Season 2024
The J-League is finished for 2024 and provided a great spectacle throughout with the battle for the title going all the way to the last day. Vissel Kobe taking the spoils after a good run late on to take top spot in game week 32, beating Hiroshima and Machida Z who deserve massive credit for moving up from J-League 2 and hitting J1 like a heavyweight prize fighter. Sadly, for Machida Z, who had been top for longer than any team last season, the wheels came off a little at the end but 3rd place and Asian Champions League football next season was well above original expectations.
As for the players the end of season awards went to:
POTY:
Yoshinori Muto (above): The 32-year-old ex-Newcastle attackers overall performances and numbers seen him pick up this well-earned award. 13 goals, 7 assists and persistent threat playing off the right side of the Vissel Kobe attack were key to him taking over this award from team mate Yuya Osako.
YPOTY:
Kota Takai (above): The 6ft 3 Kawasaki Frontale central defender played 24 games, covering both the left and right central defender roles in a Frontale team who came 8th in the league. His 2 goals and 1 assist were sugar on top of his high standards when defending. His high rates of success in defensive duels and his comfort on the ball being the key elements to this award win. A worthy successor to Shunsuke Mito who is now trying to find his feet at Sparta Rotterdam
Now I’ve picked out 5 players who in my opinion would be capable of stepping out of Japan and into new environments. I would always say that the chances of success are as much about the environment a player moves to as it is about the players ability and finding ways to establish that are all about getting to know the player as a person, his and his families values, ambitions and finding out of where they agree and disagree with your assessment of them as a player and the vision you have for them within the team you are wanting them for. Many would see the top tiers of Europe as the dream destination. However, those moves from J-League to Real Madrid or Bayern Munich are rare so for many it’s a stepping stone process.
The first player that jumped out at me back in June in a game away to Kawasaki Frontale that ended 1-1
Name: Satoshi Tanaka
Age: 22
Nationality: Japanese
Club: Shonan Bellmare (15th)
Position: Central Midfielder
Preferred Foot: Left
2024 Season Details:
J-League Heatmap:
33 Games (32 starts)
4 Goals / 4 assists / 4 High Value Chances Created / Passing Accuracy in both halves of the pitch above 80%
Review:
Tanaka is a real buzzbomb of a player. A player who was already having a good game against a Frontale team who were on the front foot for the majority of the game. Regularly in and around the dangerous Yasuto Wakizaka to restrict the chances of him picking the final pass and helping his fullback with Marcinho to ensure Frontale were restricted as much as possible.
Then when he had the ball, he was head up and looking for routes out and made some nice passes over distance to the attackers that allowed Shonan to move up the pitch. A skill that he showed throughout the season. Tanaka topped off his performance with a goal that for me was one of the goals of the season in the J-League. Subtly moving up into space in the middle of the pitch, taking a pass form the right side around 30 yards from goal, a quick shift onto his left foot and ripping one into the top corner to level the game and ultimately get Shonan a point.
This game was everything Tanaka showed over the season. His ability to win balls deep, lift his head and pick accurate passes to help Shonan transition from defence to attack. He also has the lovely balance that somehow seems a little more obvious with left footed players that is demonstrated in his willingness to take the ball under pressure, take his touch and spin out of contact range and gets his head up and makes nicely weighted passes to give Shonan control.
It has to be noted that Shonan are one of the J-League teams who tend to struggle with 12th place their highest position in the last 3 seasons so this is not an easy team to stand out for, especially against the better teams, but Tanaka has grown year on year and this year has been the one where the good performances have been consitent.
Some may look at a loan in Belgium with KV Oostende back in 2022 as a negative, but he wouldn’t be the first player to dip his toe into Europe, then return to Asia before moving back again. I haven’t seen the footage of him in Belgium but a quick look at his data within the season Oostende had was ok. On the face of things I’d say they took a punt on potential in a young player shining, but as a struggling team he wasn’t what they needed and it’s not a move that I understand from his point of view either but that’s 2 years ago and it wouldn’t concern me today unless there were hints at him being one of many players who suffers from home sickness.
He’s yet to make his full international debut for Japan to date. I don’t think that can be far off given the consistency shown this season. Japan have World Cup qualification games in March and as it stands Wataru Endo (captain) is not getting games with Liverpool. Hidemasa Morita (Sporting Lisbon) has had mixed form, so maybe Hajime Moriyasu will be looking at who can potentially help in that area beside Ao Tanaka (Leeds United).
Strengths:
Passing (short and long)
Positioning
Tenacity
Stamina
Balance
Weaknesses:
Direct running with the ball (Could be a little more aggressive with it)
Height will be something some teams consider (5ft 8)
Honours:
AFC U23 Asian Cup (2024)
Overall:
If a team was looking for a central midfielder to play as the hybrid 6/8 with good energy, tenacity in defensive situations and someone who has a cool head to take the ball in deep areas and find routes to create good transitions or make progressive passes when the team has solid control then Tanaka is a good option. He also has plenty of room to grow. I think good moves for him would be to leagues where the technical aspects of his game will shine but where there will be an increase in tempo that will really sharpen his skill set. Teams like Feyenoord or Royale Union Saint-Gilloise would be a good fit. Alternatively, over to the MLS if he wanted to look at a 2-step route to bigger teams in Europe. Ideally for a team who are needing a bit of help with that midfield balance to make them a bit more solid, bring some energy and more control on the ball like Minnesota United or New York City.
The MLS teams looking to Japan is something I think we will see more of, especially off the back of the success LA Galaxy have had with Miki Yamane and Maya Yoshida being big parts of their MLS Playoff victory.
Coming soon: A look at Marcelo Ryan (Sagan Tosu) and Ryotaro Araki (FC Tokyo)
Hope you enjoyed
RH