Brisbane Roar will underestimate FC Tokyo ahead of their ACL clash on Tuesday night at their peril. The Gasmen might have spent last season in J2, but they’ve got enough firepower to give the ACL a real shake, let alone win at Suncorp Stadium.
The capital club were relegated at the end of a disastrous 2010 J. League campaign but predictably pulverised all and sundry in the second division last season.
Now they’re back in the Japanese top flight and participating in the Champions League courtesy of winning the Emperor’s Cup, and they should prove one of Brisbane’s toughest opponents this season.
What could count against new coach Ranko Popovic’s side is the timing of the fixture.
FC Tokyo’s league campaign kicks off next weekend, but the Chofu-based outfit lost 2-1 to Kashiwa Reysol in the Japanese Super Cup on Saturday.
Popovic won’t read too much into that result – there are rumours he might rotate his squad for the ACL anyway – but FC Tokyo will hardly be match-fit compared to Ange Postecoglou’s finely-tuned Roar.
And that could prove a problem for some of FC Tokyo’s key players; namely the injury-prone Naohiro Ishikawa and veteran Lucas Severino.
Ishikawa is one of the most underrated players in Japan and the veteran winger would have gone to the World Cup in 2010 but for a serious knee injury ruling him out.
He’s lost some of the pace which saw him make his Japan debut almost a decade ago, but the 30-year-old remains unerringly accurate from long-range and could prove a constant menace down the right-hand side.
Lionel Richie-lookalike Severino is well known in these parts and the former Gamba Osaka striker was also once one of the most expensive signings in the history of French football.
But even if the 33-year-old is rested, FC Tokyo still have beanpole striker Sota Hirayama and effervescent former Yokohama F. Marinos front man Kazuma Watanabe to call upon.
And Hirayama could prove the X-factor for the visitors, with the gangly striker deceptively skillful on the ground – provided the frustratingly enigmatic target man can be bothered to get himself into the game.
There’s something so alluring about the build-up to a big game and if there’s one coach in Australia attuned to the task, it’s Postecoglou.
Despite the fact they’re the visitors, I have a feeling FC Tokyo will be all over the Roar in the opening twenty minutes, with one-time Oita Trinita coach Popovic likely to have his side pressing high up the park in the hope of forcing an early mistake.
If the Roar can weather the storm, they should have the advantage in terms of match sharpness and that could suit the likes of Besart Berisha and Thomas Broich in attack.
I’ve got a lot of time for FC Tokyo though, and that’s partly because they’ve got some of the best supporters in Japan.
It’s a shame it’s so difficult for Japanese fans to take time off work because I vividly recall the Gasmen bringing over 3,000 supporters to Shizuoka for a midweek League Cup fixture.
They’re some of the loudest and most passionate supporters in the country and though their numbers may be small at Suncorp, they’ll be in fine voice throughout.
That said, I’m eager to see how Australia’s best team matches up against one of Japan’s sleeping giants, because realistically both the Roar and FC Tokyo should prove a tough match for the perennially disinterested Ulsan and a Beijing Guoan side now playing catch-up to Guangzhou domestically.
Indeed, Tuesday’s clash could prove a litmus test for where Australian football currently stands in the Asian pecking order.
And while some fans may underestimate FC Tokyo on account of their second tier-status in Japan last season, I sincerely doubt that’s a mistake a clued-in Postecoglou will make.
clayts
Guest
Minus Carlos
Stevo
Guest
"fireworks" ???? Sadly Victrree have been very good boys and girls this season and it's been left to Heart fans to provide the flares which have added a certain je ne sais quoi to match day proceedings :)
SAMURAI
Roar Pro
The Roar should do well against FC Tokyo, they're in better physical shape and are taking the competition very seriously. It's well-known in Japan that the J-League clubs don't regard the ACL as a worthwhile prize to pursue.They'll field a second-string team but I seriously wonder if FC Tokyo will take this as serious as the A-League clubs are.
JohnL
Guest
The bad new Axelv, is that Nichols is out injured.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Fantastic news, David Jones. SFC v MVFC is one of the strongest on-field rivalries in the HAL and with Carlos, Archie, H, Milligan, Emmo, Nicky Carle, Petratos, Antonis the scene is set for the lads to put on a terrific show for you. You should know that, even for me, it wasn't "love at first sight" with the HAL. But, once I realised the HAL was MY league in a way that La Liga & EPL could never be my leagues, I've never had eyes for any other competition. Thanks for giving the HAL a chance - enjoy the night!
David Jones
Roar Rookie
Fussball and others, just to let you know we have 13 tickets to the MV v Sydney FC A-League game next Saturday night in Sydney to experience an A-League game first hand for the first time. The tickets are in the MV Away Fans Section, so we get to experience the fireworks at both ends. Looking forward to it, after all the Palmer nonsense, doing our bit to keep the A-League going.
Nelson
Guest
Kazuma Watanabe was under-utulised last season at F.Marinos, hopefully he has a new lease of life at FC Tokyo - it was sad to see him go. He had a good game coming on as a sub against Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday, was involved in alot of FCT's second half attacks, including the goal.
Roarchild
Guest
I agree CCM look to be more suited to the ACL and if they hadn't lost Simon and Griffiths I would have backed them to get out of the group.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Yes, Stevo, I expect CCM to be the quiet achievers in this competition. There's nothing flashy about CCM, but they're disciplined, stick to the plan and grind out results. Their main problem is putting the ball in the net. By contrast, BRI will have no problem putting the ball in the net, but I have grave concerns if Tokyo press BRI's defenders. Despite my obvious MVFC bias, I really appreciate the way both BRI & CCM plays football. I just feel CCM take fewer risks - which exposes them to less rewards and also less failures. And, knock-out competitions will be won by teams that make the fewest defensive errors.
Axelv
Guest
It should be a good match, good news is that Henrique won't be suspended for this one. I think that psychologically it's much easier to play the first ACL game at home, nothing worse than starting off a campaign with an overseas thumping. Win at home in your first game, and you have somewhere to stand for the rest of the campaign. Will be interesting to see how Mariners go as well and good luck to Adelaide.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Lucas always seemed to run either hot or cold for me, so it will depend which Lucas turns up. In the off-season with a long away trip and a heavy pitch I would suggest "cold" Lucas will be making an appearance...... oh, just noticed above he isn't traveling. Watanabe is the one to watch for me, he seems to be very consistent regardless of the conditions. I also hope they give Kawano a run though heavy conditions will not suit him.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Very much looking forward to the upcoming matches, especially the Roar tomorrow night. In contrast to Postecoglou's stance on style, I wonder what Arnold will do with the Mariners away to Tianjin? With comments on the tough fixtures list the Mariners have, I wonder if Arnold will go to Tanjin with a bit of a siege mentality with an eye on a favourable result there plus keeping the Mariners in with a shot with the A-League Premieres race with Brisbane. According to Arnold here, it's all for the win: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1096091/Arnold-fears-A-League-talent-drain Interesting couple of weeks of football coming up.
Stevo
Guest
Agree with - "Brisbane are a terrific side but, in my opinion, they play a high-risk game with defenders who buckle when they’re pressed and, unlike HAL sides, the J-Leauge sides tend to be clinically efficient in putting the ball in the net." So maybe CCM could do better than Roar? Arnie will have the boys geared for a tight defensive posture with counter-attack as the weapon. Ange will try to outplay the opposition off the park. So two contrasting styles should make for compulsory viewing. As for Adelaide, need to get the "Kossie effect" working again.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
We beat Chunman Dragons 2-0 in the same year as the Gamba match. In that season only the winner of the Group qualified for the knock-out stages and we finished 2nd.
Nelson
Guest
I agree that MV-Gamba game was a great spectacle and it was an electric atmosphere in the stadium - it was a great feeling when we went up 3-2... Unfortunately, that game was the exception rather than the rule for MV in the ACL, although the home game against Kawasaki was probably our next best performance, mostly thanks to Mitch Langerak. Beyond that, our record is quite abysmal, and our level of football frankly embarrassing, along with the disdain that the club treated the competition in the past. As an MV supporter, I can't hold my head up high when talking of ACL performances.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Asian clubs certainly are well aware HAL clubs can play. Not only have they poached some of best players but HAL teams have put in some excellent performances in the ACL - well before the Roar were on the scene. Way back in 2008, when Brisbane Roar were rubbish, MVFC was taking part in its first ACL and MVFC showed Gamba Osaka - who were eventual Champions of Asia that year - we could play. In one of the best games of club football I've seen in Australia in 30+ years, in front of 24k people at Docklands on a Wednesday evening, MVFC scored in the 4' then went 2-1 down after 38', but were level 2-2 by HT. MVFC then took the lead again, but scores were locked at 3-3 until the 90' when a rocket shot from Brasilien import, Lucas, gave Gamba the win. That same year, AUFC made the final playing conservative football based on tight defending and lethal counter attacks.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Well, Nelson has already made the excellent pick-up Yohei Kajiyama and Lucas Severino haven't travelled, so it could be somewhat of a second-string FC Tokyo side running out at Suncorp. Unfortunately for Roar fans, that's still a very good side! Former Tokyo Verdy youngster Hiroki Kawano might be one to watch, provided he manages to get on the park. And I think Kosuke Ota is one of the best full-backs in Japan (although again, he may not even play). It's probably worth remembering that some of the Gamba Osaka players who gave Adelaide United such a torrid time in 2008 - particularly Hayato Sasaki and to a lesser extent Masato Yamazaki - were not established first-team regulars at the time. So even when J. League clubs play the part-timers, they're still very strong.
Kazama
Roar Guru
Really good article Mike, especially for someone like me whose exposure to Asian football is limited to the Champions League. I am very much looking forward to seeing how all three A-League sides do in the ACL this year, but perhaps Brisbane most of all. I don't honestly hold a lot of hope for my Adelaide boys, and it might be coming at the wrong time for the Mariners. But Brisbane have played the best football of all A-League teams, by far, over the past two seasons and it will be very interesting to see if they can translate their success here onto the continental stage.
Roarchild
Guest
I'm glad the Roar aren't going to compromise but I think it will be very tough to get out of the group stage playing so openly. Despite that it will still be great to see an Aussie team showing that we can actually play.
Futbanous
Guest
Raining heavily up here at the moment so going to be a wet pitch. Looking forward to it regardless. Ange says he will not compromise Roar's style of play. From the following article he states "”We will not abandon our philosophy." http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1096081/Btrisbane-won't-change-style-for-Asia As most fans like myself are ill informed about Asian football, I welcome some more detail Mike about the players we are facing.