Official 2021 Nadeshiko Japan Thread [R] - なでしこジャパン（英語スレッド）

Well, something tells me that this approach will be either much much more positive and effective or actually would damage Nadeshiko even more. Time will tell...

 

Apparently Ikeda showed clips of Liverpool to the team. I'm not very familiar with the premier league but from what I remember they play in a 4-3-3 that relies very heavily on fast wingers and fullbacks and a defense thats based around aggressive high pressing and their center-backs covering for the out of position fullbacks. I may be completely wrong about all of this and some of you probably watch Liverpool often so may have an idea.

It's clear that he wants the team to become much more aggressive in both offense and defense and I like that. I wasn't exactly picturing Liverpool though as I don't think they play the typical short passing game. He did say in the press conference that he wants to strengthen Japan's possession not abandon it. It's very confusing to me, I wish I were one of the media personnel covering the camp. The friendlies really can't come soon enough.

 

Translated a media report from 3rd day of camp. It's a paid article so I probably shouldn't have but it gave some interesting insight.

https://www.targma.jp/kawaji/2021/10/20/post21636/#more-21636

The new Nadeshiko Japan under Ikeda, their theme "get the ball, get the goal, get the victory" is an aggressive one. It seems we will see the same
4-4-2 system we saw in the U19 NT.

On the 3rd day the team played 2 games focused on formation and basic movements. Though the team is missing international players like Iwabuchi or Hasegawa we can start to see the big picture for this team.

1st game

Green team

----------Kobayashi----------Sugasawa----------

Ueki------Sumida------Naomoto-----Narumiya

Miyagawa--Takahashi--Norimatsu---Shimizu

----------------------Yamashita----------------------

White team


----------Mi.Tanaka-------------Ueno---------------

Sugita------Nagano------Nakajima---Miyazawa

Kitagawa---Minami--------Oga----------Miyake

--------------------------Ikeda----------------------

2nd game

Green team

----------------Ueki----------Miyazawa----------

Kobayashi--Nagano---Narumiya---Naomoto

Takahashi----Miyake--Norimatsu---Shimizu

----------------Yamashita(→Ikeda)--------------

White team

---------------Miyazawa----------Ueno-------------

Sugita------Nakajima----Sumida----Mi.Tanaka

Kitagawa---Minami-------Oga--------Miyagawa

----------------------Mo.Tanaka----------------------

(I realize Miyazawa is playing for both teams in the 2nd game. They probably got one of them mixed up with Sugasawa)

Analysis
The base system is a 4-4-2 and the key is transitioning quickly between attack and defense. The first objective for the player who steals the ball is to to get it to the frontline. Even in possession the players would aim to pass forwards after shifting the ball side to side.

While there were many players who were tested in different positions in games 1 and 2. Forwards Sugasawa and Ueno, holding midfielders Nagano and Sumida, left-back Kitagawa, center-back Minami Oga and Norimatsu were used in the same position.

There would always be one forward and one midfielder on the wings. It was noticeable that by creating this asymmetrical situation in attack the team would function similarly to a 4-3-3.


Team Cam from first day of camp


JFA report from second day of camp. Comments from Yamashita, Nakajima, Shimizu and Oga. (all in Japanese)
https://www.jfa.jp/nadeshikojapan/news/00028151/

 

Klopp's Liverpool is actually an excellent pick if you want an example for efficient periodic high press combined with ball possession. Originally Klopp's Liverpool was all about high press, but in season 18/19 when they won CL they started to apply pressing much more situational, opting instead to retain the ball for lengthy periods. This is what allowed Liverpool to dominated and win PL with consistent play and results in 19/20. I can't find the stats anymore but aside 3 months early this year where they lost their whole back line to injury I recall their stats to have been consistently excellent since early 2018. I recall reading several analysis about this, I'll post them when I find them again.

 

There is a player named Iriguchi Nanoka in Konomiya, but I don't know if she is the one you mention.
Come to think of it, there was an Italian player named Kashiragi in the past. At first I wondered if he was a Japanese.

 

While VFL Bochum is not Frauen Bundesliga, I thought I mention that
Mizuho Kato, left back for Bochum, scored in a cup game against Freudenberg.

ポカール🏆試合結果

前節は右サイドバックかと思いきや
昨日は左サイドバックでフル出場。
先制点、今季初ゴール💪

中３日で日曜日はまたリーグ戦です！
早く試合がしたい🤩良い準備を pic.twitter.com/8byhrnbytW

— 🇩🇪加藤みづほ / MIZUHO KATO (@mizuuu18) October 21, 2021

Kato used to play in Cologne and UPC Tavagnacco.

 

Damallsvenskan round 20 of 22

AIK hosted BK Hacken. Last year champions were visibly tired from their UWCL game with Bayern which allowed the hosts to force a scoreless draw. Hayashi played full 90 and was booked by the ref...still she was the best AIK player on the pitch (although set much in DMF role for this game).
With 4 goals and 2 assist she is AIK leading goalscorer this season.
(btw. this draw closed the door for retaining the championship title by Hacken)

Linkoping won 5-0 with Vaxjo DFF. Momiki opened the scoreline in 30th min and also noted an assist on another goal before she was subbed out in 60th min. Linkoping (8th) lost their chance for UWCL spot but still can finish in top 4-5.
Many press outlets in SWE has Momiki in this round best XI. (it's 2nd time within a month)

Ekstraliga round 8 of 22

Yurina Enjo played 70' for UKS SMS Łódź in a match with GKS Katowice that her side won 2-1. She was booked by the ref and quickly subbed out after that.
SMS stays on top of the table with 4 points advantage over 2nd Górnik Łęczna and 5 points over 3rd - champions Czarni Sosnowiec (thogh Czarni have still one game in hand to play).

FAWSL

Hasegawa was nominated for player of the month in FA WSL.

The shortlist is in for @BarclaysFooty October Player of the Month...

⭐️ @HanBlundell
⭐️ @maybe10_
⭐️ @frankirby
⭐️ @kirstielevell97
⭐️ @kimlittle1990
⭐️ @Katie_McCabe11

Who will you be voting for?

— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) October 18, 2021

I don't follow NWSL but seen on tt that both Kawasumi and Nagasato had scored for their clubs lately.

 

Nadeshiko played against high schoolers today and lost 0-5.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2bcb897089601a46734fb6147b925d38b114d2ba

According to sources this new style of football Ikeda introduced seems to be a very drastic change for the Nadeshiko. Much more fast paced than what the players are used to. It's going to take a while for things to click if they ever do. It's only the 4th day together for this team so it's too early to tell but we may be in for some pre-olympic Australia like defeats.

 

As I said before, I don't think that Nadeshiko can compete with the top teams playing this aggressive "Liverpool like" style of football. Again, for the 1000th time, the reason is "Physicality", plus lack of quality in the attacking line.

It's like Liverpool will continue to play like Liverpool but instead of Salah, Mane and Firmino, you gonna put in 3 random attacking players from the mid-table teams. Wondering what Liverpool is gonna look like without those 3 up top. Same with Nadeshiko really...

 

Honestly, until they play a game that we can all watch, we don't even what influence they took from Liverpool. Ikeda keeps mentioning "quick passing towards goal" and I for one am very excited for the aggression he wants to instill in this team. Especially after the olympics when all the team seemed to do after gaining possession was pass backwards.I don't expect Ikeda to start playing them like England and he isn't out to destroy everything past generations of the NT built but I do think the team needs to be more direct towards goal in attack (I don't mean route one football).

Also judging from the reactions online I see a lot of Japanese people growing tired of the traditional Nadeshiko style football, adding some spice to it doesn't seem like a bad idea.

Maybe a year or two later we'll find out your concerns were well-founded but for now it's only the 4th day.

 

I think you will find that it will be the pressing of Liverpool and their quick transition play that he will be trying to emulate. I do not want to say too much until we see them play. But I imagine Ikeda will want movement and when the time is right quick transition from defence to attack.

I am not sure playing like Liverpool is ideal for Nadeshiko. Again we have to see what they do against decent opposition.

I would probably prefer them to play like Klopp's Dortmund.

Here are a couple of videos looking at the way Liverpool play under Klopp and a comparison between Klopp's Dortmund and Liverpool teams.

 

You have to laugh......
Probably the only advantage of suffering from short term memory loss is that on a weekend with no footie you can watch AC Nagano v Jeff from last weekend......I wonder what the final result will be?

 

Is anyone watching Australia v Brazil? Very entertaining, physical & fast paced match. It's gonna be a very tough AFC to win next year. I guess it was far from easy last time too but I'm unsure if 2 international windows are anywhere near enough for Nadeshiko to get themselves together.

If anyone's bored it's being streamed for free. First half ended, 1-0 to the Aussies.
https://www.matildas.com.au/news/how-international-fans-can-watch-commbank-matildas-vs-brazil

 

Yeah, regarding attacks going through the center instead through the wings Dortmund is indeed preferable to Liverpool (I think Japanese teams attempt high crosses too often already as is).

One aspect of Liverpool's pressing that's very suitable to Nadeshiko though is the focus on keeping the opponent's ball in the center:
https://spielverlagerung.com/2019/05/09/liverpools-pressing-system/
For Nadeshiko international teams attacking through the wings is a real liability so to consistently prevent that through pressing would help a lot already.

Then if Nadeshiko keeps the opponent's ball in the center and attacks through the center counter pressing is a very viable match plan to combine both:

🗣"No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good counter-pressing situation!"

Jurgen Klopp explaining the importance of the gegenpress at Liverpool 4 years ago on MNF @Carra23 | @DavidJonesSky pic.twitter.com/lFF96i5Gjp

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 29, 2020

Once you do that well, high crosses become a viable mean as well again since with counter pressing you want to actually force the opponent into unorganized situations where your own players can react faster than them, and the aftermath of crosses enforces such scrambles for the second ball.

 

🗣 "To be at that level, you have to earn that."

What difference has @maybe10_ brought to the team since she came in this season? #BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/l2NqIBgJYf

— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) October 23, 2021

 

For me this was a major problem with Takakura. She became a bit too focused on the wings and forgot that Nadeshiko's strengths are in the middle of the pitch. Obviously there needs to be a balance, but I felt it was tipped too much to the wings.

Yeah I cannot disagree with you. Of course it is easier said than done and I can understand why so many teams try and press teams to the sideline thereby utilising the sideline as an extra defender.

 

I suppose it is sad because they are not playing a decent team. But I would much rather Nadeshiko do training camps than play teams like Paraguay or Mexico.