Okada Japan... What the hell happened...?

Okada: Shrewd Genius or Forrest Gump?

With Japan's 16th round match against a very, very beatable Paraguay and possible quarterfinal matchups against Portugal, Chille or Spain Okada's semifinal prediction is only 1 likely win and 1 shock win from becoming true.

Is Japan's surging run and current form a product of Okada's genius managing abilities or is Okada more like Forrest Gump riding on wave of stupid luck?

 

Some players, I think, just needed a couple of big, motivational matches to get them truly going. Endo and Matsui as veterans strike me from the past couple of games.

Didn't see their true form in a couple of meaningless Pre-WC friendly matches.

 

As a leading Okada-hater, I feel honor-bound to punch myself in the mouth. Hard. Repeatedly.
I'll do a lot of drinking first to numb the pain.

 

My personal theory is that Japan has always been a good team but always suffered from perpetual mental weakness.

Losing to Korea twice before the WC, losing to Serbia, Ivory Coast etc., created a pressurized environment that allowed the Japanese team to find the mental focus and intensity that's needed at the World Cup level.

Without the losses and the resulting pressure, I don't think Japan would have been able to find the motivation internally.

 

My opinion :

It's the stamina. I think Okada focused to train the players hard in fitness, for a long period, cause he keeps the altitude of SA in mind, and remember that all players in top team not in their top condition.If Japanese players can have the advantage in stamina and fitness, it can make up for disadvantage in high and strength.Because of hard training just focus on stamina,that's make the players much more slower and temporary lost their awareness, touch... which are important in Japanese style.

After some friendly match, and just before the WC started, they came back to normal training, and slowly gained their traditional form, with some extra strength.
I don't know what it exactly called, maybe "the drop point of form".

It happens alot with my national team. With coach focuses on fitness and tactics, we usually win, with coach like Zico, we lost although play quality games.
JNT and my national team have very similar style i must say.

 

I still hate Okada, and will do so for some time, but I admit things are really coming together.

 

Re: Okada: Shrewd Genius or Forrest Gump?

A living god??? LOL. Are you being sarcastic or are you serious?

 

Re: Okada: Shrewd Genius or Forrest Gump?

He is either joking or today's match broke him.

 

Wow. Jus wowe-wow-wow

Speaking for myself as ungrateful Korean who rooted for Danes today, I must admit that was an awesome game for JNT.

Many of my coworkers here also rooted for Danes also. But we were all shocked and amazed with kind of performance any team would kill for in the world stage today.

What else is there left say that today JNT totally controlled the game. They were the better team in everyway against the Danes.

I know we all hate each other but I felt, when credit is due, you must congratulate the effort.

So congratulations to JNT. Enjoy today like no tommorow

 

Seconded. Gotta clap for the JNT today.

I thought Honda's FK could have been saved by Sorenson,

but the second FK by Endo was peach and Honda made the Danes eat shit on the third goal.

Well, well, well ... our friendly later this year is going to be EPIC in Seoul.

Two Round of 16 AFC representatives!

 

I still want to keep hating Okada and Okubo....

 

My opinion : Okada tried as hard as he can to make the team play his football but without a world-class forward who can capitalize on the good passes, it's impossible to succeed. So he decided to focus on the defense and to count on Honda's talent upfront.

 

Re: Okada: Shrewd Genius or Forrest Gump?

We can't overlook his player choices and weird results but IN THE WC he is not far from a genious. I'm sure everybody was like "wtf" when we first saw the lineup against Cameroon but Okada clearly had an idea and it has worked perfectly.

 

Re: Okada: Shrewd Genius or Forrest Gump?


Handsome man. I wish I looked like him.

 

Re: Okada: Shrewd Genius or Forrest Gump?

If he qualifed with this squad - he's almost genius, if Japan will be in 1/4 he'll be god. I wonder what we'll read at Rising Sun. Probably - just stupid luck, easy group, okada still made wrong decissions, took wrong tactique in this match, we all should be greatful to Japan that it produced players like Honda, not Okada for playing him as forward (just 'couse everyone knows his wrong) etc. Than again - cheers to Japan. If should be a day off

 

Re: Okada: Shrewd Genius or Forrest Gump?

I just found a great tattoo for you:

 

Re: Okada: Shrewd Genius or Forrest Gump?

Can't wait for the analysis once again.

 

Who wrote that he's not as big as Nakata? Maybe it was right hor the time before WC but now he achieved more than him. His shot from from free kick was brillant and I'm sure Soerensen didn't had his homework done (just as Palop). Underdog position seems good for NT so it bodes well against Paraguay (who's still favorite of the next game).

 

I think the underdog view of Japan is at the core of the success. Each of our group opponents thought "yes, those Japanese are a good side, but we are physically stronger, have more individual class and we are taller" - that was until now.

Having made the final 16, I don't think we will have that much of this kind of advantage against Paraguay, so it depends much on Okada's skills to get the mindframe right - which I am beginning to really trust...

 

Maybe the players have decided not to listen to Okada's instructions...congrats, although I don't think I could bear it if you guys reach QF and we don't.

the Danes played like Greece against us, punt the ball upfield and take advantage of the "smaller" and "physically weak" asians. Stereotypes are bringing arrogant Euros teams down.

 

Re: Okada: Shrewd Genius or Forrest Gump?

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