Line up for Japan vs. US friendly?

The US will use an all MLS lineup. I am pretty sure it will only include the younger players.

-------------Howard----------------
Bocanegra------Pope----------Califf----- Hedjuck
Klein---------Mastreoni------ Ralston----Beasley
Twellman----------Donovan

Actually I doubt even Pope and Hedjuck will play. It depends if Arena wants to really prepare for the Confederation Cup or not.

Mathis is out with an injury. Experienced guys like Cobi Jones, Ernie Stewart, and Brian McBride will probably not even be there.

 

Actually, I have read that O'Brien may try and come in. I heard that McBride is talking about it as well although he will apparently just be returning. Here is a link where O'Brien talks about wanting to play.

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=28618&itype=113&iCategoryID=0

 

I read somewhere that Keller might be included in goal as well. Sorry, can't remember where I read it.

 

I forgot that, but I heard that about Keller also. Washington being his home state and all. He said he would really like to come back for the game.

 

when is jfa gonna announce the squad!?!?!?!? the time is ticking. don't tell me they already forgot about it.

 

Doesn't Zico usually announce his squad a month before the match?

I assume the midfield will be Hide Nakata, Ono, Ina and Shunsuke, or will Zico play 2 d-mids and have Nakata or Shunsuke behind Takahara?

 

i wanna see mcbride and his wife

 

Well I don't know when Japan will release their squad, but I am gonna speculate that if they are serious about improving they will bring everyone they can.

I haven't watched Japan play under Zico, so are they gonna switch back to 4-4-2 or 3-5-2?

well here are my guesses as to Japan's lineup if they bring their full squad!

if 4-4-2

DF: Matsuda, Morioka, Miyamoto, Nakata Koji

MF: Nakamura, Inamoto, Nakata Hidetoshi, Ono

FW: Suzuki, Takahara

if 3-5-2

DF: Matsuda, Morioka, Miyamoto

MF: Nakamura, Inamoto, Nakata H., Toda, Ono

FW: Suzuki, Takahara

GK: Kawaguchi? Narazaki? Sogahata? Tsuzuki?

now that I look at it this is mroe like an ideal lineup for Japan, so really I have no idea who is gonna come my guesses are that Zico might include some more of the Antlers. Who I really want to see play is Motoyama! But I don't have my hopes up.

 

Thats pretty easy to see, based on your player selection.

Point one- Zico is playing a traditional defence, not a risky offside trap and pack-the-back-line defence. Consequently, I dont think you will ever be seeing Morioka and Miyamoto again, even if the first were not still below 100% and the latter suffering the flu.

Point two- Zico will play a 4-4-2, until and unless it becomes apparent that Japan doesnt have the personnel to play it. So far that hasnt happened. Matsuda is a center back, not a wing back. Koji Nakata is a defensive mid, not a wing back. One thing you WONT see from Zico Japan is a lot of effort to play players out of position, just because your system cant fit them in any other way.

Point three - Ono was very ill the past week, and I dont see how he could recover quick enough to play a serious role. I could be wrong, but my guess is that even if he does travel, he will start on the bench.

With that in mind, I think the most likely back line will be Akita and Matsuda in the middle and Narahashi at right wing back, with Yamada as the reserve. The big question mark is left back, since both Hattori and Mochizuki looked awful at that spot. You might see a new face there, like Araiba. Another possibility would be Tsuboi, and I dont think you can even rule out the possibility of Soma.

As I said already, I dont know if Ono will be in condition to play, and I wouldnt be surprised to see Nakata K start rather than Inamoto in the defensive mid. Considering the two opponents, I think Zico might play the single-volante, diamond-four formation at midfield instead of two defensive mids in a box-four. If thats the case, Nakata K is the clear choice at volante and *if* Inamoto starts, it would be at left wing in place of (still not 100%?) Ono, or at the second volante (assuming Zico plays a box-four).

Im also guessing that Zico will recognise what a lot of people have been saying for years - that Nakamura (or Ono for that matter) is better at the shireito spot than Nakata. That would mean Nakata H. plays at either right wing, or even more likely, at number two forward. Yanagisawa is injured, and there really isnt another top candidate apart from Takahara, so unless Zico either uses Nakata, or plays a lone striker, this would be a big weakness in the Japanese team.

Of course, since the youth team is not in UAE, where they were expected to be at this time, there is a chance that Zico could surprise everyone and name some players like Matsui and Okubo. But until the roster is announced, Im going to guess that the lineup will look something like this:

. . . . . . . Takahara . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . NakataH. . . .
Ina (Ono) . . . Nakamura . . . . Oga (Ono)
. . . . . . . . Nakata K . . . . . . . . . .
??? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Narahashi
. . . . . Akita . . . . Matsuda . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Narazaki . . . . . . . . . . . .

or this:

. . . . . . . . . . Takahara . . . . . . . . . .
NakataH(Ono) . . Nakamura . . . Oga (Ono)
. . . . . . Nakata K . . . Inamoto . . . . . . .
??? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Narahashi
. . . . . . . Akita . . . . Matsuda . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Narazaki . . . . . . . . . . . .


Incidentally, I chose Narazaki by default. Kawaguchi has fallen off the face of the earth, and Sogahata is still injured, so that leaves only Narazaki as a serious candidate. I think you will see one of the youth players like Kawashima or Fujigaya as the reserve keeper

 

I sort of like Trouisser's 3-5-2, except that Koji Nakata looked pretty bad stuck in as a defensive wing. If this was a perfect world I think Zico would like to have Nanami at the Volante spot, seeing as he learned under Dunga, but from what it seems Nanami might not have much International games left in him. Also Akita in the back line? That turns back the clock I had flashbacks of Soma, Akita, Narahashi, Ihara backlines there. Well hopefully I can get some videotape of the other games before the US game so I can look at how Zico plays the game.

 

forget about 3-5-2. if our opponents are physically stronger and use boring long ball tactics, they'll have their way till the end.

 

You may be one of the only people Ive ever heard say so. Dont misunderstand. I also can see the value of using such a system. The problem is that it only works well if your defenders are world class, and dont need much support, or if your back line sucks so bad that they cant defend one on one and the volantes play basically a five-man defence. Troussier had the latter opinion. I disagree, though if you are using people like Morioka and Miyamoto, its true they cant defend without help.

Well, Akita and Narahashi played the full 90 minutes against both Jamaica and Argentina, so I think they probably are his choices for the time being. They wont be around until 2006, but for at least a year or so, until younger players make the transition, they are the best two candidates available. Akita is constantly voted as the best 11 J.League defenders, and hes only 31, so it shouldnt come as such a surprise. Narahashi is also a top candidate, though I think he will probably lose his spot to someone like Yamada, Tanaka Hayuma or Toru Nagata, in another year or so.

You can say that again! I think you must not get to see many J.League matches recently. Nanami had a great year in 2000, but after his second knee injury he has been just a mediocre player. He isnt that old in actual age, but his knees are obviously too old to let him play at a top level anymore. I think he will lose his starting spot at Jubilo to Sho Naruoka, probably before the end of this year.

 

I guess ever since Zico took the helm it seems like we will never see surprise players being played in a game. Troussier's style of developing players was refreshing to me. I think players grew alot in that scheme. But it was a love hate relationship.

I think Zico needs to develop wing backs. New players are untested and are old players(mainly Narahashi) isn't par. Against Jamaica, Narahashi made a few runs but I felt like I was watching WC 98, just the runs up and down and sub par crossing. I know thats a bit harsh for a player that hasn't played with the A squad in 4 years but I felt his limitation. Clearly, the European based players seemed to grow compared to players in the J League. I didn't think Nakamura will be Serie A material right out of J League. He does suffer a little as a Attacking midfielder cause he tends to hold the ball too much and weak under pressure but as a midfielder he's been great. I think he does better than Pirlo at Milan.

Anyways, If I was Zico 4-3-2-1

Takahara

Alex, Nakata

Nakamura, Inamoto, Ono

Hattori, Matsuda, Morioka, Ichikawa

Use Alex's ability to open the left side, Takahara will keep pushing the defense and Nakata, Inamoto or Ono will make runs in the midfield. The right wingback will make alot of runs.

Anyways, on 3/26 I'll be at the match so I'll see how developed our players are at this stage.

 

Well I haven't seen a J League game since 2000, so I only can follow using the crappy ass internet. But before that I went to most of the home games for Avispa and watched whatever was on TV, so I am stuck in pre 2000 era............

What are the chances I will get to see Tsuboi come out in the US game?

 

!

Kawaguchi will join the team, but he isn't the first choice GK, is he?

I'd love to see the matchup of him vs American strikers, especially McBride! I've seen Tsuboi's play, and I think that was Jubilo 1-2 Reds. He was fast and effective throughout the game. He deservedly took the J League Awards last year imo, and I like the fact he didn't get a single yellow card in the league. Give him a chance, Zico! Well, I just like fast defenders.

 

Where did you hear that?
As far as I know, Zico will not announce his team until tomorrow. There is a very strong chance that Kawaguchi will not be included. Personally, I think he is likely to name one of the younger players as reserve to Narazaki.

As for Tsuboi, I think he will start to see action before long. He is definitely one of the top defenders in the JLeague now. But I think it is still too early for him to win a start. He is only in his second year (although he is 22 because he joined the league after university. Probably Zico considers him too inexperienced to start just yet.

There *MIGHT* be a chance for him to start at left wing back since there are no other good candidates. But he is more suited to playing central defence, rather than wing back so my gess is he will only be used as a substitute. I expect him to be used at least once, for a short appearance, during this road trip. Particulary if Japan get a lead in the second half, Zico may shift to a 3-2-4-1, with Tsuboi, Akita and Matsuda as the back three and Nakata K and Fukunishi as the twin volantes.

 

Kawaguchi
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/soccer/jtoto/headlines/20030312-00000030-kyodo_sp-spo.html

I agree that Tsuboi is better suited to central defense. He is a center back after all. We are lacking good side backs, and isn't that the reason why many Japanese clubs use three back systems?

"3-2-4-1, with Tsuboi, Akita and Matsuda as the back three" sounds strong, but I guess it could be vulnerable to attacks from both flanks, unless someone else supports the back line. American players, like Landon and DMB, are pretty fast, you know. Wait, will Landon and DMB play in this game?

 

The link above says that the Japanese squad will be announced next Monday. Well, that's Sunday in the US.

 

Why wouldn't they? They're an integral part of The Bruce's youth movement, so I think the odds of seeing them are very good.

Donovan might be more centrally located, but DMB, Olsen, Convey and co. will definitely see action down the flanks.

You might want to watch for that Bocanegra guy on corners, too....

 

Twellman should play too. There are silly rumors that Freddy Adu will get his first cap.

 

You must be misunderstanding the formation. 3-2-4-1 is a very defensive formation, after all its basically just a fancy name for a 5-4-1. The difference between the defensive assignments in a 3-2-4-1 compared with a usual back three is that the two side defenders are only responsible to cover the flank, from the edge of the penalty box to the sideline, whereas in a normal back three they are responsible for the area from the 3-yard box to the sideline. The two players in front of the back three are responsible for the first two offensive players into the box and the center back plays as libero.

I know that the US has some very fast wings, but I dont think they will be able to do very much when they are covered one-on-one by either Matsuda or Tsuboi.

Of course, that type of formation seriously limits your offensive options, which is why I said it will only happen if Japan has a lead in the second half.

 

Re: !

kawaguchi? good chance for him to appeal once again. i think by now almost everyone forgot about him. if only he could do the same performance as he did against brazil, saudi, spain and all the games he played in confede cup..

i don't care about mcbride as long as he doesn't score but i wanna see his wife!!