It all begins with a training match

The Reds have participated in a training match against Kanoya Taiiku University. To be honest the final scoreline isn't what's important here, even though I would expect a scoreline in our favour, but rather allowing the players to connect the dots. With a new coach and new players these matches are important allowing the players to gel and become accustomed to coach Petrovic calling the shots from the sideline.

The final result was a convincing 7-1 victory with Takasaki bagging 4 goals (49, 51, 57, 76min). The other goal went to Tsuboi (23min), Tatsuya (43min) and Naoki (85min). It is always interesting in training matches to see who the coaches uses as it already gives us an idea of who they think are the first XI, though like mentioned before, we do have several players away on international duties.

This is how the Reds lined up;

First Half:
GK: Yamagishi
DF: Hirakawa; Nobuhisa, Tsuboi; Ugajin
MF: Keita; Aoyama; Tatsuya; Richardes; Genki
FW: Edmilson

Second Half
GK: Kato
DF: Takahashi; Hamada; Tsutsumi; Noda
MF: Okamoto; Kojima; Sergio; Naoki; Hara
FW: Takasaki

Playing for points or style?

Fascinating football was what coach Finke wanted from the Reds but ultimately the style of football deployed was only good enough for a mid-table finish. The goal was always to play in away that would attract the general population to watch the game which resulted in the 3 points at the end of the day. It doesn't always happen that way. So the question remains, do the Reds play for style or points?

In an ideal world beautiful football should result in victory, but in reality it doesn't always happen that way. Last year the Reds dominated possession, was able to string passes together, but just wasn't able to find the back of the net, while a lapse in concentration allowed the opposition to score. Too often this lapse in concentration happened late in the game, which resulted in losing valuable points. So what should we expect from the Reds this year?

In a recent interview Petrovic stated that he envisions the Reds to play football which is deserving of its big name in Asia as one of the top Asian soccer clubs. Petrovic also says " I would like to show aggressive soccer where our players take the ball from their opponents by pressing them from the front.... I believe that there will be 50,000 or more fans and supporters in the stadium... It is important for them to be able to enjoy the soccer we play" (Interview taken from here)

So what does this all mean on the football pitch? In due time we will find out, but until then I could only wish for the Reds to play a beautiful brand of football that brings us the J-League title. That isn't too much to ask is it?

Miyazaki training camp begins

So piece by piece the 2011 season is slowly getting under way. The entire Reds' squad have relocated to Miyazaki for a week, minus only Spiranovic, Nagata and Kashiwagi who are all in Qatar representing their respective countries at the AFC Championship. As the training begins it will be interesting to see how Petrovic's Reds take shape.

Numbering up - The 2011 Squad numbers

So it's slowly all coming together; the new players have been introduced, 2011 jersey has been unveiled and now the 2011 squad numbers has been released. The good news is now I can pick who's squad number I want, the bad news is I don't know who's number I will pick. Well in due time I will my my choice, but until then this is how the squad will number up.

1. GK Norihiro YAMAGISHI
2. DF Keisuke TSUBOI
3. MF Tomoya UGAJIN
4. DF Matthew SPIRANOVIC
5. MF Shunki TAKAHASHI
6. DF Nobuhisa YAMADA
7. MF Tsukasa UMESAKI
8. MF Yosuke KASHIWAGI
9. FW EDMILSON Dos Santos Silva
10. MF. Marcio RICHARDES
11. FW Tatsuya TANAKA
12. DF Koji NODA
13. MF Keita SUZUKI
14. MF Tadaaki HIRAKAWA
15. FW Sergio ESCUDERO
16. FW Hiroyuki TAKASAKI
17. DF Mitsuru NAGATA
18. GK Nobuhiro KATO
19. DF Shunsuke TSUTSUMI
20. DF Satoshi HORINOUCHI
21. FW Kazuki HARA
22. MF Naoki YAMADA
23. MF Jun AOYAMA
24. FW Genki HARAGUCHI
25. GK Koki OTANI
26. DF Mizuki HAMADA
27. MF Shuto KOJIMA
28. DF Takuya OKAMOTO
29. FW Marcelino Junior Lopes Arruda "MAZOLA"
30 GK Ryota MIKAMI
31 FW Ranko DESPOTOVIC

Team Manager: Zeljko PETROVIC
Head Coach: Adrie BOGERS
Coach: Osamu HIROSE
GK Coach: Hisashi TSUCHIDA
Asst. Coach: Hiroaki NAGAMINE

A few interesting squad number changes this year, but I think the biggest change would be assigning Edmilson Urawa's #9 Jersey. Eji is the only third player to wear the number 9 for the Reds', which puts him in an exclusive group of players. Always thought that the 9 jersey was reserved for an Urawa junior, so it would have been good to see Haraguchi or Escudero in the number 9, but saying that it doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve the 9 jersey. Another noticeable squad number change is Naoki Yamada taking Yuki Abe's 22 jersey. As for the new signees Richardes has taken the 10, Nagata has Eji's old number 17, Hara has 21, Aoyama has 23 and Kojima has 27.

My new red shirt - 2011 Urawa Reds Jersey

This day is one of the days of the year I look forward to every year, each time I wait in anticipation. Of cause this doesn't happen every year, but for the past few years it has. So as the season draws closer, the anticipation grows and the day has arrived! The Reds' has unveiled jersey for the 2011 season.

Every year I worry how it would turn out; to be honest if it is bad or good I will more then likely end up buying it anyways. For the past few years, in my very bias opinion looking through a "red coloured glasses" I've liked what Nike has come up with. I do like what Nike has come up with in 2011, it has that "retro" look (if you can call late ninties retro; maybe throwback?). If you look closely Nike has kept the diamond pattern (watermark if you like) on the jersey, and the addition of the black collar is something I'm particularly happy with (not a fan of white collars gets dirty to easily).

Unfortunatley the Reds' haven't followed the lead of other teams and remains with a white away jersey, but I must admit that it has the classic feel of it. Actually if you look closely,there's a "diamond pattern" stripe down the middle of the jersey. I do appreciate all the little details they have added to the jersey.

Now the big question is who should I have on my jersey?

The start is near

With Urawa's disastrous 2010 season well and truly behind us and the 2011 campaign starting up in a few days (20th January to be exact), I thought now would be a good time to update everyone on the happening and changes during the off-season so far and what to expect from season 2011.

The biggest change from 2010 to 2011 would have to be the removal of Volke Finke as team manager. In the 2 seasons with the Reds, Finke has steered the Reds towards the right direction, but it was evident that the Reds needed something more and Finke wasn't the person to deliver it. The one thing that Finke did bring to the Reds was giving the younger players a chance to shine. Players like Genki Haraguchi, Naoki Yamada, Shunki Takahashi, Tomoya Ugajin and Takuya Okamoto would not have made it on the field in the previous regime, but under Finke's turtalege were able to find their feet and was given the opportunity. But what Finke lacked was the X-Factor, the ability to find the winner; in my opinion I think Finke at times went for the safer option. 

With Finke gone, the Reds has named Zeljko Petrovic, an ex-Urawa player (1997 -2000), as the new team manager to replace Finke. Petrovic most recently was the assistant manager to Avram Grant at Premier League side West Ham United but previously has managed Dutch side RKC Waalwijk and holds a Dutch coaching licence. So what does this all mean? For me hopefully it will mean attacking football which will equate to more victory and at least a top 3 finish in the league. But only time will tell.

In terms of player movements, this off-season has seen plenty of movements for the Reds. More then what we've seen over the past few seasons at least anyways.

The following players are no longer with the Reds.

• Robson Ponte (Released)
• Wilfred Sanou (Loan-return to FC. Koln)
• Hajime Hosogai (Bayer Leverkusen > FC Augsburg [Loan])
• Ryota Tsuzuki (Released)
• Masahito Hashimoto (Released)
• Yusuke Hayashi (Thespa Kusatsu)
• Yoshiya Nishizawa (Tochigi S.C)

The players that will be most sorely missed from the above list have got to be Ponte and Hosogai; for two completely different reason. Firstly Ponte would have to be accredited for his part in bringing Urawa's first and only J-1 title in 2006 as well as the ACL title the following year. The sentimental side of me wished that he would be with the Reds until he retired and he deserved his place in the starting 11, but his performances in 2010 hasn't warranted it. Ponte isn't the player he once was and is entering the twilight of his career. I guess the same could be said for Tsuzuki; but his performance hasn't been up to scratch to that of a few years ago. Rather then having Tsuzuki warming the Reds bench for another season, it was time for him to go too.

On the other hand Hosogai is just entering the prime of his career and could have easily have been Urawa's captain for years to come. Instead he is going abroad to try his luck in Germany. It reminds me of when Hasabe left; and hopefully Hosogai will blossom in Germany as well. Hosogai has signed with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen but is being loaned out to Bundesliga2 side FC Augsburg for the remainder of the season. In my opinion this a good move for Hosogai, as it gives him a chance to find his feet in Germany.

Another player going to Germany is Sanou, but he is returning to FC Koln as his loan period has expired. Sanou was only ever really added depth to Urawa's squad and really didn't do much to cement his place in the squad. To some, Sanou was just a "waste" of a foreign spot in Urawa's squad; for me though he had his moments, but really didn't do enough. The remaining departures are Reds juniors who, in a sense, didn't make the cut.

The following players have signed with the Reds;

• Matthew Spiranovic (FC Nuremburg [Full Transfer])
• Marcio Ricardes (Albirex Niigata)
• Mitsuru Nagata (Albirex Niigata)
• Kazuki Hara (Shimizi S-Pulse)
• Jun Aoyama (Tokushima Vortis)
• Shuto Kojima (Maebashi Ikuei H.S)
• Rintaro Yajima (Urawa Reds Youth)

After a successful loan spell, the Reds picked up the option of a full transfer and have signed Spiranovic on a one year deal. To complement this move the Reds have also signed Mitsuru Nagata from Albirex Niigata to partner Spiranovic in the centre of the Reds defense. This is as good of a combination as we have had for a few seasons and also means that hopefully Tsuboi will not be starting. I'm sure this is good news for all Reds fans.

The Red's has obviously signed Ricardes as Ponte's "replacement" (using the word loosely). The expectation is for Ricardes to form a deadly combination with Edmilson, like in the days when both played for Niigata. I know some are expecting to much for Ricardes to deliver as Ponte did; but if Ricardes could, that would be a dream come true!

Hara was brought in as back-up for Edmilson and I really don't know what to expect. With S-Pa he has shown flashes of brilliance, but really hasn't delivered on consistently. I see Hara competing with Takasaki to be Edmilson's understudy and not much more then that. I am fascinated though by the signing of Aoyama. Even though Aoyama was injured for most of 2010, the 23 year old defensive midfielder has represented Japan in under-20's and has the potential to anchor the Red's midfield.

Kojima and Yajima are still young and will be interesting to see how they both develop. Kojima, a midfielder, has shown potential whilst playing for his H.S side. Yajima, an attacking midfielder, was called up to the Reds' senior squad in late 2010 and has made an appearance on the Reds' bench. The Reds' have made it known that they are still on the look out for a player to fill the final foreign spot.

I will give a more in-depth look at the squad once it has been finalised.

Welcome to Season 2011

With the new year well under way, I think it's about time to get this blog back up and running. This entry is mainly to address several housekeeping issues as there's going to be a few changes to this year's version.

Firstly as you have noticed is that I have removed all of by blog entries from 2010. I still have those blogs saved, but I want to start 2011 fresh and a clean look. If for whatever reason you are interested in any of my previous entries, email me on urdblog@gmail.com and I will be more then willing to forward them to you. The main feel & design of the blog will remain the same though.

Secondly, there's been a name change but really it's not a big change. When I originally launched the blog I named it URD | BLOGGING RED, but I wanted to make it simpler and now the blog will be just known as "urdblog" which is short for Urawa Red Diamonds Blog. People have already began to call it urdblog, so why not just stick with it. You can access the blog via the following address' urdblog.blogspot.com or bit.ly/urdblog; I am considering purchasing the domain urdblog.com but at the moment it's not a priority.

Thirdly, you can now also follow urdblog on twitter; @urdblog. I will endeavor to tweet not just Urawa Reds news, but J-League news in general. I can't promise this but I will try my very best as my Japanese isn't very good and well most J-League news is in Japanese. As I mentioned earlier as well if for what ever reason you might need to contact me, I can be contacted on urdblog@gmail.com 

And a final note; I appreciate all your feedback and comments you all leave. I'm the first to admit that I don't know everything about Urawa Red Diamonds, the J-League or football (soccer) in general, so feel free to have your say! Also it's really encouraging when I receive a comment on any of my blog entries and it really is a sign of your support to urdblog. (Oh, if anybody is interested in designing a banner, logo or anything like that; contact me.)

Again thank you everyone for your support and as like all Reds supporters, here's for a successful 2011 campaign!

URDBLOG will be back in 2011

First of all, I would like to apologies for the lack of blogging in the past three months; ,mainly due to work, moving houses and just generally a lack of time. During the three months I have contemplated quitting and closing down URDBLOG; its is really a labor of love. I'm not too sure how many people read this blog of mine but I'm hear to announce that URDBLOG will be back in 2011. I'm hoping to relaunch a bigger and better blog in late January or early February. If anyone does want any of my previous blogs, you can email me on urdblog@gmail.com and I will be more then happy to retrieve them for you.

Thank you for all your support and will be looking forward to a successful season in 2011 for Urawa Red Diamonds