Shinji Okazaki - the forgotten man

[Koke]

The one senior player at the club who has gone completely under the radar. Nobody sees him as dead wood but he probably won't make many matchday squads either. 

 

With Iheanacho finding his feet and showing class and with Maddison cementing himself as out main #10 its hard to see where Okazaki will get game time.

Edited 7 August 2018 by Koke

[Jattdogg]

17 minutes ago, Koke said:

The one senior player at the club who has gone completely under the radar. Nobody sees him as dead wood but he probably won't make many matchday squads either. 

 

With Iheanacho finding his feet and showing class and with Maddison cementing himself as out main #10 its hard to see where Okazaki will get game time.

 

Love okazaki but if we dont plan to play him let him go. Lovely worker bee and can easily find a starting role somewhere else.

[The whole world smiles]

Shinji is such a good player, underated by the football media and it seems in some cases his own fans. His unbelievable strength is the work he puts in to help the teams shape and allow us to press high up the pitch. He also links play well and although he isn't pretty on the eye very good technicaly.

 

You can not underestimate how important he was too our success when we was a low possesion, high pressing counter attacking team. However those days are over now and there is less need for him now we are playing a patient possession game. you would think he is now behind Maddison and Kelichi. 

 

In my opinion he's too good to sit around all season playing the odd cup game and waiting for injuries. Imagine how good he would be for a side who still press high and break, Burnley for example.

 

 

 

 

[Merging Cultures]

He should be moved on. Hard worker, has done well for us, but he can get game time elsewhere. I do see him going to somewhere like the US or back to Japan.

[Ric Flair]

Wouldn't be surprised to see him leave before the end of the month. What a great player he's been though, just gets things done.

[Countryfox]

Who's he ?

[lgfualol]

Doesnt fit in the team anymore, bit like Simpson. A player whose inability to pass or play with any possession caught up with him. 

 

Been great for us though. Never moaned about a new contract either, probably on the same wages as he signed with. 

[mozartfox]

A typical Japnese individual.  Kind, polite, honorable and hard working.  Has been a great servant and hopefully, he will find another Club 'if' no room in the new EPL squad.

 

If indeed surplus, I would hope the Club give him a free so he can have one last payday.

[Finnegan]

He's another one like Simpson, I think freezing him out is naive. I'd still be inclined to play him in games where we need to defend and press more as I may be still inclined to play Simmo. 

 

He gives you versatility. 

[Devonfox1884]

Who better to bring on for a tiring Maddison when we’re 1-0 up away from home with 15 to go? He won’t play too much, but he’s still useful. Keep.

[Izzy]

As above, I'd keep.

 

Concerns me slightly how quickly people want to bin off all our experienced players.

 

It's all well and good blooding the kids but you need a blend and a few old heads still around too.

 

If Shinji is fit he's still got bags of energy and we always look more lively with him on the pitch. I still think he's got something to offer.

[StriderHiryu]

We should keep him. Doubt he’ll start but he has a track record of changing the game directly / indirectly from the bench. Sometimes you need that energy and unselfishness to get the team going. 

 

Like most of the legendary title winning squad he’ll be phased out eventually but I think he’d still be useful for one more season. But if he wants guaranteed first team football I’d understand if he wants to go. 

[gerrytaggart]

Shinjiiiiiio

[dmayne7]

Was going to post about this. Any reason he hasn't been involved in pre season? Would have thought he's been back a while

[RowlattsFox]

He would always be on the bench for me. Definitely capable of having an impact in certain games and good to have around as an option.

[Fox92]

Another that probably needs phasing out more now. There will be games when we'll probably need to use him but I wouldn't be surprised if he left the club soon.

[Babylon]

What's the preoccupation of rushing people out of the door when they reach 31 / 32. We need squad players, young lads and older players are perfect for that as they don't expect to start all the time. Keep him.

[Dave Fishwick]

title winning squad will always be heroes but we need to be ruthless. Anyone not in with realistic shouts of making the matchday 18 should be looking for other clubs, we can then start to blood a few young players if and when needed, holding on to sentiment could end up fatal, we're wasting too much money on players that aren't playing

[coolhandfox]

Keep, every squad or team needs selfless, hardworkers.

 

[Stadt]

On a terminal decline. He offers almost nothing in the ball these days and that’s not good enough for a player operating behind the striker. He’s got 3 assists in 93 appearances and to put that into context Maguire 4 assists last season alone. He’s industrious, granted, but is it wise to keep a 32 year old whose main asset is running? He’s barely going to play at all  and I’d sell him personally.

 

 

If doesn’t change the fact he was immense in the title winning season and an all round lovely bloke.

[Max Power]

Only got a year left right? If so defo keep around, good option to see a game out off the bench with his energy and awkwardness. Will play in cups as well. Just don't give him  a four year extension when he plays a couple games in a row and scores once. 

[lcfc sheff]

I don't think he's the type of player Puel wants, I think its for the best we part ways.

[Vindaloo FOX]

it is a long old season we will need our Japanese boy at some point.

 

mostly late on in games, keep him. 

[mancunianfox]

13 minutes ago, lcfc sheff said:

I don't think he's the type of player Puel wants, I think its for the best we part ways.

More reason to keep him if you ask me!

[CollinsLCFC]

Still an important squad player. I'd be devastated if he went.