Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] In the first half there was two clearly misses by the defence, I understand Kawashima was pissed after 20-25 minutes.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] I understand Zac's ideas, but I miss that bubbly 4-2-3-1. I also envision another 3-4-3 = 0-0 with Korea in August.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] I am ok with another go of 3-4-3 vs S. Korea. What I don't want is that if we smash 5 past Nepal in the 3rd round with a 3-4-3, I better not hear Zac say we are ready!!
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] Offensive didn't look too good in the first half in my opinion. They played wide, that's how they should do but there was no link in the center which could push efforts further forward and create more danger in front of Czech's goal. The pairs on the sides were doing good job but Lee should sometimes get back for the ball rather than wait for a cross. I liked especially Honda and Uchida tries on the right wing though it was far too clear that they were doing it for the first time in NT game (but Honda wasn't irritated by it, sometimes smiled when his passses missed Atsuto - clearly he wasn't tuned too good with young Schalke defender but they can improve fast) though Nagatomo-Okazaki wasn't bad too. But lack of the man in the center led to many too fast endings. All they could really do there was wait for Honda who forced Czech defenders to fouls. Second half looked better, Japan was really ruling the pitch there. After Ienaga came in, Honda started to track back for the ball, those two were really naturally searching themselves on the pitch. Hasebe pushed more forward and managed well to distibute ball between the sides after he entered and tried some no-look passes to break defensive line of Czech team (top quality as always). Ienaga was ok for me. He provided the pass of the game for me when Atsuto didn't mange to touch the ball after all (if that was Okazaki or Lee it could be more dangerous maybe). I remmeber when he was rounded by 5 Czech's, he dribbled swiftly past three of them and later passed the ball to CLEAR Nagatomo (99,9% of players would pass the ball backwards). I missed Okazaki in the second half, can anyone tell me where he was Inoha did ok, won few headers when Czechs were trying long passes, Makino was good too. Two good options for defensive spot is always great. Konno was very good as always, Yoshida too. After few shaky moments at the start it looked better and better with every minute. Uchida in the second half was put very high and I quite liked what he did on the right side (Honda was more like 'There's Aki! I'll play with him now! Atsuto will be fine without me there!').
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] He was pretty flawless in Kirin Cup, sometimes I think he likes the punch too much and should snag more, but he's a rock.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] I like the idea of the switch-on-the-fly, and I am willing to see more of the 3-4-3 in development. The way it congests space and frustrates the opponent is promising. Contrary to some people, I think the problems with the aerial side of the defense are as clear as day and that is not just a formation issue it will be there in both. It is a weakness of team composition and it needs to be addressed whether people have some irrational compulsion to "put the past behind them" or not. Past or future, we need personnel who can get the job done in the air, the present is not working (and was a problem area in AC too, just because we won doesn't mean we get to say everything's perfect). My biggest worry about Zac right now is that there are signs of a very Italian attitude toward youth... Miyaichi not called, Usami kept on cold freeze. Once Nagai is available, if he is not called and given significant time immediately, that will be a red flag.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] what are you talking about? he pretty much got rid of all the old guys that were the staple of the previous regime, the only guy on the team that's over 30 is endo and he's still pretty darn good. Usami and Miyaichi are still teenagers, playing in Mediocre Leagues( no offense to J league but, it's not on the level of the EPL, La Liga, or Serie A). He must've seen something on tape and/or during practice that made him think they weren't quite ready yet. On the other hand, these were only a friendlies though.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] Since Tluio and Nakazawa is sooo damn old who do you want Zac to put on to win the fights in the air? But Zac and the fans seems pretty damn happy with the current defenders, damn I'm pissed.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] From the day when the squad was announced Zac made it clear that he regards Usami as a U23-player and not yet as a NT-player. He wanted him to participate at the training sessions and get to know him. I am sure that this experience will be important in his development... As for Nagai, I think the NT can wait until after the Olympics. The same goes to Miyaichi... both need one full pro-season at least.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] Very very good game from both sides,it was as dramatic like they play at a WC !!! I love it !!! Only thing was,the missing goals.Japan was soooo dominating,very cool.The finishing was unlucky,but I don''t know what you are talking about,maybe not the best game in the world,but when you push a team like Czech so hard you must be very good. Not every player was at his best like Okazaki but you can't say that the don't try.Every player of the JNT played his heart out.I'm very proud of this guys and Zac !!! Please go on this way and nothing is wrong
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] The thing I miss is their aerial prowess, but I remember also that there was loads of criticism here for Nakazawa being slow and out of position and Tulio's lack of discipline, position-wise and getting cautions, mainly before the WC of course. That said, the defense doesn't look shakier now than back then.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] OK So you are basically happy with how it look now? Instead of some of the best defending of the WC 10.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] under all the circumstances you can be totally satisfied with the match ... its very difficult for some tired players from Europe + new tactical stuff they just learned in a few days now, almost impossible that everything works well
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] Well... I am not happy Nakazawa and Tulio are not included in Zac's plans but I am not unhappy with the way we played today. If you mention best defending of WC10, you have to also see that Okada had a extremely defensive strategy there in which both of them only focused on defending throughout the match, helped by Abe. If you see our backline today they were much more involved in creating plays.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] Well, that's the Italian mentality in a nutshell. Youth = "under 30". It's a widespread complaint from fans of Serie A that players of great promise are considered "not quite ready yet" until they are 25 or 26 and they have missed out on many years of development. There are positive sides to this go-slow approach too, but it is definitely a negative for the most highly talented echelon, who could compete at the highest level from a young age.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] Believe me I would like Abe in the squad also but for some unknown reason he is not good enough.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] Japan had another pathetic performance, no goals, not many chances, and nobody believes in his system. They played decent, but I think that was mostly because of the high level of the players on the pitch compared to that of the opponent. Honda facilitated nicely, he was really impressive looking one step ahead of everyone on the field. Nagatomo was in the mix most of the game making some good runs...but there was nobody to cross it to it seemed. Lee impressed me, he had some good runs, hes got imagination and came very close to scoring, he should be the #1 option as striker over Maeda. Uchida was dissapointing, he looked off all game long. Couldnt control the ball well, over dribbled and made some bad turnovers. Hasebe was solid...as usual, nothing special did have one decent shot from the top of the box that was blocked. Okazaki I thought played well, he always controls the ball well at his feet just has a problem controlling it in traffic and getting a shot off. Hes great with his head too for a small guy. Other than that...Ienega was decent, Id like to see him out there more. Dunno if hes really the heir apparent to Endo but hes a good player who should be getting playing time. I dont see him playing the same role as Endo theyre completely different players. They need to let Ienega be himself not be Endo which is what a lot of people are making him out to be. Konno was shaky at the back, Inoha was again not used in the right way. The problem though again was the formation...this team needs to utilize its great sideback play in Nagatomo and Uchida. Especially with Nagatomo, when he had the ball the offense was flowing and dangerous all game long. I dont care if he uses a 1-3-2-4, 2-4-4, 3-2-4, but he has to have 4 at the back and the sidebacks running down the sidelines. Thats how theyre used at their European clubs and thats why they(Nagatomo and Uchida) have had success. Nobody should be happy with Japans performance, if thye cant get it done against these weak teams theyre going to get embarassed against South Korea. Maybe people dont care because these are friendlies, but I for one do. You play to win the game, Zac needs to figure this out because ot me its the system not the players. If they could beat Argentina, Autralia, South Korea, and get through the Asian Cup using a 2-4-4 why would you change that? Every heard the saying dont fix it if it aint broke? Has that ever rang more true? Well see what happens next game, but if they lose to South Korea badly all hell will break loose.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] Too bad I missed the game, apparently it was quite a show from Japan's side. Did he EVER played under Zach's direction ? I think he was never called up. When there were talks about the eventuality of participating in Copa America, he didn't sound very enthusiastic to take part in that competition (if Eriksson was saying the truth), maybe he was disappointed/pissed off for not being called for the Asian Cup and ignored all this time despite his availability. Well, he's miles better than Hosogai and T. Honda in ALL aspects of the game, it's doesn't make a lot of sense to call those guys and ignore him. They're NOT of international caliber, especially Takuya Honda who's already 25. Besides this he would fit anywhere in defense and midfield, a very useful utility player/tactical addition to the squad, so I am hoping he still have a future in NT. I'd like to see what he has to offer, now that he discovered a new style of football. Well, I still think that Japan misses a lot without Tulio. Remember how he switched to "attack mode" and spent the last 10 minutes of the game near the Dutch box in the WC ? He offered what should have been the "equalizer" on a silver plate with this head to Okazaki, but his left shot went wide. Remember Kazu's goal in the charity game ? Who gave the assist ? It was a deviated header from Tulio, he out-jumped Iwamasa (and we all know that Iwamasa is a beast in the air and one of the best headers of the ball in J. League) to provide a perfectly weighted pass for the veteran.
Re: Official 2011 Japanese NT Thread [R] Yeah for me Abe is a NT member. No question but it seem many in here and Zac did not watch the WC. And his season in Leicester.