Haha It seems to be the case, but alas what can we do. He desperately needs to analyze his mistakes in this round and plan properly for the next one starting with the dismissal of the old guard Don't want to see Shibasaki, Nagatomo, and Osako's faces anymore.
Osako's hold up play might still be needed in some instances though. Other than Suzuki, there might be lack of players similar in this regard. Hayashi and Minamino, etc. are different kind of players to them.
Still need solution for scoring, Osako just waste too many. Why isn't Ado being tried given he got called up. I dont care what the issue is with Y.Suzuki but he has to be given a go. I think Nagatomo is a real liability defensively, both today's goal and Oman's came from opposition playing behind him. Also I was stunned why Tomiyasu was not closing down Boyle and instead was running toward middle and leaving him for a DM. It's basic 101 that you should close down the attacker and try to force him wider and block the cross, let your DM run back to middle for cover. Last point I will make is there is an appaling frequency of passing backward from the sidelines, especially when pressed. I think its fine to keep the ball and try to play, but both the Saudi goal and Aus first half post came from backward passes from the sidelines. The team just gotta be more positive and try down the line, if you give up possession its fine, but any mistakes from these are fatal.
Didn't see the game, just the highlights. Will probably watch in on youtube tomorrow. Just one comment from the highlights. The first Japanese chance, perfect example on why I'm the Ito-hater number 1 here. Honestly don't understand why everybody else is ok with him. Osako does what he does. Ito gets away very nicely and then? The cross goes nowhere. Too far back for Minamino. If it was intended for the guy further back, then he needs a higher cross. But this cross here was pretty horrible. And that's what happens regularly with Ito, His crosses just go anywhere. Yes he's better than Doan... big deal. But I honestly haven't seen him play a game where I could say without any ifs and buts: He was good. Good halfs sometimes, but a whole game? Hasn't happened. And there are more options than Doan or Ito on the right side. Somebody tell Moriyasu please. 2-1, Japan still can qualify without having to rely on others... Actually somehow I'd have preferred a draw. Then Moriyasu would have become untenable. (which still wouldn't guarantee the JFA doing the right thing of course...) But actually not that much would have changed. If Japan won every game after a draw, max 22 points. In the worst case scenario, Australia and Saudi Arabia share wins in their matches, win all else except vs Japan, it goes down to goal difference between Australia and Japan. But what Japan has to do doesn't really change, win the remaining 6 games. But bigger chances that it isn't with Moriyasu. I still think Japan will qualify, but have my doubts about the WC itself then... Maybe by then Moriyasu manages to play a real counter game? If that's what he's trying to do, because honestly I can't really get a handle on what exactly he's trying to do. But otherwise, Japan is better off with somebody else most likely. Somebody that takes the hard decisions. Which isn't dropping Nagatomo and Sakai, but get over the Ito-Doan fixation on the right. Use Minamino in the middle. Or not at all. Doesn't call up Sasaki (50-50 with Moriyasu, I fear Sasaki might be back again next time around...) or Asano (ok, nice almost goal today, didn't think him capable of taking the ball down like that before the shot)
So far with the current standings, Oman is on level points with Japan and their upcoming match is gonna be crucial for both. A must win match for Japan, no doubt. As for KSA, I had hoped they would stumble against China but I guess I put too much faith in the Chinese as they just crumbled 10 minutes into the match. I could only see KSA be dropping points against Australia in both legs and perhaps Japan in the 2nd leg, otherwise, they are dead set for surprisingly, an easy qualification from this group. I really miss Uzbekistan, despite their usual chokejobs, they at least put up a fight and seriously contend for the top spots unlike half of the teams in this qualification round.
Well, I take it back. China just showed us that KSA is not as invincible as many would've thought. It's a beatable team. Still furious at Shibasaki for that moronic pass.
I have to disagree, are we speaking about the same Ito? I think Ito is among the top players in this team... infact he is one of the best assist man of the whole belgian league. So he's actually a pretty damn good crosser in general - of course you gotta have a decent striker upfront, too. Did you already forget this?
Funny how all these players look excellent every week at European clubs… then suddenly look bang average when Moriyasu is their manager. Happy for the players, but like others have said devastated Moriyasu will live to fight another day. $&@!% bring on Shibasaki and Nakayama when we needed to score a second goal? He clearly hasn’t learned anything from the Saudi game.
What's funnier is that both China and Vietnam had scored more than Japan. Moriyasu must solve this weak offense ASAP, no ifs and buts, if he still remains at helm that is.
The away match against Oman is very crucial with Oman level on points and having the advantage over Japan in terms of GD, hopefully Moriyasu starts Tanaka instead of Shibasaki like today against Australia straight away. Itakura/Kubo/Nakayama should also be available in the squad to provide for more option choices when necessary as well. Advisable for Nagatomo to not start imo.
They were brought in because both Morita and Nagatomo were running out of gas, and Australia was launching an attack after another from Japan's left side. I would prefer having Haraguchi instead of Shibasaki, as Haraguchi: 1- can hold the ball better than Shibasaki. 2- ibetter in terms of attacking and defensive qualities. 3- can play on the side of a 3 CM formation. 4- he is faster than Shibasaki, which would have helped in such situation in making crucial runs both defensively and offensively. However, Moriyasu is too cautious to do this. Moreover, Moriyasu does not seem to trust some of the less experienced players. This is why he did not bring in other attacking players or add an extra attacking player forward, and instead he sticked to his tried and trusted ones.
Haraguchi may give away foul little too easily at times due to his temper. In away matches, referees might be more inclined to give 50/50 calls in other team's favour.
No, didn't forget this. But does that make Osako a prolific scorer? No. Same for Ito. Actually good comparison, Ito on the right side is like Osako and scoring. It's not 0, but way too wasteful. While I didn't forget his good moment against China, neither did I forget his bad moments. By now I watched the first half, and Ito basically did nothing. Good run, bad cross. From then on just nothing. Excellent chance to do something around min 22, he decides to go for the shot, which is ok, where the shot from his outstanding left foot goes isn't ok. My favorite "Ito-moment" a bit later, first Nagatomo (best player on the pitch in the first half, yeah get rid of him....) 1 on 1, goes deep to the line, not perfect, might have been deflected too. But a decent attempt. 10 seconds or so later, Ito on the right, 1 on 1, he just 2 crosses into the legs of the Australians. That, way too often, is what you get out of Ito In the NT. Minute 32 if you want to enjoy it too. Positives from the first half: - Tanaka corners. Best corners in a while. - Osako, one mistake, that was not passing to Minamino when he tried to do it alone and missed. The pass was there. Otherwise he played well. Possibly because he got no real balls to miss... If he just could score.... but he opens up chances for others. - Endo, had a few games that IMO weren't that convincing, here he was back at his usual strength.
What if yes, what if Osako could have scored on his chances, not 2 times. 50 times. We would have a different picture here.
What if he got not 2 bad 50 useful balls per game? Nobody is claiming Osako is a scoring machine. But focusing almost exclusively on him isn't right either. The problems Japan has in creating chances is equally worrying. Plus it's not like he's the only guy missing, Ito on Tuesday missed an easy one too, bigger miss than Osako there. (Now I'm beating up on Ito too much, he's not horrible, he's just not that good, produces too little) I'd be ok with benching both, if it meant Minamino or Furuhashi up front, Haraguchi on the right. But since Moriyasu would probably start Asano up front and Doan on the right... or Asano on the right and Sasaki or some other brilliant player up front, sticking with Osako-Ito is might be better...
Wow. I’m so shocked why the reserves have “less experience” at this stage of WCQ. After all Moriyasu has always played the same old faces every single game against the likes of Mongolia and Myanmar. Also wasting his time on Sho Shasaki. So basically after managing Japan for nearly four years he’s backed himself into a corner as an idiot by never giving game time to other players who actually deserved a shot. Any decent opposition can pretty much predict our line up and substitutions like an open book.
A huge criticism I have of Japanese managers in general is their overall distrust of younger or less experienced players and lack of plan B (just keep trying plan A until full time). Even in the J-League most of them would rather play it conservatively by picking an average or out of form veteran instead of experimenting with a raw talent. Of course, it doesn’t always work out but Ado Onaiwu deserves game time (if Yuma Suzuki keeps getting ignored).
Just rewatched the Oman game. A bit of long rant here. There are so many issues that Moriyasu needs to answer for. 1) Haraguchi cannot play LW anymore, cannot take players on 1-on-1, not willing to go to the byline and also pass backwards. Hes doing much better in CAM/MC at Union 2) Osako clearly not in form, cannot manage the weather conditions and losing the ball often 3) Kamada was absent first half as his area of movement was so lacking and Oman's twin DMs neutralized the danger area infront of their defence 4) The 2 Omani wingers were very fit and young, they covered massive amount of ground and tactically was specifically ordered to take advantage of any space behind Sakai/Nagatomo 5) Even the commentator was asking for Furuhashi to come in any boost attacking either alongside Osako or replace Haraguchi 6) Some players who clearly having fitness issues and into 2nd half Oman was getting lots of counter opportunities behind Sakai/Nagatomo. Moriyasu didnt address this even though there are 5 subs allowed 7) As Kato mentioned above, Moriyasu has been given the opportunity to work with U23s and the lack of integration for younger players into the team is unacceptable. I know he has used some of them in friendlies, but they must be given the responsibility in big games. The likes of Nakayama, Kubo, Doan, Ao Tanaka, Sugawara, Itakura have to be given the opportunity. 8) FW - Osako must be given pressure to perform. Whether its Ado, Yuma, Ueda, Furuhashi, Maeda the team has to have internal competition. At this point I'm extremely disappointed with Moriyasu/JFA with the ultra-conservative approach. Also this game it feels clearly underestimating Oman and allowing Tomiyasu and Morita to remain in Europe was just arrogance. Japan's football has been progressing well in terms of producing better players. But feels we are hitting a ceiling when it comes to tactical and player management, especially given most of them now play in Europe. Hate to say it again, but we can't put faith in domestic coaches at this point if we want to continue improve. It may work for tournaments like WC 2018, but for long term growth have to bring in foreign ideas. Regardless of where we end up this qualifying cycle, Moriyasu needs to go and JFA needs to seriously consider a foreigner with the above issues in mind.
Japan national team squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Vietnam and Oman will be announced on Thursday 4th November 2021 at 2pm JST (5am GMT) on the following link: https://t.co/Z7IEDS6qOz
Been following this team since 2019 and I can safely say there will be no drastic changes in the squad for the upcoming games. Good luck, though.
Reports say Osako is still injured and will be unavailable for the WCQ in November. It's a perfect time to play Furuhashi as centre forward.