Official 2017 Nadeshiko Japan Thread [R] - なでしこジャパン（英語スレッド）

It's a shame that no-one of these friendles are streamed (or even get any highlights). I would have gladly watched today's one.

 

Ditto! Unexpected and very interesting news!

Likely, yes. Also, Yuki couldn't seem to do her best in Frankfurt these days and/or she was under-appreciated (or moved in odd positions by the coach).

Yes, although, at least for Algarve Cup, if I remember well it was her who decided to decline Takakura's call, because she said that she wanted to concentrate on her club duties, in a difficult moment for 1.FFC Frankfurt; but Takakura didn't seem to want to cut her as she did with other veterans. It's true that she didn't call her for the friendly match vs Costa Rica later in April either, but it could be for the same reasons, since, after all, it wasn't even a so important match...
We're going to see what's her destiny in future plans of Nadeshiko Japan...

Well, if you're an US fan, you should probably remember her better as Yuki Ogimi (her married name, that she used since 2012; she reverted to her maiden name of Nagasato in 2016 when she divorced). She scored more than once vs USWNT, most recently in the final of WWC 2015 and in the friendly match on 2nd of june of 2016 that ended in a 3-3 draw.

Past achievements (abridged version):
- with NT: World Champion in 2011, Silver medalist in 2012, Asian Champion in 2014; second only to Homare Sawa in total number of goals scored with Nadeshiko Japan;
- with clubs: Japanese League (thrice), Frauen-Bundesliga (twice), top-scorer of Frauen-Bundesliga in 2013 with 18 goals, won UEFA Women's Champions' League in 2010.

So, to make things short, a world-class player and one of the big names of women's soccer in the last decade.

Is she past the peak of her career? Probably. She was at her best in the 2010 to 2015 seasons, I guess. Now, although she's just 29 she looks less brilliant than in previous years. Could it also be that the last club where she played wasn't the best for her? Should she move from a central-striker position to a midfield one? We actually can't say, because she didn't play in NT in the last months and she didn't find too much playing time in her club in Germany either.

The NWSL experience could be the kind of challenge she needs at this point in her career.

Also, with 4 Japanese players in it, NWSL has never been as much interesting!

 

I can't help wondering if Yuki in USA couldn't be a reason enough for mumf to come back here, at least just to say "hi".

 

Announcement on Chicago Red Stars official website.

 

On the other hand, with Iwabuchi and Ando coming back to Japan and Nagasato transferring to NWSL, Frauen-Bundesliga has never been so much unexciting for us.

At least, Yokoyama is coming, but I do wonder if she didn't choose a bad moment for playing in 1.FFC Frankfurt...

 

Norwegian League update :

Last saturday, Ryoko Takara scored for the first time in Toppserien with her new team, LSK-Kvinner. The match ended 3-0 and she had one goal and two assists in that game! I guess it's quite normal that everyone loves her, up there, after such a performance, but you're going to notice in video-highlights how much huggable she seems to be at her team-mates' eyes.
Talking about video-highlights, here they are (these indoor matches always look quite odd to me, but I can understand in Norway it can be necessary):



Takara's team is currently third-placed after 6 matchdays. If you want to know everything and more about Norwegian League, don't forget to follow @Bauser and his excellent The Norway Thread: you couldn't find any better source anywhere for this league. Ever.

 

News about Yuki's transfer also appear on NWSL website, as rightfully should for such a big signing.

 

Here we're still talking about the second game, aren't we? What about yesterday's one? Does anyone know at least the result?

 

Yes, it's in fact a shame that we only get actions at ground level but this channel is otherwise excellent and let us follow JEF in a way that would be impossible with this year's scarce league coverage.
And it let us follow not only game-play but also JEF's beauty queens, isn't it, KAPIJXM?

That was exactly what I was trying to remember the other day, when I was recalling all of the Dream-Ears and River-Dances of this world, but I couldn't remember this one, although I knew I was missing it! "Green Abalone Scraper", lol!

Also, the collection of cards team-mates made for Isokane's 100th game in Nadeshiko League is awesome, and we get to see a wonderful close-up of tthese, with all of their moving parts!

One of the two little girls giving flowers to Midori doesn't look like she could be a Wakabayashi's little sister?

You want to know what's the part I liked best of this video? It's at about 4'55", when JEF supporters chant out loud "Nojima Stella!" and Nojima's fans respond with "JEF Chiba!".
I guess this display of sportsmanship is quintessential Japanese and makes me proud of following Nadeshiko League!

 

Talking about Kawamura, North Carolina Courage just won a stray mid-week match yesterday, by 2-0 vs Sky Blue FC, thus consolidating their leadership.
Highlights:
https://www.nwslsoccer.com/videos/18045184

 

From Bauser:
Ryoko Takara teaching her team-mates how to eat with chopsticks!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSO902sjH-8/

 

Did I see a Kumamon in an INAC jersey at 1'45"? Did I hear the words "official sponsor"?

Well, at the time I had said that Iga's first goal in that match vs INAC was awesome, but INAC's one isn't less beautiful, now that I can see well the full action leading to it!

INAC's youngsters' silliness at the end of the video is quite refreshing.
Now, why Asuna wears T-shirts with text in Italian?