Ao Ashi features a pretty predictable and generic protagonist as well as a barely fleshed-out cast of characters that rely on flashback sequences for the viewer to empathize with their feelings. Why is it that, then, Ao Ashi manages to deliver as a show?
Well, it's the character dynamics. The J-youth club that Ashito plays for, Esperion, resembles an actual sports club rather than a romanticized one that sports anime love to portray. People play for the purpose of going pro, not making friends. It's kind of cutthroat, and when people do make meaningful relationships with each other, it's exclusive. In this manner, Ashito breaks away from the mold as a main character. Yes, he's pretty typical in his strengths and weaknesses. He's got overpowered--basically a cheat ability--with rather weak physical and ball control skills, but his ability makes up for it, and as a result, he's still really strong. Of course, his skill set is best suited for being a playmaker. What a coincidence that the protagonist is also the playmaker that coordinates the entire team. Wow.
Yes, Ashito is clearly not a standout when it comes to either his skills, but his personality fares a bit better. He's pretty rambunctious and high-spirited most of the time, but he's also on edge and lacks self confidence on the other hand. And he actually needs other peoples' help to get back up; mental damage and pressure actually affect him more than a typical unyielding type protagonist would.
Of course, what I described wasn't exactly unique, either. What really stands out about Ashito and our cast of characters really boils down to, well, I said it before, character dynamics. Despite Ashito having the makings of a captain-like figure, he isn't the captain, and nor does he really act like one outside of games. He doesn't actually befriend anyone, and he too has personal preferences. He takes charge in discussions that involve nuanced positions and expresses his opinion to take a player's side. He has his own inner circle and outer circle of friends he talks to, and this applies to every character. Similar to school and other clubs, in reality, it's pretty impossible for each character to mesh well in such a large group. People will break off into their own groups based on their personalities and circumstances. In the case of Esperion, it's a bit campy, but it really is a matter of an "us vs them" mentality. You have promoted players from the junior youth team vs the scouted and people who passed tryouts. You have people who prefer conventional methods vs people who do not. You have the A team vs the B team.
Players snarl at each other when the game is taking a bad turn and there's bad chemistry between certain characters. The seniors don't lead the juniors by their hands, and neither do the coaches. They sometimes offer a little help here and there, but it's really up to that particular person's inner circle of friends to really prop them up. Ashito isn't super familiar with everyone on his own B team, let alone the A team that he barely has interacted with at all in this series. Of course, I'm exaggerating a bit here. It's not like everyone is at each other's throats all the time, and everyone makes a conscious effort to win and mesh together as a team. That said, I'm glad that Ashito isn't the captain role in a team where everyone links hands to win a game. Sure, everyone does link hands to win games, but it's not necessarily Ashito that makes that change, but everyones' own independent effort.
The romance is pretty one-note and isn't anything special. Everything is so telegraphed, but it develops in a steady manner at least. There isn't a 500-chapter long run where the love interests just dawdle their hands and act embarrassed around each other.
I'm happy at the change of pace in terms of character dynamics and the role of the main character, so I'll put my score where it is. Let's see what happens in season 2.