Football Season Guide

Mito Hollyhock

In


Shuhei Matsubara (gk) Consadole Sapporo; Ryoya Iizumi (def) Gainare Tottori; Takeshi Ushizawa (def) Takeshi University; Hayata Ishii (def) Josai University; Yuhi Ono (def) NichiFuji; Tatsuya Tabira (def) Iwate Grulla; Shunsuke Saito (mid) Toko Gakuen; Asuma Ikari (mid) Kumamoto Ozu; Yuto Nagao (mid) Kwansei; Kiichi Yamazaki (mid) Chuo University; Haruki Arai (mid) Tiamo Hirakata; Ryusei Nose (mid) Kitakyushu; Hidemasa Koda (mid) Nagoya – on loan; Riku Ochiai (mid) Kashiwa Reysol – on loan;

Out


Louis Thébault-Yamaguchi (r) (gk) Machida Zelvia; Keita Matsuda (r) (def) Kyoto Sanga; Jefferson Tabinas (r) (def) Buriram United; Hidetoshi Takeda (r) (mid) Urawa Reds – end of loan; Motoki Ohara (r) (mid) Sanfrecce Hiroshima – end of loan; Shumpei Naruse (sp) (def) Nagoya – end of loan; Yota Tanabe (sp) (def) Kochi Utd – on loan; Ryo Niizato (sp) (mid) Iwate Grulla; Fumiya Unoki (sp) (att) Kashiwa reysol – end of loan; Takatora Einaga (sp) (att) Kawasaki – end of loan; Keita Buwanika (sp) (att) JEF United – end of loan; Kaiyo Yanagimachi (mid) Numazu; Shoma Otoizumi (att) Hachinohe; Reo Yasunaga (mid) Matsumoto Yamaga; Takaya Kuroishi (mid) Nagano Parciero – on loan;

Despite starting the 2023 season with a 6-game winless run Mito found enough points to stay out of trouble in the end. Mizuki Ando’s 9 goals prove vital along the way and Mito finished 17th but they had their safety secured with 3 games left to play so there was not much pressure on the squad. Mito didn’t play particularly well on the road but at home they proved to be a tough nut to crack. Also, one of the main reasons why no more defeats were registered was goalkeeper Thébault-Yamaguchi and he is no longer in the squad. Shuhei Matsubara has been signed as his replacement and it is yet to be seen if he will live up to the expectations. No less than 4 other regular starters from last season are no longer in the squad. Mito added several interesting young players to the group but it seems the main burden this season once again will fall on playmaker Ryosuke Maeda and striker Ando. In defence the team captain Takumi Kusumoto will have to be a true leader if Mito are to stay out of trouble.

Target


The goals is to stay out of trouble Should have enough quality to do that. Not likely to challenge for more.