| Saito - What Has Happened? 15:19 - Apr 4 with 7903 views | NorthantsHoop |
After the magnificent Paul Smyth was subbed for Saito yesterday, again he looked lost when he came on. He really is struggling in the Championship this season, on current showing the money paid for him looks a poor investment. |  | | |  |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 15:40 - Apr 4 with 5746 views | VancouverHoop |
Yeah. The expression on his face when he was on the sideline waiting to come on said everything. Gone was the perma-grin, he looked scared or worried. Not at all like the player we saw a year ago. |  | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 15:45 - Apr 4 with 5706 views | Hastings_Hoops |
He clearly has ability and has cut it at this level. Just needs confidence. |  | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 15:52 - Apr 4 with 5644 views | bosh67 |
Perhaps something has happened away from football that we don't know about? He certainly isn't himself. We know he has a lot of talent and he's only 24. Perhaps not confident for some reason after injury or something else completely.
I am still sure he was bought to become the next Chair as perhaps they felt Chair would go onto bigger things but bar his first game back and a few flashes he hasn't been able to find his mojo but perhaps the pre-season will reset that and he'll be back to the Koki we know. |  |
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| Saito - What Has Happened? on 15:57 - Apr 4 with 5618 views | daveB |
I don't think he was ever that good to start with, had that one trick running across the touchline with the ball and laying it back but he was very hit and miss last season and the same this year. No better than what we already had. Seems lovely fella and started really well so made me look daft for saying this in August/September but has quickly dropped again |  | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 16:00 - Apr 4 with 5582 views | Lblock |
Made the Japan squad then his form fell off a cliff on his return.
My theory is therefore homesick
He wasn’t what we needed when we signed him to be honest but with the woeful fitness position thanks to Cycling Ben he’s had the quality of being available as a warm body so that’s something |  |
| Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal |
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| Saito - What Has Happened? on 16:08 - Apr 4 with 5535 views | Myke |
Hopefully we can recoup what we spent on him during the summer. Was a sop signing after the Coventry debacle, which would never have been made if the Eze money wasn’t available. A gratuitous signing , the only benefit may be that it has caused Smyth to up his game. | | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 16:10 - Apr 4 with 5522 views | LazyFan |
Looks like he can be bullied off the ball, and also sometimes chooses the wrong pass. Not to mention, his defensive positioning isn't always good enough. Noticeable when Smyth now commands that side of the pitch.
Decent player, we paid somewhat over the odds for. I suspect we may move him on in the summer, now that he has at least one cap. He will be wanting to impress, so as to try and sneak back into the WC squad, we shall see. |  |
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| Saito - What Has Happened? on 16:15 - Apr 4 with 5496 views | 1JD |
3 goals and 3 assists in 39 games last season. No idea how these numbers, or his performances, justified his expensive outlay in the summer.
And 3 goals and 2 assists in 32 games this season. Not that kind of numbers that will have anyone interested. Looks an expensive waste of money.
Nearly 2 seasons now at this level. I’d be looking to move him on this summer and reinvest that money on a right back and left back. | | | |
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| Saito - What Has Happened? on 16:42 - Apr 4 with 5367 views | mart_Goblin |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 16:00 - Apr 4 by Lblock |
Made the Japan squad then his form fell off a cliff on his return.
My theory is therefore homesick
He wasn’t what we needed when we signed him to be honest but with the woeful fitness position thanks to Cycling Ben he’s had the quality of being available as a warm body so that’s something |
Interesting, as yesterday my son said to me that his body language looked like that of someone who was homesick . He has no knowledge of that , but that he just said that’s how he looked.
Might be the lack of confidence in a foreign land where you don’t speak the language , that could have a similar look, naturally .
Let’s hope he’s ok. He got a big cheer when he came on yesterday which can only help . |  | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 17:15 - Apr 4 with 5264 views | VancouverHoop |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 16:15 - Apr 4 by 1JD |
3 goals and 3 assists in 39 games last season. No idea how these numbers, or his performances, justified his expensive outlay in the summer.
And 3 goals and 2 assists in 32 games this season. Not that kind of numbers that will have anyone interested. Looks an expensive waste of money.
Nearly 2 seasons now at this level. I’d be looking to move him on this summer and reinvest that money on a right back and left back. |
His production numbers have been pretty consistent throughout his career. Even now. He's never been a goal-scorer. But he was taking on players and doing a lot of productive tracking back before his return to Japan for the WC qualifiers. Since then, sadly, he's been a different player. He looks very unhappy. | | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 17:21 - Apr 4 with 5225 views | 1JD |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 17:15 - Apr 4 by VancouverHoop |
His production numbers have been pretty consistent throughout his career. Even now. He's never been a goal-scorer. But he was taking on players and doing a lot of productive tracking back before his return to Japan for the WC qualifiers. Since then, sadly, he's been a different player. He looks very unhappy. |
Thought we were meant to be a data-driven club. Yet this signing is anything but and looks an expensive gamble. Wingers only go for big money if they post big numbers. Maybe we were trying to tap the Japanese merchandise market as not sure how this signing was justified otherwise | | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 17:35 - Apr 4 with 5130 views | Ned_Kennedys |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 16:00 - Apr 4 by Lblock |
Made the Japan squad then his form fell off a cliff on his return.
My theory is therefore homesick
He wasn’t what we needed when we signed him to be honest but with the woeful fitness position thanks to Cycling Ben he’s had the quality of being available as a warm body so that’s something |
His form seems to have drastically dipped since he came back from his first Japan full squad: I wonder if something happened there that has affected his confidence? He hasn’t been called up since.
He’s been playing in Europe for 6 seasons now so it’s unlikely just to be he’s now homesick.
Hope he gets his confidence back asap for everyone’s sake as he doesn’t look happy. [Post edited 4 Apr 17:42]
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| Saito - What Has Happened? on 17:40 - Apr 4 with 5115 views | baz_qpr |
I get the impression his lack of English is a big part of the problem, when everything is going swimmingly less of an issue but when its not going well and you are struggling it must be a very lonely place. Maybe we just need to buy another Japanese player |  | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 17:51 - Apr 4 with 5052 views | VancouverHoop |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 17:40 - Apr 4 by baz_qpr |
I get the impression his lack of English is a big part of the problem, when everything is going swimmingly less of an issue but when its not going well and you are struggling it must be a very lonely place. Maybe we just need to buy another Japanese player |
That's essentially what happens with some Japanese baseball players when they move to the US. They bring a companion who's defined as a coach. And, presumably, paid as such. | | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 18:08 - Apr 4 with 4981 views | Boston |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 17:51 - Apr 4 by VancouverHoop |
That's essentially what happens with some Japanese baseball players when they move to the US. They bring a companion who's defined as a coach. And, presumably, paid as such. |
'Companion', wink wink. | |
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| Saito - What Has Happened? on 18:21 - Apr 4 with 4907 views | CLAREMAN1995 |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 18:08 - Apr 4 by Boston |
'Companion', wink wink. |
Translator who blows $20 million of the players money gambling hoping nobody notices  |  | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 18:48 - Apr 4 with 4823 views | VancouverHoop |
Yup. And he was 'forgiven' it seems. | | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 19:05 - Apr 4 with 4768 views | Wilkinswatercarrier |
He had been on the pitch about 10 or 15 seconds and it was their goal kick when one of our coaches was having to call him over and pointing out where to stand.
He had literally just come on.
Bizarre and also concerning. | |
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| Saito - What Has Happened? on 20:21 - Apr 4 with 4614 views | Northernr |
He looks a bit bereft doesn't he?
A comfortable 3-0/4-0 win changed to 2-1 and hanging on because he replaced Smyth and they put Baah on. We'd slaughtered them down that side all afternoon, and then suddenly it was roles reversed. |  | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 21:08 - Apr 4 with 4435 views | stevec |
If Saito and Esquerdinha are first teamers in any form we can forget about play offs again next season.
Club has to get ruthless, that side of the pitch is a mess. If RND moves on or Chair is incapacitated we’ll struggle. Need a stand in for Chair and a LB that can cover or fill in for RND. No more stand ins who can’t handle the physicality of the game. |  | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 21:11 - Apr 4 with 4420 views | CateLeBonR |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 20:21 - Apr 4 by Northernr |
He looks a bit bereft doesn't he?
A comfortable 3-0/4-0 win changed to 2-1 and hanging on because he replaced Smyth and they put Baah on. We'd slaughtered them down that side all afternoon, and then suddenly it was roles reversed. |
I think he'd do better with more pace up front. Burrell or the other bloke. He's not having a very good season though. |  | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 22:16 - Apr 4 with 4183 views | danehoop |
Potentially a touch of the Madsens perhaps. Finally getting permanent move to us this year, picked up an injury not trying to get back into team after previously being more favoured. Perhaps being asked to do a different role to what he was previously doing and still trying to adapt to get it right.
Basically don't right him off yet, he is a very good player and was previously in the Japan squad and we know is well liked. I think would also do better playing with Burrel and Kone which is probably what he was originally brought in to do.
I like him, there is a good player in there (we know others were after him when we got him) and he brings something different. I wonder though if the emergence of Smyth (who was apparently also shit less than 6 months ago lest we forget!) and soon to be returning Chair may mean he is no longer required. |  |
| Never knowingly understood |
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| Saito - What Has Happened? on 22:27 - Apr 4 with 4135 views | BklynRanger |
The way I remember it (could be wrong) we brought both Siato and Dembele in at more or less the same time, which seemed odd. Dembele had more fanfare about him but one or two people (possibly Dave Mc was one) said Saito was a class act and would be the better aquisition.
Saito lived up to that early on - lots to learn but he had maybe 3 games for us last season where he was unplayable, then dropped off in form.
This season he doesn't seem to know where he should be or what he should be doing. I don't think he's homesick necessarily, just completely lacking in form and confidence. If we can get that to change I think he's still a quality player who's had a very very difficult second season. |  | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 22:29 - Apr 4 with 4121 views | mart_Goblin |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 22:16 - Apr 4 by danehoop |
Potentially a touch of the Madsens perhaps. Finally getting permanent move to us this year, picked up an injury not trying to get back into team after previously being more favoured. Perhaps being asked to do a different role to what he was previously doing and still trying to adapt to get it right.
Basically don't right him off yet, he is a very good player and was previously in the Japan squad and we know is well liked. I think would also do better playing with Burrel and Kone which is probably what he was originally brought in to do.
I like him, there is a good player in there (we know others were after him when we got him) and he brings something different. I wonder though if the emergence of Smyth (who was apparently also shit less than 6 months ago lest we forget!) and soon to be returning Chair may mean he is no longer required. |
Might need Francis to brush up on his Japanese and sit and talk to Koki like he did Nico. | | | |
| Saito - What Has Happened? on 22:32 - Apr 4 with 4095 views | Wegerles_Stairs |
Needs to bulk up if he wants to play at this level. Gets chucked around like a rag doll at the moment. He clearly has good technique but no point unless he can stay on his feet. | | | |
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