True, he just always seems like 6/10 in every match, but maybe I’m deluding myself that there’s a better performing player in there?Don’t forget he’s 28. Miles of prem quality.
True, he just always seems like 6/10 in every match, but maybe I’m deluding myself that there’s a better performing player in there?
I think Premier League future is the wrong way to think of him.
The best version of Sakamoto would be on a team that plays in continental competition but dominates the ball in their overmatched domestic leagues. His dribbling skill and ability to create space in close quarters is at an elite level. Really think he would excel best with those clubs that constantly need to unlock a low block.
Been with us for 18 months now and I still don’t know what his ceiling is. I like him as a player because of his work rate, but there are definitely games he goes missing along with ones where can produce magic. Interested to know what other people think? For example is he someone who has premier league potential or just a solid championship winger forever?
We'll find out when we go up in the playoffs that seasonBeen with us for 18 months now and I still don’t know what his ceiling is. I like him as a player because of his work rate, but there are definitely games he goes missing along with ones where can produce magic. Interested to know what other people think? For example is he someone who has premier league potential or just a solid championship winger forever?
You're not comparing like for like, as EMCs stats include him playing in league one. This is this season in the championship. They are different types of wingers. EMC has green in some areas and Sakamoto in other areas.The stats just don’t back that up at all. In reality, he struggled to take players on. Compare EMC to Sakamoto below:
Sakamoto - Tatsuhiro Sakamoto Scouting Report for Last 365 Days Men's Next 14 Competitions | FBref.com
EMC - Ephron Mason-Clark Scouting Report for Last 365 Days Men's Next 14 Competitions | FBref.com
Sakamoto has a lot of good attributes, but if we’re being brutally honest, a lot of games you barely notice he’s playing. He won’t be a starter when everyone is back because he simply isn’t one of our best 11 players.
You're not comparing like for like, as EMCs stats include him playing in league one. This is this season in the championship. They are different types of wingers. EMC has green in some areas and Sakamoto in other areas.
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He's a better RW than EMC, Simms and Wright, no idea about Rudoni as we've never seen him there. Unless Lampard brings in a replacement Sakamoto will play RW if we are playing 4231.EMCs stats is for 2024-25 Championship only. FBRef only provides a summary for L1 and below as far as I can tell. Whereas Sakamoto’s stats are from 23/24 also, which skews the numbers in Sakamoto’s favour because he had a better 23/24 than 24/25.
I like Sakamoto as a player, he’s a solid rotation option. Let’s not kid ourselves into believing he’s a top end Championship RW when he’s nowhere near. You’re not starting him ahead of Wright, Simms, Rudoni or EMC unless it’s plainly obvious something isn’t working out.
Agree with this.Can't figure him out
One thing that has frustrated me all season however is last year we had the best right hand side in the league with Milan and Tats
The overlaps, the threading of passes between each other, the incisive movement, leaving players on there arse 2 or 3 times a game, they were almost telepathic
Now? Well I think we've all seen, both have been nowhere near last years levels, ponderous, slow, sideways and backwards etc
Can only assume it's on instruction
He's a better RW than EMC, Simms and Wright, no idea about Rudoni as we've never seen him there. Unless Lampard brings in a replacement Sakamoto will play RW if we are playing 4231.
Can't figure him out
One thing that has frustrated me all season however is last year we had the best right hand side in the league with Milan and Tats
The overlaps, the threading of passes between each other, the incisive movement, leaving players on there arse 2 or 3 times a game, they were almost telepathic
Now? Well I think we've all seen, both have been nowhere near last years levels, ponderous, slow, sideways and backwards etc
Can only assume it's on instruction
Agree with much of this. One thing I would say is when he’s playing on the right of a front three he can deliver a good through ball / cross. Last night he put EMC through with a lovely sweeping ball from the side line near the halfway line.I said this last season, there was the possibility that his run of form was just a flash in the pan. When a player has a ridiculously high shot conversion rate and a lot higher xG than their output (on single digit goals), it’s typically an anomaly.
EMC as soon as he came on, was sprinting behind the defensive line which nearly lead to a goal or two. We have Haji to come back which I expect to do similar things. If that isn’t enough to join the dots, the clue was in the January window when we nearly signed Matondo. We want pant pacy players in the wide channels and someone like Grimes and Rudoni to put the ball behind defences.
Heck, even Simms got in behind QPR’s defence a few times last night. How often did Sakamoto?
Personally, I think Tatsu played his most attractive and productive football under Robins, pre-injury, where he had a bit more freedom to attack more aggressively and link up with MVE.
Truth be told, I haven’t seen many games this season, but it appears they’re under some kind of tactical constraint?
Agree with much of this. One thing I would say is when he’s playing on the right of a front three he can deliver a good through ball / cross. Last night he put EMC through with a lovely sweeping ball from the side line near the halfway line.
He may have lost something with the injury (in terms of sharpness) - hoping only temporary and he can return to his pre injury best.
The Peterborough fans said EMC can't play right wing. And he played there a lot at the begining of the season when he was coming off the bench. The only time he got a run in the side on the left was when Wright was injured.I actually think Sakamoto would make a good LWHis cross for Rudoni’s goal v Sunderland was a cracking cross.
He’s a good crosses of the ball when he gets on his left foot, which he’s demonstrated many times, hos assist for EMC’s goal v Cardiff being another deft example.
Despite that, he’s not a better player than Rudoni, Wright or EMC and I’ve never brought into the binary that EMC or Haji ‘can’t’ play wing. If we try it for 5-10 games and it doesn’t work, then we can revisit that idea. This trope is another example of fans writing off certain ideas and players based on what they can and can’t do.
The Peterborough fans said EMC can't play right wing. And he played there a lot at the begining of the season when he was coming off the bench. The only time he got a run in the side on the left was when Wright was injured.
There's even several comments in the EMC appreciation thread at the time about him having to play on the right. Mason-Clark Appreciation Thread
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