Keisuke Honda (VVV Venlo)

Honda strikes a chord with Rafa

Liverpool are reportedly keeping a close eye on Japan international Keisuke Honda, who is currently plying his trade in Holland with VVV Venlo.

Chairman of the eredivisie club, Hai Berden, has revealed several top European clubs have expressed their interest in signing the free-scoring midfielder.

Honda, who was Eerste Divisie's Most Valuable Player last year, has started life in the Eredivisie in style with three goals in his first two games.

In the season opener against PSV Eindhoven, his impressive display won him plaudits from opposing manager Fred Rutten.

"A number of top clubs are interested in Honda. Some of them are participating in the Champions League this year," Berden told Algemeen Dagblad.

Liverpool scouts have been watching Honda this term and the 23 year-old admitted he would not hesitate to move to England if the opportunity arose.

"Playing in a league as prestigious as the Premier League would be a dream," he said earlier in the year.

"I would seriously consider any offers that come my way."

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,7555_5482874,00.html

Ok now we're starting to get linked with Streetfighter characters.

This pre-season is getting more surreal by the hour!!





Or was that Ed Honda? Its still very early....

Liverpool tracking Japanese playmaker Keisuke Honda

10/08/2009
After a hugely impressive start to VVV Venlo’s Eredivisie campaign, Japanese attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda is a player in demand. This morning Sky Sports suggest Liverpool are "keeping a close eye" on the 23-year-old.

VVV Venlo chairman Hai Berden is widely quoted in the Dutch press this morning: "A number of top clubs are interested in Honda. Some of them are participating in the Champions League this year."

After he was named Eerste Divisie's Most Valuable Player last year, leading Venlo to promotion with 16 goals in 36 games, Honda has begun the new 2009/2010 campaign in excellent form.

Honda has scored three goals and provided two assists in two games against PSV and ADO den Haag so far this season. According to reports, there were up to 30 scouts in attendance yesterday as Honda scored a brace in the 2-2 draw against ADO Den Haag.

The Japanese international (3 caps) predominantly plays behind the strikers but being two-footed he can also play on either wing. Honda is contracted to Venlo until the end of the 2010/2011 campaign but could leave if a 10 million euro offer is received.

Scouts in Holland describe Honda as a player "with great dribbling and very good technique. He is a great free-kick taker and although he isn't the fastest player he is very intelligent. A born number 10 with fantastic touch."

http://www.imscouting.com/global_news_item.aspx?id=2791

i actually wouldn't mind tryin this guy.. if he gives us a striking or left wing option.. good enough

Sod. That.

I'm guessing Rafa needs a new car then?

Well never heard of this lad to be honest.

Just hope that if Rafa buys him then he'll be good enough to play for the team. I never had a doubt on japanese players, only worried if they cannot cut it out in the rough of the EPL.

On a side note, me and my mates just played with 3 japanese players a week ago, and all were about 10. Some of my mates are considered the best players in the school, and these kiddies gave my friends a run for their money, and in fact making us look like dumb fools on the pitch. What's more, we're 5 years older than them.

Hopefully he's in the same class as Nakamura, and Suzuki... and if we do get him, can't be all bad...

i feel like I'm talking about bikes...

He's a number 10. That's the same role Gerrard plays. Would he ever play ahead of him? No.

Having said that, any creative players are welcome (as long as they are good enough and don't have egos, obviously), we could do with some more players to come off the bench and change the way a game is going.

He's a great player, the most wanted player in the dutch league right now. The bigger dutch clubs want him but aren't willing or can't pay that much money. I think he will be a top player in the future, but I'm not sure he already is. He might need 1 or 2 seasons to develop. Obviously, from a commercial point of view he is very interesting, he's the hottest player from Japan right now.

Obviously, from a commercial point of view he is very interesting, he's the hottest player from Japan right now.

Might be Rafa's only viable source of income in that case, especially with those 2 bell ends in charge.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RfWXGAbZOw

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhHoXRMGN6A&feature=related

Not bad LFCBAFC ... Not bad at all

Not bad LFCBAFC ... Not bad at all

Yup he looks like he is an expert at taking wicked free-kicks

For anyone that's interested to see more of him in action, here's a 9 minute recap of last week's game he played against PSV Eindhoven, his first game at top dutch level after they promoted last season. You have to understand that VVV is a lower league team that just promoted and should be fighting against relegation this season. Yet the game ended in 3-3 draw, mostly because Honda carried them in the 2nd half with a goal and an assist. He's easily noticeable by his yellow hair (unfortunately the commentary is in dutch)
psvvvv

Ok now we're starting to get linked with Streetfighter characters.

This pre-season is getting more surreal by the hour!!





Or was that Ed Honda? Its still very early....

I wouldn't mind him using his 100 hand slap on Neville, Rooney, Taggart or Owen though....

Maybe Rafa is planning on using him on the left. We'll see.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RfWXGAbZOw

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhHoXRMGN6A&feature=related

BANZAI!!!!!

Aww I wanted Yamaha.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RfWXGAbZOw

It's a nice free kick, pretty dumb of the other team to put an one man wall for a freekick that close to the goal though.

Maybe Rafa is thinking of the future already. Doesn't our sponsorship with Carlsberg run out at the end of this season? Maybe we could be sponsored by Honda next year and Keisuke could be wearing Honda on the front and the back of his top  ...wonderful foresight by Rafa 

Ok now we're starting to get linked with Streetfighter characters.

This is a strange prospect I've gotta say.

The possible shirt sales in Japan would be nice