A week after Kohei Yamamoto arrives via rental from Shonan, Mito has acquired the services of another Kohei, this one midfielder Shimoda of FC Tokyo. He's contracted through January of next year.
He is a former multiple time youth national team member and high school standout. he went straight from high school to the FC Tokyo squad but has yet to appear in a league match.
He'll wear number 16 for Mito.
27 May 2009
25 May 2009
Mito 3 - 2 Tochigi
I understand rooting for the underdog but the referees yesterday were ridiculous... After Mito pulled off a nice 2 point cushion in the first half, the second half saw every major penalty go in Tochigi's favor. This included the PK that tied the game. It would take a well placed shot from Morimura in the closing moments of the game right in front of the visiting fans to send those who made the slightly longer drive happy.
Takasaki's two points have brought him close to Arata in the standings and put him on the J2 scoring leader board. Although taking less shots than Arata, he is more careful with them and his scoring since Arata's injury has matched Arata's average. Coach Kiyama's plan of having any player be able to take the role of any appropriate position. This will be important as yet ANOTHER starter, defender Hoshino, is injured. The squad is now fielding reserves and benching players who otherwise would likely not see action.
Despite such hardship, Mito rose back to 5th with this win and this is of course the highest position Mito has held after facing all opponents once... even when the league was 11 teams. Mito is in the top third of the league and a win against 3rd place Sendai on Saturday could place Mito right back in the promotion hunt... while a loss could push Mito down to the middle of the table.
Takasaki's two points have brought him close to Arata in the standings and put him on the J2 scoring leader board. Although taking less shots than Arata, he is more careful with them and his scoring since Arata's injury has matched Arata's average. Coach Kiyama's plan of having any player be able to take the role of any appropriate position. This will be important as yet ANOTHER starter, defender Hoshino, is injured. The squad is now fielding reserves and benching players who otherwise would likely not see action.
Despite such hardship, Mito rose back to 5th with this win and this is of course the highest position Mito has held after facing all opponents once... even when the league was 11 teams. Mito is in the top third of the league and a win against 3rd place Sendai on Saturday could place Mito right back in the promotion hunt... while a loss could push Mito down to the middle of the table.
21 May 2009
Kohei Yamamoto to Mito HollyHock
With so many players injured, Mito has needed to pull in another forward to beef up the roster. In on a loan deal is Kohei Yamamoto, who just joined Shonan Bellmare out of college a couple of months ago. Mito had approached him as well before the season, and with Shonan not making use of him Mito got a second chance.
He'll wear number 20 and is on loan through January of next year.
He'll wear number 20 and is on loan through January of next year.
14 May 2009
For the Next Home Game
Mito's next home game against Consadole Sapporo will be a rough one for attendance. Weekday crowds can be half of the already low weekend crowds, the opposing Sapporo fans (already taking flights to most away games) will likewise be much lower in that situation, and should the weather turn bad (long forecasts show cloudy or rainy conditions) the crowd might very well drop below 1,000 as it did last year at one point in similar conditions.
To counter that, the club has two plans to boost attendance.
The first is the continuation of the collaboration with New Japan Pro Wrestling by featuring an appearance by Hiroshi Tanahashi on that day. He was until recently the top champion of the promotion and was the top star during the group's cooperation with American promotion TNA. He's easily the third biggest name they have, behind head Antonio Inoki (who wouldn't make such an appearance) and Masahiro Chono, who came to a Mito home game last year and scored a PK goal against Holly-kun. Although to be fair, Omiya Ardija DID promote the appearance of a comedian impersonator of Inoki earlier this season. This promotion will advertise the NJPW event to take place in the Mito Citizen's Athletic Hall on the 31st, which is actually located in between the 1-minute walk between the player dormitory and Holly Pitch training ground. With such easy access, most Mito players will likely be there, and the cheerleading team and merchandise tent will be in action.
The other feature to entice attendance is the "one coin" campaign, where those arriving at least 30 minutes into the match can enter for 500 yen. It's aimed at workers and students in the area who might not be able to make it in time kickoff after work or school and be reticent about paying for a full priced ticket.
To counter that, the club has two plans to boost attendance.
The first is the continuation of the collaboration with New Japan Pro Wrestling by featuring an appearance by Hiroshi Tanahashi on that day. He was until recently the top champion of the promotion and was the top star during the group's cooperation with American promotion TNA. He's easily the third biggest name they have, behind head Antonio Inoki (who wouldn't make such an appearance) and Masahiro Chono, who came to a Mito home game last year and scored a PK goal against Holly-kun. Although to be fair, Omiya Ardija DID promote the appearance of a comedian impersonator of Inoki earlier this season. This promotion will advertise the NJPW event to take place in the Mito Citizen's Athletic Hall on the 31st, which is actually located in between the 1-minute walk between the player dormitory and Holly Pitch training ground. With such easy access, most Mito players will likely be there, and the cheerleading team and merchandise tent will be in action.
The other feature to entice attendance is the "one coin" campaign, where those arriving at least 30 minutes into the match can enter for 500 yen. It's aimed at workers and students in the area who might not be able to make it in time kickoff after work or school and be reticent about paying for a full priced ticket.
11 May 2009
Mito 1 - 5 Shonan
Wow! This wasn't good!
Mito MIRACULOUSLY still 5th!
---
Oh:
Mito scores 5 goals in one match against Tokyo Verdy early in 2007 while that team is out of promotion territory, Tokyo is promoted in 2nd
Gifu scores 5 goals in one match against Montedio Yamagata early in 2008 while that team is out of promotion territory, Yamagata is promoted in 2nd
Allowing Shonan to score 5 goals to assure 2nd place and promotion. What a brilliant tactic!
Mito MIRACULOUSLY still 5th!
---
Oh:
Mito scores 5 goals in one match against Tokyo Verdy early in 2007 while that team is out of promotion territory, Tokyo is promoted in 2nd
Gifu scores 5 goals in one match against Montedio Yamagata early in 2008 while that team is out of promotion territory, Yamagata is promoted in 2nd
Allowing Shonan to score 5 goals to assure 2nd place and promotion. What a brilliant tactic!
Mito 1 - 1 Kofu
Hey! Mito tied Kofu without Arata thanks to a goal from Takasaki that looked just like his goal against Sendai and close attempt against Tosu!
Surprisingly still 5th!
Surprisingly still 5th!
05 May 2009
Arata Injured
Mito's star forward Arata broke his foot in the last match.
He'll be out for about 3 months.
Exactly 3 months would mean missing 20 matches.
That isn't good.
He'll be out for about 3 months.
Exactly 3 months would mean missing 20 matches.
That isn't good.
04 May 2009
Mito 2-0 Tosu
Mito got back into the winning spirit Saturday with a very convincing victory over Sagan Tosu. The team fired 20 mostly very good shots and dominated Tosu just as the shot count would suggest, and more than the scoreline would suggest.
The first half saw Mito press continuously and end up in Tosu's penalty area for an extended period of time, and would draw two penalty kicks for the effort. It was the same Tosu player both times and so that player would be removed from the second half. The first kick was taken and converted for the first goal by midfielder Kikuoka. The second was taken by Arata, and was blocked to end the half. Arata actually isn't the best at penalty kicks but the team has a policy of the person drawing the foul to take the shot.
Arata would make up for it in the second half by racing through the defense and placing a low Takasaki pass directly in the net. The two pointed at each other in agreement before the ball even crossed the line... They have great chemistry and perhaps work better together than Arata did with Akahoshi last year. Urawa Reds rentals have proven themselves recently. Arata's goal put him even further ahead in the goal rankings, with nine goals so far this season. The closest rivals only have six. Mito will absolutely have to be promoted to J1 to be able to afford to keep him again next year... Keeping him in 2009 was already very difficult and almost couldn't happen.
Tomorrow's match at Kofu is a big one, like last week's Sendai match... A win puts Mito ahead of Kofu and has a chance of passing Sendai to be 3rd... and a very small chance of out-goaling Osaka to go 2nd. A draw or loss means, at best, staying in 5th, and a Tokushima win would then put that team ahead.
Arata isn't just J2's goal leader at the moment, but the team is as well. Mito's 21 goals lead the league, just ahead of Shonan's 20 and Cerezo's 19.
The first half saw Mito press continuously and end up in Tosu's penalty area for an extended period of time, and would draw two penalty kicks for the effort. It was the same Tosu player both times and so that player would be removed from the second half. The first kick was taken and converted for the first goal by midfielder Kikuoka. The second was taken by Arata, and was blocked to end the half. Arata actually isn't the best at penalty kicks but the team has a policy of the person drawing the foul to take the shot.
Arata would make up for it in the second half by racing through the defense and placing a low Takasaki pass directly in the net. The two pointed at each other in agreement before the ball even crossed the line... They have great chemistry and perhaps work better together than Arata did with Akahoshi last year. Urawa Reds rentals have proven themselves recently. Arata's goal put him even further ahead in the goal rankings, with nine goals so far this season. The closest rivals only have six. Mito will absolutely have to be promoted to J1 to be able to afford to keep him again next year... Keeping him in 2009 was already very difficult and almost couldn't happen.
Tomorrow's match at Kofu is a big one, like last week's Sendai match... A win puts Mito ahead of Kofu and has a chance of passing Sendai to be 3rd... and a very small chance of out-goaling Osaka to go 2nd. A draw or loss means, at best, staying in 5th, and a Tokushima win would then put that team ahead.
Arata isn't just J2's goal leader at the moment, but the team is as well. Mito's 21 goals lead the league, just ahead of Shonan's 20 and Cerezo's 19.
01 May 2009
Mito 1 - 2 Sendai
Mito made a few mistakes too many Wednesday and let two get past keeper Honma and Takasaki's second of the season turned out to be a mere consolation ten minutes before time. Not much to say; it was the kind of match Mito could have won with a little luck but that the opponent deserved to win with their skill and effort.
The loss brings Mito to 5th, and for the first time in a while is more than a game outside the promotion spots. A win against Tosu tomorrow and Kofu on the 5th would get that done, but if not, ending the first third of the season in the top three would be incredibly difficult seeing the matches coming up.
The loss brings Mito to 5th, and for the first time in a while is more than a game outside the promotion spots. A win against Tosu tomorrow and Kofu on the 5th would get that done, but if not, ending the first third of the season in the top three would be incredibly difficult seeing the matches coming up.
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