The last game was useless. 0 points, but the two true defeats are with Brazil and Italy. To my eyes, Japan did some progresses since WC 2010, at least as way to play. I've never seen Japan plays so well like in the match against Italy. I also think that without a goal in the first minutes by Neymar, the japanese team would have told a different story. In my opinion, the main problems are the center-backs. and Endo. The current Japan with Tulio and Nakazawa in their best years would be a little bit better, but how Japan as formed strong players like Honda and Kagawa in the advanced line, it needs to form same strong player for the defensive one. Endo is the typical player that Zaccheroni likes, but he also made his time and it's necessary a replacement. The question is: who can be the right man to improve the squad for the next WC?
I think there is a lot of problems with this. 1. Management. I don't doubt Zac is a good manager. But I feel he is wrong for Japan. Seem like he does not know what to do or what he is doing. Just look at the subs yesterday. And the use of the same certain players and the unwillingness of trying something new. 2. Goalkeeping. Kawashima is good but I am the only one feeling he has stagnated? Maybe even become more unsecure? I'm not safe all the time with him. 3. CB. Yoshida had a good season with Southampton, but I'm not at all calm with him and Konno. Here must they find at least 1 new CB. A big problem. 4. Strikers. Use Okazaki , why even bother trying someone else? He is the only one capable of scoring. And he was the best japanese player during this Cup. 5. I am not that concerned about lb and rb. Solid. And not so much about midfield even though it's time for Endo to step down. He has been fantastic for the NT. But he is to slow now, even though he is not even close to as bad as many in there want him to be, Just some thoughts.
He should be used as a free role. No need to have another striker on. Put another midfielder on instead. It's like playing with 10 men.
not racist or anything but i think japan needs a japanese coach.. maybe we could keep zac in a kind of counselor or assistant role because of the work he s done an to give him some credit.. but a japanese coach is essential and i m thinking about a guy like nishino or even bringing back okada
and hell no hiddink is a mercenary coach.. look what he did to turkey they went from a 3rd place in 2008 to a team that is being mocked now
I thought Kurihara looked decent in the game vs. Mexico. Maybe he's the answer? I agree that we need a third reliable option at CB.
regarding Okazaki, He as Target man is easy to mark and restrained. But give him the space in midfield and he can really cause some damage running into the box.
Reliable 3rd option? Lets begin with reliable 1st option, then 2nd option......then we'll start worrying about a reliable 3rd option. I think Yoshida--Kurihara should be our starting pair. Tbh Konno was better in the CC (both were crap) but Yoshida is better at defending set pieces/corners. And konno is in J2...
I love the "Konno is better but X should be starting" pattern. X can be replaced by anyone as long as he's over 180cm.
Since I root for Barcelona I know the problem very well. Lack of danger factor on set pieces, a lot more danger present on the set pieces of opponent. This isn't that irrelevant...
I watch every game of Barcelona from preseason friendlies to competitive matches. Barcelona conceed a lot of goals from set pieces and have a danger factor of about 0,05% on Corners. And this has changed quite a bit in a last few years. Having above 1,80 cm defenders at least is important. Had cules had worse team in general they would have conceed even more The entire back line is in fact very similar to Japan's one both side backs small ones small central defender and one tall one. In contrast Spain's national team has 3 tall guys in defense which is one of the main reason why they are a lot more solid defensively then Barca
I like the best players above any other consideration. Barcelona have had their fair share of success with this mentality (even though, tbh, I don't care about Barcelona).
5 cm which is quite a lot but add to that the physique and the great leaping ability probably Ramos when jumping raises that adventage to about 10 cm
Sure best players come first. However as I said there are bonuses to all things. For instance Messi is more often than not considered the best player in the world, while people will say that Ronaldo is the most complete - aka both feet and the ability to jump, the strength and so on and on. Messi is still "better" but on some occasions Ronaldo's ability will come into play. Meaning that if you lack in some departments, you better make it up for it in others and plenty... Konno is better on the ball but for me it doesn't outweigh his physical lack of things... If he would be a really great tackler and idk what else I would say no problem, but the thing is, he aint...
That's common knowledge but this is not the case of a Messi vs Ronaldo but a very good center back against X number of taller but average center backs. The very good one wins. Balotelli dominated everybody but Konno. But this is going to be forgotten because he's not 197cm. I really wanna blast the GIF of Yoshida being schooled by Giaccherini on the OG.
You want to convince me that Japan has two very good center backs in defense? Depends how you look at it. World stage WC they are not very good compared to the others in fact they may be bellow the OK mark in my humble opinion. In Yoshida even with his ridiculous mistakes and what not he made I still see a good center back in Konno I aint seeing that P.S. Yoshida schooled himself in that instance. That was kinder garden league type of mistake Look Saku I aint fooling myself I believe we will see the same pairing in 2014 and I also explained why I think so... I however am in the camp who would wish to find a solution and probably a replacement for Konno in the starting line up. If after testing several options there is no better one fine... go with Konno but can you at least test them first, since the central defense is suffering right now
I don't want to convince anyone of anything and I have lost the will to argue on BS Japan, if you think that's how it is, that's fine. You have your arguments.