Daizen Maeda

He should be played as a 3rd choice striker to Kyogo and Oh. Failing that he should be 3rd choice on either wing. His main attribute is defending from the front and covering for Taylor who can't defend. Yet he's probably got the most minutes under Rodgers so far.

I genuinely believe he'd be a better full back more than anything.

 

His first touch really is embarassing. Hard grafter but should be a squad player only.

 

He would be a shocking full back/wing back. He’s not a good tackler or got a defensive positioning mind. He’s a harrier and pest on the front foot.

But that’s been dialled back majorly from the full team, but most notably Maeda and Kyogo.

 

He's like that boy at 5s who runs about a lot and tries really hard to make up for the fact he's absolutely * at football.

How we've ended up in position where hes a 1st pick for us is beyond me

 

He has his uses, Ibrox and a European game where we're under the cosh.

If we're being brutally honest though, he's a * footballer.

 

I’ve not seen the regression of a player like this since Bobby Petta.

He’s been absolutely * woeful, stinking and empty shirt that’s offered the square root of * all.

 

I can remember asking why the * did we not play him right and Jota left last year.

Sorry Ange, quite right apparently, ma bad.

 

I like Maeda and he has had short purple patches were he has been excellent. BUT theres no denying he has been woeful so far this season. Worrying.

 

There’s been literally no regression with him. He’s always been a * footballer. We have always defended his inclusion because he’s relentless in the press. The problem is we aren’t pressing the same way and we aren’t moving the ball quick enough. So his technical inefficiencies are even more glaring.

 

He’s had a goal in him and been an asset for me, now he’s just a waste of a shirt.

 

Getting worse with every game, he started last season poor as well then came back from the world cup flying. He’s the last player that should be playing against packed defences.

 

3rd choice striker, nothing more nothing less.

 

Daizen Maeda admits he’s yet to hit top form for Celtic this season as he adapts to Brendan Rodgers’ style of play.

The Japanese wide man has spent the last three years of his career under ex-Hoops gaffer Ange Postecoglou at Yokohama Marinos and Celtic. And he’s still adjusting to Rodgers ’ brand of football after he replaced the Aussie at Parkhead this summer.


Despite impressing in pre-season, Maedahasn’t been at his best in the first few weeks of a new campaign that has included last week’s shock Viaplay Cup defeat to Kilmarnock. The Japan international claims Postecoglou’s methods are ingrained in him. And even with his old boss now at Spurs, Maeda still takes an interest in his work in London. But he knows that if Celtic are going to be successful during Rodgers’ second spell at the club, every player has to buy into his way of doing things.


Maeda said: “Since I moved abroad I’ve started watching football more often so, whenever a game is on, I watch.




Ange went to Spurs so I’ve started to watch their games on TV. I was impressed by their win against Manchester United last week.

“For Rodgers, it’s his second time at Celtic. But, for me, he’s a new manager. We’re trying to do new things so individually and as a team we have to adapt to a new style of play.




That happens quite often in football. For me, it just means I have to adjust to his tactics, keep working hard in training and in the games.




Is it a big change? The tactics of the previous manager are instilled in my game.

“So obviously I have to change to the new style now. But the league has already started and we have to get results as you apply that new style. That’s what we are trying to do.

“Right now, my form is not at its best yet. Each player has to improve and I include myself in that. The team are working hard to be the best of ourselves and we have to keep doing that.”




Celtic will discover their Champions League opponents next week when the group stage draw is made on Thursday in Monaco. Maeda can’t wait for another taste of Europe’s top club competition after sampling it last season under Postecoglou.

He doesn’t care who Celts face – but hinted that he wouldn’t mind a second crack at Spanish giants Real Madrid. The Hoops got plenty of plaudits for their performances last year against Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and R Leipzig without collecting a victory as they finished bottom.

But this time, Maeda wants to put more points on the board and qualify from their group. He said: “Last season after the draw, I was very excited about the opponents we got.

“But we didn’t win any games so we ended up very disappointed. This year again I’m looking forward to it. But when it comes to the games we have to play well and get wins.

“I don’t want to face any club in particular but I do think about playing Real Madrid again. Not for revenge but just to show that we’re strong and can get wins. I want us to show that we’re a different team.




As a club we’re aiming to go through the group stage. It is very important for us to see how far we can take the club. That is what we want to achieve.

“As a team we had chances last year and you have to put them away. Also, if we give a chance away we have to defend better. From both viewpoints, we have to be better than a year ago.

“The Champions League is the biggest competition in the world so people watch it back in Japan. As we have more Japanese players, it’s getting more attention and they’re watching Celtic’s games.


If we can get wins then it will be even more valued back home and there will be more interest, which can only be good for the club.”

Next up for Celtic, though, is a trip across the city to Ibrox for next Sunday’s first Old Firm derby. Maeda scored against Rangers there in a 2-2 Premiership draw in January and he’d love to repeat the feat




The 25-year-old might have a better chance if he was deployed as a central striker – like he is for Japan. It’s a position Rodgers likes him in and Maeda played there in pre-season.

But the Hoops forward insists he’ll play anywhere for the Irishman. He said: “That’s up to the manager to decide where I play.

“All I can do is prepare well for whatever situation comes up so I can go into any position and affect the game. But of course I’d love to score in that match again.”

 

As a person, it's hard not to love the guy.

As a player, it's not quite so hard.

 

I remember looking into it last season and he barely scored when he featured on the right for us, and got most of his goals from the left.

 

There is a place for him in the squad but it's baffling that he starts so many games

 

Bit harsh on shaun maloney, maloney was a decent player at Celtic also had a decent career in the premiership

 

Think he assisted more on the right though, if I remember a stat deep dive article right. Because it wasn’t helpful to the point I wanted to make lol

 

Huns get a lot of their goals from their full backs, so he'll probably start at the debt star again, to try and nullify them.

 

You misunderstand me. I thought the three of them were like Pavel Nedved compared to this diddy.