da roleta： Shinji Kagawa is a victim of his own versatility. It’s a classic example of stick him out on the flanks to accommodate someone else, no matter whether they’re better or not.
da betsson： The thing is there aren’t too many better than playing the advanced playmaker role behind the striker, and certainly not within the Manchester United ranks. The one-two punch of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie may have looked pleasing on the eye while on paper, but that ship looks to be sailing, creating a clear path for Kagawa to become one of United’s most important players – as he was during his final season at Borussia Dortmund.
Much like his first season in England, Kagawa’s debut year with Dortmund was filled with frustration. He arrived on the scene and hit the ground running, seamlessly adjusting to life in Germany – much like many of his compatriots – and helping the eventual Bundesliga champions gather momentum that would continue well into the following season.
The winter break of that first season, however, is where it came to an end. Playing behind Lucas Barrios that year, Kagawa only registered one assist, yet it was his propensity to come up with the goods in front of goal himself that made him stand out. In his 18 leagues games of that season he scored eight. For many playmakers, the job is done once they hit double figures in the assists column. Kagawa is one of the special players that finishes like a striker and uses his own ingenuity as a creator to make space for himself inside the box.
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No one is oblivious to his talent, but the difficulties Kagawa faced in his first season in England can force people to forget. There were no personal triumphs for him, despite lifting the Premier League title. It was stop-start from the word go, with little to no continuity built up in those vital early stages of the campaign. Even Jurgen Klopp became edgy at the thought of Kagawa playing out on the flanks and moving him away from the pivotal central role, where once he was such an important figure in Dortmund’s back-to-back title wins.
Though that’s not the whole story. Kagawa isn’t a winger by trade. Like most players who are inclined to drift inside when played on the flanks, Kagawa used his brilliant movement to confuse opposition back lines. He creates space for others, drags defenders away, then pops up as the furthest forward of all the attackers and finds himself clear through on goal.
Manchester United absolutely need another body for the midfield, yet a creative player isn’t an absolute necessity. Like Dortmund, much of United’s attacking play can be focused around Kagawa and players like him. Added quality in the midfield two will see United retain possession better, win the ball back high up the field and offer the kind of retention that was provided by Michael Carrick. The Englishman’s age and seemingly late bloom in a United shirt is, however, an obvious disappointment.
In hindsight, it may be much easier to see what Alex Ferguson was planning. A van Persie/Kagawa partnership would have accomplished two things: a revamped and potentially lethal attacking duo, while also addressing the Wayne Rooney “problem” that was created with that first transfer request in 2010. Something about Ferguson never forgetting.
But Kagawa, if fully fit, can form the hub of United’s creativity next season – and that’s what most should be expecting. It’s easy for the idea of him to get washed away in the seemingly endless struggle to find a midfielder on the market this summer, yet a signing in the mould of Cesc Fabregas or Thiago could prove to be counterproductive for someone like Kagawa.
The Rooney situation looks to have one outcome, despite David Moyes talking up the idea of him working with the player into next season. Kagawa, however, amid discussion – however hollow – of him returning to Dortmund, should be the manager’s priority. The Japanese international deserves to be given a clear indication of what his role is in the team. Despite his ability to play on the flanks, he is too good to be neglected for the sake of others. And like we saw at Dortmund, he’s too good to fall beneath the disappointment of a troubled first season.
Should United focus their attacking play around Kagawa next season?
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