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?
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