17 Aug 2009(Mon)

August 15, 2009: Although Urawa Reds have just lost three in a row, they still look to be on a winner with at least one of their young players.

Genki Haraguchi really looks the part, and appears to have the most potential of all the youngsters. Yes, I include in that list Naoki Yamada, who has already played for the national team this season and settled quickly into J1.

For me, though, Haraguchi looks the better long-term prospect, and could go on to be a key player in the national team post-South Africa.

He has the physique, 1.77 metres, the balance and a good touch on the ball, but is still rather lightweight at 63 kgs. If he can fill out a bit over the next couple of years he could be a major talent.

His languid running and his ability to cut inside off either wing reminds me of a young Chris Waddle, and Haraguchi has a bit of spark, too.

I remember in the recent home game with Nagoya – a 3-0 defeat for Reds – when Haraguchi broke forward in the inside left channel and opted to shoot. The ball went wide, and Robson Ponte was not happy as he was unmarked on the edge of the box and demanding a pass from the winger.

When Ponte chastised Haraguchi, the youngster had a go back at him, which I thought was great to see; a young Japanese player not afraid to stand up to a vastly more experienced import. With all the criticism of Japanese players not shooting, I was delighted to see Haraguchi try his luck – and would have been disappointed if he had played a square pass to Ponte.

With all his long-term potential at 18, Haraguchi will have a few ups and downs in this early part of his career, and Volker Finke will be only too aware when to withdraw him from the firing line if the team’s form – or the player’s form – drop off.

Three straight defeats as they head to Gamba Osaka on Saturday is already putting the young players under pressure, and hopefully this will not affect the mindset of Haraguchi in particular, as he looks a very exciting talent for the long term.

ends