Sakka Densetsu (The Soccer Legend)

A poor month, but things aren't going too badly considering you're a newly promoted side. Keep it up, 'mon the Sasuke!

We're on a losing streak, but we have a great chance of snapping it. Cobaltore Onagawa is also on a 3 game losing streak, and this could be a relegation 6-pointer or the springboard to a more successful campaign. In order to ease up on the players, I've loosened things up in training and have reduced the players to an average training load.

May 18, 2014
Sendai Sasuke FC 4 - 2 Cobaltore Onagawa

Despite the scoreline and stat line, Sasuke was in very real danger of losing as Cobaltore was up 2-1 up until the 75th minute, when Sasuke went on a goalscoring surge, scoring the tying, then winning goal, and tacking one more for good measure. Oda looked good and he scored a brace.
Player of the Match: Mitsugu Oda (Sendai Sasuke FC)

Yohei Hirata had to be assisted off the field though, as it turns out he has suffered a torn hamstring. He has suffered a torn hamstring and will miss 3-4 months. We've seen what this kind of injury can do to a world-class player, it could potentially be devastating. Hirata is a kid and heals better, but there's always a chance he won't be the same, sadly.

May 25, 2014
FC Primeiro Fukushima 2 - 1 Sendai Sasuke FC

If this was last year we would have crushed them, but our shooting was wasteful, with the strikers having awful shot selection, and missing the goal. Oda didn't score until late in the match and unfortunately he used up all the magic last week.
Player of the Match: Kenshiro Shinbo (FC Primeiro Fukushima)

That was disappointing, but I think we can take points in our next match, Morioka Zebra have gone 5 games without a win, which surprises me, since they had some big wins earlier in the season.

June 1, 2014
Morioka Zebra 1 - 1 Sendai Sasuke FC

Finishing was a problem with both teams. Daiji Nishida scored Sasuke's only goal off a corner kick, but Morioka Zebra equalized to snatch a draw.
Player of the Match: Daiji Nishida (Sendai Sasuke FC)

I knew this couldn't keep up, so I called Oda, Nagata, and Nagamoto into my office:
Makoto Mizuno: Hello, players.
Strikers: Hello, coach.
Makoto Mizuno: I've called you in here because your play as of late and for much of the season is unacceptable. I know this is a higher standard of play than last season, but we didn't suddenly get dumped into the J-League. I can't understand why the players who scored goals for fun last season suddenly can't buy a goal this year. I can't why your shot selection is so poor. You take pot shots when you could get a lot closer and still shoot. In addition, the goal is the same size and in the same location as last year. It hasn't suddenly grown or changed location. You need to start scoring again if you want to stay in the first team. Am I understood?
Strikers: Yes, coach.

And with that, here's the table after Round 9 of 18:

League Table

This is not going to be an easy season. It seems like we'll have to stay at least two seasons in this league and make as many improvements as we can. The problem isn't conceding goals, we're conceding at a similar rate to higher teams. The problem is goalscoring, my strikers have went from gods to pumpkins.

Great update, you're doing ok for your team

It seems that the goalscoring spell has gone dry, but with a new signing (hopefully) you can start up how you started last season. Good luck

With the first 9 matches done, the cycle of opponents starts anew, just with home and away switched. We also have a new addition, Kazuma Higashi from Omiya Club, who will help out at center back.

June 8, 2014
NTFC Wiese 5 - 2 Sendai Sasuke FC

This was a very harsh reversal from the first match, and Wiese scored at will. Higashi and the fullbacks had terrible games, and they will be replaced in the first team.
Player of the Match: Kenta Natsuka (NTFC Wiese)

June 15, 2014
Sendai Sasuke FC 2 - 0 Vanraure Hachinohe

There wasn't really much of a change in lineup, because we've been using our best players, but what worked was an aggressive pre-game team talk. Uchino kept a clean sheet and Oda scored a brace to come away with the upset.
Player of the Match: Mitsugu Oda (Sendai Sasuke FC)

It's going to be hard to keep that momentum up as there's quite a gap between this game and the one against Reinmeer. However, the World Cup is going on! Hopefully Japan makes it to the knockout rounds!

Japan drew 2-2 with both Greece and South Africa, and defeated Colombia 1-0 to advance to the knockout stages! I'm so proud!

Japan have beaten the Netherlands 2-1 to advance to the Quarterfinal! Are dreams true? World Cup fever is at an all time high at the training facility. While we're waiting for the next match we're watching the World Cup matches on TV.

Unfortunately, Japan lost 4-2 to Argentina in the Quarterfinal, but there is no shame in losing to such a good team. Hopefully we'll come back stronger in the next World Cup!

July 6, 2014
Reinmeer Aomori 3 - 1 Sendai Sasuke FC

Uchino struggled with goalkeeping and Reinmeer peppered our net despite having limited shots. We scored one late to pull within 1 but they scored again to re-gain their 2 goal lead.
Player of the Match: Yoshio Murao (Reinmeer Aomori)

And with that, here's the table after Round 12 of 18:

League Table

We're going to have to keep fighting to avoid relegation.

Keep at it and the wins will come!

Agree with Walter.
Keep it up and you will stay up

Keep up it EB! One of my favourite stories on the site ATM.

With Spain defeating Argentina 3-0 in the final, the World Cup is unfortunately over. Of course as a manager I'd love to be involved in the World Cup. (OOC: The US really overachieved in this tournament, beating Italy and Brazil in the knockout stage, but dreams do die and they lost to the eventual champions, Spain, 1-0.)

The major development is that I've convinced Ikeda-san to seek a parent club for us. I had to use a financial argument, plus a little boardroom martial arts, but I got it done. My goal is to get loanees for free.

July 20, 2014
Sendai Sasuke FC 3 - 3 FC Ganju Iwate

It looked like another game Sasuke would get outclassed in, being down 3-1 at one point with 10 men due to injury. Local youngster Taro Kubo scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation and stoppage time to steal a draw.
Player of the Match: Taro Kubo (Sendai Sasuke FC)

July 27, 2014
Akita Cambiare 2 - 2 Sendai Sasuke FC

Cambiare assaulted our goal but every time they scored, we would have an instant reply. Kubo earned the start from last week's supersub performance, and scored a goal. Cambiare had most of the possession and shots at the end, and only fouls by Sasuke kept Cambiare from scoring a game-winner.
Player of the Match: Yoshinori Sato (Akita Cambiare)

And now, the customary gap for the beginning of the Emperor's Cup tournament. Thankfully, with the promotion we enter in the Second Qualifying Round. It'll be a nice release for me, escaping the pressures of our relegation chase for a little bit and coaching some low-stakes football. Of course, I wouldn't admit this to my players, and presented my usual assertive self.

Regrettably, even though Ikeda-san agreed to the request for a parent club, he was unable to find a club suitable for us. (OOC: I bet he didn't even try.)

Of course, we're drawn against Ganju again.

August 24, 2014 - Emperor's Cup Second Qualifying Round
FC Ganju Iwate 1 - 2 Sendai Sasuke FC

Taro Kubo was the man of the match, scoring 2 goals and shocking Ganju, as they lost a tournament match to a team they hadn't lost to this season.
Player of the Match: Taro Kubo (Sendai Sasuke FC)

We've drawn JFL team Fukushima United in the first round proper. If we somehow win, we'll play a J1 team, Frontale. Either way, I'm using this game to test a new tactic, a 4-3-3 that is similar to my 4-4-2 but makes use of our striker depth.

August 30, 2014 - Emperor's Cup First Round
Fukushima United 4 - 3 Sendai Sasuke FC after extra time

Despite Fukushima United's goalkeeper being sent off in the 5th minute, Fukushima really whooped us, and we were down 3-1 late in the match, but we scored 2 goals to tie it up and force extra time. Unfortunately, my players were bone-tired and conceded a goal in the 2nd half of extra time to lose it, but you can't fault them for how hard they played.
Player of the Match: Yuji Kida (Sendai Sasuke FC)

September 14, 2014
Sendai Sasuke FC 3 - 1 Grulla Morioka

We won an important 3 points with two goals indirectly off free kicks. The 4-3-3 did well again in its second test, it will be the full time formation from now on.
Player of the Match: Norihiro Asari (Sendai Sasuke FC)

And with that, here's the table after Round 15 of 18:

League Table

Only a few games to go, keep at it!

Our next match against Cobaltore is important for both teams. If we win, we gain 3 more points towards staying up. If Cobaltore wins, they match up with us and get a bigger cushion, while ours is prone to decrease.

September 21, 2014
Cobaltore Onagawa 3 - 4 Sendai Sasuke FC

Although Oda scored a 1st minute goal, and Sasuke soon made it 2-0, Cobaltore made it a game and went up 3-2. Yuji Kida was the super sub, scoring a brace to send the team to a much-needed victory.
Player of the Match: Yuji Kida (Sendai Sasuke FC)

The youth intake has arrived! There's some decent players but not much at the positions I need.

September 28, 2014
Sendai Sasuke FC 1 - 1 FC Primeiro Fukushima

We got lucky, getting a marginal penalty call in our favor, but it was soon undone when Uchino was caught out of position and was lobbed for the equalizing goal.
Player of the Match: Kojiro Hatanaka (Sendai Sasuke FC)

With one match left, we're clear of relegation, although we can still finish 4th, which would give us a berth in the All Japan Senior Soccer Championships. I'm not exactly sure what that entails, but if we qualify, I'll let you know.

October 5, 2014
Sendai Sasuke FC 4 - 1 Morioka Zebra

A very special way to end the season, class oozed out everywhere with 4 different goalscorers.
Player of the Match: Mitsugu Oda (Sendai Sasuke FC)

The loss ensured Morioka Zebra's relegation, and manager Shinjiro Murakami was fired immediately after the match by their board.

And with that, here's the final table!

League Table

Unfortunately, we finished up short of 4th on goal differential, although it's a nice solid midtable finish that we can build on next year. Good things are happening at this club!

Good to see you picked up the form in the last month and finished right in the middle of the table. The third season awaits!

Just caught up. Sucks to see you not do as hot as year one. Next year I hope you win every match!!

Mid table is still pretty good, hopefully you can win it next season!

It's going to be my third season as manager of Sendai Sasuke FC. I feel like I've grown quite a bit from when I just started, but I know I have a long way to go. Last season Sasuke finished 5th in the Tohoku League Division One last season, this season we want to go for promotion, but there are many other things around the club that need to be taken care of.

The first piece of business is that Ikeda-san bought our stadium and we can now begin expanding it! In addition, he's given me a new contract so I can keep on managing the club. It's a modest raise, from $450 to $475 per week, and only for one more year, but it's nice to know I'll be around this year!

The board also set our wage budget, $3,000 a week, and a $68,000 transfer budget for the season which I don't really plan to spend.

With the TV money being doled out, I made it a point to ask Ikeda-san for many things that he agreed to give out. They included: authority to hire more coaches/physios, increased staff budget, and a training facility upgrade. I haven't had another opportunity to ask about upgrading the stadium, though.

Hiroyuki Nagata and Yuji Kida won't be with Sasuke anymore, they signed for Meli and Granscena, respectively.

Here are the preseason odds. We're predicted to finish 4th and are 5:2 to win the league, but I know we can do better.

February 26, 2015
Sendai Sasuke FC 4 - 4 Sony Sendai

This was a great showing for us to begin with, especially since this was against a JFL club, even the low-table one Sony Sendai is expected to be. Mitsugu Oda's first half hat trick is excellent and hopefully portends a return to beast-level form 2 years ago. He still tied the Tohoku Division One lead with 15 goals last season.
Player of the Match: Mitsugu Oda (Sendai Sasuke FC)

March 7, 2015
Scheinen 1 - 4 Sendai Sasuke FC

Despite narrowly losing the time of possession battle, we constantly assaulted their goal and had goals by 4 different goalscorers.
Player of the Match: Mitsugu Oda (Sendai Sasuke FC)

March 14, 2015
Meli 4 - 6 Sendai Sasuke FC

We set the tone early by scoring 2 goals in the first 4 minutes. Meli came back though and tied it up 3-3 at the half. We led 5-4 late in the match and had a breakaway striker threatening to make it 6-4, but he was tackled from behind in the penalty box, and the penalty was made to make it 6-4 anyway.
Player of the Match: Taisei Nishimura (Meli)

March 21, 2015
Marysol 0 - 3 Sendai Sasuke FC

All three of Sasuke's goals came from the center-right striker. Nagatom scored a brace, then Nagata added one more in relief. Marysol threatened Uchino's clean sheet but their goal was disallowed.
Player of the Match: Ryosuke Nagatomo (Sendai Sasuke FC)

March 28, 2015
Soma SC 2 - 2 Sendai Sasuke FC

Well, we still finished the preseason undefeated, although I was hoping for the 2-1 lead we had to become a 2-1 victory.
Player of the Match: Kazuhiro Sakurai (Sendai Sasuke FC)

Thankfully, the friendlies are all over, and now it's time to focus on the season ahead.