Daizen Maeda

I love that he’s a bit of a *

 

Pity about the sending-off because he was excellent last night. Anyone know if it'll be a 3 game ban?

 

He does actually have a bit of a mean streak to his game

 

Any idea if it will be just one game or the 3 violent conduct?

 

Didn’t Ange play Maeda through the middle sometimes with little success or am I forgetting something? His overall play and finishing has definitely improved under BR but I do worry we will nullify the threat he carries with his speed on the wings playing him through the middle.

 

Was watching the post game yesterday. Fwiw, they said it's a 1-game ban.

 

Lets hope that is all it is then no major damage done.

 

I like him, but he can't replace Kyogo through the middle, it's exactly like when Hooper left and we played Samaras up front, it'll be so frustrating

 

I know it sounds crazy considering the guy never stops, but I think Maeda needs a rest.

The problem is there isn't really anyone that can be relied on to take that slot currently. Jota can play left and right so can easily be rotated with both Maeda and Kuhn to give them a break without the huge drop in quality we see at the moment. I expect for a while we will see Maeda running defences ragged for 60 minutes on the left, then being replaced by Jota to tie them in knots. Or he can replace Kuhn instead if needed.

All of which boils down to I can't see Maeda being made into a striker anytime soon, barring emergencies.

 

I want to see him get a run up front if Jota comes back. He plays there for Japan and does well. BR loves a physical striker, and although that’s no Daizen, his pressing, energy and determination could end up being a result for us.

 

Don’t think Ange ever played him through the middle here. Maybe at Yokohama but I’m not sure.

 

Wish this narrative would disappear. Let's hope the Kvistgaarden rumours are true and we can rid of this suggestion once and for all. We wouldn't have bothered signing Idah in the summer if Brendan viewed Daizen as a main striker.

 

Totally agree on Kvistgaarden btw. I’d prefer him leading the line for us. Young and versatile in the way he can play upfront.

But I stand on my opinion that Maeda could defo thrive under BR as a striker. He’s the opposite of Kyogo in that he can score the sort of strikers goals that Kyogo used to make a meal of.

 

Daizen can do a job there as a last resort I agree. But he is never the answer there. His defensive work down the left hand side and his pace in behind the defence are his best attributes. I don't think Daizen is a great finisher and certainly not a penalty box striker who'll be clinical with shots coming at him at pace into the box. So I can't see it personally. Having a striker work the defence and opening up more space for Daizen to run in to has worked well for us so far.

 

Aye I totally get all of that. Agree for the most part.

In my head I’m just thinking it could be a Rodgers masterclass in the way he could use him. He loves a big physical striker and as I said that isn’t Maeda but he defo has some of the vitals that BR looks for in a striker. Pace, strength, pressing, determination and as much as a lot don’t think this about him, I actually think he’s better at the easy finishes compared with the harder ones.

 

Rodgers first games pre-season when he came in Maeda was playing through the middle.

I 100% think we are looking at other options to replace Kyogo, Barry and Kvistgardeen the obvious looking ones. And there’s also BR pushed to spend £9.5m on Idah as well. But Maeda at CF is definitely an option Rodgers has in mind.

The system we play is to get the best out the wingers as well, and that’s a big reason why Maeda’s outscored Kyogo this year so far. Him through the middle will occupy defenders that much, the wingers will get the space.

 

This could be one of the smartest moves we’ve ever done. When we signed Maeda he was a ST and we’ve tried to get him out on the left when technically he hasn’t got the ability on the ball for that role. This season his finishing has been his best attribute.

And his pressing in the Kyogo role will be unreal giving Jota and Kuhn so much freedom along that front 3.

and Jotas quality on the ball, we’ll see so many crosses for once and not just cut backs!

Bravo Rodgers Bravo

 

Oh aye the minute he has time to think about it he * it up! Hahah give him a tackle off tavernier pressing or shot whilst he’s falling over and he finishes them all day

 

This is a pretty common misconception. He mostly played on the left under Ange in Japan too, it wasn't new to him when he arrived here and Ange bought him to play there. He's now utilised mostly as a sub for Japan and often at left wing back. This narrative that he's a striker being asked to play out wide isn't at all true. Been a few years since he played there for Japan and Daizen himself said that while he's happy to play anywhere, he prefers being out wide.