quick pass to one of them who turned and shot from point blank range right past the diving Dany Carvajal.

FC Ryukyu were then ripped open at the back for the next 2 Reysol goals in the second half from a nice run by Olunga and deft little flick by Cristiano where Fukui may have accidentally played him on sides. It was yet another case of 2 quick goals in short succession by Reysol separated by only 4 minutes. FC Ryukyu’s best chance the remainder of the game came in the 74th minute when Nishioka had a wide open shot on net that he ended up sending into the side netting. To add insult to injury, or showing the ultimate respect by not letting up all match, Reysol added a 5th goal in the 90th minute when a diving Dany got down to hard shot but couldn’t parry it away from danger and it ended up in the bottom corner.

Man of the Match

Cristiano played a part in 3 of Reysol’s goals on Sunday evening. He initiated the opening goal from his throw in that caused the confusion in the Ryukyu defense, he was part of the previously mentioned set piece that pushed the score line to 2-1 and added a goal of his own to make it 3-1. The man was on fire on Sunday.

Review of FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

There were none in the preview so none therefore there are none to review. I predicted a 4-0 win for Reysol and I got the margin of victory correct.

Match Day 26 Takeaways

Higuchi tried to spark something, I guess, with his lineup choices of Komatsu, Song Sun and Fukui in place of Kazama, Tanaka and Masutani. Before we proceed further I have no idea what happened to Masutani or Kawai to know if they’re dealing with injuries or Higuchi has lost faith in them. Komatsu looked fine, Fukui was his normal self and Song Sun was largely invisible for most of the match.

When you’ve lost 8 of 9 and 5 in a row everything is magnified and criticized. Turnovers, poor passing/crosses, organization and game plan all played their part on Sunday night. For the year, FC Ryukyu have scored 2 goals from free kicks and only 4 from crosses by our Full Backs; 2 from Tokuomoto, 1 from Nishioka and 1 from Fukui. Why employ a 4-2-3-1? Our FBs are not providing the quality of service that Highuchi seems to feel is the remedy to the FC Ryukyu attacking woes. Instead, play a 3-4-3 and get the firepower out there and reduce the weak links one by one and generate some offense.

I will say that Tokumoto looked great in his first game back and was causing a lot of trouble out there but FCR put a lot of their attacking down the right side (something like 62% down the right compared to a 38% split between the middle and left side?).

In the days leading up to the Reysol match, and then early this week, it was announced that FC Ryukyu have signed 3 players. 2 on loan and 1 permanent signing. All 3 are attacking players, one is a young untested Brazilian with some knee problems, a 40 year old icon of the game and creative MF from FC Gifu who happens to be the younger brother of Kazama. While I’ll save my comments for the end of the transfer window, and reserve judgement for the end of the season, I think FC Ryukyu missed the mark with the signings.

First, two are loans and will/could possibly leave in January and one of them cannot play against their parent club, FC Gifu, which is a must win game for FCR. Second, I hope the player that is older than me can offer something besides a Public Relations move by the club. We need goals, creativity and maturity out there and if this pays off then maybe signing this player indicates a possible move to a player/manager role for FCR, which seems to be on the risethese days, ans is a way that also pushes Highuchi out this season.

Third, there is roughly 1 week remaining in this transfer window and FCR have yet to sign a defensive player. While it is true the attacking had dropped off after the Nakagawa departure, it was coming back but has since stalled. Offense was never really the issue for FCR, it was defense, and stopping the bleeding at the back.

Finally, I hope the FC Ryukyu faithful do not place all their hopes at staving off relegation on the shoulders of the newly acquired players. It is not fair to them and they are not miracle workers. They will all need time to adjust to the club, players and Okinawa before being integrated into the lineup and making any notable contributions.

Unfortunately, FC Ryukyu do not have the luxury of time. We have 4 home games between Nagasaki, Yokohama and then the 2 big “must wins” of FC Gifu and Kagoshima in a row in the coming 5 weeks. FC Gifu and Kagoshima are playing much better than the last time FCR played them, and they both beat us last time.

It should also be noted that Dany signed an extension through (to?) 2021 and that has been the best news this transfer window.

Looking Ahead

Nagasaki comes to town this Saturday and is largely being overlooked by most FCR fans as they anticipate the arrival of Ono from Sapporo the following week. The bottom line is FC Ryukyu need points, by hook or by crook, and it doesn’t really matter how they acquire them anymore.

Intro

FC Ryukyu head to the Tokyo area to take on first placed Kashiwa Reysol who are currently on an 8-game unbeaten run in the J2. FC Ryukyu are sporting a 4-game losing streak and have lost 6 out of their last 7 matches. This match up is a far cry from the last time these 2 sides squared off in Okinawa on match day 8. Since that time, Reysol have gone on to win 9 matches, draw 6 times and suffer only 2 defeats whereas FC Ryukyu have drawn 4 times, lost 10 times and only won 3 matches. FC Ryukyu face an almost impossible task this weekend based on the two sides statistics and recent performances.

Weather Forecast

It is going to be hot. Temperatures may be in the 80s but it will feel like the upper 90s leading up to the match and high 80s/low 90s for most of the match. There is little chance of rain so stay hydrated people.

Kashiwa Reysol

Reysol are doing their best steam roller impression as they are absolutely flattening everyone in their path. 8 wins in a row in all competitions and they are doing it in style. It seems each of the past 8 weeks that either Cristiano or Olunga have scored and now their new signing, Matheus Savio on loan from Brazilian side Flamengo, is also getting in on the scoring action.

Reysol’s last five match results: 4-2 win over Kofu, 2-1 over Vortis after coming back to win, 1-0 win versus Kanazawa, 2-1 win over Tochigi after going down 1-0 and the 4-0 demolition of Okayama. Wow.

FC Ryukyu

I simply have no answers or reasons as to why FC Ryukyu are performing so poorly as of late. It is not as if this team has capitulated and they are doing all they can to stay in games and win matches. Unfortunately, I think they are being out coached and tactically out performed by many of their rivals. Higuchi’s false resolve and stead fast refusal to change the way FC Ryukyu prepare and execute matches has seen this side experience a series of devastating losses and results. Opponents are no longer shocked by FCR like they were earlier this season and can easily make the necessary in-game adjustments against FCR to grab all 3 points. This is not a failure of the players but a failure of the coaching staff to adjust and the players are dealing with the fall out and criticism.

Since we have no idea whose dealing with injures or dips in form, we cannot accurately assess the lineup or reserve choices for each match by Higuchi. We can critique his lineup selection, managerial decisions, and first choices off the bench though.  Higuchi has preferred to make changes at the start of the second half recently and to me that signals that he has got the formation, starters and game plan all wrong from the beginning. He will then wait to make the 3^rd substitution despite being down by 2, and sometimes 3 goals, with well over a quarter or more of the match to play. The most egregious example of Higuchi’s mismanagement was his bringing on of Nishikawa, a defender, in the 85^th minute and then decision to push Okazaki up front for some added height. This indicates a last-ditch effort by a manager desperate to save his job.

Team Injuries

Kashiwa Reysol: #11 FW Yamazaki Ryohei has a torn hamstring
(using the Google translate calls it separated meat-yuck!).

FC Ryukyu: #1 GK Dany Carvajal but no updates as to what is
afflicting him. #13 MF Kawai Shuto didn’t feature at all last week and no
updates. There are likely more but we have no idea.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

How can I even assume there are any? FC Ryukyu cannot
exploit any weakness against any opponent at the moment and for them to grab
any points tomorrow, it will take one of the following:

1. An absolute dip in form by Reysol that is the equivalent
of diving head first off a cliff, very unlikely.

2. A miracle. Unlikely, but stranger things have happened
and FC Ryukyu do play stronger teams a little tougher. Still, I put this
happening at less than 1%.

Match Prediction

Kashiwa Reysol 4-0 FCR. Reysol are firing on all cylinders
whereas FC Ryukyu are on fire and burning towards the bottom of J2.

Conclusion

Lets just get this over with and then focus on the next 2
home games as well as 3^rd home game this month against FC Gifu. I am
hoping for the best, but expecting the worst so good luck to anyone that shows
up (FC Ryukyu Kanto Supporters)!

Well, the much-anticipated match report. I have exactly 1 page of notes on this match, with spaces? WT heck? An absolute pillow fight that ended up like a stain on the mattress.

Match Summary

Nothing Significant, in fact, yeah nothing. 0-2 by pounding.

Man of the Match

That big boy from JEF that abused our back line, Kleber, 2 goals from a whimper back there on defense.

Review of the Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

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The Nothing to see here Match day 25 takeaways

Fudge it.

How about an F!@#$$% Result boys?

Intro

FC Ryukyu play their third mid-week game of the season, but this time it is at home versus JEF United Chiba. FC Ryukyu have lost 3 games in a row in addition to losing 5 out of the last 6. JEF have lost 3 of their past 6 matches with the most recent loss occurring last week at home against Yokohama FC. This is definitely a ‘must win game’ for both sides. A win for FC Ryukyu will not propel them any higher up the table but it will stave off, at least for now, being drug into the relegation scrap. The same could be said about JEF with the notable exception that a win will allow them to leap frog FC Ryukyu in the standings. There is also another aspect to this match for FC Ryukyu. If FC Ryukyu fail to win at home to a lesser opponent, will it finally be the end to Higuchi’s time as manager? We shall see.

Weather Forecast

Looks like a nice forecast but it will be muggy and hot.

JEF United Chiba

On paper and on film these two sides look identical. The same things that plague FC Ryukyu also plague JEF. They lost to Zelvia and Yokohama at home from poor defending on set pieces. They drew away to the surging Vortis side in a game where I saw zero JEF attacking highlights in the second half. The so called, “parking the bus” technique maybe eschewed among some footballing fans but it got the job done that night for a point. They went down very early to FC Gifu on the road, battled back to take the lead and then ultimately let the victory slip away from a late equalizer. However, JEF followed that performance up with a resounding 3-0 win at home versus Fukuoka.

JEF are a side that can beat the teams in and around them in the table and perform decently on the road. They score a majority of their goals from the 2 forwards and if you can eliminate the amount of counter attacks, you can probably choke the life out of the JEF attack. FC Ryukyu also need to be careful on defending set pieces as Funayama has been quite good from them as of late.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu desperately require a win ahead of 3 matches in a row against top 8 sides and a Vortis side that looks very different from the team FC Ryukyu faced in week 4. FC Ryukyu are surrendering a ridiculous average of 2.40 goals conceded per game over their last 5 matches. They do fare better at home but I fear a quick goal by JEF could really put FC Ryukyu up against it. The disbelief that things are not going their way is creeping in which is only aided by the bad luck they’ve experienced. The deflection in the Mito game and the misses from point blank range versus Niigata in the second half are eroding this team’s confidence. A win here at home against JEF would be the perfect remedy.

Player Injuries

FC Ryukyu: GK #1 Dany Carvajal – No word to what is
afflicting the starting GK but assume he’ll be out of this match on a short
week. DF #5 Tokumoto – He played about 30 minutes of the last match so maybe we
can assume he’ll be starting this game.

JEF United Chiba: MF #6 Tasaka Yusuke – Right ACL injury and
is out for 6 months. Has been hurt since beginning of May.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

Normally I would lay out where a team looks vulnerable, where to attack a side, what to watch out for in defense or what type of play to execute. None of that matters when your team is slumping and needs to bust out of it in a big way. FC Ryukyu faced a similar situation a few weeks ago when Tochigi came to town so I am hoping that a short week in which JEF has to travel to Okinawa and deal with the heat will assist FC Ryukyu in grabbing all 3 points at home.

Make no mistake, with the way FC Ryukyu are playing on the road, this is a must win game.  FC Gifu and Kagoshima stand out as the remaining winnable home games for FC Ryukyu this season with two games against Yokohama and Verdy that may decide the fate of this team. Nagasaki, Yamagata, Omiya and Kyoto also come to town but these are all top 8 sides that will be vying for promotion. Wins over JEF and the aforementioned Gifu and Kagoshima will add 9 points to our tally and put us roughly 5 points (5 draws) away from relative safety.

There is no doubt that FC Ryukyu can beat a side like JEF
and much like the last time these two sides faced each other, it was JEF that
was struggling with confidence. FC Ryukyu will need to go out there Wednesday
night and execute. It is as simple as that.

Match Prediction

Until FC Ryukyu puts a stop to the hemorrhaging at the back,
you’ve to err on the side of caution and predict at least 2 goals from any opponent.
While that is a real possibility without Dany Carvajal in net, I think FC
Ryukyu win this back and forth, cagey affair, 3-2.

Conclusion

There is so much pressure surrounding this team right now and that doesn’t help the players or the club. FC Ryukyu have never been a side that has changed a manager mid-season, at least not since they’ve entered the J.LEAGUE in 2014, but this isn’t the J3 anymore. FC Ryukyu can get demoted and that would be catastrophic to their hopes and dreams of playing in the J1. This sport, more than most, is very harsh on managers/coaches who do not perform. Rarely do you see mid-season coaching changes in other sports, and keep in mind, when those teams do make a change they do not fear being relegated from the current top level. This is a must win game for Higuchi, if he doesn’t win this game, FC Ryukyu need to consider (and should already be doing so) moving on and finding a suitable replacement that can re-energize this club and keep them in the J2 next season.

See you at the match.

Photos courtesy of FC Ryukyu & J.league

Intro

Another road game for FC Ryukyu, another road loss. This one
was particularly brutal as Niigata were a side that have been beaten at home
and were a side that FC Ryukyu had bested earlier this season. However, the
poor run of play by FC Ryukyu continued as they ended up surrendering 4 goals
on the night in route to a 4-0 pasting. The result begs the question, is
Higuchi the right man for the FC Ryukyu job?

Game Recap

After witnessing this game first hand at the Rycom mall with about 100 FC Ryukyu fans and locals, it is just too hard to sit here and watch the full 90 minutes again in order to write a detailed report of what went wrong and what went right. Needless to say, all the things that have plagued FC Ryukyu over the past 10 weeks or so is becoming more and more noticeable with each passing week. Turnovers, wasteful shots, defending and bad luck all played their part last night.

The match started with the spectacular/obligatory Kazama wide open shot at the top of the 18-yard box that was sent way off the mark. Maybe none of the FC Ryukyu attackers were in a spot to receive a pass, or Kazama just didn’t see them, but Kazama once again sent an early opportunity shot into the oblivion and beyond (not even in the same postal code as Niigata).

It took Niigata only 7 minutes to score the first goal of the game on what could be considered a case of bad judgement on the part of Ishii. Along with a bit of bad luck. Ishii came out to meet a cross with a punch but it was deflected off of Uesato and into the net. The second Niigata goal came from a PK in the 44th minute. It may have been prevented had we defended better or Ishii made more of a commitment to come out and collect the ball. Francis took a heavy touch past our defender and sent the ball within range of Ishii. Maybe the earlier indecision was weighing heavily on the mind of Ishii so he didn’t want to risk another blunder and ended up fouling Francis. FC Ryukyu certainly had their chances in the first half, but it was unfortunate that the ball just didn’t bounce their way from the two Uejo opportunities. In any case, FCR were down 2-0 at half time and had no answers against Niigata.

The second half saw an early goal by Francis that pushed the lead to 3-0 and whatever opportunities came FC Ryukyu’s way after the 3^rd Niigata goal can only be attributed to the fact that Niigata let up. It was unfortunate that Suzuki didn’t get on the score sheet despite a couple of wide-open shots in front of net but it was indicative of the night and the bad luck. One nice thing though was Kawai looked very good and needs to be paired with Uejo to start matches. FC Ryukyu had 4 chances this half that could’ve altered the game or at the very least, proven beneficial to their yearly goal difference tally.  Alas, it wasn’t meant to be yesterday. The fourth and final goal by Niigata did nothing put push the FC Ryukyu goal difference on the year to -6. A stat that may very well determine the fate of this team near the end of the season.

Man of the Match

#13 MF Francis. The man finished with a hat trick on the
night and was unstoppable. He created and finished several opportunities for
Niigata and proved too much for the FC Ryukyu defenders. A great solo performance
to earn his side all 3 points.

Review of the FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Execute all the little things correctly. FAIL, see the
score sheet.

2. Exploit Niigata’s weakness at defending set pieces. FAIL,
see the score sheet.

3. Place well aimed shots on net and crash the box with
attackers. FAIL, see the score sheet.

4. Stop the bleeding at the back. FAIL & in glorious
fashion. FC Ryukyu were averaging 3.0 goals conceded the past 5 weeks but
instead they opted to up the ante by allowing 4 on the night.

5. Start Uejo. PASS. Side looks better when he’s in there. Kawai
and Uejo are not natural replacements for one another so both should be
starting with fresh legs and speed to burn.

Match Day 24 Takeaways

1. FC Ryukyu are the worst team in the league right now. FC Ryukyu are playing like the worst team in the league right now. Too many goals and not enough answers. This team is only being saved by the fact that the teams below them are also losing each week. After watching the past week’s highlights of the teams below FC Ryukyu, its obvious this side is playing without any confidence and looks worse than the sides beneath them. This is worrying as FC Ryukyu need around 14-16 points for safety and that means at least 3-4 wins with approximately 2-5 draws. I am not sure where the results will come from as it looks like FC Ryukyu cannot beat anyone at the moment.

2. The tactics FC Ryukyu employ are not working. Teams can afford to allow FC Ryukyu all the possession they want as they do not fear ceding a goal to FCR and can wait to hit FCR on the break.

3. Defending. I am not sure if this the byproduct of the tactics and formation but 23 goals conceded in 10 games or most recently, 12 goals in 5 games, is INSERT YOUR OWN ADJECTIVE. Tokumoto did feature in this match so maybe he’ll get the full 90 minutes this Wednesday night.

4. The hung heads, slumped shoulders and disbelief is starting
to set in for the players. I commented in the preview that I hadn’t seen any of
that yet, but it was on full display yesterday. It is unfortunate as the team
is putting in a shift in attack but things are not breaking their way at the
moment. With every missed opportunity and goal conceded, the team’s confidence drains
a little more and disbelief takes hold.   

Conclusion

It’s unlikely that FC Ryukyu part ways with manager Higuchi in the short run up to a mid-week, must win, home game against JEF. However, there are not many winnable games left on the schedule for FC Ryukyu and failing to win against JEF Chiba United should be the final swansong for Higuchi. If not, FC Ryukyu risk returning to the J3 and losing more than just the crowd that departed the public viewing at half time at the Rycom mall this past weekend.

Cover Photo Credit: @sho69463528 ; Kanto Supporters Photo Credit: @basuke_sakkaa JLeague Stat Line, Game Summary and Franics photo courtesy of https://www.jleague.jp.

Intro

The FC Ryukyu “Road Show” continues this week with the boys from Okinawa visiting the Denka Big Swan Stadium in Niigata for a mid table clash. FC Ryukyu are coming off their third road loss in a row and will look to finally end their winless drought against Niigata. Niigata on the other hand, are also looking to get back to winning ways at home after suffering a loss to Yokohama FC which was then followed up with 2 all draw against Renofa Yamaguchi. Both sides could really use the win, so this should be an entertaining game to watch.

Weather Forecast

It looks to be another wet, rainy atmosphere for a game. Bring stuff to stay dry.

Albirex Niigata

Albirex have surrendered the opening goal in each of their last 5 matches. However, they’ve gone on to earn 2 wins and a draw during that span so all that means is that this team is resilient. Kanazawa was able to get out in front of Niigata and then retake the lead after Niigata tied the game. Kagoshima looked the better side when they took the early 1-0 lead but ended up surrendering 3 goals, albiet 2 of them taking some strange deflections, for the loss. Omiya jumped out on the front foot but couldn’t crack the Niigata back line for a second and it ultimately cost them points as Niigata scored twice to win their second consecutive match in a row. Niigata would end this 5 game stretch with a 2-0 loss at home versus Yokohama FC followed by a 2-2 draw with Renofa Yamguchi where Niigata, despite surrendering the opening goal, scored twice to take the lead, but let it slip away by allowing a very late equalizer to the hosts.

FC Ryukyu

146 days. That is the amount of days that have passed since FC Ryukyu have last won a road match. It was always going to be a tall task to beat Mito on the road, which was made even more difficult due the fact that FC Ryukyu’s #1 & #2 GK were sidelined. Despite all that, FC Ryukyu still controlled 61% of the possession against Mito and created some nice opportunities to get on the score sheet. Unfortunately, Mito were more clinical with their limited opportunities and went into halftime up 2-0 and I for one thought this game was going to turn ugly. FC Ryukyu battled back for a quick goal in the second half but when the game transitioned to faster paced back forth match, it was FC Ryukyu that conceded the third goal instead of hitting the equalizer.

It is not all doom and gloom though from the FC Ryukyu camp. Yes, they were soundly beaten by Okayama the week prior but they did manage to win a ‘must-win’ game versus Tochigi 2 weeks ago. They battled back against Nagasaki late and if anything, it displays a penchant for never giving up. The slumped shoulders, dropping heads and disbelief at results that plague so many of the teams in poor form has not hit the Ryukyu camp and that is an encouraging sign. All we need now is for some positive results to go their way and for FC Ryukyu to snap out of this slump.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Execute all the little things correctly. This starts with cutting down on turnovers and producing better passing in the opponents third of the pitch. FC Ryukyu are a side that can control the pace of the game with their large amounts of possession but can get hit quickly on the break when they needlessly give the ball away. FC Ryukyu are missing that final pass or two that can unlock an opponents back line and they’d do well to find it today.

2. Exploit Niigata’s weakness at defending set pieces. Niigata let in a few goals from set pieces the past few weeks and it seems to be an area in which they do not defend well. FC Ryukyu on the other hand, need to be better at their set pieces. Masutani scored off a Corner Kick against Mito but FC Ryukyu really need to capitalize on any Free Kicks near Niigata’s 18-yard box. The set pieces do not have to be shots on net as quick changes in direction from headers off of lofted crosses could pull the Niigata defense apart and create a shooting lane.

3. Place well aimed shots on net and get as many attackers
into the box as we can. FC Ryukyu had a lot of shots against Mito but many
missed the mark. Generate some shots from the flanks that require the goal keeper
to make a save and possibly push out a rebound to an open FC Ryukyu player or
at the very least, set up more set piece opportunities.

4. Stop the bleeding at the back. Averaging 3 goals conceded over your last 5 matches is a recipe for disaster. It is likely that we see Ishii or Inose in net today but the problem doesn’t start with our goal keepers. FC Ryukyu cannot bomb the defenders forward in hopes of creating a numerical advantage in the attack as this leaves them wide open for counter attacks. Instead, we need a little bit of creativity in the mid field that can allow our defenders to sit back and defend instead of holding a high line.

5. Uejo needs to be in the starting lineup.

Match Prediction

The fact that FC Ryukyu are hemorrhaging 3 goals a game doesn’t bode well for their chances this week despite Niigata’s 5 losses at home and -1 goals scored/goals conceded ratio. The recent form of FC Ryukyu indicates that they will concede one, two and most likely 3 goals this match against Niigata, but if they can put a stop to the bleeding at the back, then FC Ryukyu have a shot at points today. The most likely result is another 3-2 loss on the road.

Conclusion

I for one am tired of opponents circling the FC Ryukyu fixture on their home calendar as an easy 3 points. However, until FC Ryukyu actually produce a win on the road, you cannot blame our opponents for thinking they can get all 3 points or at the very least, 1 point. FC Ryukyu haven’t had a favorable match-up on the road since the FC Gifu game back in early May and today’s game against Niigata, a side they’ve already beaten this year, offers a glimmer of hope. In the end, the boys will have to go out there and get the job done, and that wont come easy.

I am jealous for all that are attending this game as Niigata really packs them in at the Denka and averages nearly 15,000 spectators for home games. Hopefully FC Ryukyu can silence that crowd and walk out of there with some points.

4 matches in 8 days. FC Ryukyu at home, the Tamagawa Derby, Tokyo Verdy vs Ehime and FC Ryukyu vs Mito Hollyhock in Mito. To all of you who live in mainland, you are lucky to have so much football at your disposal. I saw some amazing football in great venues with great atmospheres this past week. I must admit, the F.C. Tokyo vs Kawasaki Frotnale match was the crown jewel of this adventure, but each match was special.

Saturday July 20^th 2019 FC Ryukyu vs Okayama Fagiano

For those that regularly follow my post on Twitter or have
accidentally clicked on my Blog link, you know how this one turned out. FCR had
possession, but never scored and Okayama walked all over us.

Sunday July 21^st 2019 FC Tokyo vs Kawasaki Frontale the “Tamagawa Derby”

This match “recharged the soul.” First, I met a great group of guys; Neil, Bob and Matt. All loyal Frontale fans who, just bring it each week and I love their gold chains. Second, I can relate to Neil’s superstitions about where to sit and what to wear, bust most importantly, the order and timing. Third, I honestly thought it would be a bit more “festive” on the way to the pitch but Japanese fans are so respectful. There was no doubt where I was going to sit, the single best experience I’ve had in J1 football with any team was Kawasaki, so it was an easy choice. All eyes on FC Ryukyu, but I’ll turn an eye to our brethren up there when I can.

I entered the stands and wow. The Kawasaki supporters were blasting the FC Tokyo faithful out of the stadium. I think it was 49k maybe more in the Ajinomoto stadium but it was packed and was so uplifting to watch football in that atmosphere. Those that read this and see packed stadiums every week, congrats, those of us that don’t, it is something to behold.

Kawasaki did the job as they beat the home side 3-0 and it wasn’t even that close. Songs, beers, friends and football. It was just awesome.

Saturday July 20^th 2019 Tokyo Verdy vs Ehime FC

Weather suggested it would rain all night so I wore pants. It never rained and felt like 1,000 degrees inside the Ajinomoto on Saturday night. However, I enjoyed some really great football. Verdy went down 2-0 early to Ehime and it looked as if Ehime were going to walk away with the match. But…..Verdy answered with 2 goals of their own and then the eventual winner. The 3-2 score line was enjoyable to watch as a neutral and it was an amazing back and forth game.

Sunday July 21^st 2019 Mito Hollyhock vs FC Ryukyu

First, let me start by saying that the drive through the Japan country side was amazing. I really needed that and it was breathtaking.  Second, I met more fans than I expected to thanks to the scheduling of a far away road match for FC Ryukyu fans on a Sunday evening. Third, hats off to Mito supporters and fans; straight class and I am envious at how good you guys do it. The match went as expected in that FC Ryukyu tried but didn’t win. No need to recap the game for those of us that lived it or read the summary anywhere. In closing, I returned home by driving through downtown Tokyo. The tolls were brutal but it was so much fun. I swear, it felt like being on one of the video games I played when I was younger. The music selection I chose in conjunction with the scenery was just surreal.

Whats Next?

FC Ryukyu away vs Niigata, that is what’s next. But not for me. I’ll be enjoying this one from the comfort of my home.

Intro

FC Ryukyu suffered their second defeat in a row, and their fourth in their past 5 games, but it still left them 14^th in the table. Getting any sort of positive result against Mito was always going to be a tall ask of the traveling FC Ryukyu side but was made even more difficult when FC Ryukyu were forced to make a drastic change at GK. One must assume that an injury/illness to the incumbent, Carvajal, kept him off the roster in addition to Ishii being unable to play against his parent club who loaned him to FC Ryukyu this season. That meant that 3^rd choice keeper, Inose Kosuke, would get the start for FC Ryukyu.

First Half

Despite the weather report from Saturday, the rain held off and it was a crisp evening in Mito. Mito wasted no time getting in behind our central defenders and tested Inose early in the 2^nd minute but Inose made a fine save from the well taken shot. Mito continued their fast start when in the 4^th minute a FK required Inose to be called into action once more. FCR had a chance early as well when Kazama found himself with acres of space to operate, along with several FCR attackers in the area, but he opted to shoot and sent the ball wide of the mark. FCR looked good in the attack but it was ultimately Mito would get on the score sheet first when a header from a cross was deflected into the back of the net. There wasn’t much Inose could do from the lucky deflection but nonetheless, FCR were down early on the road to a superior opponent.

Mito doubled their lead from another header later in the
first half. On the play, there seemed to be a little confusion between the FCR
defenders as there was a large gap that Shichi Takaaki was able to exploit and
hammer home the second goal of the night. FCR had a chance to get one score
back when a turnover by Mito saw Ochi with a free run and look on net. However,
Ochi’s shot from the top of the box was right at the keeper at a decent height
that made for an easy save. He had the whole goal to work with and he could have
gone low and hard to the opposite side or top shelf that probably would’ve
resulted in a score. Regardless, FCR went into half time down 2-0 and it looked
very worrying for the guests despite there incredible 61/39% possession over Mito.

Second Half

Higuchi made an immediate change when he brought Uejo on in
place of Ochi to start the second half. Uejo’s presence made an immediate
impact for FC Ryukyu as he was using his speed to get on to the end of long
passes and was making some very dangerous runs at the Mito net. FC Ryukyu
grabbed a goal in the 56^th minute from a very nice header from
Masutani on a corner kick but it turned out to be the only score of the game
for FCR. The game had a frantic pace after the Masutani goal and turned into a
dangerous game of chicken between the teams to see who would blink first. Ultimately
it was FCR as they allowed Mito to score off a turnover where Ogawa Koki
chested the ball down nicely and then calmly blasted it past Inose for a 3-1 Mito
advantage.

FCR would have a few more chances from FKs but nothing close to the opportunities they enjoyed in the first half. FC Ryukyu ended the match with 61% possession but was out shot 16/11 where Mito put 11 of those shots on net compared to the FCR 7. It was a day marked by turnovers and mental errors.

Man of the Match

DF #7 SHICHI Takaaki Mito Hollyhock. Played a solid game
from his FB position. Directly contributed to 2 of Mito’s goals when it was his
header that was redirected by Kurokawa for the first Mito score and his header
for the second. Exploited the FC Ryukyu defenders on set pieces in the box and
offered up some fine efforts on FKs and in defense.

Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu.

There was only one and it was for everyone to win their
individual battles. Some did, some did not. This is a team sport and the team did
not get the job done on Sunday. FAIL.

Match Day 23 Takeaways

1. I have never played football at a high level. I played
baseball through college and have watched multiple sports all my life.
Therefore, while I cannot accurately define the tactics and individual assignments
of players in every match, I can determine when there are mental errors and
sloppy play. In my experience, these items are directly associated with
coaching. For example, I counted 20 FC Ryukyu turnovers and 16 incidents of mental
errors during Sunday’s match. I did not count plays where FCR players were
attempting to get a pass through to an attacker in the opponent’s end.
Turnovers were scored as: heavy first touches that got away from an FC Ryukyu player,
not knowing where the opposing teams’ defenders/players where when in
possession and then being dispossessed, passes directly at opposing players
with no FC Ryukyu player within 3 meters of where the ball ended up, and
needlessly kicking the ball out of bounds. Mental errors were categorized as: failing
to recognize, and then pass to, open FCR attackers near the opponents 18-yard
box, wasteful FK opportunities, failing to kick the ball out of bounds to
prevent an attack by opting to pass/round the Mito player which resulted in a turnover
or CK, and finally, losing control of the ball while in possession from either
a lack of hubris or heavy touch. None of these things are irreversible, in
fact, all can be coached, reinforced and practiced over and over again so as to
be reduced in a given match. Turnovers and the occasional mental mistake are
always going to happen in any match, I am merely advocating a reduction in the
overall number through coaching and mentoring.

2. There were some interesting managerial decisions this
past weekend that I believe deserve a deeper look. First, FC Ryukyu were forced
into some lineup changes due to injuries and loan regulations but that isn’t
the real story. I do not speak Japanese and I am not a member of the team to
know why Higuchi opts to bring Uejo off the bench every match instead of
starting the talented youngster, but his impact is undeniable. His presence
opened the match up for FC Ryukyu that ultimately allowed Masutani to score
from a set piece. Unless there is some evidence to suggest Uejo cannot sustain
a full 90 minutes, I have no idea why the second leading scorer on our team
sees limited action each week. Second, FCR had plenty of opportunities to do
something from set pieces yet nothing materialized. Yu is probably the best FK
taker in the squad yet he has been afforded limited opportunities on set pieces.
Not much more to add here. Finally, why did Higuchi wait until the 1^st
minute of stoppage time to make the 3^rd and final sub for FC Ryukyu
despite being down by 2 goals with a little over a quarter of the match to
play? This one baffled me since he should’ve subbed on fresh legs to run at the
tired Mito defenders and allow the new player time to adjust to the game and possibly
make a play or two. Instead, I think Kim Song Sun touched the ball once, maybe
twice, in the limited action of stoppage time. This seemed like a useless
gesture to get a player some game time despite having another talented player
in Koizumi on the bench.

3. Higuchi’s managerial style. It seems that opponents are
able to make in-game adjustments that Higuchi cannot either see or respond too
quickly enough and therefore but this side at a disadvantage. FC Ryukyu have
talented players, but are we getting the most out of them? Are we executing the
same game plan every week when it is necessary to adjust, and tailor, the
lineup and tactics? The most talented players for FC Ryukyu are up front and they
are the ones that need to be taking the high priority shots each week. Are we
doing enough to set them up for success?

4. Confidence. No doubt that the boys needs a confidence
boosting result, and they need it quickly. A positive result (win) against
Niigata next week would go a long way to boosting this sides confidence.
Hopefully, we’ll see Nishioka, Kawai, Yu and Uejo taking on the Niigata
defenders in and around the box and playing like they did some weeks ago.

Conclusion

FC Ryukyu are nearing a point where they will have no other
choice but to change or risk falling into a relegation battle and possibly out
of the J2. FC Ryukyu currently sit 8 points clear of the relegation zone but
that is only a matter of 3 results not going their way. Consider that FC Ryukyu
have conceded 20 goals in their past 8 matches and are averaging nearly 3.00
goals conceded each week over their past 5 games. Change could occur in many
forms; change in tactics, change in personnel selected for the starting 11, change
with some transfers into the club or a managerial change.  FC Ryukyu haven’t won on the road since Omiya,
106 days ago, so why not play as if you have nothing to lose next week versus
Niigata. We’ve seen how Kagoshima, FC Gifu, Renofa, and JEF Chiba did when they
employed those tactics against FCR.