The phenomenon of Not Knowing When to Call it a Day. It happens to the best of us. Go on then, one more beer. Next thing you know it's 4:30am and you have to be at work in three hours.
This Sunday it happened to referee Mr Hiroyuki Kimura down at Tokushima v Okayama. Nearly 5000 people had turned up, so it's only fair to make sure the game goes ahead, right?
What a bloody mess. I couldn't see this game being played in a million years in England.
DF Tsujio (yellow 36) DF Iwashita DF Bosnar DF Ota
MF Ono MF Muramatsu MF Brosque
FW Omae FW Takahara FW Takagi
Subs Used
Edamura on for Genki (64) Ito on for Ono (73) Kobayashi on for Brosque (82)
Report
The goals have been coming. Anyone who watched our last couple of games will have seen that, even though the results haven't been great, we did create several great chances. Today we got the rub of the green and some of them went in. Conversely, Omiya hit the woodwork I think three times, much like us last week.
For most of the first half Omiya were the better team, but the goal from Brosque took the wind out of their sails. Right before half time, and against the run of play is a big blow to come back from, and after we started the second half much improved, taking only five minutes to build on our lead, there wasn't any coming back for the home team.
Takahara started as centre forward ahead of the dropped Sho Ito who had drawn a blank for the first six games of the season. To be fair to the lad, he's been achingly close in the past few weeks, and today he had us thinking we'd made it 5 but for a stunning reaction save from Kitano. Takahara, who has been played on the left thus far, was in his natural predatory zone today and his first goal, on the half volley from a Tsujio run and cross, was sweetly struck. The second came after a poor back pass (I think?), and a hesitating keeper, gave the pouncing Taka all the time in the world to compose himself and stroke a shot of some class past Kitano.
That really meant game over, but we were in the zone and were determined to make up some ground on our goal difference. Tsujio added to his assists with a shot that crept in past the post. The big man fully deserved it. It was after this that Sho, on for Ono, very nearly got on the scoresheet. He really needs a goal, does Sho.
Good news - Daigo made his S-Pulse debut for the last ten minutes and received a nice warm round of boos from his former fans. It'll take a little while to regain his full match sharpness, but he'll get there, and despite the long lay off was getting stuck right in. Takagi looked spellbinding at times and I hope he gets his first goal in an orange shirt next Saturday again the scum.
That's enough rambling from me. So I'll sign off with thanks to Omiya Steve and co for number one, picking up the phone, and number two, being so hospitable despite the result. You are more than welcome to join us for beers after the return leg later in the year. :)
I went to Omiya in 2008. It was much the same
Not every team does this. Nice touch Tsujio makes it 4 Full time In previous weeks he kept drifting to centre forward - and today he showed why
Videos
Highlights:
Personal video of Tsujio's's goal. The J. League's 15000th, no less.
S-Pulse 1-2 FC Tokyo Omae 78---------------------Hirayama 32 ----------------------------------Oguro 65
Att. 7117
Line Up
GK Nishibe
DF Ichikawa DF Hiroi DF Iwashita DF Ota
MF Hyodo (yellow 64) MF Honda(yellow 88) MF Ono
FW Edamura FW Johnsen FW Fujimoto
Subs Used
Nagai on for Johnsen (56) Okazaki on for Ono (66) Omae on for Edamura (77)
Report
It's enough to make you cry. Another awful result against piss poor opposition, and our league season is as good as over. It wouldn't be quite so bad if all the teams around hadn't dropped points too. Had we not capitulated against Kyoto and won today we'd now be 2nd. Just goes to show that that something we're missing (and have been for the last few years) is all the difference between another 6th or so placed finish and actually accomplishing something.
It pissed down all game
At least now we can enjoy the rest of the year without worrying about making an ACL position. Away in Sendai should be a lot of fun. Sightseeing, booze up, maybe even a snowball fight. All without the stress of the result mattering. :wrysmile:
Videos
One small cause of mirth was Tokyo's third goal being missed by the officials. The ball clearly crossed the line after Nishibe produced another classic from his seemingly bottomless bag of howlers.
Not that it changed anything in the long run, but having stood in the pissing rain for 85 minutes, it was nice to get a break.
What with a typhoon due to pass over Shizuoka tomorrow lunchtime, our game with Tokyo (kick off 1pm) is officially subject to change. A news release this evening has warned of the potential of an alteration to the kick off time, or of it being postponed altogether.
Check the latest news on the club homepage before heading off.
Forget your glamour of Gamba Osaka winning the Asian Champions League and forget your glory of Kashima Antlers securing back to back J. League titles. This is the true nuts and bolts, bread and butter, and any other clichés you want to throw into the mix, this is what your average J. League match day is all about.
Awful conditions made it something of a lottery
A hard-fought two all draw in the pouring rain? After last night and our Reysol meeting, I've felt recently like I've been transported back to England where I spent countless evenings watching football in the rain when I should have been out meeting girls or something. Last night at two nil down, dripping wet and with time running out, my fighting spirit and belief was in danger of running out with it.
What followed was a late, late show from our boys in orange, with Johnsen (80) and Edamura (88) chipping in with goals to salvage a point from what looked like a lost cause. I'm not ashamed to say I had tears of relief in my eyes when Edamura smashed the ball home with barely 120 seconds left. Eight minutes before that, Johnsen's first goal in an orange shirt had got us back in a game where our hopes were on the verge of disappearing down the drain with the falling rain and the spilt beer. It's taken a while coming, but now that issue has been put to rest the big man can concentrate on adding to his tally.
Well, four draws on the bounce, and while we've not lost since the derby, we've not won, or really looking like winning. Now are these games we'd have lost last year? Are these points we would have dropped entirely in 2008? I'm tempted, in my blind faith in all things bright orange, to say YES, and that yeah, we've drawn games we should have probably won on paper, but we've also drawn games we might easily have lost. It's easy to forget that before winning the (fictional) second stage last year, we had such horrible days at the office as the 4-1 spanking by later-to-be relegated Verdy.
So what's my point? To quote detective Columbo, I'm not sure I have one. Anyway, onwards we go and it's champions, best team in the country and all round tough old nut Kashima away on Sunday. It'll be nice to play a team who doesn't swamp the midfield (Hiroshima had six midfielders while Chiba had five) so we may be able to play some more football. Having etched out narrow draws with the likes of Reysol and Chiba, we'll probably go and beat Kashima 2-0. :-D
Just one more thing, after yesterday we are in dire need of a good performance, as the crowd reaction last night shows:
Line Up:
GK Nishibe
DF Takaki DF Aoyama DF Iwashita DF Arata
MF Hyodo MF Ito MF Yamamoto MF Edamura
FW Nagai FW Okazaki
Subs used:
Johnsen on for Yamamoto (67) Hara on for Nagia (67) Tsujio on for Takaki (78)
Links:
Read another perspective here, from Mike Tuckerman. Click here for The Rising Sun's match report.
In short, it was one of those games you come home from just happy you're still alive to tell the tale.
Well done to everyone who braved the wind and rain today. Over four thousand chose to stay home despite having already bought a ticket. Maybe we'll get a roof behind the goal to get more through the gate on rainy days. We can hope!
I took the camera out only briefly
I'm still dripping, so I'm off for a bath. :)
Click here for an excellent airbourne Okachan pic.
Line up:
GK Nishibe
DF Takaki DF Aoyama DF Iwashita DF Kodama
MF Hyodo MF Edamura MF Yamamoto MF Honda
FW Okazaki FW Nagai
Subs Used:
Hara on for Nagai (63) Johnsen on for Honda (75) Tsujio on for Takaki (83)
Links:
Click here to read from another brave soul at 'Daira yesterday, Mike Tuckerman. For a neutral report, click here for The Rising Sun's view of match.
July 27th, 2008. A goal-less draw, but in certain ways, the most memorable game of last year:
Sunday looks like rain again. :-D
Last year (which only finished 0-0 after a veeeery close looking off side in our favour at the death) was a bit of a nightmare all round. As if Fujimoto’s season being brought to a premature end wasn’t bad enough, the end-of-the-world style downpour which delayed kick off 90 minutes both tested our patience pre match, and severely reduced our drinking time in Tokyo post match. The not-especially-good memories of Saitama in 2008 are not the reason for missing it this year, though. That’s just down to having Nagoya away in a fortnight to pay for – a game I was making a priority even before the Johnsen factor spiced things up.
So this Sunday, we’ve got to be looking to kick the season off with three points. The home and away games with Omiya last campaign were wet, and they both ended 0-0. It's worth noting that both of those matches started with Nishizawa and Yajima leading the charge; both now departed. Each game also saw the introduction from the bench of Aurelio. The less said about him and his uselessness the better. I’m expecting Kenta to start with Okazaki and Johnsen up front as per the pre-season victory over the scum, with Hara and Nagai on the bench. An entirely more threatening prospect to the Omiya goal.
Kaito is still first choice between the sticks, and I’d go for Aoyama, Ichikawa, Iwashita and Arata to form the back four. What combination we’ll see in the middle of the park I can’t say. Teru, Edamura and Hyodo are all pretty much certainties, so that just leaves the 4th man. Yamamoto, Paulo or other? Over to you, Kenta.
The game is officially sold out, and you can be sure our travelling hoards will fill our end at The Nack5 to roar us on to victory! Three points to start the year, please!
Oooops, bit late this blog post - been a busy week of parties (Happy Birthday to me) and fun. Sunday last was my first BDO (Big Day Out) this year due to monies, and I've yet to see an away win. Mind you, I'm thanking my lucky stars it was an away draw seeing as it nearly went down the pan in the last few minutes!
The rain at the start of the game was initially cooling and pleasant, we UK Ultras get a tad hot every now and again and welcomed the first drops. The torrential downpour that followed was somewhat less desired however! There was an awesome turnout of Shimizu peeps at Omiya Park and the rain did not put them off, the singing was as loud as ever. We do love our team.
It was another frustrating game though, with S-Pa having plenty of chances, and plenty of shots on-target - so on-target in fact that the ball continually landed in the keepers' hands. Frustrating as ever. In fact, there was only one occasion when the keeper actually had to make an effort to save the ball. Its not that we are a bad team, we are good, but when will we start scoring more?
Jungo was injured early on in the game due to a careless tackle which may or may not have seen certain members of the UK Ultras shouting abusive language. Looks like he's out all season, can't say I am overly chuffed about that, here's hoping he recovers quickly and as well as possible.
When Omiya scored their goal, I thought I was going to die, and could sense Shizza next to me, in the same, "oh-my-God-you-must-be-kidding-not-another-last-chance-loss" and the relief that swept through me when it was declared offside is uncomparable. Nishibe was on pretty good form on Sunday too, he has almost been forgiven now for last year's appalling "the sun was in my eyes" event.
Still, we love the 'Pulse and I'm sure when Oka-chan and co get back, there'll be goals a plenty.
Oh yeah, and does anyone else think Ardija are more red than orange?
Highlights (Got to be happy with those travelling hoards on a Sunday evening!) :
The Offside (Check the bag which goes flying spraying it's contents all around :-D ) :
Barry writes:
