Yutaro Oda’s transition from mercurial winger to efficient forward

Yutaro Oda has long been one of Vissel Kobe’s most intriguing attackers as his underlying metrics in the J League were impressive in a season which was limited by constant niggling injuries. His transformation from past seasons where he was a pacy young winger with brilliant close control and dribbling into an attacker whose game relies on intelligent movement, occupation of space and diligent runs into the channels has been impressive. In past seasons, he was even utilized as a wing-back because of his pace and bursts on the flank but he has harnessed this skillset to develop into a more efficient attacker, cleverly occupying dangerous zones in the final third as he has the potential to develop as a goal scorer and chance creator in the final third.

Oda’s transformation has consisted of both a tactical development and also a physical development as his physique developed as he tailored his physique to receiving possession in tight central spaces, holding off markers while maintaining his close control and dribbling ability to slalom out of tight spaces. Instead of carrying the ball over larger distances as a winger, his game is more about making late runs into the channels, utilizing his acceleration to burst into space and have 1v1s with opposition defenders to generate crossing or shooting opportunites. When he occupies the 9 space, his sense for double movements and occupation of space are tremendous as he makes intelligent un-marking movements while making intuitive runs to the near post to receive cut-backs and have opportunities on goal. Oda’s transformation has seen him moving into higher quality areas and generating higher quality shooting opportunities for himself as at the beginning of the season, he ranked highly in expected goals per game.

Two years ago, at home to Consadole Sapporo, he scored his first goal in the J League in a move that illustrated his skillset, coming off the bench to burst forward on the break, showing tremendous pace and acceleration to drive the ball past a glut of defenders and then the goalkeeper, retaining his calm to slot the ball home. At home to Guangzhou Evergrande in the AFC Champions League that season, he was deployed as a wing-back, regaining possession to use his pace to drive the ball forward, bursting past a defender as he strode into the opposition half while he prodded the ball past another defender to surge into the box and balloon a shot over the bar. His long lung busting runs and mazy dribbling sequences where an integral part of his game and set him apart amongst young Japanese players. After a turnover in the defensive phase, he received possession to turn and drive the ball forward, playing a vertical pass to the nine-space before a pass was played back to him in the channels to hold the ball and flick a pass in between two players to the nine-space.

After a turnover, he received possession to drive the ball forward to play a cut-back into the box for a shot that was ballooned over the bar. The then 19-year-old was a constant threat with his pace on the break, especially after high or low turnovers as he received possession on the left flank, surging into the centre of the pitch as he glided past one defender to drive the ball past a second to have a shot blocked. The direct running and movement into space was always apparent but in the past season, the 21-year-old has been better at harnessing this to become a more efficient attacker. He made a run into the channels to receive a pass, standing his defender up to cut past him and play a cut-back to the top of the box for a teammate to play a one-touch pass into the box which resulted in a foul and a penalty for Vissel Kobe. 

In the past season, injury and the instability and club level prevented him from becoming a true standout, but the growth was apparent. At home to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, he was positioned in the left half-space as his striker dropped deep to receive the ball, creating a pocket of space for Oda to drop into before making a run in behind as he received a flick-on from his striker to skip past a centre-back and poke a tame shot at goal. The 21-year-old’s game is less about the longer bursts and more about the shorter and more high-intensity movements in the final third to generate high quality opportunities for himself. His first touch and combination play in the central spaces has also improved as he received a lay-off in between the lines to take a touch and play the ball for Andres Iniesta who threaded a pass in behind. Oda was involved in the creation of a goal when he made a late run into the channels, skipping past a defender to drive the ball into the central spaces to thread a pass to the opposite flank for a cut-back to Iniesta who side-footed the ball home. Oda had continued his run into the box to occupy a space behind Iniesta where he was perfectly positioned to side-foot the opportunity home as well.

Oda has begun to smoothen the edges to his game as one of the outstanding facets of his game is his movement and the runs that he makes, especially when he is positioned in the nine-space. During a counter-attacking situation, Oda was positioned in the nines-space as a switch was played to the left where he gestured for a pass in behind, making a run in behind to drag a marker out of position and clear a space which allowed his teammate to cut inside and send a shot over the bar. He made another run from the central spaces to the channels where he received possession, skipping past a defender to play the ball to Iniesta as he made a movement from the wide zone to occupy a pocket of space in the left half-space as Oda is so quick and innate at identifying space. He made another run into the channels to receive possession, holding possession before playing the ball for a teammate in the half-space before he looked to move into the central zones. The 21-year-old received a lay-off in the central spaces to drive the ball into the wide areas and play the ball to a teammate before looking to make a run into the channels.

From a corner, Oda was positioned at the top of the box as he spun past his marker, ghosting into a pocket of space in the six-yard area where he had an opportunity saved from point blank range. He moved to the right flank to receive the ball, hold-up possession and lay-off a pass. At home to Kashima Antlers, he received possession on the left flank, swivelling past his first marker and driving past his second as he surged into the box to have a cut-back blocked. Oda’s acceleration allows him to be threatening with runs in behind as early passes can be played to him while he is a step behind his marker or level with his marker as he can race to receive through balls while having the savviness to use his body to hold possession. A lobbed pass was played in behind for Oda to receive possession in the box as he cut into the centre to have a shot blocked. The 21-year-old’s movement is so intelligent and precise are there are some moments where it seems that the ball finds him rather than him finding the ball as he would be positioned in the nine-space as his strike partner dropped deep, Oda made a well-timed jog into the pocket of space he vacated as the ball rolled into his stride as he drove into the box and had a shot blocked.

Oda received possession on the left flank driving the ball at his marker before cutting back and playing a back-pass as he moved into the half-space before adjusting his body shape to make a run into the channels to receive the ball as he had a cut-back into the box blocked. He moved to occupy a pocket of space at the top of the box as the ball was played to him as he controlled the ball with his chest and had a shot on goal. Oda’s movement, the timing of his runs and occupations of space allow him to shoot and create from high quality areas around the box. Away to Shonan Bellmare, he came off the bench in the second-half to make a run into the right channel, driving to the by-line for cutting back to have a shot blocked. He made another run into the channel to receive a through ball and cut-back a cross as none of his teammates were able to get on the end of the delivery.

Oda was playing predominantly as a right winger as he received possession to drive the ball into the centre and work a pass to the nine-space before continuing his run beyond the striker as a teammate had a shot blocked. On the counter, he received possession in the central spaces to play the ball to the wide areas before making a run towards the back-post as the ball was switched to a teammate behind him who drove into the box to have a shot on goal. He used his acceleration to latch onto an Iniesta pass in the channels as his opportunity was smothered by the opposition goalkeeper. Another aspect of Oda’s game that his grown is hunger and intelligence for defensive work, especially in the pressing and counter-pressing phase. At home to Yokohama Marinos, he was deployed as a right winger, moving from the right flank to the central spaces to apply pressure on an opposition centre-back to force a long ball. In the pressing phase, he was positioned in the half-space where he made an interception on a pass to his fullback, driving the ball forward and sending a cross into the box. In possession, he received a lobbed pass with a run into the channels as he cut-back and played a low cross to Iniesta who had a shot saved.

At home to the Melbourne Victory in this year’s AFC Champions League, Vissel Kobe won a turnover from an opposition throw-in to lob a pass into the channels as Oda accelerated onto the loose ball, using his body to shield the ball from a defender before spinning past him and playing a pass to the nine-space. The Japanese attacker received possession in the left half-space, holding possession before turning into space to drive the ball into the left channel and cut-back a cross into the box for Iniesta to flick a pass to the back-post. Oda was positioned on the right flank as a teammate dropped into space for Oda to make a run into the half-space as he faked a run in behind a defender to make a dart to the near post for a low cross that was deflected out of his path. In a pressing situation, he was marking the opposition’s left-sided centre-back before making a curled run to close down a back-pass to the goalkeeper, forcing a long-ball. In another situation, Oda was holding the nine-space before moving into the right half-space while a teammate was holding possession in the wide right zone, Oda gestured for a pass into the channels before the ball was played back into the centre as he threatened another vertical run into the central spaces, but the ball was not played to him.

Oda is constantly threatening with runs in behind, looking to make short bursts into the channels or vertical runs into the nine-space from the wide areas as these movements have become his bread and butter. In another situation, the 21-year-old was positioned in the nine-space as his team were circulating possession in the build-up phase as once the ball was played into the ten space, he dropped into an onside position before the ball was played into the right half-space as Oda gestured for a pass in behind while making a run, but he did not receive the ball. He dropped into space and moved into the box as the ball was played into the wide zone while he was waiting for a cross as while the ball was circulated to the half-space, he turned his body and bent his shoulder to prepare for a run in behind, but the pass was not made. Oda eventually dropped deep to receive possession in the right half-space, holding possession and playing a backwards pass to move into the attacking line as the striker dropped deep as he gestured for another run in behind as Iniesta had possession in the six-space. The Spaniard lobbed a pass for him as he made a perfectly timed run in behind, but his first touch was poor and denied him a shooting opportunity.

Oda is constantly a threat running in behind as he could be positioned a yard behind a centre-back but can latch onto a loose ball into space due to his acceleration and burst. The 21-year-old is also engaged defensively as he tracked back to make a tackle before he had another opportunity to run in behind in another move where the attacker in the nine-space dropped deep creating space for Oda to run in behind, but the pass was not played. These sequences where the striker drops deep, and the Japanese youngster can make runs into the vacated area are some of his favourite sequences and could be crucial to him scoring goals in the future. He was positioned in the nine-space once more when he dropped deep to receive possession, laying off and making a run into the centre before dropping deep to receive possession once more, turning and playing a pass into the wide areas as the ball was played to a teammate as he attempted to make another burst into the channels but did not receive the ball. Oda had yet another sequence where he threatened with another run in behind, holding the nine-space as when a pass was played, he dropped deep to make a turn and burst in behind, evading a defender to receive a through ball which was cleared by the goalkeeper.

The beauty and efficiency of Oda’s game is that he thrives in moving into space, be it making runs in behind or double-movements in the box as he was positioned in the left half-space and moved out of the box to receive possession before a switch was played to the right flank for the 21-year-old to make a run into the box towards the penalty spot before smoothly redirecting his run to a pocket of space at the near post where he received a low cross to have a shot blocked. He received a pass in the nine-space to take a touch and lay-off to a teammate as he received possession in the same area once more as he was surrounded by five opposition defenders using his close control and his body to maintain possession and play the ball to a teammate. Oda was making a run in behind before dropping into space to receive possession from Iniesta as he played a one-touch pass back to the Spaniard who lost the ball for the youngster to counter-press and regain possession. He did eventually make a run in behind, gesturing for a direct pass from the left flank to receive possession as he was unable to drive past a defender to get a shot away.

The 21-year-old would make a run from the nine-space to the right flank to receive a pass into the channels to hold possession, play the ball to a teammate and move back into the nine-space for a crossing opportunity that was deflected. Oda was positioned in the nine-space once more as he dropped into the right half-space to receive possession, working a one-two to make a run into the box as he received possession, but he was offside. Oda’s movement and occupation of space is tremendous as he has a knack of letting the ball find him through subtle movements as he was positioned in the nine-space as a defender stepped up while he side-stepped into the vacated pocket of space and positioned himself in between the two centre-backs where he demanded possession but could not control the ball. At home to Yokohama Marinos in the AFC Champions League, Oda came off the bench in the 60th minute as he started the game by making an intelligent curled run into the box, ghosting within the frame of the goal and gesturing for a low delivery into his zone which was deflected away from goal.

After Vissel Kobe switched possession to the right flank, Oda was isolated against his defender, making a run towards the penalty area before changing direction and moving to the near post to receive a low cross which he dummied for a teammate to hammer over the bar. Oda regained possession at the edge of the of his own box, driving the ball deep into the opposition half to spread play to a teammate. After his team lost possession in the wide areas in a counter-pressing situation, the 21-year-old reacted quickly to make a tackle. Oda’s movement in the box soon earned him a reward as he was holding the nine-space in a counter-attacking situation, positioned in between the two centre-backs, making a run into the box as a cross was played in front of him as a teammate latched onto the ball at the opposite flank the Japanese attacker maintained his position, moving to the top of the box when a back-pass was played before moving to the near post and holding his run to earn a pocket of space as he received a cut-back to finish with one-touch. After the opposition kick-off, he was applying pressure from the nine-space, pushing forward against a centre-back before moving to the wide areas to close down a fullback where he made a tackle to regain possession.

Oda has made the transition a lot of attackers make but at a younger age and at a quicker pace than most players in his position as he has refined his game between the ages of 19 and 21-years-old. Two years ago, he was deployed as a wing-back but now, he thrives in making runs to the central spaces and wide areas as his intelligence in the final third has facilitated his development into a pivotal chance creator and goal scorer. Rather than being a jack of all trades, he is a specialist, especially in a 4-4-2 diamond formation or 3-5-2/3-4-3 formation where he can operate as a second striker with the freedom to roam into space and make runs in behind or into channels. He thrives in playing with a striker that drops deep, creating space for him to run into as he has developed a mastery in those specific situations. His ball-carrying style is more about him running into open space rather than weaving past gluts of defenders or standing up defenders in 1v1 situations.

Defensively, Oda is tremendous at pressing situations as he is able to mark a player but has the pace and acceleration to chase a sideways pass or a back-pass to the goalkeeper which is integral in pressing trap situations. He can also win turnovers on his own as he is not afraid to engage in 50/50 battles. In counter-pressing situations, he has quick reactions as well as having the pace to cover space to make timely interventions to regain possession in the opposition half to deny the opposition counter-attacking opportunities. Oda would thrive in a high-pressing and a ferocious counter-pressing side as this style would also allow him to make runs in behind and runs into the channels after turnovers. The defensive side of his game has also improved with his time spent as a winger or wing-back.

He will need to perfect his first touch when making runs in behind as he has a lot of opportunities in these situations where his first touch lets him down. Oda has the physicality to shield the ball and control a ball played in front of him as if a through ball is played behind him, he struggles to fashion shooting opportunities as he will need to improve at this. The 21-year-old also needs to improve the timing of his runs as he certainly has the potential to accelerate onto passes when he is in-line or behind his centre-back but there are situations where he makes his run too early. The biggest impediment to his game is currently his fitness as he struggled with niggling injuries throughout the season as his underlying metrics were strong when he got a solid run of games together, but he struggled to do this consistently in 2022. There are rumours that he is close to signing with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership as he could be a key player coming off the bench or in the bigger games against Celtic or Rangers where the team has less possession and will need to rely on the counter-attack.

Oda is reportedly signing with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership as his main priority will be to remain fit in a more physical league with more intensity. The 21-year-old’s style of play suits the Bundesliga as teams like Mainz would have been a good landing spot while he would also suit Sturm Graz’s style in the Austrian Bundesliga as they play a 4-4-2 diamond formation which relies on runs into the channels and runs into space in attacking interchanges. In the English Premier League, Brentford would be a phenomenal fit for an attacker like him as their system would suit him. It will be interesting to see him adjust to the Scottish Premiership as if played in the proper position, he has the tools to become one of the better young attackers in the league.