“This is what Moriyasu has seen” – Dan Orlowitz gives insight into Kyogo’s World Cup omission

The story that broke two Celtic players hearts is one that has baffled the majority of the Celtic fans today.

Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate not even making Japan’s World Cup squad, never mind the first team, is a decision made by Japan boss Moriyasu that the Celtic fans just can’t understand.

I’ve already covered why Hatate’s omission is strange here so let’s look at Kyogo.

Whilst Kyogo has struggled of late with domestic form, overall you cannot argue with his numbers.

Twenty goals in thirty appearances last season and nine goals in sixteen so far this season show just how deadly the Japanese striker can be in front of goal.

Not only that, his constant movement opens up defences for midfield runners to drive into space and looking at how that works for Celtic, it’s difficult to see why the Japan manager can’t see that working for his side.

But Dan Orlowitz tried to explain why Kyogo may have been left out of the squad when he posted these stats this morning:

For what it's worth, here are Kyogo Furuhashi's attacking + passing stats per 90min, comparing his three longest international appearances in 2022 (@Comparisonator doesn't have his 8-minute cameo vs Paraguay for some reason) vs. his Celtic form.

This is what Moriyasu has seen. pic.twitter.com/3w9RdLLNz7

— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) November 1, 2022

But it was the last part of the statement that confused me.

Has Moriyasu just went with stats and not even scouted our striker and made his decision on what will probably be the biggest squad announcement of his career?

I asked Dan that very question today and this was his answer:

Thanks for the reply. The reason I ask is if those stats is what he used to help make the decision on taking Kyogo to the World Cup without actually seeing him play, then it's a really bizarre way to conduct business

— Paddy Sinat (@PaddySinat) November 1, 2022

I’m hoping that Mori Masafumi will be able to shed some light on this and as I said, to omit a player of Kyogo’s class surely someone from the national team set up has scouted him and Reo Hatate before making such a big decision?

I’ll keep you all posted if Masafumi replies.

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