Football Season Guide

J2 League
Japan
J2 League
2024
ThespaKusatsu Gunma
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ThespaKusatsu Gunma

In


Kohei Maki (gk) Cerezo Osaka; Issei Kondo (gk) JEF United; Rikiru Nakano (def) Kiryu Daiichi; Ryuya Ohata (def) Kataller Toyama; Ryota Tagashira (def) Toyo University; Yuma Funabashi (def) Nagano Parceiro; Yuya Takazawa (att) Machida Zelvia; Taishi Tamashiro (mid) Sendai University; Ryuji Sugimoto (mid) Tokyo Verdy; Masashi Wada (mid) Iwate Grulla; Ren Fujimura (mid) Iwate Grulla; Takatora Einaga (mid) Kawasaki – on loan; Sena Saito (att) Shomizy S-Pulse – on loan; Kosuke Sagawa (att) Tokyo Verdy – on loan;

Out


Hiroto Hatao (k) (def) Zweigen Kanazawa; Kazuma Okamoto (r) (def) Zweigen Kanazawa; Ryuji Sugimoto (r) (mid) Tokyo Verdy – end of loan; Hayate Take (r) (att) Blaubitz Akita – end of loan; Tatsuya Uchida (sp) (mid) Hirakata; Tomoyuki Shiraishi (sp) (mid) Reilac Shiga; Riyo Kawamoto (sp) (att) Shimizu – end of loan; Kazune Kubota (mid) Reilac Shiga; Yu Tabei (mid) Reilac Shiga; Koji Okumura (mid) Yokohama SCC; Akito Takagi (att) Sagamihara; Koji Yamada (gk) FC Osaka; Yuki Kawakami (def) Kataller Toyama; Yuzo Iwakami (mid) Sagamihara; Shumpei Fukahori (att) Iwate Grulla; Keiki Shimizu (gk) end of career;

During 2023 Thespakusatsu Gunma showed stability and without being hugely impressive they easily secured 11th spot in the final standings. It was the solid defending and the ability to win matches by narrow margins that helped Gunma to even be part of the play-off picture during the first 30 rounds. Gunma were very solid defensively last season, only 44 goals conceded in 42 rounds, but they lost a few good players this winter. Veteran Hatao was instrumental in many matches but as he will turn 34 this year he decided to leave with his starting role no longer guaranteed. Several others that started often left but the depth of the squad is not seriously compromised. Gunma will rely on Ruo Sato to spearhead their attack once again, while in defence after Hatao’s departure it seems Sakai, Nakashino and Shirowa will be the new preferred back three. Coach Otsuki was criticised multiple times last season for his negative tactics but it seems unlikely he will change his ways for 2024. Gunma sat way too deep in some matches and more of the same can be expected this season too.

Target


Staying out of trouble is the main target. Should be able to achieve that easily.