Ao Tanaka

[John in Louisiana]

What a bargain for £3.5m.

Insane. He just keeps getting better.

[weasel]

What a bargain for £3.5m.

Sometimes we do good in the transfer market.

[Cjay]

I miss him.

Loved watching him last season, good progressive midfielder.

Popped up with the odd goal.

Mr consistent, Players player of the year, League team of the season member.

Isn't even like the team is worse when he's started (we have a better ppg when he does than when he doesnt).

But hasn't got off the bench in the last 6 and only played about 45 minutes of league football this year so will be miles off sharpness like quite a few.

Shame.

[White Riot]

I miss him.

Loved watching him last season, good progressive midfielder.

Popped up with the odd goal.

Mr consistent, Players player of the year, League team of the season member.

Isn't even like the team is worse when he's started (we have a better ppg when he does than when he doesnt).

But hasn't got off the bench in the last 6 and only played about 45 minutes of league football this year so will be miles off sharpness like quite a few.

Shame.

Same with Piroe and Gnonto, when we need to call on these players they will be miles off it, because they have not been playing competitive football.

That's 100% down to Farke.

When we get results this issue is glossed over, but as soon as the results stop the attention is right back on Farke, and rightly so.

We brought Buonanotte in, who is a creator and a goal threat. He got one half of football shoved into a defensive midfield role. That's not his position, and not what he was brought in for.

And he was judged by Farke as a failure and excluded. That's harming our attacking potential as we're not resplendent with attacking riches.

We've seen this before with Djed Spence, Conor Roberts, Jaidon Anthony, Charlie Cresswell, Largie Ramazani, etc. Poor man management and poor management of our football assets.

Last night was only one match, but it's a microcosm of Farke's coaching ability. I really was very positive about how he's adapted to the EPL and shown flexibility in his approach.

But last night, and in many other matches where we've retreated from victory, he's reverted to type.

I'm really disappointed, as this has again shook the faith I had grown in Farke. If ever there was a resounding nail in a coffin then it was last night.

[1964white]

I miss him.

Loved watching him last season, good progressive midfielder.

Popped up with the odd goal.

Mr consistent, Players player of the year, League team of the season member.

Isn't even like the team is worse when he's started (we have a better ppg when he does than when he doesnt).

But hasn't got off the bench in the last 6 and only played about 45 minutes of league football this year so will be miles off sharpness like quite a few.

Shame.

Surprised Tanaka didn't come on for the limited Gruev.

[foxy]

I'm sure he will start on Sunday as ampadu, stach and gruev all need a rest

[marie67]

Instead of desperately shoving on all available forwards and losing shape and presence in the midfield Farke should have brought on Tanaka.

[1964white]

Yesterday's display vs Scotland is worthy of pushing AOs individual thread forward.

Tanaka is crucial to Japan's strategy, often responsible for controlling the tempo, maintaining possession, and creating opportunities with his technical ability and vision.

His professional demeanor and work rate are considered crucial for the national team, providing stability and supporting both attacking and defensive actions.

[Barlow Boy]

Appreciate I’m in the minority, and will get pelters, but I don’t get the Tanaka love in to be honest. He’s a decent enough player, but nothing special for me.

Everyone singing his name at the ground when he’s coming on, makes a tackle or simply passes the ball 5 yards is a touch over the top.

As I say, I’m clearly in the minority and will pay closer attention to him as I’m clearly missing something.

[1964white]

Appreciate I’m in the minority, and will get pelters, but I don’t get the Tanaka love in to be honest. He’s a decent enough player, but nothing special for me.

Everyone singing his name at the ground when he’s coming on, makes a tackle or simply passes the ball 5 yards is a touch over the top

As I say, I’m clearly in the minority and will pay closer attention to him as I’m clearly missing something.

Aye, it's cringe-worthy at times!

Tanaka was excellent for Japan though, yesterday.

As I posted earlier, he fits like a glove in that Japanese set-up.

[Madron]

Be interesting to see how he gets on against England.

[1964white]

Be interesting to see how he gets on against England.

I looking forward to that game.

I'll fear for England if we have to face Japan in the actual WC tournament.

[Cjay]

Took the goal really well.

But aside from that he was immense.

Won so many duels and played so many progressive passes and made attacking runs.

Box to box today.

Brilliant

[Johnthewhite]

Took the goal really well.

But aside from that he was immense.

Won so many duels and played so many progressive passes and made attacking runs.

Box to box today.

Brilliant

Really took the opportunity to show what he can do at this level today I thought.
Well done lad

[weasel]

Took the goal really well.

But aside from that he was immense.

Won so many duels and played so many progressive passes and made attacking runs.

Box to box today.

Brilliant

Did well. Probably suits him most to be the 8, box to box, in a system with 2 strikers and 2 midfielders behind him. Think for me it is now between him and Aaronsen for that role.

[YorkshireSquare]

Did well. Probably suits him most to be the 8, box to box, in a system with 2 strikers and 2 midfielders behind him. Think for me it is now between him and Aaronsen for that role.

Thought it was a bit odd he brought Aaronson on for Stach and pushed Tanaka back into a role he's been less comfortable in.

[Cjay]

Did well. Probably suits him most to be the 8, box to box, in a system with 2 strikers and 2 midfielders behind him. Think for me it is now between him and Aaronsen for that role.

Always been an 8 Ao.

Never been a holding midfielder, he's got too much attacking quality to be shoehorned in a holding role (no clue why he was for Aaronson tbh).

Really took his chance today.

[The Subhuman]

Thought it was a bit odd he brought Aaronson on for Stach and pushed Tanaka back into a role he's been less comfortable in.

Game management is definitely a weakness for Farke ... He has a plan and sticks with it irrespective of game situation. Really don't rate Longstaff but he was the obvious choice to replace Stach and partner Tanaka, instead Tanaka moved back, Amps played further forward and Aaronson took Tanaka's place and we lost control of the midfield..


We also paid 12M for Longstaff and he's beginning to look like a waste of money if he doesn't play when he's the obvious choice

[1964white]

Game management is definitely a weakness for Farke ... He has a plan and sticks with it irrespective of game situation. Really don't rate Longstaff but he was the obvious choice to replace Stach and partner Tanaka, instead Tanaka moved back, Amps played further forward and Aaronson took Tanaka's place and we lost control of the midfield..


We also paid 12M for Longstaff and he's beginning to look like a waste of money if he doesn't play when he's the obvious choice

Farke's game management has got us to a FA Cup Semi-Final for the first time in 39 years.

[Irish Ian]

Farke's game management has got us to a FA Cup Semi-Final for the first time in 39 years.

Well said.

I thought today was tough losing Stach and later Rodon, those losses were difficult manage and stretched out squad to its limit.