Three Shiny White Sticks Verdy 1 - 1 Kyoto Sanga

The Ball Goes In Here

Football is supposed to be a simple game. You kick the ball between the three shiny white sticks at the end of the field more times than the other team and you win. It really is simple. Brian Clough`s tactical advice to Roy Keane general workhorse and midfield engine of his Forest side? "Get a hold of the ball and pass it to a red shirt". Simple eh. Nice and easy and could be one of the reasons for the popularity of the game worldwide. Not a million rules, no need for tons of expensive equipment. Just the simple job of kicking the ball between those shiny white sticks.

Which begs the question as to how Tokyo Verdy can make such an easy task look like the equivalent of climbing Mt. Bloody Everest!!! Yesterdays game was a masterclass in wasted chances after a first half of utter domination and a second half of a touch more parity. Verdy could and should have been 5-0 up at half time with the points in the bag and cigar cutters on standby for the second half. As it was, Verdy can only blame themselves for blowing the points AGAIN. In fact no that`s not quite true, they can blame probably the striker who has missed more open goals, failed in more one on ones with the keeper and generally been the biggest flop since another Nottingham Forest "Legend" Jason Lee whose shooting so famously terrorised the home supporters standing right at the back at the top of the Trent End in the early 90`s. We are of course talking about our good friend and Kofu loan-ee; (for the love of God please let Kofu  re-call him) Maranhao. I`m getting tired of saying it but he couldn`t hit a cows arse with a banjo.

Jason Lee Pineapple Like Buffoon 

The Through On Goal and Yet Didn`t Score Count for yesterdays game? TWO in 60 minutes of action. The first came from a long punt from Shibasaki in goal on 12 minutes. The ball was flicked on and as Maranhao came into the box he delayed just long enough for Saito to come in to make the block for Sanga. He followed up with a shot on the rebound but again had it blocked.
Verdy were to utterly dominate the first half with Sanga`s only two attempts a weak effort into the side netting and a blast over the boar from distance. Verdy`s goal came on 25 minutes with Takuma Abe again on target for his 8th of the season. Abe took his chance well squeezing his shot between two defenders and the keeper after cutting into the box on a fast break and feed from captain for the evening Kazunori Iio.
Maranhao should have made it two on 28 minutes when he was clean through with just the keeper to.....etc etc. Hiroki Kawano was to have another busy evening looking every bit as dangerous as he did against Oita. Kawano had a stonewall penalty turned down after leaving defenders in his wake going into the box he was felled no doubt but not given this time. Just before half time Kensuke Fukuda (in for Mori at right back) also had a bottom corner bound grass cutter tipped round the post to leave the score at  1-0 at the break.
Into the second half and Kawano carried on where he left off with a cross cum shot coming back of the joint,  the woeful Maranhao got taken off for Hiramoto who didn`t offer much of a threat and looked fairly ring rusty following his long lay off failing to read a flick on from Abe that would have sent him home clear. Verdy were to rue their missed chances and probably ensured Maranhao a round of Chinese Burns, Towel Whips and Neutron Nipple Twisters when Kyoto were to score the equaliser in the 64th minute. Kyoto broke from defence and as Dutra went to pull the trigger from the edge of the box Takuya Wada just got his block in in time to send the ball for a corner. Wada was called up for U-22 Japan Squad this week and if Japan are to win anything at next years Olympics then Wada will have to defend his corners better than against Kyoto. The ball came in from the resulting corner and Jun Ando was left completely unmarked with a free header at the near post.

Doesn`t grab the headlines like the Millwall Brick but still knackers when administered correctly.

The coverage then cut to a crowd shot of ex-JEF United and Japan striker Seichiro Maki in the crowd, rumoured to be incoming to Verdy following stints in the Russian and Chinese Super Leagues. If Mito can get a washed up former Japan striker then why not Verdy?  Takayuki Suzuki is already off the mark for Mito so let`s just see how we go if Maki does come in. He HAS to be better than Maranhao that`s for sure. In the last 20 minutes Verdy had Abe chip straight at the keeper, Abe round the back for a cross to Hiramoto blocked at the last minute, Fukatsu headed over with a clear sight of goal, Abe had an effort fly just wide, Mori sent one over the bar for Kyoto and Abe even had time to have a flying header tipped over by the Kyoto keeper.  93 minutes of football with six or seven CLEAR chances on goal which Maranhao and others fluffed completely. An eye poppingly depressing 3,007 were there to see it. Are you sure you want to come Maki?? Horror show.
Onwards and Seemingly Nowhere The Boys March On!!