Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA has taken office and is working on the penetration of a soccer style based on positional play in Tokyo. The first season is approaching its halfway point. How did Tokyo perform in the first half of the season? Five reporters who regularly cover Tokyo's matches and training reflected on the battles of Albert Tokyo in the first half under the categories of "Summary," "Best Game," and "Best Player by Position."
Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
▼First Half Summary
Both Positive and Negative Evaluations Focus on "Youth"
It is encouraging that the concept of positional play has permeated more quickly than expected, and we have established a certain standard for 11 players plus additional options. On the other hand, with injuries to key players, the accumulation of experience with the current best lineup has not necessarily gone smoothly, giving the impression of stumbling. Moving forward, it will be necessary to expand the "additional options" like the use of Keigo HIGASHI as an anchor. Even if there are reinforcements in the summer and winter, that is a future concern. We need a squad of around 20 immediate impact players, not just about 15. Another piece of good news is the incorporation of registered players from the second category, with revitalized collaboration with FC Tokyo U-18. Renta HIGASHI and Naoki KUMATA have had opportunities to play at the top level, proving that they can perform at a professional quality alongside Yuta ARAI from Shohei High School. The sharing of concepts between the top team and U-18, along with the compatibility in tactics, is also working positively. A relatively bad piece of news is that the focus remains on "young players have played." Moving forward, not only must they gain experience, but they must also show some results alongside the young players currently in the top team, or they risk becoming just present without impact. Seeds have been sown for the second half of the season. A battle awaits to grow those seeds and expand possibilities.
▼Best Game of the First Half
J.League YBC Levain Cup Group Stage Sec. 5 vs Júbilo Iwata
(2022.04.23 @ Yamaha Stadium)
In terms of not succumbing to strong opponents, the matches against Kawasaki in Sec. 1 and Yokohama FM in Sec. 6, as well as the high tension of the national showdown against Gamba Osaka in Sec. 10, can also be mentioned as good games. However, I would recommend the away game against Iwata in the Levain Cup, where Yuki Kajiura scored a goal and Keigo Higashi and Yojiro Takahagi delivered attacking passes. If Kajiura had scored more and Kojiro Yasuda had also scored, the evaluation of this match would have changed. The "Pausa" (meaning a short break or calm in Spanish) mentioned by Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA was embodied by Higashi and Takahagi, and the passes that looked far ahead foresee Tokyo's near future. While the mentality of Kuki Matsuki and the intensity of Shuto Abe are important, this match felt like a battle that sensed the possibilities beyond that.
▼Key Players of the First Half
GK & DF
24 Jakub SLOWIK
There may be skills that he is not good at, but the strength of his impact in shot-stopping from close range surpasses everything. As a defensive hero, he radiates an aura comparable to that of a star striker, making him a rare presence worthy of admiration among soccer fans. While this man is with us, Tokyo should improve the level of its goalkeepers and establish a culture of defense, including defenders.
MF
44 Kuryu MATSUKI
In media articles predicting the starting lineup for the opening match, there were voices of dissent saying, "That can't be true," but he has become an indispensable player who now leads the top team with his fighting spirit, even when they sometimes struggle. On the other hand, it is also true that he is still young, and there is a need for those around him to be considerate emotionally, but as a player, he is already a reliable man at this point.
FW
15 Adailton
Among the various forwards used in rotation, the one with the most durable physique, who does not wear down easily, is undoubtedly Adailton. The controlled shot he scored at his former club Yamaha will surely become legendary. Even when the team is not functioning, his overwhelming individual strength leads to victory through the tactics of Adailton. Without a doubt, he is Tokyo's weapon.
Kohei Baba (Soccer Writer)
▼First Half Summary
Establishing a New Style and the Struggles of the Next Stage
The early part of the league, from the opening match to Sec. 10 against Gamba Osaka, gives the impression that points were accumulated using the savings from last season. This allowed time to instill a new playing style. During this time, the strategic thinking of positional play was understood, and the team transitioned to battles utilizing more localized tactics. However, in the last few matches, entering the next stage, those tactics have not been functioning as intended. In the match against Avispa Fukuoka on May 3, Sec. 11, Leandro was positioned centrally at the front. The aim was for Kuryu MATSUKI and Shuto ABE to move into the space left by the false 9, but ultimately, they allowed Fukuoka to take the lead and were forced to change their formation mid-match. In Sec. 13 against Júbilo Iwata, Yojiro TAKAHAGI was placed as an attacking midfielder, intending to receive the ball in a floating position. However, they also allowed the opponent to take the lead, leading to a system change during the match. From here on, it depends on how many patterns of tactical battles and successful experiences can be increased. Additionally, attention to detail, such as thorough preliminary movements before receiving the ball, is essential. Will they be able to find a winning path before exhausting their early savings? Fortunately, they have a wealth of resources and a strong lineup of skilled players. To instill confidence in the players, the abilities of Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA may be put to the test.
▼Best Game of the First Half
Meiji Yasuda J1 League Sec. 1 vs Kawasaki Frontale
(2022.02.18 @ Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium)
The opening match was filled with enthusiasm aimed at mastering a new playing style and hope for the new season. Leandro, who created many scoring opportunities in this match, stated, "For us Brazilian players, the style of football the coach aims for is familiar, so it was easy to play from the start." And it's no wonder. The Brazilian national team, renowned as the strongest in history, won the World Cup in 1970 with a perfect record, also lined up in a 4-3-3 formation. It was likely a match that stirred the blood to embody the artistic football that flows through them. However, the best games of this season are yet to come.
▼Key Players of the First Half
GK & DF
24 Jakub SLOWIK
The newly joined guardian of this season continues to make big saves from the early matches. Off the pitch, he is a nice guy, and after the away match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, he personally said, "Can I ask just one last thing?" and expressed, "I want to sincerely thank the many supporters who came all the way to Hokkaido to cheer for us, as it was a great encouragement." He is undoubtedly the team MVP for the first half of the season.
MF
31 Shuto ABE
Since the opening match, he has taken on many tactical tasks in both offense and defense, continuing to make his presence felt. In addition to his natural stamina and intensity of play, the results of the repetitive practice of 'stopping and kicking' that he has continued after training since last season are now showing. Abe himself stated, 'I want to be able to compete with Kuu for the number of goals,' focusing on improving his scoring ability as he looks towards the next stage.
FW
15Adailton
This season, the heavy tank dribble is still going strong, leading the team with four goals so far and driving the offense in the first half. In a time of immaturity and poor combination play, he has often saved the transitional team. Adailton has also mentioned, "It's become easier to understand where my teammates are and where the passes are coming from," indicating that he may be one of those 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 believed that a team that had long relied on counter-attacks would need more time to shift to a style based on positional play. In fact, we suffered three consecutive losses in May, but our ball possession, which was 46.1% last season and ranked 16th out of 20 teams, has risen to an average of over 52% after 13 matches, placing us 7th overall. The players' change in mindset and their practice of the new style is evident from the numbers. As an initial stage of reform, I think we can say it is a passing grade. However, if we focus on where we hold the ball, we are still far from the ideal. There are still cases where we get stuck in build-up play and have to circulate the ball at the back. We are spending too much time possessing the ball in our own half. To advance while the opponent can implement countermeasures, it is necessary for players to stand in the right positions and to vary the speed of their passes. Quick passing to evade the opponent's press and the technical skills to make that possible are required. Will these challenges be overcome through personnel changes, or will we wait for individual growth? Personally, I feel that this is where the key points of the second half of the season lie. I want to pay attention to the solutions that the coach, who says we have entered the next phase, will implement.
▼Best Game of the First Half
Meiji Yasuda J1 League Sec. 7 vs Vissel Kobe
(2022.04.06 @ Ajinomoto Stadium)
Out of the 5 wins the team achieved by Sec. 14, the matches against Kyoto, Kobe, and G Osaka were the ones where they outperformed their opponents in possession and secured 3 points. Among these, the match against Kobe showcased the team's ideal style of play. Although they allowed the opponent to take the lead, they maintained a high center of gravity, skillfully maneuvered passes both vertically and horizontally, and executed consecutive attacks starting from ball recovery in the opponent's territory. While the opponent's pressure was not particularly intense, they scored 3 goals in the second half and successfully turned the game around. They moved the ball from inside to outside and vice versa, executing sharp vertical passes that changed the tempo. Especially in the second half, the players' coordination was outstanding, repeatedly causing panic in the opponent's defensive line. It was a literal resounding victory.
▼Key Players of the First Half
GK & DF
24 Jakub SLOWIK
The team, which is working on a style significantly different from last season, is likely staying within the top 10 thanks to its presence. In particular, the performance shown in the match against Sapporo in Sec. 9 was impressive. With a series of great saves, they saved the team and managed to secure one point with a scoreless draw. It is understandable why they are revered as the God of Kuba.
MF
31 Shuto ABE
In addition to the standard equipment of high-level running ability, ball-winning ability, and dedication, this season gives the impression of honing plays that advance into the goal area and become receivers. If the movement of actively exploiting the pockets next to the goal aligns with the surrounding players, it should lead to an increase in the team's scoring ability. I hope that the attempts shown in the first half will bear fruit in the second half.
FW
9 Diego OLIVEIRA
Participated in all matches from the opening to Sec. 14 against Kashiwa, starting in all but one match against Tosu. While the visible results may leave some dissatisfaction with 2 goals and 2 assists as a FW, the attitude of never holding back in both offense and defense, always playing with a team-first mentality, is commendable. He is a proud number 9 in blue and red and likely the vice-captain.
Shintaro Inoue (Sports Hochi)
▼First Half Summary
Changes at a speed that exceeds the opponent's expectations
"How is Tokyo this year?" It's difficult to answer. The coach, who came from Catalonia via Niigata, had been talking about keywords like 'positional' and 'possession' before the season started, leading us to believe he would implement an idealistic style of football. However, once the season began, there were instances of quick counterattacks utilizing speed, a demand for intensity in the midfield, and many moments showcasing a pragmatic style of football. It's understandable that some viewers might think, 'It hasn't changed from last year.'
The direction we are heading is not wrong. A clear change is the ball possession rate, which was 46.1% last year. Although both teams lost, we recorded 59% against Tosu and 65.6% against Iwata. Both teams pressed from the front in the early stages, but the defense line continued to move the ball without retreating. As someone involved with Iwata admitted, "We couldn't win the ball from the front as much as we expected," they were forced to change to a plan of defending with a block midway through. The changes are happening at a speed that exceeds the opponent's expectations. We have also made sufficient upfront investments. In the Levain Cup, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of the season, we utilized young players like 17-year-old defender Renta HIGASHI, turning it into a showcase for youth. There is also the joy of watching when the seeds we have sown for the future will bloom.
That said, as Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA says, I believe professionals should first be judged by results... This season is indeed challenging for Tokyo.
▼Best Game of the First Half
Meiji Yasuda J1 League Sec. 10 vs Gamba Osaka
（2022.04.29＠Japan National Stadium）
It was a match that showcased the future as a capital club in the heart of Tokyo. The first league match at the renovated Japan National Stadium. With about 500 fireworks and a production using the club colors of blue and red LED lights, it invited 43,125 attendees, who braved the heavy rain, into an extraordinary space. The match itself was filled with a series of fast-paced attacks, capped off by a goal from Leandro's magnificent dribbling. The efforts of the players on the pitch and the club staff created the best entertainment experience (I truly wish the National Stadium had been renovated solely for ball games…).
▼Key Players of the First Half
GK & DF
3 Masato MORISHIGE
Ironically, the three consecutive losses during his injury absence highlighted his significance. He has many excellent qualities, such as strength in aerial battles and build-up play, but the most important is that he provides the team with a "pausa" (meaning a brief pause or calmness in Spanish). In the league return match on May 21 against Kashiwa, Yasuki KIMOTO, who partnered with him as a center-back, was actively challenging 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, and Abe, whose scoring ability is also improving, might be better. However, the shock of a high school graduate making the opening day starting lineup cannot be measured in numbers. Their tenacity in chasing the ball like a fighting dog and their all-out effort in battle ignite passion in those who watch. While there is room for improvement in their skills and decision-making after gaining possession of the ball, this can also be seen as potential for growth. Since this directly relates to the team's development, we hope for further growth.
FW
11 Kensuke NAGAI
It's the kind of presence that you want in every household. It's true that having zero goals is unsatisfactory for a forward. However, there is no one else but Nagai who plays the crucial role of switching the press from the front line, which is the lifeline of the team. Whether starting or coming on as a substitute, he breaks through the defensive line and creates chances in every match. The feet of number 11 undoubtedly play an important role in making the team function.
Daisuke Suga (El Golazo, FC Tokyo Correspondent)
▼First Half Summary
Building confidence through victory before implementing style
I was surprised to find that I had imagined a cheerful romanticist. Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA is quite the realist. Before the season started, he publicly stated that "reform takes time," and this may be the reason he did not present specific numbers or goals. In his first year as coach, Albert PUIG ORTONEDA seems to be focusing more on growth than on winning, showing little interest in points or rankings. Instead, he appears to be pouring his energy into instilling his style and assessing players for that purpose. Considering this, it makes sense that after starting the season with three consecutive wins by sticking to a realistic approach, he has now suffered three consecutive losses in the middle of the season as he attempts to gradually implement his vision. Initially facing reality to "gain composure through winning," and once he feels he has surpassed that stage, he aims to instill the style he believes in to "continue winning in the future." This seems reasonable as a long-term team style development. The opponent in the last home game of the first half is Kashima Antlers, who have also invited a new coach this season and are undergoing team reform. There will likely be many insights gained from facing an opponent that started from the same starting line. I want to see what kind of performance he will show when facing Kashima, who is already in the title race. I hope to take that as the answer for Albert Tokyo's first half.
▼Best Game of the First Half
Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchday 3 vs Cerezo Osaka
（2022.03.06＠YODOKO SAKURA STADIUM）
This match marked the first official victory for Albert Tokyo. It was a game played right after the team's activities were halted due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus, raising concerns about the players' condition, but they dominated the game in the first half. Triggered by the high press of the three forwards, Shuto ABE and Kuki MATSUKI repeatedly intercepted the ball in the opponent's territory, creating numerous chances. The joy of Kazuya KONNO after scoring a goal and the embrace with Coach Albert, along with the sight of everyone running without stopping even after going down to ten men in the second half, was truly moving. It was a 90-minute match that strongly impressed a solid style of short counterattacks from high pressing at the beginning of the season.
▼Key Players of the First Half
GK & DF
30 Yasuki KIMOTO
As he declared immediately after joining, he showcased a solid performance in his primary position, wanting to compete as a center-back. His firmness and stability when paired with Masato MORISHIGE are among the best in the league, and he is one of the key players supporting the strong defense at the beginning of the season. Additionally, his sharp vertical passes, utilizing his kicking accuracy and wide vision, serve as a switch for the attack, making him an indispensable presence in the positional play that coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA aims for.
MF
Shuto ABE
The length of playing time proves the significance of his presence more than anything else. He is the only field player to have started every match so far. His boundless stamina and strong ball-winning ability stand out even in positional play. What is needed for the team and Abe himself to advance to the next stage is the quality of on-the-ball play. It would be interesting if he could start delivering the final pass.
FW
11 Kensuke NAGAI
No matter which match you watch, it is number 11 who maintains the balance of the attack and switches on the defense. Whether it's collaborating with the wing-backs or inside midfielders to break through the sides, or making a speedy advance towards the goal, he leads the high press at the front line and returns to his own half with full effort during counter-attacks. His contribution in areas that are not reflected in the numbers is exceptionally high, and his dedication on both offense and defense is number one.
