Iwashimizu is loving the Sugita vs Bronze matchup. Sugita is playing very well and I would never have picked her to play on the left, but she is doing a lot of good things out there. I would like to point out that Takakura has listened to me and is playing Hasegawa as a forward and has Sugita on the pitch along with Hayashi. I would like to see Hasegawa play a bit deeper more like a support striker. The Brits are giving Nadeshiko some space on the flanks which Nadeshiko might be able to take advantage of. If Nadeshiko can just hang on in the first fifteen minutes they might be able to sneak a goal late in the half. I still think Britain will find a way to score, but Nadeshiko are in this.
First post here. Long time Japan follower My big concern is with Nakajima in central MF. She doesn't have speed, cannot win tackles and can't hold onto the ball. Honestly feel like a liability, reminds me of Y.Endo during late Zaccheroni era that cost Japan men's at 2014 WC. I think as an impact sub she can contribute, but the MF has to be Sugita-Miura, with Hasegawa/Mana/Shiokoshi behind Tanaka (sorry Sugasawa to me is useless against decent intl opponents, cannot hold the ball, no speed and no running in channels) Quickly another question to anyone who knows. I recall Takarada been phenomnon with Ueki and Nakano at U-20 WC as ST, why is she not being groomed as main striker but backup DF?
Why does Takakura insist playing Nakajima in the central midfield? It’s not like we don’t have other players. She doesn’t win the ball, lose the ball, and takes too long to play the ball. She has that accurate mid/long rage passing and can shoot from the rage. But she needs a lot of time and space to generate the power and she’s not particularly agile nor has good first touch. Use her in the wide position where she can find that space and time. That’s the only position she can play at the higher level. I think GB are in the second gear. Hope they’re just happy with a draw and stay as they are.
Welcome! I am always delighted when someone new joins our litlle community. You're expressing concerns many of us here do agree with: Nakajima is not a DMF and we just can't figure why Takakura is stubbornly insisting along this way, while it seemed like we had found the perfect pair in Miura/Sugita. I guess almost no-one here see anything special in Sugasawa outide of domestic league and Asian tournaments, where she can somehow give some "physical" impact. On the international level, she's just ordinary. I agree that I would have seen Takarada as an excellent offensive player, especially after what she showcased at U-20 WWC 2018, but here I guess it was not a Takakura's decision to play her mainly in defense, as Cerezo Ladies did last season and Washington Spirit are doing right now. Anyway, Takakura as an history, since U-17 WWC 2014, of trying player in different positions along the same tournament, so I guess we could happen to see Takarada in an offensive position before the end of the tournament.
|f Minami keeps playing like this and Miyake is tested in the Chile game and does well. Maybe we'll see Takarada in attack. Also I am sick of these GB players complaining about every call that goes against them.
Well, I said the shots from the long-range could have been a resource, but this last one from Minami was a little too much speculative!
And once again, you're a little ahead of the feed most of us are following! Please, don't spoil us a goal, should it happen!
So am I. Lucky for them that Nadeshiko players are pretty calm because it would be tempting for one of our players to start some trash talking back at GB's continous complaints.
Parris is really getting on my nerves with the way she screeched at the obvious foul she committed herself.
I know it's way, waaay early for that, but what are the tie-breakers to advance from the groups? Direct clash goes ahead of goal difference I suppose? So the fact that we scored a goal vs Canada would put us ahead of an hypothetical scoreless GB should the three teams end level at the end of group-stage?
Each one of these CKs gives me a heartache, but at least Yamashita know how to properly catch a ball.