24 May 2004(Mon)

A new manager who knew his players well, a new centre forward with international experience, and two new Brazilian imports....2004 was supposed to be a renaissance year for Kashiwa Reysol.

But after 10 games of the first stage, Reysol are 16th and last in the first division with only seven points.

Six of those came from wins in the first two games, but since then they have collected just one point from a possible 24, from a 1-1 draw in the Chiba derby at Ichihara.

I must admit I'm very surprised by Reysol's plight.

I saw them in the preseason Chiba Bank Cup, when they demolished JEF United at Hitachi Stadium. They looked fit, hungry and full of goals.

But an injury to new centre forward Yamashita has held them back, and they have scored only seven goals in 10 league games.

Perhaps the demise of Reysol is reflected in the performance of Dudu, a much-heralded winter signing after his starring role for Brazil's under-20 team at the World Youth Championship in the UAE last December.

A tall, elegant and powerful defensive midfielder, Dudu, now 21, earned comparisons with the great Socrates.

Older readers will remember Brazil's "four golden men" at the 1982 World Cup: the midfield quartet of Zico, Socrates, Falcao and Toninho Cerezo.

Dudu, indeed, simply oozes class.

But his problem, according to the player himself and manager Ikeya, is that he is finding the pace of the game too fast in Japan.

Dudu, like all class players, likes to hold the ball in midfield, and stroke passes like an artist uses his paint brush, with an extravagant sweep.

But he is getting caught in possession, and is not fitting into the team pattern.

When Reysol left for Hiroshima on Friday, Dudu stayed at home, not even among the substitutes.

Despite Reysol's early problems, I cannot see them staying down at the bottom of the table. They have too many good players to be in trouble, so should be able to pull themselves into mid-table by the end of the first stage.

I still think Reysol can have a good season overall.

ends