J.League wrap: Week six

31.12.69

Shoma Doi and Gaku Shibasaki, who saw only momentary action in their rookie seasons last year, are also starting regularly, as are Yasushi Endo and Yuya Osako, who have been on the duo for a few years but only earned a starting role in the latter... There are a few extraordinary factors which help to explain the team’s slow on the uptake start this year, and which ensured that the team’s expectations (and those of Antlers fans) were subdued. Kashima has embarked on a wholesale rejuvenation of the band, and if anything, the team’s slow start has encouraged coach Jorginho to accelerate the shift to younger players. In latest weeks, Jorginho has started as many as seven players who were not regulars last season. Several of these are true rookies, including defender Kazuya Yamamura, defensive midfielder Takahide Umebachi and attacking midfielder Gen Shoji.

Source: The Roar