Shinji Kagawa

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We should by all means be more defensively sound this year, but just because we've got a ton of attacking options doesn't mean we should just put too many of them on so everybody gets minutes. You need balance in a team in order to be succesfull, and there's no point in testing your luck. (especialy not now with 4 of our CBs injured and 1 coming back from knee injury)
 
I was just looking on Youtube at Kagawa videos and came across 'Kagawa all touches v's Hanover', the video clocked in at 15mins which seemed very long so I decided to do my own statistical analysis of his performance.

Passes 76
Pass completion rate 95%
Key passes 2 (there were 3 but one was incorrectly ruled offside so I omitted it)
Shots 4
Goals 1
Assists 0
Tackles 2
Interceptions 2
Tackled 3
Clearances 0
Blocks 0

No doubt there might be minor inaccuracies in there because some events are pretty ambiguous, but the general picture is about right and that picture looks very good.
 
Jimy_Hills_Chin said:
I was just looking on Youtube at Kagawa videos and came across 'Kagawa all touches v's Hanover', the video clocked in at 15mins which seemed very long so I decided to do my own statistical analysis of his performance.

Passes 76
Pass completion rate 95%
Key passes 2 (there were 3 but one was incorrectly ruled offside so I omitted it)
Shots 4
Goals 1
Assists 0
Tackles 2
Interceptions 2
Tackled 3
Clearances 0
Blocks 0

No doubt there might be minor inaccuracies in there because some events are pretty ambiguous, but the general picture is about right and that picture looks very good.
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...why?
 
Steven Seagull said:
You couldn't have looked on whoscored.com or something?
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They don't do friendlies, christ, it only took me 15mins! I was curious to see how he functioned as a midfielder with a remit to look after the ball, pretty well I might add, he made 49 of his passes in the first half alone.
 
Yeah it's nice to have some stats of him in a midfield role, even if it is just from 90 minutes in a friendly, considering that there's every likelihood of him getting a fair few minutes there this season. Before the RVP signing I was relatively certain that him behind Rooney would be the default position, but now I reckon he'll get a fair few minutes in midfield.

People will say he's not defensive enough, but I'm not sure that's an issue. I imagine if he plays there we'll press higher up the pitch like Athletic did against us last year. In that system you don't need to be particularly adept at tackling, the onus is on working in small groups to close down players and restrict their passing options. Barcelona are (as ever) a good example, aside from Busquets none of their midfield/attacking players are great tacklers, their pressing game relies on all the forward players having the stamina, mobility and teamwork to keep opponents under pressure and force them into making a mistake.
 
This boy is gonna rip up the league this season, i just know it! Everyone will begin the season talking about RVP but I reckon Kagawa will be the main talk come May
 
jeff_goldblum said:
Yeah it's nice to have some stats of him in a midfield role, even if it is just from 90 minutes in a friendly, considering that there's every likelihood of him getting a fair few minutes there this season. Before the RVP signing I was relatively certain that him behind Rooney would be the default position, but now I reckon he'll get a fair few minutes in midfield.

People will say he's not defensive enough, but I'm not sure that's an issue. I imagine if he plays there we'll press higher up the pitch like Athletic did against us last year. In that system you don't need to be particularly adept at tackling, the onus is on working in small groups to close down players and restrict their passing options. Barcelona are (as ever) a good example, aside from Busquets none of their midfield/attacking players are great tacklers, their pressing game relies on all the forward players having the stamina, mobility and teamwork to keep opponents under pressure and force them into making a mistake.
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The problem is we don't play a pressing game.
 
He just looks absolutely first class in everything he does. It all comes so simply to him, kind of like a more mobile scholes
 
He's the one player who has managed to find space or create half a yard for himself to make something happen. Everyone else has been shackled and unable to make things happen
 
He showed some glimpses of just how good he could be tonight. Unfortunately too many of the players around him were woeful but his performance is a major positive to take from tonight.
 
Well I am suitably impressed at how well he did against a defensively sound and physical Everton team. His through passes are fantastic, also never seems to give the ball away
 
He looked good compared to everyone else, not saying much though. Still, glimpses of what he can do anyway.
 
What really impressed me was how he looked like he played for us for years. He took Rooney's position and made it his own. That's probably why Wazza looked so lost tonight.
 
Best player on the pitch by a country mile. Always comfortable in possession, some lovely through balls and it all seemed so easy for him whereas everyone else found it difficult.

I hope he continues in the #10 role, playing off the striker.
 
Looked a class above any other outfield player tonight.
 
He must be wondering where the famous Wayne Rooney he's heard so much of was. Must be shocked by the elementary mistakes in technique and touch by that blond toupet dude.
 
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