What strengths will Hayato Inamura bring to Celtic?
Hayato Inamura will shortly become our fourth summer signing and it’s fair to say his arrival hasn’t been greeted with too much enthusiasm by the Celtic supporters.
To be fair we don’t know much about the player, but a quick look at his highlight reel on YouTube suggests he’s a ball playing centre back. Yes, I know YouTube can make anyone look good, but it’s the only way we can make an initial judgement on his style of play and remember Celtic will certainly have far more detailed material to work on and have been suitably impressed to make Hayato a priority target for this summer transfer window.
Celtic scouts will of course have watched Inamura extensively
Celtic scouts will of course have watched Inamura extensively and must have obviously been impressed by the 23 years old’s performances for a side who currently sit in the bottom half of the J league table.
So Inamura is a left sided centre back who loves to pick a pass from any range and can score a goal. He also looks quick and strong in the tackle, so he seems like a player who would fit right into Brendan’s footballing philosophy.
The only down side in his highlight reel is that you don’t see much of his ability in the air. It’s also claimed that Inamura can play left back, but again most of the clips showed him in a more central defensive area, but he does indeed have all the attributes to cover in that area.
Where Brendan Rodgers sees Inamura in his side remains to be seen
Where Brendan Rodgers sees Inamura in his side remains to be seen, time will tell. As we mentioned yesterday Celtic has had great success with Japanese signings playing in midfield or attack but not so far in defence, so Inamura can break that barrier down. The Celtic support will of course give him every encouragement and we look forward to seeing him in the Hoops in the season ahead.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Thinking that the decision taken of going after hayato, and letting Anderson go, is potentially the biggest indication that Rodgers may have a back 3 in mind for the SPFL campaign next season imo?
Although I can see a place available for hayato within a 25man squad for ourselves?
Remain doubtful if he would be used to often early doors within a 20man SPFL squad?
If such plans are within the making of Rodgers, wouldn’t say scales has much of a longer term future, especially if hayato can develop into such a structure in time imo?
Same could possibly be applied for osmand also?
An interesting concept Johnno. But a back 3 would mean going with a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3 formation.
You either sacrifice your full backs or your wingers…
A 343 diamond would be interesting, but even with Tierney in the left CB slot, it would rely on speed in the midfield to cover defensive duties (which we are still light on for both pace and dig) but on paper the shape could work with Nygren in the #10 position. It wouldn’t work for Alistair Johnston though!
I can’t see BR changing things to that extent.
Call me cynical but imo this stinks of a dodgy agent backhander as it makes no sense on any level , he is by all accounts not as good as Kobayashi and we know how that went .