Yuki Sugawara

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Outside of Fernandes and Ramsdale who did? Also his manager(s) were not up to the PL job were they? Seems a bit disingenuous judging him against such a backdrop.

Agreed. I'd be inclined to give him a chance and see what he can do. In a lower pressure environment it is generally a bit more difficult to be really poor from full back and he does have a decent cross so may be able to contribute well to a will still team. 

[woodsaint1]

Hes much better than Bree and the Championship will be a more forgiving environment so this is good news. Plus hopefully Still makes us more defensively sound.

A back four of Sugawara, THB, Edwards (Stephens or Quarshie) and Wellington is very capable for the Championship

[Lighthouse]

4 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Outside of Fernandes and Ramsdale who did? Also his manager(s) were not up to the PL job were they? Seems a bit disingenuous judging him against such a backdrop.

The rest of our squad also being substandard doesn’t make Yuki any better. Neither is any manager responsible for Sugawara’s regular, calamitous brain farts. I’ll judge him as what he is, a player with a decent enough delivery but an absolute liability defensively.

[egg]

1 minute ago, Lighthouse said:

The rest of our squad also being substandard doesn’t make Yuki any better. Neither is any manager responsible for Sugawara’s regular, calamitous brain farts. I’ll judge him as what he is, a player with a decent enough delivery but an absolute liability defensively.

Yep. Awful defender. Bree at RB should be one of Still's easier choices. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

3 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

The rest of our squad also being substandard doesn’t make Yuki any better. Neither is any manager responsible for Sugawara’s regular, calamitous brain farts. I’ll judge him as what he is, a player with a decent enough delivery but an absolute liability defensively.

 

3 hours ago, egg said:

Yep. Awful defender. Bree at RB should be one of Still's easier choices. 

Very selective memories IMO. There were occasions when he made excellent interceptions (as well as covering for substandard CB’s), plus being left exposed because the likes of Dibling left him stranded upfield after another failed pass or running into a blind alley. You can’t have it both ways - if he got into advanced positions on orders to cross, then there’s less chance defending adequately in a system NONE of the fullbacks were entirely comfortable with - but who covered for him? Even KWP came under criticism at times under Martin’s system.

[ant]

I've been plenty critical of Sugawara's defending, but agree - he won't be under nearly so much pressure at this level. 

Neither Fox nor Richardson stepped up to the PL, yet they cumulatively bagged 19 assists in a single Championship season.

A full back that can deliver a decent ball is handy in this division.

[chivvy]

In a five ok in a four not so much.. perhaps in games we are expected to dominate. Got alot of assist in eridivisie perhaps the drop down might see him find his level 

Edited 6 hours ago by chivvy

[Lighthouse]

9 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Very selective memories IMO. There were occasions when he made excellent interceptions (as well as covering for substandard CB’s), plus being left exposed because the likes of Dibling left him stranded upfield after another failed pass or running into a blind alley. You can’t have it both ways - if he got into advanced positions on orders to cross, then there’s less chance defending adequately in a system NONE of the fullbacks were entirely comfortable with - but who covered for him? Even KWP came under criticism at times under Martin’s system.

Two thing:

1. My criticism of him isn't that he was bombing forward, whipping in crosses and leaving space behind which exposed the CBs. My criticism is that when he was in position, he made the kind of errors you'd get yelled at for making on a Sunday league pitch. Arsenal away was perhaps the best example but if you go back through this thread there are many others.
2. You say, "even KWP came under criticism," like he was somehow infallible. He wasn't, he was just one of our more competent players. It looks like he's off to Turkey but if he wasn't, he'd be an Everton/West Ham level player, not a Champions League one. We only got him because he was fourth choice at Spurs.

[Turkish]

13 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

He might ‘prove himself’ to be this season’s Danny Fox but he looked nothing like a PL player.

That's how i see him, might be alright in the championship but he looked shite in the premier league. Seemed unable to do even basic stuff which was nothing to do with tactics or managers.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

He had a tough baptism of fire in the PL in a poor side for his first stint in England. This could be a good season for him at this level and who knows, he may blossom into a more complete defender, particularly with an entirely different approach with Still.

Only 25, fingers crossed we’re still to see the best of him.