Shinji Okazaki April 16, 1986 (age 23) NT 17 (11 goals) Takayuki Morimoto May 7, 1988 (age 21) NT 0 (0)
As of now, Morimoto has no credibility on an international level. Okazaki has proven himself time and time again at the national team level. I think at the club level it there are equally good. Okazaki may play in a worse league, but his scoring record is better than Morimoto's. Right now for me it is no contest that Okazaki is better.
Lets wait after Morimoto has played some games for the NT. But he is playing in Serie A and scoring alot so. I would like to see the play together. Will Morimoto play against Togo?
Morimoto definitely tougher. Okazaki more technical. He should go play one year in Europe, just as study abroad, in whichever league he could get a starting position--the roughest the better. Morimoto's skill was clear in the game vs Scotland. As he entered, just by him chasing the ball and diagonal runs, the team became 15-20 meters longer, and in that space Matsui and Honda moved the ball at will. He "forced" the owngoal and generated the rebound for the second goal. I like them both, the one I don't want to see is Tamada, while Sato should get a chance, if only as sub. The four I like the most are Morimoto, Okazaki, Sato and Tanaka--at least for what seen so far this and in the past season.
I haven't seen a lot of either but speaking of Morimoto, I know some people passionate about the Serie A and they are very impressed with him. Of course it's harder to succeed in that country, that league, than what stands in front of Okazaki - I don't wish to insult the J-League, I'm really interested in it and think some great football is played there, but the Serie A is recognised as one of the big three in Europe, and Morimoto has stood up thus far. Also it's not only the teams, the players, the defenders... which need to be taken into account. It's a massive challenge to adapt to another culture with another language, so on. Okazaki would have it more comfortable in this aspect.
I'm an italian, and I can see more often Morimoto than Okazaki, and Morimoto more powerful and stronger, he does his work great, even on a place like this, the Serie A. He may not be a fluent scorer... but he's helpful to the team, did you see his assist on Sunday? One of the greatest jp players here like Hide and Nakamura indeed.
BlueHeart, there are three Italian users around here: me, you and Retri (Urawa Reds Fan). We all ahve one thing in common, besides Japanese soccer: we all hate Inter I am very glad there is finally another Japanese player doing well in Serie A. I wish others could follow soon, but -as Morimoto did-, they should do the move when they're 17-18 years old. At 21-22 they seem already too "Japanized" to adapt to the extreme pressure and to the "tactic-ism" of Italian soccer.
I'm italian like you and my opinion about Morimoto is the same. I'd like to see him in a better team, like Fiorentina, Roma and Sampdoria. I think he will become one of the top japanese players in the world.