Sending players to Europe doesn't help Japanese soccer. Nobody has improved. Japanese people are islanders and it is really difficult for them to live in foreign nations. Before they prove something on the pitch, they have a lot to overcome. I have lived in a country in Europe for 8 days and it was an awful experience. The people were arrogant, the food sucked, the weather was terrible.
I thought a common theme of being a proffessional athlete was to constantly challenge oneself to achieve a higher level?
Hang on now. I love the j.league as much as the next member on this forum and it if frankly a brilliant league for technique, youth development and is a fantastic foundation for the national team. But when it comes to players like Uchida who are 22 and already is a NT regular, J.League best XI, J.League champion, and arguably the best side-back in the j.league. It is foolish to just cease searching for opportunity to find a higher level. Because no matter how technically good the j.league is (top 10 in the world imo), you cannot find the pinnacle of football there. Uchida as a side-back cannot compete and defend against the best wingers in the world here. He cannot learn from the best managers in the world here. So even if he were to go to a team like FSV Mainz a lowish bundesliga side who frankly would get ruined by Kashima Antlers, he could still play against the best. Because the fact is, players like Robben, Dzeko, Ribery are infact at the very top of the world in their respective positions and probably all 3 in the top 10 so he will gain that experience and know what is the absolute best. Americankaka tell me what's better for Uchida and more so, japan NT. Playing the next 8 or so years of his career against players of the calibre of Ogasawara, Tatsuya Tanaka, Ishikawa? Or playing against Robben, Dzeko, Ribery. What's better for Uchida? Managed by Oswaldo Oliveira (who is a fantastic coach), or Felix Magath (one of the best, took wolfsburg to their FIRST EVER title). If Tulio stays on which I imagine he will with Buchwald apparently coaching. We're going to have Uchida, Yoshida, Tulio, Nagatomo which could possibly with a good world cup be 4 europe-based defenders for 2014 which is unprecedented in japanese football.
What the hell? Why did Kashima accept such a pitiful transfer fee? It's outrageous. You never see a player move for a transfer fee that's a fraction of the player's annual salary in the new contract. What the hell was Kashima thinking?
I agree with him that the food sucks. Even in Seattle now, with many Japanese restaurants, it is not the same. In fact, I've learned the hard way that they can only disappoint me. $20 for Udon... and tastes like crap compared to 680Y for Udon I'm craving. I also had yakisoba recommended by a friend a couple days ago... it was really just taco mix and spaghetti noodles. Pitiful. Don't even get me started on Tonkotsu Ramen compared to what's considered ramen here. And why is it every Japanese restaurant abroad is billed as either sushi or teriyaki? I almost never ate either of those in Japan...
This picks at my brain so often when I'm eating food. But on the flipside, there are plenty of excellent foods in Western countries that aren't great quality in Japan. It's hard to find a good pasta or pizza, and it's damn near impossible to get a schnitzel of any variety. And the majority of Western food (unless bought pre-packaged and frozen) are ridiculously expensive. So you can't really win regardless of where you live. Anyway, how about those Japanese Abroad?
Rafinha has plenty of offers, three from Italy alone including Juventus. So, yup, there might be a niche for ucchi at Shalke. Him against Kagawa in the derby would be awesome, and good training toward 2014. And Antlers have Gilton, so, no problem there, I believe!
Food in Europe surely sucks. In fact Italian and French food are hated all over the world...... And take-away sushi now costs less than McDonald's Oh dear!! I just feed a troll!! Ok, speaking about Kagawa and Uchida, I believe that those youngsters who can do good for a couple of years at top level in Japan MUST challenge themselves in Europe. If it doesn't work, they will return to Japan, where I doubt they will get trashed. The worst returnee in the J.League history is Takahara, who is still the most paid Japanese in the J.League. -- let alone the fact that in germany he did very well. And if you sink in Europe and still play so-so when you return, you can still get called by Okada, as in the case of Okubo. Really, it is a no-brainer, there are no counter-indications in trying to succeed in Europe! Go West, boys!! PS = We'll see a lot of Bundesliga from July, which is good, because it is an awesome league!
You are right. They can earn more money and more media exposure. But overall, it is a bad thing for Japanese soccer.
First part is Irony, right? Agreed about Bundesliga. Amazing League. Glad to see more Japanese talents moving this league.
I've had great pasta in various places around Fukuoka... Italian and French food are both very popular and good in Japan, if you ask me. There's a decent amount of Dutch bakeries as well. But agree on German and Polish dishes -- it's virtually non-existent. Offhand, I like Japan's strange concepts with pizza. It took once or twice to get used to, but like kimchi ... it grows on you. Yea but I don't think Okada will be around to continue calling them up if they don't make it. I'm excited to see both of them go though -- they are two of the best and still young. I just hope they get some playing time and not stuck with a manager that thinks they're only there to sell shirts.
French and Italian cuisine is sexy ... Bohunk cuisine isn't. Plus, most of that diaspora went west, not east.
http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/news/20100514-00000292-sph-socc.html Marseilles interested in Honda. If it's true I will turn myself into FIRE.
With all respect for the city and its history, I heard from friends who were there that Moscow is not an easy place to live in. I was in Marseille only once, but I really liked it. The African food by the harbor was awesome, and the people very warm and friendly. I think France or Italy could be a very good "next step" for Honda toward one of the very top league (Bundesliga, Liga and EPL).
Is it true? He should've thought of that before he signed then. Russia is not the nicest place to live in.
Matsui, asked on TV today if he follows the J.League, answered that he always follows Kyoto Sanga's results. Here's video of him in Kyoto last summer, after practice. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxIbBr7ncio"]YouTube- ??????????????!!(2009.7.4)[/ame] I believe that he will try to stay in Europe (a lot might depend on how his world cup goes), but for me at least it is VERY hard to imagine him playing in another Japanese club, as far as Sanga stays in J1.