Shinji Okazaki

[Sharpe's Fox]

I never said anything derogatory about Vardy last year.

 

You could answer my post though about outside work rate what are Okazaki's strengths?

Didn't mean you personally.

Intelligent and dogged pressing (see Norwich second goal)

Deft one touch passing in the penalty area (see first half one two with Mahrez vs United)

Good hold up play (see Sunderland game)

Technically adept finishing (see West Ham goal before follow up)

Poacher (see both his goals)

Good at dropping deep and basically becoming a midfield player (this is harder than you think, Rooney is shite at it I think you'll agree)

Can play second striker and number 9 (see 15 goals for Mainz both season)

Cheeky and irresistible grin (see Newcastle celebration)

[Fez of Mahrez]

I think the best argument in Okazaki's favour is Ranieri's judgment.

[Grewks]

I think the best argument in Okazaki's favour is Ranieri's judgment.

 

 

I think the best argument in Okazaki's favour is the fact that when he was withdrew on saturday we were a worse side.

 

 

 

His work-rate off the ball can be far more useful than many realise.

[Wymsey]

Wish he was slightly younger, so we could give him time to develop - I think he's improving, but has too many too soon critics unfortunately.

 

I don't know why some think he should be an 'impact' player for the team, alongside Mahrez and Vardy.

[Clever Fox]

Someone asked the question how does the marketing work. Here in my opinion is how it works.

 I'm not having a go at the Owners who have been absolutely fantastic for our club since coming on board. I see it merely as a business decision. The question is, is it more beneficial to the Football Club or the King Power brand or both.

Neither am I picking on Shingy just because he's Asian. It's his ability as a footballer and the reason we signed him is what's in 

question and causing so much debate. 

Isn't it strange that we signed 2 Asian players in 4 years and yet I think there have only been a couple of Asian players since the 

Premiership started. Coincidence or not.

Shinji,  He's not a proficient Striker, or a Target man, a pacy Winger nor a creative Midfielder, his height also works against him.

So it's reasonable to ask the questions why was he signed and why is he constantly picked over more talented players. Some that haven't even been given a chance.

 

There's only one other explanation I can think of, It's a business decision to help grow the Club and the King Power brand in Asia. 

You have to remember that the Asian market has a population of some 1.6 Billion people.  Even 1 %  of that is huge.

It's also easy and understandable that the Owners would relish the increased profile that would bring them, their proud and successful people.

So how does that work. Here's an example most Brits were supporting Fury in the big fight at the weekend, simply because he's 

british, even though very few of us have ever seen him Box. Well It's called the power of support by association.

It starts firstly as a token supporter. Then that association grows in numbers and becomes more vocal in their support. That leads on to instant brand recognition and attending games and following matches on tv and even purchasing products. So there you have it, an increase in the profile of the Football Club and the KP brand. Good for both and no real damage done once the player is capable of putting in reasonable performances. And Shinji hasn't been terrible just not as good as possibly other players available. While results are holding up it's not presenting a real problem.

 

If you think of where Man Utd were 30 years ago and where they are today since the Glazers took over, The fact that there were a 

number of American players in the League at that time was an added bonus.  

 

I think we could be following a similar model. Onwards and upwards we go.

[Sharpe's Fox]

When the best scout in the league recommends a player because of the shape of his eyes.

[Izzy]

Positioning, tenacity, all-around play, stamina - just to name a few?

 

How about this guy instead of Shinjy in the number 10 role?

 

[fleckneymike]

This might sound stupid but, he isn't good enough for where we currently are but perhaps he will be good enough for where we will be.

[Thracian]

Positioning, tenacity, all-around play, stamina - just to name a few?

 

 

Come on MC....we all saw the value of his tenacity against the Schweine. Trying his damndest and brushed off like an irritation. Stamina? I've not noticed it.

 

He keeps trying without a doubt but loses his edge quite quickly and is nothing like the Ariston-and-on-and-on that Kante imitates.

 

"All-round play would surely relate to goals, assists, key passes or the significant contributions of so many of our team. Energy with harrassment hardly covers the gamut of qualities for an "all-round" game and, again,

 

I don't see his positional sense as outstanding or I'd see him tackling on his feet like Kingy and Fuchs rather than on his backside or forever scurrying this way and that.

 

I don't rule out his improving by any means. Vardy's improved and others like Drinkwater, King (in certain aspects) and Kante too. But only Kante's enjoyed the luxury of being able to do all his improving on the job (so to speak)...the others spent time out   

   

I've not done it but i imagine you've only got to check Shinji's player ratings and you'll find they reflect his shortcomings even allowing for the slack a new player is almost always allowed and the fact that all our fans love a hassler and tend to mark them up a bit simply for their perceived effort.

 

People like King and Ulloa tend to be lower rated by the fans because they don't look like action men for all that King's real stats almost always seem to do him proud whether related to goals, passing accuracy, speed of passes, headers won compared with our other midfielders and I dare say other things too.

 

Like Clever Fox, I'm not suggesting Shinji's a lousy player - he's a very useful member of our squad on a consistent basis - but if others were playing like him and Shinji was sitting on the bench there'd be significant demand for the latter to get his chance and I'd be one of them.       

[cityfanlee23]

Get him fit, Get him on form, get him in the gym.

Still has more potential than the majority of our team.

 

[Izzy]

Leicesters number 10. And he's got the shirt to prove it...

 

[cityfanlee23]

Leicesters number 10. And he's got the shirt to prove it...

 

would happily take that.

[fuchsntf]

How about this guy instead of Shinjy in the number 10 role?

I still would start with Ulloa, then sub 'this guy' in. This guy would of come in for me instead of Schlupp, because few people mentioned the frustration of Ranieri on the touchline on Saturday, because he wanted the midfield to press higher, which as been our game, all season, on Saturday we didnt compete for the 50-50 ball.Schlupp stood off,he didnt take responsibility in translating the managers wishes to his fellow players.

"This guy" would of understood Ranieris instructions and would of told DD and Kante to do the same.

This was for me, probably the most disapointing part of our on field playing descisions, this season so far.

Saying that, so what, 1 game some tactical mistakes made, I reckon Claudio will see his ideas should be understood

next time out.

[Number 6]

Playing Ulloa instead makes us slightly weaker in the mid as Okazaki is effectively plaiting a midfield role.

Think a solution would be to go 3-5-2

Kasper

Benalouane Morgan Huth

Mahrez Drinkwater King Kanté Fuchs

Ulloa Vardy

With king playing the advanced midfielder. Still don't see where Okazaki could fit into that though. He's still not shown enough goal threat for me, even being asked to play the different role.

Note: not saying this would happen - ain't broke don't fix it. But 3 at the back seemed to work defensively for us last season and it would allow Ulloa in as a proper striker alongside Vardy.

[NewEnglandFox]

Didn't mean you personally.

Intelligent and dogged pressing (see Norwich second goal)

Deft one touch passing in the penalty area (see first half one two with Mahrez vs United)

Good hold up play (see Sunderland game)

Technically adept finishing (see West Ham goal before follow up)

Poacher (see both his goals)

Good at dropping deep and basically becoming a midfield player (this is harder than you think, Rooney is shite at it I think you'll agree)

Can play second striker and number 9 (see 15 goals for Mainz both season)

Cheeky and irresistible grin (see Newcastle celebration)

 

Are you describing Leo?

 

You can't blame WhoScored on being biased.

 

 

 

[fuchsntf]

Get him fit, Get him on form, get him in the gym.

Still has more potential than the majority of our team.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU6195Uj7MQ

Now then..!!! When you put it like that.Why the hell isnt this nr 40 not playing.

Another thing, he didnt go to ground once, not bloody once.

Ball control exceptional, ok 1 chip went astray, but his game on himself, and with his fellow players was

excellent.

I have said it before, and I'll say it again, both he and Ulloa, and King, should be getting more game time,

even if its more times from the Bench.

Schlupp has improved, he has had a great start to the season, compared to last season, Saturday he was poor.

Then again so was DD well below his form, but I wouldnt put him to the bench.Where at the moment Jeff I would.

Back to Shinji, more than most foxes fans probably in the last 3 seasons I have seen more of him.

I dont pretend to be any expert , but Shinji for 1 has found the floor in these two months more than the seasons

he played for Mainz.His control was better, his direct moves forward were cleaner.Maybe its the old

adhege, foreign players need longer. ON that alone I would bring Kramaric back to the bench, and use him.

For me Ulloa starts with Kramaric as sub (unless injuries elsewhere ) Albrighton then King or Dyer depending on

situation, but Dyer backs also Mahrez also.

Okazaki, should be sub over the next 5 games.

[NewburyFox]

Get him fit, Get him on form, get him in the gym.

Still has more potential than the majority of our team.

 

 

It's a different player to the one we've seen this season

[Len Finsbury]

Playing Ulloa instead makes us slightly weaker in the mid as Okazaki is effectively plaiting a midfield role.

Think a solution would be to go 3-5-2

Kasper

Benalouane Morgan Huth

Mahrez Drinkwater King Kanté Fuchs

Ulloa Vardy

With king playing the advanced midfielder. Still don't see where Okazaki could fit into that though. He's still not shown enough goal threat for me, even being asked to play the different role.

Note: not saying this would happen - ain't broke don't fix it. But 3 at the back seemed to work defensively for us last season and it would allow Ulloa in as a proper striker alongside Vardy.

 

Completely changing a winner formula for what - because one player isn't outstanding? 

 

Whether anyone rates Okazaki or not, you can't deny that this 'system' is working extremely well. For all we know, Ranieri might be quite content with his contribution and sees no need to change anything.

[Len Finsbury]

It's a different player to the one we've seen this season

 

That's the thing - we haven't seen him.

[NewburyFox]

That's the thing - we haven't seen him.

 

I saw him against West Ham and Hull - he was useless and bereft of confidence. Obviously we've barely seen him in the league but he's not done himself any favours in his time on the pitch and clearly isn't doing much in training.

[Len Finsbury]

I saw him against West Ham and Hull - he was useless and bereft of confidence. Obviously we've barely seen him in the league but he's not done himself any favours in his time on the pitch and clearly isn't doing much in training.

 

I agree about not impressing in training, it could certainly be a reason that he's so out of favour as he certainly has the talent.

 

As I said before, playing in the development squad must be demoralising for a player who came over with a bit of a reputation. I like the kid, it'll be a shame if we let him go as I don't think it'll be the last we hear of him.

[EverybodyDannsNow]

It's a different player to the one we've seen this season

That's harsh - he's barely been given a chance this season.

[Mad Dog]

Someone asked the question how does the marketing work. Here in my opinion is how it works.

I'm not having a go at the Owners who have been absolutely fantastic for our club since coming on board. I see it merely as a business decision. The question is, is it more beneficial to the Football Club or the King Power brand or both.

Neither am I picking on Shingy just because he's Asian. It's his ability as a footballer and the reason we signed him is what's in

question and causing so much debate.

Isn't it strange that we signed 2 Asian players in 4 years and yet I think there have only been a couple of Asian players since the

Premiership started. Coincidence or not.

Couple of Asian players since the Premier League began? I think you're onto something with that one.

Cho Won-hee – Wigan Athletic – 2008–10

Ji Dong-won – Sunderland – 2011–12, 2013–14

Ki Sung-yueng – Swansea City, Sunderland – 2012–

Kim Bo-kyung – Cardiff City – 2013–14

Kim Do-heon – West Bromwich Albion – 2008–09

Lee Chung-yong – Bolton Wanderers, Crystal Palace – 2009–12, 2014–

Lee Dong-gook – Middlesbrough – 2006–08

Lee Young-pyo – Tottenham Hotspur – 2005–08

Park Chu-young – Arsenal – 2011–12

Park Ji-sung – Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers – 2005–13

Seol Ki-hyeon – Reading, Fulham – 2006–10

Son Heung-min – Tottenham Hotspur – 2015–

Yun Suk-young – Queens Park Rangers – 2014–15

Dong Fangzhuo – Manchester United – 2006–07

Li Tie – Everton – 2002–04

Li Weifeng – Everton – 2002–03

Sun Jihai – Manchester City – 2002–08

Zheng Zhi – Charlton Athletic – 2006–07

Junichi Inamoto – Arsenal, Fulham, West Bromwich Albion – 2002–06

Shinji Kagawa – Manchester United – 2012–14

Ryo Miyaichi – Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, Arsenal – 2011–14

Hidetoshi Nakata – Bolton Wanderers – 2005–06

Shinji Okazaki – Leicester City – 2015–

Kazuyuki Toda – Tottenham Hotspur – 2002–03

Maya Yoshida – Southampton – 2012–

[murphy]

Your description of Shinji sounds like one of Vardy last season.

Shinji will get better.

 

Those that criticised Vardy last year were right at the time because he was average.  They are also right to give him all the praise that he deserves this year for being outstanding

 

Shinji at the moment looks like a dud.  You can only judge him on what you see, not on what he might, or probably will not, become and at the moment he is a just a passenger.

[Number 6]

Completely changing a winner formula for what - because one player isn't outstanding?

Whether anyone rates Okazaki or not, you can't deny that this 'system' is working extremely well. For all we know, Ranieri might be quite content with his contribution and sees no need to change anything.

Like is said in the post, ain't broke don't fix it. No need to go changing formations now but for me the issues we've had have been defensively and the problem of finding a suitable partner for Jamie.

Whilst he continues to score at the rate he is then it's not a problem and it was only a week and a half ago that we had all 3 strikers score in a game. No problem with thinking about ways of improving though.