2011: It's all over now.

With our defeat to FC Tokyo in the Emperors' Cup, our 2011 campaign is now officially over. Any bit of hope for a trophy in 2011 is gone whilst the emptiness and heartbreak continues. The nightmare that was is hopefully behind us and the Reds can start afresh in 2012. But how many times have I said this over the last couple of years. The end of the season always brings fresh hope and I think I've been more excited during the off-season the last couple of years then I have during the season proper.

But what is there to get excited about in 2012? What would make next year any different to past few years. 2011 was suppose to be the year that the Reds are back from re-building, but now it seems as though we are back at the start. There was some positives to come out of 2011, but the positives have been far too few.

One of the positives would have to be the emergence of Kato. Coming into 2011, I would have been only comfortable with seeing Yamagishi in between the posts. If Yamagishi was unavailable, it was doom and gloom for the Reds. But when given the opportunity, Kato didn't back down and impressed enough to be the teams first choice keeper. He had his moments when we had reason to doubt, but overall Kato did a solid job.

Another positive I can take from 2011 would be the progress of some of the younger players. Players like Genki Haraguchi, Tomoya Ugajin and Shunki Takahashi were constant features in our starting XI throughout the year; Mazuki Hamada was a member of the Japanese U22 team along with Genki; Naoki Yamada and Tsukasa Umesaki overcame their injuries to have an impact on the team and Shuto Kojima showed glimpses of his potential.

But what will 2012 bring? What can Petrovic 2.0 deliver? Can we deliver on our potential? So many questions, so many posibilities. It will be interesting to see how this off season pans out. I have blogged before that Petrovic has a list of players that he would like to bring to the Reds, but in reality I don't know if it is possible to get them. Reports have Tomoaki Makino joining 2.Bundesliga side Ingolstadt (link) already.

So now that a coach has been locked in and that the Petrovic 2.0 is under way; the next thing would be player re-inforcements. In a perfect world I'd love for the Reds to bring in a solid stiker first up, but what's the likelyhood of that? We've already missed out on Kazuma Wantanabe who signed with FC-Tokyo.

So lets see where this off-season will bring us...

Petrovic version 2.0 has began

It has been confirmed today that Mihailo Petrovic, the ex-Hiroshima manager, is the new Urawa Reds team manager (Link). As I blogged earlier today, Petrovic has requested for several players, one of them being Hiroshima striker Tadanari Lee (Link).

I'm happy to hear that we have signed our new manager before any players, showing (somewhat) that the manager will have the "control" of the players he wants. Seeing that Petrovic has already targeted a strikers is a good early sign.

Lets hope our next signing can produce goals.

What has been happening

Now that the off-season is under way, what's been happening with the Reds? 

The biggest hole that needs to be filled is the manager's position. The two guys that have been linked with the job are no longer the options; Takeshi Okada is going to China and Akira Nishino has said no to the Reds. So who else has been linked? Ex Shimizu manager Kenta Hasegawa and ex Hiroshima manager Mihailo Petrovic are the two newest names being linked to the Reds.

It has been reported that Petrovic has asked Urawa to go after Tadanari Lee (link), Yuki Abe and Tamoaki Makino. It could be interesting to have Petrovic coming to Urawa, we could call it Petrovic 2.0. In all honesty though, Petrovic has done a solid job with Hiroshima and has brought the best out of Kashiwagi in the past. So Petrovic is an interesting option and if we can bring in the players he wants? 

It has also been reported that Urawa Reds has made a formal offer for Yokohama FM's striker Kazuma Wantanabe (link). It's good to see we are "targeting" the right kind of players, where the teams needs are. 

It will be interesting to see who gets signed up first this off-season; the manager or a player? 

What happened and where to now?

It would be easy to describe 2011 as a frustrating year for the Urawa Red Diamonds, a year of disappointments and a year where we took more steps backwards rather then forward. The only good news is that we didn't get relegated, but who would have expected that at the beginning of the year. So moving forward, I guess now it's back to the drawing board?

I remember when Volke Finke was brought in a few years ago (2009), the aim back then was to implement "fascinating" football, to break down and rebuild the way the Reds play. During Finke first year, the expectation was to rebuild and develop. Naoki Yamada and Genki Haraguchi was unearthed during Finke reign and despite some several questionable decisions, Finke's 2 year run ended with high expectation for 2011, hoping that the Reds have finally turned a corner, well for this Reds' fan at least.

Zeljko Petrovic was brought in to replace Finke and despite his lack of managerial experience, big expectations were placed on the ex-Reds player. Not only did Petrovic fail to deliver but he placed the Reds in a position to be relegated. Winning the championship wasn't the expectation, but an improved finish from 2010 should have been a reasonable expectation.

On paper the Reds have a reasonably strong squad. With the likes of Naoki Yamada, Genki Haraguchi, Yosuke Kashiwagi, Matthew Spiranovic along with the additions of Marcio Richardes and Mitsuru Nagata, most would imagine this to be the foundation of a strong squad.

The only problem is that Petrovic failed to put it all together and overall, the team just didn't gel. Even though the defence was solid, the attack lacked potency. The lack of a target man upfront didn't help, especially with Edmilson leaving during the campaign, we really did lack the ability to score goals. This was reflected by the run of draws early in the season. If it wasn't for Genki's 9 goals and being our "X-Factor", things could have been really bad. Despite being the Reds top goal scorer, Genki isn't really a target-man and shouldn't really be our long term solution up front.

We thought that the endless draws were bad, but things got worst when we started losing and dropped down the ladder. The worst thing was that there was no sign of improvements and things just went from bad to worst. Petrovic had already said that he wouldn't be back next year, so there was no more point for him to stick around. The fight to avoid relegation was given to the youth team manager Takafumi Hori.

Whilst Hori steadied the ship to avoid relegation, 2012 again appears to be another rebuilding year for Urawa. Yes, first and foremost we need a new manager but I believe the rebuilding/changes has to start at the top; so it's goodbye to club chairman Mitsuo Hashimoto. Hashimoto's reign as chairman for the Reds have been full of disappointments and questionable decisions. Ever since winning the ACL, things have gone south and that blame has to fall on Hashimoto.

If Hashimoto doesn't go, it will be interesting who he appoints as the Reds' next manager. More importantly though, the biggest quesion is whether or not Hashimoto allows the new manager to have the full reign to run the team.

Akira Nishino (soon to be former Gamba Osaka manager) and Takeshi Okada (ex Japan NT coach) has been linked to the Reds', but it should be interesting to see actually ends up as the new manager. Hopefully the appointment happens sooner rather then later, which would give the manager more time to build his team.

In terms of player movements, our biggest need is a striker (target-man) upfron. There has been reports that the Reds has offered Mike Havenaar a large contract, but the chances of Havenaar signing for the Reds I would say is very slim. Havenaar has an eye to move to Europe, with some clubs already lining up for his signature. (Though I do hope I'm proven wrong and Havenaar signs with the Reds and given our #9?). Kim Jin-Hyun (Cerezo Oaska) has also been linked with the Reds, but I don't think we require another keeper. Kato has done a solid job at the back (despite his howler against Kashiwa) and Yamagishi would be a solid back-up.

It's going to be another interesting off-season for the Reds, actually for the past couple of years, the off-season has been something to look forward to for Reds fans. Lets hope 2012 will bring more joy for those in Red.  

When it was all over

So that is it; 2011 has been done and dusted. Kashiwa Reysol are the J1 champions and the Reds just missed out on the drop and will still be in the J1 for 2012. Some say that we were just as bad as Yamagata and Kofu; maybe so, but at the end of the day the table shows that we are the 15th best team in the J1 in 2011, above both 3 other teams, which means no relegation.

Hopefully though our final 2011 game isn't a reflection of our 2012 season, because if it is, we are in for another frustrating year. The final scoreline was 3-1, but with our performance we showed, it could have been a lot worst. Our performance in the first half was just rubbish and I was glad that our J1 fate didn't come down to this match.

After Kashiwagi's goal in the 53min, we did begin to show some composure and in my biased opinion was in a position to equalise. That was until a blunder by Kato in the 76min. Kato has been solid this year and I hope that this doesn't dent his confidence, but his mistake would have been unforgivable if we were relegated because of it.

On another note, I still don't get why Hori still continues with Tsuboi at the back, especially when we have both Hamada and Spiranovic on the bench. I know that I might be sounding like a broken record, but seriously, who else would start Tsuboi ahead of Spiranovic and Hamada? Tsuboi 5 years ago yes, but Tsuboi now? What was the strength of our 2011 squad, our defence, changes dramatically with Tsuboi inserted there. Ok some of you might think I'm a bit harsh on Tsuboi, considering his service with the Reds. But it was a few years ago when Tsuboi "held out" for a bigger contract, was when his performance also dipped, and since then I haven't looked so favourably on  him.

You'd also notice below with our line-up, no forwards? Figure that one out, this is how we lined up against the 2011 J1 Champions

GK: Kato
DF: Hirakawa, Tsuboi, Nagata, Noda
MF: Keita, Umesaki, Richardes, Kashiwagi, Haraguchi, Naoki
FW: ---

Subs
HT Naoki > Hara
67min Umesaki > Mazola
81min Keita > Hamada

Our J1 campaign might be over, but the 2011 season isn't entirely over. We still have the Emperors' Cup, where we face Ehime FC on December 17th. Are we abt hope of winning the 2011 Emperors' Cup? Anything is possible right? WE ARE REDS

Is it safe to say we are safe?

We won a game when it counted, something we haven't done in what feels like a long time and depending on Kofu's result tomorrow against Niigata, it's safe to say that we'll be playing J1 in 2012. Kofu needs two big wins in their final two games to have any chance of J1 survival and all we need is a draw next week against Kashiwa (that's if Kofu wins tomorrow)  to confirm our J1 status. So yes, it is safe to say we are safe, but stranger things have happened before in the J-League, so "I wont count my chickens before they hatch".

What I can count on is our 2-1 win away at Fukuoka, that three points is in the bag and accounted for. Even though Fukuoka is battling Yamagata to avoid the wooden spoon this year (yes only 2 places below us) and that we have defeated them once already this year, at no point before the final whistle I felt "the three points was in the bag". If I was asked at the beginning of this year the result of this game, I wouldn't have hesitated in saying "an easy win", but how things have changed.

I don't really want to mention much about the game, as the thing that matters the most at the end of the day is the result. Our goals came from Kashiwagi and a penalty from Richardes.

The one thing about the game I do want to mention; why is Tsuboi playing with Spiranovic sitting on the bench again? I just don't get it. Whether we are playing for the future, for the now or anything for that matter how is Tsuboi ahead of Spiranovic? I can't (or don't want to) see Spiranovic going to Europe next year, and don't want to see him playing for another J-League side. The Spiranovic-Nagata combination has been solid this year, despite our struggles up front, so why change now?

This is how we line up:
GK: Kato
DF: Hirakawa, Tsuboi, Nagata, Noda
MF: Keita, Umesaki, Richardes, Kashiwagi, Haraguchi
FW: Sergio

Subs
28min Sergio > Tanaka
86min Tanaka > Hara
90min Kashiwagi > Nobu Yamada

I think it's safe to say that there was collective sigh of relief from the Red fans. Our final match next week is at home against Kashiwa. Now the question is can we play spoiler?

All that matters now

Right now to me all that matters is for the Reds to stay in the J1 in 2012. You know what I don't care how we do it! (Legally of cause...) This past weekend I must admit, I was cheering for the team in blue to defeat Kofu. No I'm not proud of it, but right now I must do what I need to do. Even if that means cheering for the team that defeated us 3-0 in our last league game over three weeks ago. Desperate times calls for desperate measures I guess.

The only other game that I was paying extra close attention to over the weekend was our own match against Sendai. The ideal result would have been a win, which would have almost certainly "secured" our J1 status for next year. But "WE ARE REDS" and we don't make things easy do we? The final result against Sendai was a nil-all draw, so couple that with Kofu's lost, it places us 3 points above the drop zone with two games left as well as a superior goal difference. It should be enough, but if any team can screw this up, yep that would be us. Sorry for any new Urawa Red Diamond fans out there, but that is the honest truth!

The match against Sendai was a scrappy affair, partly due to the rain which was bucketing down. Again though, like throughout 2011 it has been our ability to score goals that let us down. Things just aren't clicking on all cylinders. I wish I can say that things have improved enough during Hori's reign, but things just don't seem to come together in our attack. It just seems as though no ones on the same page. The thing that is hurting us the most though is our ability to score goals, more specifically we lack a striker who can score goals (I think you all should know this by now...)

The defence on the other hand has been solid 2011 and was solid against Sendai, but why is Tsuboi playing ahead of Spiranovic? Yes Tsuboi had a good outing for the Reds, but is the writing on the wall for Spiranovic or does he have ambitions to return to Europe during the January transfer window? Being an Aussie Red's fan, I do hope he stays, but for him to maintain his place in the Soccerroos' squad he would need playing time.

This is how we lined up against Sendai

GK: Kato

DF: Hirakawa, Nagata, Tsuboi, Noda

MF: Keita, Umesaki, Richardes, Kashiwagi, Haraguchi
FW: Sergio

Subs

73min Sergio > Tanaka

86min Umesaki > Hara

Onto the other game we had this past week, we did defeat Tokyo Verdy to advance in the Emperors' cup. Besides our J1 survival, I think winning the Emperors' Cup should be our focus for the remainder on this campaign. J2 side Ehime FC is who we will face in the 4th round of the Emperors' cup, so I'm fairly confident we can progress even though yes I know that a few years ago they knocked us out of the Emperors' Cup. Hopefully history doesn't repeat itself!

In our last two league games we play the bottom side Fukuoka away followed our showdown @ Saitama against Kashiwa; where they are fighting for the title and we are fighting for our J1 status. If you didn't know, you would have thought it was us in the J2 last season!

WE ARE REDS!

Thank you Yokohama F.M

So we didn't win the league cup (Nabisco Cup) - losing 1-0 in extra time to Kashima, but to me that really didn't matter. It would have been great to win a trophy, but I am almost certain that with our current form, winning it would have doomed our 2012 season (that's to say that we survive this year). But in season 2011, another round of games have past and we're still above the drop zone. That I can be relieved about but what frustrates me is the 3-0 defeat to Jubilo Iwata. If it wasn't for Yokohama F.M coming back to defeat Kofu, it would have been the relegation zone for us this week.

I don't know what it is, we just did not show any heart out there. What makes things worst is that our defence which had been our "strength" this year conceded 3 goals and looked very fragile. Don't know why Spiranovic didn't play again. Hamada has been good in Spiranovic's place but the Spiranovic-Nagata combination at the back has been solid all year. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Only think that I can think of is that Spiranovic is leaving next year, which I hope for a Reds point of view isn't the case.

Our midfield against Iwata consisted of Kojima, Umesaki, Kashiwagi, Takasaki and Haraguchi; all of whom are young and ironically what was lacking the most out there tonight was a bit of experience. Something someone like Keita brings to the team, even though yes I know he hasn't been playing well this season. I would like to see how Aoyama goes in Kieta's position but again he does lack J-1 experience.

One thing that has been holding us back this year has been up front, our strikers (or lack there of). Since Edmilson's departure mid-season, there hasn't really been any options for us at striker (not that Eji was playing well when he left). Big hopes were placed on Ranko, but he isn't the answer. Takasaki and Sergio play well up front on occasions, but they aren't really the solution. Is Genki an option, maybe but he really isn't the "target-man" we need up front. If only we had better options up front, this season could have been different. I think that's a fair statement don't you?

Either way, this is how we lined up against Iwata

GK: Kato
DF: Nobu Yamada, Hamada, Nagata, Hirakawa
MF: Kojima, Umesaki, Takahashi, Kashiwagi, Haraguchi
FW: Sergio

Subs
57min No Yamada > Noda
66min Segio > Ranko
77min Takahashi > Mazola

Our last three games look like this; Sendai (H), Fukuoka (A) and Kashiwa (H). I'd rather stay up due to our winnings rather then Kofu losses, but as long as we stay up, at the end of the day it doesn't matter. What I hope to see is a win and 2 draws from our last 3 games, is that asking for too much?

The Saitama Derby that doesn't count

We tend to win the games that don't count for much. We're in the finals of the Nabisco cup, but we can't win our J-League game and find ourseleves fighting against relegation.

Now we have another Saitama Derby, this time it's only a training match and would you believe it the result is in our favour. The time when it doesn't count we win and the man who can't score in J-1 scores the only goal of the match. Ranko has been our consistant goal scorer in the Nabisco Cup but he struggles in league matches.

At the end of the day, yes the result doesn't matter (even though it's good to win), but it was good to see our fringe players play well. Hopefully some of these players will show their worth to team manager Hori.

This was the starting XI.

GK: Yamagishi
DF: Takahashi, Tsuboi, Spiranovic, Okamoto
MF: Kojima, Hara, Aoyama, Takasaki, Mazola
FW: Ranko

Fortnight of lows and highs

First up, apologies for my lack of updates; work has taken too much of my time and I think will continue to do so. I will do my best to blog here and an share my views. 

Secondly; what a fortnight it has been for the Reds. Started with a defeat in the Saitama derby which placed us in the bottom three (with only 5 games remaining), Petrovic announced after the game that he will not be managing the Reds next year but will fight to save the Reds from relegation. On Thursday it was announced that Petrovic along with first team coach Adrie Boger has been fired. Youth team manager Takafuni Hori will replace Petrovic as the team manager and youth team coach Amano Kenichi will be the first team coach until the end of the season (at least). This past Saturday Saturday, for the first time this year, we came from behind to defeat Yokohama F. Marinos (a team we haven't defeated in a while) 2-1. Finally Shimizu defeated Kofu on Sunday, which meant we are out of the "drop-zone" for at least this week. 

Am I happy to see Petrovic go? If it translate to wins, then yes. I felt as though we had lost our confidence over the past couple of weeks and all the signs were pointing to relegation. Our game against the Marinos didn't start off well and we even failed to convert a penalty. I was getting worried and it took two players who has been performing for us recently to give us the victory. Haraguchi was quickest to react after the missed penalty and Umesaki got the winning goal.

The thing that grabbed my attention the most though was the all-Japanese starting XI, something the Reds haven't done in a while. No Brazilians in the starting XI? There was Mazola on the bench but he didn't come on. The other international player in the squad who remained on the bench was Spiranovic.

This was the second J-1 match in a row that Spiranovic remained on the bench. He didn't see any action last week in the Saitama Derby (he just returned from Soccerroo duty) and again this week Hamada remained in the starting XI. Could this be a sign for what manager Hori has planned for next year? Spiranovic has been one of our consistent players this year and has formed a solid combination with Nagata in the heart of our defence. But if Spiranovic does leave the Reds, Hamada has played well this past fortnight in Spiranovic's place (I hope Spiranovic doesn't leave though). 

This is how we lined up against the F. Marinos.

GK: Kato

DF: Hirakawa; Hamada Nagata; Ugajin

MF: Keita, Umesaki, Naoki, Kashiwagi, Haraguchi

FW: Sergio

Subs

67min Ugajin > Takasaki

80min Umesaki > Takahashi

89min Sergio > Tsuboi

This weekend we play Kashima in the finals of the Nabisco Cup; where hopefully we will win ourselves a title. WE ARE REDS!

Can we win it all?

I know we're only talking about the Nabisco Cup here, I know in recent times it has been the "kiss of death" in terms of relegation and I know I've said that it's something we shouldn't be setting out sights on; but we need to win something. After defeating Gamba Osaka 2-1 against in the semi's, we're now only a win away from winning it and you never know, the confidence we gain by winning the league cup might translate to an improvement in our league performance?

One player playing well and making the most of his cup appearances is Umesaki, who scored the opening goal and "setup" the second (the second goal was an Umesaki shot which deflected of Sergio and was awarded to Sergio). When Umesaki was brought in from Oita at the end of 2007, many people predicted a bright future. But since then lack of playing time (particularly in 2008) and injuries over the last few years have derailed his progress.

Now though, it appears that his injury issues are behind him and has made the most of his opportunities. His opportunity in the Nabisco Cup is due to Genki away on international duty with the Blue Samurai, but I can envision Umesaki playing opposite Genki on the right flank.

Hamada had another solid outing playing in place of Spiranovic, which hopefully confirms his role as back-up to Spiranovic/Nagata at centre back, in turn hopefully it means seeing no more Nobu Yamada and Tsuboi in the heart of our defence.

This is how we lined up against Gamba.

GK: Kato
DF: Ugajin; Hamada; Nagata; Noda
MF: Keita; Kashiwagi; Umesaki; Richardes
FW: Sergio; Ranko

Subs
72min Kashiwagi > Kojima
82min Ranko > Takasaki
90min Keita > Nobu Yamada

Looking forward to the Nabisco Cup final against Kashima Antlers, which will be played at the National Stadium on the 10/29. Up next we play Miyazaki Sangyo-Keiei University on Wednesday in the Emperors Cup before we return to J-1 action against Omiya on Saturday.

ALL COME TOGETHER

 

The Osaka Fling.

Two matches, two competitions, two different results and I would have preferred if the results was the other way around. First match was on Sunday against Gamba Osaka, a J1 match, which we lost 1-0. What this means is that we are currently only 2 points above the drop zone and our chances of relegation is still very high. Not a comfortable position to be in, particularly if you are team manager Petrovic. I my pre-season expectation of a top-3 finish was extremely optimistic, but our current position is unacceptable.

We have the players there to be at the very least a mid-table club this season, but it seems that Petrovic just can't gel the team together. If it hadn't been for Genki, this season would already be gone for us. Petrovic has to go, he hasn't had the desired impact on the team; our attack seems to be disjointed at times and nothing just seems to be clicking together. This year could be the "changing of the guards", where its time to say good-bye to players like Nobu Yamada and Tsuboi and usher in the next generation.

So basically we're in survival mode in the J1, as long as we don't get relegated, it doesn't really matter where we finish this year. So our focus should be on winning at least one of the cups; the Emperors Cup would be preferable, but a league cup (Nabisco Cup) would be ok as well, which is where we did defeat Cerezo Osaka on Wednesday 2-1 to advance to the semi finals.

In the Cerezo game, Umesaki played a good game against, a full 90mins at that and our "cup specialist" Ranko scored again, this time the winner in the 83min. If only Ranko can transfer his goal scoring abilities to the J1. What fascinated me the most was seeing Hamada start in the place of Spiranovic (who's away on international duties) along side Nagata; and in my opinion he did a decent job. A good enough job to no longer see Nobu Yamada and Tsuboi in that position? I think so.

This is how we lined up

Vs Gamba

GK: Kato

DF: Ugajin, Spiranovic, Nagata, Noda

MF: Kojima, Kashiwagi, Naoki

FW: Richardes, Haraguchi, Ranko

Subs:

HT Noda > Yamada (Nobu)

64min Kojima > Umesaki

76min Ranko > Hara

Vs Cerezo

GK: Kato

DF: Ugajin, Hamada, Nagata, Noda

MF: Keita, Kashiwagi, Umesaki, Naoki

FW: Sergio, Ranko

Subs:

78min Kashiwagi > Kojima

84min Ranko > Takasaki

90min Naoki > Aoyama

Up next our Osaka fling continues, as we take on Gamba Osaka in the semi finals of the Nabisco Cup, but this time it will be in our backyard. Our internationals (Spiranovic & Genki) are still away on national team duties. WE ARE REDS!

Winner!!!

This year we haven't won games that many games, so when we do we can't take it for granted, because in all honesty we don't know when the next one will come. I'm hoping for it to come this weekend against Gamba, but realistically I don't know. It's not a good feeling as a supporter not being able to come in to a match with a winning expectation, it's depressing actually, but that's for another time an place. This blog is all about our victory on Wednesday.

What makes the victory all that much more sweeter, was that it was a "derby" game, which resulted in our neighbours being eliminated. Yes I know it's only the Nabisco cup and I have previously mentioned that winning the Nabisco Cup would spell relegation (as was the fate of Oita and FC Tokyo). But lets see it from a Reds perspective, after the last time we won the League Cup in 2003, resulted in an Emperor's Cup in 2005, the League and Emperor's Cup in 2006 and the ACL in 2007. Not too bad right? I'd be happy with that.

I'd also be happy to see Umesaki finally playing to his potential (as in not being injured); seeing him upfront playing opposite Genki gives us a more dangerous look. Another thing I'd be happy to see is more goals from Ranko. He hasn't started well for the Reds and I know people are already beginning to question him. As for me, I haven't really made up my mind yet; but if he can continue to score goals, like the two he scored against Omiya, then why not? We haven't had a "reliable" target man upfront since Washington. Yes Eji did his best, but he was no Washington. So hopefully Ranko can be just that for the Reds, he has the size, now he just needs to perform week in week out.

Two players I don't like to see week in week out would be Tsuboi and Nobu Yamada; Tsuboi came on at half time for Nagata whilst Nobu started at right back. I don't mind seeing them on spot duty and to be honest with you it was good seeing them play but they aren't what they use to be (Nobu wasn't really a defender to start off with). Is it coincidence that Urawa conceded a goal whilst both of them was on the field? (I know I'm looking too deeply into it.)

At the end of the day, we won 2-1 (4-1 agg) and we're through to the quarter finals of the Nabisco Cup to face Cerezo Osaka. So up next we play Gamba this Sunday (J1) and Cerezo on Wednesday; a week in Osaka for the Reds.

This is how we lined up against Omiya

GK: Yamagishi
DF: Yamada (No); Spiranovic; Nagata; Noda
MF: Keita; Naoki; Richardes
FW: Umesaki; Haraguchi; Ranko

Subs
29min Haraguchi > Mazola
HT Nagata > Tsuboi

61min Ranko > Sergio

Not an easy month to be red

Well I'm back! Been on holidays, got married and now back to the swing of "normal" life! Works been heavy though since I've come back (hence the lack of blogging), but I know you all don't read this blog to know about my life. So with life permitting, normal URDblog blogging will resume. I will finish off my look into the Reds squad and blog after each match (starting this Wednesday against Omiya in the Nabisco Cup). But as for now...

So how about those Reds aye?

Things just haven't gone our way, in this past month (since 8/24) we have lost three, drew two and won our only game in the Nabisco Cup. So basically should we put all of our eggs in the Nabisco Cup basket? Yes we haven't won a trophy for half a decade now, but I don't think winning the Nabisco Cup is a good thing. Look at Oita and Tokyo FC, winners of the League Cup in 2008 & 2009, where are they now? Yes I know Iwata looks to be bucking the trend, but with the way we're going, I wouldn't chance it. Mind you we might even get relegated without winning anything! Currently we sit only two points above the drop zone!

So how has our season ended like this? I don't really want to open a Pandora's box so I wont start. All I can say is after we get through this "rough spell" we all will know who the true supporters really are!

To finish off for now, I want to say... WE ARE REDS!

Looking forward - The Potentials

A few weeks ago I was frustrated when all we got were draws, now I question if they were that bad at all. I guess we can't be satisfied all the time right? There will always be something that comes in the way of our satisfaction. 

The last two games have brought upon mixed results, a scrappy win against Niigata and a sloppy performance against Kofu which resulted in defeat. The defence has been poor; Spiranovic and Nagata hasn't been as solid as they've been in previous weeks and the attack has been not consistent. Just when it appears to be heading in the right direction, this happens.

So what's wrong with the Reds? The past couple of years it seems as though we can't deliver on our potential and ultimately not able to deliver the desired results. Has the Reds really changed from the past couple of years, because it sure does feel as though history continues to repeat itself with the win now mentality and not developing our youngsters.

Since winning the J-1 title in 2006 and ACL in 2007, it has never been the same. I thought winning these titles along with the 2006 & 2005 Emperor's Cup, we could be in for a good couple of years, but it hasn't. It's been disappointment after disappointment and the frustration continues to grow.

We have brought in players which fits in to the "win now" mould, rather then developing the team and giving the youngsters a chance. Players like Umesaki and Sergio wasted their talents & potential on the bench during which we brought back Takahara from Europe who failed to deliver the goals. I know I'm using Takahara as the scape goat here, but I think we have been too loyal to our under performing "stars", even though they aren't getting the job done.

Players like Ponte, Tsuboi and Nobu Yamada played an important part in our success mentioned above, but they continued to play even though they were no longer effective and held back the development of the young guys.

As I had mentioned previously, season 2010 in terms of the J-1 is over. It's time to rebuild and turn the focus on 2011 which ultimately means blood the young players. There would be alot of growing pains, but with the ways things are going at the moment and our performance over the last couple of years, I think it's time to look towards the future. We can't continue to bring in players, we need to develop the talent we have.

I'd like to break-down the squad into different groups, focusing on where different players stand in the squad moving forward. Firstly there's the potentials, these guys are the younger players in the squads, in American sports they might be referred to as the rookies. Some have been given their opportunities, whilst others haven't. Secondly there's the "tweeners"; the ones "stuck in between", they've been in the squad for a few years but isn't a constant fixture in the starting XI yet. For these guys it's either now, or it's time to look for greener pastures.

Then there are the veterans. These guys have been in the league for at least several years and in simpler terms are regularly in the starting XI and still performing. Finally there's the "has beens"; these are the guys who are past their prime and not performing. They could be in the squad and playing because of what they did several years ago.

Over the next couple of weeks instead of doing a weekly match report I plan on breaking down the squad and focusing on 2012. Time permitting I will continue to do a weekly updates as well, but with work and other personal commitments, we'll see...

The following is the list of the potentials:

Genki Haraguchi (FW) - I think we all know what Genki can do. Since making it to the senior squad in 2009, Genki has continued to develop his game. In 2011 he has really been the x-factor for the Reds; having the ability to both score and set up goals.

Naoki Yamada (MF) - Naoki's potential is there and if it wasn't for his injuries, think of what could have been. Now fully recovered, Naoki is showing his promise in 2011. Playing a major role in Japan's U23 victory over Egypt in a recent friendly.

Shunki Takahashi (MF/DF) - The winger has been converted into a fullback and in 2011 has been in the starting XI in almost every game. His performance has been consistent; an asset in attack even though his defensive game is still developing.

Shuto Kojima (MF) - Only joined the senior squad in 2011. So far he has been given limited opportunities, only one game so far this season, but had a good one game. Has represented Japan in the U23 & U19 previously. One to look out for in the next couple of years!

Takuya Okamoto (DF) - Made a total of 12 appearances for the senior squad in 2010 (9 league & 3 cups) but still yet to make an appearance in 2011. Would have thought he'd be loaned out this year to a J-2 or even JFL team to further his development, rather then play only in practice matches.

Mizuki Hamada (DF) - Since joining the senior squad in 2009; Hamada has only appeared 12 times for the Reds. However Hamada has represented Japans U23 squad 8 times in 2011 and even managing to score a goal. What I don't get is when we lacked size last year, why he didn't get more of a run? Has got to be a better option then Tsuboi or Nobu Yamada.

Frustrating performance

Just as we thought we're heading in the right direction, this happens. Is it such a surprise? Kobe has been our bogey side; a team we can't figure out how to defeat so it seems. Actually this time we couldn't even hold on for the draw, which has been something we excelled in this year.

We came back in the second half, from 2-0 down to be level 2-2; only to be defeated in the 4min of injury time, the last kick of the game. What could have been? If only... Those are the kind of words that swirls in my head right now. So many time this year we've been on the wrong end of a decisive last kick recently; we could have won the Iwata game a few weeks back if it wasn't for the last kick penalty.

The team as a whole for the Kobe game could have played better, there was just something missing at the important times, that winning mentality and in the end we were left with wanting more again.

This is how we lined up.

GK: Kato
DF: Takahashi; Spiranovic; Nagata; Hirakawa
MF: Keita; Kashiwagi; Richardes
FW: Naoki; Haraguchi; Ranko

Subs
HT Naoki > Mazola
HT Keita > Tatsuya
86min Ranko > Takasaki

Overall I think I know now the 2011 J-1 season is basically over for Urawa. There isn't anything to play for; a top 3 position is well beyond our reach. Yes I know it's hard to accept and I do hope that I'm proven wrong, but now I think there should be two focus for the remainder of 2011. Firstly is not to get relegated; it's scary that we're closer to the bottom three then the top three, but I don't think this should be too hard. A top 10 finish is what I would expect as a minimum.

The second thing I believe we need to focus on is building for the future. It seems to be something we should have been doing for a while, but just haven't done so. Lets hope it starts in 2011; because we have a lot of solid youngsters who deserves a run and a few of the old heads who are past their time.

Could it be!?

Two victories in one week; could it be too early to get excited? Surely the way things have been travelling in 2011 it couldn't be too early. In the Nabisco Cup we have advance into the second round and in the J-1 we've "climbed" back to 10th on the table, we have won as many games as we've lost and it's just the draws that have killed us this year; which is hopefully behind us now. If it wasn't for the last second penalty against Iwata, we would be on a 4 game winning streak in the J-1; we're undefeated in 8 J-1 matches.

One player who can be attributed to the "turn around" as such would be Kashiwagi. Until a few weeks ago Kashiwagi's play has been average at best and that would still be generous. It got up to the point where Petrovic benched him and played him in a training match. I think from that point on Kashiwagi's form has been on the up; scoring goals as well as setting up goals. I know I have mentioned this previously, but I'll mention it again, Kashiwagi's combination with Genki on the left has been the x-factor for the Reds. Insert a healthy Naoki in there, an improved Richardes, Ranko up front we still have Mazola and Sergio coming off the bench, it should be a potent attack.

This weeks two also proves that the Reds can win by one goal. The 2-1 result in the Nabisco Cup match against Yamagata and especially the 1-0 victory over Kawasaki in the JLeague shows that we can hang on to the victory and not come away with a draw; which has been the story of 2011.

One player who kept the victory alive against Kawasaki would be Kato; he has been impressive since taking over from Yamagishi. I can eat my own words when I said that we had no other J-1 ready keeper behind Yamagishi. Kato is J-1 ready.

The one negative I want to bring up in the Kawasaki game is our inability to score a goal. Kawasaki aren't known for their defense, with the only goal coming from an own goal, our offense is still a work in progress. There has been improvements though, but I'd say give it a few more matches. Our defense though has been solid and keeping an "offensive" team like Kawasaki scoreless is a good sign (even with Nobu Yamada on the field for the last 15min). At the end of the day I'm just happy we came away with the three points; and 6 points for the year, against Kawasaki.

This is how we lined up against Kawasaki

GK: Kato

DF: Takasaki; Spiranovic; Nagata; Hirakawa

MF: Keita; Naoki; Kashiwagi

FW: Richardes; Haraguchi; Ranko

Subs

65min Naoki > Tanaka

75min Keita > No Yamada

89min Haraguchi > Sergio

I'll mention this here at the end; Urawa were defeated 1-6 against Omiya in a training match. Up next we have Kobe on Saturday, were we hopefully can avenge our opening round lost to them.

Things could be changing

In all honesty, with the way 2011 is going, who expected a draw against Kofu? Then after Kato was given a red card in the 12min, I thought that it was going to be a very long night for the Reds. A victory with one man down is never easy; so coming away with a 2-0 victory over Kofu is a good result for the Reds.

After Hirakawa opened the scoring in the 53min, I was bracing myself for another disappointment, but after the second goal from Kashiwagi in the 73min, it felt alot more secure. Looking at all of our victories in 2011 (yes all four of them), when we win the margin is always greater then two goals. When the we have been ahead one-nil in 2011, there's always at least one more goal to come. Seeing a Kofu goal tonight would have been to painful after what happened last week at Iwata.

In the first half we did well to hang-on and not conceed a goal. Kato's red card was harsh in my eyes, though yes he did put himself in that position and that's all I will say on that. Yamagishi was solid in Kato's place, but I don't know if Yamagishi has done enough yet against Kofu to be the number one again. Sergio was the unlucky one to be subbed off, but I'm sure he'd get another chance.

On other personal front; Ranko made his first start for the Reds and found the back of the net in the early going; it would have been a good goal too if he wasn't offside. I do like what I've seen so far with Ranko; he isn't a 'lazy' forward and has a good engine. He just needs a few more games to gel with the rest of the team. Two players who are beginning to play well together is Genki and Kashiwagi. They are forming a potent partnership on the left side of the field; both of the goals tonight came from the left and both Genki and Kashiwagi played a part in the goals.

This is how we lined up against Kofu

GK: Kato

DF: Takahashi; Spiranovic; Nagata; Hirakawa

MF: Keita; Kashiwagi; Sergio

FW: Richardes; Haraguchi; Ranko

Subs

13min Sergio > Yamagishi

66min Ranko > Takasaki

83min Richardes > Naoki

Overall Urawa has played well over the summer, and hopefully with a few results going our way, things could be looking better for the second half of the year. Up next we got Kawasaki next weekend, a team we defeated 2-0 just three weeks ago.

Is it a surprise; another draw

Is it any surprise that it ended in a draw? Was it to much to hang on for one more minute? I really wanted to write about a winning streak of two in a row, but unfortunately it's going to be the same theme for 2011. Another one that got away. This game against Iwata was a game we should have won and the culprit for the lost isn't the usual suspect of Nobuhisa Yamada. It was Spiranovic giving away a penalty in the 3min of injury time. 

I have to admit, I am biased towards Spiranovic. Even if it was the right call I would validate why it wasn't, so I'm not going to go down that path. I just hope Petrovic doesn't do anything crazy like starting Tsuboi or Nobuhisa alongside Nagata because Spira gave away the penalty. The back two of Spiranovic and Nagata has been solid for us and have kept us in a lot of games this year. 

What put a smile on my face during this match was seeing Kashiwagi opening the scoring in the 29min. Kashiwagi's 2011 form hasn't been all that great, even being dropped from the starting XI for several games, but the past few weeks we've seen glimpse's of what we'd expect and hopefully this goal would be a boost for his confidence. 

Ranko made his Reds début tonight, coming on in the 65min. He played a solid game, came close to a goal late in the game, only to have the post deny him. I can't say yet whether or not he is our answer upfront, but for 2011 he would have to be. 

This is how we lined up

GK: Kato

DF: Takahashi; Spiranoivc; Nagata; Hirakawa
MF: Keita; Kashiwagi; Richardes
FW: Sergio; Haraguchi; Takasaki

Subs
65min Takasaki > Ranko
68min Haraguchi > Tatsuya
83min Sergio > No. Yamada

So half way through the season (17 games) we are sitting on 18 points, which basically means we have drawn all our matches. Up next we play Kofu on Saturday, a game we'd expect to win, but another stalemate is always a possibility for us in 2011. 

False hope or truly something good?

Winning a game feels oh so good; for me it gives me that buzz and excitement. Unfortunately this year the empty feeling of a draw has come to often but it could be worst right? So what does this win really mean this time? So far this season we haven't won any games in a row. Our first win was followed by a three game losing streak, our second win was followed by three draws and now can you see a pattern? Could it be? Am I building up this hope of the start of something special or is it just false hope? 

The question could be are our next 3 games winnable? Iwata, Kofu and Kawasaki again; I think so but then again what would I know right? Either way I think the focus has to be one game at a time and for the moment we need to enjoy this victory. For me what makes this victory that little bit more sweeter; my fiancé is a Kawasaki fan (technically my bragging right could only be for a month). 

Our performance against Kawasaki was again a tale of two halves, basically like it has been most of the year. The first half we were blunt and not really doing much in terms of potentially scoring goals.The main culprit, Takasaki who plays well off the bench, but to me isn't consistant enough to make a lasting impact. I'm both excited and nervous for Ranko to have his first run with the Reds. 

The second half though was when it all clicked together; it started with the injection of Naoki off the bench and Genki's brilliance got us on the board and in the lead in the 57min. For what ever reason it just clicked in the second half. Nobuhisa not moving from the bench could be a start.

This is how we lined up against Kawasaki

GK: Kato

DF: Takahashi; Spiranovic; Nagata; Hirakawa
MF: Keita; Kashiwagi; Richardes
FW: Haraguchi; Takasaki; Tatsuya

Subs:
55min Richardes > Naoki
71min Tanaka > Sergio
78min Takasaki > Mazola

We play away at Iwata this Sunday and only a win will do. Now is that false hope or faith?

We need that double you!

I just don't know how or or when, but I do know it needs to come soon. This current habit needs to end, it can't continue or else it would become a disaster. I don't think it matters which team we play, or where they are on the ladder, the result seems to be the same. Draw after draw after draw; the cycle just seems to continue. Then comes a lost, then the win, then the draw cycle starts again and continues.

The cycle also continues with my rants as to why we can't win. Nobuhisa Yamada. Why can't we score a goal when it counts; actually why can't we score a winning goal. We seem to be able to manage an equaliser, but when it comes to the winner, it just doesn't come. Nobuhisa Yamada. We just can't create in the midfield and at the front there's no one there to convert. Tatsuya and Hara just doesn't cut it. I'd rather have Takasaki up front along with Mazola up front. Then we also have Ranko, but to be honest it starts in the midfield. 

Removing Nobuhisa Yamada from the midfield is a start. We need more creativity in the middle and having Keita and Nobu just isn't enough. Naoki needs to be there, then we can have Kashiwagi, Kojima, Umesaki amongst others who should be there instead of Nobuhisa. I feel like I'm repeating myself over and over with the hope that Petrovic catches on with what I think every Red fans want. I just hope it happens sooner rather then later, before it's too late. 

This is how we lined up against Yamagata.

GK: Kato

DF: Takahashi; Spiranovic; Nagata; Hirakawa
MF: Keita; No Yamada; Haraguchi; Naoki
FW: Hara; Tatsuya

Subs
HT Hara > Takasaki
73min Tatsuya > Mazola
88min Naoki > Umesaki

By the way, the final result against Yamagata was a nil-all draw. Up next it doesn't come easier, with Kawasaki next Wednesday. Should be interesting in this household...