Is Arai playing full-back, or is Fujimoto playing deeper? Trying to work out if this is 442.

Naoki Soma, then. My mate is not happy, but I don't think I've got his frame of reference on the guy yet.

Was Jofuku doing the team sheet graphic this whole time? Anyway, much the same system as he played, so expecting nothing much from this, performance-wise.

I had us as high-risk relegation candidates at the end of 2025. Should have been then or, the latest, end of 100YVL when there was barely any change in approach. The most easy team in the league to play against now. Love him for what he achieved, but wonder now how we undo that rigidly and timidity.

⚽️ Ryo 🇯🇵@rbyryo.bsky.social · last wk.

I think Hiroshi Jofuku's limitations were quite clear by the 2025 J1 season & they should've let him go back then. They kept him for the 100 Year Vision League & not a whole lot changed... & they still kept him... On top of that Verdy are only now firing him after making a bunch of signings AND >>

Jofuku gone. The end of an era. It was well past time, the magic had completely gone, but it’s still a very sad way for it all to come to an end.

Come on, Jofuku, do the right thing, auld yin.

Curious message from Matheus on Instagram. He’s not shy about expressing his feelings when we’re playing like ass, so I wonder if someone has reacted and there’s been some cross words.

Two wonderful goals for Kashiwa, in different ways.

It does appear that the number of happy clappers backing JFK is dwindling over on Twitter. Still a few frogs preferring to slowly boil to death rather than take any kind of proactive measures, but they’re getting shot down in the replies more and more.

Reverun's Combover@reverunscombover.bsky.social · 4w ago

That’s it for Jofuku as far as I’m concerned. The amount we’ve regressed in a year is absolutely appalling. He’ll remain a club legend if he leaves now, but we’re going straight down if he stays.

That’s it for Jofuku as far as I’m concerned. The amount we’ve regressed in a year is absolutely appalling. He’ll remain a club legend if he leaves now, but we’re going straight down if he stays.

Fujimotors makes the bench.

And this! I am, I think, reasonable in my criticisms when it comes to the club meekly accepting being the poor man of J1, but looks like they've dug out a little cash for this, given he was called up for two consecutive WC squads for Korea. Fair play.

Something good has actually happened. Stunned at this.

Bruce Forsyth's Surprised Look for TV Times

ALT: Bruce Forsyth's Surprised Look for TV Times

static.klipy.com

The Japan Times@japantimes.co.jp · last mo.

China will raise its visa fees for Japanese nationals by about sevenfold, effective for applications submitted on or after Monday, the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo said Friday. 👉 ebx.sh/1UrOnj

I also think pound for pound JEF have some of the more impressive supporters in the league, volume-wise. The “WIN BY ALL” slogan is in the grand tradition of [Whit? 🤷‍♂️] J.League slogans but makes for a fine chant.

Would probably still pull the trigger on Jofuku. That’s plenty.

Would have kept Sako in there. Ichimi also on the bench.

Ichimi confirmed - let's see how he does. Probably pop a kneecap in training tomorrow.

This is now becoming ridiculous. Miyahara, another senior squad member, out for the season with a cruciate injury - the third player to bust a cruciate in the last few months. Morita also out for another 10 weeks. Should be questions about fitness management, training, etc at this stage.

Some useful changes there, I think. Korean laddie on the bench too.

Assuming we can add Hayashi to the injury list too now, so that bodes well. Saito back is nice, everything else is deck chair shuffling. Arai should be starting every week.

The general vibe of the Verdy support over on Twitter right now. Can’t replace the manager, can’t expect more from the フロント, and God forbid we criticise the ownership. I don’t know what these people want short of quiet euthanasia. It’s times like this I feel the most foreign as a football fan.

[French accent] “Le Tokyo Verdy, nul points.” Saito on the bench is really the only thing to take hope from, but not tonight. That squad, man. Jeeeeeeesus.

Luxuriating in the replies to Kilmarnock's "We're 3-0 down at half-time" Twitter post, imagining all the things I'd like to send to Verdy if it wouldn't get me excommunicated in Japan.

Yeah, due to a combination of injuries and a complete inability to fund the kind of signing policy we need to be semi-successful, we’re basically a youth team.

Morita back 👍

Quite easy to play a high press against us. Our system relies on having time to aimlessly putt the ball around and as soon as we’re not allowed to do that you see how average a lot of the squad is.

We are fucking shite and we’re getting relegated. Barely a Plan A, let alone a Plan B. Nobody knows what they’re meant to be doing and the defence is just guys standing about. Don’t have the personnel and don’t have the means to get it.

Ooft. 😬

Not sure how accurate this is on a global scale, but the big Lilliput derby is upon us.