Yeah, another uninspiring performance so far. Kagawa once again failing to turn up. I think Gotoku sakai has been Japans best player, he's made some serious improvements to his game! :O
Watching Japan NT played these days. i can help but think that we need to scrutinize our coaching manual at youth level. We shouldn't do a meaningless short passing game modelled after Spanish NT anymore. Instead we should improve our positional play. That's why i'm excited hearing Bielsa's name swirling around after dismal World Cup campaign. We should put a hold on producing Iniestas, Silvas, or Kagawas and start producing Busquets, Weigls, Kimmichs, and Mkhitaryans. We need player that can produce connection to improve our spacing and structure.
Where are the substitutes? This is hard to watch, and look Thailand nearly scored! If that had went in...
They have been good at winning PK this campaign with all 3 goals from the 2 games coming from the spot. Hmmm
part of me laughs but at the same time, it looks like there are still a good bunch of guys with unrealistic expectations over Japan. A win is a win and a 2-0 win away is a solid win. You can't always play like Brazil. South Korea just drew 0-0 with Syria.
The result is fine but the performance was pretty bad IMO. Maybe the awful field conditions and the fear of being caught on the counter were factors - attacks through the center were nonexistent, and they never got enough bodies in the 18. I was hoping for a more belligerent team and never saw it. MOM Haraguchi.
Is it that unrealistic for Japan to improve their positional play? Surely better connections across the pitch wouldn't hurt as it will lead to less hoofing cross across the box, only for the ball reaching no man's land and finally it will be more nice to watch than disjointed team like this. We surely capable of that, as we've played close to that before. problem is, we didn't manage to bring that sort of play into the next level, sadly it got worse, we regressed. I'd be satisfied if we win 2-0 but with more cohesiveness in the team. This 2-0 while it would be the same result with same outcome, 3 points in the bag, is just didn't feel satisfying, considering how we played our match. And unless we win convincingly against this kind of team, it will be hard to imagine, how we can perform well at the world stage. Just watch the game Dax, and let's see your verdict after that.
More of the same - horrible finishing and absurd refereeing. I think they said it was the same ref from that famous Syria match (2011 asian cup)..
I really think Japan need a shibisaki type player in there in the midfield, someone to string things together. Endo was the best Japan had in this position, and he was a cornerstone to a lot of Japans free flowing play. Right now in those positions it's Hasebe, who is dogged, but going forward I always see him lobbing rushed poor quality crosses into the box. Yamaguchi is at j2 level but I think oshima will improve in time, otherwise who is there? I think a player like that brings the best out of the forward players who right now are playing well under their level. I love Kagawa but he represents nothing of Japans kagawa from a few years ago.
He was great when he started his carrer in JNT. But yes, there's a level difference in his performances on the club and international level. This could be said after his 6 years in the blue shirt. And unfortunately no one knows why that's happening.
A really important question....why a Shibasaki Type player ? Why not Shibasaki himself ? He was every game great i watched him for JNT and this season, his stats are reading awesome. Dont know why he is not even in the stands ? I remember him at the asian cup, he was soo great and even Japan was loosing in quarter finals against UAE...the football Japan plays under Aguiere was very cool. So agressiv and offensifely, the were playing like a angry dog with heart ! This was one of Japans coolest styles ever ! Shibasaki is what JNT needs, is he ? He and Hasebe togehter in central/def midlefield would be awesome or am I wrong ? This would soluse many problem
If you cut off Kagawa nothing will improve. Kiyotake was poor, Usami is barely a supersub. The point is there's no alternative to Kagawa who can be in the good day and play an awesome match, as we expect since 2011. The new Endo is a more problematic and important point. I think Valhid will try a lot of players from now till 2018, Shibasaki (or the old Nakamura Kengo?) will have his chance, hope he does not waste that call.