volpeazzurro

Absolutely, that's his job and he's getting better week by week, he's a kid thrown in at the deep end.

On his last starting appearance before being replaced by Vardy he looked lost. Offered very little meaningful movement, little tracking back, easily knocked off the ball, not fit enough and although supposedly 'lightening fast', that's of little use if you can't do it in tandem with a football. There's a huge gulf between the Russian league and the Premiership and he's young and learning though for the amount paid you'd think he should have more about him than he's shown. Disappointing thus far and for me it's understandable why he's not even worth a place on the bench at the moment.

These are brilliant exerpts from Shinji's diary, they give great incite into how he thinks as a real person and not just some footballer we sit and watch on a football pitch. It understandably reveals certain insecurities, it must have been really quite difficult for him when he first arrived. Everyone wants to fit in and be accepted let alone possibly have the added issues of being the only one from a different culture. It is interesting that at times he's had to adapt his game and not do what actually comes natural to him. His work rate and efforts were likewise appreciated by both fans and players and the diary confirms the latter's team ethic that we hear so much about. Now feeling accepted, welcome and with a bit more confidence, it wouldn't suprise me if we saw even more from a more relaxed Shinji next season. He's an honest very likeable individual and looked as pleased as punch on the celebration bus as it drove along London Road. Thanks for sharing these things Kashiro, they really are a good read.

I think this is absolutely fantastic this thread and find it really interesting what is being said in the Japanese media, so thank you Kushiro and Yuta for keeping us informed. As for Shinji he has had a teriffic start, full of energy, incredible touches at times, teamplayer and now a goal. And so far, the little bits we hear about him an all round genuine and honourable person. All very positive .

You make a good point in fairness regarding perhaps my lack of knowledge about safe standing area and perhaps I should do a little more research agreed. My point re stewards however is that whilst I know they have the powers to eject fans and do at times, they don't have the presence as that of a police officer. Fans take far more liberties with stewards than they would dare to with the police, yet it would be stewards that would be responsible for the policing of any new arrangements. For example, like it or not, at the moment fans are supposed to sit in their seats but we only have to look at away crowds to see that they don't and you can see rows of people standing (not just the odd thicko). Stewards appear unable to control crowds in these situations and are largely ignored, it would possibly be different I suppose if a group of police officers started to enforce the law as the consequences of ignoring a copper are perhaps more thought provoking to an individual. Yet if one of these aforementioned fans that have been standing up have on the odd occasion been ejected they start whining as if they are hard done by. I would concede however, albeit I'm not obviously in possession of all the facts, that even a safe standing area may be preferable or safer than people standing up in a seated area with the inherrent dangers. If the powers that be however see that at present fans appear unwilling to abide by the current rules they are perhaps less likely to put their neck on the block to trust them in a new venture. Perhaps a clampdown on current offenders now may help, though I know I won't be popular for suggesting that.

I can't personally ever see standing area's coming back, so called safe or not. Whilst I didn't go personally, there were a number of supporters complaining about the conditions away at Peterborough recently. Some blamed the fact that there were too many fans in the actual standing area and some said that it was more to do with the fact that fans had tended to congregate at the front making that area crowded but leaving plenty of room at the back. I suppose the latter would be my worry as whilst there may be individual allocated areas I don't think the authorities can afford to trust fans to abide by them. To police it with stewards would be impossible as they are given little or no respect already as they have very little in the way of powers compared to the police. Police officers themselves would cost far too much.