2011/12 Gotoku Sakai @ VfB Stuttgart (GER) Thread [R]

Gotoku Sakai (酒井高徳)

D.O.B. - 14 March 1991

History
2009- Albirex Niigata
2011- Vfb Stuttgart

http://www.albirex.co.jp/tools/page_store/news_4400.html

And here's Albirex press release.


Plus: the loan fee is 500k €, according to an article of the German press agency.

Not a good picture of him IMO, just sayin'

cotoco Sakai

I can't see Sakai playing much the rest of the season and I believe that Stuttgart will use this time to get him acclimatized to the country in preparation for next season.

Stuttgart are still in the cup, but since they're already so far its doubtful that they'll risk using him in that competition.

The only chance that I can see him getting playing time is:

1. Someone is injured
2. Home game against bottom opponent
3. End of the year if Stuttgart have nothing to play for

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/soccer/news/2011/12/24/kiji/K20111224002302370.html

Sounds like he wanted this move and he definitely doesn't speak German.

Then it's time to start learning ASAP

I wonder how much competition Sakai will face at RB/LB.

I'm sure he will get his opportunities to claim a first-team spot during the loan, in general I feel Bundesliga clubs (Bayern may be the exception) are more willing to field their younger players compared to the other top European leagues.

Boka, the LB for Stuttgart, hasn't been playing well lately, and Boulahrouz hasn't been too convincing either.

Stuttgart face Bayern in the next round of the Pokal, I'm gonna have to write them off right there.

Celozzi and Molinaro are the starters at RB and LB, but I think Sakai can take their spot!

GANBARE SAKAI!

Celozzi's been injured since November and had only one appearance this season. I agree with SB2002 that Sakai will see limited match action time this season, but mostly I see him as their right side-back option in case Boulahrouz is injured like currently.

Anyway, Celozzi's, Boulahrouz' and Boka's contract end in June 2012, so much will depend on if they get their contracts extended - quite late imo to do that, as they could leave on a Bosman.

Welcome to Stuttgart.

The team has a few LB and RB, but none of them have played in ways that would make them untouchable. Some of them are also injury prone, as well as suspension prone. I am glad that Stuttgart went for a young player.

http://www.vfb.de/de/aktuell/meldungen/news/2011/vorstellung-sakai/page/3285-0-3-1325599707.html?f3

Whoa, I thought that would be 22 rather than 2.

Do you guys think he will get playing time?

By my humble opinion? No they probably have him as a backup and will get his chance if the rest get injured or to cause they are fatigued and so on. And once that happens he will need to show something out of ordinary to be able to get the first 11 spot.


But it is just my opinion

http://www.vfb.de/de/aktuell/meldun...kazaki-sakai/page/3300-0-3-1325881035.html?f3

Little interview with Okazaki and Sakai.

Sakai: "I have been in Germany only a few days but it struck me that people here are drinking beer already at noon"

Haha love it

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...debuet---usami-macht-alle-fuenf-fcb-tore.html

And Sakai had a good debut in a test against Beerschot as left-back.

Forget noon! Weizen, Weisswurst and Brezel are a perfectly acceptable breakfast down here!

Seriously, I am always happy to see excellent non-UEFA players make inroads here in Europe......

I've heard tell that Celozzi has fallen out of favor with management here in Stuttgart, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Sakai make the cut in either the Bayern Pokal match or Gladbach at home....

Funny thing, until yesterday I thought this guy was Hiroki Sakai of Kashiwa Reysol. I did not realize this. Idiot I am.

So Gotoku is also a wingback? Left, right?

I think he's a Left-back, but can play both sides. On the U-22 team, he plays opposite Hiroki Sakai.

How does Gotoku compare to Hiroki (or Kashiwa Reysol)? Both are good players with interest overseas.

Yeah I hope someone can answer this.

Actually Gotoku Sakai lost his starting place in the Olympic team to Higa. Gotoku is on the bench.

Interesting. Can you describe those two ? Similar?

Not even on the bench :/

Left-back Molinaro got red-carded so there's a chance Gotoku is in the squad against Berlin next weekend.