Shinji Okazaki - the forgotten man

[filbertway]

I'm so glad this board doesn't have a say in contracts and transfers. We'd still be playing the same core of players from the title win and they'd all be on 6 year contracts. I imagine we'll look to bring in someone who can run but also can score goals and create chances.

[RumbleFox]

I hope he stays forever.  Just look at that little face of his.  All time Leicester Legend.  Just have him around to smile and clap at players as they run out, it would cheer me up.  X

[mozartfox]

10 minutes ago, RumbleFox said:

I hope he stays forever.  Just look at that little face of his.  All time Leicester Legend.  Just have him around to smile and clap at players as they run out, it would cheer me up.  X

You have sold me - make him the new Filbert on UKP 25,000 per week. 

[mancunianfox]

28 minutes ago, filbertway said:

I'm so glad this board doesn't have a say in contracts and transfers. We'd still be playing the same core of players from the title win and they'd all be on 6 year contracts. I imagine we'll look to bring in someone who can run but also can score goals and create chances.

I don't think anyone is suggesting playing Shinji every week. Finding squad players for this division is pretty difficult as they need to be good enough to contribute while also being able to handle not playing every week without getting the hump. This is particularly hard for strikers as they tend to play themselves into form which is not easy to do with limited opportunities. I would love us to find a young Okazaki in the window but if we can't then I wouldn't be opposed to keeping him for a year to give us another option.

[filbertway]

2 minutes ago, mancunianfox said:

I don't think anyone is suggesting playing Shinji every week. Finding squad players for this division is pretty difficult as they need to be good enough to contribute while also being able to handle not playing every week without getting the hump. This is particularly hard for strikers as they tend to play themselves into form which is not easy to do with limited opportunities. I would love us to find a young Okazaki in the window but if we can't then I wouldn't be opposed to keeping him for a year to give us another option.

I think Che Adams would be a good signing - 22 years old. Time for a new generation to come through, we're finally able to shed the players that have been tied down on ridiculous contracts. Keeping them here will just take up valuable squad places that could be used to improve us.

 

It'd be good for Shinji to go out and finish his career playing football as well.

[Stevosevic]

Move on please. Contract is up  

[Costock_Fox]

1 hour ago, filbertway said:

I'm so glad this board doesn't have a say in contracts and transfers. We'd still be playing the same core of players from the title win and they'd all be on 6 year contracts. I imagine we'll look to bring in someone who can run but also can score goals and create chances.

Would be class wouldn’t it.

[Guest]

He's 32, not scored a goal since December 2017 and yesterday was the first time in ages he's come on and actually had a positive impact. We can't give him a new contract on the basis that he ran around a lot against a shit Fulham team. Love him and forever grateful for his contribution but we can't keep the likes of him, Fuchs and Simpson around forever if we want to move forwards

[foxes21]

Looks like we will persist with a 1 striker system and it seems unlikely we’ll get into Europe although it’s still possible. 

 

So if bring in another striker to compete with Vardy, Iheanacho will be wasted as third choice.

 

I wouldn’t mind him going out on loan. Gets him game time and also puts him in the shop window if we decide to sell. 

 

Then keep shinji as third choice who can be on the bench for some games when we need a defensive option.

 

No point Iheanacho staying as third choice as there won’t be enough game time for him to improve so gerrim out on loan.

 

 

 

Edited 11 March 2019 by foxes21

[Blue ROI]

I was pleased that Okazaki made a positive impact for us on Saturday. Was the first time in a long while that he had an influence in a game.

 

I do appreciate what he has brought to the team but I would say it's better for all parties if he moved on. Rogers will look to a more attack minded setup and it' s where Okazaki falls short.

 

We have benefiited from him and vice versa and he will have a lot of options elsewhere come the summer I would say.

 

I do hope though that he might a chance to impress once again or get a goal before the season is out.

[RoboFox]

36 minutes ago, Blue ROI said:

I do appreciate what he has brought to the team but I would say it's better for all parties if he moved on. Rogers will look to a more attack minded setup and it' s where Okazaki falls short over.

Fixed.

Edited 11 March 2019 by RoboFox

[KingsX]

TBH I’d settle for one more goal, especially if Shinji scores it from prone position, assist off Wes’ ass.

[Vardinio'sCat]

On 08/08/2018 at 17:58, KingsX said:

Maybe he is a buggy driver in the automotive age -- the world’s only “Leicester 10” when Puel is finally obsoleting that job.  But I’d still keep him on.  There will be second halves where a terrier is needed to energize a high press, and from somewhere, he’ll get a goal.  Which will make me even happier than any other player’s goal.

 

Firing Shinji and King in the same window would take a little too much out of me TBH.

 

 

Genius foresight that, well done. 

[Vardinio'sCat]

 

Irrespective of next season, I hope we get a few more cameo's like that from the great man. The new commitment to pressing has made him relevant again.

[Deeg67]

Shinji can be very effective as an hour-mark sub, harrying weary opposition and running himself ragged without worry about pacing himself.  But at this point in his career he probably prefers to sign somewhere he can get regular starts, maybe back in the J-League.

[The whole world smiles]

People are saying offer him another year and play him as an impact sub like we are doing him a favour. He's 32 and still has a lot to offer the right club.

 

I doubt he will stay even if he's offered another year. He can probably get 2/3 years at a lower half bundesliga or newly promoted prem (he would be brilliant behind wood at Burnley), especially as there won't be a transfer fee to pay for him. Knowing his personality as well he will want to go somewhere and a play. his appetite for the game is extraordinary.

Edited 12 March 2019 by The whole world smiles

[lcfc sheff]

Think ideally (for both our sakes) we let him go in the summer, with us hopefully signing a cf of a similar profile, which will be hard to find.

 

josh king etc.

[foxinsocks]

It depends how high rogers wants to press.  Like tevez... shinji sets a bar in pressing.. and it means opponents can't get a clean pass from the back 4.

Yet shinji is unlikely to start with barns madison and tielemans in the squad.

I expect shinji to move on.  Yet for me he has always been a catalyst. I have a lcfc calendar pic of shingi ryhad and vardy with arms on shoulders... unbelievable 

[urban.spaceman]

I will love Shinji forever.

 

Shinji Okazaki will never forget playing with Leicester City legends

The Japan international reflects on playing with some of City's brightest ever attacking talents

For four years Shinji Okazaki has had the best view possible of Jamie Vardy’s goalscoring exploits.

The Japan international has been the Leicester City striker’s partner in crime as they have raided Premier League defences during the club’s most successful era.

Okazaki may not play as much of a prominent role now and is out of contract this summer, but he said he will never forget playing in a magical front four of Vardy, Marc Albrighton and Riyad Mahrez in the Premier League title-winning side of 2016.

Okazaki described Vardy as the perfect striker and congratulated him on reaching a century of goals for City.

“I have so much respect for Jamie because I have played behind him for four years,” said the 32-year-old.

“He has probably scored 40 or 50 goals with me in behind him and some of them have been perfect strikes.

“I have admired his goals. He is a great striker. I have so much respect for him and everyone does.

“I said to him every time you are a legend in Leicester.

“He is a good guy and a good striker, and can provide assists as he did for Youri Tielemans (against Fulham), and he fights. I can’t say anything but he is perfect.

Riyad Mahrez celebrates with Jamie Vardy, Danny Simpson and Shinji Okazaki after scoring in Leicester City's 3-1 win over Manchester City (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“He is the best I have ever played with. Mahrez and Jamie, I was surprised when I came here just how good they were.

“Before I came I had not really heard of them. They weren’t known but after I realised how good they are.

  

“Marc Albrighton also, I have a lot of respect for him.

“That front three are a solid unit, and with me it was four. I will never forget that.”

[urban.spaceman]

Bonus Shinji smile from today!

 

[worthosoriginals]

20 minutes ago, urban.spaceman said:

Bonus Shinji smile from today!

 

shinji is saying to wes,

in the pre match thread, foxes talk were saying you're a useless c*nt.

now they say it about harry!

[Ric Flair]

Great to see him celebrating the winner off the bench, just like Morgan last week. Theres a huge squad spirit being fostered once again.

[kingston_fox]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

Great to see him celebrating the winner off the bench, just like Morgan last week. Theres a huge squad spirit being fostered once again.

Loved seeing him off his feet cheering when the goal went in... Just like me watching at home in the kitchen and shows how much it means to the squad. Might not see him score again but can at least see his cheeky grin from the sidelines

[Deeg67]

No surprise, but Shinji pretty much says he's gone:

 

https://hochi.news/articles/20190331-OHT1T50218.html

[The whole world smiles]

Just now, Deeg67 said:

No surprise, but Shinji pretty much says he's gone:

 

https://hochi.news/articles/20190331-OHT1T50218.html

Does it say where? Would love it if he had one more big goal left for us of the bench this season.