TOKYOism

Click here for Part 1

"Tactics are born from excellent positioning."

The future of positional play

Have you read Satoshi Hojo's preview column that was published before my clumsy column? I think he is one of the best writers when it comes to verbalizing soccer, and I always learn a lot from his columns. He has been one of my idols even before I started this job, and I read his columns with great respect.

5/8 Tosu Match: Satoshi Hojo (Soccer Writer) Preview
"Winning the Midfield Battle and Breaking Free from the Ducks" 

Now, let's continue from Part 1. The followers of positional play all speak in unison, spitting out the same words. Coach Albert Puig Ortoneda is no exception, repeatedly using the phrase "It takes time to complete the team. We will grow as we play more games."

In order to acquire positional play, practical experience and successful experiences are essential. This also applies to chess, which was mentioned in the previous section. The game of chess can be divided into three main stages: the opening, the middle game, and the endgame.

In the opening, we will develop pieces according to various opening moves (this is what was mentioned in the first part, so to speak, Albert Tokyo's opening moves). And the middle game is a situation where tactics similar to "tsumeshogi" (checkmate chess) are used. By solving many tactics, you will come up with good moves in actual games and become more careful about your opponent's invitations and next moves. Analyzing game records is also essential for being able to handle complex board situations. This accumulation of tactics and game record analysis is the shortcut to improvement. In short, repetition and experience are key. Tactics can be replaced with daily practice, and game record analysis can be replaced with game analysis.

Takuya AOKI says this.

"We also change our position depending on the opponent's position. When we change, there are times when it works well and times when it doesn't. Ideally, there would be fewer fluctuations. While playing, there have been times when I thought it was different, but when I watched the footage again, it was surprisingly good. There is still a gap in that sense, and I haven't been able to view myself from a higher perspective. I think the anchor position allows you to play soccer without touching the ball, starting from my time at Urawa. When I can touch the ball, I want to create the game as well. However, when the opponent comes in man-to-man and I can't touch the ball, the coach says not to come inside too much. It would be great to be able to play soccer without touching the ball. It is important to see the opponent's movements from my position, and if no one is marking me, I can do anything, so I just need to receive the ball. When that's not the case, it would be great to be able to play soccer without touching the ball."

Shuto ABE follows this.

"After the game, we also discuss the positioning of the inside half during the video meeting. I have been staying too close to the opponent's center back, so I am told to take a position where I can move around between the opponent's midfield and center back a little more. I am conscious of that. I have watched the video and made adjustments to my position during practice, but sometimes it doesn't work well in the game. Players communicate on the pitch and share different ways of doing things and ideas. We are becoming more adaptable in that way. We won't be able to see the areas for improvement until we play more games. On the other hand, it doesn't lead to an understanding of what we can do. We just have to continue trusting the coach and keep doing it."

Based on where the ball is on the pitch, players take up the correct positions to secure an advantage, regardless of whether they are attacking or defending. There will still be plenty of trial and error until they reach that point. It's not unreasonable considering they have only been working on this style for a few months. However, by solving the problems that arise and gaining more freedom and experience, they can continue to improve. It's necessary to invest time and effort into this. Building up repetition and experience. From the impression I had when covering the camp, it should be going smoothly once they enter this cycle.

At the moment, we are playing the league matches with a somewhat fixed lineup, but it is also possible to establish a different opening by changing the players. As shown in the away game of the J.League YBC Levain Cup group stage, such as the match against Júbilo Iwata.

As you get through the middle game, the ending becomes visible. How to dethrone the king from the throne. In soccer, of course, that is the goal. It was Abe and Matsuki who expressed their strong feelings there.

"An inside half who can score points is ideal for me. But it's difficult. I also want results and want to help the team there."

When I told Matsuki that Abe, who had already scored one goal, said so, he reacted like this.

"I also haven't been able to score points as a current challenge. It would be great if I could be more aggressive in taking shots. As it is now, my first priority is not the goal, but the side. I'm told that I can go where I want to go and my seniors will cover for me. I think I can do it with confidence."

However, the scent of a goal is also wafting from Matsuki. In the away match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, he continued to play with high intensity for over 90 minutes and created a scene where he jumped into the goal area at the end of the game, just one step away... "Why was he able to do that?" There was a surprising answer to that.

"I want to score (goals). It's my strong point, so it's normal for me to go there. I think it's my job to go there and score."

Abe also responds.

"Kuryu is amazing. In his first year after graduating high school at the age of 18, he plays with overflowing guts and expresses himself for the full 90 minutes. He himself also wants to score, but I think he can get it soon. If Kuryu and I can compete for the number of goals, it would also help the team. I think that such a competitive spirit will sprout in myself and a stronger attachment to scoring will be born."

Coach Alber is saying in this ending, "There are few things a coach can do." Indeed, the area in front of the goal is also a showcase of qualitative superiority. As mentioned in Hojo-san's preview column, there is a current situation where we are not fully utilizing the finishing touch that other clubs envy. There are only a handful of players and coaches in the world who have this answer.

5/8 Tosu Match Preview by Satoshi Hojo (Football Writer)
"Seize control of the midfield battle and break free from the duck" 

They are expressing their ideas about this difficult problem in their own words.

"Depending on the person, if it's Kensuke Nagai, the right winger, he can break through vertically, so I don't need to come close," said. "If it's Kon-chan (Kazuya Konno), he has a cut-in, so I can become a dummy and break free, which also tricks the opponent. Depending on the partner, I want various options. Otherwise, we can't score goals and can't take shots," (Abe).

"If we can create time by moving the goalkeeper through the build-up from the back, it will be beneficial. There are also parts where individuals are isolated in a slightly stretched state. If we compact the team and create opportunities in the pockets while shaking the sides, and if we create a pause with our inside halves, it will become even more interesting." (Matsuki)

Any difficult problem should be solved by the fact that "tactics are born from excellent positioning". The solution is nothing but repetition and accumulation of experience. Fischer, who elevated chess to an art form, has proven this.

And let's return to the movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer". The protagonist, Josh, who is about to face the final match, is afraid of losing to a strong opponent the day before the game. Then, a strict coach played by the famous actor, Sir Ben Kingsley, appears and gives Josh something, encouraging him. The next day, Josh opens the doors of the venue with confidence. From there, everything leads to the best outcome. There are three phrases that overlap with this scene.

Matsuki says, "It's not about the team's performance, but I think we can definitely win if everyone has a strong desire for victory. Since the members are all here, it would be great if we could express our emotions more prominently."

Abe can move his mouth as a main player. "I guess it's the feeling, the feeling of not wanting to lose, the feeling of wanting to keep playing in the game, I always had that."

Aoki's words reflect the path he has walked. "During the camp, I watched some videos, but I still can't catch up. I wonder when I will fit in perfectly. However, I want to win the game. There are ideals and realities. But personally, I don't have time as a player. I want to firmly pursue the balance between ideals and realities."

"A battle of positional against positional. Even if it is Sagan Tosu, who is currently on a 5-game losing streak in the league, when stepping onto the pitch, one must not harbor anxiety or fear. It is because the result that awaits after bravely fighting contains the key to success in the next step. I learned this from the small chess player in the movie and from them."

Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)