1 May 2008(Thu)

April 30, 2008: One of the big reasons for the Urawa U-turn under Gert Engels is the form of defender turned midfielder Marcus Tulio Tanaka.

At first it appeared a stop-gap solution by Engels, moving Tulio forward to galvanise a struggling team with his energy and his aggression.

But it's working out so well that Tulio looks set to remain in central midfield for the considerable future, especially with a weakened Keita Suzuki recovering from a virus and several kilos lighter.

Reds needed a lift early in the season and Tulio provided it with his leadership, his ability to coax the best out of other players and, on a more practical note, his power in the air.

Against Consadole Sapporo at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday, Tulio was outstanding in his team's roller-coaster 4-2 victory.

Consadole manager Toshiya Miura singled out Tulio as Reds' most dangerous player, ahead of Takahara or Edmilson, and the man any team must shackle if they are to stop Reds.

"No matter which defender marked him man to man at set pieces, Tulio was always too strong," said Miura.

"This is one of the big differences between J2 and J1. In J1, the delivery of corners and free kicks is more accurate, and every team has a player who is very good in the air...Yano at Niigata, Tashiro at Kashima and Tulio at Urawa."

Against Consadole, Tulio notched his fifth league goal of the campaign, bulldozing his way through the visiting defence to head home Umesaki's left-wing corner at the far post, which Consadole had left unguarded.

But it was the one that got away, the effort that was disallowed in the 19th minute with Reds trailing 1-0, that continued to be discussed long after the final whistle.

Again it involved a perfect delivery from Umesaki, who shaped to shoot with a free kick but then changed his angle to pick out Tulio at the far post. A prodigious leap enabled Tulio to nod it back into the middle for Takahara to pounce in a red blur. A wonderful goal, or so everyone thought, including the scoreboard operator who flashed up 1-1, and the stadium announcer, before it was ruled out for offside against Tulio.

There is much more to his game than his heading prowess, of course, and former manager Holger Osieck once likened his range of passing, with either foot, to that of German full back Andreas Brehme.

Engels is convinced Tulio can be equally effective in this midfield role at international level, although he stressed this was not his business.

It is the business of Takeshi Okada, whose plodding team also needs shaking into life after losing their way in Bahrain.

Tulio for central midfield for Japan? It certainly gives the national coach food for thought before the Kirin Cup.

ends