Daizen Maeda

A decent offer and we should move him on. Evolution.

 

No way man! The Celtic Samurai is staying put!

 

Let’s be honest, he’s not very good. As I’ve said many times, runs about an awful lot, I’ll give him that, but technically challenged. There are obviously upsides to having his work rate but his lack of ability will hinder us in improving next season.

 

He's gone back to pre world cup for me, cant fault his energy but has been resulting in not alot and his control and passing has been guff lately. Nice guy and a lot of passion but we ihave improved when he has been subbed lately.

 

Sniff snifferoo sniff..

 

He's had one below-average game since the world cup and people have started writing him off again.

If you prefer Abada over him, fair enough, but he's quite clearly a good player and has been excellent for us since the world cup.

 

I honestly wonder if folk are watching the same matches as me sometimes. His 'running about an awful lot' has created so many opportunities for us, unbelievable that folk still don't rate him. He grafts like *, adds in assists and goals is one of the main men for our closing down, never hides and folk still won't take to him...I really despair at elements of our support at times.

 

No very good with the ball is he? If people think 100% effort is enough to pull on that jersey then they are so far off the mark. If he was a guy that had come through the ranks everyone would be rightly saying he’s not good enough.

 

What a clown you are, he's been brilliant in every game since the world cup apart from last week.

 

I know Ange would say otherwise but he's one of the manager's favourites, can't see him being sold

 

Nobody is disagreeing that he's not particularly good with the ball at his feet. Even Daizen and Ange themselves would tell you that

We are calling you out for talking * by downplaying what he brings to the team as if he's some random, hard working SPL jobber we plucked from Ross County.

 

Hatate had an off game, manager sent him to the bench to recharge- that very same game he scored twice, and has scored more, afterwards. Ange will let Maeda rest, and soon we will all forget about this one bad game he's had. There's a reason why Ange bought him.

 

Ok so if we go back to the original post I made in reply to the supposed Southampton interest. My point is as has been agreed with, not good with the ball, primarily the main aim in ‘Football’ it’s given away by the name. “Nobody is disagreeing that he's not particularly good with the ball at his feet. Even Daizen and Ange themselves would tell you that” it will not be difficult to find a marked improvement which is where we need to go if we want to do better in Europe.

 

He's not as good with the balls as others that we have, but he is producing numbers and his defensive work is massive. He can hit a mean cross these days and could have had a lot more assists recently from them, remember he has been transitioning to more of a winger than central striker.

His output of g/a to minutes is a contribution every 135 minutes for reference Jota is a contribution every 112 minutes, Haksa 134 minutes per contribution, Abada 89 minutes, Forrest every 106 minutes.

So if we want beat by purely numbers it's Abada and Forrest that should be on as the starters.

What the numbers don't show is space created and the ability to switch with Jota when they play together that gives a tactical change and the work he does off the ball, I would bet he has the most defensive contributions of any of our wingers. Personally I'd like to see Abada get a bit more time and starts over Maeda as there are games that are less suited to maeda's play (like the at Mirren game we just had) as he's better in more open play.

If Maeda can improve his technical aspects a bit more he will be outstanding, as it is he could do with a bit better finishing and getting around a man rather than just outpacing them in a race.

 

More than likely will have double figures of goals and possibly assists by seasons end , that's a serious contribution to our success. Also it's well documented how hard he works for the jersey , he's a very important player for us.

 

Thing that always gets me is that he's only 25... They way he looks, acts and all-over seems to give off a vibe is of a mature player in their early 30's... And this is his first big move, so he's still in his prime and ongoing development... His work ethic and overall professionalism is fantastic.

He's just a confidence player - he needs to feel the love and people to stay off his back. Not a carte blanche, but appreciate what he actually brings us. Opposing teams * HATE playing against him.

 

I personally didn't want him to sign on a permanent deal as I didn't think he was technically good enough. However, he's made a massive improvement on this since signing and I think he can improve further.

Like you said if he manages to improve his technical aspects, specifically finishing and ability to beat a man, he'd be one of the best players at the club in my opinion.

 

The thing about Maeda is that even when it’s not going well for him, he never ever hides. Compare that with another winger we have. Forrest at his best is (or was) a much better player than Maeda, but you can’t deny he’s hidden in some big games for us. You’ll never see that from Maeda.

 

If that 100% effort is combined with goals, assists and closing down to creat turnovers of possessions to enable us to build attacks and an absolute belief in the system and his place in it then aye...so much you are not seeing that everyone else can.