Japan Women's NT 2024

Quote from brahmin

Simplest answer with this team on its struggle and failures.

It is a decent team. Koga was the best player on this team. Mayu a distant number two. Kojima and other liberos would be third.

With Saori Kimura, there room for error was much bigger. With Koga and supporting cast, that room for error was much smaller as the other and taller teams improved. Japan will always be a defensive specialist team, it is in the DNA from the original gold medal winners, force your opponents to survive and make mistakes.

However with the shift to speed and power, a players willpower can help, but you also need some physical prowess.

In my opinion Airi is playing out of position at middle blocker. She has improved, but in the Japanese game, her height could be used at opposite, but also her experience in the USA meant she was an all around player.

Mayu will still be herself, but at the senior level depending on her for all of the scoring is not the best option. She is a good 2nd or 3rd option.

Looking at this roster, I don't know where that new number one option is going to come from.

Koga is respected by her teammates because she failed in making the 2016 Rio team, which was a year after her major debut in 2015 at the World Cup. Where she had a good tournament. But 2016 as a pro was just horrible.

She fought her way back into the team as a starter and then captain. She was unlucky in Tokyo games with the ankle and had to save Japan in a final match against the DR. They could not get it done.

With some NT teams, you need two stars to carry a team, others one. Koga basically dragged this team to its heights the last two years, with occasional help from Mayu, Wada and the liberos.

International volleyball right now has really fine margins from being a successful team and being an also ran. Japan got a horrible draw, but needed to get at least one point from their first two matches, and they could not do that. DR did at least take sets against Italy and Turkey. But Japan could only take one from Poland and Brazil.

With the world rankings right now, Japan will probably finish in 7th place, which in my mind is about where they should be.

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I disagree with you. Hayashi had been a HUGE help even more so than Mayu since Manabe's start but the shift ruined their flow and made them struggle even more. I like Wada but no I wouldn't put her before Hayashi. She has yet to prove that she can carry this team in terms of scoring otherwise Koga would not have stretched her limit. Just look at all the top scorers none of them are OHs. Japan women's team are out of touch that's why they can't move forward regardless of their DNA from the past.

But I've been saying over and over again before that Airi should not have switched to MB. I had the feeling that was her only way and Manabe's assurance that she will stay in this team even if she wasn't gonna be active during vnl if she plays as MB and not compete with the other OHs for a spot.

Quote from Hassan Kadem

I disagree with you. Hayashi had been a HUGE help even more so than Mayu since Manabe's start but the shift ruined their flow and made them struggle even more. I like Wada but no I wouldn't put her before Hayashi. She has yet to prove that she can carry this team in terms of scoring otherwise Koga would not have stretched her limit. Just look at all the top scorers none of them are OHs. Japan women's team are out of touch that's why they can't move forward regardless of their DNA from the past.

But I've been saying over and over again before that Airi should not have switched to MB. I had the feeling that was her only way and Manabe's assurance that she will stay in this team even if she wasn't gonna be active during vnl if she plays as MB and not compete with the other OHs for a spot.

That last bit about Airi crossed my mind because if it were any other coach she wouldn't have made the Olympics given her inactivity aside from translating. I don't think they can change that anymore though... can they? she already plays as mb in the league

Enter Ameze, Valdes and Santiago come next cycle and the following cycle Miku Akimoto will join NEC. Valdes is such a waste at PFU I don't know why she won't get the hell outta there.

The bitch faced girl at Toyota that was also included in the U squad might be an option too but I don't like her I'm just saying they're bound to get from one of those girls.

Quote from gkv

The bitch faced girl at Toyota that was also included in the U squad might be an option too but I don't like her I'm just saying they're bound to get from one of those girls.

Lmao what a description

Quote from Hassan Kadem

I disagree with you. Hayashi had been a HUGE help even more so than Mayu since Manabe's start but the shift ruined their flow and made them struggle even more. I like Wada but no I wouldn't put her before Hayashi. She has yet to prove that she can carry this team in terms of scoring otherwise Koga would not have stretched her limit. Just look at all the top scorers none of them are OHs. Japan women's team are out of touch that's why they can't move forward regardless of their DNA from the past.

But I've been saying over and over again before that Airi should not have switched to MB. I had the feeling that was her only way and Manabe's assurance that she will stay in this team even if she wasn't gonna be active during vnl if she plays as MB and not compete with the other OHs for a spot.

Well they don't have a registered OPP, Manabe could've made her that why did it have to be MB we all know how limited that role is and how very little fucks are given in developing middles. That won't change soon unless they put more focus on charging up their offense instead of scouting a hundred allrounders and getting 20 Mayus in the process.

Quote from gkv

Valdes is such a waste at PFU I don't know why she won't get the hell outta there.

IKR! Tapia is already making a name for herself, but Valdes was better during her Furukawa years compared to Furukawa Tapia. I even remember noticing that she was better than Lorenne during her rookie year at PFU. Tapia and Lorenne are now Olympians. Valdez really downgraded after her first year at PFU. The Furukawa Valdes is gone; she was 'PFUd.' I hope she will transfer to a better team where she can be a monster again.

Quote from voly

Well they don't have a registered OPP, Manabe could've made her that why did it have to be MB we all know how limited that role is and how very little fucks are given in developing middles. That won't change soon unless they put more focus on charging up their offense instead of scouting a hundred allrounders and getting 20 Mayus in the process.

Girl like I said, she would've clashed with the other wings and there's no way she would've gotten a fixed spot over Hayashi and Wada whereas if she were an MB she could easily secure her spot without stepping on a better player.

That's just a theory ok I'm not saying that strategy alone is the reason she became an MB maybe it was her choice all along we don't know. It doesn't maximize her potential though especially as an allrounder.

Hande went from mb to oh so there's probably still a chance Airi also switches back but another coach will have to do that for her

If this team was truly decent they would've won against Poland and not get demolished by Brazil. Poland was beatable and as usual they were leading but fell apart. They have one "super" that isn't technically a big gun and they have great liberos but how will they beat top teams without more firepower. They were not a decent team this Olympics if anything they tanked this.

Koga did not have a good run internationally that doesn't take away how good she is as a player. Ups and downs are part of the process of molding a great player. Domestically she is Japan's queen but it ends in the league.

they are gonna need to produce at least 2 more players that are 180+ they should set that standard. whether it be oh opp or mb. japan had kurihara then saori erika araki how are they not able to have any kisekis happen in this age with the booming popularity of volleyball in japan surely the tall kids there aren't all hoping to be runway models. they are doomed even if santiago joins them without any tall players especially one capable of destructive power.

Quote from bolt

they are gonna need to produce at least 2 more players that are 180+ they should set that standard. whether it be oh opp or mb. japan had kurihara then saori erika araki how are they not able to have any kisekis happen in this age with the booming popularity of volleyball in japan surely the tall kids there aren't all hoping to be runway models. they are doomed even if santiago joins them without any tall players especially one capable of destructive power.

Easier said than done but yes I support this idea of prioritizing height along with skills

Btw Japan's basketball ace in their Paris squad is shorter YES I SAID SHORTER!!! THAN MAYU. This man is basically considered a dwarf

Quote from Phoenix

Easier said than done but yes I support this idea of prioritizing height along with skills

Btw Japan's basketball ace in their Paris squad is shorter YES I SAID SHORTER!!! THAN MAYU. This man is basically considered a dwarf

i appreciate the facts but you just ruined my sentiment

Quote from bolt

i appreciate the facts but you just ruined my sentiment

typical phoenix

Quote from bolt

i appreciate the facts but you just ruined my sentiment

I cannnt

Quote from sitenoise

it was the truth her 2016, just bad.
actually helped her in the long run.

Quote from Hassan Kadem

I disagree with you. Hayashi had been a HUGE help even more so than Mayu since Manabe's start but the shift ruined their flow and made them struggle even more. I like Wada but no I wouldn't put her before Hayashi. She has yet to prove that she can carry this team in terms of scoring otherwise Koga would not have stretched her limit. Just look at all the top scorers none of them are OHs. Japan women's team are out of touch that's why they can't move forward regardless of their DNA from the past.

But I've been saying over and over again before that Airi should not have switched to MB. I had the feeling that was her only way and Manabe's assurance that she will stay in this team even if she wasn't gonna be active during vnl if she plays as MB and not compete with the other OHs for a spot.

the way I view Hayashi is as follows, decent player, but of course with most Japanese outside hitters, undersized. She’ll pass give you some points scoring, but not a game changer. But Hayashi is on the right side when on offense. She’s always going to be against taller players opposite the net on the right.

Mayu yes is probably less of passer than Hayashi but she scores more on the left because Manabe feels that she should be there instead of the right.

Is any coach going to base their offense around Hayashi?

With Mayu, I would say yes, but with Hayashi, I would say no.

Airi could be a base if played in opposite, but Manabe has tried to not do that. If he even tried Miyabe as an all around player, I would respect the attempt, but having her as a middle kind of limits Japan.

Sankei declares Mayu the frontrunner of the women's team

https://www.sankei.com/article…utputType=theme_paris2024

Manabe: "Her talent is comparable to that of [captain and ace] Koga. She should be a mainstay of the next Los Angeles Olympics. The public is waiting for the return of the "Oriential Witches" led by a small ace.

That last bit is all sorts of problematic. The Oriental Witches were from an era where their European counterparts weren't as complex and physical as what we're seeing today. It was also a timeline marred with injuries and showa political agendas not to mention the absolute brutality they had to endure under their coach.

On another note, Manabe has yet to announce whether or not he will retire as HC.

Quote from Phoenix

Sankei declares Mayu the frontrunner of the women's team

https://www.sankei.com/article…utputType=theme_paris2024

Manabe: "Her talent is comparable to that of [captain and ace] Koga. She should be a mainstay of the next Los Angeles Olympics. The public is waiting for the return of the "Oriential Witches" led by a small ace.

That last bit is all sorts of problematic. The Oriental Witches were from an era where their European counterparts weren't as complex and physical as what we're seeing today. It was also a timeline marred with injuries and showa political agendas not to mention the absolute brutality they had to endure under their coach.

On another note, Manabe has yet to announce whether or not he will retire as HC.

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he always references past legends its exactly this sentimentality that will hinder progress or revolutionize a team's system. he must step down

Does Manabe not get what blocking is. He probably doesnt since its the same coach that fooled around with a so-called hybrid system. That's literally all the opponents need to do to take Mayu down in 3 sets block block block. How is she gonna survive that. How will Japan even qualify.

Evolve or perish.

Bye

theres no way manabe would renew though right i mean im already getting comfortable with the idea that yoshihara is bound to run the next cycle