I mean Sakai is genuinely a bigger signing than we’ve seen in NZ on pedigree.
While Davila or Zawada were great for the Nix, none have come with nearly the club or international experience Sakai has.
To be honest, I think he’s somewhat underhyped by this Auckland machine. The way the last signing has played out has taken the focus off quite how good his pedigree is. Perhaps it’s also because we haven’t had a lot of Asian players in the league. We tend to be PL snobs. He’s played in the Bundesliga and Ligue Un. And a lot for Japan in some big games.
That’s a better pedigree than Paul Ifill, than Bally or Greenacre or Smeltzy.
I honestly think this is the biggest signing we’ve seen in NZ. It doesn’t mean we haven’t seen amazing players dominate the league from the Championship or even League One level. But he has played a lot of his career top tier. He has no need to come to NZ. He could be in the MLS or plenty of other Japanese contracts I’m sure.
The fact they got him plus 4 other imports at all is a startling detail. We have to see how good they are.
While Davila or Zawada were great for the Nix, none have come with nearly the club or international experience Sakai has.
To be honest, I think he’s somewhat underhyped by this Auckland machine. The way the last signing has played out has taken the focus off quite how good his pedigree is. Perhaps it’s also because we haven’t had a lot of Asian players in the league. We tend to be PL snobs. He’s played in the Bundesliga and Ligue Un. And a lot for Japan in some big games.
That’s a better pedigree than Paul Ifill, than Bally or Greenacre or Smeltzy.
I honestly think this is the biggest signing we’ve seen in NZ. It doesn’t mean we haven’t seen amazing players dominate the league from the Championship or even League One level. But he has played a lot of his career top tier. He has no need to come to NZ. He could be in the MLS or plenty of other Japanese contracts I’m sure.
The fact they got him plus 4 other imports at all is a startling detail. We have to see how good they are.