THE NEW MAN?

Various newspapers are reporting the Verdy head coach Tetsuji Hashiratani will be the new manager of Tokyo Verdy 1969 after the team returns from Kyoto. Hashiritani was a legendary defender and midfielder for the predecessor to Yokohama F Marinos (Nissan Club) in the JSL before moving on to Yomiuri Club/Kawasaki Verdy in 1992. Hashiritani previously held stints as a position coach with the Urawa Reds and a short stint as interim manager of Consadole Sapporo. His record was a less than stellar 1 win 6 losses witht the then struggling Consadole side.

The Verdy 196.9 site already shows the team starting to change formation. In a friendly loss against Kokushikan University, the squad went with a 3-5-2 strategy

http://ameblo.jp/revoverdy/

If I were to guess what type of lineup would be set out with a new 3-5-2, it would be like this


Hulk Hiramoto


Diego

Hattori Kanazawa

Ze Luis Ono


Togawa Tsuchiya Fukuda

Takagi

I fear for the defense in this formation but the offense would get going again, making for alot of fun, high scoring contests. A big unknown is who Hashiratani rates as starters and who will be satellie fodder. There are some huge unknowns going on with this club......it's like the old curse, "May you live in interesting times!"

MITO "HIGHLIGHTS" HERE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5KWGCIo8sE

If you can stomach it, here is a collection of the very WORST of Tokyo Verdy 1969....VERSION 2007. Mito looked good however so if you want to appreciate a hard working squad, take a look.

Finally, Verdy will go for a club record 8 losses in a row when they take on the rising Kyoto Sanga FC in Kyoto. One thing they have going for them is Kyoto has been disappointing after big wins. The Sanga managed to upend Vegalta in Sendai to drop them into 4th and give them their first loss of the year. Actually, Freaky Thursday saw the rise of Avispa Fukuoka and Montedio Yamagata into the two safe positions for promotion.