Tottenham are told Kota Takai has five key strengths and two weaknesses
Japanese football expert Tasuku Okawa has now revealed what Tottenham fans can expect from Kota Takai, outlining his strengths and weaknesses.
Tottenham Hotspur fans would be eager to see the club’s newest addition, Kota Takai, in action in the Lilywhites of Spurs.
While Tottenham have not officially announced the Japanese international’s arrival, an announcement is expected soon, following recent reports that Spurs have agreed a £5 million deal with Kawasaki Frontale.
Regardless, Takai has already received huge praise from a Japanese football expert, who stated that Spurs’ new signing, at his age, is better than Takehiro Tomiyasu was at a similar stage in his development. The expert also pointed out that it is rare for a player so young to be capped by the Japanese national team.
Japanese football expert reveals Katai’s strengths and weaknesses
Now, Freelance football editor and former Goal.com Japan chief editor Tasuku Okawa has revealed what sort of player Takai is and what his strengths and weaknesses are.
According to the analyst, Takai’s key strengths lie in his height and dominance in the air, which give him a clear edge during set-pieces and defensive duels.
He further explains that the centre-back is not just physically imposing, but also possesses good pace and a sharp defensive awareness that allows him to read the game effectively.
At the same time, he admits that while Takai is technically sound and comfortable on the ball, his youth and lack of high-level experience remain areas that need development if he is to make a smooth transition into the Premier League.
Head of Kota Takai’s move to Tottenham, Okawa told football.london: “His strengths are that he is tall and dominant in the air. He notably matched up well against Cristiano Ronaldo in the recent AFC Champions League match and held his own.
“However, most of the reputation in the air largely comes from his play in the J.League, where the players are generally smaller, so we will need to see how he can adapt in Premier League.
“He has good pace and strong defensive awareness and is technically solid on the ball. He is capable of carrying the ball forward and delivering line-breaking passes. He has grown through the Kawasaki youth team, as did Kaoru Mitoma, who is famous for technique.
“Takai’s weaknesses are that he is still young and needs more experience to refine his defensive moves, including the strengths I mentioned above. When it comes to language, his English is limited, so how quickly he can grasp tactical instructions is uncertain.
“Personality-wise, he is calm and perhaps a bit unconventional. He might need time to adjust to a very different environment. He is not very talkative and does not speak to the media much.
“Kota Takai has a laid-back demeanour, which could make integrating into a new team a bit of a challenge – though with a young Tottenham squad including players like Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, there may be a smoother path for connection.”
Tottenham must ensure Kota Takai gets English experience
Of course, while the centre-back is one with high potential, he still needs experience playing in England if he is to get used to the physicality of the Premier League.
Spurs often tend to make the mistake of loaning out their young players to less physical leagues, and this tends to affect their development as they struggle to adapt to English football.
If Takai is to be loaned to get some experience before featuring for Tottenham, then Spurs must try to loan him to a side playing in England.
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