2019/21 Takashi Inui @ SD Eibar (ESP)

Inui is starting:

Hamaikakoa • Alineación#EibarCelta pic.twitter.com/NdywmYmUF6

— SD Eibar (@SDEibar) September 12, 2020

 

They both played solid match, the team were unlucky to concede a goal from a counterattack and wasting a PK.

Muto was very lively and had a dangerous header on goal midway through the first half, he seemed very well fitted into the team, and it is a matter of time before he starts scoring.

 

Inui started again today and helped his team to record a 0-1 shock away win against Sevilla.

Inui created some dangerous chances which his teammates squandered, he was very lively as usual and showed a huge volume of composure in such a tough match.

He played on the left-wing as usual, but he was shifted to the right-wing midway through the second half, during his time on the right-wing he delivered a penetrating cross towards the penalty box, which would saw his team 0-2 up, but two of his teammates failed to tap-in the cross into the net.

Muto stayed on the bench for the full match.

 

Inui assisted Eibar's equaliser today against Real Sociedad in the Basque derby.

A deservedly earned draw, as Eibar extended their unbeaten run to 5 consecutive matches and consolidated their midtable place.

 

Rating and evaluating talent is subjective, especially if there is no metrics/standards behind this evaluation/rating.

For example, if you said Gattuso is more talented than Rui Costa most people will laugh at you, becuse they mostly percieve talent as artistic play and contributions on the attacking end.

However, I believe it is better to evaluate players by the skillset they posses (how much they are good at those skillset).

This is said, both Kagawa and Inui have different skillsets (their roles and styles of footbal are different).

Kagawa excels at link-up play, off-the-ball positioning, setting possesion and building rhythm.

While Inui excels at wing-play, running and cutting from the flanks, delivering cannoned shots/passes, and dribbling to an extent (compared to Kagawa).

Bearing this in mind, and bearing the evolution of football in the last few years, no wonder who is faring better right now.

Kagawa's skillset does not suit modern football, unless he works on other aspects of his game, especially pace and efficient decision-making.
It is not Kagawa's problem exclusively, it is the problems of teams and players playing with such style "tiki-taka brand of football or similar styles". That is why Barcelona are struggling lately.

While Inui's skillset is more suitable to modern evolution of football, that is why he is faring better and having better impact than Kagawa in the last few years.

 

This is pretty interesting, thank you for sharing.

 

Eibar are officially relegated after 7 consecutive seasons in the Spanish La Liga top division.

Inui played for them in 5 out of this 7 seasons, and he has a release clause to leave the club for free if they are relegated.

At the age of 33 with 10 seasons of European football under his belt, one only wonders if he will try to find a European club to join or return to Japan?

 

Takashi Inui's statistics in Europe:

10 continuous seasons in Europe (4 in Germany + 6 in Spain).

30 goals + 35 assists in 270 league matches.

1 goal + 7 assists in 17 Cup matches.

1 goal in 10 Europa League matches.

Apart from his first season in Germany during which he played in Germany's second tier, he played the remaining 9 seasons in both of the top tiers in Germany and Spain.

He played for: Bochum, Eintracht Frankfurt, Eibar, Real Betis, and Deportivo Alaves.

Where he will play next?

 

Takashi Inui officially leaves Eibar as he terminated his contract with the club after their relegation to Segunda Division.

https://www.sdeibar.com/noticia/sie...dejaran-de-pertenecer-al-eibar-el-30-de-junio