Y`Abe!! Kataller 1 - 5 Verdy

Takuma Abe Effects Pedal With Dials That Go To 11

Holy smoke what a corker. What better way to blow away the cobwebs of the last few weeks than battering Kataller Toyama? Battering FC Tokyo 5-1 would be better but in the meantime we have to accept what we are given.  Groans all round when the team sheet came out, Hirashige dropped to the bench which given his recent form was probably a smart move. However, Taira Inoue was in his place as a lone striker.....something that has been tried before and is known to be a guaranteed failure. Also, surprisingly Maranhao started at left midfield and Takuma Abe got his first start of the season. It was to be a complete performance from Abe with two goals one assist and some superb all round play. If Kawakatsu dares not to have him in the line up next time out there will be trouble.
The match itself was done and dusted after 30 minutes. Neither team managed a SINGLE effort on goal for the first 25 minutes but Verdy then managed three in just over three crazy minutes. Taira Inoue had already been subbed off injured with Yoshiaki Takagi coming on in his place when the goal action started. Kawano and Tsuchiya have been working the corners well this season and it was Tsuchiya`s dummy run which left Abe free for his first of the year heading straight in at the near post from an identical position to Tsuchiya last week.  Goal number two was an absolute stonker from Abe, one which is on a par with Kaio`s effort for Yokohama FC last week.  Shibasaki punted a long ball downfield, Abe playing as a support striker, seemed to miscontrol it at first to leave him facing away from the goal, however one quick turn later; he hit a thunderbolt from WAY out and watched it rocket into the roof of the net.
Number three came curtesy of a free kick from Hiroki Kawano. He was dangerous all day with his free kicks and his delivery was spot on today. He flighted in a ball from the left for the oncoming strikers to run on to, Yoshiaki Takagi and a defender threw themselves at it, in the process distracting the keeper and the ball evaded all and snuck into the far corner. 3-0 and that was it job done..... Until it got to 4-0. Yukio Tsuchiya was next on the mark and he had even found time to hit the post with an effort just before he did find the target. Again Kawano provided a telling ball from the left over to the far post, Wada headed it across for Tsuchiya to slide in and poke home.
Kataller then pulled one back from a goal mouth scramble to make it 4-1 and to make Verdy think a little before the break. The initial ball came in and Shibasaki, the bar and two Kataller forwards played a good game of pinball before Takeo Kokeguchi was finally on hand to put the ball into the net.
Into the second half and Maranhao missed another open goal (albeit from an acute angle)  and was eventually subbed for Kikuoka. Maranhao had a decent game but always seems as though he`s one step from tripping over. Just doesn`t seem to know what he wants to do for definate when he gets the ball. Anyway, only one easy chance missed instead of two this week so thats a step up. Unsurprisingly the second half was quite a dull affair compared to the first. Kataller had one chance with Yohei Onishi breaking through only to fire straight at Shibasaki. Abe broke clear looking for a hat trick but had a toe poke effort saved by the keeper, Verdy added another in the 83rd minute with Yoshiaki Takagi opening his account for the season. Kikuoka played a long cross ball from right to left and Abe sent a perfectly cushioned header back across goal to leave Takagi with an easy finish from the six yard box. So, 5-1 a complete hammering and thank the lord for that.
Now we have battered somebody at last I have a list of things I want.
1. Takagi in the team from the start next week.
2. Abe in the team from the start next week.
3. Never ever to see Inoue lined up as a forward again for as long as I live.
4. Doi to make a miraculous Bionic Man recovery as Shibasaki is D-O-D-G-Y.
5. Shohei Takahashi tied to a post and flogged for time wasting 32 minutes into a game when leading by three goals.
6. Another 5-1 next week.
7. I want to know why Takagi has hardly played all year when he was one of the star players last year.
8. A reason for why Maranhao, Apodi, Ishikawa have played a total of about 90 minutes this season between them. If they are shit (which appears to be the case so far though jury is still out on Apodi), why did they get signed?

Having ten reasons probably looks better but I can`t think of anything else. Onwards and Most Definately Upwards The Boys March On!!