Ueda 's ball distribution skills are really not bad, he is quite good at passing imo. Anyway, superb goal by Kobayashi and Shoji. Kobayashi managed to sneak in the goal after just managing to balance himself properly.
Mate, he was passing the ball to the ball boys on the sidelines all game long. This is not gonna cut it. The best teams in the world have 90-95% of completed passes and I'm not talking about the safe pissy-passy we play. They take risks. If we reached 80% today I'd be surprised.
Did you watch the same match? If so, can you post a video compilation of his mispasses? I am re-watching the match, and he looks solid so far, might be an option if Japan needs to be more physical and utilize his height in aerial balls and his tenacious defensive qualities against players with hard-to-handle attacking players. As for his crosses (passes) I reached the 22nd minute and they were all successful except one, he assisted Kobayashi for a header that almost gave Japan the lead in the 22nd minute. So either you watched a different match or you have prejudices against him.
No, Ueda is interesting, but I don't see him as RB. I thought Miura should have played there. More worringly, beside both Sakai, we're screwed if they're not in Russia. Hatsuse is young, Muroya isn't JNT material and Koike was ignored.
Interesting that Ideguchi started many recent A-team matches but is involved with this tournament as well. Is he still considered to be a work in progress or is Vahid just helping him fill his quota for a work permit? He recently signed for Leeds but will have to be loaned out somewhere...
The only players missing are the European ones and those who played the CWC with Urawa. He was in with or without the transfer to Leeds. (and Hotaru Yamaguchi too)
He was good, but Genta Miura had a better performance as a CB, he was more composed than Shoji in this match.
Thanks. Haven't really been following closely. I'm not counting, but he's 21 so that means he only has had to play 75% of the matches over the past year, right? Don't think it matters if he starts, which he didn't against China. Either way, I think Japan would also have to be ranked in the top 50, and I don't know if that could happen from beating the likes of NK and China. I doubt Leeds would wait around to find out before loaning him, anyway (all news sites already say he will be loaned out).
Line-up against S.Korea: Nakamura. Ueda - Miura - Shoji - Kurumaya. Ideguchi - Konno. Kurata. Ito - Kobayashi - Doi. 2 changes from last match: Kurumaya in for Yamamoto. Ideguchi in for Oshima.
Yeah, he usually does nothing wrong. He usually does nothing I might say. There's a cross into the penalty box - he flies in the air but don't touch the ball. There's a FK from 25 meters - oh, I'll just sit on the ground, it will look like I did something after all. etc...
I think this is the worst defeat since like the 80's. Sigh Well at least this is an eye opener for the wc callups.