A long overdue post but well I'll just get on with it. Usually I'm not very keen on sports manga (too cliche sport-centric...you name it~)but well this one is a little different.
Sho Kazamatsuri is short but that hasn't stopped his dream to be a professional soccer player. To achieve that he transfers from the famed Musashinomori where he was never given a chance to a public school in order to make the soccer team. In other words, since he never got the chance to play, Shō is a poor player. Shō struggles to improve his skill so he can make the team at his new school and to make use of his disadvantage of height.
The thing about this manga is that each game is not too drawn out till it got boring. Higuchi's art is brilliant for a shonen title. Backgrounds are neat and tidy. Higuichi's drawing of the distance, field position and formations help the reader feel as if they are in the game. The layout is also very impressive. It shows perspective, coupled with the variety of panel sizes and sight angles, it sets up the action and pacing.
Each character is distinguishable and varied from their design to their attitude. (This means you don't get confused who is who on the field) Characters are to scale which is important when you consider their age and height difference. This manga is also very well researched and the side notes by the mangaka aides the non-soccer fans understand.
Verdict: 8.5
