Kaoru Mitoma

[BlueDan91]

Was surprised to see he made his professional debut at 23.

But did some research on him and it's quite fascinating- if not already covered in this thread.

He chose to attend the University of Tsukuba rather than enter the professional game at 18 and it has since attracted considerable media attention that he wrote his thesis on the art of dribbling.

 

[Silva2021]

I don’t think City should be picking up these kind of deals TBH.

It is a strategy that carries a lot of risk.

We should be buying proven quality international players.

We should be buying the very highly rated best young players in the world

The other places should be for the best academy.

There are some clubs who are brilliant in the transfer market, but will no doubt have some failures and also give game time to ones who work and ones who don’t.

 

[Cheeky Txiki]

I don’t think City should be picking up these kind of deals TBH.

It is a strategy that carries a lot of risk.

We should be buying proven quality international players.

We should be buying the very highly rated best young players in the world

The other places should be for the best academy.

There are some clubs who are brilliant in the transfer market, but will no doubt have some failures and also give game time to ones who work and ones who don’t.

Why not a bit of both? There is a different kind of satisfaction when you pull an Alvarez type of deal to when you pull a Haaland one.

 

[LesBleuMiserable]

We own a club in Japan so I’d like to think we could identify good talents from that region.

Just need to hang around Uni campuses. I’d volunteer if they covered my expenses!

 

[cleavers]

That's not to say we haven't had some bargains. Alvarez (14m) could turn out to be one of the bargains of the century. Gundogan (20m) and Bernardo (43m) have been incredible value for money but they were already very highly rated across Europe.

Do you not think Akanji was a bargain @ £15m ? He's been very good for us, and still only 27, he could play 6 or 7 years here as a CB.

 

[domalino]

Their transfer policy is fantastic. The bargains they find so consistently is staggering really. Fair play to them.

Mitoma is electric, brilliant to watch.

They’ve signed 40 players in the last 3 seasons. Their position as a safe midtable PL team means they can take gambles and when it pays off they look like geniuses, and when it doesn’t work no one pays attention because it’s Brighton.

 

[yatesy94.]

Looks an intelligent player some finish that today. However dealing with Brighton would think twice they're the Napoli of PL drastically inflate the value of their own players.

 

[twosips]

They’ve signed 40 players in the last 3 seasons. Their position as a safe midtable PL team means they can take gambles and when it pays off they look like geniuses, and when it doesn’t work no one pays attention because it’s Brighton.

Still, it is impressive that they're smart enough to take those gambles. City, or the CFG at least, sign about the same amount, if not more, as well. I'm aware it's easier or more necessary for Brighton to try and integrate one or two of these, but I still think City could do it better and there could be sumat to learn from their approach. How many of our CFG signings actually turn into PL players? Hit rate isn't too great. Brighton are very good at picking up low cost players, loaning them well and picking the right ones to return. So what if the majority don't work? Most cost about 5m. They covered most of the gambles when they sold White to Arsenal.

I'd say Zinchenko aside (which even then wasn't really planned) we've not been good at that. Maybe Douglas Luiz came closest and was only a work permit away from being a squad member. I'd have liked to have seen more bravery with trying one or two around the squad to see what they could achieve. Yangel Herrera is a good example. He was killing it a couple of years a go at la Liga level and we've just kept loaning him when he could have stepped up with a little luck as an understudy. Other than that it feels like we sign a lot that don't really get near. Or if they do have a good season there's a reluctance to take a risk, which feels unnecessary given how small our squad is and how likely they'd be happy to sit about as a rotation player given their lower profile.

Brighton have now successfully bought a load of seemingly champions league ready players who are all comfortable in a possession based system. Cucurella. White. Estupinan. Mitoma. Trossard. Caicedo. Mac Allister. Bissouma
etc. I'd be fine with any of these if City signed them. It's impressive.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Still, it is impressive that they're smart enough to take those gambles. City, or the CFG at least, sign about the same amount, if not more, as well.

I'm not even sure I'd classify it as a gamble because the risk is so incredibly low.

Their scouting department is quite clearly excellent and even if eight out of ten transfers turn out to be duds then the cost was minimal and they'll still rake in the money from the other two.

 

[Asa's left peg]

They’ve signed 40 players in the last 3 seasons. Their position as a safe midtable PL team means they can take gambles and when it pays off they look like geniuses, and when it doesn’t work no one pays attention because it’s Brighton.

A bit like Utd and Sancho, you mean?

 

[MarsLlama]

Was surprised to see he made his professional debut at 23.

But did some research on him and it's quite fascinating- if not already covered in this thread.

He chose to attend the University of Tsukuba rather than enter the professional game at 18 and it has since attracted considerable media attention that he wrote his thesis on the art of dribbling.

He could be one of the best players in the world by now if he had skipped that part. Can't say I'm as impressed with his strange career choices as everyone else seems to be. I can't fathom having that much talent and choosing to delay starting your career by four years, when you know that's over a quarter of the average top-level career.

Personally, I don't buy Brighton's portrayal as scouting geniuses. For every good signing there has been an awful one.

 

[Silva2021]

Why not a bit of both? There is a different kind of satisfaction when you pull an Alvarez type of deal to when you pull a Haaland one.

The Álvarez signing is very different to Mitoma, he was very highly rated.

He is more in line with the Jesus one where he had the choice of European clubs and he choose the one he wanted.

There is probably a place for these kind of signings but would probably be more CFA then City (Zin was one who crossed that bridge with success), Gomez is also a CFA signing brought into the squad through circumstances and arguably is struggling with the standard required.

I still think there are bargains to be picked up with getting the very best youngsters who are ready for the move and with selling clubs (normally getting towards the end of contract).

The signings such as Mahrez, Kante by Leicester where they see something and take a gamble that pays off, I’m not sure we can take that gamble.

 

[BlueDan91]

He could be one of the best players in the world by now if he had skipped that part. Can't say I'm as impressed with his strange career choices as everyone else seems to be. I can't fathom having that much talent and choosing to delay starting your career by four years, when you know that's over a quarter of the average top-level career.

Personally, I don't buy Brighton's portrayal as scouting geniuses. For every good signing there has been an awful one.

Probably looking at long term career options and motivated by more than just playing football professionally,

Get what you're saying about the scouting, but you can't argue signing caicedo, trossard, white, burn, cucurella, bissouma and then possibly MacAlister and Mitoma being bought for low amounts and sold for record amounts almost every time isn't good business

 

[Dukefan9]

I’m gonna be honest, I’m a little wary of buying from Brighton. You have to overpay and Bissouma, Cucu, and White have all underperformed relative to their fee. Whites been the best of them, but I wouldn’t say he matches the fee paid. Just don’t think the players will be as good outside the system they play

 

[Charliegull]

Probably looking at long term career options and motivated by more than just playing football professionally,

Get what you're saying about the scouting, but you can't argue signing caicedo, trossard, white, burn, cucurella, bissouma and then possibly MacAlister and Mitoma being bought for low amounts and sold for record amounts almost every time isn't good business

White was in our youth set up, so did not cost anything.

 

[Charliegull]

I’m gonna be honest, I’m a little wary of buying from Brighton. You have to overpay and Bissouma, Cucu, and White have all underperformed relative to their fee. Whites been the best of them, but I wouldn’t say he matches the fee paid. Just don’t think the players will be as good outside the system they play

Yes looking at Biss and Cucu. Also with us, they dont have the pressure than being at a big club.

 

[Charliegull]

The Álvarez signing is very different to Mitoma, he was very highly rated.

He is more in line with the Jesus one where he had the choice of European clubs and he choose the one he wanted.

There is probably a place for these kind of signings but would probably be more CFA then City (Zin was one who crossed that bridge with success), Gomez is also a CFA signing brought into the squad through circumstances and arguably is struggling with the standard required.

I still think there are bargains to be picked up with getting the very best youngsters who are ready for the move and with selling clubs (normally getting towards the end of contract).

The signings such as Mahrez, Kante by Leicester where they see something and take a gamble that pays off, I’m not sure we can take that gamble.

Thinking about this today, alot of talk about how well run we are, yes but we have to take the gamble on the players. Its all right fir the rags to say they could of got Caicedo for £5m, but biv clubs cant take the gamble. Thats why sometimes when they move to bigger clubs they struggle. Alot less presure at Brighton.

 

[Charliegull]

He could be one of the best players in the world by now if he had skipped that part. Can't say I'm as impressed with his strange career choices as everyone else seems to be. I can't fathom having that much talent and choosing to delay starting your career by four years, when you know that's over a quarter of the average top-level career.

Personally, I don't buy Brighton's portrayal as scouting geniuses. For every good signing there has been an awful one.

The awful ones were at the begining, Ali J, locardia, Andoni. So far since then we have done well.

 

[teddykgb]

Big clubs can’t take the gambles because there’s no playing time for these young players to develop. It’s a complete non starter for both club and player

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Big clubs can’t take the gambles because there’s no playing time for these young players to develop. It’s a complete non starter for both club and player

He's 25 not a kid, agree It's a non starter though, if he was 20 everyone would be looking at him but for the money Brighton would want it would take a huge leap of faith, and would be a real gamble.