by Ray Gunawan
Let’s start of by saying that the last time Urawa Reds came runners-up to Gamba Osaka the following year we went one better! So how will we go in 2015?
Before we answer that, we need to first picture how the team might look after the off-season moves (assuming manager Mihailo Petrović sticks with the 3-6-1 formation).
Everything should remain the same at the back with Shusaku Nishikawa in goal and the offensive-minded defensive trio of Ryota Moriwaki, Daisuke Nasu and Tomoaki Makino forming the back three. Hopefully they will be able to play more efficient
defensively to go along with their goalscoring exploits (they need to learn how to hold on for the win).
Tomoya Ugajin and Tadaaki Hirakawa are the incumbent wing backs; but I wouldn’t be surprised if Wataru Hashimoto takes one of their places out wide. Yuki Abe is locked into one of the defensive midfield positions; Keita Suzuki played alongside Abe for most of last year, but for some reason I can see Takuya Aoki slotting in there on a more regular basis and playing a bigger role. Yosuke Kashiwagi should once again be the “number 10″, with Tsukasa Umesaki alongside him. Naoki Ishihara (pictured), Yuki Muto and Shuto Kojima should also be able to challenge for a spot in the midfield.
Finally, upfront, the addition of Zlatan Ljubijankic pushing Shinzo Koroki and Tadanari Lee for places should make a formidable striking rotation, with Lee being my first choice of the three.
Toshiyuki Takagi (pictured) is also a useful addition to the attacking half of the side. There aren’t any drastic changes in the starting XI but we weren’t that far off from winning it all
last year. What we do need is depth, considering that we are participating in the Asian Champions League also, so that will take its toll on the players.
My expectations are mixed for this year; my heart says, yes, we were so close to winning the J.League last year that we should be able to go one better. My head on the other hand knows that a majority of J.League teams don’t do so well when they are involved in the ACL. I’ll go for top three in J1 and at least the round of 16 in the ACL…
We Are Reds!
