Christian Koch

City just signed Coffey, what Sonia wants nobody knows (sign her and bench her for the season?), Utd have Zigiotti, Arsenal have Mariona. Spurs or LCL are probably the only others she'd consider, LCL because of the money. But yeah, we have to see.

With the upcoming investment of €20m in the new stadium and women's training center at the Sportpark Unterhaching I'm not sure how much Bayern want to invest in players in summer.

Nagano would still be an excellent and affordable choice.

Which WSL clubs will go for her will be interesting to see.

With Barca's women, the politics, financial situation, and so on it's extremely difficult to predict what they are going to do. The whole season has been going well too easy for them so far. It might depend on the UWCL knock out phase.

Nah, it seems more than unlikely Alexia could consider to come.

Fuka had her last contract expire for them to come begging her to return and even then she let them wait.

I think there'd be good chances she'd agree on an offer from a top club.

I don't know enough about Spanish players so I have to rely on your expertise. Barcala should know some candidates?

That reminds me, Alexia's contact is expiring as well in summer?! 🤔

Fuka's contract should be expiring. As far as I remember she just renewed for one year.

Hini, Yui H. have extended. All the clubs are making sure to keep their Japanese gems.

It was a clip with maybe >30 scenes in about 20 min. I've watched several. It will be difficult to find again.

I'll have a look when I'm at my desk again. But the chance to find it again within a reasonable time is maybe 20%? And it had the Paris 🇧🇷 goal, so it might have been taken off YT again.

That would be amazing but Stanway is too active to play an only DM / #6. Maybe sign Nagano to succeed Stanway and support your suggested lineup? 🤔

It was the furthest distance she scored from I have ever seen. And it was for the JFA Academy. The video was published on YT maybe 10-20 days ago?

Barcala wants to field Momo, Bühl, Harder and a #9. Harder roams freely, Momo doesn't work as RW. Plus she helps strengthen the center. It makes sense for the team. For herself playing on #10 would be better of course.

Absolutely!

It's not picture book style shooting as it's almost impossible to replicate by other players. But that's her big advantage that it's so unique and difficult for others to react on or counter.

Btw recently a video showed her scoring a 40m screamer for the JFA Academy Fukushima. At 16? 😮‍💨

I agree 100% !!! Nothing to add.

Yui and Hini can break high lines, high press, so Momo isn't needed here like at Bayern sometimes.

I don't see any even remotely relevant reason not to start like you suggested.

and it's obviously immensely proud of it. 😼😹

Very true!

Somehow I wish she'd use her immense knowledge to train coaches, players or at least teens. She could have a deep impact on the development of the next generation or even of woso itself.

The thing with Momo is that in and around the box she has a different shooting style than the others. She utilizes that she has an incredible acceleration of both her lower legs. Meaning she can shoot faster and more controlled. The keepers react more often a second too late.

Haha Mina is still by far too important to score goals at the moment in my opinion. But adding Momo, Aoba plus one of Kiko, Manaka, Maika promises an immense, irresistible firepower. And later in the game sub one another one of them for Mina. 😊

Yuki gives insights like no one else. Immensely interesting.

I don't always agree 100% with what she says, but her in-depth views are always worth watching.

When the Nadeshiko was trailing even with just 2-3 minutes to go Sawa and Miyama were still sure they'd get a free kick at the box or a corner. The opposing teams knew that those two would score and there was nothing they could do about it.

Today both would be Alexia, Aitana level for sure, yup.

Now at the camp Yui held a speech as well. Pep talk??!

It makes me wonder how much influence even on the starting 11 and subs Yui has now?!

Btw it was funny that Blayley went to Momo and talked about her taking PKs now. Will she take over from Mina at the Nadeshiko as well? 😅

Many, even among the Japanese fans, underestimate Saki's relevance significantly.

Yui has taken the complete lead now.
E.g. during HT break of the 1. 🇨🇦 game she held a long monologue towards Mina who just said a word or two now and then. Yui paused for 20s to instruct Momo then continued with Mina.

Indeed, we probably have seen the most significant individual quality improvement of players within a 1.5 year period ever.

Although Yuki Nagasato analyzed the situations of Japanese Players in overseas teams a few days ago on her YT channel. Positives and negatives.

But yup the quality is immense

The new generation of fearless players can help them by taking a lot of the weight off Hasegawa's and Tanaka's shoulders. And we know how brilliant those two are when they can play in an inherently positive environment (aka don't have to worry to fail).

I'm still cautious there as well. Specifically regarding the next world cup, Olympics.

Hasegawa and Tanaka have always had the problem that they didn't perform at their highest level when they had the feeling that they had to carry all the weight on their own shoulders.

But I agree, the potential of the current squad is breathtaking. They have the capacity to surpass the 2011 one.

The 2011 one had two Ballon d'Or level players with Homare Sawa, Aya Miyama. Champions League winner striker Yuki Nagasato, Shinobu Ohno, who as assistant coach still has a stronger shot than any active INAC player, Megumi Takase, who scored the winner vs USWNT (1. W) at the Algarve Cup '12.

Several players have significantly improved in the last year. Not just Kano's super gen like Momo, Manaka, Aoba, Toko and Maya. Even Yama seems to be in the best shape ever. Chika and Akane as well.

For me the Nadeshiko Japan looks insanely strong atm. Maybe the best squad since the 2011 one?

Exactly!! Didn't he announce a massive rotation at the squad announcement press conference? As you said, it's going to be extremely important.

From the pressing training footage the Japanese players look extremely crisp. Really impressive.

Hahaha You have a point there! 😂😋 #食べたいですよ

It looks a tad smaller than the one we know and love dearly?! 😅😉

It will be interesting to see what Nielsen plans for the first four games.

The strongest offense training today could hint a test run vs Taipei. Maybe with a target 4-0 until halftime and then sub in Yui N., Honoka, Maya?!

Generally I think Momo, Hini will play 2/4, Yui H. 2/4.