Daizen Maeda

I see him more of an impact sub if I’m honest. It’s hard to judge these Japanese lads really even though I do think both Maeda and Hatate have not looked up to it in recent weeks. They’ve played alot of games and next season is when we will really see there talent

 

Right now he should only be brought on against tired defences for Jackie....where he can press and find more space..

 

Would need the much more space to chase after his 1st touch.

Contract should be getting looked at now to see if there's away out of it in the summer.

A dud in the same bracket as Ajeti, Klimala and Bangura

 

One of my concerns before he came here was that he seemed to get his goals picking up the ball from a way out and basically sprinting towards goal. And there was never a chance he was ever getting the kind of space those defenders afforded him.

In the event though, the way he's being played suits him even less. He's stuck between two central defenders a good head taller than him at any given time. If he can't adapt to that and if Ange won't adapt our tactics to him, then he's never going to be as effective as he could be.

That said, I don't think he'll be as ineffective as some are assuming. See him and Giak as being 'good enough' stand-ins for Kyogo. Both of them seem to work hard and want goals, there's other players doing considerably less on pitch.

 

I think Ange needs to find a way to get the best out of him. Most of us suspected before he signed that his pace wouldn't be utilised properly against the packed defences we come across each week. It was one of our main concerns actually. So if we all saw this, why didn't Ange?

I've seen enough to suggest Maeda will be a decent player for us under the right conditions. But we do need to utilise his skill set better. Ange knows him more than anyone so I'm confident what he's seen we'll eventually see. We thought we were getting Kyogo on steroids but the truth is they're world's apart.

 

I wonder if the pace of the game has caught him off guard a little here. He definitely looks like someone who needs time to get up to speed. I reckon he'll be useful going forward but don't see him being a regular starter, especially when Kyogo's back and we've bolstered the wings a little.

 

He'd be better utilised by playing to his strengths. Getting him on to passes / through balls. Daft to play cross after cross in to the box when ain't that tall, expecting him to win headers constantly.

Granted he has a few things to be working and improving on, but not playing to his strengths makes the tactics deployed look pointless. Folk like Porteous will lap that up every game with slippers on if we continue to play like that.

As mentioned previously. We don't lump it in to Kyogo, why do it to Maeda???

 

Read a lot of sense here.......maybe he needs more time, maybe he is used to lots of space to run into....first time I seen him on the pitch - my gut said - "Athlete first, footballer second", have not seen anything to change my opinion, I do hope I am wrong.

 

We're very quick to judge as a support, it comes with the high levels of expectation and the relentless nature of playing for us...

Yes, he's been poor at times, but Giakoumakis was written off by loads after his pen miss v Livi, Abada too, written off as a wide player, before hitting a really potent spell..

We'll see the best of all our signings, summer and January, next season once they've bedded in properly.

 

This.

There’s blatantly a settling in problem with Maeda, which is to be expected.

He’s also unfortunate the team have dropped off over the last month for whatever reason.

You only have to go back a few months to see Kyogo getting pelters for having one or two quiet games, despite the fact his selfless runs were opening up space for his team mates.

The support are ridiculous with their criticisms sometimes.

 

Totally agree with this. I've learned to shut up and see after my criticism of Ralston who I said would never make it as a celtic player but this season has been a standout for me and made me eat my words. Need to give the guy some time to adapt and let's see what he's like after Ange has got him into his celtic style of play.

 

Needs to play well and get a goal or two tonight for his confidence.

 

Hatrick incoming

 

Needs time to settle in. Judge next season

 

I don’t think people commenting on the fact that he’s been playing poorly are wrong though, he has been overall. If we want to be champions this season (now we’re in a realistic position to achieve that) then we can’t afford passengers.

 

I think this is a fair opinion.

It’s about getting what you can while he settles and improves and also being careful not too write them off permanently because of a tough few months.

 

Hopefully bag a goal or three tonight seeing as he’s likely to get the nod again.

 

If he doesn't settle then there's no guarantees he'll be here next season.

He's only on loan until the end of the season.

 

It’s a loan with an obligation to buy. He’ll be here next season.

For the price we’re paying even if he’s an impact sub that can come on and make a difference it’s worth it. I’m sure he’ll come good after he’s had time to settle.