One of the charges that MOIST often levelled at Hayano was the fact he would start the same XI over and over again. Now, that’s fine for some players but others need a rest. Mini Me had a bit of a burn out mid-season last year but he was part of Hayano’s XI and kept his place. When something was finally done to ease the burden we all found out that Shimizu was in fine form. Imagine if we’d rotated? MOIST aren’t advocating Rafa Benitez style weekly culls but Hayano could have learned something, anything, from him.
With back-to-back Nabisco Cup games in the space of 4 days coming up we’re about to find out what Kuwahara’s policy is going to be. In the two games so far he has stuck with the same XI (bar Roni for suspension reasons) and the same subs bench (except for a change in reserve goalie). This would make sense. The starting team for the first game of the season will always be your strongest and having a week to recover before the second game gives the players ample opportunity to rest and recuperate.
The next four days, though, are different. Oita, who have started the season well, at home followed by Omiya, the bogey team, away. Can the same XI play both games? Surely not. On paper we should be able to beat both Oita and Omiya and the fact of the matter is our bench warmers should be able to perform well against them. If they can’t then they have no business being at a club who has aspirations for glory let alone anywhere near the bench.
In the first two games Aria, Hyodo, Mizunuma and Ogura have been on the bench and not started whilst Sakata, Shimizu and Mini Me have been used. In theory that is complete midfield and forward lines ready to go.
MOIST aren’t suggesting that all 7 should start but if we want to compete on two fronts we need the reserves to have the ability to slot in and get the job done. We also need the manager to have the confidence to give the youngsters a chance, something Hayano seemed loath to do.
So, Mr Kuwahara, what’s it to be? Are the kids alright?
