Tokyo, which is working on the penetration of a soccer style based on positional play, with Coach Albert taking office. The first season is approaching the halfway point. What kind of battle was Tokyo in the first half? Five reporters who regularly cover Tokyo's matches and training were asked to look back on the first half of Tokyo's battles in terms of "summary," "best game," and "best player by position."
Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
▼First half summary
Both positive and negative evaluations focus on "young players"
It is gratifying that the concept of positional play has quickly permeated more than expected, and there is a clear prospect of 11 players + α becoming a certain standard. On the other hand, key players have been injured one after another, and the accumulation of performances with the current best lineup has not necessarily been successful, giving the impression of stumbling. In the future, it will be necessary to expand the "+α" as well, such as by utilizing Toki Sekigoto as an anchor. Reinforcements in the summer and winter are a story for later. We need a squad of around 20 players who can contribute immediately, rather than just about 15 players. Another piece of good news is the inclusion of registered players from the U-18 team, and the cooperation with FC Tokyo U-18 has been revitalized. Players like Rentaro Higashi and Naoki Kumata have had opportunities to play in the top team, and they have proven that they can play at a professional level, along with Yuta Arai from Shobu High School. The fact that the top team and U-18 team share Albert Puig Ortoneda's concept and have compatibility in tactics is also a positive factor. The relatively bad news is that this is only limited to "young players playing". In the future, it will not be enough to just gain experience, but both the young players in the top team and the U-18 team need to show some results, or else they will just be "there". The seeds have been sown for the second half. A battle awaits to make the sprouts grow and expand the possibilities.
▼Best Game of the First Half
J.League YBC Levain Cup Group Stage Matchday 5 vs Júbilo Iwata
(2022.04.23 @ Yamaha Stadium)
In terms of the attitude of not succumbing to strong opponents, the J1 League Matchday 1 against Kawasaki Frontale, Matchday 6 against Yokohama F. Marinos, and the intense match against Gamba Osaka in the 10th matchday can also be considered as good games. However, the away game against Iwata in the Levain Cup, where Yuki Kajiura scored a goal and Tōkei Higashi and Yōjirō Takahagi made penetrating passes, is considered the best game. If Kajiura had scored more goals and Kojiro Yasuda had also scored, the evaluation of this match would have been different. The passes that Tōkei and Takahagi made, embodying what coach Albert calls "pausa" (a moment of calm or composure in Spanish), foresee the future of Tokyo. The mentality of Kusei Matsuki and the intensity of Shūto Abe are important, but this match made us feel the potential that lies ahead.
▼Key Players of the First Half
GK & DF
Player 24 Jakub SLOWIK
There must be skills that are not his strong suit, but his impact in stopping shots at close range surpasses everything. He emits an aura comparable to that of an ace striker, making him a rare presence worthy of admiration for soccer fans. While this man is on the team, Tokyo should improve the level of goalkeepers and establish a defensive culture, including the defenders.
MF
44 Kuryu MATSUKI
There were voices of opposition saying "There's no way he would be predicted to start in the opening lineup" in media articles, but now he has become an indispensable player who leads the top team with his fighting spirit, even though they sometimes have disappointing battles. On the other hand, it is certain that he is still young and needs consideration from those around him in terms of his emotional development, but as a player, he is already a reliable man at this point.
FW
15 Adailton
Among the various forwards who are rotated, the most durable player with a robust physique is undoubtedly Adailton. His controlled shot, which he scored at his former club Yamaha, will be talked about. His individual strength is overwhelming enough to lead the team to victory with tactical Adailton even when the team is not functioning. Undoubtedly, he is Tokyo's weapon.
Kohei Baba (Soccer Writer)
▼First half summary
Planting a new style and the struggles of the next stage
The early stages of the J1 League from the opening match to the 10th match against Gamba Osaka gave the impression that they accumulated points using the savings from the previous season. This allowed them to buy time to establish a new playing style. During that time, they transitioned to a more tactical approach, utilizing positional play and localized tactics. However, in the past few matches, which marked the next stage, the tactics have not been functioning as intended. In the 11th match against Avispa Fukuoka on May 3rd, Leandro was positioned in the central forward role, aiming to have Kuryu Matsuki and Shuto ABE fill the space left by the false number 9. However, they ended up conceding the lead to Fukuoka and had to make a positional change during the match. In the 13th match against Júbilo Iwata, Yojiro TAKAHAGI was placed as an attacking midfielder to receive the ball in the vacant position. However, they also allowed the opponent to take the lead and had to make a system change during the match. From here on, it depends on how many successful experiences they can accumulate in terms of tactical battles. Attention to details, such as thorough pre-movement before receiving the ball, is also essential. Can they find a winning strategy before depleting their early savings? Fortunately, they have a wealth of talented players. In order to instill confidence in the players, the skills of Coach Alber are also being tested.
▼First Half Best Game
Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchday 1 vs Kawasaki Frontale
(2022.02.18@Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium)
The opening match was a game filled with the ambition to master a new playing style and the hope for the new season. Leandro, who created many scoring opportunities in this match, said, "The style of play the coach aims for is familiar to us Brazilian players, so it was easy for us from the start." And it's no wonder. The Brazil national team, known as the strongest team in history, won the 1970 World Cup with a 4-3-3 formation. It was a game that stirred the blood of those who strive to embody the artistic football that flows through them. However, the best game of this season is yet to come.
▼Key Players of the First Half
GK & DF
Player 24 Jakub SLOWIK
The new goalkeeper who joined this season has been making big saves from the beginning of the season. Off the pitch, he is a nice guy, and after the away game against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, he said, "Can I say one last thing?" and expressed his heartfelt gratitude, saying, "I want to express my sincere gratitude because many supporters came all the way to Hokkaido to support us." He is undoubtedly the MVP of the first half of the season.
MF
31 Shuto ABE
He has taken on many tactical tasks in both offense and defense since the opening game and has continued to make his presence felt. In addition to his natural athleticism and intensity of play, the results of the repetitive training of "stopping and kicking" that he has been doing since last season are also showing. Abe himself is looking ahead to the next stage, with the goal of competing with Kuse for the number of goals scored.
FW
15 Adailton
The heavy tank dribble is still alive this season, leading the team's attack in the first half with 4 goals. Despite being immature and lacking in combination play, he has often saved the team in transitional periods. Adailton also mentioned that "teammates are easier to locate and understand where the pass is coming from," suggesting that he is benefiting from the new playing style.
Kei Sato (Soccer Magazine Web)
▼First Half Summary
Passing Grade as an Initial Stage of Reform
To be honest, I thought it would be more difficult. I thought it would take more time for a team that had been mainly focused on counterattacks to "switch" to a positional play-based style. In fact, we even suffered three consecutive losses in May, but the ball possession, which was 46.1% and ranked 16th out of 20 teams last season, has exceeded an average of 52% by the end of the 13th game and risen to 7th place overall. It can be seen from the numbers that the players have changed their mindset and put the new style into practice. It can be said that it is a passing grade as an initial stage of reform. However, if we focus on where we hold the ball, we are still far from ideal. There are cases where we get stuck in the build-up and have no choice but to pass backwards. We spend a lot of time possessing the ball in our own half. In order to move forward while the opponent takes countermeasures, it is necessary for the players to stand in the right positions and change the speed of their passes. Quick passing that can evade the opponent's press and the technical ability to make it possible are required. Will these challenges be overcome by personnel changes or by waiting for individual growth? Personally, I feel that this is a key point for the second half of the season. I am interested in the solutions that the coach, who says "we have entered the next phase," will take.
▼Best Game of the First Half
Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchday 7 vs Vissel Kobe
(2022.04.06 @ Ajinomoto Stadium)
Of the 5 victories the team achieved in the first 14 matches, the matches against Kyoto, Kobe, and G Osaka were the ones where they surpassed the opponents in possession and earned 3 points. Among them, the match against Kobe was the one where the team could play the ideal game. Although they conceded the first goal, they maintained a high center of gravity, manipulated passes vertically and horizontally, and achieved continuous attacks from ball recoveries in the opponent's territory. The opponent's pressure was not so intense, but they scored 3 goals in the second half and succeeded in a comeback. They moved the ball from the inside to the outside and from the outside to the inside, and also made accurate vertical passes to change the tempo. Especially in the second half, the players' coordination was excellent and they repeatedly made the opponent's last line of defense panic. It was truly a resounding victory.
▼Key Players of the First Half
GK & DF
Player 24 Jakub SLOWIK
The team that is working on a significantly different style from last season is able to stay in the top 10, thanks to its presence. In particular, the performance shown in the 9th match against Sapporo was impressive. With a series of great saves, he saved the team and secured a scoreless draw, earning 1 point. It was a performance that justified being revered as the "Kuba God".
MF
31 Shuto ABE
In addition to the high level of running ability, interception ability, and dedication that are standard equipment, it seems that he has polished his play to become a receiver who advances in front of the goal this season. If his movement to aggressively attack the pocket next to the goal aligns with his teammates, it should lead to an increase in the team's scoring ability. We hope that the tries he showed in the first half of the season will bear fruit in the second half.
FW
Player 9 Diego OLIVEIRA
He played in every match from the opening to the 14th round against Kashiwa, starting in all matches except for the one against Tosu. Although the visible results may be unsatisfactory for a forward with 2 goals and 2 assists, he never slacked off in both attack and defense, always playing with a team-first attitude. He is worthy of praise as the number 9 that AO-AKA takes pride in, and he is likely the vice captain.
Shintaro Inoue (Sports Hochi)
▼First Half Summary
Surpassing the opponent's expectations with speed and changes
When asked "How is Tokyo this year?", it's difficult to answer. The coach who came from Catalonia via Niigata has been using the keywords "positional" and "possession" since before the start of the season, and I thought they would play ideal football. However, when I opened the lid, there were short counters that utilized speed, and there were also many scenes where they sought intensity in the midfield and played realistic football. It's understandable that some people say, "It hasn't changed from last year."
The direction we are moving in is not wrong. The clear change is the ball possession rate, which was 46.1% last year. In the matches against Tosu and Iwata, although both were defeated, we recorded 59% and 65.6% respectively. Both teams pressed from the front line in the early stages, but the defensive line continued to move the ball without retreating. As an Iwata representative admitted, "We couldn't take the ball as much as we thought," and we were forced to change our plan to defend by setting up a block in the middle of the game. The changes have been happening at a speed that exceeds the opponent's expectations. Sufficient upfront investment has also been made. In the Levain Cup, despite the impact of the corona crisis in the early stages of the season, young players like 17-year-old defender Renta Higashi were promoted and utilized in the youth competition. There is also the joy of watching when the seeds sown for the future will bloom.
However, as Coach Albert says, professionals should be judged by their results first and foremost... Tokyo is still difficult this season.
▼Best Game of the First Half
Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchday 10 vs Gamba Osaka
(2022.04.29 @ Japan National Stadium)
It was a game that showed the future of the capital club right in the heart of Tokyo. The first league match at the renovated Japan National Stadium. With about 500 fireworks and a production using blue and red LED lights representing the club colors, it invited the 43,125 people who gathered in the heavy rain to an extraordinary space. The game was filled with continuous attacks full of speed, with Leandro's brilliant goal as a bonus from his dazzling dribble. It was the best entertainment space that brought together the efforts of the players on the pitch and the club staff (I can't help but think that it would have been great if the National Stadium had been renovated exclusively for ball sports...).
▼Key Players of the First Half
GK & DF
3 Masato MORISHIGE
Ironically, the importance of presence became evident with three consecutive losses while being sidelined due to injury. There are many strengths such as aerial battles and build-up play, but the most important is that it provides the team with "pausa" (a Spanish term meaning a short pause or calmness). In the league comeback match on May 21 against Kashiwa, Yasuki Kimoto, who formed a center-back partnership, continuously challenged with long feeds and vertical passes. The impact of the 35-year-old captain is immense.
MF
44 Kuryu MATSUKI
If we only consider the playing aspect, Aoki, who excels in crisis detection ability, and Abe, who is also improving his scoring ability, may be better. However, the impact of a high school rookie starting in the opening game cannot be expressed in numbers. His tenacity and fighting spirit, like a fighting dog, as he clings to the ball and fights with his whole body, is enough to ignite the passion of those who watch. There is room for improvement in his technique and decision-making after receiving the ball, but it can also be seen as potential for growth. As it directly affects the team's growth, we hope for further development.
FW
11 Kensuke NAGAI
A player that every family wants to have. It is true that having zero goals as a forward is unsatisfactory. However, there is no one else besides Nagai who can serve as the switch for pressing from the front line, which is the lifeline of the team. Whether starting or coming off the bench, he always manages to break through the defense line and create chances in every game. The number 11's feet undoubtedly play a crucial role in making the team function effectively.
Daisuke Suga (El Golazo, FC Tokyo Correspondent)
▼First half summary
Build confidence with victories and then refine the style
I was surprised when I realized that the cheerful romanticist I had imagined was actually a realist. Coach Alberto seems to be quite realistic. Before the start of the season, he openly stated that "reform takes time" and perhaps the reason he did not provide specific numbers or goals lies here. In his first year as coach this season, Alberto focuses more on growth rather than winning, and does not seem to be particularly interested in points or rankings. He appears to be more focused on instilling his own style and evaluating players for that purpose. In that sense, it makes sense that he achieved three consecutive victories immediately after the start of the season, when he was more focused on a realistic approach, and then suffered three consecutive defeats in the mid-season when he entered the next phase and started to gradually refine his own romanticism. Initially, he faces reality in order to "gain stability through winning," and once he surpasses that stage, he refines the style he believes in to "continue winning in the future." I think it is reasonable as a long-term team style building process. The opponent for the last home game of the first half of the season is Kashima Antlers, who also brought in a new coach and is undergoing team reform this season. There will be many things to see in the match against an opponent who started from the same starting line. I look forward to seeing what kind of performance they will show when they face Kashima, who is already competing for the top spot. I want to take that as the answer to Alberto Tokyo's first half of the season.
▼Best Game of the First Half
Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchday 3 vs Cerezo Osaka
(2022.03.06 @ YODOKO SAKURA STADIUM)
It was a game that marked the first official victory for Alberto Tokyo. The players' condition was a concern as the game took place immediately after the team activities were suspended due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in the first half, Alberto Tokyo dominated the game. The inside halves, Shuto Abe and Kusei Matsuki, repeatedly intercepted the ball in the opponent's territory, creating numerous chances, thanks to the high press of the front three. The celebration after Kazuya Konno scored a goal, the embrace with Coach Alberto, and the sight of all the players running tirelessly despite being one man down after a red card in the second half, were all inspiring. It was a 90-minute match that strongly showcased the team's solid style of high press and quick counterattacks in the early stages of the season.
▼First Half Key Players
GK & DF
30 Yasuki KIMOTO
As he declared from the moment he joined that he wanted to compete as a CB, he has demonstrated excellent performance in his position. His solidity and stability when paired with Masato Morishige are among the best in the league, and he played a key role in the team's strong defense in the early part of the season. Furthermore, his accurate kicking and wide vision have been instrumental in switching the team's attack, making him an indispensable presence in Coach Albert's positional play.
MF
Shuto ABE
The length of playing time proves its presence more than anything else. As a field player, he has started in every match so far, making him the longest. His endless stamina and powerful ball-winning ability stand out even among positional plays. In the future, what the team and Abe himself need to move on to the next stage is the quality of on-the-ball play. It will be interesting if he can deliver the final pass.
FW
11 Kensuke NAGAI
No matter which game you watch, the one maintaining the balance of attack and switching to defense is number 11. Whether it's combining with SB or inside half to attack the sides, or threatening the goal with speed and breakthroughs. Leading the high press in the front line, and returning to their own half with full effort when countered. Their contribution in areas that don't show up in numbers is exceptionally high, and their dedication is number one in both offense and defense.
