Kuryu Matsuki

[Disco Stu]

I've heard it pronounced both ways but presumably the club have asked the player how he wants it pronounced and they pronounce it the way he wants over the tannoy.

 

Edited September 17 by Disco Stu

[CylonKing]

9 hours ago, sockeye said:

to be pedantic... it's ma---tsu-ki, with an almost silent u

at least bazuna and onuacho have left the club now though

I miss Tall Paul....was there at Forest for his first goal....and even though we lost....it was glorious!

[swedish dave]

OK guys ,  I stand corrected.  After hearing the other pronunciation all last season, I began to react

in the last few weeks hence my first post, and without realising the (now) obvious error. 

In my defence ..my Japanese is somewhat lacking - especially when confronted with silent letters.

[davefizzy14]

Thoroughly deserved for Matsuki, he's class 😊

[SuperSAINT]

 

[CSA96]

12 minutes into his first cap, pretty good going! Nice goal too

[saintant]

58 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

Great goal. He should be first pick playing on the right with Fellows as a sub.

[Saint NL]

Lovely finish.

(Var should be chalking that off for the offside fella interfering with play)

[benjii]

Matski ❤️

 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Great strike. Really pleased for him.

[sockeye]

What a feeling that must be

[Football Special]

I know Saints are already well known / liked in Japan thanks for our many years association with Yoshida, nice to have another connection now,  he's a great lad Matsuki 

[davefizzy14]

Fabulous finish. Really pleased for Matsuki 😊

[Patches O Houlihan]

6 hours ago, Football Special said:

I know Saints are already well known / liked in Japan thanks for our many years association with Yoshida, nice to have another connection now,  he's a great lad Matsuki 

I looked up Takumi Minamino - he was on loan with us from Liverpool second half of the 2020-21 season. Played 3 full internationals and 2 friendlies whilst a Saints player.

If you think some of England's games are a bit one sided;

He scored once in their 14-0 demolition of Mongolia.

Scored two in the 10-0 hiding they gave to Myanmar, and another in the 4-1 win over Tajikistan.

Sugawara was playing for Japan as well while he was here

 

Edited September 24 by Patches O Houlihan

[Patches O Houlihan]

On 18/09/2026 at 11:39, swedish dave said:

OK guys ,  I stand corrected.  After hearing the other pronunciation all last season, I began to react

in the last few weeks hence my first post, and without realising the (now) obvious error. 

In my defence ..my Japanese is somewhat lacking - especially when confronted with silent letters.

10 hours ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

The Japanese commentator is pronouncing it Matski too

[Charlie Wayman]

11 hours ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

The lad is quality! 

[Lighthouse]

Good lad. Delighted for him.

[Disco Stu]

Matsuki not in the match day squad for today's game. Hopefully that's by design.

[Football Special]

5 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

Matsuki not in the match day squad for today's game. Hopefully that's by design.

Seems a bit odd? In these friendlies doesn't the whole squad usually make up the team and the bench? No one actually gets omitted? 

Anyone else from squad announcement not in the match day squad? 

[Football Special]

Just checked. They have a massive 31 man squad for these games so makes sense not all would be included. 

Today's game had starting 11 and 15 on the bench so 5 players missed out 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

On 24/09/2026 at 21:34, Patches O Houlihan said:

The Japanese commentator is pronouncing it Matski too

That is correct. It's effectively a silent 'u'. Yosh was taking the piss when he introduced him.

Right from his first touches when he came on as a sub early last year, he seldom missed pass and looked assured on the ball. The main criticism initially was that he was a bit lightweight and pushed off the ball easily, but that's not the case anymore. He's turning in to a really good player.

As an aside, there's a Japanese youtuber called Oompa Loompa who basically mimics football coaches and players. He's been spotted at St Marys and he's a big fan of Matsuki and been giving him a lot of publicity which hasn't done any harm to Matsuki's cause. 

[23rdSaint]

Injured*  

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26602181.southamptons-matsuki-miss-five-championship-games-asian-cup/?ref=rss
 

*in the sense that he's not injured but may be unavailable next year

Edited October 2 by 23rdSaint
Added minor clarification

[The Kraken]

7 minutes ago, 23rdSaint said:

Injured  

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26602181.southamptons-matsuki-miss-five-championship-games-asian-cup/?ref=rss

That’s not what the article says, no.

[Football Special]

31 minutes ago, 23rdSaint said:

Injured  

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26602181.southamptons-matsuki-miss-five-championship-games-asian-cup/?ref=rss

He *might* be in squad for Asian Cup in January therefore missing games (like AFCON)

[23rdSaint]

1 hour ago, The Kraken said:

That’s not what the article says, no.

 

42 minutes ago, Football Special said:

He *might* be in squad for Asian Cup in January therefore missing games (like AFCON)

Well that was a spectacular fail... Sorry all!

[Disco Stu]

If he goes, Robinson will have to be recalled.

 

Probably should be anyway.

Edited October 2 by Disco Stu

[Football Special]

On the bench for today's game vs New Zealand 

 

[Football Special]

Looks like he came on in the 87th minute today so not much action but helped Japan hold on for a 2-1 win to beat New Zealand and lift the Kirin Cup,  another international cap  👍 

He should be travelling back tomorrow 

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Looks like he came on in the 87th minute today so not much action but helped Japan hold on for a 2-1 win to beat New Zealand and lift the Kirin Cup,  another international cap  👍 

He should be travelling back tomorrow 

Great that he didn't play much. 

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

YEAH BOI!!!

That's what I'm talking about. Let's hope he gets several more goals.

[saintant]

Matsuki is a key member of the squad. Always does a good job and weighs in with some crucial goals. 

[Saint_lambden]

Terrific player, on and off the ball. The only real benefit we've seen of the multi-club model. 

[SuperSAINT]

He’s just really effective at everything he does.

[SNSUN]

Important to have goals across the front 4 and he gives us that more than Fellows. Team Matsuki! Works hard too and has some decent skills.

[Give it to Ron]

Asia cup postponed for a year so we don’t lose him for 4 weeks now.

🚨 The AFC Asian Cup has been postponed for a year due to security risks in Saudi Arabia relating to the ongoing conflict in Middle East. Means Kuryu Matsuki no longer set to miss a month of action for Saints from December.

#SaintsFC

Edited 13 hours ago by Give it to Ron

[Midfield_General]

A shame for him but great news for us.

An increasingly important player and has pretty much nailed down his spot as the starter on the right. Seems like a great lad too, really like him. 

[Football Special]

8 hours ago, Give it to Ron said:

Asia cup postponed for a year so we don’t lose him for 4 weeks now.

🚨 The AFC Asian Cup has been postponed for a year due to security risks in Saudi Arabia relating to the ongoing conflict in Middle East. Means Kuryu Matsuki no longer set to miss a month of action for Saints from December.

#SaintsFC

Good news for us, he's needed here not at a month long mid-season tournament, long may political instability continue in the Middle East 👍

[saintant]

My man of the match tonight. One of the few players who didn't continually give the ball away or get brushed off it plus a headed assist for our goal.