Re: Official Junior Youth (U17) Japanese NT Thread [R] I find it funny to think that after the 1st game, people here and the players and Ikeuchi all thought it was a fantastic effort to nearly get a point off brazil and that the team were aiming for last 8. Then it turns out brazil came 3rd in the group anyway and probably won't progress. I think the defence will mature when they start playing professionally and face more direct strikers and foreigners. The most talented defender recently at youth level was probably Makino at U20 WC 2007.
Re: Official Junior Youth (U17) Japanese NT Thread [R] I doubt that half of the players on the team will even go pro.
Re: Official Junior Youth (U17) Japanese NT Thread [R] Ikeuchi is clueless on selection. It took him 2 games to figure out the keeper was not up to standard and even after Miyayoshi scored 2 goals in the last game he still has the nerve to bench him. I am 100% sure that if Miyayoshi and a different keeper had played in all 3 games that Japan would have atleast had a chance at making the next round.
Re: Official Junior Youth (U17) Japanese NT Thread [R] I didn't watch the last game, but his strategy with lineups and substitutions throughout seemed to be less about tactics or winning -- but just making sure everyone gets on the pitch at some point so they can all get their participation awards.
Re: Official Junior Youth (U17) Japanese NT Thread [R] Don't watch this game. You might wanna kill you after. Something like 20 big chances wasted, complete domination over Mexico before they scored. A 25m shoot because the GK was far away from his line. Even if there was an improvement with this new guy, he wasn't good enough and too small. The better teams finished at the last two places, hu-uh.
Re: Official Junior Youth (U17) Japanese NT Thread [R] Wow, nobody mentioned the stonewall penalty that wasn't given when that guy yanked Usami back by the arm. If they had gotten one there, maybe the floodgates would have opened. And I actually think the keeper in the Mexico game was worse than the other one, based on the highlights. That guy would have to legally register as a midget in some countries, he makes former Mexico legend Jorge Campos look like Gigi Buffon, height wise. Yet he plays ten yards off his line at all times, apparently. WTF.
Re: Official Junior Youth (U17) Japanese NT Thread [R] Switzerland, that was schooled by Japan for most of the game, is in the semis.
Re: Official Junior Youth (U17) Japanese NT Thread [R] They won the tournament tonight after defeating the defending Champion and host nation Nigeria 1-0. So Japan have one of the best U-17 sides in the world, but they are just needing good goalkeeping and good defence + some professionalism.
Re: Official Junior Youth (U17) Japanese NT Thread [R] I think what they need, at EVERY LEVEL, it is a coaching approach that involves a psychological aspect also. basically, the ideal would be a Japanese coach, who can motivate the players as Troussier did.
Re: Official Junior Youth (U17) Japanese NT Thread [R] I think Nishino screwed up too many youth. My picks would be Dunga, Olivera and among the Japanese Jofuku.