FEATURE: SHINJI OKAZAKI BEGINS NEW ADVENTURE AT LEICESTER
The new Premier League season gets underway on August 8th, and 2015-16 will see another Japanese international aiming for success in England, with Shinji Okazaki having finally made the switch to Leicester City from Mainz.
In the last few years a handful of players have tried and failed to make a telling impact in the division, and while Maya Yoshida has done well to establish himself as a semi-regular at Southampton, the likes of Tadanari Lee, Shinji Kagawa, and Ryo Miyaichi have all struggled to demonstrate their true ability in the English top flight.
Okazaki differs slightly from that trio in that he is already 29, has five years of Bundesliga experience behind him, and has long been established as Japan’s first-choice striker. Leicester were chasing his signature for some time and hopes are high in Japan that the former Shimizu S-Pulse man can hit the ground running at the King Power Stadium.
Rob Tanner, who covers the Foxes for the Leicester Mercury newspaper, suggests that expectations are a little more muted in the city itself, although he thinks from what he has seen of Okazaki in the Bundesliga that he is suited to the style of play in England.
“I knew that City had been chasing him for a year because Nigel Pearson told us,” he said. “His goalscoring record isn’t sensational but he fits the mould of a Pearson striker as he is very hard working and mobile.”
Of course Pearson is no longer coaching the side, with former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri having been appointed to replace him on July 13th. Quite how that affects Okazaki remains to be seen, but Tanner doesn’t think the change should cause too many concerns.
“I think everyone has a clean slate and he will have to impress Ranieri in training and pre-season like the rest of them. Obviously, the fact that Pearson had pursued him for a year at least meant he was highly rated and it is uncertain how Ranieri rates him.”
Leicester fan Mayur Bhanji actually thinks the arrival of ‘The Tinkerman’ may benefit Okazaki.
“Even though Okazaki is a Pearson signing, I actually think he’ll get more of a chance with Ranieri – a foreign manager who faced difficulties of his own when he came to English football,” he said. “He may turn out to be a father figure for him and help him settle down and concentrate on his football.”
Even so, Bhanji admits that he is a little unsure as to where Japan’s No.9 will fit in.
“I think like most Leicester fans the reaction was ‘do we really need him?’ Leicester signed [Andrej] Kramarić in January and he’s taking time adjusting to the Premier League, but you can see he’s a very talented player. The Foxes have the likes of [Leonardo] Ulloa, [David] Nugent, [Jamie] Vardy already there too. And of course Okazaki will take time finding his feet in English conditions.”
One player he could look to for advice in that respect is Yuki Abe, who spent a couple of seasons at Leicester when they were in The Championship between 2010 and 2012. Abe, like Okazaki, is more of a steady than spectacular player, although that served him well in England where players who give their all for the team are always appreciated by supporters and teammates alike. Bhanji, for one, was a big fan of the current Urawa Reds captain.
“He was one of my favourite players at Leicester. Sven [Göran Eriksson] used to like to play two holding midfielders when he was manager and Abe did a lot of the ‘dirty’ work in front of the defence. His distribution was excellent and he settled into the city well. He was almost a [Dietmar] Hamann type player – never flash but an important player in the team.”
Tanner also has fond memories of Abe’s spell in the midlands.
“Yuki was quite popular with the fans and had his own song,” he recalled. “He was an industrious player and also incredibly polite to everyone. I think he just struggled to settle in England and was allowed to leave pretty soon after Pearson returned to the club.”
In order for Okazaki to avoid his four-year deal being cut short it is vital that he sets out of the traps quickly and takes any opportunities that come his way.
“Give his all and play his heart out,” is Tanner’s advice to get the supporters onside. “English fans will always back a trier who gives 100 percent, but a few goals early on in his career won’t go amiss.”
Bhanji agrees.
“Quite simply he’ll have to score goals and be up to pace with the league. The fans will give him a chance but he’ll have to work hard, show for the ball and of course score goals for himself.”
Okazaki has done that throughout his career, but doing it in the Premier League will undoubtedly be his toughest challenge yet.
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10-man Reds falter to Grampus
After beginning the season on a run of 19 matches unbeaten, Urawa Reds have now fallen to two consecutive defeats, succumbing 2-1 at Nagoya Grampus on Saturday.
The MEIJI YASUDA J1 League first stage winners were looking to bounce back from their unexpected home defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima last week, and seized the initiative in the 19th minute at Paloma Mizuho Stadium through a Yusuke Muta own-goal.
However, the hosts’ replied immediately, as Daisuke Nasu’s attempts to stop Kensuke Nagai’s run proved futile, allowing the Grampus forward to cross for Kengo Kawamata to head in an easy equaliser.
Nagai was proving to be a real livewire in the opening exchanges and was instrumental again barely two minutes later when Ryota Moriwaki got sent off for a professional foul on the 26-year-old, who was sent clear on goal only to be dragged down.
Nevertheless, Akira Nishino’s men were only able to make their numerical advantage count in the second half as Kisho Yano bagged the winner, the right-back unleashing a daisy-cutter from range that evaded Shusaku Nishikawa reach.
The result leaves the Reds floundering with four points from four games, in stark contrast to second stage leaders Sanfrecce who extended their perfect start with a straightforward 2-0 win over Yokohama F.Marinos.
A brace from Douglas was key for Hajime Moriyasu’s side to keep moving forward at maximum pace here, their fourth win out of four matches since the restart strengthening the 2013 winners grip at the top of the league.
2014 champions Gamba Osaka meanwhile returned to winning ways by beating Vissel Kobe 2-1, putting an end to a stretch of three games without victory.
Gamba captain Yasuhito Endo fired the visitors into the lead with a spectacular effort in the 12th minute that Kaito Yamamoto could only palm into his own net, before Takahito Soma saw a straight red card for a two-footed challenge which compounded Vissel’s misery.
Nelsinho’s team managed to equalise from a corner right before the half-time break however, and appeared to be on the verge of earning a point only for Takashi Usami to smash his own long-range effort past Yamamoto to put Gamba back on the front foot in the league.
Kashima Antlers managed to defeat FC Tokyo 2-1 during Masatada Ishii’s first match in charge thanks to goals from Gaku Shibasaki and Gen Shoji, rendering Australian Nathan Burns’ first-ever goal in Japan, a 70th-minute equaliser for Tokyo, inconsequential.
Kashiwa Reysol had spent the first stage floundering but appear to picked up some momentum now, Cristiano’s 87th-minute winner against Vegalta Sendai handing his team a 1-0 win to move them second in the table.
Shunsuke Iwanuma’s volley earned Matsumoto Yamaga a valuable three points in their 1-0 victory over Ventforet Kofu, while Albirex Niigata roared to a 3-1 win over Montedio Yamagata.
Kawasaki Frontale emerged the eventual victors over Shimizu S-Pulse with a 3-2 scoreline, Yoshito Okubo and Peter Utaka both recording braces.
At Best Amenity Stadium, Kota Mizunuma will rue that his excellent chipped finish was only able to earn Sagan Tosu a 1-1 draw against Shonan Bellmare.
Yamaga cut midfielder Doriva
Doriva admitted his regrets at being unable to make an impact at Matsumoto Yamaga after the club cancelled the Brazilian midfielder’s contract last Friday.
The 28-year-old made just two league appearances this season and had been expected to miss the majority of the second stage after undergoing surgery to his right knee in June.
“I’m grateful to the fans for their love and sad that I couldn’t help the team with my play,” Doriva commented.
“I have felt at home during these seven months in Japan. I am glad that I had a chance to wear Matsumoto Yamaga’s sacred uniform, and wish that my friends and teammates will succeed.”
“The one thing I can do for Matsumoto right now is to free up a spot for another foreign player.”
Ventforet release striker Adriano
Brazilian Adriano revealed his respect for Ventforet Kofu’s fans after the club cancelled his contract last Friday.
The 33-year-old former Cerezo Osaka and Gamba Osaka forward arrived at Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium in January but scored just one goal in 10 league appearances this season.
“I was happy to hear fans call out my name at our practice ground and in the stadium,” Adriano commented.
“I wasn’t able to perform well for Ventforet but I’ll continue to support the club. Thank you.”
The striker featured regularly under former Ventforet boss Yasuhiro Higuchi but lost his place in the starting XI when Satoru Sakuma took over.
Reysol release new ACL merchandise
Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday announced new merchandise ahead of next month’s AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
The yellow “From Kashiwa to the World” shirt and black “Endless Trip to Asia” tee-shirts are inspired by fan banners and chants.
Such supporter movements began in 2012, when the club first qualified for the continental competition after being crowned Japanese champions in 2011.
Reysol will soon host 2013 champions Guangzhou Evergrande, led by Luiz Felipe Scolari, in the first leg of the quarter-finals on August 25 at Kashiwa Stadium.
MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE(2nd)
| Standings | Club | Pts | Game | |
| 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 12 | 4 | |
| 2 | Kashiwa Reysol | 9 | 4 | |
| 3 | Gamba Osaka | 8 | 5 | |
| 4 | Vissel Kobe | 7 | 4 | |
| 5 | Kawasaki Frontale | 7 | 4 | |
| 6 | Nagoya Grampus | 7 | 4 | |
| 7 | Kashima Antlers | 7 | 4 | |
| 8 | Albirex Niigata | 6 | 4 | |
| 9 | Sagan Tosu | 6 | 5 | |
| 10 | Matsumoto Yamaga F.C. | 6 | 4 | |
| 11 | Shonan Bellmare | 5 | 4 | |
| 12 | Ventforet Kofu | 4 | 4 | |
| 13 | Urawa Reds | 4 | 4 | |
| 13 | F.C.Tokyo | 4 | 4 | |
| 15 | Montedio Yamagata | 3 | 4 | |
| 16 | Yokohama F･Marinos | 2 | 4 | |
| 17 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 2 | 4 | |
| 18 | Vegalta Sendai | 1 | 4 |
Fastest Idaten Japan and the other "it is not any way stop" (♯20)
Tactics Ronaldo - and is Quotations that coach Bobby Robson of England was in the mouth. At the time when it was led Spain in Barcelona (Spain), is criticism from the media and "there is no tactics", that retorted involuntarily, this phrase. Speaking at the time of Ronaldo (former Brazil representative), it I was already "not any way stop" player.If the hero Ayrton Senna of the same Brazil "sound velocity of princes", I like here, "the speed of sound of the beast." fast, fast. Anyway, it is the fast was the impression is strong.
Speedster Nante also came to expression is used extensively, what about that. Thierry Henry (France) is also Michael Owen (England) also Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) also, everyone Skanda heaven.From the late 1990s to "speed up" Gagungun acceleration of attacker, 20 (I Toka Gerd Muller) "Hunter Donashi" which saw tidbit century now, where - Is it feeling. This flow is also ...... in as another "not any way stop."
Just a year ago summer, Speed Star even Earth's back (Brazil) has been rampage.Dutch Arjen Robben Toka. Recorded the "per hour 37 kilometers" in one leg and he trampled the champion Spain! - Dutch paper "Telegraph" was reported and the like. Anything soccer fastest Toka. I do not know how do you were compared to the old players. Sergio Ramos is a contemporary's premier center back (Spain) also Thiago Silva (Brazil) is also not keep up with the speed of Robben, it ended in terrible as possible.
(Fast it is given) can not be stopped and I have to know - and if familiar, would be helpless. It the world is amazing. No, no, do we have not the "Il" is also in the J-League. Nagoya Grampus of demon feet. It is the Nagai KenYu players. "Sail fast" is a masterpiece in Urawa game at the end of last week. If you assist to level the score the Urawa defense dribbles by rode to speed disconnect spotted from the front in 20 minutes, quickly and exits to the back of the shallow line after one minute, the Moriwaki Ryota players correspondence turned to iron one I was thrust to the calling exit.
The world that there is nothing to stop other than the foul. It is that you have to "10 people" Urawa, I was priming of subsequent reversal play. Impact, such as beat the Urawa alone. Trigger rampage Would that it has raised the position from left out side to the left shadow. That it is whether not the other party is also unpleasant. On which there is a risk to be taken back in a moment, because I mean there is a risk of losing the ball from intense fore check. I was often seen at the London Olympics three years ago. A poor defender who was robbed the ball to Nagai players.
Just not just fast. When (verge) not defeated in battle strength of also it would be attractive. No matter how you practice and not stick to the body even if Nagai players of genius (the speed) is what you want to take full advantage. If you think, in 2002 the day England of Sven-Goran Eriksson who participated in the Korea World Cup, by lowering the final line in order to bring out the fullness of the Kaisoku of Owen, a pillar of tactics to counter-attack that jack up the space in front It has been laid. It is early story "tactics Owen". The result was the best 8.
Nagai players it will be the presence of hidden power of only will decide the team of personality (tactics). If topping the "height" (Novu~akovu~itchi players) and "strength" (Kawamata Kengo player) to your liking, a virtuous cycle that characteristic (speed) is more live. Anyway, Nagai players aim to "strike-through" and on the alert at the front would be a nightmare for opponents. Foot is likely to stop summer war of attrition. It is not a wonder that victims of Speedster there until the physical strength after another.Among them, it might blurt coach Akira Nishino is. "Tactics Nagai" - and.
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