Kagawa

[sleel6]

May 9, 2012 12:15:26 GMT alt said:

Yea likewise, you rarely ever see Phelan doing a great deal other than sitting there a lot of the time. I still think a big CM will come in though and I can't see past Modric, will be big bucks but worth it. Modric, Kagawa, Rodriguez, Clyne, maybe another youngster such as Powell. Personally hoping that the following leave in the summer - Berbatov, Park, Giggs, Macheda, Anderson, Bebe and are replaced with young, energetic and enthusiastic players.

No more wingers, please.

[ginger18legend]

Watching Diego's goal for Atletico last night, can't help but think that is exactly what Shinji will bring.

[reddub]

May 10, 2012 13:50:31 GMT ginger18legend said:

Watching Diego's goal for Atletico last night, can't help but think that is exactly what Shinji will bring.

Good shout.

I'm looking forward to having a look at Kagawa in the German Cup final on Saturday.

[Jayrannasaurus]

Apparently Arsenal are also interested now.

I'll be fcuking fuming if they get him, especially as he's available for so little and we're in dire need.

Let's hope one of those medicals next week has a distinctly Japanese name attached to it, eh Tatty?

[Jayrannasaurus]

Some interesting stuff here \, highlighted some of them below:
www.firstpost.com/sports/why-manchester-united-need-japans-kagawa-305554.html

Shinji Ono, former Japanese international, UEFA Cup winner with Dutch giant Feyenoord and 2002 Asian Player of the Year, puts the relative absence down to playing style.

“In Japan, we often think about the technical points of the game and we think that our style fits Spain, Holland and Germany more than England, which is physical and direct,” Ono told The Associated Press.

With just three Premier League starts in 2012, the 31-year-old Park may no longer be central to the plans of long-serving coach Sir Alex Ferguson. Kagawa, meanwhile, is emerging as one of the hottest football properties in Europe. The attacking midfielder has become a leading player in Germany since joining Borussia Dortmund from J-League team Cerezo Osaka in the summer of 2010.

“Kagawa has the confidence to play anywhere. He already has lots of good experience in Germany with Dortmund,” Ono said. “Now, it’s time for him to go to a big club. Manchester United is a very popular club in Japan and people would be excited if he went there. I would be excited too.”

American Tom Byer, a former professional player in Japan, owns a string of football schools in the country. Kagawa was 10 when he attended one of the summer training camps, where he won a special award.

“We all knew back then he was destined for big things but nobody could have imagined that he may go to Manchester United,” Byer said. “My only concern is that Kagawa has had a few injuries already and playing in England, especially Manchester United, is quite demanding. The club is always competing at the highest level of every tournament and is always the biggest game for anyone to play.”

If Kagawa goes to Manchester United, it will certainly boost the club’s already healthy profile in Asia. United has worked hard to build its fan base across the vast and diverse continent.

In 2011, the club announced a plan for a $1 billion initial public offering on the Singapore Stock Exchange.

United’s official website can be read in Korean, Japanese, Mandarin and Arabic, and lists 12 sponsors from Asian nations. In recent years the team has traveled all over the continent to play friendlies and there are official Manchester United bars and restaurants in eight Asian countries, including Japan. The success of Park at the club has also contributed.

“Manchester United is one of a very select group that can say that they have profited from activities in Asia,” said Ryan McKnight, editor of FC Business, a magazine dedicated to the commercial side of football. “Be it licensing, preseason tours, merchandise or tourism to Manchester, the Asian market represents a huge pillar in the commercial operation United undertakes.”

“Asia will continue to be an important market for United … if it was to move its focus elsewhere then a Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal or Chelsea would quite happily attempt to fill the void. There is little chance of this happening as United clearly recognizes the value its global brand has in Asia.”

Tokyo-based Byer is in no doubt as to the kind of reaction the move would have in Japan.

“Kagawa signing with Manchester United would be enormous for both Japan and Asia in general,” he said. “Park Ji-sung has represented Asian football beyond expectations and broke the barrier for Asian players but if you consider that currently, Japanese soccer is popular throughout Asia, I believe Manchester United will get a bigger bump than when Park signed.”

[redcase]

Fuck the business end of that deal, that's an added bonus for the glazer motherfuckers. I need him for his football. Having said that, seeing $$$ signs all over the Japanese football crowd might persuade them to shell out as much as needed for him as well..But he cannot go to Arsenal. Man City using spending power to steal under our noses is somewhat acceptable as it is money. But if Arsenal steal Kagawa then I'll be fucking pissed off since we are much better than them as a football club . It will be insulting to say the least.

[traffordbrown]

I can see him fitting in at Arsenal to be fair.

But that MUSTN'T happen.

[SAF_Legend]

Extra business is good, but I believe the extra dimension to our team he can bring would be worth more.

The only thing I can think of if Kagawa moves to Arsenal instead of United would be Ryo Miyachi's presence. Park Chu-Young to a some extent, if Chu-Young can speak Japanese (Japanese and Chinese studies are popular among S.Koreans, so might be plausible).

I would be extremely angry if we miss out on Kagawa.

[traffordbrown]

May 11, 2012 8:02:48 GMT SAF_Legend said:

Extra business is good, but I believe the extra dimension to our team he can bring would be worth more.

The only thing I can think of if Kagawa moves to Arsenal instead of United would be Ryo Miyachi's presence. Park Chu-Young to a some extent, if Chu-Young can speak Japanese (Japanese and Chinese studies are popular among S.Koreans, so might be plausible).

I would be extremely angry if we miss out on Kagawa.

And Arsene Wenger's Japanese connections, surely?

Wenger speaks some Japanese!!

[SAF_Legend]

May 11, 2012 8:03:31 GMT traffordbrown said:

May 11, 2012 8:02:48 GMT SAF_Legend said:

Extra business is good, but I believe the extra dimension to our team he can bring would be worth more.

The only thing I can think of if Kagawa moves to Arsenal instead of United would be Ryo Miyachi's presence. Park Chu-Young to a some extent, if Chu-Young can speak Japanese (Japanese and Chinese studies are popular among S.Koreans, so might be plausible).

I would be extremely angry if we miss out on Kagawa.

And Arsene Wenger's Japanese connections, surely?

Wenger speaks some Japanese!!

Ah yes. That too. Well I hope he chooses United...

[Jayrannasaurus]

I reckon this deal will be sorted next week, after he's played in the German cup final and the PL is over. If we wait till June we'll miss out, surely we have people in higher up places who know this. He's cheap and hugely gifted - i.e. exactly what we need.

This deal is taylor made for us and I reckon the murmurings of Arsenal will not have much impact on this deal.

[reddub]

I agree.

You'd like to think we could get Kagawa in after the German Cup final. The sooner the better.

[moxdevil]

The fact that he and is agent aren't saying that Kagawa wants to play for Dortmund for life suggests to me that he is a mercenary. Perhaps i haven't yet accepted the realities of modern football. Do we want such a player and his agent at United? Just saying.

[reddub]

May 11, 2012 23:48:49 GMT @moxdevil said:

The fact that he and is agent aren't saying that Kagawa wants to play for Dortmund for life suggests to me that he is a mercenary. Perhaps i haven't yet accepted the realities of modern football. Do we want such a player and his agent at United? Just saying.

Interesting point.

[Bestie]

May 11, 2012 23:48:49 GMT @moxdevil said:

The fact that he and is agent aren't saying that Kagawa wants to play for Dortmund for life suggests to me that he is a mercenary. Perhaps i haven't yet accepted the realities of modern football. Do we want such a player and his agent at United? Just saying.

Satire?

If not there is a difference between being a mercenary and furthering your career. Take Manuel Neuer for instance, to use a Germany-based example. He was at Schalke, his boyhood and hometown club. Then he moved to Bayern Munich, the biggest team in Germany. Is he a mercenary?