Scouting Kota Takai: Strengths, Weakness & Tactical fit at Tottenham

The North Londoners are expected to go for a quick summer rebuild where Daniel Levy tweaks a bit of things in the roster to ensure that the personnel at Hotspur Way are more leaning towards the way Thomas Frank’s structural framework is. But that doesn’t mean that the chiefs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are leaning away from their recently adapted transfer policy of signing highly regarded young players and developing them through the corridors of Hotspur Way, and that is exactly how it has phased out for young Kota Takai, who has been signed by the Premier League heavyweights in a £5 million deal from Kawasaki Frontale.

The Japanese international arrives at N17 as a highly regarded long-term defensive prospect, but with the potential that he comes in with, he could be integrated into the squad at Hotspur. Way much sooner than people expect.

This, in a way, is how the chiefs at N17 are identifying long-term talents and ensuring that they are tactically adapted into the culture within the corridors at Hotspur Way by the time they evolve into their potential. We are seeing how the club did the same with someone like Lucas Bergvall and even (to a certain extent) Micky van de Ven.

But then a question arises, one from almost all the Lilywhites faithful reading about his arrival at Tottenham: what does Takai actually bring to the table?

A brief about Kota Takai…

The 20-year-old has already represented Japan and is a centre-back by trade. He has a huge frame of 1.92 m (6’4″). He is someone who prefers to carry the ball and has that high vertical range. The thing is that he has that composure that he has on the ball and how he is comfortable progressing through the thirds. The 20-year-old generally has this tendency to often step up from the back with those controlled carries (especially when the opponents are sitting in a medium press).

And if we are talking about the asymmetrical back three that the Dane head coach likes to deploy or even in a back four in a 4-3-3, we should be seeing such ball progression on a regular basis from one of the centre backs, and this is where it brings such an option to carry the ball into the second phase and release the ball at the right moment (potentially combining well with a dropping pivot like Rodrigo Bentancur or Richard Rios if the latter is signed at N17 this summer).

And he brings a frame which has the capacity to evolve into a dominant aerial presence, especially when the North Londoners are facing defensive transitions. I think the frame should also come in handy in set-piece situations. I do know that the physical aspects of the game and pace of the Premier League will be a huge step up from the J-League, but then he does have the raw traits to succeed.

These traits have been important in the defenders who have succeeded at Brentford under Thomas Frank, given how his side at Gtech Community Stadium was compact whilst having those aerially strong back lines and were good at winning second balls.

The thing is, he also comes into the setup at Tottenham from a system of Kawasaki Frontale, who are one of the more tactical sides in Japan, and given that Takai has already featured in fluid defensive setups, from a traditional back four to more modern three-at-the-back shapes, this is something that should come in handy for him to play in Thomas Frank’s hybrid structure.

Possible things could deter his success at Tottenham

For me, to start with (as it is for almost anyone coming to England), the most obvious red flag is how he will have to adjust to the pace and aggression of the forwards in the English top tier, and while his timing in duels is solid, I do have some concerns with his decision-making under high press or when facing transition-heavy situations.

I think that Thomas Frank will have to understand his limitations and then integrate him quite slowly into the first team football at Tottenham.

Moreover, when I started to think about the structure that Thomas Frank is set to implement at Tottenham, he will likely use diagonal switches and long balls to get an upper hand in spaces behind opponents backlines, and this is something that the incoming Japanese ace will need to work on.

Tactical fit of Kota Takai at Tottenham under Thomas Frank

The Dane head coach is often switching between a 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 in a hybrid system that he deploys, and given his capacity with his left foot, Takai would likely be used as a left centre-back in both systems. And given his height and calm distribution, he would be ideal alongside someone like Romero, especially when you need to rest Van de Ven.

In a back three, he will be your LCB in a 3-5-2 where he should be stepping into the middle zones in the second phase during build-up whilst also having that recovery pace in wide channels when Udogie is going offensive to overlap. While if I am speaking about his fit in a back four, he will be playing more as an orthodox LCB who is looking to make progressive carries and then lay off those diagonal passes to the wings (especially given that he will be playing under Frank’s setup).

And then he has to help maintain the rest of the defensive setup when facing transitions (as I mentioned before, especially when full-backs have occupied advanced zones).

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TTLB Opinion

Kota Takai is a really good signing, and he is not a player that is likely going to start 30+ games this season but rather someone who comes into the defensive roster and who can be cultivated as part of the long-term structure at Hotspur Way. And that for £5 million given his potential, the risk-reward falls largely in Levy’s favour, especially with the fact that he does have some traits that end up going well with Frank’s structure.

Now along with the likes of Luka Vuskovic and Ashley Phillips, the chiefs at N17 have started laying a foundation of the next generation of the defence at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And with Micky van de Ven at N18, Takai can learn a lot from one of the league’s most feared defenders on the continent.