Daizen Maeda

Its all about the hairodynamics. Scores a hatrick, hitting cross field passes right into feet.
Telling ye...hairodynamics

 

Think sometimes the best argument for him is just look at us without him, because he can be baffling at times watching him, honestly such a unique player, I’ve not got a single example in all my time of watching football of a player I could compare him to.

 

Ivica Olic probably the most high profile one I can remember, at times he looked like he'd never seen a football before but played like a man possessed 100% of the time.

 

Funny enough the only guy that popped into my head when I was trying to think there but don’t feel it’s quite right, because Olic wasn’t wildly inconsistent with on the ball/end product but in terms of work rate, intensity, stamina and using those aspects smartly, then aye probably Olic.

 

Aye, don't think he'd have played for Bayern if he had frequently played like he had turnips for feet. Maeda's ability is truly baffling, as it's not like he doesn't have the technique to pull off the outrageous.

 

Maeda shows some astounding technique for what you expect from him, as soon as I finally get very frustrated from him eventually and say he can’t control a baw.

The game at Parkhead against the Huns, I turned to my pal sitting next to me and said has he controlled the ball once the day, and as it left my mouth Taylor put a crossfield pass to him and he brought the ball down beautifully on his left big toe, while in the air challenging for the ball.

Then ran into the defender and lost it tbf but he’s just Daizen int he?

 

Agathe

 

Can see that actually, confusingly quick and frustrating, with an end product that is wild, until it’s absolutely not.

For Celtic I think Samaras, but approaching it from the opposite direction, evoke the same feelings for the opposite reasons.

 

I think this thread is actually a reflection of him as a player. It goes from one extreme end of the spectrum to the other. No in-between lol

 

Unpredictable with zero held back as well.

 

Daizen is ADHD personified

 

It’s so weird how much the Japan manager just doesn’t rate Kyogo at all.

I’m sure the first year he was here he said something like he doesn’t work off the ball enough or for the team, something daft like that.

Kyogo’s workrate and pressing from the front is close to Maeda’s, the biggest difference is Maeda does it all over his side of the pitch and in the middle as well. Kyogo’s constantly closing down, constantly moving. Honestly for a guy that at times has had 4 touches, 2 goals, he must run the same amount of miles as the fullbacks. He doesn’t stay still ever. Must be exhausting playing against him, doesn’t give a second of rest

 

Moriyasu probaby just wants a bit more physicality up top I reckon.

 

I can get that, and possibly poorly translated interviews making it over here but anytime I’ve seen anything that’s been him talking about Kyogo it just seems a blatant wrong opinion. I’m just glad Maeda and Hatate get call ups, because otherwise I imagine he could be thinking maybe it’s the league. It’s clear he just doesn’t rate him for some reason, even for last gasp goalscorer to bring on. Especially last year he called up 3/4 strikers that were less goals than Kyogo on his own, this time last year I think it was.

 

Or he's wanting a punch.

 

More believable than a guy getting to that level of the game, and judging them in the World Cup anyway a legitimately good manager, who rates Maeda above Kyogo as a striker

 

Tbh, and as much as I absolutely love Kyogo, if you watch him playing for Japan compared to the other guys getting picked, Kyogo just isn't as effective as the others. There's no question he's a better striker than Maeda and tbh I think he's better than Akano and Ogawa too but it's horses for courses. Same way some of us prefer Idah over Kyogo in Rodgers system.

I have a bigger issue if Moriyasu blanks Hatate though. Japan absolutely need someone like that in the squad. Even if on the bench to come on and inject some creativity into the midfield.

 

Guys definitely done a job well enough to make calls like that, but I’d still say having a lot of hardworking low scoring strikers and not giving himself the option of a born goalscorer and seeing him label as not a team player (it was something like that or not hardworking can you remember this as well?)


Hatate got called up for the Asian Cup before he’d even returned for us or just had 15 mins as a sub, think he’s a nailed on call up for them from that. Maeda is nailed on definitely, from the games I’ve seen from them he’s absolutely crucial. Similar as Maeda for Ange, absolutely sets the tone and standard for the press and workrate. He was excellent in the World Cup. Honestly think Maeda would be far better in the Premiership for a club like Bournemouth etc. than he would be in a dominant team like us. Some of his European games for us shows that, and he always has an impact against Rangers.

Give him space and isolated defenders to harass, rather than a low block, he’s a monster.

 

Yeah that's fair. I think if Japan had a different manager with a more pro-active approach, Kyogo would be far more involved in the squads. It's a shame for the wee guy but he's been such an iconic and important player for us and for me that's all that matters.

* knows the type of team Maeda would be good for. The guy is the wildest enigma I've ever seen in football