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

Borussia and Bayern are in the DFB Pokal final so if both of those teams will qualify for the next year's edition of CL (which they'll surely get) Bundesliga will be able to give a spot in EL's 3rd round of qualifications to the seventh place team. Isn't it like that?

 

I think it´s actually first six places. But it doesn´t really matter as Dortmund and Bayern will finish first and second in some order. The most important part of the rule was, that a losing semifinalist of the Cup cannot get the EL spot, if the other three semifinalists qualify through the league. That´s why the clubs and supporters of Bremen, Leverkusen, Stuttgart, Hannover and Wolfsburg were all praying for Dortmund to beat 2nd division Fuerth in the Cup semifinal, which they did with a goal in the 120th minute.

 

Yes. I couldn't find it in English, but here are the German rules. It says that if the cup Finalists all finish in the top four, then places 5, 6, and 7 in the Bundesliga qualify for the Europa League.

http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=3110http://

 

Most ball touches of all (!) players on the pitch. The trust he has earned from his teammates in such a short time is outright amazing.

 

At this rate Sakai might end up having more game time than Uchida and Hasebe combined.

On the downside, it looks like Albirex will keep on losing their stars.

 

Played the full 90, got an assist.

I never expected things to be like this when he first made the move: who would have thought he would be the regular in the starting lineup instead of Okazaki?

 

Okazaki has been injured a month in between.

 

True that, not many people believed in Sakai, not even on this board. From the minute he stepped on the pitch for Stuttgart anyone could see, clearly, that he was class. It took a while for some people to believe it, but the results of the club are there, and his play has been stellar. Ever since hes joined the team their defense has been much improved and their offense as well. It cant be coincidence that Sakai joins the team and now theyre in the Europa League running and actually on pace to qualify. Hes a big part of their recent run of great play.

 

Please stop overdoing it, he's been good but not stellar. Save it for the day he will be stellar or you won't have anything to say.

 

Oh, please...you stop being such a party pooper. What do you want from the kid? A hat trick? Hes a side back, this is as good as it gets, he doesnt make mistakes, his team is on a tear, hes providing assists. You want him to be Shinji Kagawa? Come on now, the kid deserves some props.

I just think its hilarious as he builds on his momentum all the talk that was said a month ago about how he was trash in the Jleague and Hiroki Sakai, Uchida, and the rest were all miles ahead of him have all begun to slowly quiet. Maybe hell come back to Earth, maybe some would like that. Im watching the player not the name, im just saying he is the real deal contrary to what others said based on past performances in another league or on NT duty. Maybe there is something in the water.

 

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJrXERSsWdo"]??????????????????? - YouTube[/ame]

 

Sakai's been named in Best XI by both Kicker and Bild, he got the best possible rating by Bild.

 

He has surprised us all. Kinda like Hosogai.

So I guess he starts tonight also then

 

No nothing changes the past, but it does make me question peoples ability to look past the past. Players do improve, as is the case here apparently since he USED to suck. At least according to some people here. It also makes me wonder how people evaluate talent, clearly Stuttgart saw something in him and Japan since both have allowed him to join their squads and play for them. Basically what I'm trying to say is, he probably didn't suck in the J-league, people were just to harsh on him for whatever reason, He obviously doesn't suck, maybe he did, maybe I'm wrong. I didn't each I'm play in the J-league, I never even heard of the guy till he came to Germany. But if he sucked how is it he got to Germany, and played lights out, in a better league? How is it he was invited to play for the Japan NT U-20's, and got playing time?

So either he did really suck in Japan and Stuttgart decided,"hey lets take a chance on this 20 year old Japanese kid who really sucks". And then became a great player, like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.

Or maybe...just maybe, people, like the ones who said he "sucked", just got it wrong. I think ill stick with the latter. At this point it doesn't matter, Stuttgart won another game, 5 in the last 8, are on an 8 game unbeaten streak, and according to goal.com Sakai played another more than solid match with a rating of 7. Not bad...not bad for a guy who sucked.

Players do improve, sometimes situations they're put in are better than others. It must be a perfect storm for Gotoku now, he's transitioning well, the coach and players trust him, his confidence is sky high and his play is reflecting it. Not to mention the teams results. Im just skeptical about what his true level was in the J-league...he has been a pleasant surprise nonetheless.

 

btw, he was also called up by Zac in the 2011 Asian Cup, but was injured before it started. but being called for the senior national team is great.

 

Man you sure are inspired by Sakai, dropping constantly those huge blocks of text. That's at least something he's good at, getting your interest (warning, this is a troll)

 

Why ? Not a fan but he hasn't done anything wrong.

 

What's the point of pointing the finger *now* to people who said something about him *in the past*? It's like laughing about a wrong prediction without making one oneself.

 

why not ? Makino can play everywhere in the defense, he's more versatile. 3 specialists + one guy who can play everywhere, that seems to be the good setting. Konno was that man under Okada.