So while the European football season is wrapping up, there are still other football leagues around the world continuing; one of them being the J-League. I know that the J-League isn't one of the "big leagues" like the English Premier League or the La Liga of Spain, but in my opinion it's possibly one of the most exciting leagues to follow. It's possibly not the easiest leagues to follow; but defiantly not impossible.
Even though the J-League season continues, it is however on a break for about a month. During this time the Nabisco Cup (League Cup) will be played along with some international games; including the World Cup Qualifiers, Asian Cup Qualifiers as well as the Kirin Cup (International friendlies).
So I thought it's a good time to reflect on the progress of the Urawa Reds so far this season. We are sitting 2nd on the table 4 points behind league leaders Kashima; Kashima does have a game in hand though. I think one of the most exciting aspects of the season so far has definitely the injection of youth that manager Volker Finke has installed into the team. This isn't a regular occurrence in the J-League; where alot of young players struggle to find playing time as they don't have the "trust" of their managers, but it appears that manager Finke has adapted to this kind of J-League mentality. Youngsters Genki Haraguchi and Noaki Yamada has been a regular feature in this years starting 11, Sergio Escudero & Shunki Takahashi are beginning to receive regular playing time and Yasuke Hayashi made his J-League debut this season.
Genki Haraguchi
There is another player that I do want to see alot more of this season though; Tsukasa Umesaki. He's out at the moment with a Lumbago (lower back injury). I was regularly playing in the first few games of the pre season before he was injured, so I do hope he is in the managers plans; or else I need to buy myself a new Urawa jersey and find myself a new favorite Urawa player.
As the season restarts again in late June, I do hope to see Urawa close in on Kashima, but there is still a long away to go in the season and we don't know what will happen between now and then. I'm also hoping the manager Finke will continue to infuse the younger players with the experienced players, as the focus isn't only on the current season but also on the coming years.
Even though the J-League season continues, it is however on a break for about a month. During this time the Nabisco Cup (League Cup) will be played along with some international games; including the World Cup Qualifiers, Asian Cup Qualifiers as well as the Kirin Cup (International friendlies).
So I thought it's a good time to reflect on the progress of the Urawa Reds so far this season. We are sitting 2nd on the table 4 points behind league leaders Kashima; Kashima does have a game in hand though. I think one of the most exciting aspects of the season so far has definitely the injection of youth that manager Volker Finke has installed into the team. This isn't a regular occurrence in the J-League; where alot of young players struggle to find playing time as they don't have the "trust" of their managers, but it appears that manager Finke has adapted to this kind of J-League mentality. Youngsters Genki Haraguchi and Noaki Yamada has been a regular feature in this years starting 11, Sergio Escudero & Shunki Takahashi are beginning to receive regular playing time and Yasuke Hayashi made his J-League debut this season.
Genki HaraguchiAs the season restarts again in late June, I do hope to see Urawa close in on Kashima, but there is still a long away to go in the season and we don't know what will happen between now and then. I'm also hoping the manager Finke will continue to infuse the younger players with the experienced players, as the focus isn't only on the current season but also on the coming years.
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