The first half of the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League ended with the 19th round match against Shonan Bellmare on June 22. Tokyo finished the season with 8 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses, 30 points, 26 goals scored and 29 goals conceded, ranking 6th and aiming for a top spot.
What kind of battle did Peter Tokyo show in the first half of the season? And what is needed for a comeback in the second half?
Text = Tomoaki Aoyama
Harvest and Challenges Seen in the First Half
There were both satisfying victories and frustrating games, as well as hard-earned wins. The blue and red army, which aggressively reinforced before the start of the season and added new forces, is showing signs of transformation into a team with great potential, thanks to the growth of young players. That was the first half.
The biggest change since last season has been a significant improvement in scoring ability. After 19 league games, the harvest and challenges have become clear. Overall, it can be said that the team's way of fighting has definitely been built up.
First, let's look back on the performance of the first half of the league using data.
It is not possible to make a simple comparison due to the different total number of matches in the league, but when compared to the first half of last season, it is clear that the scoring power has increased while the number of goals conceded has also increased.
2023 Season First Half (17 Games)
12th
5 Wins 4 Draws 8 Losses (19 Points)
22 Goals 28 Goals Against
2024 Season First Half (19 Matches)
6th Place
8 Wins 6 Draws 5 Losses (30 Points)
29 Goals Scored 26 Goals Conceded
In terms of increasing scoring power, the transfer of Ryotaro ARAKI is the biggest positive factor. Furthermore, the variety of scoring patterns has increased, and many players are now able to create scoring opportunities. This has greatly contributed to the team's ability to earn points based on a high scoring power.
First, both of the opening two matches against Cerezo Osaka and Sanfrecce Hiroshima ended in a draw after coming back from behind. Araki scored a total of three goals in the first two matches and continued to produce more goals. He showed his outstanding attacking sense and quickly established himself as the top scorer.
In addition, these first two matches were also a demonstration of the team's resilience.
In the 2023 season, the team had a tough record of 1 win, 2 draws, and 13 losses when they were behind, but they were able to fight hard and earn points here. In the first half of the season, they also had a record of 2 wins, 6 draws, and 4 losses in the 12 games where they were behind. In order to compete for the championship, they need to turn losses into draws and draws into wins, so it is positive that they are gradually accumulating points and moving forward. It is without a doubt that the team is growing while gaining the ability to come back and score when they are behind.
However, it is not reassuring to wait for a comeback after being led. The fact that we have been conceded first in 12 out of 19 league matches is a big reflection material. This season, we have a record of 6 wins and 1 loss in 7 matches where we scored the first goal, so it is important to take the lead and fight. First of all, we need to improve our concentration in each situation, such as conceding goals at the beginning of the first and second half, consecutive goals in a short period of time, and conceding goals right after scoring. If we can do that and unify our will from the front line to maintain balance, we will definitely improve our ranking. Even though the club has set the goal of "+1 Goal (One more Goal)", it is also necessary to find a way to victory from defense, as we did in the 17th round against Sagan Tosu and the 19th round against Shonan Bellmare, and demonstrate our skill in games.
It will be easier to understand the points that can be scored from anywhere by looking at the breakdown of the scorers. Last season, Diego OLIVEIRA was the team's top scorer with 15 goals, but only five other players scored multiple goals. While a total of 16 players scored for the team, in the first half of this season, six players have already scored multiple goals, and a total of 15 players have scored goals.
The pattern of the opposite side fullback entering the cross as a team has been established, and the attacking pattern of Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left side has become a favorite. In addition, players such as Araki and Teruhito NAKAGAWA who enter the front line are functioning as a symbol of Tokyo's attack this season as they participate in the construction of attacks as "zero tops". The depth of the player layer has increased, and the point where the pitch can be powered up by player substitutions can also be said to be a feature of the 2024 season.
However, as seen in the matches against Nagoya Grampus in Sec. 14 and Júbilo Iwata in Sec. 18, when forced to play defensively and lacking in attacking options, it becomes clear that it is difficult to find a breakthrough. The ability to create opportunities in a defensive game is a major challenge for the second half of the season. In order to overcome this, ideas, combinations, and tactical maturity must be improved. Otherwise, there is a high possibility of repeating the same scenes and struggling to attack. With a variety of unique players in the attacking line, how they are combined and function as a team is crucial. It is also important to pay attention to the coach's decisions as they make changes based on the opponent's tactics.
When it comes to player selection, there have been many games where injuries have caused headaches for the team, but there have also been scenes where players who were sent onto the pitch have produced solid results. Yuto Nagatomo has been called up to the Japan national team, while Kuryu Matsuki, Taishi Brandon Nozawa, Kashif Bangnagande, and Araki have been called up to the U-23 Japan national team, and Ryunosuke Sato has been away from the team for a long time due to his activities with the U-19 Japan national team. This has had some impact on conditioning and team chemistry, but national team activities also contribute to the individual growth of players. Additionally, during their absence, the players who wore the blue and red uniforms were motivated to achieve three consecutive victories in order to avoid being told that "the national team players are not here". Although there are difficulties in the national team being able to focus solely on Tokyo in perfect condition, the team has been able to improve while fighting through the season.
Young Tokyo's Success
And the biggest achievement of the first half of the 2024 season was undoubtedly the rapid growth of young players. As symbolized by the fact that Kanta DOI and Tawara Tsumeta both made their starting debut in their teens, the Young Tokyo, including the Paris Olympics generation, have been performing well. The U-23 Japan national team quartet has become an indispensable core of the team, and Soma ANZAI, who is in the same age group, has also become one of the team's mainstays with his dedicated play on the right wing. The victory over Urawa Reds in the 6th round was achieved with a young average age of 22.73, leaving an impression of a new era. In addition, in the J.League YBC Levain Cup playoff round 2nd leg against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Divine Chinadu Oya, a member of FC Tokyo U-18, scored his first official goal for the top team with a powerful header. The young talent has also left an impact.
The rise of young talent has also sparked fierce competition for positions within the team. Due to the depth of the squad, there have been times when experienced players were unable to make the bench. However, the team has been able to have a battle where heroes are swapped out every game, proving that the competition at the Kodaira Ground is translating onto the official pitch.
In addition, in the first half of the 2024 season, there was a big topic of success in winning away games against Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Tosu, which were said to be "difficult gates" until last season, and quickly dispelling the bad jinx. However, the fact that they continue to struggle to win at home at Ajinomoto Stadium is a major concern. In the 2023 season, they had 8 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses in 15 games, but this season they have 1 win, 4 draws, and 3 losses in 8 home games. Continuing their undefeated record at the National Stadium and improving their performance at Ajinomoto Stadium will be a key factor in their rise to the top.
Captains' Perspective
It was a positive first half with many good factors, but looking back overall, it is also true that there were many games where we dropped points due to unnecessary goals. One of our captains, Kei KOIZUMI, reflects on the first half of the season.
"Not everything will go smoothly, and I don't think it will be that easy. But as a team, I believe we can push for higher rankings and we know what needs to be improved. I want to focus on myself and aim for the top with a sense of unity. Even if the players work hard and the fans get excited, we can never win without everyone's support. When the power of everyone comes together, Tokyo will undoubtedly be strong. So, while focusing on the upcoming game and plays, I want us to be able to have those kinds of games together every match."
"This season, the team has become more demanding. Many young players are playing in the games, but we are able to communicate well and demand from each other. When we step onto the pitch, we must work towards one victory equally. Everyone has started to speak up, but I want them to demand more and show their own desires, and move for the improvement of the team. I also want to continue to encourage the team more and more. In order to do that, whether it's in practice or in games, I always try to be the one who works the hardest, runs the most for the team, and fights for the ball the most. Anyone can just talk, but we have to earn the recognition of the team."
"It is our responsibility that we have not been able to win despite having so many fans and supporters coming to the stadium. The strength at home gives momentum to the team, so we definitely want to win at Ajinomoto in the second half of the season."
The team is definitely moving forward in many ways. However, it was also a first half of the season where we could have had better results. In the second half of the season, some injured players will gradually return, but it is also expected that players from the U-23 generation will be absent due to the Paris Olympics. Even so, if we focus on the details and reduce easy goals, and continue to demonstrate the strength we have started to show, it is not impossible to achieve even higher rankings. After the Shonan game, there were banners in the stands saying "Go higher! We can do it" and "Come back in the second half". There is no doubt that both the players on the field and the fans and supporters fighting together feel that there is more we can do. In the second half, we want to firmly turn that into results with the power of everyone.
