24 Jan 2008(Thu)

January 23, 2008: Keisuke Honda is choosing a good time of his career to try his luck abroad.

The left-footed midfielder is still only 21 years old and, having signed a two and a half year contract with VVV-Venlo, has plenty of time to settle and develop in the Dutch league.

If he does well, he can expect to move to a bigger club in Holland, or to a bigger league in Europe.

And if it does not work out he can return home and rebuild his career in Japan, in the same way Umesaki did after his spell with Grenoble.

At 1.82 metres and 72 kgs, Honda has a good physique to cope with the Dutch league. He will find it more physical than in Japan, the tackles and aerial duels more robust and combative.

There is a saying back home that teams have to earn the right to play football -- meaning first they must dominate their opponents by playing harder, running more and being more aggressive. Only then can a team expect to turn on the style and play more attractive football.

This is the first lesson Honda will have to learn, and adapt to this new mentality and discipline, both tactically and technically.

On the technical side, there is no doubt Honda has a fine left foot. Who could forget his incredible free kick against Hong Kong in an Olympic qualifier, when his shot from the right swerved and dipped and flew into the opposite corner, leaving the Hong Kong keeper stranded.

This quality, of course, is a bonus, because there is much more to Honda's game than his set-piece expertise.

He was one of Sef Vergoossen's favourite players at Nagoya with his work on the left flank, and I remember the Dutch coach complaining bitterly after losing a league game last season when Honda was absent on Olympic duty -- and having every right to complain in my opinion.

With the emergence of Yasuda at Gamba, Honda is no longer an automatic choice for the Olympic team. But this should not concern him for the moment. His priority and his goal must be to establish himself at VVV-Venlo and be a success in Europe. Beijing can wait for the next few months.

ends