Kagawa rues limited contribution to United title

He did OK for his first year in the Premier League.

I think we can put this year down as an 'adjustment year' that went pretty well for him. He played well at times, but Utd will be expecting him to be more consistent next season. Congrats on the first title of many!

I thought he was decent and I like how he plays. It looks like Fergie is going to splash some serious cash this summer to make a CL challenge. I'm not convinced he'll be first choice next season.

Such a good player when he gets on the ball, always looking for an opening and with complete composure that's borderline cheeky. I love watching him, one of my two favorite Japanese players alongside Honda. And this is coming from a Liverpool fan.

Bollocks! You had a great year. It's your first year in the league and you were working out how to combine with Van Persie and Rooney to name just two of a very impressive United attacking unit. Sir Alex obviously rates you highly and he should know.

pure marketing strategy from a club in deep financial trouble, creating more revenue from Japan is why Kagawa was chosen. Yes he did well but only against also ran competition. Here is hoping he can do more with Rooney in the next season.

And this is coming from a Liverpool fan. That shows your lack of rational thought right there:P

That nonsense you wrote, spudmanreincarnated, boggles the mind. This is not the year 2001 and clubs don't sign Japanese players to move t-shirts anymore. Kagawa proved his quality in the Bundesliga and then made an impact in England, it was only a few injuries that broke his momentum and prevented him playing even more often and well.

Some people see a headline and refuse to acknowledge the article before making some negative comment about it. Some people's minds are already made up even though they are wrong. Time to open your eyes a bit to this year 2013, where Japanese players are making big impacts all across Europe.

pure marketing strategy from a club in deep financial trouble, creating more revenue from Japan is why Kagawa was chosen. Yes he did well but only against also ran competition.

Absolute nonsense, you don't get to play for Manchester United unless you are a top class player. If the only concern was foreign revenue they would also have a player from China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia where the premier league is much more popular than in Japan. Kagawa is an incredibly talented player who is serious about his game. He hasn't chosen to become some silly media darling like a lot of sportsmen in Japan. He will play even better next season, I am sure.

Tel, so it's a coincidence that Man U is playing two games in JPN the same year they sign him? When did they last do that? You forgot to address the financial point. Take the red shirt off your head and open your red colored eyes. I never said he wasn't good but if you think his nationality wasn't a factor ..........

if you think his nationality wasn't a factor

It was't a factor. Do you really think that Alex Ferguson is going to bring a player into his team because he is Japanese?

It isn't so black and white. Man U didn't sign Kagawa purely to flog Man U shirts but anyone who thinks that flogging shirts wasn't a factor in signing him is being unrealistic. He's a good player, premiership standard ( maybe Man U standard, let's wait and see ). I can't think of too many Chinese ( a few ), Thai, Malay or Indonesian players of Premiership standard. I'm not knocking the Kagawa transfer. Signing new players is always carries a risk, particularly those from overseas, and if shirt sales can help offset the waste of the transfer fee if he flops, all the better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_foreign_Premier_League_players

There are hundreds of foreign players in the premiership. Are they all there just to sell shirts or is it just Kagawa? If so why?

There are hundreds of foreign players in the premiership. Are they all there just to sell shirts or is it just Kagawa? If so why?

How many of those players come from countries where the population is over 100 million, football is one of the most popular sports and the people are relatively wealthy. Also people in Asia tend to follow players rather than teams.

Could United by cynical enough to buy a player just to crack the Asian market? Well, remember Chinese player Dong Fangzhuo anyone? He was on their books for 4 years, made 1 first-team appearance. Kagawa is good though, might play a bigger role next year, especially in they can successfully offload Rooney.

pure marketing strategy from a club in deep financial trouble

Forbes has MU as the 2nd most valuable sports team (not just football), just behind Real Madrid. I don't discount your argument that Kagawa helps jersey sales in Asia. On a recent trip to Singapore, Kagawa jersey's were a common sight at all the MU retail stores. However, I don't think Sir Alex would sign anyone who couldn't pull their own weight.

no probs

How many Man Utd players scored hat tricks this season? A certain S. Kagawa was one of them..

Kagawa is a great player, especially for his first year in Europe, and it is nice to see he is quite humble as well. I hope he continues to do a great job and avoids any further injury. My only concern is that the media here is starting to get their hooks into him -- something that has made players like Honda, by contrast, demand recognition as being as good, and say they are rightfully entitled to play in Europe for a very high contract (perhaps why they don't offer).

Keep it up, Kagawa!!

Kagawa is a great player, especially for his first year in Europe

Actually Dortmund is also in Europe. In fact, they are doing rather well in a little known competition called the UEFA Champions League, without Kagawa.

Why did someone give davestrousers a thumbs down for pointing out that Germany is in Europe? Bit harsh wasn't it?

the media here is starting to get their hooks into him

Don't worry the media in Japan won't get their hooks into him. If he decides to play the media game (which I am sure he won't) Alex Ferguson will have him out of the door in a second. Ferguson doesn't put up with it for a second.

spudmanreincarnated, I find it amusing that you seem to think that anyone who dares to say something positive about a player for Manchester United must therefore be a rusted-on fan. I don't watch or care about European leagues.

As far as the signing of Kagawa goes, they signed a midfield player who had an exceptional season the year his team won the championship in a record breaking season. That probably had more to do with it than the fact they toured the far east for some pre-season games.

Manchester United are playing in Sydney later this year, I guess, by your logic, I should be wary that we are going to lose Joel Griffiths because visiting a country and signing a player go hand in hand.