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

The manager seems to have a lot of confidence in Sakai, i hope he'll replace Higa at the Olympics. Stuttgart seem to be scoring goals for fun in the past few weeks.

 

http://swrmediathek.de/player.htm?show=d82f36d0-66a7-11e1-8a57-0026b975f2e6

Don't know if you guys can watch this from outside Germany, it's the clip of an interview with Gotoku in a local sports TV show where he is talking about which is his main foot (he was right-footed but nowadays doesn't know which is stronger) that he was a forward in youth (but says he lacked the talent) and some non-football related stuff, like he likes rice pudding... all not very interesting but he seems to catch the hearts by storm (at least in Stuttgart).

It's not meant as an offense but he reminds me more of Hulk than Jleague-muri-Hulk.

 

With him at least in the matchday squad I am sure Stuttgart would never release him in the first place.

 

They have also Boka and Traore but fact is Gotoku is currently holding in his own hands if he keeps his starting spot, or at worst, will be benched. Even if he is benched Stuttgart won't release him, as long as there is a 1%-chance that he will be needed.

 

Labbadia already confirmed that he'll start Gotoku on Friday vs Kaiserslautern on club's page.

 

He played well again, but Kaiserslautern was content to play for the draw. Towards the end of the game Stuttgart had some great counter attacks but they just didnt have enough to get them that goal. Its too bad, because Stuttgart should have taken the 3 points from such a poor team.

 

http://translate.google.com/transla.../topic/ansicht_11_401733_seite24.html&act=url

are they talking about whether Sakai is still eligible to play for Germany NT????

 

Yes, though they think the chances are slim. Not because he wouldn't be technically eligible (he is), but because he probably feels more Japanese than German.

The conclusion is that he has obviously had a string of decent games so far and the fans are starting to get curious about him.

 

I hope he stay with Japan, although if he were ever to be scouted to play for Die Mannschaft, it would speak volumes...

btw, though he also holds a German passport, since he's already 20, which by now Japan would already made him choose one citizenship due to Japan's no Dual-citizenship policy.

 

the Fukushima argument is disgraceful.

 

Sigh... there's always a bad apple, on every board.

 

Ugh.

Totally frustrating.

The judgement from block 37B was that except for the ball refusing to go in the damn net, everything looked great.

 

It's been reported that Boulahrouz will be out for ca. 4 weeks.
It could very well be that Sakai won't spend any time on the bench this season.

 

Bingo, started as RB.

 

Ever since Sakai was inserted into the starting lineup Stuttgart has been new team. 5 wins 1 draw 1 loss goal differential of 18/6(4 being given up against Hannover).

He's solidified their back line, and gives them that bomber mentality much like Nagatomo. The results are there, he passed the eye test from the first day and ever since that day hasn't looked back. This guy is the real deal, Stuttgart hit the jack pot with him. Stuttgart are red hot and now only 4 point from a Europa League spot. At this rate they have a serious chance to qualify for the Europa League.

 

Actually, this season the seventh spot most likely qualifies for Europe.

 

Great season for him.

 

Not most likely it does, unless Bayern Munich falls from 2nd into 8th place. They currently have a 20 point lead over Hannover with seven rounds to go.