SHIN YAMADA CELTIC MOVE: WHY HAVE THE GOALS DRIED UP THIS SEASON?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Jul 13
- 3 min read
We’re just over halfway through the domestic season here in Japan, but Shin Yamada, Celtic’s soon to be new striker, has only managed 5 goals this term, in comparison to his 20+ goals last season.
So, what gives? What is Shin Yamada missing this term, and should it be a cause for worry among the Celtic support?
With Shin Yamada, Celtic are Getting a Striker of Class, Skill and Poise, Goals will Come
As I discussed with Colin on last Thursday’s ACSOM Bulletin, Yamada has all the attributes we look for in a quality striker. However, he actually has one thing going for him that Kyogo didn’t and that is a consistent aerial threat. For a man of only 5”9 Yamada gets a surprisingly high number of his goals from headers.
He also offers more physicality than your typical Japanese striker.
Anyway, I’ve already said this before, so let’s get onto the big question: Why hasn’t he enjoyed the same goalscoring form this season as last?
Whilst it isn't the be all and end all, you can often tell a fair bit about a player’s impact by the fans' response to him leaving the club. I spoke with a couple of friends in Tokyo who are Kawasaki Frontale season ticket holders, and they told me the general feeling amongst the fans about this move is anger and frustration.
They feel that one of their best players has been made to leave the club, because the team no longer plays to his strengths.
A change in attacking strategy, paired with the manager tweaking the formation has left Yamada isolated at times, and having to drop back into midfield to get himself involved in the play.
Of course, when a striker is forced to fall back into a deeper position, he often finds himself in the frustrating scenario of creating the kinds of chances he wishes he was in the penalty box to finish.
Ironically, the picture being painted by these Kawasaki fans of Shin Yamada’s plight this season, seems remarkably similar to that of Kyogo when Brendan Rodgers first returned to Celtic.
For most of that first season, Kyogo struggled, as indeed did many members of the first team, to adapt to a more focused, and less free-flowing style of football under their new boss.
We’ll most likely never know the full ins and outs, because I believe that, out of professional respect and courtesy, neither Kyogo nor Brendan Rodgers will ever publicly elaborate any further on why the player ultimately left Celtic when he did.
Now, I am not saying that Yamada is as good as Kyogo. At least, not yet. However, his profile, level of experience and goal return thus far is pretty similar to where Kyogo was at that age.
Additionally, his reasons for moving to Celtic now, seem remarkably similar to Kyogo's reasons for leaving.
Yamada drew criticism from some quarters during the week when he spoke very frankly about this season.
He touched on the fact (as the Kawasaki fans also stated) he “has struggled to adapt to the new set up at Kawasaki this season”.
However, Yamada also conceded that the lack of goals this season is on him, and no one else.
Speaking after he made his international debut, as a second half substitute in Japan’s 6-1 win over Hong Kong on Monday, Yamada admitted to feeling disappointed and he accepted that he “must raise his game significantly” to have any chance of making the World Cup squad for Japan next summer.
The fact that he sat out the entirety of Japan’s 2-0 win over China last night suggests perhaps national team manager Hajime Moriyasu felt similarly dissatisfied with Yamada’s debut 45 minutes.
Or, maybe Moriyasu just found out that the striker is moving to Celtic next week and dropped him as a reflexive, instinctive reaction!
In any case, I don’t view Yamada’s comments as a negative. On the contrary, something Celtic sorely lacked in the final few months of last season was players who felt they had a point to prove.
That hunger, that desire to prove yourself, that drive to get to the next level is exactly the mentality I look for in a new Celtic recruit.
Time will tell if Yamada ultimately makes the grade or not, but it certainly wont be for lack of trying!
