Nix Transfer Speculation 2019-20

Interesting that two of his best three scoring seasons have come in the last 3 years. Hopefully he's a late bloomer (if we are signing him).

Probably because he's gone from J1 to J2

Jeez things are getting desperate. 

https://us.soccerway.com/players/hiroyuki-takasaki/74664/

Lots of goals in J2.

However when in J1, nowhere near as productive, but was also often on the bench in the top league.

I just thought I'd Nippon here and Samurai-se my thoughts. I know Zero about this guy but just happy to see us linked to a zen-tre forward

spent half his career at J1 level and playing for bether j2 teams, will be fine.

Hoping he brings the traditional Japanese work ethic. DefeND from the top.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://vimeo.com/332610370&ved=2ahUKEwjt-ZeSnvzkAhWbILcAHYkhDeEQo7QBMAJ6BAgAEAY&usg=AOvVaw3dFYdbj_hFdDHDtwXEKZ_w

Excuse my terrible linking. But these highlights are miiiiiles better than what we saw of the Chilean bloke. Seems strong in the air.. Sets up quite a few scoring chances. Takes chances himself.. Scores a willo-esque goal. 

Wouldn't mind if this eventuates.. 

niiiiice hight-lights....

At least he wouldn't get scared off by the earthquakes..

Sometimes after reading comments like this I like to play a game where I imagine that the players have their own forum where they comment on the supporters. Some of the stuff they say about us is quite unnecessary. Although some things, especially those that are about Hard News with his shirt off are reasonably accurate.

He looks very tall for a Japanese player, and seems quite mobile for the size too. Makes very intelligent runs.

The highlights are not very kind on his bleached-hair teammate though.

To be fair I've been private messaged by two separate family members of past Phoenix players when I criticised the way they played on Facebook :)

But I 100% agree with you regarding HN

$100 that I know who at least one of those was.

Just gotta hope hes an upgrade on Sherridan 

Big unit for a Japanese fella. Looks like he's good in the air and shows good touch around the box. Just what Talay has been saying he wants, A target man, with different attributes to what we currently have.

The Japanese Cillian by the looks of it.

I would like to see us sign Clayton Lewis as well as the Japanese bloke if possible but happy with just the ST

I would like us to sign anyone that would not bugger off to the Bitumens next season citing family reasons.

Agreed. Solid highlights package. Sign him up, Uffie!

Reckon he's about Plan C or D ; so in that context, it would be a decent signing. Not sure if it's the signing we all needed/wanted to replace Roy; but that's not easy to do.

at least he should be match fit as the japan season is still running

considering the amount of gun a league players who struggle to make any impression at all in the j league, I think we could do a lot worse

hopefully he has a little english ability to make his transition easier

Good opportunity for crossover promotion with the Rugby World Cup

I'd rather the Japanese Cillian than the Chilean Civilian to replace Cillian, Willo and Roy

Was a pretty impressive highlights package.  If he comes on board would be nice to think of the likes of McCowatt, Waine etc running onto Takasaki's headed flicks and short passes.

Id rather have Shepard.

Looks alright from what I saw in that video could be a keen a good signing, but it will be hard to replace Roy and time soon

Everyone raved over him when he arrived on his first couple of games but in all actuality, he did nothing. Yeah he had some nice touches but why we would want to reward that by resigning mediocrity, is baffling. Remember, his job was to score goals, and he laid a massive egg.

No thanks

Kate?

Great in that ten role.

Im keen on signing him. Decent highlights package and looks very good on his feet. Far more exciting than the Chilean or Cillian 

Highlights are deceiving!, prob another Appiah.

A short highlights package really isn't a good indication of how good someone is.

Trying to catch up with the thread... What happened to the South American striker? Japan != South America.

Japan have played in Copa America a couple of times.

Reckon Cillian could've been good; his confidence was obviously low after not scoring for a few games though. It's a tough gig coming into an estalbished team half way through the season. I reckon there was no reason he couldn't have been a decent to good A-League import.

To address other people's points about highlight videos not being indicative of a player's true ability, thats fair. Small sample size and tends to only show the positive aspects of their game. But I've watched about 10 minutes worth of highlights for both Varas and Takasaki, and while you could never truly ascertain which would perform best in the A League from those videos, Takasaki definitely looks more versatile. Varas looks very good at getting into good positions and being in the right places for a cross. Takasaki looks a real handful in a number of ways though, tidy with the ball at his feet and can shoot from in or outside the box. He also looks a menace in the air, but many centre backs in the J League are quite short so maybe that's slightly skewed. Seems to create as many as he finishes though, almost looked like he gets deployed in a similar way as Giroud is when playing for France - not only using his aerial ability to finish goals, but create them too with flick ons. Personally although it's not a lot to go by, I think Takasaki is the better option

I miss Steve-O. He was miserable and negative, but only when there was really something to be miserable and negative about.