Takayuki Morimoto Won't Play

All over Japan, millions of people are shedding tears over their tatami mats. No, the tuna (maguro) population has not become extinct. Thank goodness, I mean could you imagine? But Calcio Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto has pulled out of this weekend's friendly against the Netherlands and the Sept. 9 match against Ghana.

Morimoto has been billed by this blogger as "The Future," and was set to make his senior squad debut. It is my opinion, and that of other many other football fans, that Morimoto far exceeds any other Japanese striking talent. If football prowess were based on distance from my house, Morimoto would represent Pluto, and all other Japanese strikers would be McDonalds, Walmart, and doghouse in my backyard. Okay, my apologies to Shinji Okazaki. Okazaki can be the IKEA, thats just too far to make a regular visit, but when I do, oh man it's exciting.

Morimoto suffered a left thigh injury in his latest club match against Sampdoria. That match served as a paragon of Morimoto's young career. By scoring the lone goal, he showed off his great skill and potential, but by suffering the injury, has also displayed his greatest detriment; the concern over his inability to remain healthy over a prolonged period of time.

His injury, while terribly disheartening to the Blue Samurai fans, could be an opportunity for coach Okada to try new tactics. Personally, it is my belief that football managers should focus on playing the best available players as opposed to working around set formations. With Morimoto ruled out, Okada will most likely play Okazaki and Keiji Tamada of Nagoya Grampus up- front in his favored 4-4-2.

I suggest a 4-5-1 formation that allows Japan to play all 5 of their star midfielders with Okazaki playing the lone striker role. The 4-2-3-1 , while seemingly more defensive than the 2 strikers allocated in 4-4-2, may actually prove to better highlight Japan's strengths. In the 4-3-2-1, Japan's midfielders would have more freedom to step up in the attack if the opportunity presented itself, while being able to rely on the additional midfielder to fill the defensive hole. My formation would resemble:

Tsuzuki

Uchida - Tulio - Nakazawa- Nagatomo

Hasebe - Endo

Honda - K. Nakamura - S. Nakamura

Okazaki

Well, regardless of how everything plays out, Morimoto's loss will be heavily felt and drains much of the excitement in the build up to this big friendly. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope he'll be with us for Scotland on Oct. 10.

Now its dinner time: mmmm tuna.