It almost sounded like heвЂ™s given up on his development, but I donвЂ™t think thatвЂ™s quite the case given how misleading all his statements are. Tatsumi has given them a bit of recognition after putting their resolve to the test by letting them sit out last game, which seems to pit more pressure on TsubakiвЂ™s role in all of this.ДЇollowing a misplay by Tsubaki after receiving GinoвЂ™s pass, I was pretty surprised to hear that Tatsumi wasnвЂ™t expecting much from him to begin with. In any case, the teamвЂ™s down another goal in their current game against FC Sapporo after a set corner kick play, but with a fired up Kuroda and Sugie in this game with a positive attitude following some unexpected indirect advice they got at a ramen shop, I have faith that ETU will be able to turn this game around. Watching him save the penalty kick was pretty clutch as those twoвЂ™s reactions from the crowd showed, so itвЂ™s a shame it was spoiled by a goal from the rebound chance that resulted. It may have cost them yet another game with the second string Kobayashi and Kamei replacing Kuroda and Sugie, but at least it served as a good wake up call to the latter two on how they need to help Dori out. Players like Dori already has that mindset being the veteran player that he is, but as the teamвЂ™s goalkeeper he needs his defensive line and forwards to press on in the face of a goal. In sports, itвЂ™s undeniable how much momentum can turn the tides, but it has to start with the players first and their own belief that they can still win. In practical terms, the exercise itself served to correct problems within the team itself, namely how several players get too down on themselves after screwing up and canвЂ™t answer back with a momentum shift in their favor.

I originally suspected that it was partially to let them get their competitive spirit back, which it more or less was but only in terms of the end goal. Given how poorly the past few games have gone for ETU, there are times where heart alone wonвЂ™t win you games, so it was good to see Sugie point out how they had a tendency to stay back in their own defensive zone ever since the fluky goal by Javelin Iwata.ДЄs Tatsumi explained this time to his coaching staff, the soccer tennis tournaments were his way of getting the players accustomed to switching over to a new focus and not be discouraged by what just happened.

At the same time, I like how Kuroda is simple-minded and doesnвЂ™t think too much ( or at all) in a lot of situations, as players who play with heart first and foremost is something every team can benefit from. I did get a good laugh out of how Kuroda didnвЂ™t understand what Dori was getting at about how their development as defenders seemed to come to a standstill though. Of course, I had faith in Sugie being the voice of reason to bring Kuroda around eventually, since he was wise enough to go to Dori for some veteran advice. With Kuroda choosing not to take part in TatsumiвЂ™s soccer tennis tournaments and walking out during practice, he doesnвЂ™t even dress for the preliminary game against Shimizu Impulse.

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