Breaking the silence

In the bigger picture of life, lets be honest football (or some would call it soccer) isn't so important. This was especially true on March 11 2011. My apologies if there hasn't been any urdblog updates in well over a fortnight, but in times like these football has to take a back seat. I'm happy that I've been able to make contact with all my friends in Japan. All are shaken up (no pun intended) but are doing well.

As most of the world moves on from the tsunami disaster, Japan is still left with the monumental task of rebuilding. What was destroyed in seconds will take years to build and nothing could replace a life that was taken away. 

My charity of choice has always been World Vision Australia, but there are other organisations out there assisting in relief efforts.

First up lost, AGAIN!

From what I've been told, it has been five years since Urawa has started the season off with a win; so it comes as no surprise that we started our 2011 campaign with yet another defeat, this time losing to Vissel Kobe 1-0. As Reds fans we should be used to a first up lost and be glad that it wasn't a 4-0 flogging we recieved from Kobe to end the 2010 season.

So what went wrong? I think everything went downhill when Keita recieved his marching orders in the 62min for a second yellow card. Looking behind "red tinted glasses" Keita's second yellow seem harsh and what I would call the wrong call, but I know others would say otherwise. What surprised me most from Keita's red card was what Petrovic did next; NOTHING. Didn't bring on another defensive midfielder in the form of Aoyama or push Nobu Yamada up to defensive midfield and bring on Spiranovic to partner Nagata. Not that I think that would have made much of a difference.

Kobe's goal came in the 76min; a free kick taken by Popo from 35 metres out. If I had to put the blame that goal on a single person it would have to be Yamagishi. The shot was "saveable", Yamagishi just reacted too slow. This gets me worried; if this is what Yamagishi is going to bring week in week out, we're in trouble. The problem I have with Yamagishi is that he can e solid for a good 89mins, but the 1min in lapse of peformance almost always doesn't end good. Behind him there isn't anyone I would classify as J-1 ready so we have to hope that he brings his A-game for the whole 90min plus injury time.

Before Keita's dismissal, the Reds did play and played well. Chances were created it was just that none was taken. The 50-50 chances just did not go our way. Richardes played well enough, just didn't take his chances, didn't look sharp and seems as though he was still getting use to the set-up. Kashiwagi, who recieved the captains arm band after Keita's dismissal, controlled the midfield well and Tatsuya was impressive on the right wing. All in all the Reds played well, but just wasn't able to bring it all together.

This is how we lined up against Kobe

GK: Yamagishi

DF: Hirakawa; Nagata; Yamada (No); Ugajin
MF: Keita; Kashiwagi; Richardes
FW: Tatsuya; Haraguchi; Edmilson

Subs:
81min Tatsuya > Takasaki
86min Haraguchi > Mazola

So the season officially starts, for the Reds at least this week at Saitama 2002 against Gamba Osaka. If I am honest, I'm worried with how the game will turn out, but my "blind faith" in the Reds thinks we'll be just fine. Like the past two years, we'll start off with a lost followed by a victory!

My 2011 J-League predictions

So with only one sleep to go before the start of the 2011 J-League season, here are my predictions of how things will pan out in 2011. We'll come back to this several times this year and see how my predictions are going.

J1 Champion: Kashima Antlers
J1 Runner-up: Gamba Osaka
J1 third place: Urawa Red Diamonds

J1 16th place: Vissel Kobe
J1 17th place: Ventforet Kofu
J1 18th place: Avispa Fukuoka

J2 Champion: F.C Tokyo
J2 Runner-up: JEF United
J2 third place: Tokyo Verdy

J2 20th place: Giravanz Kitakyushu

Emperors Cup Champion: Cerezo Osaka

Urawa's final position: 3rd

Suprise team of the season: Omiya Ardija

Disappointing team of the season: Kawasaki Frontale

J1 Top scorer: Josh Kennedy
J2 Top scorer: Tor Hogne Aaroy

Check out this guy: Mazola, Takuya Okamoto (Reds); Alex Brosque (S-Pulse)

The countdown nears an end

So with the J-League starting up again this weekend; what can we expect from the Reds in 2011? Hopefully what we have seen in the pre-season isn't what we are going to get, because of it is, it will be a looong season here on URDBLOG. Under-performing would be the word I use to describe the 2011 pre-season for the Reds; the talent is there, though might not be evenly spread, but putting it all together hasn't quiet happen yet.

Even though the Reds won their last pre-season match against Tochigi 1-0, the performance just wasn't there. Takasaki again scored the goal for the Reds and he continues to push for Edmilson's position in the Reds starting 11. Spiranovic has also played his way back into the starting 11 after missing the last few pre-season games due to an injury/lack of fitness. Mazola was also given the start against Tochigi before being subbed at half time for Haraguchi. It will be interesting who starts on the left, as both players have been impressive in the pre-season. Maybe Mazola on the left and Haraguchi on the right? Only time will tell.

This is how the Reds lined up against Tochigi

GK: Yamagishi
DF: Hirakawa; Nagata; Spiranoivc; Ugajin
MF: Keita; Kashiwagi; Richardes
FW: Tatsuya; Mazola; Edmilson

Subs
45min Mazola > Haraguchi
60min Kashiwagi > Sergio
60min Tatsuya > Takasaki
87min Richardes > Aoyama

My main concern for the Reds this year is our lack of depth in defence, as well as excessive number of players in the midfield, especially attacking midfielders. Why we don't loan out some of these players is getting quiet concerning in regards to their development. It will be quiet interesting who ends up playing and who ends up on the outside looking in. Will players like Naoki Yamada, Takahashi and Umesaki be able to find their way on to the field this year?

Should be interesting to see which 11 Petrovic sends out against Vissel Kobe on Saturday but here's who I'd like to see out there

----------------------Yamagishi---------------------
--Hirakawa--Nagata--Spiranovic--Ugajin--
-------------------------Kieta-------------------------
--------------Kashiwagi--Richardes-------------
---Haraguchi----------------------------Mazola---
----------------------Edmilson-----------------------

I know that it's slightly different to the team I listed a few weeks ago (see here), but after from what I've seen in the pre-season I have made some slight adjustment. The biggest change is seeing Mazola on the left wing and switching Haraguchi to the right wing. Richardes has been pushed down to the midfield to be alongside Kashiwagi; I'm imagining the Kashiwagi & Richardes combination to be Xavi/Iniesta of Barcelona, I can dream right? 

So with three days to go before kick-off, all of us here at URDBLOG are excited with a pinch of worry for the upcoming J-League season. Up next... my 2011 J-League predictions!