English Dub Review: Shoot! Goal to the Future “The Ones Who Leave”

Overview:

Practices are starting and Kamiya puts Tsuji on the starting lineup. Just about the entire team disagrees with this decision and they participate in training under protest. Meanwhile, Tsuji has to decide what he wants to do.

Our Take:

Kamiya starts practices and creates the starting lineup. Tsuji is on it, which angers the team, but the lineup is final. Kamiya also starts putting the team through Mr. Miyagi-style training by not letting them touch a soccer ball for a while.

Kazama is still fed up with Tsuji’s attitude. That being said, he has hope that Tsuji will turn out to be what the team needs. Tsuji’s still trying to figure out if playing soccer is what he really wants to do.

The team splits off and plays a mock game. If Tsuji’s team loses, he’s off the starting lineup. Tsuji decides he wants to win. He gets hurt during the game, but never gives up. Kazama backs him up the whole time and other members think he belongs on the time. Tsuji’s team wins and four members quit. On the bright, Tsuji is finally interested in soccer again.

I understand why the team is so hesitant to let Tsuji on the starting lineup given his performance in the practice game. That being said, they need all the help they can get. However, they’re too stubborn and don’t take the sport seriously. They act like they’re owed their way because that’s how things have been. Of course, that’s why the team is so bad.

It’s nice to see Tsuji gets his passion for soccer back. It’s also nice to see Kazama slowly starting to warm up to Tsuji. Unfortunately, the tension still feels forced and there’s still unnecessary melodrama. Right now, the show feels like it’s taking baby steps forward. Not much progress is being made, but it might start picking up now that Tsuji’s made up his mind.