Passive Stagnation

The match with Albirex was the first game that I saw that truly disappointed me. At times it reminded me of the bad old days of Robert "Backpass Bob" Verbeek. Let me backtrack a little. Coach Jang Wae Ryong decided to go with a line-up on the right of Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Chikara Fujimoto, Daisuke Tomita and Yasuhiro Hato.

That side was supremely slow and methodical, letting Albirex attackers (mostly Marcio Richardes) cut in and take dangerous chances. Tomita was exposed again on the first dangerous play of the game, when he gawked, mouth agape at a shot by a wide-open Albirex player in front of him. Luckily the crossbar saved him.

The offense, run by the wing play of the "-motos", ground to a halt as Chikara and Hayato Hashimoto held the ball far too long and took pedestrian shots with little on them, instead of passing out to the forwards and letting them create. Selfish and inept. I'm not going to say much more about this game... not much to say, really.

Three Stars

1. Yasuhiro Hato - When he shifted back over to his normal defensive position on the left, he actually made some really good plays - and he gutted out an injury to his leg on an amazing non-call at the touchline. Seriously, when you run somebody off with a second yellow for a fairly benign foul on one side and let the other side play on after driving a player into the ground, you had a bad game as a ref. Consistency is all I ask.

2. Kohei Tokita - When he came on for the captain in the second half and Hashimoto was shifted to a more central position, breaking up the aforementioned Omiya Quadrangle, the game opened up more and we took over the run of play. Risky substitution, but a good one.

3. Park Won Jae - The speedy wing showed flashes of why he was signed with good recovery and nice interceptions against Albirex. His throw-ins are the worst I've seen in the J-League, but if he can manage to do the other stuff well, I'll take it. I'll write more about him after a couple of games.

Denis Marques also looked better today. If there is no crossing, then maybe he should start. But Yosuke Kataoka has managed to slither his way back into the rotation. Look for him to start in the middle, so that we have yet another flash to the 2007 backpass bonanza days.

Finally, this disturbing piece by Ryan Tate on Gawker.com. The Brits suddenly love squirrel! And so will we, probably: the critters run $3 each, and The Times concedes they seem perfect for a recession. BASTARD! Friends don't let friends eat squirrel.

Orange! ANGRY!!!!!! Football!

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