Shinji Kagawa The Shinji Kagawa Thread 2012/13 (Joint Best OP)

Yes it's finally here! After weeks of speculation, deliberation, debate and delay, he's signed on the dotted line and will wear our famous red tablecloth shirt with pride this season!

Welcome to the official Shinji "Swaggawa©" Kagawa Thread 12/13! Here you will find some stats of his for the season (see post #2) and a look ahead to the new season with him in the team below, enjoy!




As someone who knows a bit about him I'm massively excited about this signing, but whether you know anything about him, or not, here's a video I'm sure you'll enjoy this video, which might give those of you who don't know so much about him, something to get excited about!

So What does his signing mean for us?

From the footballing perspective, hopefully he gets his wish, and is able to "play in the hole" - but with someone so versatile, we're hopefully going to be a lot more fluid, and we'll be lethal on the counter.

Many times last season we looked a little lost, as we searched for a goal, we were often left unable to score despite pinning the other side back, as we usually ended up funneling the ball wide and pumping into the box, with varying degrees of success...

Don't get me wrong, when it worked, it worked, and Shinji is not the traditional Rui Costa style playmaker in the no.10 role, so it's hard to envisage how much this 1 man can change, but the comparison I'd make, is that of him to a modern AM like Kaká - he thrives on the ball, he's a fantastic dribbler, exceptional with both feet, and as the video I posted alone shows, he's quick on the ball, he's probably worked out what he'll do with the ball before he gets it, and that is where we'll benefit most imo.

Quick one two's in the final third with him making an intelligent run, an incisive ball / intelligent flick to a nearby team-mate, or even a shot on goal, will all hopefully be more prevalent, he has all of the tools to help make an enormous difference, and no matter who he's playing with, the possibilities for interchanging attack that's devastating on the break are mouth-watering.

What about other perspectives?

Well, we can't ignore the financial aspect, it's not something I want to dwell on as I think people might mistakenly let it detract from his footballing ability, however, shirt sales in asia will boom, as we have a strong following there and he has iconic status in Japan, especially if he gets the number 7.

As a person, we can only go by what he says in interviews, and I have to say he seems a down-to-earth chap, who certainly doesn't seem the type to cause problems, so we have nothing to worry about there.

All in all, the future looks bright with him in our starting eleven, and I wish him all the best, so there's just one thing left to do now...

ALL TOGETHER NOW! (to the tune of "Radio GaGa" )

"All we need is Shinji Kagawa *CLAP* Shinji Kagawa *CLAP*"


* Thread title sponsored by @JJtheRed

** transfer speculation thread here
*** PS: his missus is some talent as well!
**** OP may be upated/edited when more info like shirt number comes out and/or I think of some more things to add : p




SHINJI'S BLOG: http://www.kagawashinji.com/english/category/voice/

Goals:

Fulham (H) (2nd of our goals to put us ahead)
Spurs (H) (2nd of our goals to pull us within 1)
Norwich (H) (opener to put us in the lead)
Norwich (H) (second goal to seal result)
Norwich (H) (hat-trick with a bit of finesse, 3-0 job done!)
WBA (A) (opener, 1-0)

Assists:

Galatasaray (H) (Assisted Carrick's winner)
Liverpool (A) (Assisted Rafael's leveller)
Braga (H) (Assisted Chicharito's opener)
Southampton (H) (Assisted Rooney's leveller)
West Ham (A) (Assisted Valencia's leveller)
West Ham (A) (Assisted RVP's leveller)

welcome to united
Shinji

he wont wear No.7 yet. thats what all the japanese media is reporting today. it might be 23 or 26 or 29 if available.

best of luck Shinji

Great footballer and such a type of player missed from us. Good luck here, Shinji.

really? big shame if true... and perhaps an opportunity missed....

oh well :/ - do you have any links to a site reporting this?

First time in a long time where a player I wanted long before we were linked with him has actually came here. I absolutely can't f**king wait to see him play for us, I see this right now being the difference this season that will win us the league. He's that good.

he said that he just joined to the club so he hasnt left any result. he also said that he requested the number that he is attached to.. so most of japanese papers today reported that it might be eaither 23 or 26 or 29.
(sources are from his interview and major football papers in japan today)

I see, thank you

yes thats true that his number was top in shirt-selling at dortmund. him sigining to manchester united is a huge news in japan. alot of japanese fans is wondering what number he will wear so that they can buy jersey

yes i am japanese... you could tell by my poor english . thanks for welcoming

I don't care about the number anymore. Just relieved and delighted he has signed.

A Kagawa 7 shirt will be kickass! Is he a fan of Michael Jordan perhaps? Since basketball is huge in Japan hence the preference for 23.

never heard of him...bv just hear to sell shirrs

Thread pleases me

What a Player and I signed him on Fifa ages Ago!!

So happy to have him here

New thread