Japan Times journalist gives the lowdown on Celtic’s new Japanese contingent…
As the fever pitch rose higher and higher in the world of Celtic supporters because of the impending arrival of our new Japanese contingent, Japan Times journalist, Dan Orlowitz, was interviewed by Sky Sports News earlier to give the lowdown on our new Asian imports.
In a whirlwind few hours, reports began to circulate across social media and online that Celtic were to complete the signings of Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi, and Reo Hatate. For months now the three players have been linked as crucial pieces of the Angeball jigsaw and will now sign on the dotted line when the transfer window opens officially.
Dan reckons that all three will have an impact at Celtic and will be looking to play themselves into contention for a place at the World Cup in Qatar next winter for Japan. Maeda and Hatate have both made the latest Japan squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in January and February. However, Ideguchi remains absent after losing the form of a few seasons ago.
The journalist asserted that all three are a steal; with Maeda and Hatate costing around the £1.5 – 2 million mark and Ideguchi less than £1 million respectively. All three should have gone for more, considering the cost and success of their Paradise compatriot, Kyogo Furuhashi. All coming in around the £3 million sum makes phenomenal business sense and will provide plenty of competition for places now.
Dan also confirmed that everyone in Japan was shocked when Ange Postecoglou sought out the signature of Kyogo before last season’s top goalscorer and red-hot forward, Maeda. Its safe to say we haven’t been disappointed by the decision and now that Daizen is arriving it will be worth the wait.
He admitted that out of the three, he expects Maeda to make the quickest impact, revealing that Hatate may take time to settle in a new environment and that Ideguchi may need help from Ange and the coaching staff at Lennoxtown to find that form that once made him so valuable to Japan.
Overall, the journalist is excited for what lies ahead for both the players joining the club and Celtic. Admittedly, Orlowitz was very shocked when rumours started that Celtic FC would sign another three footballers from the J-League, citing that it would be unheard of. Well, now it has happened the American can’t be more delighted and is optimistic about what the future may hold for all three and their new team.
Watch Dan speak to Sky Sports earlier today…
🟢| Celtic fans, here’s all you need to know about the deals to sign Reo Hatate, Diazen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi plus what the Japanese trio will offer…@aishiterutokyo pic.twitter.com/pK44NtphER
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 31, 2021
Paul Gillespie
”… Ideguchi may need help from Ange and the coaching staff at Lennoxtown to find that form that once made him so valuable to Japan.”
I think Dan is trying to be diplomatic. Truth is, most people have never viewed Ideguchi as especially “valuable”, at least not compared to the other two. He was a decent young player who got called up for a NT run because several of Japan’s Europe-based players were not available, and happened to score a cracker of a goal. It is a mystery to Dan, as it is to me — and 90% of other J.League fans I suspect — how he managed to parlay that thin resume into a move to Leeds.
Dont get me wrong, he has solid skills and a combative nature, and he is still fairly young. Its just that most people thought he was still a pretty incomplete player, and tried to move to Europe FAR too early. Once he did, he got stuck in a situation where he couldnt even understand the language (his English is mediocre, but Spanish??? ), and never really had a chance to succeed. I still have my doubts, but as I said, he can definitely put in a hard-running 90 minutes. Hey – if Carl Starfelt is good enough to play, I think Ideguchi may pan out . . .