Shinji Okazaki reflects on Stuttgart struggles after DFB-Pokal exit on Wednesday

The Samurai Blue regular was pulled just before the hour mark after a poor display against Bayern Munich in which his heavy touch wasted many potential chances



Stuttgart attacker Shinji Okazaki was, like his team-mates, at a loss for answers following their 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich in Germany's DFB-Pokal on Wednesday night.The result was the latest in a series of disappointments for Stuttgart, who are winless in their past seven Bundesliga fixtures and have dropped to the bottom half of the table.

"We've been losing a lot lately and perhaps it's a little intimidating to try to press forward," Okazaki said after the match. "Bayern were able to play passing football. They were able to connect those one-touch passes, and at the end of the play their quality was very high and they were able to score."I think if we'd concentrated more in the centre we wouldn't have been done in like that, so all we can do is improve on that going forward."When asked about several wasted chances, including one right before his 57th-minute substitution, the Samurai Blue regular recognised that he needed to improve his play."Right now one thing I have to work on is my snap judgement," the 25-year-old admitted. "If you don't make the best decision in each second, it's impossible to break the deadlock."Especially in the situation we're in, if I can make the right judgement and score it will help us recover."Okazaki also replied to questions regarding the team's communication in the face of a mounting winless streak."As a team all we can do is discuss it together," the former Shimizu S-Pulse man said. "We're already having lots of discussions about our situation, and I think things will improve."Like last season when we avoided relegation we need to create blocks and build up from them. That's how we tried to play today, but we were simply outplayed." - http://www.goal.com/


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Arsenal's Park Chu-Young is not an automatic selection due to lack of game-time, says South Korea coach Choi Kang-Hee

The new Taeguk Warriors coach is already learning about the difficulties of international football, with concerns about preparation time and his players' lack of match action



South Korea coach Choi Kang-Hee says he is concerned by star striker Park Chu-Young's lack of gametime at Arsenal ahead of his nation's vital 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Kuwait on February 29.Choi travelled to the United Kingdom in the past week to watch several Europe-based Koreans in action, however all on his itinerary failed to see any action.Park's lack of gametime is the most pressing concern for Choi, with the Korea skipper only managing five appearances for the Gunners since joining them from Monaco in August.“He has at least some positive thoughts, as he is with a world-class team like Arsenal,” Choi told reporters at Incheon International Airport upon his return. “But he is not playing in games and I felt that Park is not on Wenger’s mind.”Choi's comments hinted he may ponder overlooking Park for the clash, which Korea must get a result from to progress to the fourth round of World Cup qualifying through Asia.

The only South Korean to take to the park over the weekend in the United Kingdom was the retired Park Ji-Sung, as Celtic pair Ki Sung-Yueng and Cha Du-Ri along with Sunderland's Ji Dong-Won all missed out.Choi added: “I haven’t really learned much [from my trip]. Since players in foreign leagues are not playing in their games, I have a lot to consider.”The Taeguk Warriors boss also admitted he was concerned by the lack of time available for preparation for the February 29 game, with Fifa rules requiring clubs release players only four days in advance of the international date. Given travel times, Choi said that created a difficult situation.“In reality, if we consider each club’s situation, I think they will be able to join the team on February 27,” Choi said. “But it’s impossible that those players can show a strong performance with the team in just a day.”

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Southampton's new Japanese striker Tadanari Lee will make debut start in FA Cup clash with Millwall

The new Saints striker will be given his first opportunity from the start in their fourth round replay against the Lions following two appearances off the bench



Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has confirmed new Japanese signing Tadanari Lee will make his first start for the club in Tuesday's FA Cup fourth-round replay with Millwall.The Japan international, who joined the Saints from Sanfrecce Hiroshima during the January transfer window, has made two appearances off the bench for his new club."Tadanari Lee will start the game as well, and it will be great for him to go and play," Adkins said on the club's website.Lee, who scored the winning goal in extra time in the 2011 Asian Cup final against Australia, is yet to open his account for the Championship club.Adkins also confirmed he wants to use the game as an opportunity to give players short on match fitness some minutes, although he added he wanted to progress into the fifth round.The winner of Tuesday's second leg will play host to top flight Bolton in the fifth round. - http://www.goal.com/

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Japan international Mike Havenaar says he 'can only get better' after fine debut Vitesse start

The Samurai Blue striker won his first start for his new club and provided the assist for winning goal against NAC Breda on Saturday



Vitesse's new Japanese striker Mike Havenaar says "he can only get better" after making his first start for the club and setting up the winning goal in their 1-0 victory over NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie on Saturday.

The Japan international, who joined Vitesse during January from Ventforet Kofu, scored his maiden goal for the club last weekend before assisting Nicky Hofs strike on Saturday having been handed his debut start.Havenaar had brought down Alexander Buttner's ball before finding Hofs who drilled in a shot.The beanpole striker would also win his side a penalty in the second 45 only for Buttner to fail to convert the spotkick."I can only get better from here on," Havenaar told reporters after the game. "Once my team-mates and I figure each other out, I'll start to fit more into the team."Havenaar said being given his debut start meant a lot to him, before being replaced on 81 minutes."It means a lot that I started and played more than 80 minutes," he said. - http://www.goal.com/

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Al Ahli's Omani striker Amad Al Hosni wins Goal.com readers' player of the month for January

The votes are in and the readers have had their say following this week's Asian Best XI announcement, with the player of the month decided...



Al Ahli's Oman international striker Amad Al Hosni was been declared by Goal.com readers as the Asian player of the month for January after this week's poll.Al Hosni, who was named in Goal.com's Asian Best XI for January as a striker, won the vote ahead of Utrecht's Indonesian midfielder Stefano Lilipaly and Osasuna's Iran international Javad Nekounam.The Omani striker was a key figure for Al Ahli during January as they made it seven wins in a row to move into top spot in the Saudi Arabian Pro League.Al Hosni contributed greatly to the run scoring in every Al Ahli fixture during January, including a decisive strike against rivals and fellow title challengers Al Hilal. Five goals in a month is some feat and the readers agree, so Al Hosni is the Asian player of the month for January.


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Bayern Munich decline option to make Takashi Usami loan permanent

The Bundesliga leaders have apparently decided to allow the 19-year-old Japanese talent to leave in the summer, when his loan deal will expire



Bayern Munich have decided not to extend the stay of Gamba Osaka loanee Takashi Usami at the Allianz Arena, according to Sports Hochi.

The Bavarians are reportedly reluctant to meet Gamba's requested €2 million release clause, and are said to have informed the Japanese club that the player will return to his homeland in July.

"It must be regrettable for him, but I hope he considers it as a good experience," Gamba president Kikuo Kanamori said."I want him to come back [to Gamba].

"However, a source revealed that Usami would prefer to continue his challenge abroad.

Usami's next destination is as of yet unknown. A report in November claimed interest from Fortuna Dusseldorf, but a move never materialised.

Since moving to Munich last summer, the 19-year-old attacker has played a combined 50 minutes over three appearances for the Bayern first team. He has spent the majority of the season with the reserves in the Regionalliga Sud (fourth tier), where he has found the net six times in 14 games. - http://www.goal.com/


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Novara striker Takayuki Morimoto's proposed move to Chievo Verona falls through after failing his medical

The Japan international had been in Verona to make the switch to the Flying Donkeys but a recurring knee problem has thwarted any possible deal



Novara striker Takayuki Morimoto's proposed move to Serie A rivals Chievo Verona has fallen through after the Japan international failed his medical on deadline day.

Morimoto, 23, had travelled to Verona to make the move to the Flying Donkeys on a loan deal but reports from ANSA revealed that the deal fell through due to a knee problem.

The Blue Samurai recently underwent an operation in November to repair the lateral meniscus in his right knee in November however this latest set-back is sure to raise questions about the players' fitness.

The failed move will come as a disappointment to both Chievo and Morimoto as the striker had been touted as a possible replacement for Chievo striker Davide Moscardelli; who had been rumoured to be departing the club for Bologna.

Morimoto has made just 11 appearances for Novara since moving from Catania in the summer, scoring three goals. - http://www.goal.com/

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